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Home  »  The Poems of John Dryden  »  Veni, Creator Spiritus

John Dryden (1631–1700). The Poems of John Dryden. 1913.

Translations of Latin Hymns and Minor Miscellanies

Veni, Creator Spiritus

Translated in Paraphrase

CREATOR Spirit, by whose aid

The World’s Foundations first were laid,

Come, visit ev’ry pious Mind;

Come, pour thy Joys on Human Kind;

From Sin, and Sorrow set us free;

And make thy Temples worthy Thee.

O, Source of uncreated Light,

The Father’s promis’d Paraclite!

Thrice Holy Fount, thrice Holy Fire,

Our Hearts with Heav’nly Love inspire;

Come, and thy Sacred Unction bring

To Sanctifie us, while we sing!

Plenteous of Grace, descend from high,

Rich in thy sev’n-fold Energy!

Thou strength of his Almighty Hand,

Whose Pow’r does Heav’n and Earth command:

Proceeding Spirit, our Defence,

Who do’st the Gift of Tongues dispence,

And crown’st thy Gift with Eloquence!

Refine and purge our Earthy Parts;

But, oh, inflame and fire our Hearts!

Our Frailties help, our Vice controul;

Submit the Senses to the Soul;

And when Rebellious they are grown,

Then, lay thy hand, and hold ’em down.

Chace from our Minds th’ Infernal Foe;

And Peace, the fruit of Love, bestow;

And, lest our Feet shou’d step astray,

Protect, and guide us in the way.

Make us Eternal Truths receive,

And practise, all that we believe:

Give us thy self, that we may see

The Father and the Son, by thee.

Immortal Honour, endless Fame,

Attend th’ Almighty Father’s Name:

The Saviour Son be glorify’d,

Who for lost Man’s Redemption dy’d:

And equal Adoration be,

Eternal Paraclete, to thee.