The Tallis Scholars

Deus in adiutorium meum intende.
Domine ad adiuvandum me festina.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,
et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Alleluia.

O God, make speed to save me.
O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, 
world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

In principio omnes creaturae viruerunt,
in medio flores floruerunt,
postea viriditas descendit,
et istud vir proeliator vidit et dixit:
Hoc scio, sed aureus numerus nondum est plenus.
Tu ergo, Paternum speculum, aspice,
in corpore meo fatigationem sustineo,
parvuli etiam mei deficiunt.
Nunc memor esto, quod plenitudo, quae in primo
facta est, arescere non debuit,
et tunc in ti' habuisti,
quod oculus tuus numquam cederet,
usque dum corpus meum vide res plenum gemmarum.
Nam me fatigat,
quod omnia membra mea in irrisionem vadunt.
Pater, vide, vulnera mea tibi ostendo.
Ergo nunc, omnes homines,
genua vestra ad Patrem vestrum flectite,
ut vobis manum suam porrigat.

In the beginning all creation was verdant,
flowers blossomed in the midst of it;
later, greenness sank away.
And the champion saw this and said:
'I know it, but the golden number is not yet full
You then, behold me, mirror of your fatherhood :
in my body I am suffering exhaustion,
even my  little ones faint.
Now remember that the fullness which was made
in the beginning need not have grown dry,
and that then you resolved
that your eye would never fail
until you saw my body full of jewels.
For it wearies me
that all my limbs are exposed to mockery:
Father, behold, I am showing you my wounds.’
So now, all you people,
bend your knees to the Father,
that he may reach you his hand.

Introduction 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen 

Ode I - O Jesus the Son of God, Have Mercy upon Us

We do homage to Thy pure image, O Good One, entreating forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ our God: for of Thine own good will Thou wast graciously pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from bondage to the enemy those whom Thou hadst fashioned. For which cause we cry aloud unto Thee with thanksgiving; with joy has Thou filled all things, O our Saviour, in that Thou didst come to save the world. O Jesus the Son of God, have mercy upon us.

Ode II - O Most Holy Birth-giver of God, Save Us 

Unto the Birth-giver of God let us sinners and humble ones now diligently have recourse; and let us fall down in penitence exclaiming, from the bottom of our souls; O Sovereign Lady, help us, having compassion on us! Show zeal, for we perish with the multitude of our sings; turn not Thy servants away empty; for we have Thee as our only hope. O Most Holy Birth-giver of God, save us. 

Ode III - O Holy Saint Nicolas, Pray unto God for Us 

A rule of faith and a model of meekness, a teacher of abstinence hath the reality shewn thee unto thy flock; therewithal hast thou acquired: by humility - greatness, by poverty - riches; O Father hierarch Nicolas, intercede before Christ the God that our souls may be saved. O Holy Saint Nicholas, pray unto God for us.

Coda 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now, and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O virtus Sapientie,
que circuiens circuisti,
comprehendendo omnia
in una via que habet vitam,
tres alas habens,
quarum una in altum volat
et altera de terra sudat
et tercia undique volat.
Laus tibi sit, sicut te decet, O Sapientia.

O Wisdom’s energy!
Whirling, you encircle
And everything embrace
In the single way of life.
Three wings you have:
One soars above into the heights,
One from the earth exudes,
And all about now flies the third.
Praise be to you, as is your due, O Wisdom.

Salve Regina, Mater Misericordiae,
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, Salve!
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii [H]evae,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes,
In hac lacrimarum valle.

Eja ergo, Advocata nostra,
Illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
Nobis, post hoc exilium, ostende,
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy
[Hail] our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve,
To thee do we send up our sighs,
Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn, then, o most gracious advocate,
Thine eyes of mercy and after this our exile 
Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. 
O clement, o loving, o sweet Virgin Mary.

Miserere mei, Deus, 
secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.  
Et secundum multitudinem 
miserationum tuarum dele iniquitatem meam.  
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea 
et a peccato meo munda me.  
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco 
et peccatum meum contra me est semper.  

Tibi soli peccavi 
et malum coram te feci, 
ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis 
et vincas cum judicaris.  
Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum 
et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.  
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: 
incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae 
manifestasti mihi.  
Asperges me hyssopo et mundabor; 
lavabis me et super nivem dealbabor.  

Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam 
et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.  
Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis 
et omnes iniquitates meas dele. 
Cor mundum crea in me, Deus, 
et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.  
Ne projicias me a facie tua, 
et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.  

Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui 
et spiritu principali confirma me.  
Docebo iniquos vias tuas 
et impii ad te convertentur.  
Libera me de sanguinibus, 
Deus, Deus salutis meae, 
et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam.  
Domine labia mea aperies, 
et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.  

Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium 
dedissem utique; holocaustis non delectaberis.  
Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: 
cor contritum et humiliatum, 
Deus, non despicies.  
Benigne fac, Domine, 
in bona voluntate tua Sion, 
ut aedificentur muri Jerusalem.  
Tunc acceptabis sacrificium iustitiae, 
oblationes, et holocausta: 
tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.
Have mercy upon me, O God, 
according to your great mercy 
and according to the abundance 
of your compassion blot out my transgressions.  
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity 
and cleanse me from my sin.  
For I acknowledge my offence 
and my sin is ever before me.  

Against you only have I sinned, 
and done what is evil in your sight 
that you may be justified in your sentence 
and vindicated when you judge.  
Behold, in guilt was I conceived
and in sin did my mother conceive me.  
Behold, your delight in sincerity of heart 
and in my inmost being 
you teach me wisdom.  
Cleanse me with hyssop and I shall be purified; 
wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.  

Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness; 
the bones which you have crushed shall rejoice.  
Avert your face from my sins, 
and blot out all my iniquity.  
Create in me a clean heart, O God, 
And renew in me a righteous spirit.  
Cast me not out from your presence, 
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  

Give me the joy of your salvation 
and sustain in me a willing spirit.  
I shall teach transgressors your ways, 
and sinners shall return to you.  
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, 
O God, God of my salvation, 
and my tongue shall exalt your justice.  
O Lord, open my lips, 
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.  

For you are not pleased with sacrifices, 
else would I give them to you; 
neither do you delight in burnt offerings.  
The sacrifice of God is a contrite heart: 
a broken and contrite heart, 
O God, you will not despise.  
Be favourable and gracious, 
unto Sion, O Lord, 
build again the walls of Jerusalem.  
Then you shall be pleased 
with the sacrifice of righteousness 
oblations and burnt offerings; 
they shall offer young bulls upon your altar.

O ignis Spiritus paracliti,
vita vite omnis creature,
sanctus es vivificando formas.

Sanctus es ungendo periculose
fractos, sanctus es tergendo
fetida vulnera.

O spiraculum sanctitatis,
o ignis caritatis,
o dulcis gustus in pectoribus
et infusio cordium in bono odore virtutum.

O fons purissime,
in quo consideratur
quod Deus alienos
colligit et perditos requirit.

O lorica vite et spes compaginis
membrorum omnium
et o cingulum honestatis: salva beatos.

Custodi eos qui carcerati sunt ab inimico,
et solve ligatos
quos divina vis salvare vult.

O iter fortissimum, quod penetravit
omnia in altissimis et in terrenis
et in omnibus abyssis,
tu omnes componis et colligis.

De te nubes fluunt, ether volat,
lapides humorem habent,
aque rivulos educunt,
et terra viriditatem sudat.

Tu etiam semper educis doctos
per inspirationem Sapientie
letificatos.

Unde laus tibi sit, qui es sonus laudis
et gaudium vite, spes et honor fortissimus,
dans premia lucis.

O fire of the Spirit and Defender,
the life of every life created:
Holy are you—giving life to every form.

Holy are you—anointing the critically
broken. Holy are you—cleansing
the festering wounds.

O breath of holiness,
O fire of love,
O taste so sweet within the breast,
that floods the heart with virtues’ fragrant good.

O clearest fountain,
in which is seen the mirrored work of God:
to gather the estranged
and seek again the lost.

O living armor, hope that binds
the every limb,
O belt of honor: save the blessed.

Guard those enchained in evil’s prison,
and loose the bonds of those
whose saving freedom is the forceful will of God.

O mighty course that runs within and through
the all—up in the heights, upon the earth,
and in the every depth—
you bind and gather all together.

From you the clouds flow forth, the wind takes flight,
the stones their moisture hold,
the waters rivers spring,
and earth viridity exudes.

You are the teacher of the truly learned,
whose joy you grant
through Wisdom’s inspiration.

And so may you be praised, who are the sound of praise,
the joy of life, the hope and potent honor,
and the giver of the gifts of light.

Magnificat anima mea Dominum.
Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae: 
Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est : et sanctum nomens eius.
Et misericordia eius a progenie in progenie timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo: dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
Deposuit potentes de sede; et exeltavit humiles.
Esurientes implevit bonis: et divites dimisit inanes.
Suscepit Israel, puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae.
Sicit locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula.
Magnificat anima mea Dominum.

My soul doth magnify the Lord
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: 
as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.
My soul doth magnify the Lord

Da pacem, Domine, in diebus nostris
quia non est alius
qui pugnet pro nobis
nisi tu Deus noster.

Grant peace, O Lord, in our time
because there is no one else
who will fight for us,
if not you, our God.

O Ecclesia,
oculi tui similes saphiro sunt,
et aures tue monti Bethel,
et nasus tuus est sicut mons mirre et thuris,
et os tuum quasi sonus aquarum multarum.

In visione vere fidei
Ursula Filium Dei amavit
et virum cum hoc seculo reliquit
et in solem aspexit
atque pulcherrimum iuvenem vocavit, dicens:

In multo desiderio desideravi ad te venire
et in celestibus nuptiis tecum sedere,
per alienam viam ad te currens
velut nubes que in purissimo aere currit similis saphiro.

Et postquam Ursula sic dixerat, rumor iste
per omnes populos exiit.
Et dixerunt: Innocentia puellaris ignorantie
nescit quid dicit.

Et ceperunt ludere cum illa
in magna symphonia,
usque dum ignea sarcina
super eam cecidit.

Unde omnes cognoscebant
quia contemptus mundi est sicut mons Bethel.

Et cognoverunt etiam
suavissimum odorem mirre et thuris,
quoniam contemptus mundi
super omnia ascendit.

Tunc diabolus membra sua invasit,
que nobilissimos mores in corporibus istis occiderunt.

Et hoc in alta voce omnia elementa audierunt
et ante thronum Dei dixerunt:
Wach! rubicundus sanguis innocentis agni
in desponsatione sua effusus est.

Hoc audiant omnes celi
et in summa symphonia laudent Agnum Dei,
quia guttur serpentis antiqui
in istis margaritis
materie Verbi Dei suffocatum est.

O Church!
Like sapphire are your eyes,
Mt. Bethel are your ears,
your nose a mount of myrrh and frankincense,
your mouth the sound of many waters.

In true faith’s vision
did Ursula with God’s Son fall in love—
a husband with the world did she abandon,
to gaze instead upon the sun
and call upon the Fairest Youth to say:

“With deep desire have I desired to come to you,
to sit with you at heaven’s marriage feast—
I’m racing by a different way to you,
like a sapphire cloud that races ‘cross the clearest sky.”

When Ursula had made this declaration,
report of it went out through all the people.

And they declared, “The innocence of girlish ignorance
knows not of what it speaks.”

And they began in concert to
make fun of her—
until the fiery weight
fell on her shoulders.

For then they recognized
that such contempt for the world is as Mt. Bethel.

They also recognized
the sweetest secent of myrrh and frankincense,
for contempt for the world
mounts over all.

But then the devil seized their limbs,
to slay the virgins’ noblest bearings with their bodies.

And this with piercing cry heard all the elements
and ‘fore God’s throne declared:

Ach! The scarlet blood of the innocent Lamb
to pledge his troth is shed.

And all the heavens hear this
and praise the Lamb of God in symphony supreme,
for the ancient serpent’s throat
is choked upon these pearls
compiled from the Word of God

Praeter rerum seriem parit Deum hominem Virgo mater. 
Nec vir tangit virignem, nec prolis originem novit pater. 
Virtus sancti spiritus opus illud coelitus operatur. 
Initus et exitus partus tui penitus quis scrutatur? 
Dei providentia quae disponit omnia tam suave: 
tua puerperia transfer in mysteria, Mater ave.

Beyond the order of this world, the Virgin Mother bore God in human form. 
Still a virgin, she was untouched by man, nor did the father know the child’s origin. 
That work was achieved from heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
Who can fathom the profundity of your labour’s beginning and its end? 
God’s providence, which has ordered everything to such perfection. 
Guide your children into the mysteries, Mother, hail!