Library › St Ambrose of Milan › Hymns

Hymns

St Ambrose of Milan, tr. Copeland, 1848

Chapter 12

Hymn on the Martyrs.

Th’ unfading crowns by Christ bestow’d,
The conquests of the martyrs’ blood,
Let us for these due praises bring,
With grateful hearts the martyrs sing.

Bright champions of the Churches they,
Crown’d chieftains of th’ unearthly fray,
Of court celestial soldiers bright,
Of earth a burning shining light.

The terror of the world subdu’d,
The anguish of the flesh withstood,
By martyrdom’s compendious pain
An everlasting life they gain.

The martyrs to the flames are borne,
By fangs of cruel monsters torn,
The torturer fierce with savage look,
Plies his rude hand and murderous hook.

Their vitals hang, all open spread,
Their hallow’d life-blood round is shed,
Unmov’d they stand, unmov’d endure,
In grace of endless life secure.

Theirs is of saints the faith intent,
Of trusting hearts the hope unspent,
Christ’s charity, with perfect glow
Laying the world’s fell tyrant low.

In them the Father’s glory bright,
In them the Spirit’s will and might,
In them the Son’s true joy abounds,
O’er them all Heaven with joy resounds.

Thee, Blest Redeemer, Thee we pray,
With that Thy Martyr band this day
Thy servants join, who Thee adore,
In spirit now and evermore.