Christe potens rerum, redeuntis conditor aevi, vox summi sensusque dei, quem fudit ab alta mente pater tantique dedit consortia regni, impia tu nostrae domuisti crimina vitae passus corporea numen[108] vestire figura 5 adfarique palam populos hominemque fateri; quemque utero inclusum Mariae mox numine viso virginei tumuere sinus, innuptaque mater arcano stupuit compleri viscera partu [108] _numen_ Koch; _mundum_ Birt (following the MSS.); he suggests _mentem_. * * * * * Page 261 lord’s camp, before thy son-in-law’s throne. The royal purple would have been a good omen for our union, the august assembly of the court would have graced the ceremony and the hand which, by writing that letter, promised me my bride would have kindled the torch to light her to the altar. Now that the envious sea deprives me of my fondest hopes and stretches between thee and the coasts of Libya, yet, though absent, be gracious unto me, O queen, and of thy goodness grant me a safe return as by a nod of thy head thou, a goddess, canst do. Make straight the paths of earth; bid but gentle breezes blow and a calm sea prosper my voyage, that the Muses and Aganippe’s stream, the fount of song, may hymn thy praises in gratitude for the saving of their servant, the poet.[109] XXXII. (XCV.) _Of the Saviour._ Christ, lord of the world, founder of a new age of gold, voice and wisdom of the Most High, proceeding from the Father’s lofty mind and given by that Father a share in the governance of this great universe, thou hast overcome the sins of this our mortal life, for thou hast suffered thy Godhead to be clothed in human form and hath allowed mankind to address thee face to face and confess thee man. The swelling womb of the Virgin Mary conceived thee after that she had been visited by the angel, and the unwed mother, destined to give birth to her own creator, was astonished at the unborn [109] The Muses themselves are to hymn Serena for having by her prayers (l. 60) secured the safe return of their servant, Claudian. * * * * * Page 262 auctorem paritura suum: mortalia corda 10 artificem texere poli, mundique repertor pars fuit humani generis, latuitque sub uno pectore, qui totum late complectitur orbem, et qui non spatiis terrae, non aequoris unda nec capitur caelo, parvos confluxit in artus. 15 quin et supplicii nomen nexusque subisti, ut nos subriperes leto mortemque fugares morte tua, mox aetherias evectus in auras purgata repetens laetum tellure parentem. Augustum foveas, festis ut saepe diebus 20 annua sinceri celebret ieiunia sacri. XXXIII.-XXXIX. _De crystallo cui aqua inerat._ XXXIII. (LVI.)