Latinised Hymns

O God of earth and altar

O God of earth and altar,
Bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter,
Our people drift and die;
The walls of gold entomb us,
The swords of scorn divide,
Take not thy thunder from us,
But take away our pride.

From all that terror teaches,
From lies of tongue and pen,
From all the easy speeches
That comfort cruel men,
From sale and profanation
Of honour and the sword,
From sleep and from damnation,
Deliver us, good Lord!

Tie in a living tether
The prince and priest and thrall,
Bind all our lives together,
Smite us and save us all;
In ire and exultation
Aflame with faith and free,
Lift up a living nation,
A single sword to thee.

G.K. Chesterton

Cum terra Deus arae,
adsis precantibus:
reges timent regnare,
marcetque populus;
thesauris coercemur,
fastu dissedimus:
tuus, ne gloriemur,
maneto tonitrus.

A minis aque pravis
sermone et calamo
et si sonat qua suavis
saevis oratio,
a vendito honore
et emptis ensibus
solvamur et sopore
et tartaro, Deus.

Ducem cum plebe iunctos
et flaminem liges
consociansque cunctos
caedendo sospites;
ira fideque ardentem,
ovantem, liberam
nos unam tolle gentem
ut aciem tuam.

MM 24.8–7.9.98