hymn · medieval
Columba Aspexit
St. Hildegard of Bingen · 12th century · tr. Saint's Keep
Columba Aspexit praises St. Maximin in Hildegard's fierce imagery — the dove at the lattice, balsam, and the Spirit without stain. Latin and melody are public domain; the English is our original study crib. Read it beside Scivias and her Marian sequences, not as museum décor.
Latin · English
- 1
Columba aspexit per cancellos fenestrae ubi ante faciem eius sudando sudavit balsamum de Lucido Maximino.
1The dove looked through the lattices of the window where, before her face, in sweating Maximin sweated balsam of the Light.
- 2
Calor solis exarsit in quo clarificavit intestina eius, et de hoc ascendit odor suavis in Maximinum.
2The heat of the sun burned in which it clarified his inward parts, and from this a sweet odor rose upon Maximin.
- 3
Qui non habuit maculam sed in corde suo habitavit Spiritus Sanctus.
3He who had no stain — but in his heart dwelt the Holy Spirit.
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