Then, grasping in strong hand the prophet’s hair,
  He bears him gently through the rushing air,
    Still burdened with the platter’s savoury load,
  Till o’er the lions’ den at last they stayed
  And straightway to the starving youth displayed
    The food thus brought, by God’s good grace bestowed.

  “Take this with joy,” he said, “and thankful feed,
  The bread that in thy hour of direst need,
    By the great Father sent, Christ’s angel brings.” 
  Then Daniel lifts his eyes to heaven above
  And, strengthened by the wondrous gift of love,
    “Amen!” he cries, and Alleluia sings.

  Thus, therefore, by Thy bounties now restored,
  Giver of all things good, Almighty Lord,
    We render thanks and sing glad hymns to Thee: 
  Though prisoned in an evil world we dwell
  Where sin’s grim tyrant rules, Thou dost repel
    With sovran power our mortal enemy.

  He roars around us, and would fain devour,
  Grinding his angry teeth when ’gainst his power
    In Thee alone, O God, we still confide: 
  By evil things we are beset and vexed,
  Tormented, hated, harassed and perplexed,
    Our faith by cruel suffering sorely tried,

  Yet help ne’er fails us in our time of need,
  For Thou canst quell the lions’ rage, and feed
    Our hungry spirits with celestial fare: 
  And if some soul no meagre taste would gain
  Of that repast, but thirstily is fain
    Full measure of the heavenly sweets to share,

  He by the holy seers of old is fed,
  And shall partake the loyal reapers’ bread
    Who labour in the eternal Master’s field: 
  For nothing sweeter than the Word can be
  That fell from righteous lips, once touched by Thee,
    And nought can richer grace to mortals yield.

With this sustained, though vaunting tyranny
By unjust judgment doom us straight to die,
And starved lions rush these limbs to tear;
Confessing ever Thine Eternal Son,
With Thee, Almighty Father, ever one,
His cross with faith unshaken will we bear.

V. HYMNUS ad incensum LUCERNAE

  Inventor rutili, dux bone, luminis,

qui certis vicibus tempora dividis,
merso sole chaos ingruit horridum,
lucem redde tuis Christe fidelibus.

  Quamvis innumero sidere regiam 5

lunarique polum lampade pinxeris,
incussu silicis lumina nos tamen
monstras saxigeno semine quaerere: 

    Ne nesciret homo spem sibi luminis
  in Christi solido corpore conditam, 10
  qui dici stabilem se voluit petram,
  nostris igniculis unde genus venit.

    Pinguis quos olei rore madentibus
  lychnis aut facibus pascimus aridis: 
  quin et fila favis scirpea floreis 15
  presso melle prius conlita fingimus.

    Vivax flamma viget, seu cava testula
  sucum linteolo suggerit ebrio,
  seu pinus piceam fert alimoniam,
  seu ceram teretem stuppa calens bibit. 20