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Venantius Fortunatus, 530–609
“WELCOME, happy morning!” age to age shall say; | |
| Hell to-day is vanquished; Heaven is won to-day! | |
| Lo! the Dead is living, God for evermore! | |
| Him, their true Creator, all His works adore! | |
| “Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say. | 5 |
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| Earth with joy confesses, clothing her for Spring, | |
| All good gifts returned with her returning King: | |
| Bloom in every meadow, leaves on every bough, | |
| Speak His sorrows ended, hail His triumph now. | |
| Hell to-day is vanquished; Heaven is won to-day! | 10 |
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| Months in due succession, days of lengthening light, | |
| Hours and passing moments praise Thee in their flight | |
| Brightness of the morning, sky and fields and sea, | |
| Vanquisher of darkness, bring their praise to Thee. | |
| “Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say. | 15 |
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| Maker and Redeemer, Life and Health of all, | |
| Thou from Heaven beholding human nature’s fall, | |
| Of the Father’s Godhead true and only Son, | |
| Manhood to deliver, manhood didst put on. | |
| Hell to-day is vanquished; Heaven is won to-day! | 20 |
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| Thou of Life the Author, death didst undergo, | |
| Trod the path of darkness, saving strength to show; | |
| Come, then, True and Faithful, now fulfil Thy word; | |
| ’Tis Thine own Third Morning! rise, O buried Lord! | |
| “Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say. | 25 |
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| Loose the souls long prisoned, bound with Satan’s chain; | |
| All that is now fallen raise to life again; | |
| Show Thy face in brightness, bid the nations see; | |
| Bring again our daylight: day returns with Thee! | |
| Hell to-day is vanquished; Heaven is won to-day! | 30 |
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