Psallimus cantantes Domino nova cantica dantes

Words and Music: Latin Chant

Source: Thomas Wright, Songs and Carols Now First Printed, From a Manuscript of the Fifteenth Century (London: The Percy Society, 1847), Song #x, printed verbatim from a manuscript probably owned by a professional musician, and apparently written in the latter half of the fifteenth century, circa 1471-1485.

Cantus

Psallimus cantantes Domino nova cantica dantes,
Cum canore jubilo et tibi discipulo,
Qui ex priviligio pre ceteris a Domino
            Dilectus es, Amice Christi, Johannes.

Tu in Christi cena meruisti bene veneranda proflui,
Fontis unda limpidi pectoris dominici fluenta evangelii
            Potatus es.

En Christum magistrum tradendum in capi, in capiendo a missis,
Relictum a ceteris tuis condiscipulis in atrium pontificis
            Secutus es.

Dum stans juxta crucem dat tibi Christus in nutricem Venerabilem,
Contristantem, flebilem, morienti similem, ut tu virgo virginem
            Diligeres.

In Porta Latina tu missus es coqui in ferventi oleo,
Sed illesus a dolio existi, ut a vicio et carnis contagio
            Alenus es

Omnibus est virus notum, quod tu menti, tu mentibus hominum
Tuleris obprobrium ante aristodium calcem letiferum
            Ebiberes.

Ex post dies paucas es ductus ante Augustum sevissimum,
Domicianum pessimum, propter evangelium, in Pathmes exilium
            Dimissus es.

Exilio reversus in navigio submer, submersorum titulo,
Clarebas in Epheso et destructo ydolo templa data Domino
            Purgatus es.

Nonagentis annis transisti in pa, pace tua tempora,
In sacra ecclesia post divine misteria senex ad convivia
            Vocatus es.

---

Note from Wright:

This Latin chaunt is accompanied with musical notes in the MS.

Sheet Music from Sir Richard Runciman Terry, A Medieval Carol Book: The Melodies Chiefly from MMS. in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., 1932), Carol #7, pp. 14-15.

Editor's Note:

See: Cast Away The Olden / Psallimus Cantantes (3 verses)

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