Hymn For The Epiphany (Hymnus Epiphaniae)

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

Hymnus Epiphaniae


        Quicumque Christum quaeritis,
    oculos in altum tollite,
    illic licebit visere
    signum perennis gloriae.

        Haec stella, quae solis rotam
    vincit decore ac lumine,
    venisse terris nuntiat
    cum carne terrestri Deum.

        Non illa servit noctibus
    secuta lunam menstruam,
    sed sola caelum possidens
    cursum dierum temperat.

        Arctoa quamvis sidera
    in se retortis motibus
    obire nolint, attamen
    plerumque sub nimbis latent.

        Hoc sidus aeternum manet,
    haec stella nunquam mergitur,
    nec nubis occursu abdita
    obumbrat obductam facem.

        Tristis cometa intercidat,
    et si quod astrum Sirio
    fervet vapore, iam Dei
    sub luce destructum cadat.

        En Persici ex orbis sinu,
    sol unde sumit ianuam,
    cernunt periti interpretes
    regale vexillum Magi.

        Quod ut refulsit, ceteri
    cessere signorum globi,
    nec pulcher est ausus suam
    conferre formam Lucifer.

        Quis iste tantus, inquiunt,
    regnator astris inperans,
    quem sic tremunt caelestia,
    cui lux et aethra inserviunt.

        Inlustre quiddam cernimus,
    quod nesciat finem pati,
    sublime, celsum, interminum,
    antiquius caelo et chao.

        Hic ille rex est gentium
    populique rex Iudaici,
    promissus Abrahae patri
    eiusque in aevum semini.

        Aequanda nam stellis sua
    cognovit olim germina
    primus sator credentium,
    nati inmolator unici.

        Iam flos subit Davidicus
    radice Iesse editus,
    sceptrique per virgam virens
    rerum cacumen occupat.

        Exin sequuntur perciti
    fixis in altum vultibus,
    qua stella sulcum traxerat
    claramque signabat viam.

        Sed verticem pueri supra
    signum pependit inminens,
    pronaque submissum face
    caput sacratum prodidit.

        Videre quod postquam Magi,
    eoa promunt munera,
    stratique votis offerunt
    tus, myrrham, et aurum regium.

        Agnosce clara insignia
    virtutis ac regni tui,
    puer o, cui trinam Pater
    praedestinavit indolem.

        Regem Deumque adnuntiant
    thesaurus et fragrans odor
    turis Sabaei, ac myrrheus
    pulvis sepulcrum praedocet.

        Hoc est sepulcrum, quo Deus,
    dum corpus extingui sinit
    atque id sepultum suscitat,
    mortis refregit carcerem.

        O sola magnarum urbium
    maior Bethlem, cui contigit
    ducem salutis caelitus
    incorporatum gignere.

        Altrice te summo Patri
    haeres creatur unicus,
    homo ex tonantis spiritu
    idemque sub membris Deus.

        Hunc et prophetis testibus
    isdemque signatoribus,
    testator et sator iubet
    adire regnum et cernere:

        Regnum, quod ambit omnia
    diva et marina et terrea
    a solis ortu ad exitum
    et tartara et caelum supra.

        Audit tyrannus anxius
    adesse regum principem,
    qui nomen Israel regat
    teneatque David regiam.

        Exclamat amens nuntio,
    successor instat, pellimur;
    satelles i, ferrum rape,
    perfunde cunas sanguine.

        Mas omnis infans occidat,
    scrutare nutricum sinus,
    interque materna ubera
    ensem cruentet pusio.

        Suspecta per Bethlem mihi
    puerperarum est omnium
    fraus, ne qua furtim subtrahat
    prolem virilis indolis.

        Transfigit ergo carnifex
    mucrone destricto furens
    effusa nuper corpora,
    animasque rimatur novas.

        Locum minutis artubus
    vix interemptor invenit,
    quo plaga descendat patens
    iuguloque maior pugio est.

        O barbarum spectaculum!
    inlisa cervix cautibus
    spargit cerebrum lacteum
    oculosque per vulnus vomit.

        Aut in profundum palpitans
    mersatur infans gurgitem,
    cui subter artis faucibus
    singultat unda et halitus.

        Salvete flores martyrum,
    quos lucis ipso in limine
    Christi insecutor sustulit,
    ceu turbo nascentes rosas.

        Vos prima Christi victima,
    grex inmolatorum tener,
    aram ante ipsam simplices
    palma et coronis luditis.

        Quid proficit tantum nefas,
    quid crimen Herodem iuvat?
    unus tot inter funera
    inpune Christus tollitur.

        Inter coaevi sanguinis
    fluenta solus integer
    ferrum, quod orbabat nurus,
    partus fefellit virginis.

        Sic stulta Pharaonis mali
    edicta quondam fugerat
    Christi figuram praeferens
    Moyses, receptor civium.

        Cautum et statutum ius erat,
    quo non liceret matribus,
    cum pondus alvi absolverent,
    puerile pignus tollere.

        Mens obstetricis sedulae
    pie in tyrannum contumax
    ad spem potentis gloriae
    furata servat parvulum:

        Quem mox sacerdotem sibi
    adsumpsit orbis conditor,
    per quem notatam saxeis
    legem tabellis traderet.

        Licetne Christum noscere
    tanti per exemplum viri?
    dux ille caeso Aegyptio
    absolvit Israel iugo.

        At nos subactos iugiter
    erroris inperio gravi
    dux noster hoste saucio
    mortis tenebris liberat.

        Hic expiatam fluctibus
    plebem marino in transitu
    repurgat undis dulcibus,
    lucis columnam praeferens:

        Hic praeliante exercitu,
    pansis in altum brachiis,
    sublimis Amalech premit,
    crucis quod instar tunc fuit.

        Hic nempe Iesus verior,
    qui longa post dispendia
    victor suis tribulibus
    promissa solvit iugera.

        Qui ter quaternas denique
    refluentis amnis alveo
    fundavit et fixit petras,
    apostolorum stemmata.

        Iure ergo se Iudae ducem
    vidisse testantur Magi,
    cum facta priscorum ducum
    Christi figuram finxerint.

        Hic rex priorum iudicum,
    rexere qui Iacob genus,
    dominaeque rex ecclesiae,
    templi et novelli et pristini.

        Hunc posteri Efrem colunt,
    hunc sancta Manasse domus
    omnesque suspiciunt tribus
    bis sena fratrum semina.

        Quin et propago degener
    ritum secuta inconditum,
    quaecumque dirum fervidis
    Baal caminis coxerat,

        fumosa avorum numina
    saxum, metallum, stipitem,
    rasum, dolatum, sectile,
    in Christi honorem deserit.

        Gaudete quidquid gentium est,
    Iudaea, Roma, et Graecia,
    Aegypte, Thrax, Persa, Scytha,
    rex unus omnes possidet.

        Laudate vestrum principem
    omnes beati, ac perditi,
    vivi, inbecilli ac mortui:
    iam nemo posthac mortuus.




Hymn For The Epiphany


    Lift up your eyes, whoe'er ye be
    That fare the new-born Christ to see:
    For yonder is the shining sign
    Of grace perennial and divine.

    What means this star, whose piercing rays
    Outshine the sun's resplendent blaze?
    'Tis token sure that God is come
    In mortal flesh to make His home.

    No courtier of the realms of night
    Nor monthly moon's bright acolyte,
    This star directs the course of day,
    Sole sovereign of the heavenly way.

    Although the Bears their track retrace,
    Nor wholly their clear beams efface,
    Yet ofttimes 'neath the dun cloud's haze
    They hide themselves from mortal gaze.

    But yon Star's glory hath no end,
    Nor to the depths can it descend:
    It ne'er is whelmed by envious cloud
    That seeks its beauty to enshroud.

    Now let the baleful comet die,
    The brood of blazing Sirius fly:
    God's orb shall quench their sultry heats
    And drive them from their haughty seats.

    Lo! from the regions of the morn
    Wherein the radiant sun is born,
    The Persian sages see on high
    God's ensign shining in the sky.

    Soon as its rising beams prevail
    The starry hosts in order pale:
    E'en Lucifer durst not upraise
    The silvery splendours of his face.

    Who is this sovereign (they enquire)
    That lords it o'er the ethereal choir?
    'Fore whom the heavens bow down afraid,
    Of all the worlds of light obeyed?

    Sure 'tis the sign most reverend
    Of Being that doth know no end:
    Of One in state sublime arrayed
    Ere sky and chaos yet were made.

    This is the King of Israel,
    Of all in Gentile lands that dwell:
    The King to Abram and his seed
    Throughout all ages erst decreed.

    To him 'twas given his progeny
    As stars innumerous to see:
    First of believers! moved to slay
    His only son, so God to obey.

    Behold the Flower of David shine,
    Of Jesse's root the Branch benign:
    The sceptre spread with blossoms rare
    Wields o'er the world its lordship fair.

    Roused by the portent of the sky
    The sages fix their gaze on high,
    And speed them 'neath the furrowed way
    Marked by the star's effulgent ray.

    At length its flaming steps it stayed
    Poised over where the Child was laid:
    Straightway with downcast mien it shed
    Its splendours on the sacred Head.

    Whereat the travellers outpour
    Of Eastern gifts their treasure-store,
    Myrrh and sweet-smelling frankincense,
    Gold meet for regal opulence.

    Behold herein the triple sign
    Of Thy pure being, King divine:
    Seeing the Father willed in Thee
    To plant a threefold majesty.

    The gift of gold thee King proclaims:
    Thee God the fragrant incense names:
    The myrrh declares that Death shall thrust
    Within the tomb Thy body's dust.

    Ah! that dark sepulchre, whose fold
    God's body quenched in death doth hold:
    Yet shall He from that durance wake
    And Death's strong prison-fetters break.

    O Bethlehem! no longer thou
    The least of cities: all shall vow
    That thou art greatest on the earth:
    For thou man's King didst bring to birth.

    Yea thou didst on thy bosom bear
    The All-loving Father's only heir:
    Man of the Thunderer's Spirit made
    And God in human flesh arrayed.

    The prophets witnessed to the bond
    Which sealed to Him the realm profound:
    The Father's Kingdom He received
    And the vast legacy perceived.

    All things are His in sea and sky,
    In hell beneath, in heaven on high:
    From East to setting sun, in fee
    He holds the earth's immensity.

    Distraught, the tyrant base doth hear
    That now the King of Kings draws near
    To reign in David's seat of state
    And Israel's empire dominate.

    "Betrayed are we," he maddened cries,
    "Our throne's usurper doth arise:
    Go, soldiers, go with sword in hand
    And slay all babes within my land.

    "Spare no male child: each nurse's robe
    Your scrutinizing steel must probe:
    Spare not the suckling infant, though
    O'er mother's breast its life-blood flow.

    "On Bethlehem our suspicion falls,
    On every hearth within its walls:
    Lest mothers with love's tender zeal
    Some manly scion may conceal."

    With daggers drawn the infuriate crew
    Upon their murderous errand flew:
    Each latest offspring of the womb
    To bloody death they foully doom.

    Ah tiny limbs! 'twas hard to know
    How best to strike the fatal blow:
    Too wide the sword-blades are to smite
    Those throats so silken-fragile, slight.

    O horrid sight! the tender bones
    Are dashed against the jaggèd stones:
    Sightless and mangled there they lie,
    Poor babes! untimely doomed to die.

    Perchance the still deep river laves
    Their bodies thrust into the waves:
    The current with their sighing sighs,
    Sobs with their latest, broken cries.

    Ye flowers of martyrdom, all hail!
    Of rising morn pure blossoms frail!
    By Jesu's foe were ye downcast,
    Like budding roses by the blast.

    Lambs of the flock too early slain,
    Ye first fruits of Christ's bitter pain!
    Close to His very altar, gay
    With palms and crowns, ye now do play.

    Of what avail is deed so vile?
    Doth Herod gain by murderous guile?
    Of all to death so foully done
    Escapes triumphant Christ alone.

    Amidst that tide of infant gore
    Alone He wins the sheltering shore:
    The virgin's Child survives the stroke,
    When every mother's heart was broke.

    Thus Moses 'scaped the mad decree
    Of evil Pharaoh and set free
    The flock of God, prefiguring so
    Christ spared from fate's malignant blow.

    Vain too the king's hostility
    Who framed the pitiless decree
    That Israel's mothers should not rear
    To manhood's strength their offspring dear.

    Quickened by love, a woman's mind
    Found means to thwart that law unkind,
    And, falsely true, the child concealed
    Destined to be his people's Shield.

    On him it was that God did place
    The august priesthood's holy grace,
    The law on stony tablets writ
    Did to his trembling hands commit.

    And may we not with prophet's eye
    In such a hero Christ descry?
    The proud Egyptian's might he broke
    And freed his kinsmen from the yoke.

    So we by Error's might hemmed round
    Were by our Captain's strength unbound:
    His foe He wounded in the fight
    And saved us from Death's horrid night.

    Cheering by sign of flame their feet,
    Moses renewed with waters sweet
    His folk, albeit purified
    From stain, what time they crossed the tide.

    And he, remote on peaceful height,
    Amalek's banded hosts did smite:
    He prayed with arms stretched out above,
    Foreshadowing the Cross of Love.

    Yet truer Jesus surely he,
    Who after many a victory
    And labours long the tribes' renown
    With promised heritage did crown;

    Who when the waters rose on high
    And now the Jordan's bed was dry,
    Set up twelve stones of memory,
    Types of apostles yet to be.

    Rightly the Wise Men said, I ween,
    That they Judaea's King had seen,
    Since noble deeds of other days
    Prophetic chant the Saviour's praise.

    Of those old rulers He is King
    Who did to Jacob judgment bring,
    King of the Mother Church divine,
    God's ancient and God's present Shrine.

    Of Ephraim's sons He is adored:
    Manasseh's sacred house as Lord
    Reveres Him: to His might the seed
    Of brethren twelve their fealty plead.

    Nay, each degenerate race hath fled
    Its shameful rites and orgies dread:
    Grim Baal in glowing furnace cast
    Sinks to the earth, forsook at last.

    Idols smoke-blackened, wooden-hewn,
    Of brass and stone, in dust are strewn:
    The chiselled deities downtrod:
    For all confess in Christ their God.

    Rejoice all peoples, Jewry, Rome,
    Fair Hellas, Thrace, Aegyptus' home:
    Persians and Scythian land forlorn,
    Rejoice: the world's great King is born!

    Behold your Chief! His praise forth tell:
    Ye sick, ye hale, all heaven and hell:
    Ay, you whose vital spark hath sped:
    For lo! in Him e'en Death is dead.