St Thomas of Canterbury again

Some rhyming antiphons from Matins and Lauds of the Sarum Breviary (via Dom Gueranger's The Liturgical Year) for the feast of St Thomas:


Summo sacerdotio
Thomas sublimatus,
et in virum alium
subito mutatus

Thomas being raised to the fullness of the Priesthood,
was suddenly transformed into a new man.

Monachus sub clerico
clam ciliciatus,
carnis, carne fortior,
edomat conatus.

A monk, wearing the hairshirt
secretly under his cleric's dress, he
subdues the rebellion of his flesh,
for he was not a slave to the flesh.

Cultor agri Domini
tribulos evelit,
et vulpes a vineis
arcet et expellit

Husbandman of the Lord's vineyard,
he roots up the brambles,
and drive the foxes from the vines.

Nec in agnos sustinet
lupos desævire,
nec in hortum olerum
tineam transire.

He neither suffers wolves to prowl among
the lambs, nor slugs to crawl in the garden.

Exulantis prædia
præda sunt malignis,
sed in igne positum
non exurit ignis.

He is sent into exile, and his possessions
made over to wicked men; but the fire of
tribulation burns him not.

Satanæ satellites
irrumpentes templum,
inauditum perpetrant
scleris exemplum.

The satellites of Satan rush into the Temple,
and perpetrate the unheard-of crime.

Strictis Thomas ensibus
obviam procedit,
non minis, non gladiis,
sed nec morti cedit.

Thomas advances to meet the unsheathed swords:
nor threats nor swords nor very death can make
him yield.

Felix locus, felix ecclesia
in qua Thomæ vivit memoria:
Felix terra quæ dedit præsulem,
felix illa quæ fovit exulem.

Happy Canterbury! Happy Church that cherishes
the memory of her Thomas! Happy land that gave
such a Bishop, and happy too the country that
harboured such an exile!

Granum cadit, copiam germinat frumenti:
alabastrum frangitur, fragrat vis unguenti.

The grain of wheat falls, and bringeth forth
much fruit: the precious vase is broken,
and perfumes all the earth!

Totus orbis Martyris
certat in amorem,
cuius signa singulos
agunt in stuporem.

The whole earth seeks how most to love our
Martyr, and men look in wonder at each other
as they hear or see the miracles that are wrought.