Columba Aspexit

Columba aspexit 
Per cancellos fenestre
Ubi ante faciem eius
Sudando sudavit balsamum 
De lucido Maximino

Calor solis exarsit 
Et in tenebras resplenduit
Unde gemma surrexit 
In edificatione templi
Purissimi cordis benivoli

Iste, turris excelsa
De ligno Libani 
Et cipresso facta
Iacincto et sardio ornata est
Urbs precellens artes 
Aliorum artificum

Ipse, velox cervus
Cucurrit ad fontem purissime aque
Fluentis de fortissimo lapide
Qui dulcia aromata irrigavit

O pigmentarii 
Qui estis in suavissima viriditate 
Hortorum regis
Ascendentes in altum
Quando sanctum sacrificium
In arietibus perfecistis

Inter vos fulget hic artifex
Paries templi
Qui desideravit alas aquile
Osculando nutricem Sapientiam
In gloriosa fecunditate Ecclesie

O Maximine
Mons et vallis es
Et in utroque alta edificatio appares
Ubi capricornus cum elephante exivit
Et Sapientia in deliciis fuit

Tu es fortis
Et suavis 
In ceremoniis
Et in choruscatione altaris
Ascendens ut fumus aromatum
Ad columpnam laudis

Ubi intercedis pro populo
Qui tendit ad speculum lucis
Cui laus est in altis



The dove peered in 
Through the lattices of the window
Where, before its face
A balm exuded 
From incandescent Maximin

The heat of the sun burned 
Dazzling into the gloom:
Whence a jewel sprang forth 
In the building of the temple
Of the purest loving heart

He, the high tower
Constructed of cedar of Lebanon 
And cypress
Has been adorned with jacinth and onyx
A city excelling the crafts 
Of other builders

He, the swift hart, ran
To the fountain of clearest water
Flowing from the most powerful stone
Which courses with delightful spices

O Perfume-Makers
You who are in the sweetest greenness 
Of the gardens of the King
Ascending on high
When you have completed the holy sacrifice
With the rams

This builder shines among you
The wall of the temple
Who longed for the wings of an eagle
Kissing his nurse Wisdom
In the glorious fecundity of the Church

O Maximin
You are the mount and the valley
And in both you seem a high building
Where the goat went with the elephant
And Wisdom was in rapture

You are strong
And beautiful 
In rites
And in the shining of the altar
Mounting like the smoke of perfumes
To the column of praise

Where you intercede for the people
Who stretch towards the mirror of light
To whom there is praise on high