139

 139. Prime  Jam lucis orto sidere.  ( From the Parisian Breviary.) [n.]  NOW that the day-star glimmers bright,  We suppliantly pray That He, the uncreated Light,  May guide us on our way.  No sinful word, nor deed of wrong,  Nor thoughts that idly rove; But simple truth be on our tongue,  And in our hearts be love.  And, while the hours in order flow,  O Christ, securely fence Our gates, beleaguer'd by the foe,  The gate of every sense.  And grant that to Thine honour, Lord,  Our daily toil may tend; That we begin it at Thy word,  And in Thy blessing end.  And, lest the flesh in its excess  Should lord it o'er the soul, Let taming abstinence repress  The rebel, and control.  To God the Father glory be,  And to His Only Son, And to the Spirit, One and Three,  While endless ages run.  Littlemore .  February, 1842.

 Note

 Vide the Anglo-Norman History of Sir Francis  Palgrave (Vol. iii. p. 588), who did the Author  the honour of asking him for a translation of this  hymn, as also of the Christe Pastorum, infra .