Yesterday's post featured a beautiful 12th century Latin hymn by Adam de St Victor. Today's post provides annotations on the Latin vocabulary accompanied by a fairly literal translation in prose.
1.
Salve, Mater Salvatoris!
Vas electum! Vas honoris!
Vas cœlestis Gratiae!
Ab aeterno Vas provisum!
Vas insigne! Vas excisum [5]
Manu sapientiae!
2.
Salve, Mater pietatis,
Et totius Trinitatis
Nobile Triclinium!
Verbi tamen incarnati [10]
Speciale majestati
Praeparans hospitium!
3.
O Maria! Stella maris!
Dignitate singularis,
Super omnes ordinaris [15]
Ordines coelestium!
In supremo sita poli
Nos commenda tuae proli,
Ne terrores sive doli
Nos supplantent hostium! [20]
Notes
First stanza
[l 1] Salve: from salvĕo, ēre, v. n. salvus: To be well, or in good health; as a term of salutation,
Salve, salveto, salvete, God save you; how are you? I hope you are well;
Salvatoris: from salvātor, ōris, m. id; a saviour, preserver; in partic., in the Vulg. and Christian fathers, as a transl. of σωτήρ and Jesus (Heb. ), the Saviour, Redeemer; from salvo, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. salvus,
to save; salve, salvete [CL as imp.], (as greeting on meeting or parting) hail!; is there an etymon meaning 'safe, well, healthy'? Cf. salva [ME salve < AS sealf], ointment, salve.
[l 2 et seq.] Vas: vas [CL], vasum, n. vasa, 1 container, vessel; b (as measure); c (fig., of human body or human being, esp. as receptacle);
electum: from ēlectus, a, um, Part. and P. a., choice, excellent; v. eligo. ē-lĭgo, lēgi, lectum, 3, v. a. lĕgo, to pick out, choose, elect.
honoris: from hŏnŏr et hŏnōs, ōris, m. 1 high esteem, honour; b (w. gen. of person or thing honoured); c (dist. as spiritual or earthly);
[l 3] caelestis: from caelestis [CL] 1 belonging to, or sent from, the sky or the supernal regions.
Gratiae: from grātĭa, ae, f. gratus; Favour which one finds with others, esteem, regard, liking, love, friendship; (theol.) the grace of God, redeeming grace, the sovereign divine favour; Cf. grātus, a, um: (adj.), acceptable, pleasing, agreeable, welcome;
[l 4] provisum: from prō-vĭdĕo, vīdi, vīsum, 2, v. n. and a. to see forwards or before one's self, to see in the distance, to discern; to prepare or provide for.
[l 5] insigne: from insignis, e, adj. in-signum, I distinguished by a mark; remarkable, noted, eminent, distinguished, prominent, extraordinary, singular (class.);
excisus: from ex-cīdo, īdi, īsum, 3, v. a. caedo, to cut out or off, to hew out;
[l 6] sapientia: from săpĭentĭa, ae, f. sapiens. (theol., spiritual or divine) wisdom. (personified, w. ref. to Christ or the Lord);
Cf. the Litany of Loreto's three references to Our Lady as "Vas:"
Vas spirituale, Spiritual vessel,
Vas honorabile, Vessel of honour,
Vas insigne devotionis, Singular vessel of devotion.
Hail, Mother of the Saviour!
Chosen Vessel! Vessel of Honour!
Vessel of celestial grace!
Vessel pre-destined from eternity!
Singular Vessel! Vessel fashioned
By the hand of Wisdom!
Second stanza
[l 7] pietatis: from pĭĕtas, ātis, f. pius, dutiful conduct towards the gods, one's parents, relatives, benefactors, country, etc., sense of duty. DMLBS > 1 due respect for or worship of God. b (as virtue) devoutness, piety; c (as inspiring a holy life);
[ll 8-9]: The English translation above ("Hail, Temple of the Trinity! Home of the Triune God!") misses the Latin’s play on the words “Trinitatis” and “Triclinium,” for if by
Trinitas we mean of the “Three in One God” then “
Triclinium” may be taken to mean “Three couches” in one cenacle. See, for example, the entry for Triclinium in the
DMLBS (Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources):
triclinium [CL] 1 an arrangement of three couches, (transf.) room or hall containing (three) couches, (esp.) dining room;
The upper-room or Cenacle, scene of the Last Supper and of the Apostles’ first Holy Communion, later became a place of refuge for Our Lady and the disciples. Our Lady’s womb is likened to a “triclinium,” being a room equipped with three couches for the three Persons of the Trinity.
[l 11] speciale: from spĕcĭālis, e, adj., that has particular (esp. more than usual) value, significance, or importance, special. b dear, particularly loved. c (as sb.) close or intimate friend, favourite.
maiestate: from mājestas, ātis, f. maior, magnus, q. v., greatness, grandeur, dignity, majesty.
[l 12] hospitium: from hospitium , iī, n.: the relation of host and guest; hospitality; hospitality, entertainment of guests.
Hail, Mother of piety
And providing for the whole Trinity
A noble room with three couches!
But, for the majesty
Of the Word incarnate,
Preparing a special welcome!
Third stanza
[l 17] sita: from sinō, sīvī, situs, 3, a.: to allow, permit, suffer; adj. placed, situated, present, ready:
poli: from polus , ī, m.: the terminating point of an axis; the celestial pole; (meton.), the heavens, sky.
[l 18] proli: from prōlēs, is, f.: 1 offspring, progeny (usu. collect.). b child, descendant. c (w. ref. to Christ) son (of God).
[l 19] terrores: from terror , ōris, m.: fright, fear, dread, alarm, extreme fear or terror (as a feeling)
doli: from dolus , ī, m.: artifice, device, stratagem, guile, fraud, trickery;
[l 20] supplantent: from sup-planto (subpl-), āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. planta - to throw down, throw to the ground, overthrow:
O Mary! Star of the Sea!
Singular in dignity
Thou art placed
Higher than all the celestial orders!
Situated in the highest Heaven,
Commend us to thy Son,
Lest the terrors and deceptions
Of the enemy cause us to fall!
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
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