Office hymn for Lauds of Eastertide

 

Office hymn for Lauds of Eastertide. Urban VIII revised it to Aurora caelum purpurat (1632), Aurora lucis rutilat was restored in 1913.

(Lasso and Solesmes 1934)

1  Aurora lucis rutilat,
Coelum laudibus intonat,
Mundus exsultans jubilat,
Gemens infernus ululat.

2  Cum Rex ille fortissimus,
Mortis confractis viribus
Pede conculcans tartara,
Solvit a poena miseros,

3  Ille qui clausus lapide
Custoditur sub milite,
Triumphans pompa nobili,
Victor fugit de funere.

4  Solutis iam gemitibus,
Et infernis doloribus
Quia surrexit Dominus,
Resplendens clamat Angelus,

5  Quae sumus Auctor omnium,
in hoc pascali gaudio,
Ab omni mortis impetu
Tuum defende populum.

6  Gloria tibi Domine,
Qui surrexisti a mortuis,
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula,
Amen.

1  Light's glittering morn bedecks the sky,
heaven thunders forth its victor cry,
the glad earth shouts its triumph high,
and groaning hell makes wild reply:

2  While he, the King of glorious might,
treads down death's strength in death's despite,
and trampling hell by victor's right,
brings forth his sleeping Saints to light.

3  Fast barred beneath the stone of late
in watch and ward where soldiers wait,
now shining in triumphant state,
He rises Victor from death's gate.

4  Hell's pains are loosed, and tears are fled;
captivity is captive led;
the Angel, crowned with light, hath said,
'The Lord is risen from the dead.'

5  O Christ, the King who lovest to bless,
do thou our hearts and souls possess;
to thee our praise that we may pay,
to whom our laud is due for aye.]

Translation by John Mason Neale