The seasons blush varied with the flowery, fair weather, and
the gate of the pole lies open with greater light. His path in the heaven
raises the fire-breathing sun higher, who goes forth on his course, and
enters the waters of the ocean. Armed with rays traversing the liquid elements,
in this brief night he stretches out the day in a circle. The brilliant
firmament puts forth its clear countenance, and the bright stars show their
joy. The fruitful earth pours forth its gifts with varied increase, when
the year has well returned I its vernal riches. Soft beds of violets paint
the purple plain; the meadows are green with plants, and the plant shines
with its leaves. By degrees gleaming brightness of the flowers comes forth;
all the herbs smile with their blossoms. The seed being deposited, the
corn springs up far and wide in the fields, promising to be able to overcome
the hunger of the husbandman. Having deserted its stem, the vine-shoot
bewails its joys; the vine gives water only from the source from which
it is wont to give wine. The swelling bud, rising with tender down from
the back of its mother, prepares its bosom for bringing forth. Its foliage
having been torn off in the wintry season, the verdant grove now renews
its leafy shelter. Mingled together, the willow, the fir, the hazel, the
osier, the elm, the maple, the walnut, each tree applauds, delightful with
its leaves. Hence the bee, about to construct its comb, leaving the hive,
humming over the flowers, carries off honey with its leg. The bird which,
having closed its song, was dumb, sluggish with the wintry cold, returns
to its strains. Hence Philomela attunes her notes with her own instruments,
and the air becomes sweeter with the re-echoed melody. Behold, the favour
of the reviving world bears witness that all gifts have returned together
with its Lord. For in honour of Christ rising triumphant after His descent
to the gloomy Tartarus, the grove on every side with its leaves expresses
approval, the plants with their flowers express approval. The liht, the
heaven, the fields, and the sea duly praise the God ascending above the
stars, having crushed the laws of hell. Behold, He who was crucified reigns
as God over all things, and all created objects offer prayer to their Creator.
Hail, festive day, to be reverenced throughout the world, on which God
has conquered hell, and gains the stars! The changes of the year and of
the months, the bounteous light of the days, the splendour of the hours,
all things with voice applaud. Hence, in honour of you, the wood with its
foliage applauds; hence the vine, with its silent shoot, gives thanks.
Hence the thickets now resound with the whisper of birds; amidst these
the sparrow sings with exuberant love. O Christ, Thou Saviour of the world,
merciful Creator and Redeemer, the only offspring from the Godhead of the
Father, flowing in an indescribable manner from the heart of Thy Parent,
Thou self-existing Word, and powerful from the mouth of Thy Father, equal
to Him, of one mind with Him, His fellow, coeval with the Father, from
whom at first the world derived its origin! Thou dost suspend the firmament,
Thou heapest together the soil, Thou dost pour forth the seas, by whose
government all things which are fixed in their places flourish. Who seeing
that the human race was plunged in the depth of misery, that Thou mightest
rescue man, didst Thyself also become man: nor wert Thou willing only to
be born with a body, but Thou becamest flesh, which endured to be born
and to die. Thou dost undergo funeral obsequies, Thyself the author of
life and framer of the world, Thou dost enter the path of death, in giving
the aid of salvation. The gloomy chains of the infernal law yielded, and
chaos feared to be pressed by the presence of the light. Darkness perishes,
put to flight by the brightness of Christ; the think pall of eternal night
falls. But restore the promised pledge, I pray Thee, O power benign! The
third day has returned; arise, my buried One; it is not becoming that Thy
limbs should lie in the lowly sepulchre, nor that worhless stones should
press that which is the ransom of the world. It is unworthy that a stone
should shut in with a confining rock, and cover Him in whose fist all things
are enclosed. Take away the linen clothes, I pray; leave the napkins in
the tomb: Thou art sufficient for us, and without Thee there is nothing.
Release the chained shades of the infernal prison, and recall to the upper
regions whatever sinks to the lowest depths. Give back Thy face, that the
world may see the light; give back the day which flees from us at Thy death.
But returning, O holy conqueror! Thou didst altogether fill the heaven!
Tartarus lies depressed, nor retains its rights. The ruler of the lower
regions, insatiably opening his hollow jaws, who has always been a spoiler,
becomes a prey to Thee. Thou rescuest an innumerable people from the prison
of death, and they follow in freedom to the place whither their leader
approaches. The fierce monster in alarm vomits forth the multitude whom
he had swallowed up, and the Lamb withdraws the sheep from the jaw of the
wolf. Hence re-seeking the tomb from the lower regions, having resumed
Thy flesh, as a warrior Thou carriest back ample trophies to the heavens.
Those whom chaos held in punishment he has now restored; and those whom
death might seek, a new life holds, Oh, sacred King, behold a great part
of Thy triumph shines forth, when the sacred layer blesses pure souls!
A host, clad in white, come forth from the bright waves, and cleanse their
old fault in a new stream. The white garment also designates bright souls,
and the shepherd has enjoyments from the snow-white flock. The priest Felix
is added sharing in this reward, who wishes to give double talents to his
Lord. Drawing those who wander in Gentile error to better things, that
a beast of prey may not carry them away, He guards the fold of God. Those
whom guilty Eve had before infected, He now restores, fed with abundant
milk at the bosom of the Church. By cultivating rustic hearts with mild
conversations, a crop is produced from a brir by the bounty of Felix. The
Saxon, a fierce nation, living as it were after the manner of wild beasts,
when you, 0 sacred One! apply a remedy, the beast of prey resembles the
sheep. About to remain with you through an age with the return of a hundred-fold,
you fill the barns with the produce of an abundant harvest. May this people,
free from stain, be strengthened in your arms, and may you bear to the
stars a pure pledge to God. May one crown be bestowed on you from on high
gained from yourself, may another flourish gained from your people.
