The Faithful Soul - Hildebert of Lavardin

With changeless faith the turtle-dove
To one sole mate gives all her love;
With him alone, in union sweet,
Both night and day her pulses beat.

Should death that fondled mate remove,
Her heart still cleaves unto his love,
She moves forevermore alone,
And o'er his loss makes piteous moan.

The faithful soul is like the dove;
To Christ alone she gives her love,
And happy in the bond, fore'er
She makes his word her constant care.

She follows him with pure desire,
And burns with passion's holy fire;
Enraptured by that sacred glow,
She seeks no other love below.

And when the hour of death is near,
She knows no grief and feels no fear ;
In joy she leaves the earth, and flies
To meet her Saviour in the skies.

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Hildebert of Lavardin (1055 - 1133) France
Translated by Daniel Joseph Donahoe
Source: Early Christian hymns, Series II: translations of the verses of the early and middle ages
by Daniel Joseph Donahoe, The Donahoe Publishing Company, 1911