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Hymn For Those Who Fast (HYMNUS IEIUNANTIUM)

by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius

Newly Translated Into English Verse By R. Martin Pope is below this original.

HYMNUS IEIUNANTIUM

O Nazarene, lux Bethlem, verbum Patris,

quem partus alvi virginalis protulit,

adesto castis Christe parsimoniis,

festumque nostrum rex serenus adspice,

ieiuniorum dum litamus victimam.

Nil hoc profecto purius mysterio,

quo fibra cordis expiatur uvidi,

intemperata quo domantur viscera,

arvina putrem ne resudans crapulam

obstrangulatae mentis ingenium premat.

Hinc subiugatur luxus et turpis gula,

vini atque somni degener socordia,

libido sordens, inverecundus lepos,

variaeque pestes languidorum sensuum

parcam subactae disciplinam sentiunt.

Nam si licenter diffluens potu et cibo

ieiuna rite membra non coerceas,

sequitur frequenti marcida oblectamine

scintilla mentis ut tepescat nobilis,

animusque pigris stertat in praecordiis.

Frenentur ergo corporum cupidines,

detersa et intus emicet prudentia:

sic excitato perspicax acumine

liberque flatu laxiore spiritus

rerum parentem rectius precabitur.

Elia tali crevit observantia,

vetus sacerdos, ruris hospes aridi:

fragore ab omni quem remotum et segregem

sprevisse tradunt criminum frequentiam,

casto fruentem syrtium silentio.

Sed mox in auras igneis iugalibus

curruque raptus evolavit praepete,

ne de propinquo sordium contagio

dirus quietum mundus adflaret virum,

olim probatis inclitum ieiuniis.

Non ante caeli principem septemplicis

Moyses tremendi fidus interpres throni

potuit videre, quam decem recursibus

quater volutis sol peragrans sidera

omni carentem cerneret substantia.

Victus precanti solus in lacrimis fuit:

nam flendo pernox inrigatum pulverem

humi madentis ore pressit cernuo,

donec loquentis voce praestrictus Dei

expavit ignem non ferendum visibus.

Ioannis huius artis hand minus potens,

Dei perennis praecucurrit filium,

curvos viarum qui retorsit tramites

et flexuosa conrigens dispendia

dedit sequendam calle recto lineam.

Hanc obsequelam praeparabat nuntius

mox adfuturo construens iter Deo,

clivosa planis, confragosa ut lenibus

converterentur, neve quidquam devium

inlapsa terris inveniret veritas.

Non usitatis ortus his natalibus

oblita lactis iam vieto in pectore

matris tetendit serus infans ubera:

nec ante partu de senili effusus est,

quam praedicaret virginem plenam Deo.

Post in patentes ille solitudines

amictus hirtis bestiarum pellibus

setisve tectus hispida et lanugine

secessit, horrens inquinari et pollui

contaminatis oppidorum moribus.

Illic dicata parcus abstinentia

potum cibumque vir severae industriae

in usque serum respuebat vesperum,

parvum locustis et favorum agrestium

liquore pastum corpori suetus dare.

Hortator ille primus et doctor novae

fuit salutis, nam sacrato in flumine

veterum piatas lavit errorum notas:

sed tincta postquam membra defaecaverat,

caelo refulgens influebat spiritus.

Hoc ex lavacro labe dempta criminum

ibant renati non secus, quam si rudis

auri recocta vena pulchrum splendeat,

micet metalli sive lux argentei,

sudum polito praenitens purgamine.

Referre prisci stemma mine ieiunii

libet fideli proditum volumine,

ut diruendae civitatis incolis

fulmen benigni mansuefactum Patris

pie repressis ignibus pepercerit.

Gens insolenti praepotens iactantia

pollebat olim, quam fluentem nequiter

conrupta vulgo solverat lascivia,

et inde bruto contumax fastidio

cultum superni negligebat numinis.

Offensa tandem iugis indulgentiae

censura iustis excitatur motibus,

dextram perarmat rhompheali incendio

nimbos crepantes et fragosos turbines

vibrans tonantum nube flammarum quatit.

Sed paenitendi dum datur diecula,

si forte vellent inprobam libidinem

veteresque nugas condomare ac frangere,

suspendit ictum terror exorabilis

paullumque dicta substitit sententia.

Ionam prophetam mitis ultor excitat,

paenae inminentis iret ut praenuntius,

sed nosset ille qui minacem iudicem

servare malle, quam ferire ac plectere,

tectam latenter vertit in Tharsos fugam.

Celsam paratis pontibus scandit ratem,

udo revincta fune puppis solvitur,

itur per altum, fit procellosum mare:

tum causa tanti quaeritur periculi,

sors in fugacem missa vatem decidit.

Iussus perire solus e cunctis reus,

cuius voluta crimen urna expresserat,

praeceps rotatur et profundo inmergitur:

exceptus inde beluinis faucibus

alvi capacis vivus hauritur specu.

* * * * *

Intactus exin tertiae noctis vice

monstri vomentis pellitur singultibus,

qua murmuranti fine fluctus frangitur,

salsosque candens spuma tundit pumices,

ructatus exit seque servatum stupet.

In Ninivitas se coactus percito

gressu reflectit, quos ut increpaverat

pudenda censor inputans opprobria;

Inpendet, inquit, ira summi vindicis,

urbemque flamma mox cremabit, credite.

Apicem deinceps ardui montis petit

visurus inde conglobatum turbidae

fumum ruinae cladis et dirae struem,

tectus flagellis multinodis germinis,

nato et repente perfruens umbraculo.

Sed maesta postquam civitas vulnus novi

hausit doloris, heu supremum palpitat:

cursant per ampla congregatim moenia

plebs et senatus, omnis aetas civium,

pallens iuventus, eiulantes feminae.

Placet frementem publicis ieiuniis

placare Christum, mos edendi spernitur,

glaucos amictus induit monilibus

matrona demptis, proque gemma et serico

crinem fluentem sordidus spargit cinis.

Squalent recincta veste bullati patres,

setasque plangens turba sumit textiles,

inpexa villis virgo bestialibus

nigrante vultum contegit velamine,

iacens arenis et puer provolvitur.

Rex ipse Coos aestuantem murices

laenam revulsa dissipabat fibula,

gemmas virentes et lapillos sutiles,

insigne frontis exuebat vinculum

turpi capillos inpeditus pulvere.

Nullus bibendi, nemo vescendi memor,

ieiuna mensas pubis omnis liquerat,

quin et negato lacte vagientium

fletu madescunt parvulorum cunulae,

sucum papillae parca nutrix derogat.

Greges et ipsos claudit armentalium

sollers virorum cura, ne vagum pecus

contingat ore rorulenta gramina,

potum strepentis neve fontis hauriant,

vacuis querelae personant praesepibus.

Mollitus his et talibus brevem Deus

iram refrenat temperans oraculum

prosper sinistrum, prona nam clementia

haud difficulter supplicem mortalium

solvit reatum fitque fautrix flentium.

Sed cur vetustae gentis exemplum oquor?

pridem caducis cum gravatus artubus

Iesus dicato corde ieiunaverit,

praenuncupatus ore qui prophetico

Emanuel est, sive NOBISCUM DEUS.

Qui corpus istud molle naturaliter

captumque laxo sub voluptatum iugo

virtutis arta lege fecit liberum:

emancipator servientis plasmatis

regnantis ante victor et cupidinis.

Inhospitali namque secretus loco

quinis diebus octies labentibus

nullam ciborum vindicavit gratiam,

firmans salubri scilicet ieiunio

vas adpetendis inbecillum gaudiis.

Miratus hostis posse limum tabidum

tantum laboris sustinere ac perpeti,

explorat arte sciscitator callida,

Deusne membris sit receptus terreis,

sed increpata fraude post tergum ruit.

Hoc nos sequamur quisque nunc pro viribus,

quod consecrati tu magister dogmatis

tuis dedisti Christe sectatoribus,

ut, cum vorandi vicerit libidinem,

late triumphet inperator spiritus.

Hoc est, quod atri livor hostis invidet,

mundi polique quod gubernator probat,

altaris aram quod facit placabilem,

quod dormientis excitat cordis fidem,

quod limat aegram pectoris rubiginem.

Perfusa non sic amne flamma extinguitur,

nec sic calente sole tabescunt nives,

ut turbidarum scabra culparum seges

vanescit almo trita sub ieiunio,

si blanda semper misceatur largitas.

Est quippe et illud grande virtutis genus

operire nudos, indigentes pascere,

opem benignam ferre supplicantibus,

unam paremque sortis humanae vicem

inter potentes atque egenos ducere.

Satis beatus quisque dextram porrigit,

laudis rapacem, prodigam pecuniae,

cuius sinistra dulce factum nesciat:

illum perennes protinus conplent opes,

ditatque fructus faenerantem centuplex.

Hymn For Those Who Fast

O Jesus, Light of Bethlehem,

True Son of God, Incarnate Word;

Thou offspring of a Virgin's womb,

Be present at our frugal board;

Accept our fast, our sacrifice,

And smile upon us, gracious Lord.

For by this holiest mystery

The inward parts are cleansed from stain,

And, taming all the unbridled lusts,

Our sinful flesh we thus restrain,

Lest gluttony and drunkenness

Should choke the soul and cloud the brain.

Hence appetite and luxury

Are forced their empire to resign;

The wanton sport, the jest obscene,

The ignoble sway of sleep and wine,

And all the plagues of languid sense

Feel the strict bonds of discipline.

For if, full fed with meat and drink,

The flesh thou ne'er dost mortify,

The mind, that spark of sacred flame,

By pleasure dulled, must fail and die,

And pent in its gross prison-house

The soul in shameful torpor lie.

So be thy carnal lusts controlled,

So be thy judgment clear and bright;

Then shall thy spirit, swift and free,

Be gifted with a keener sight,

And breathing in an ampler air

To the All-Father pray aright.

Elias by such abstinence,

Seer of the desert, grew in grace,

Who left the madding haunts of men

And found a peaceful resting-place,

Where, far from sinful crowds, he trod

The pure and silent wilderness.

Till by those fiery coursers drawn

The swift car bore him through the air,

Lest earth's defiling touch should mar

The holiness it might not share,

Or some polluting breath disturb

The peace attained by fast and prayer.

Moses, through whom from His dread throne

The will of God to man was told,

No food might touch till through the sky

The sun full forty times had rolled,

Ere God before him stood revealed,

Lord of the heavens sevenfold.

Tears were his meat, while bent in prayer

Through the long night he bowed his head

E'en to the thirsty dust, that drank

The drops in bitter weeping shed;

Till, at God's call, he saw the flame

No eye may bear, and was afraid.

The Baptist, too, was strong in fast--

Forerunner in a later day

Of God's Eternal Son--who made

The byepaths plain, the crooked way

A road direct, wherein His feet

Might travel on without delay.

This was the messenger's great task

Who for God's advent zealously

Prepared the way, the rough made smooth,

The mountain levelled to the sea;

That, when Truth came from heaven to earth,

All fair and straight His path should be.

He was not born in common wise,

For dry and wrinkled was the breast

Of her that bare him late in years,

Nor found she from her labour rest,

Till she had hailed with lips inspired

The Maid with unborn Godhead blest.

For him the hairy skins of beasts

Furnished a raiment rude and wild,

As forth into the lonely waste

He fared, an unbefriended child,

Who dwelt apart, lest he should be

By evil city-life defiled.

There, vowed to abstinence, he grew

To manhood, and with stern disdain

He turned from meat and drink, until

He saw night's shadow fall again;

And locusts and the wild bees' store

Sufficed his vigour to sustain.

The first was he to testify

Of that new life which man might win;

In Jordan's consecrating stream

He purged the stains of ancient sin,

And, as he made the body clean,

The radiant Spirit entered in.

Forth from the holy tide they came

Reborn, from guilt's pollution free,

As bright from out the cleansing fire

Flows the rough gold, or as we see

The glittering silver, purged of dross,

Flash into polished purity.

Now let us tell, from Holy Writ,

Of olden fasts the fairest crown;

How God in pity stayed His hand,

And spared a doomed and guilty town,

In clemency the flames withheld

And laid His vengeful lightnings down.

A mighty race of ancient time

Waxed arrogant in boastful pride;

Debauched were they, and borne along

On foul corruption's loathsome tide,

Till in their stiff-necked self-conceit

They e'en the God of Heaven denied.

At last Eternal Mercy turns

To righteous judgment, swift and dire;

He shakes the clouds; the mighty sword

Flames in His hand, and in His ire

He wields the roaring hurricane

'Mid murky gloom and flashing fire.

Yet in His clemency He grants

To penitence a brief delay,

That they might burst the bonds of lust

And put their vanities away;

His sentence given, He waits awhile

And stays the hand upraised to slay.

To warn them of the wrath to come

The Avenger in His mercy sent

Jonah the seer; but,--though he knew

The threatening Judge would fain relent

Nor wished to strike,--towards Tarshish town

The prophet's furtive course was bent.

As up the galley's side he climbed,

They loosed the dripping rope, and passed

The harbour bar: then on them burst

The sudden fury of the blast;

And when their peril's cause they sought,

The lot was on the recreant cast.

The man whose guilt the urn declares

Alone must die, the rest to save;

Hurled headlong from the deck, he falls

And sinks beneath the engulfing wave,

Then, seized by monstrous jaws, is plunged

Into a vast and living grave.

* * * * *

At last the monster hurls him forth,

As the third night had rolled away;

Before its roar the billows break

And lash the cliffs with briny spray;

Unhurt the wondering prophet stands

And hails the unexpected day.

Thus turned again to duty's path

To Nineveh he swiftly came,

Their lusts rebuked and boldly preached

God's judgment on their sin and shame;

"Believe!" he cried, "the Judge draws nigh

Whose wrath shall wrap your streets in flame."

Thence to the lofty mount withdrew,

Where he might watch the smoke-cloud lower

O'er blasted homes and ruined halls,

And rest beneath the shady bower

Upspringing in swift luxury

Of twining tendril, leaf and flower.

But when the guilty burghers heard

The impending doom, a dull despair

Possessed their souls; proud senators,

Poor craftsmen, throng the highways fair;

Pale youth with tottering age unites,

And women's wailing rends the air.

A public fast they now decree,

If they may thus Christ's anger stay:

No food they touch: each haughty dame

Puts silken robes and gems away,

In sable garbed, and ashes casts

Upon her tresses' disarray.

In dark and squalid vesture clad

The Fathers go: the mourning crowd

Dons rough attire: in shaggy skins

Enwrapped, fair maids their faces shroud

With dusky veils, and boyish heads

E'en to the very dust are bowed.

The King tears off his jewelled brooch

And rends the robe of Coan hue;

Bright emeralds and lustrous pearls

Are flung aside, and ashes strew

The royal head, discrowned and bent,

As low he kneels God's grace to sue.

None thought to drink, none thought to eat;

All from the table turned aside,

And in their cradles wet with tears

Starved babes in bitter anguish cried,

For e'en the foster-mother stern

To little lips the breast denied.

The very flocks are closely penned

By careful hands, lest they should gain

Sweet water from the babbling stream

Or wandering crop the dewy plain;

And bleating sheep and lowing kine

Within their barren stalls complain.

Moved by such penitence, full soon

God's grace repealed the stern decree

And curbed His righteous wrath; for aye,

When man repents, His clemency

Is swift to pardon and to hear

His children weeping bitterly.

Yet wherefore of that bygone race

Should we anew the story tell?

For Christ's pure soul by fasting long

The clogging bonds of flesh did quell;

He Whom the prophet's voice foretold

As GOD WITH US, Emmanuel.

Man's body--frail by nature's law

And bound by pleasure's easy chain--

He freed by virtue's strong restraint,

And gave it liberty again:

He broke the bonds of flesh, and Lust

Was driven from his old domain.

Deep in the inhospitable wild

For forty days He dwelt alone

Nor tasted food, till, thus prepared,

All human weakness overthrown

By fasting's power, His mortal frame

Rejoiced the spirit's sway to own.

The Adversary, marvelling

To see this creature of a day

Endure such toil, spent all his guile

To learn if God in human clay

Had come indeed; but soon rebuked

Behind His back fled shamed away.

Therefore let each with all his might

Follow the way the Master taught,

The law of consecrated life

Which Christ unto His servants brought;

Till, with the lusts of flesh subdued,

The spirit reigns o'er act and thought.

'Tis this our jealous foe abhors,

'Tis this the Lord of earth and sky

Approves; by this the soul is made

Thy holy altar, God Most High:

Faith stirs within the slumbering heart

And sin's corroding power must fly.

Swifter than water quenches fire,

Swifter than sunshine melts the snow,

Crushed out by soul-restoring fast

Vanish the sins that rankly grow,

If hand in hand with Abstinence

Sweet Charity doth ever go.

This too is Virtue's noble task,

To clothe the naked, and to feed

The destitute, with kindly care

To visit sufferers in their need;

For king and beggar each must bear

The lot by changeless Fate decreed.

Happy the man whose good right hand

Seeks but God's praise, and flings his gold

Broadcast, nor lets his left hand know

The gracious deed; for wealth untold

Shall crown him through eternal years

With usury an hundredfold.