Adam of Saint-Victor (c.1112-1192?)
IV Sequence on the birth of the Lord
Splendor Patris et figura Se conformans homini, Potestate non natura, [Partum dedit virgini. |
The brightness and figure of the father, making itself into a man by power not nature allowed a virgin to give birth. |
Adam vetus tandem laetus: Novum promat canticum Fugitivus et captivus: Prodeat in publicum. |
Let old Adam, |
Eva luctum: vitae fructum [10] Virgo gaudens edidit. Nec sigillum propter illum Castitatis perdidit. |
The joyful virgin brings forth Eve’s pain, the fruit of life, and does not lose the seal of chastity because of it. |
Si crystallus sit humecta Atque soli sit objecta: [15] Scintillat igniculum Nec crystallus rumpitur: Nec in partu solvitur Pudoris signaculum. |
If crystal is made moist and placed in the sun, a small flame sparkles; the crystal is not broken, nor is the seal of modesty broken by the act of birth. |
[Col. 1432B] Super tali genitura [20] Stupet usus et natura: Deficitque ratio. Res est ineffabilis: Tam pia tam humilis Christi generatio. |
Custom and nature are astonished by such a birth, and reason fails; the matter is ineffable, such a pious, humble birth of Christ. |
25] Frondem, florem, nucem, sicca Virga profert; et pudica Virgo Dei Filium. Fert coelestem vellus rorem: Creatura Creatorem; [30] Creaturae pretium. |
The dry rod produces leaf, flower, nut, and the modest virgin brings forth the son of god; the fleece bears divine dew, the creature the creator, the reward for the creature. |
Frondis, floris, nucis, roris, Pietati Salvatoris Congruunt mysteria. Frons est Christus protegendo. [35] Flos dulcore; nux pascendo. Ros coelesti gratia. |
The mysteries of leaf, flower, nut, dew correspond to the holiness of the savior; Christ is the leaf for protection, the flower for sweetness, the nut for nourishment, dew for divine grace. |
Cur quod virgo pepererit, Est Judaeis scandalum. Cum virgo produxerit [40] Sicca sic amygdalum |
Why was the virgin birth a stumbling block for the Jews? Since the dry rod had produced an almond. |
Contemplemur adhuc nucem, Nam prolata nux in lucem; Lucis est mysterium. Trinam gerens unionem; [45] Tria confert: unctionem, Lumen et aedulium. |
Let us consider the nut; for the nut brought forth into the light is the mystery of light; bearing triple union it confers three things: ointment, light and sustenance. |
Nux est Christus, cortex nucis Circa carnem poena crucis. Testa, corpus ossium. [50] Carne tecta deitas, Et Christi suavitas, Signatur per nucleum. |
The nut is Christ; the husk of the nut is the crucifixion of his flesh, the shell is the bony body; deity covered with flesh and the gentleness of Christ is signified by the kernel. |
Lux est caecis, et unguentum, Christus aegris, et fomentum [55] Piis animalibus. O quam dulce sacramentum Fenum carnis in frumentum Convertit fidelibus. |
Christ is the light and ointment for the blind and nourishment for sick, pious souls. O how the sweet sacrament changes the hay of the flesh into wheat for the faithful. |
Quos sub umbra sacramenti [60] Jesu pascis in praesenti, Tuo vultu satia. Splendor Patri coaeterne, Nos hinc transfer ad paternae [Col. 1434B] Claritatis gaudia. Amen. |
Those whom you now feed, Jesus, in the shadow of the sacrament, satisfy them with the sight of your face; brilliance of the coeternal father, bring us from here to the joys of the paternal radiance. |