Adam of Saint-Victor
VII Sequence on John the Evangelist
Gratulemur
ad festivum:
Jucundemur
ad votivum
Joannis praeconium;
Sic versetur laus in ore,
Ne fraudetur
cor sapore
Quo degustet gaudium.
Let us give thanks
at the holiday,
let us rejoice
at the longed-for
proclamation of John;
Thus let praise
pour forth from the mouth,
so that the heart may not be
robbed of the flavor
by means of which it may taste joy.
Hic est Christi praedilectus:
Qui reclinans supra pectus
Hausit sapientiam;
[10] Huic in cruce commendavit
Christus matrem, hic servavit
Virgo viri nesciam.
He is Christ’s favorite,
reclining upon whose breast
he drank wisdom;
Christ on the cross commended
his mother to him, who, a virgin,
protected her whom no man had touched.
Intus ardens charitate,
Foris lucens purtate i
[15] Signis et eloquio,
Ut ab aestu criminali,
Sic immunis a poenali,
Prodiit ex dolio.
Burning inwardly with love,
shining outwardly with purity,
and famous for his eloquence,
so that he escaped safely
from sinful passion,
from the penal vessel.
Vim veneni superavit,
[20] Morti, morbis imperavit
Necnon et daemonibus;
Sed vir tantae potestatis
Non minoris pietatis
Erat tribulantibus.
He overcome the power of poison,
he had power over death
and devils as well;
but a man of such power
did not behave with less piety
among the oppressed
[25] Cum gemmarum partes fractas
Solidasset, has distractas
Tribuit pauperibus;
Inexhaustum fert thesaurum
Qui de virgis fecit aurum,
[30] Gemmas de lapidibus.
He collected the broken pieces
of jewels, gave the pieces
to the poor;
he who has made gold out of branches,
gems out of stones,
carries an inexhaustible treasure.
Invitatur ab amico
Convivari Christum dico
Visum cum discipulis;
De sepulcro, quo descendit,
[35] Redit vivus; sic ascendit,
Frui summis epulis.
He was invited to dine
with his friend Christ,
who was not seen by the disciples;
from the tomb into which he descends
he returns alive; thus he ascends
to enjoy the loftiest meals.
Testem habes populum,
Imo, si vis, oculum,
Quod ad ejus tumulum
[40] Manna scatet, epulum
De Christi convivio.
Scribens Evangelium
Aquilae fert proprium,
Cernens solis radium
[45] Scilicet principium,
Verbum in principio.
You have the people as witness,
as well as, if you wish, the eye,
that manna, food for
Christ’s banquet,
flows at his tomb.
When he wrote the gospel
he wore the eagle’s power,
discerning the ray of the sun,
indeed the beginning,
the word that was in the beginning.
Hujus signis est conversa
Gens gentilis, gens perversa
Gens totius Asiae;
[50] Hujus scriptis illustratur,
Illustrata solidatur
Unitas Ecclesiae.
By his miracles the pagans,
perverse people, the entire people of Asia
were converted;
the unity of the church
was clearly shown and confirmed
by his writings.
Salve salvi vas pudoris,
Vas coelestis plenum roris,
[55] Mundum intus, clarum foris.
Nobile per omnia;
Fac nos sequi sanctitatem,
Fac per mentis puritatem
Contemplari Trinitatem
[60] Unam substantia.
Hail, vessel of redeeming modesty,
vessel filled with celestial dew,
pure without, bright within,
noble in all things;
compel us to follow virtue,
make us, through purity of mind,
contemplate the single
substance of the trinity.