POENITENTIA. LXVI CUM fui sine Te, non fui: quia nihil fui. · . . Et ideo cæcus eram surdus et insensibilis; quia nec bonum discernebam, nec malum fugiebam. . . Vae mihi! vulneraverunt me et non dolui: traxerunt me et non sensi; quia nihil eram quia sine vita eram Domine Lux mea, inimici mei de me fecerunt quaecumque voluerunt; percusserunt, nudaverunt, polluerunt, corruperunt, vulneraverunt et occiderunt me; quia recessi a Te, et factus sum nihil sine Te. Heu Domine, Vita mea qui fecisti me, Lux mea quae direxisti me, Defensor vitae meae, miserere mei et resuscita me. Domine, Deus meus, spes mea, virtus mea, fortitudo mea, consolatio mea, in die tribulationis meae, respice inimicos meos, et eripe me; fugiant a facie tua qui oderunt Te, et ego vivam in Te, per Te. AUGUSTINUS. 66 TRU PENITENCE. RUE life within me was not, My foes! they drew me downward, True life within me was not, For I was far from Thee; Sins were the foes that thralled me, They stripped me bare, despoiling, They buffeted and slew me, For I was far from Thee. My Lord! my Life, my Buckler, Rise! let them flee before Thee, AUGUSTINE. Ipsi enim Domine consideraverunt me, et videntes me, sine Te, despexerunt me. Diviserunt sibi vestimenta virtutum quibus ornaveras me; fecerunt sibi viam, viam per me, sub pedibus suis conculcaverunt me; faecibus peccatorum polluerunt templum sanctum Tuum, posuerunt me desolatum et mærore confectum. Ibam post eos cæcus nudus et illaqueatus funibus peccatorum. Cæcus eram Cæcitatem desiderabam. Vinctus eram, vincula non horrebam. Adhaeream ergo tibi, Verbum! ut conserves me; quia ubi a Te recessi, perii in me. AUGUSTINUS, VI. 1268. POTIUS ANSELMUS. LXVII VENI Convertere, Israel, ad Dominum Deum. ENIAMUS poenitentes Ventos evocat furentes, Nox regnavit dolorosa, They took the robe that clothed me, A blinded slave they bound me, I hugged and dragged my chain. O Word divine! for shelter ANSELM, born A.D. 1033. 67 Return unto the Lord thy God. OME, let us to the Lord our God With contrite hearts return ; Our God is gracious, nor will leave His voice commands the tempest forth, And stills the stormy wave; Long hath the night of sorrow reign'd; God shall appear, and we shall rise |