A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity/Hymns and Sequences/The Holy Innocents, at Vespers

by Prudentius, translated by Edward Caswall

For other versions of this translation, see Lovely flowers of martyrs, hail.

SALVETE, flores martyrum,
⁠Quos lucis ipso in limine
Christi insecutor sustulit,
⁠Ceu turbo nascentes rosas.

LOVELY flowers of Martyrs, hail!
⁠Smitten by the tyrant foe
On life's threshold—as the gale
⁠Strews the roses ere they blow.

Vos prima Christi victima,
⁠Grex immolatorum tener,
Aram sub ipsam simplices
⁠Palma et coronis luditis.

First to bleed for Christ, sweet lambs!
⁠What a simple death ye died!
Sporting with your wreath and palms
⁠At the very altar-side!

Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
⁠Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
⁠In sempitema sæcula.

Amen.

Honor, glory, virtue, merit,
⁠Be to Thee, O Virgin's Son,
With the Father, and the Spirit,
⁠While eternal ages run.

Amen.