τψ Βασιλεί xaί Δεσπότg.
The Lord and King of all things
But yesterday was born:
And Stephen’s glorious offering
His birthtide shall adorn.
No pearls of orient splendor,
No jewels, can he show;
But with his own true heart’s blood
His shining vestments glow.
Come, ye that love the Martyrs,
And pluck the flowers of song,
And weave them in a garland
For this our suppliant throng:
And cry, Ο thou that shinest
In grace’s brightest ray,
Christ’s valiant Protomartyr,
For peace and favor pray!
Thou first of all Confessors,
Of all the Deacons crown.
Of every following athlete
The glory and renown:
Make supplication, standing
Before Christ’s Royal Throne,
That He would give the Kingdom,
And for our sins atone!
[With the above stanzas the reader may not be displeased to
compare the celebrated sequence of Adam of St. Victor, Heri
mundus exultavit, which has never yet, we believe, appeared in
English.]
Heri mundus exultavit.
Yesterday with exultation
Joined the world in celebration
Of her promised Saviour’s birth:
Yesterday the Angel nation
Poured the strain of jubilation
O’er the Monarch born on earth.
But to-day, o’er death victorious,
By his faith and actions glorious.
By his miracles renowned.
Dared the Deacon Protomartyr
Earthly life for Heaven to barter,
Faithful midst the faithless found.
Forward, champion, in thy quarrel!
Certain of a certain laurel,
Holy Stephen, persevere!
Perjured witnesses confounding,
Satan’s Synagogue astounding
By thy doctrine true and clear.
Lo! in Heaven thy Witness liveth;
Bright and faithful proof He giveth
Of His Martyr’s full success:
Thou by name a Crown impliest;
Meetly then in pangs thou diest
For the Crown of Righteousness!
For a crown that fadeth never,
Bear the torturer’s brief endeavor;
Victory waits to end the strife:
Death shall be thy birth’s beginning,
And life’s losing be the winning
Of a true and better life.
Whom the Holy Ghost endueth,
Whom celestial light imbueth,
Stephen penetrates the skies:
There God’s fullest glory viewing,
There his victor strength renewing,
For his near reward he sighs.
See, as Jewish foes invade thee.
See, how Jesus stands to aid thee;
Stands, to guard His champion’s death!
Cry that opened Heaven is shown thee:
Cry that Jesus waits to own thee:
Cry it with thy latest breath!
As the dying Martyr kneeleth,
For his murderers he appealeth,
And his prayer their pardon sealeth,
For their madness grieving sore;
Then in Christ he sleepeth sweetly,
Who his pattern kept completely,
And with Christ he reigneth meetly,
Martyr first-fruits, evermore!