Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences/Novi partus gaudium
Novi partus gaudium.
This sequence, for such it appears, was first published by Du Méril from a MS. of the fourteenth century. The writer was clearly formed in the school of Adam of S. Victor. The metre is very uncommon; and, perhaps, not very pleasing.
Let the faithful raise the lay
To the new-born King to-day:
That the Light of Light would come
From the Virgin's holy womb:
Purging Adam's guilt away,
Shedding joy and scattering gloom.
Long had darkness reigned around:
Light and freedom none were found,
Hope of exit none in ken
For the fallen tribes of men,
Whom the Prince of this world bound
Fast within his doleful den.
From the dungeon and the cave
Had the Law no power to save:
While the wounded traveller lay
Breathing of his soul away,
There the Priest[1] no aidance gave,
Word of hope had none to say.
So the Levite, passing by,
On him cast an idle eye:
For the Law, that sin displayed,
Showed its stain, but gave no aid,
Till to succour her drew nigh,
Grace, with mightier powers arrayed.
Prophet's staff was sent before,
But the child was ne'er the more
Raised to life, until He came
Who had sent afore the same:
God and man, whom Mary bore,
Taking of an infant frame.[2]
- ↑ The poet, whether by design or not, misses the usual interpretation of the Fathers: that by the Priest was meant the Patriarchal dispensation, which "passed by on the other side," neither doing, nor professing to do anything for the salvation of man; while by the Levite, who "came and looked" on the Traveller, the Law was typified:—which indeed showed man his sinfulness, but gave no effectual help.
- ↑ The allusion is, of course, to the staff of Elisha. Our Lord's taking the form of a child is here considered as symbolised by the Prophet's stretching himself upon the dead son of the Shunammite, and thus, so to speak, taking his form before raising him to life.