CRUX AVE BENEDICTA

By some attributed to St. Ambrose, but generally and with greater probability to Fortunatus. There is an imitation of this hymn in English by Bishop Mant, beginning, "See the destined day arise!" one of the Passion hymns in "Hymns Ancient and Modern" (No. 99).

I
II
III
IV
V
VI
Thirty years by God appointed,
And there dawns the woeful day,
When the great Redeemer girds Him
For the tumult of the fray;
And upon the cross uplifted,
Bears our load of guilt away.
Ah! 'tis bitter gall He drinketh,
When His heart in anguish fails;--
From the thorns His life-blood trickles,
From the spear wound and the nails;
But that crimson stream for cleansing,
O'er creation wide prevails.
Faithful Cross! in all the woodland,
Standeth not a nobler tree;
In thy leaf, and flower, and fruitage,
None can e'er thy equal be;
Sweet the wood, and sweet the iron,
Sweet the load that hung on thee.
Noble tree! unbend thy branches,
Let thy stubborn fibres bend,
Cast thy native rigour from thee,
Be a gentle, loving friend;
Bear Him in thine arms, and softly,
Christ, the King eternal, tend.
Only thou could'st bear the burden
Of the ransom of our race;
Only thou could'st be a refuge,
Like the ark, a hiding-place,
By the sacred blood anointed,
Of the Covenant of Grace.
Blessing, blessing everlasting,
To the glorious Trinity;
To the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Equal glory let there be;
Universal praise be given,
To the Blessed One in Three.

This little poem, which he pronounces "perfect in its kind," is taken by Trench from Daniel's Thesaurus, without any note of author or of date.

I
II
III
IV
Hail, thou Blessed Cross, all hail!
Death no longer can prevail.
On those arms extended high,
Did my King and Saviour die.
Queen of all the trees that grow,
Medicine when health is low,
Solace to the cumbered heart,
Comfort thou when sorrows smart.
O! most sacred wood, the sign
That eternal life is mine;
On the fruit thy branches give,
Feeds the human heart to live.
When, around the Judgment-seat,
Friends of thine and foes shall meet,
Be my prayer, O Christ, to Thee,
And in love remember me.