Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | I. The Divine Element—(God, Christ, the Holy Spirit) | | “O Fire of God, the Comforter” | | Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) |
| | From the Latin by Richard Frederick Littledale
“O Ignis Spiritus Paracliti”
O FIRE of God, the Comforter, O life of all that live, | |
| Holy art thou to quicken us, and holy, strength to give: | |
| To heal the broken-hearted ones, their sorest wounds to bind, | |
| O Spirit of all holiness, O Lover of mankind! | |
| O sweetest taste within the breast, O grace upon us poured, | 5 |
| That saintly hearts may give again their perfume to the Lord. | |
| O purest fountain! we can see, clear mirrored in thy streams, | |
| That God brings home the wanderers, that God the lost redeems. | |
| O breastplate strong to guard our life, O bond of unity, | |
| O dwelling-place of righteousness, save all who trust in thee: | 10 |
| Defend those who in dungeon dark are prisoned by the foe, | |
| And, for thy will is aye to save, let thou the captives go. | |
| O surest way, that through the height and through the lowest deep | |
| And through the earth dost pass, and all in firmest union keep; | |
| From thee the clouds and ether move, from thee the moisture flows, | 15 |
| From thee the waters draw their rills, and earth with verdure glows, | |
| And thou dost ever teach the wise, and freely on them pour | |
| The inspiration of thy gifts, the gladness of thy lore. | |
| All praise to thee, O joy of life, O hope and strength, we raise, | |
| Who givest us the prize of light, who art thyself all praise. | 20 | | | |
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