Littell's Living Age/Volume 128/Issue 1649/Hymnus Responsorius

by William Ewart Gladstone

HYMNUS RESPONSORIUS
	I.		I.
	"Scis te lassum? scis languentem? Luctu contristaris? Audin' 'Veni, veniensque Pace perfruaris."		Art thou weary, art thou languid, Art thou sore distrest? "Come to Me," saith One, "and coming, Be at rest!"
	II.		II.
R.	Notas habet, quas agnôrim Istum consectatus? "Manus, Plantæ, cruentatæ, Cruentatum Latus."		Hath He marks to lead me to Him, If He be my guide? "In His Feet and Hands are wound-prints, And His Side."
	III.		III.
R.	Ecquid portat, pro corona Quæ Monarchas ornat? "Diadema, sed spinarum, Frontem Hanc adornat."		Hath He diadem as Monarch That His Brow adorns? "Yea, a Crown, in very surety, But of thorns."
	IV.		IV.
R.	Sin obnitar, sin attingam, Quî remunerabit? "Luctûs, fletûs, ac laborum Largitatem dabit."		If I find Him, if I follow, What His guerdon here?, "Many a sorrow, many a labour, Many a tear."
	V.		V.
R.	Sin obstrictus adhærebo, Quis in fine status? "Viæ meta, luctûs fuga, Labor exantlatus."		If I still hold closely to Him, What hath He at last? "Sorrow vanquished, labour ended, Jordan past."
	VI.		VI.
R.	Si receptum supplicâssim, Votum exaudiret? "Quanquam Terra, quanquam Cœlum In ruinam iret."		If I ask Him to receive me, Will He say me nay? "Not till Earth, and not till Heaven Pass away."
	VII.		VII.
R.	Persistentem, perluctantem Certus est beare? "Vates quisque, Martyr, Virgo, Angelus, testare!"		Finding, following, keeping, struggling, Is He sure to bless? "Angels, Martyrs, Prophets, Virgins, Answer, Yes!"
	W.E. Gladstone. Nov., 1875.		By Dr. John Mason Neale (No. 254, Hymns Ancient and Modern, Revised and Enlarged); taken from the Greek of St. Stephen the Sabaite.
Contemporary Review.