At last, here is my translation of "Laus tibi, Christe, qui es Creator" (Gottschalk of Limburg, d. 1098.), the Sequence for S. Mary Magdalene. Too late for this year, but plenty early for next. I give it as found in Lossius' Psalmodia, with minor corrections from Migne, PL 141:1326f. Note that stanzas 6a and 6b have been reversed from the original order. It is unclear whether this occurs in Lossius by accident, though I see no apparent reason to have Mary come first in the contrast. In phrase 6b I have connected peccati nescius with the preceding, not the following, words. In both text and tune I have normalized the meter of some lines which are uneven or have abnormal stress in the Latin.
O CHRIST, WE praise Thee, Who art the Maker and Redeemer, And the only Savior
2a. Of earth, heav'n, and ocean, Angel-choirs and humankind; 2b. Whom alone we worship And confess both God and Man.
3a. Who, on this earth found incarnate, Camest to save sinful men. 3b. And, though eternally sinless, Didst assume the form of sin.
4a. Of Thy flock, as the Canaanite woman, Thou didst visit Mary—her called Magdalene: 4b. At the table of Thy Divine Scripture, One bu crumbs, one a cup did revitalize.
5a. While all were reclining Of Simon the Leper's house, Thy feast foreshadowing, 5b. The Pharisee murmured As the woman tearfully Owned her iniquity.
6a. Her master's feet adoring, embracing, She bathed them in tears and dried them, With her loosened hair, them anointed With costly ointment, With kisses circled them. 6b. The sinner his fellow-soul despising, Of his sin ignorant; Thou the penitent hearing, absolvest, Yea, her Thou lovest, Her thus to beautify.
7a. These fair festivities Thou foundest pleasing, O Wisdom of the Trinity, 7b. Born of virginity, Yet not disdaining Sinful woman's piety.
8a. Thou by the Pharisee wast invited, By Mary's boundless banquet wast sated, 8b. She loved Thee much, and much was remitted, Who never after her error repeated.
9a. Thou drov'st from her seven devils, Working by Thy Spirit sevenfold, 9b. Thou to her first didst reveal Thee When Thou from the dead wast ris'n again.
10a. By her, O Christ, Thou showest Thy grafted Christendom, Who, though foreign-born, is summoned To the table of Thy progeny. 10b. Who, between the feasts of law and mercy interposed, Scorned by pharasaic judgment, Must e'er chafe of leprous heresy.
11a. Thou know'st her errors, Touched by her, erstwhile a sinner, Now a seeker of Thy mercy. 11b. What would she, ailing, Have, if she had not received it? Had not this Physician been there?
12. King of kings, rich unto all men: Oh, save us! Thou that blottest out all sinners' trespasses, Thou hope and glory_of all the saints!
Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.
LATIN
1. Laus tibi Christe, qui es Creátor et Redémptor idem et Salvátor.
2a. Caeli, terrae, maris angelórum et hóminum 2b. –Quem solum Deum confitémur et hóminem.
3a. Qui peccatóres venísti ut salvos fáceres, 3b. Sine peccáto peccáti assúmens fórmulam.
4a. Quorum de grege ut C[h]ananaéam, Maríam visitásti Magdàlenam. 4b. Éadem ménsa vérbi divíni íllam mícis [hanc] réfovens póculis.
5a. In domo Simónis leprósi convíviis accú(m)bans typicis 5b. Múrmurat Pharisaéus, úbi plorat fémina críminis cónscia.
(6a and 6b are reversed) 6a. Pedes ampléctitur Domínicos, lác(h)rymis lavat, tergit crínibus, lavándo, tergéndo unguénto unxit, ósculis círcuit. 6b. Peccátor contémnit compeccántem: peccáti néscius poeniténtem exáudis: emúndas foedam (ád)amas, ut pulchram fácias.
7a. Haec sunt convívia quae tibi placent, O Patris sapiéntia. 7b. Natus de Vírgine, qui non dedignátus [ = dedignáris] tangi à peccatrice.
8a. A Pharisaeo es invitátus: Maríae férculis saturátus. 8b. Multum dimíttis, multum amánti, nec crimen póstea repeténti.
9a. Daemóniis eam septem mundans septifórmi Spirítu. 9b. Ex mórtuis te [re]surgéntem das cunctis vidére priórem.
10. Hac Christe, prosélytam signas Ecclésiam, quam ad filiórum mensam vocas alienígenam. 10b. Quam inter convívia Legis et gratiae spernit Pharisaeus fastus quem lepra vexat haeretica.
11a. Qualis sit, tu scis, tangit te quia pec[c]átrix, quia veniae optátrix. 11b. Quidnam habéret aegra, si non accepísset, si non Médicus adésset.
12. Rex regum dives in omnes nos salva, peccatórum tergens cuncta crímina, sanctórum spes et glória.
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