"The Royal Banners Forward Go"
                      by Venantius Fortunatus, c. 530-609
                    Translated by John M. Neale, 1818-1866
                                  Text From:
                     THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
              (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.131



        1. The royal banners forward go;
        The cross shines forth in mystic glow
        Where He in flesh, our flesh who made,
        our sentence bore, our ransom paid;
        
        2. Where deep for us the spear was dyed,
        Life's torrent rushing from His side.
        To wash us in that precious flood
        Where mingled water flowed and blood.
        
        3. Fulfilled is all that David told
        In true prophetic song of old;
        Amidst the nations, God, saith he,
        Hath reigned and triumphed from the tree.
        
        4. O Tree of beauty, Tree of light,
        O Tree with royal purple dight;
        Elect, on whose triumphal breast
        Those holy limbs should find their rest;
        
        5. On whose dear arms, so widely flung,
        The weight of this worldÕs ransom hung
        The price of humankind to pay
        And spoil the spoiler of his prey.
        
        6. O Cross, our one reliance, hail!
        So may thy power with us avail
        To give new virtue to the saint
        And pardon to the penitent.
        
        7. To Thee, eternal Three in One,
        Let homage meet by all be done
        Whom by the cross Thou dost restore,
        Preserve, and govern evermore.
        
        

        Notes:
        Hymn #168 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Ps. 96:10
        Author: Venantius Fortunatus, 569, cento
        Translated by: John M. Neale, 1851, alt.
        Titled: ÒVV: ed: "Vexilla Regis prodeunt"
        Composer: John Hampton, 1875, ad.
        Tune: Ò"Vexilla RegisÓ"
        

        

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