Oratio Versibus Rhopalicis
Oratio Versibus Rhopalicis Late Antiquity Ausonius, Decimus Magnus Latin- THE PRAYER OF THE CONSUL AUSONIUS, IN RHOPALIC (CLUB-SHAPED) VERSES. Hope, God, conciliator of the eternal abiding-place: if with chaste prayers we keep watch for pardon, to these, Father, of our entreaty, assent, appeasable. Grant, O Christ, that we may be known as a blameless pattern, good king, life-giver of the worshippers who serve. With the Father a most lofty majesty, unbegotten. Grant the threefold pillar, the Paraclete joining us, that the celebrated devotion may be continued long: to you they hasten, fitly, in their vigil. Night shall bring back a light to be set before the torches — night that brings forth, for believers, a light undoubted, night that meditates on the works of the starry flames. You sunder the religious fasts of our months; you, promising rising blessings, are celebrated together: grant, ruler, that we, the lowly, may declare the Almighty. Your font cleanses the justified by its renewing, giving a mind forgetful of the sins laid aside, giving the snowy lambs, purified, to shine. The light, brought in by the Word, helper of sinners, as a new washing of the Jordan, sanctified, when the worthy gained the merit of its baptizing waters. And Christ, the governance, to the restless elements brings the wave of the healing, undefiled baptism, that he might take away the lessened guilt from mortals. The cross, the utmost of punishment, hastened upon the spotless one, that, slain, he might renew the life that was lost — he, liable to so many titles of immoderate things. Who shall worthily continue the praises to the Lord? Does the earth enrich with human commemoration him whom the modulations of the angelic voices resound? Giving a precious hall to Stephen, stoned to death; giving the keys above to the founder of the cathedra (Peter); nay, you have joined the hostile Paul to your gathering. The teacher of the people becomes a goader of the stoners; as the robber, confessing, shared in paradise, so, I believe, you link the most dire things to those who are to be glorified. Us, the late servants, you will suffer to grow, taught under so great a high-priest of religion: grant a sense made stable by a solid faith. Make me, glorified, to be joined to the revived number, inviting to heaven the fellowship of the earth-born: HOPE, GOD, CONCILIATOR OF THE ETERNAL ABIDING-PLACE!