Libera plebem tibi servientem, ira mitescat tua, sancte rector, lacrimas clemens gemitusque amaros respice, Christe. Tu pater noster dominusque celsus, nos tui servi sumus, alme pastor, frontibus nostris rosei cruoris signa gerentes. Infero tristi tibi quis fatetur? Mortui laudes tibi num sacrabunt? Ferreae virgae, metuende iudex, parce, rogamus. Non propinetur populo tuoque nunc calix irae, meriti furoris: clareant priscae miserationes -- quaesumus, audi. Deleas nostrum facinus, precamur, nosque conserva, benedicte princeps, mentium furvas supera tenebras, lux pia mundi. Sancte sanctorum, dominusque regum, visitet plebem tua sancta dextra, nos tuo vultu videas serenus, ne pereamus.
Text Authorship:
- by Sedulius Scottus (flourished 840-60), "Contra plagam"
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-04-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 93
Set free Thy people, set free Thy servants,
Lighten Thine anger, Ruler most holy;
Look on their anguish, bitter their weeping,
Christ, in Thy mercy.
Thou art our Father, Master exalted,
We are Thy servants, Thou the Good Shepherd,
Bearing Thy token of blood and of crimson
Marked on our foreheads.
Deep in Thy hell who then shall confess Thee?
Yea, shall the dead give praise to Thy name?
Judge of our dread, Thy rod is of iron,
Spare us, we pray Thee.
Bring not so near to Thy people, Thy servants,
The cup of Thine anger, Thy merited wrath :
Lighten upon us Thine ancient compassion.
We cry. Do Thou hear!
Loosen, we pray Thee, our load of transgression.
Vouchsafe to keep us, Prince ever blessed.
Vanquish the shadow that darkens our spirits,
Light of the world.
Saint of all saints and king of all kingships,
Visit Thy people with Thy right hand.
Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us,
Lord, or we perish.
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Composition:
- Set to music by Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934), "Intercession", op. 52 no. 2, H. 186 no. 2 (1931-2) [ male voices and strings ], from Six Choruses for male voices and string orchestra, no. 2
Text Authorship:
- by Helen Jane Waddell (1889 - 1965), "Intercession against the Plague", appears in Medieval Latin Lyrics, first published 1929
Based on:
- a text in Latin by Sedulius Scottus (flourished 840-60), "Contra plagam"
Go to the general single-text view
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-04-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 166