Mortem non gustabunt

 

The ardent love which Laeda’s offspring showed,
The twins she bore through Jupiter’s deceit,
Fails when compared with love with which Christ glowed:
He’s God and Man, whose purity’s complete.
If the beloved Pollux shared with Castor,
His brother, life, the gain was qualified,
If one lived for the other death was master:
If one arose, one perished with the tide.

But life which is beyond death’s might and main
Christ gains, and also gives to the elect.
The living praise: His death won’t be in vain:
Don’t be lost, through His victory’s effect.

For deep in hell there is a place secreted
For everything by which you were defeated.

Another Elizabeth Weston; comment on translation would be appreciated!

Mortem non gustabunt

Non fratres inter tantus fuit ardor amantes,

Quos decepta tulit Laeda furore Jovis:         which deceived took Laeda with fury Jove

Quanto hominum mitis flagrabat amore Redemptor,

Qui Deus, & puro corpore purus homo est.

Mutate enim Pollux charo cum Castore vitam

Fratre suam; certa conditione tamen.

Alter ut alterius moriatur orogine vitae:

Dumque hic surgite quis, ille feratur aquis.

At vitam, alterius Christus sine morte perennem

Obtinet, Electis & dat habere suis.

Vivus ovat; non te mors illius ergo fefellit:

Ne pereas, sed eas per supera, ille perit.                 

Omnia qui te eum victurus secula, solus                 

Expertem stygiae te facit esse plagae.

O CHRIST MY HOPE

In you, O Christ my Hope, my hopes depend;

Amid confusing wickedness, defend;

I do not trust in images or art,

For nothing can be certain on man’s part.

My Hope, Thou art mine own, through rock and fire:

I’ll cross the seas, if that’s what you require;

Your arms will even overcome the sea,

Wherever your command to me may be.

Elizabeth Jane Weston (c.1581-1612)

This is my version of the following.  Any clarification of the Latin would be appreciated.

In Symbolam Westoniae Auctoris

Spes mea Christus

In te, Christe, mihi spes derivata recumbit; 

Sed ne confundant me mala tot, fer opem: 

Non ego imaginibus confido, ne arte; salutis, 

Quam spero, certae nil mihi praestat homo. 

Tu spes, tu mea res, Meus es, per saxa per ignes:

Si vis esse, sequar per freta: se esse jubes 

Per freta; freta tuo munimine vinco: petitis 

Certa, vel hic, summi vel patris aede tui.

JEHOSHEBA

 

2 Kings 11: 2

True faithfulness preserved the royal line,

Noble behaviour risked to save a child,

Just actions proved the impulse was divine,

Pure priestliness found Judah reconciled,

Amiable care sustained through watching days:

This good report tells of a soul that's fine:

Virtue in her conduces to God's praise.