Columba aspexit, BN 54

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.

Saint Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

Translation:

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 Lebanon wood and cypress,

has been adorned with jacinth and diamonds,

a city excelling the crafts of other builders.

This swift hart sped

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.