faithful cross

1.   Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle;

                                            Of the mighty conflict sing;

                                            Tell the triumph of the Victim,

                                            To His Cross thy tribute bring.

                                            Jesus Christ, the world's Redeemer

                                            From that Cross now reigns as King.

2.   Thirty years among us dwelling,                    5.  Bend thy boughs, O Tree of glory,

      His appointed time fulfilled,                                 Thy relaxing sinews bend:

      Born for this He meets His Passion                     For awhile the ancient rigour

      For that this He freely willed:                               That thy birth bestowed, suspend:

      On the Cross the Lamb is lifted,                           And the King of heavenly beauty

      Where His life-blood shall be spilled.                  On thy bosom gently tend.

3.   He endured the nails, the spitting,                6.  Thou alone wast counted worthy

      Vinegar, and spear, and reed:                              This world's Ransom to sustain;

      From that holy Body broken                                  That a shipwrecked race for ever

      Blood and Water forth proceed:                           Might a Port of refuge gain:

      Earth, and stars, and sky, and ocean                   With the sacred Blood anointed

      By that flood from stain are freed.                        Of the Lamb for sinners slain.

4.   Faithful Cross, above all other                         7.  Glory be to God, and honor

      One and only noble Tree;                                      In the highest, as is meet,

      None in foliage, none in blossom,                         To the Son and to the Father,

      None in fruit thy peer may be:                               And the eternal Paraclete,

      Sweetest wood, and sweetest iron!                      Whose is boundless praise and power

      Sweetest Weight is hung on thee.                         Through the ages infinite.  Amen.

Venantius Honorius Fortunatus Clementianus, AD550