15 November 2006

The More Loving One (W.H. Auden)

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.

How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.

13 November 2006

Vespers: Saturday Evening (Peter Abelard)

o quanta qualia
sunt illa sabbata
quae semper celebrat
superna curia,
quae fessis requies,
quae merces fortibus,
cum erit omnia
Deus in omnibus.

vera Ierusalem
est illa civitas,
cuius pax iugis est,
summa iucunditas:
ubi non praevenit
rem desiderium,
nec desiderio
minus est praemium.

quis Rex, quae curia,
quale palatium,
quae pax, quae requies,
quod illud gaudium,
huius participes
exponant gloriam,
si quantum sentiunt,
possint exprimere.

nostrum est interim
mentem erigere
et totis patriam
votis appetere,
et ad Ierusalem
a Babylonia
post longa regredi
tandem exsilia.

illic, molestiis
finitis omnibus,
securi cantica
Sion cantibimus,
et iuges gratias
de donis gratiae
beata referet
plebs tibi, Domine.

illic ex sabbato
succedet sabbatum,
perpes laetitia
sabbatizantium,
nec ineffabiles
cessabunt iubili,
quos decantabimus
et nos et angeli.

perenni Domino
perpes sit gloria,
ex quo sunt, per quem sunt,
in quo sunt omnia:
ex quo sunt, Pater est,
per quem sunt, Filius,
in quo sunt, Patris et
Filii Spiritus.