XIII. _Heri mundus exultavit_ 1. Heri mundus exultavit, Et exultans celebravit Christi natalitia: Heri chorus angelorum Prosecutus est caelorum Regem cum laetitia. 1. Yesterday, with exultation Joined the world in celebration Of her promis’d Saviour’s birth; Yesterday the Angel nation Pour’d the strains of jubilation O’er the Monarch born on earth. 2. Protomartyr et Levita, Clarus fide, clarus vita, Clarus et miraculis, Sub hac luce triumphavit, Et triumphans insultavit Stephanus incredulis. 2. But to-day, o’er death victorious, By His faith and actions glorious, By His miracles renown’d, Dared the Deacon Protomartyr Earthly life for Heav’n to barter, Faithful midst the faithless found. 3. Fremunt ergo tanquam ferae, Quia victi defecere Lucis victi adversarii: Falsos testes statuunt, Et linguas exacuunt Viperarum filii. 3. In a hopeless strife engaging, They like savage beasts are raging, Adversaries of the light; False the witnesses they set; Tongues like swords the rabble whet, Viper brood of darkest night. 4. Agonista, nulli cede; Certa certus de mercede, Perservera, Stephane: Insta falsis testibus, Confuta sermonibus Synagogam Satanae. 4. Forward, champion, in thy quarrel! Certain of a certain laurel, Holy Stephen, persevere! Perjur’d witnesses confounding Satan’s Synagogue astounding By thy doctrine true and clear. 5. Testis tuus est in caelis, Testis verax et fidelis, Testis innocentiae. Nomen habes coronati, Te tormenta decet pati Pro corona gloriae. 5. Lo! in Heaven thy Witness liveth: Bright and faithful proof He giveth Of His Martyr’s blamelessness: Thou by name a Crown impliest; Meetly then in pangs thou diest For the Crown of Righteousness! 6. Pro corona non marcenti Perfer brevis vim tormenti, Te manet victoria. Tibi fiet mors, natalis, Tibi poena terminalis Dat vitae primordia. 6. For a crown that fadeth never, Bear the torturer’s brief endeavour; Victory waits to end the strife: Death shall be thy birth’s beginning, And life’s losing be the winning Of the true and better Life. 7. Plenus Sancto Spiritu Penetrat intuitu Stephanus caelestia. Videns Dei gloriam Crescit ad victoriam, Suspirat ad praemia. 7. Whom the Holy Ghost endueth, Whom celestial sight embueth, Stephen penetrates the skies; There God’s fullest glory viewing There his victor strength renewing For his near reward he sighs. 8. En a dextris Dei stantem Iesum, pro te dimicantem, Stephane, considera. Tibi caelos reserari, Tibi Christum revelari Clama voce libera. 8. See, as Jewish foes invade thee, See how Jesus stands to aid thee! Stands to guard His champion’s death: Cry that opened Heaven is shown thee: Cry that Jesus waits to own thee: Cry it with thy latest breath!