91 MORTIS PORTIS FRACTIS
By Peter of St. Maurice, sometimes styled Peter of Cluny, but best known as Peter the Venerable. Born in Auvergne, 1092 or 1094; began life as a soldier; afterwards became a Benedictine monk; elected abbot of the monastery of his order at Cluny in Burgundy; died there in 1156 or 1157. The greater part of his literary activity was given to the controversy between the Clugnian and Cistercian, or “black” and “white” monks. This Resurrection hymn is taken from “Some Rhythms, Proses, Sequences, Verses, and Hymns,” contained in the Bibliotheca Cluniacencis, 1623.
I
II
III
IV
| Burst are the iron gates of death— A stronger power prevails; For, by the cross, the cruel king Before the Victor quails, O clear the light that shines afar, Where darkness held its sway, For God, who made the light at first, Restores its gladdening ray. | | That sinners might for ever live, The great Creator dies, And by His death to new estate Our souls enraptured rise. 92 There, Satan groaned in baffled hate, Where Christ our triumph won— For what to Him was deathly loss, To man was life begun. | | He grasps the envied prize, but fails, And while he wounds, he dies; But calmly, and with mighty power, The King secures the prize; And, leaving earth, His triumph won, He seeks His native skies. | | And now triumphant o’er the grave, The Lord to earth returns; To new create our fallen race, His soul with ardour burns; Down to the dwellings of the lost, To dwell with man He came; And hearts in grievous bondage held, Receive Him with acclaim. | |