Hostis Herodes Impie / Crudelis Herodes, Deum

Ibant Magi, Quam Viderant

Hostis Herodes Impie is written by the 5th century Christian poet, Coelius Sedulius (d.450?). It is composed of verses 8, 9, 11, and 13 of a much longer poem: an abecedarius, in which each verse begins with a consecutive letter of the alphabet (Latin, in this case). The Paean Alphabeticus de Christo consisting of 23 quatrains of iambic dimeters recounts the life of Christ from birth to resurrection. In the Roman Breviary Hostis Herodes Impie is sung at Vespers on Epiphany. A later revision: Crudelis Herode, Deum (included below), differs only in the first two lines being changed. The first 7 verses of Sedulius' epic poem also comprise another hymn: A Solis Ortus Cardine, which is sung during Christmas season.


Hostis Herodes Impie performed by Grup de Cant gregorià de l'Ateneu de Sant Just Desvern

HOSTIS, HERODES IMPIE

1. Hostis, Herodes impie,
Christum venire quid times?
Non eripit mortalia,
qui regna dat caelestia.

2. Ibant Magi, quam viderant,
stellam sequentes praeviam:
Lumen requirunt lumine:
Deum fatentur munere.

3. Lavacra puri gurgitis
caelestis Agnus attigit:
peccata, quae non detulit,
nos abluendo sustulit.

4. Novum genus potentiae:
aquae rubescunt hydriae,
vinumque iussa fundere,
mutavit unda originem.

5. Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui apparuisti gentibus,
cum Patre, et almo Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.
                  or
5. Gloria tibi, Domine,
qui apparuisti hodie,
cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.


CRUDELIS HERODES, DEUM

1. Crudelis Herodes, Deum,
regem venire quid times?
Non eripit mortalia,
qui regna dat cælestia.

2. Ibant Magi, quam viderant,
stellam sequentes praeviam:
Lumen requirunt lumine:
Deum fatentur munere.

3. Lavacra puri gurgitis
caelestis Agnus attigit:
peccata, quae non detulit,
nos abluendo sustulit.

4. Novum genus potentiae:
aquae rubescunt hydriae,
vinumque iussa fundere,
mutavit unda originem.

5. Iesu, tibi sit gloria,
qui apparuisti gentibus,
cum Patre, et almo Spiritu,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.