English poem
AD Dominum nostrum & Servatorem Jesum Christum. ODA
by Isaac Watts (1674–1748)
Te, Grande Numen, Corporis Incola, Te, magna magni Progenies Patris, Nomen verendum nostri Jesû Vox, Citharae, Calami sonabunt.
Aptentur auro grandisonae Fides, Christi Triumphos incipe Barbite, Fractosque terrores Averni, Victum Erebum, domitamque Mortem.
Immensa vastos saecula circulos Volvêre, blando dum Patris in sinû Toto fruebatur Jehovâ Gaudia mille bibens Jesus;
Donec superno vidit ab Aethere Adam cadentem, Tartara hiantia, Unâque mergendos ruinâ Heu nimium miseros Nepotes.
Vidit minaces Vindicis Angeli Ignes & Ensem, Telaque Sanguine Tingenda nostro, dum rapinae Spe fremuere Erebaea Monstra.
Commota Sacras Viscera protinus Sensêre flammas, Omnipotens Furor Ebullit, Immensique Amoris Aethereum calet Igne pectus.
"Non tota prorsus Gens hominum dabit "Hosti triumphos: Quid Patris & Labor "Dulcisque Imago? Num peribunt "Funditus? O prius Astra caecis
"Mergantur undis, & redeat Chaos. "Aut ipse disperdam Satanae dolos, "Aut ipse disperdar, & isti "Sceptra dabo moderanda dextrae.
"Testor paternum Numen, & hoc Caput "Aequale testor, dixit, & Aetheris Inclinat ingens culmen, alto Desiliitque ruens Olympo.
Mortale corpus impiger induit Artusque nostros, heu tenues nimis Nimisque viles! Vindicique Corda dedit fodienda Ferro,
Vitamque Morti; Proh dolor! O graves Tonantis Irae! O Lex nimis aspera! Mercesque peccati severa Adamici, vetitique fructus,
Non poena lenis! Quô ruis impotens! Quo Musa! largas fundere lachrymas, Bustique Divini triumphos Sacrilego temerare fletu?
Sepone questus. Laeta Deum cane Majore Chordâ. Psalle sonoriùs Ut ferreas Mortis cavernas Et rigidam penetravit Aulam.
Sensêre Numen Regna feralia, Mugit Barathrum, contremuit Chaos, Dirùm fremebat Rex Gehennae, Perque suum tremebundus Orcum
Latè refugit. "Nil agis Impie, "Mergat vel Imis te Phlegethon vadis, "Hoc findet undas fulmen, Inquit, Et patrios Jaculatus Ignes
Trajecit hostem. Nigra Silentia Umbraeque flammas Aethereas pavent Dudum perosae, ex quo corusco Praecipites cecidere Coelo.
Immane rugit jam Tonitru; fragor Latè ruinam mandat: ab infimis Lectaeque destinata genti Tartara disjiciuntur antris.
Heìc strata passim vincula, & heìc jacent Unci cruenti, Tormina Mentium Invisa, ploratuque vasto Spicula Mors sibi adempta plangit.
En, ut resurgit Victor ab ultimo Ditis Profundo, curribus aureis Astricta raptans Monstra Noctis Perdomitumque Erebi Tyrannum.
Quanta Angelorum gaudia Jubilant Victor paternum dum repetit Polum? En qualis ardet, dum beati Limina scandit Ovans Olympi!
Io Triumphe plectra Seraphica, Io Triumphe grex hominum sonet, Dum laeta quaquaversus ambos Astra repercutiunt Triumphos.
More by Isaac Watts
- _Watts' Divine And Moral Songs._
- A Sight of CHRIST
- A Song of Praise TO GOD
- A Word of Warning, OR Few Happy Marriages
- Against Evil Company
- Against Idleness and Mischief
- Against Scoffing and Calling Names
- Against Tears. The beginning of Ode 23. Book 4. of Casimire Imitated. Si, quae flent mala, lugubres Auferrent…