The Nisibene Hymns 14Hymn XIV.

1. Under the three pastors,--there were manifold shepherds;--the one mother that was in the city,--had daughters in all regions.--Since Wrath has destroyed her dwellings,--Peace shall build up her churches. R. Blessed be He who chose out those three!

2. The kindly labour of the first,--bound up the land in her affliction:--the bread and wine of the next,--healed the city when site was broken:--the sweet speech of the last,--sweetened our bitterness in affliction.

3. The first tilled the land with his labour,--he rooted out of her the briars and thorns:--the next fenced her round about,--he made a hedge for her of them that were saved:--the last opened the garner of his Lord,--and sowed in her the words of her Lord.

4. The first priest by means of a fast,--closed up the doors of men's mouths:--the second priest for the captives,--opened the mouths of the purse:--but the last pierced through the ears,--and fastened in them the ornament of life.

5. Aaron stripped off from the ears,--the earrings and made a calf.--That lifeless calf in secret,--pierced and slaughtered the camp:--those who had fashioned his horns, --he ripped them up with his horns.

6. But our priest who was the third,--pierced through the ears of the heart:--and fastened there the earrings he had fashioned,--of the nails that were fixed in the cross, --whereon his Lord was crucified,--and gave life to His fellow-men.

7. A son unto death the fire brought forth;--Death feeds upon all bodies:--the son of Death who surpassed Death,--upon the souls of men he fed.--The calf forsook his provender,--for men's minds were the food for him.

8. To the first Tree that which killed,--to it grace brought forth a son.--O Cross offspring of the Tree,--that didst fight against thy sire!--The Tree was the fount of death;--the Cross was the fount of life.

9. The son that was born to Death,--all mouths were opened to curse him.--He devoured bodies and souls,--and multiplied the disgrace of his father.--But the Cross caused to pass away the rebuke,--of its father that first Tree.

10. The two sons were even as were--the two mothers that bare them.--The calf which the fire brought forth,--the fire consumed in the midst of the people:--the Cross the offspring of grace,--divided good gifts to all creation.

11. O my tongue hold thy peace and be silent of the histories of the Cross that press to be told!--for my mind of a sudden has conceived,--and lo! pangs of travail smite it:--it has conceived these among the last,--and they strive to become the firstborn.

12. The babes struggled in the womb;--the elder made haste to come forth:--the younger desiring the birthright,--laid his hand upon his heel;--that which he obtained not by birth,--he obtained by the mess of pottage.

13. After the like sort these later histories,--lo! they make light of the former ones,--that themselves may come forth and take the birthright.--Let us bring forth the history of our fathers,--for lo! the histories of the Cross--are the firstborn of all creatures.

14. For if that which has no beginning--is the first of all created things,--its histories also are the firstborn,--for they are elder than all creatures.--Let the histories of Thee, O my Lord, yield place,--that we may tell of Thy ministers!

15. The first in degree of doctrine,--His eloquence was like as was his degree;--the next who was second in degree,--his interpretation mounted to the height of his degree;--the last who was third in degree,--his eloquence was great as he was.

16. The first in his simple words,--gave milk unto his infants;--the next in his plain sayings,--gave victual to his children;--the third in his perfect sayings,--gave meat to his that were of perfect age.

17. She too the daughter of instruction,--mounted from degree to degree,--along with her teachers and fathers.--A young child she was with the first; a simple maid was she with the next;--she came to perfect age in the third.

18. The first dealing with her as a child,--loved her and taught her to fear;--the next as with a damsel, rebuked her and make her glad;--the third as with one fully instructed,--was to her a solace of pleasantness.

19. Even the Most High with the daughter of Jacob,--gave blandishment and the rod to her childhood;--and in her frowardness and full age,--gave part in the sword and the Law;--and according to her discipline and instruction,--He came to her in mildness and pleasantness.

20. The first that begat the flock,--his bosom bare her infancy;--the next of glad-some countenance,--cheered with song and made glad her childhood;--the last grave of countenance,--lo! he guards her chastity in her youth.

21. The first priest who begat her,--gave milk to her infancy;--the next priest interpreted,--and gave victual to her childhood;--the third priest nourished her, and gave meat to her perfect age.

22. The wealthy father who was first,--laid up treasures for her childhood;--the next for her maturity--multiplied provision for her journey;--the third the goodly olive tree,--multiplied oil in her vessels.

23. When she comes before Him who is rich,--she will show the treasure of the first;--when she comes before the Saviour, she will show the saved ones of the next;--when she goes forth to meet the Bridegroom,--she will show the oil of her lamps.

24. Before Him who rewards the weary toilworn,--she will offer the labour of the first;--before Him who loves cheerful givers,--she will show the almsgiving of the next;--before Him who judges doctrines,--she will offer the discourse of the last.

25. And I the sinner who have striven to be--the disciple of these three,--when they shall see Him of the Third Day,--that he has closed the door of His chamber,--may these three pray Him for me, that He keep the door open a little while for me!

26. May the sinner press into and enter--rejoicing and fearing to behold!--May the three masters call in--the one disciple in their grace!--May he gather up under the table--the crumbs that are full of life!