Texts and translations

Summary

1 O Domine Jesu Christe,

obsecro te per venerandam crucem tuam

ut adiuvare digneris Hippolytum servum tuum;

et per beatam crucem tuam custodi caput suum;

et per gloriosam crucem tuam custodi oculos suos;

et per dilectam crucem tuam custodi os suum;

et per sanctam crucem tuam custodi manus suas et pedes suos

et totum corpus suum.

O Lord Jesus Christ, by your worshipful cross I beseech you, deign to watch over your servant Hippolytus; by your blessed cross, protect his head; by your glorious cross, protect his eyes; by your beloved cross, protect his mouth; by your holy cross, protect his hands and feet and his whole body.

2 O beata colei ch'al fin può dire,

‘Io tenni un senza cor molt’ anni in vita;

io li fei parer dolce ogni martire

ne I'età sua più bella e più fiorita.

Nè li lassai provar gli sdegni e I'ire

del timor ch'amorir gli amanti in vita;

e quel ch'a I'un fu car a I'altro piacque,

perch'io sua tutt', et ei tutto mio nacque.'.

Happy is the woman who at last can say, ‘I kept one who had lost his heart alive for many a year; I made every suffering seem sweet to him, when he was in his prime, the flower of his youth. Nor did I let him feel the sorrow and anger, or the fear, that embitter the life of lovers; and what was dear to one would please the other, for I was born to live for him alone, as he was for me.’