88
MEDIÆVAL HYMNS.
Here they bloom, they thrive, they flourish,
For decayed is all decay:
Lasting energy hath swallowed
Darkling death's malignant sway.
For decayed is all decay:
Lasting energy hath swallowed
Darkling death's malignant sway.
Though each one's respective merit
Hath its varying Palm assigned,
Love takes all as his possession,
Where his power hath all combined:
So that all that each possesses
All partake in unconfined.
Hath its varying Palm assigned,
Love takes all as his possession,
Where his power hath all combined:
So that all that each possesses
All partake in unconfined.
Christ, Thy soldier's palm of honour,
Unto this Thy City free
Lead me, when my warfare's girdle
I shall cast away from me:
A partaker in Thy bounty
With Thy Blessed ones to be.
Unto this Thy City free
Lead me, when my warfare's girdle
I shall cast away from me:
A partaker in Thy bounty
With Thy Blessed ones to be.
Grant me vigour, while I labour
In the ceaseless battle pressed,
That Thou may'st, the conflict over,
Grant me everlasting rest:
And I may at length inherit
Thee my portion ever blest.
In the ceaseless battle pressed,
That Thou may'st, the conflict over,
Grant me everlasting rest:
And I may at length inherit
Thee my portion ever blest.
With the above it is worth while to compare some of the concluding stanzas of the Christ's Triumph after Death of Giles Fletcher, who clearly had S. Peter Damiani's poem in his mind.
Here may the band that now in triumph shines,
And that, before they were invested thus,
In earthly bodies carried heavenly minds,
Pitch round about, in order glorious,
And that, before they were invested thus,
In earthly bodies carried heavenly minds,
Pitch round about, in order glorious,