Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences/Gloria, laus, et honor
Gloria, laus, et honor
This processional Hymn for Palm Sunday is said to have been composed by S. Theodulph at Metz, or as others will have it, at Angers, while imprisoned on a false accusation: and to have been sung by him from his dungeon window, or by choristers instructed by him, as the Emperor Louis and his Court were on their way to the Cathedral. The good Bishop was immediately liberated. In the original composition there were ten stanzas besides the Chorus. The Roman Missal retains only the first five. Others add, as I have here added, the sixth and the tenth. The remaining three are utterly unworthy of the general beauty of the Hymn.—I have to acknowledge the assistance of a friend in the translation.
Glory, and honour, and laud be to Thee, King Christ the Redeemer!
Children before Whose steps raised their Hosannas of praise.
Glory, and honour, &c.
Israel's Monarch art Thou, and the glorious Offspring of David,
Thou that approachest a King blessed in the Name of the Lord.
Glory, and honour, &c.
Glory to Thee in the highest the heavenly armies are singing:
Glory to Thee upon earth man and creation reply.
Glory, and honour, &c.
Met Thee with Palms in their hands that day the folk of the Hebrews:
We with our prayers and our hymns now to Thy presence approach.
Glory, and honour, &c.
They to Thee proffered their praise for to herald Thy dolorous Passion;
We to the King on His Throne utter the jubilant hymn.
Glory, and honour, &c.
They were then pleasing to Thee, unto Thee our devotion be pleasing;
Merciful King, kind King, Who in all goodness art pleas'd.
Glory, and honour, &c.
They in their pride of descent were rightly the children of Hebrews:
Hebrews[1] are we, whom the Lord's Passover maketh the same.
Glory, and honour, &c.
Victory won o'er the world be to us for our branches of Palm tree:
So in the Conqueror's joy this to Thee still be our song:
Glory, and honour, and laud be to Thee, King Christ the Redeemer,
Children before Whose steps raised their Hosannas of Praise.
- ↑ This is partly a reference to Christ, our True Passover:—partly to Hebrew, as derived from Heber, interpreted by passage.
I add another translation, which I made for the Hymnal Noted.
Glory, and laud, and honour,
To Thee, Redeemer King!
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet Hosannas ring!Thou art the King of Israel;
Thou David's Royal Son;
Who in the Lord's Name comest
The King and Blessed One.The Company of Angels
Are praising Thee on high:
And mortal men, and all things
Created, make reply.The people of the Hebrews
With Palms before Thee went;
Our praise, and prayer, and anthems
Before Thee we present.In hastening to Thy Passion,
They rais'd their hymns of praise:
In reigning 'midst Thy glory,
Our melody we raise.Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King!This last is adopted in the Sarum Hymnal, but with alterations; (among which such as in ver. 2, "Our Blessed King we own," and in ver. 3, "On earth do make reply.") And in Hymns Ancient and Modern, with one change only, and that an improvement; (1. 1,) "All glory, laud, and honour."
Another verse was usually sung, till the 17th century; at the pious quaintness of which we can scarcely avoid a smile:
Be Thou, O Lord, the Rider,
And we the little ass;
That to God's Holy City
Together we may pass.