Poem on the Joys of Paradise
Lokrantz and Facchini comment on the meter: Damiani usually uses the hexameter or the couplet for the epigrams, the Sapphic strophe for the hymns of vespers, that of cataleptic iambic dimeters for the hymns of the other hours. Here he strangely uses the trochaic tetrameter or square verse, very suitable for a marching pattern and perfectly tuned to a popular rhythm. Precisely for this reason the three poems were undoubtedly composed, like the one on the monk penitent, as texts to be recited or sung during the penitential journey or the processions inside the hermitage of Fonte Avellana.
1.
Ad perennis vitae fontem mens sitivit arida.
Claustra carnis praesto frangi clausa quaerit anima,
Gliscit, ambit, eluctatur exsul frui patria.
The dry mind thirsted for the fountain of life everlasting.
My imprisoned soul seeks that the chains of the flesh be broken immediately,
It swells, it walks about, it struggles an exile in order to enjoy the pleasure of the homeland.
2.
Dum pressuris ac aerumnis se gemit obnoxiam,
Quam amisit, cum deliquit, contemplatur gloriam,
Praesens malum auget boni perditi memoria.
While the submissive soul bewails her oppression and toil,
She contemplates the glory that was lost when it was lost,
The memory of the good that was lost increases the present misfortune.
3.
Nam quis promat, summae pacis quanta sit laetitia,
Ubi vivis margaritis surgunt aedificia,
Auro celsa micant tecta, radiant triclinia?
For who might express, how much joy there is in the peace on high,
Where buildings rise up of living pearls,
How much the high roofs glitter with gold, how much do the dining rooms gleam?
4.
Solis gemmis pretiosis haec structura nectitur,
Auro mundo tamquam vitro urbis via sterniitur;
Abest limus, deest fimus, lues nulla teritur.
These buildings are fashioned together with only precious gems,
The street of the city has been covered with gold as clear as glass;
There is no mud, there is no manure, no pestilence is tread under foot.
5.
Hiems horrens, aestas torrens illic numquam saeviunt;
Flos purpureus rosarum ver agit perpetuum;
Candent lilia, rubescit crocus, sudat balsamum.
Terrible winter, hot summer, never rage there;
The purple flower of the rose enjoys spring everlasting
The lillies are brilliant, the crocus reddens, the balsam drips.
6.
Virent prata, vernant sata, rivi mellis influunt;
Pigmentorum spirat odor liquor et aromatum;
Pendent poma floscidorum non lapsura nemorum.
The meadows are green, the crops feel new life, the rivers flow with honey;
The fluid of the colors breathes forth fragrance and spice;
The fruits of the flowers of the woodland hang without danger of falling.
7.
Non alternat luna vices, sol vel cursus siderum;
Agnus est felicis urbis lumen inocciduum;
Nox et tempus desunt, aevum diem fert continuum.
The moon does not change by turns, nor the sun, nor the course of the stars;
The lamb of this blessed city is everlasting;
Night and time are absent, eternity brings a continuous day.
8.
Nam et sancti quique velut sol praeclarus rutilant,
Post triumphum coronati mutuo coniubilant
Et prostrati pugnas hostis iam securi numerant.
For even the saints and those who shine forth as a brilliant sun
Having been crowned after their triumph celebrate together
And having been laid on the ground they count now to be safe from the blows of the enemy.
9.
Omni labe defaecati carnis bella nesciunt;
Caro facta spiritalis et mens unum sentiunt;
Pace multa perfruentes scandala non perferunt.
Those who have been cleansed from all disgrace do not know wars of the flesh;
The flesh having become spiritual and the mind know the one;
Those enjoying in peace do not bear many temptations.
10.
Mutabilibus exuti repetunt originem
Et praesentem veritatis contemplantur speciem;
Hinc vitalem vivi fontis hariunt dulcedinem.
The saints having been liberated from temporary things, they seek again the source;
And contemplate the present kind of truth;
From this living fountain they draw vital sweetness.
11.
Inde statum semper idem exsistendi capiunt:
Clari, vividi, iucundi nullis patent casibus;
Absunt morbi semper sanis, senectus iuvenibus.
Therefore, they always possess the same state of being:
Serene, living, enjoying they are open to no accidents;
Diseases are always absent from the healthy ones, just as old age is always absent from the youthful ones.
12.
Hinc perenne tenent esse, nam transire transiit;
Inde virent, vigent, florent; corruptela corruit;
Immortalitatis vigor mortis ius absorbuit.
Hence they have eternal being, for passing has passed;
Thence they are verdant, vigorous, flourishing; corruption sinks;
The vigor of immortality swallows up the law of death.
13.
Qui scientem cuncta sciunt, quid nescire nequeunt
Nam et pectoris arcana penetrant alterutrum;
Unum volunt, unum norunt, unitas est mentium.
They who know the one who knows all, what can they not know
For they even penetrate the secret knowledge of the breast of each other;
They want the one (and that is all they want), one thing they know, oneness is of their minds.
14.
Licet cuique sit diversum pro labore meritum,
Caritas hoc suum facit, quod amat in altero;
Proprium sic singulorum commune fit omnium.
Although the merit to each person is different according to his work,
Love makes this its own, whatever it loves in another person;
That which is characteristic of one becomes a possession in common of all.
15.
Ubi corpus, illic iure congregantur aquilae;
Quo cum angelis et sanctae recreantur animae;
Uno pane vivunt cives utriusque patriae.
Where the body is, there do the eagles justly come together;
Where even the holy souls are refreshed alongside the angels;
The citizens of both heaven and earth live by one loaf.
16.
Avidi semper et pleni, quod habent, desiderant.
Non satietas fastidit, neque fames cruciant;
Inhiantes semper edunt et edentes inhiant.
Always eager and content, they desire whatever they have.
He does not scorn contentment, and he is not tortured by hunger;
The longing devotees in awe are always eating, and those who are eating are always lovingly in awe.
17.
Novas semper harmonias vox meloda conrepat,
Et in iubilum prolata mulcent aures organa;
Digna, per quem sunt victores, regi dant praeconia.
A lovely voice always produces new harmonies,
And the instruments having been brought out, they caress the ears in jubilation;
They give praises worthy of the king through whom they are victors.
18.
Felix, caeli quae presentem regem cernit, anima
Et sub sede spectat altam orbis volui machinam,
Solem, lunam et globosa bini cursus sidera.
Happy is the soul, which knows the present king of heaven
And sees under his throne the high device of the turning world,
The sun, the moon, the sphere of the stars in two courses.
19.
Christe, palma bellatorum, hoc in municipium
Introduc me post solutum militare cingulum;
Fac consortem donativi beatorum civium.
Christ, crown of warriors, lead me into this
City after untying the military belt;
Make me a sharer of the gift of the blessed citizens.
20.
Praebe vires inexhausto laboranti proelio,
Ut quietem post procinctum debeas emerito,
Teque merear potiri sine fine praemio.
Amen.
Give strength to the person laboring in everlasting struggle,
So that you might owe peace to me who has given service in battle,
And so that I might have deserved to possess you through a reward without end.
Amen.
