69 VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT
By Venantius Fortunatus. Born in the district of Treviso, Italy, about 530. In 565 he made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Martin at Tours, and spent the remainder of his years in Gaul. Through the influence of his friend Queen Rhadegunda, Fortunatus became Bishop of Poitiers in 597. Some place his death in the year 609. Fortunatus must have been an author of great industry and versatility. He wrote the life of St. Martin in four books, containing 2245 hexameter lines; he threw off in profusion vers de societé when wandering from castle to cloister in Gaul; and he composed a volume of hymns for all the festivals of the Christian year, which is now unhappily lost. This is his best known hymn, Dr. Neale’s translation of which is inserted for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, otherwise called Palm Sunday, in “Hymns Ancient and Modern” (No. 84).
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| See the Royal banners Wave across the sky, Bright the mystic radiance, For the Cross is nigh; And He who came our flesh to wear, The Christ of God, was wounded there. | | Deep the cruel spear thrust, By the soldier given; Blood and water mingle, Where the flesh is riven; To cleanse our souls the crimson tide Leapt from the Saviour’s riven side. | | In the distant ages Zion’s harp was strung, And the faithful saw Him, While the prophet sung; Now Israel’s Hope the nations see, For Christ is reigning from the tree. | | Tree of wondrous beauty, Tree of grace and light, Royal throne to rest on, Decked with purple bright; The choice of God, this royal throne Whence Christ, the King, should rule His own. | | See the branches drooping! Laden, see they sway! For the price of heaven On those branches lay; Ah! great the price, that price was paid, By Him on whom the debt was laid. | |