Poems, Volume 1

2. A MORNING HYMN

8 AURELIUS PRUDENTIUS CLEMENS Delights and gold and earthly joy, The wealth, success, and honors gained, Whatever evils nourish pride, 95 All vanish with the morning light. Come Thou, 0 Christ, and banish sleep;l8 Break Thou the chains that night has forged And wash away our ancient stain; Renew Thy light within our souls. 100 18. Cf. Ambrose, Hymn 1.30. 2. A MORNING HYMNl Ye shades of night and turbid clouds, Confusion of the world, depart, For light pervades the whitening sky, And Christ, the Sun of Justice, comes. 1. Hymnus matutinus. The morning office celebrated in the churches and monasteries during the fourth century was often called hymni matutini. Cf. Cassian, De coenobiorum institutis 3.5; S. Silviae peregrinatio 24.2 (CSEL 39.71) and 24.12 (CSEL 39.74). The present Canonical Hour of Lauds developed from this service, the term being derived from laudes matutinae, the name used by authors in the fifth and sixth centuries. HYMNS 9 Asunder now earth's gloom is rent, 5 Pierced by the sun's transfixing dart;2 The day-star's shining glance restores The hues of meadow and of plain.3 So will our spiritual darkness fade, When, through the broken clouds of sin,4 10 The heart will see its guiltiness, Made clear in God's all-ruling light:1 In vain shall we then strive to hide The evil thoughts that cloud the mind, For inmost secrets of the soul 15 In that new dawn will be revealed.6 The veil of darkness shrouds the crimes The thief commits without restraint; But light, the enemy of guile, Forbids his cunning to lie hid.7 20 In murky shades deceit and fraud Delight to cloak their subtle arts;8 The paramour embraces night, Most opportune for shameful deeds.9 2. Cf. Lucretius, De rerum natura 1.146-149. 3. Cf. Vergil, Aeneid 6.272; Horace, Odes 4.5.4·S. 4. Cf. Vergil, Aeneid 1I.l99. 5. Cf. Ibid. 1.604. 6. Cf. Vergil, Georgies 3.325. 7. Cf. Ambrose, De Cain et Abe12.SS. S. Cf. Horace, Epistles 1.16.62. 9. Cf. Ambrose, Ibid. 10 AURELIUS PRUDENTIUS CLEMENi Behold, the fiery sun appears: 10 25 Disgust and shame now fill his heart, For in the splendor of the day No man can persevere in sin. When morning comes, who does not blush That cups flowed freely in the night?l1 30 Then moderation rules desire, And revelers taste sobriety. Now life is earnest and austere And all forsake frivolity; Now underneath a serious brow The jester hides his foolish wit. 35 All set about the tasks they love12 When morning's golden hour arrives: The soldier, townsman, mariner, The craftsman, merchant, husbandman. 40 One seeks the glory of the courts; Another heeds war's trumpet call; The tradesman and the countryman Are eager for their sordid gains. 10. cr. Vergil, Georgics 4.426. 11. Quis mane sumptis nequiterI non erubescit poculis . . . ? Lavarenne (Prudence 1.9) points out that some commentators are of the opinion that the poet here refers to the violation of a custom among the ancients of not drinking wine in the morning . The context seems to indicate that night carousels are meant. These were common in the decadent society of the Roman Empire. Cf. Ambrose, De Helia et ieiunio 12.45 and 15.53. 12. An imitation of Horace, Odes 1.2-25 is evident in 11.37-44. HYMNS II But, we, 0 Christ, who know not wealth,13 45 Nor usury, nor eloquence, Nor daring in the art of war, Have learned to love but Thee alone.U To Thee, with pure and simple heart, We raise our voice in holy psalms; 50 On bended knee, we chant Thy praise And, weeping, cry to Thee for aid.til In this blest service we are rich; By commerce such as this we live, And from the rising of the sun 55 These exercises fill the hours. Into our thoughts now turn Thy gaze;18 Examine every word and deed; Behold the many stains of sin, Which Thy pure light alone can cleanse. 60 Oh grant that we may ever keep Our souls as bright and free from soil, As when the waters on us flowed From holy Jordan's cleansing stream.17 18. Lines 45-56 are among those cited as evidence that Prudentius at the time of...