Synesius.
VII.
Protos nomon euroman
(Logaoedic.)
I first invented in Thy praise,
O Blessèd, these new metric lays.
Immortal Thou! of virgin mild
The holy ever glorious Child:
Hope of the world, salvation's stem,
O Jesus of Jerusalem!
To Thee I raise the song on high;
To Thee my harp-strings joyful ply.
O show me favour, heavenly King!
10Accept the music which I bring
Of holy melodies; for Thou
Art He to whom my soul doth bow,
God over all, God's mighty Son,
The ever blest Immortal One!
The Eternal Father gave Thee birth;
Birth Thou hast given to heaven and earth.
All worlds are Thine; all nature Thine;
And wisdom infinite, divine.
In heaven, as God, Thy fame is spread;
20Below, as mingled with the dead.
But when the blessèd day had shone
That Thou shouldst mortal flesh put on
Of virgin mother, then the star,
Seen by the magi from afar
In eastern clime, perplexed their mind
And varied skill; nor could they find
Or who, or what, the child might be,
Or what the hidden deity;
No answer could their wisdom bring;
30Or God, or doomed to die, or king.
'Tis well! meet be your offerings:
Bring myrrh for death's last sufferings:
Bring royal presents of fine gold;
And gifts of frankincense unfold.
My God! here frankincense behold!
My King! deign to receive the gold!
And O! Thou Saviour born to die,
Myrrh, for Thy tomb let me supply!
And cleansèd was the earth by Thee,
40And cleansèd were the waves of sea;
And all the paths which upward bear,
In slender element of air;
And dark recesses underground,
In succour to the dead there bound,
By Thee, great Conqueror, were trod;
And Hades stood aghast at God.
But O! propitious be, great King!
Smile on the tribute which I bring
Of tuneful songs and measured lays
50Designèd for Thy holy praise.
VIII.
'Upo dorion armogan
(Logaoedic.)
O! 'Tis no theme of common things
That wakes my ivory-fastened strings!
To Thee, in solemn Dorian [19] strain,
I lift my heart and voice amain,
O blessèd, O Immortal One,
The holy Virgin's glorious Son!
But, O great King, save Thou my life
From cares and woes and worldly strife,
That from calamity all free
10Both night and day I may praise Thee.
And to my mind mayst Thou convey
From mind's own fount, a clear bright ray.
Unto my youth mayst Thou impart
Soundness of limbs and manly heart:
And may my deeds reflect Thy light
In honour, truth, and glory bright.
And on the ripeness of mine age
Mayst Thou the wisdom of the sage
Bestow, with health, the blessed mead
20Of harvest rich from well-sown seed.
And on that darling son of mine
May Thy preserving mercy shine,
Whom, when just passing gate of death,
Thou didst restore to vital breath.
O Lord of life, 'twas Thou didst wrench
From Death's firm grasp, his prey, and quench
My burning grief in floods of joy;
For Thou didst give me back my boy;
And tears, O Father, Thou didst dry,
30In answer to Thy suppliant's cry!
May son and daughter, much loved pair,
Thy kind protection ever share,
And all my house, in happy calm,
Be sheltered by Thine hand from harm!
And, O my Saviour King, bless Thou
The partner of my wedded vow;
From sickness and from sorrow free,
Faithful, one-minded, may she be,
Preserved by Thee from thought of sin,
40All bright without, all pure within!
Untouched by roving passions' tide,
My honoured wife, my love, my pride!
Loose Thou my soul from baneful chains
Of worldly life, its cares and pains,
And floods of dismal grief and woe,
Which overwhelm this earth below.
O! thus prepared may I be found
With holy worshippers around
To lead the choir, and chants to raise
50To Thy all-glorious Father's praise;
And to Thy majesty, great King,
Loud hymns again I hope to sing;
Again in voice of praise Thy name
To bless, Thy honours to proclaim;
May be, my harp I shall again
Tune all-unhurt to highest strain.
[19] He uses the epithet Dorian in a general sense, to express that which is grave and sublime.