Literal translation of Crux Fidelis?
  • RobertRobert
    Posts: 343
    Anyone have a good translation--not a verse translation, but a slavishly literal translation--of Fortunatus' hymn Pange lingua gloriosi, proelium (Crux fidelis)? Something suitable for helping schola members understand the meaning of the words. My understanding of Latin is very limited but I'm told that even for those with a firm grasp of Latin the language of this hymn is particularly puzzling in places.

    Some verse translations appear to be very good but I'm sure some of the meaning must get lost in the effort to force a good rhyme.
  • francis
    Posts: 10,828
    i took pics of my 'manual of prayers' dated 1916.

    http://www.bizextend.com/pangelingua
  • Maureen
    Posts: 678
    Faithful Cross,
    among (them) all,
    the one noble tree/trunk;
    the wood offers nothing so great
    in flower, foliage/frond, (or) sprout.
    Sweet wood, sweet nail (or iron, depending on whether you're singing clavi or ferrum),
    sustaining sweet weight!

    Bow/bend branches, tall tree,
    relax your taut inners,
    and soften the stiffness
    which birth gave (you),
    so that the limbs of the supernal King
    you stretch gently on the post.

    You alone were worthy
    to carry the world's price,
    and also to prepare a port
    for the shipwrecked sailor of the world --
    which holy blood anointed,
    flowing from the Body of the Lamb.

    There's a poetic version here which might help:
    http://preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Hymni/PangeF.html#Crux

    Caswall follows the post-Pope Urban V version. (You can see the changes Pope Urban V made at the bottom of the page I linked to.) That's probably the version you're using; if so, Caswall is pretty literal.
  • RobertRobert
    Posts: 343
    Thanks!
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