by Peter Abelard (1079 - 1142)
Translation by Helen Jane Waddell (1889 - 1965)

In Parasceve Domini : III. Nocturno
Language: Latin 
Solus ad victimam procedis, Domine, 
morti te offerens quam venis tollere : 
quid nos miserrim ipossumus dicere 
qui quae commisimus scimus te lucre ? 

Nostra sunt, Domine, nostra sunt crimina : 
quid tua criminum facis supplicia? 
quibus sic compati fac nostra pectora, 
ut vel compassio digna sit venia. 

Nox ista flebilis praesensque triduum 
quod demorabitur fletus sit vesperum, 
donec laetitiae mane gratissimum 
surgente Domino sit maestis redditum. 

Tu tibi compati sic fac nos, Domine, 
tuae participes ut simus gloriae ; 
sic praesens triduum in luctu ducere, 
ut risum tribuas paschalis gratiae.

Text Authorship:

  • by Peter Abelard (1079 - 1142), "In Parasceve Domini : III. Nocturno"

Go to the general single-text view


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-04-03
Line count: 16
Word count: 87

Language: English  after the Latin 
Alone to sacrifice Thou goest, Lord,
Giving Thyself to death whom Thou hast slain.
For us Thy wretched folk is any word,
Whose sins have brought Thee to this agony?

For they are ours, O Lord, our deeds, our deeds,
Why must Thou suffer torture for our sin?
Let our hearts suffer for Thy passion, Lord,
That sheer compassion may Thy mercy win.

This is that night of tears, the three days' space,
Sorrow abiding of the eventide,
Until the day break with the risen Christ,
And hearts that sorrowed shall be satisfied.

So may our hearts have pity on Thee, Lord,
That they may sharers of Thy glory be:
Heavy with weeping may the three days pass,
To win the laughter of Thine Easter Day.

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Composition:

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-04-03
Line count: 16
Word count: 132