At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing
Anonymous (Latin, 6th cent.); tr. Robert Campbell, 1849· Patristic
Verse 1
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious King,
Who hath washed us in the tide
Flowing from His piercèd side;
Praise we Him whose love Divine
Gives His sacred blood for wine,
Gives His body for the feast,
Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest.
Verse 2
Where the paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood is shed,
Paschal Victim, Paschal Bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above.
Verse 3
Mighty Victim from the sky,
Powers of hell beneath Thee lie;
Death is conquered in the fight,
Thou hast brought us life and light:
Paschal triumph, paschal joy,
Only sin can this destroy;
From the death of sin set free
Souls re-born, dear Lord, in Thee.