O pulcre facies

Virgins, Widows, and Innocents

FORM Antiphon for Virgins
DIFFICULTY Easy/Medium
LENGTH Medium
SOURCE Riesencodex f.471 recto
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TEXT AND TRANSLATION

O pulcre facies
Deum aspicientes
et in aurora edificantes,
o beate virgines,
quam nobiles estis,
in quibus rex se consideravit,
cum in vobis
omnia celestia ornamenta
presignavit,
ubi etiam suavissimus hortus estis,
in omnibus ornamentis
redolentes.		 O lovely faces
gazing upon God
and serving Him in the daybreak,
O blessed virgins
how noble are you
on whom the king settled
when he
marked you out
with every heavenly adornment,
to be a balm-scented garden,
casting perfume
from every inflorescence.

 

Musical transcription by Allison Mondel
Latin translation by Hugh McElroy

© Eya Medieval Music