De Gloria - Peter Damian

There nor waxing moon nor waning, 

Sun nor stars in courses bright; 

For the Lamb, to that glad city. 

Shines an everlasting light: 

There the daylight beams for ever, 

All unknown are time and night. 

For the saints, in beauty beaming. 

Shine in light and glory pure: 

Crowned in triumph's flushing honours, 

Joy in unison secure; 

And in safety tell their battles 

And their foes' discomfiture. 

Freed from every stain of evil, 

All their carnal wars are done; 

For the flesh made spiritual 

And the soul agree in one: 

Peace unbroken spreads enjoyment, 

Sin and scandal are unknown. 

Here they live in endless being: 

Passingness has passed away: 

Here they bloom, they thrive, they flourish, 

For decayed is all decay: 

Lasting energy hath swallowed 

Darkling death's malignant sway. 

Though each one's respective merit 

Hath its varying palm assigned, 

Love takes all as his possession, 

Where his power hath all combined:

So that all that each possesses 

All partake in, unconfined. 

 

Christ! thy soldier's palm of honour, 

Unto this, thy city free. 

Lead me, when my warfare's girdle 

I shall cast away from me! 

A partaker in thy bounty. 

With thy blessed ones to be. 

Grant me vigor, while I labour 

In the ceaseless battle pressed. 

That thou mayst, the conflict over, 

Grant me everlasting rest; 

And I may at length inherit 

Thee, my portion, ever blest!

---

Peter Damian (988 - 1072) Italy

Translated by Athanasius Francis Diedrich Wackerbarth

Source: Songs of the soulSongs of the soul: gathered out of many lands and ages by Samuel Irenaeus Prime