Hail, O Cross! tree of life! noble and noted!
Banner, throne, altar to Jesus devoted!Cross! to unholy-
Men both death and terror,
To Christians- truly
Art thou virtue’s mirror.
Safety, victory, all-divine!
Thou, when he hurried
Against Maxentius’ horde;
Thou, when he carried
By Danube’s shores the sword,
Glory wast to Constantine!Chosroes and his son
Through thee were overthrown.
For Heraclius fighting:
Well may Christians glory
In this tree’s true story.
In such balms delighting!Length and breadth, Cross! blending
With height, depth, far-reaching,
Thou, four ways extending,
Precious truths thus teaching,
Savest earth’s four quarters.
Balm with true health gifted!
On the Cross-scales lifted,
Christ was there extended,
As the price expended
To redeem death’s charters.The Cross the balance is to weigh our right.
Our Monarch’s scepter and His rod of might;
The sign of Heaven’s own victory in the fight,
Our strength in war and glory’s palm-branch bright!Ladder! raft! upbearing
Hearts through grief despairing!
Their last plank, when drowning!
Thou Christ’s beauty sharest,
Since His limbs thou barest;
Cross! the crown kings crowning.Through thee, Cross! with blessings freighted!
Cross, by Christ’s blood consecrated!
May the grace of God most high
Deathless joys to us supply! Amen.
Translation from: The liturgical poetry of Adam of St. Victor; from the text of Gauthier. With translations in the original meters and short explanatory notes by Digby S. Wrangham
Salve, Crux, arbor vitae praeclara,
Vexillum Christi, thronus et ara!O Crux profanis
Terror et ruina,
Tu Christianis
Virtus es divina,
Salus et victoria!
Tu properantis
Contra Maxentium,
Tu praeliantis
Juxta Danubium,
Constantini gloria!Favens Heraclio,
Perdis cum filio
Chosroen profanum.
In hoc salutari
Ligno gloriari
Decet Christianum.Crucis longum, latum,
Sublime, profundum,
Sanctis propalatum,
Quadrum salvat mundum
Sub quadri figura.
Medicina vera,
Christus in statera
Crucis est distractus,
Pretiumque factus
Solvit mortis jura.Crux est nostrae libra justitiae,
Sceptrum regis, virga potentiae,
Crux coelestis signum victoriae,
Belli robur et palma gloriae!Tu scala, tu ratis,
Tu, Crux, desperatis
Tabula suprema;
Tu de membris Christi
Decorem taxisti,
Regum diadema!Per te nobis, Crux beata,
Crux cruore consecrata,
Sempiterna gaudia
Det superna gratia! Amen.