Roman Propers: Holy Saturday: Tenebrae: 2nd Nocturn: Lesson VI "Posuérunt custódes"

Submitted by Rick.Wheeler on Fri, 2011/04/08 - 12:24pm
PDF version
ID: 
1820
This is part of: 
Roman Propers: Feria Sexta in Coena Domini (Holy Saturday): ad Matutinum et Laudes (Tenebrae)
Can be Found in
Book: 
Liber Usualis 1961 ed.
Page: 
767
Book: 
Liber Usualis 1953 ed.
Page: 
728
Composition Date: 
Unknown
Composer: 
Unknown
Arrangers / Editors: 
Monks of St. Peter's Abbey, Solesmes
Proper Liturgical Usage: 
Matins Lesson
Proper Liturgical Time: 
Sabbato Sancto (Holy Saturday)
Proper Liturgical Day: 
Saturday
Votive: 
F
Performance Time: 
2 min 30 sec
Composition Type: 
Matins Lesson
Texture: 
Monophonic
Voices: 
Chant solo
Language: 
Latin
Difficulty: 
Easy
Musical Style: 
Gregorian
Gregorian Tone: 
Tonus Epistolae (ad libitum)
Recordings
Copyright Status: 
Copyright
Lyrics: 

Posuérunt custódes mílites ad sepúlcrum.  Concússa terra Dóminus resurréxit : mirácula facta sunt tália circa sepúlcrum, ut et ipsi mílites , qui custódes advénerant, testes fíerent, si vellent vera nuntiáre.  Sed avarítia illa, quæ captivávit discípulum cómitem Christi, captivávit et mílitem custódem sepúlcri.  Damus, ínquiunt, vobis pecúniam : et dícite, quia vobis dormiéntibus venérunt discípuli ejus, et abstulérunt eum.  Vere defecérunt scrutántes scrutatiónes.  Quid est quod dixísti, o infélix astútia?  Tamtúmne déseris lucem consílii pietátis, et in profúnda versútiæ demérgeris, ut hoc dicas : Dícite quia vobis dormiéntibus venérunt discípuli ejus, et abstulérunt eum?  Dormiéntes testes ádhibes : vere tu ipse obdormísti, qui scrutándo tália defecísti.
 Et non dicitur Tu autem.

Translated Lyrics: 

They placed a watch of soldiers over the sepulchre.  The earth quaked!  The Lord rose again!  Such were the miracles wrought round about the sepulchre, that the very soldiers who kept watch might have become witnesses, if they had been willing to declare the truth.  But that covetousness which possessed the disciple and companion of Christ, possessed also the soldiers who guarded his tomb.  We will give you money (say they), and say ye that his disciples came and stole him away while ye slept.  Truly, they failed in their snare and communings.  What is this thou saidst, O wretched cunning?  Dost thou so far forsake the light of prudence and duty, and plunge thyself so deep in craftiness, as to speak thus : Say ye that his disciples came and stole him away while ye slept?  Thou producest sleeping witnesses!  Surely thou wast thyself asleep, who didst thus snare thyself in such a snare.
The V. But thou, O Lord is not said.