One-upping the Romans in Christian epic.
Sedulius
“O Rachel, Why This Bitter Tear?”: Another Greek Epigram
Back with another new poem, this time Greek Anthology 1.43. The previous poem dealt with the magi coming from the East; this one is on the Massacre of the Holy Innocents, via Matthew's quotation of Jeremiah 31:15 in Matthew 2: A voice was heard in Ramah,weeping and...
A solis ortus cardine
An original translation of a fifth century Latin hymn.
“Sold for Silver, Sacking Hell”: A Fifth-Century Hymn (8)
At long last, we bring to a close a translation begun in the first week of December. Below you will find the final two verses of Sedulius's A solis ortus cardine (Y, Z), on Christ's triumph over hell and the Devil and his journey back to heaven. Hope you've enjoyed it...
“Burst Forth Living from Death’s Womb”: A Fifth-Century Hymn (7)
This is the penultimate post of the translation of Sedulius's A solis ortus cardine. It covers three verses (T, V, X), but, because of differences in the Roman and English alphabets, five letters (T, U, V, W, X). Between that and having to start a line with the letter...
“Tearful Faith’s Extended Hand”: A Fifth-Century Hymn (6)
Sedulius is back with three more verses. Today we have three more miracles (Q, R, S): the raising of Lazarus (John 11); the healing of the woman with an issue of blood (Matthew 9); and the healing of a paralytic (Matthew 9). As in the past, I've included all the...
“Unwatered Wine”: A Fifth-Century Hymn (5)
He's a day late, but Sedulius is back and he's got three more verses to add (N, O, P). All three verses this week are about Christ's miracles: the turning of water into wine in Cana (John 2); the healing of the centurion's servant (Matthew 8); and Peter walking on...
“The Battered Brood of Baby Boys”: A Fifth-Century Hymn (4)
We're back this week with three more verses from Sedulius's A solis ortus cardine (K, L, M). The timing works out well, because the "K" verse is about the Holy Innocents, and Tuesday (12/28) is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, of whom Auden, in For the Time Being, had...