Hymn for the feast of the holy martyrs Cosmas and Damian. at Vespers
  • Chris_McAvoyChris_McAvoy
    Posts: 389
    I wondered if anyone here might be interested in providing a translation,
    whether metrical or unmetrical for this hymn to give us a better idea of what it says.

    There are not that I know of many saints who were known as charitable "unmercenary" physicians.
    What a great timeless example they are. The mozarabic breviary seems to have the most extensive selection of Latin hymns of any other local usage or western rite. It contains the most important well known frankish-roman and ambrosian hymns with a large amount of important ones written in spain.
    The earliest hymns for Jerome, Cecilia, Lawrence, Roman, Eufemia, Eulalia,Michael, the archangel and others are featured in it's breviary.

    Perhaps someday someone will undertake a project to create metrical english or metrical spanish texts to sing them. They are outstanding and would add great richness to the Church. Even good english translations to understand the latin would be of benefit, as they appear to not exist. Much as what was done for the pre-roman Anglo-saxon office hymns.


    here it is:

    In the feast of the holy martyrs Cosmas and Damian. Vespers Hymn

    (Die XXI Octobris. In festivitate sanctorum Cosmae et Damiani martyrum. Ad Vesperum, in Laudibus / 21 de octubre. Santos Cosme y Damián mártires. Vísperas y Laudes).
    Nota: 22 de octubre en el calendario actual

    1. Plebs Deo dicata, pollens
    Et caterva multiplex,
    Coetus, et conventus omnis,
    Temtus orbis ambitu
    Sanguinis quos mundat unda.
    Singularis victimae.

    2. Aurium claros meatus,
    Et profunda pectoris,
    Cordis intima, simulque
    Mentis alta pandite:
    Res pia narratur: omnes
    Huc venite praepetes.

    3. En nova processione
    Prosilit miraculum,
    Dum medellae substat ordo
    Plenus omni munere;
    Nam vigent Cosmas, et alter
    Damianus inclyti.

    4. Ore, tactu, posse jussu,
    Cum medendi gratia,
    Igne ferri, igne verbi
    Cuncta siccant morbida:
    Arte libri, arte coeli
    Tota curant languida.

    5. Quicquid illis esse substat
    Ad salutem, proficit:
    Una virtus format ipsa:
    Quaeque sunt vitalia,
    Dum viget totum, quod ore,
    Quod manu determinant.

    6. Ossa, nervi, vel medulla,
    Sanguis, artus, viscera,
    Spiritus, et omne pectus
    Anxiosum taediis:
    Tot a Sanctis ferre plenam
    Sic medellam postulant;

    7. Ut ruat Daemon, et horror,
    Languor, ulcus decidat,
    Gratia culpam sequatur,
    Et scelus clementia:
    Sit malis omnino finis
    Et bonis aeternitas.

    8. Laus tibi per omne tempus,
    Trinitas indifferens,
    Laus, honor, virtusque summa,
    Singularis gloria,
    Quae Deum te saeculorum
    Permanet in saecula.
    Amen.

    Analecta hymnica medii aevi, 27 (Cl. Blume, 1897) p. 148-149

    AUTHOUR: Ildefonsus Toletanus (607-667 AD) (From Toledo, Spain)

    http://www.arquired.es/users/mrgreyes/ermita/oficio/brv-ymn/ymn-21oct.htm
  • Maureen
    Posts: 679
    O people dedicated to God, o strong
    And manyfold assembly,
    O every group and meeting
    Held by time's round,
    The wave of which cleans the blood
    Of each victim.

    By the excellent ones, moved in the ear
    Also the depths of the breast,
    At the same time of the inmost heart
    And highest mind, spread it out.
    A pious thing is narrated; everyone
    Come flying to this place.

    Lo, at a new procession
    A miracle rushes up,
    While the full line stands firm
    To give all a cure.
    For they are strong, Cosmas and the other,
    Renowned Damian.

    By mouth, by touch, by order, they can
    Heal with grace.
    By fire of iron, [cauterization] by fire of Word,
    They dry out all that's diseased.
    By art from books, by art from heaven,
    They heal all the listless.

    Whoever stands firm to be with them,
    He makes it to salvation.
    One virtue shapes both.
    And those who are lively,
    While they are strong, by mouth,
    By hand, they determine all.

    Bones, nerves or marrow,
    Blood, limb, entrails,
    Breath, and all the breast,
    Anxious by boredom.
    As many who by the saints bear the full,
    So many they pray for a cure for:

    For those demon would destroy, and horror.
    Faintness, the ulcer that would cut them down.
    Let grace follow the fault,
    And clemency, the crime.
    Let the evil end altogether
    And eternity be for the good.

    Praise be to You through all time,
    O unbiased Trinity,
    Praise, honor and all virtue,
    Singular glory.
    May it endure to You, God,
    For an age of ages, Amen.
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