Bound, and in prison, sang they still,
And, singing, freedom found.

Our prison is this earth,

And yet we sing to Thee!

Break sin's strong fetters, lead us forth,

Set us, believing, free.

Meet for thy realm in heaven

Make us, O holy King!

That through the ages it be given

To us Thy praise to sing.

The following hymn, in many parts, so much resembles the "Te Deum," that it seems more appropriate to translate it without metre:

HYMN TO CHRIST.

(Christe, Rex cali, Domine.)

1 O Lord Christ, King of heaven, great Saviour of the world, who by the gift of the Cross has absolved us from the penalty of death,

2 We beseech Thee to preserve the gifts which by the catholic law Thou hast given to all nations.

3 Thou art the Eternal Word, proceeding from the Father, very God of very God, the only begotten Son.

4 The whole creation, begun at the decree of the Father, by Thy might perfected, doth acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.

5 All the angels shew Thy heavenly glory; the choir of the archangels with divine voices praise Thee.

6 The multitude of the four-and-twenty elders, bearing vials full of odours, suppliant adore Thee.

7 Cherubim and seraphim, thrones of the Father's light, beating their six wings, to Thee continually do cry,

8 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.

9 Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed art Thou of the Father, O Lord, who comest from the highest in the name of God.

10 Thou, the spotless Lamb, hast given Thyself a victim on the earth, who hast washed the robes of the saints in Thine own blood.

11 The host of blessed martyrs dwelling in heaven, glorious with palms and crowns, follow Thee, the Prince of glory.

12 We pray Thee add us to their number, O Lord. With one voice we acknowledge Thee, and praise Thee with one song.

The following verses are extracted from St Ambrose's celebrated hymn on the Advent. It is the first of the series of translations here selected from the Ambrosian hymns on the truths commemorated in the various festivals:

ADVENT HYMN.

ST AMBROSE.

(Veni, Redemptor gentium.)

Redeemer of the nations, come;
Pure offspring of the Virgin's womb,
Seed of the woman, promised long,
Let ages swell Thine advent song.

Once from the Father came He forth,
Home to the Father rose from earth;
The depths of hell the Saviour trod,
Now seated on the throne of God.

To God the Father equal, Word,
Thy mortal vesture on Thee gird;

G

The weakness of our flesh at length
Sustaining by Thy changeless strength.

Thy cradle shines the darkness through,
Illuming night with lustre new,
Which never night shall hide again,
But faith in ceaseless light retain.

ON THE EPIPHANY.

AURELIUS PRUDENTIUS CLEMENS.

(0 sola magnarum urbium.)

Small among cities, Bethlehem,
Yet far in greatness passing them;
He who shall King and Saviour be,
The Infinite, is born in thee.

That radiant star, which hath the sun
In beauty and in light outshone,
Proclaims that God has come to earth
In mortal flesh, of human birth.

The Magi, guided by that star,
Their Eastern offerings bring from far,
Prostrate, with vows, their gifts unfold,
Myrrh, frankincense, and royal gold.

Treasures and perfumes rich they bring,
Meet tributes for the God and King;
Embalming frankincense and myrrh
Foretell the mortal sepulchre.

The two following hymns have a peculiar interest as simple narratives, by which, no doubt, the glad tidings were sung into the hearts of the people, although there is

a danger of the simplicity of the original sinking in a translation into the jingle of a nursery ballad :—

ON THE PASSION.

(Hymnum dicamus Domino.)

Come let us sing unto the Lord
A song of highest praise to God,
Who on the accursed and shameful tree*
Redeem'd us by His blood.

The day was sinking into eve,

The blessed Lord's betrayal-day,
When impious to the Supper came
He who would Christ betray.

Jesus at that last supper then

Tells the disciples what shall be:
"For one of you betrayeth Me,
Of you who eat with Me."

Judas, by basest greed seduced,

Seeks to betray Him with a kiss;
He, as a meek and spotless lamb,
Denies not Judas this.

Thus for some thirty counted pence,
The impious bargain Judas made;
And Christ, the harmless, blameless Lord,
Is to the Jews betray'd.

Pilate, the governor, proclaim'd,

“Lo, I in Him no fault can find;"

Washing in water then his hands,

Christ to His foes resign'd.

"Patibulo crucis."

The blinded Jews rejected Him,

And chose a murderer instead; Of Christ, “Let Him be crucified,” With bitter words they said.

Barabbas then is freed, as bound,

Guilty, and doom'd to death He lies; And the world's Life is crucified,

By whom the dead arise.

EASTER HYMN.

(Aurora lucis rutilat.)

The morning kindles all the sky,

The heavens resound with anthems high,
The earth's exulting songs reply,

Hell wails a great and bitter cry.

For He, the strong and rightful King,
Death's heavy fetters severing,

Treads 'neath His feet the ancient foe,
Redeems a wretched race from woe.

Vainly with rocks His tomb they barr'd, While Roman guards kept watch and ward; Majestic from the spoiled tomb

In pomp of triumph He is come.

Let the long wail at length give place,
The groanings of a sentenced race,
The shining angels, as they speed,
Proclaim, "The Lord is risen indeed!"

The sad apostles mourn'd their loss,
They mused upon the shameful Cross,