Latin Poem- Modena- Translated by A Z Foreman Poems Found in Translation

Poems Found In Translation: “Anonymous: Song of the Watchmen of Modena (From Latin)” Anonymous: Song of the Watchmen of Modena (From Latin) Posted: 07 Dec 2015 09:22 AM PST During the late 9th century, the walls of Modena were fortified under bishop Ludovicus against Magyar (Hungarian) raiders, whose numerous incursions into western Europe at the time had become a considerable and constant menace, and would remain so until their neutralization by Otto the Great at the battle of Lechfeld in 955, followed by the formal conversion to Christianity of the Hungarian elite over the subsequent century. This poem, preserved in a manuscript alongside prayers explicitly entreating deliverance from Hungarian raiders, appears to have been composed for use at mass just before sending guards off to sentry duty. The mass was presumably conducted in the Chapel of Saint John and Saint Mary (located near one of the city gates, and dedicated to the two saints invoked in the penultimate stanza) where the poem was sung by attendant clerics, possibly joined by the guardsmen as well.  The music to which the song was composed still survives, and a modern rendition can be heard here. (Note though that the lyrics heard in the recording are a truncated version of the unedited text as found in manuscript. They therefore both lack a considerable part of the full text presented here, and also contain a large chunk of material interpolated from another composition.) Song of the Watchmen of Modena By Anonymous (c. late 9th cent.) Translated by A.Z. Foreman Good men who guard those walls tonight with arms, I warn you: do not sleep. Stand watchful guard. While Hector stood his watch, Troy still stood free And Greece could not take her by dupery. But as Troy slept in the early morning's peace, Sinon unlocked the gift horse of defeat. The horde slipped down a rope in dark concealed, Stormed into Troy and raped her to debris. And the watchful voice of the white goose redeemed Rome's citadel and forced the Celts to flee. For this they made her a silver effigy And adored the bird as a Roman deity1. But let us worship Christ's divinity And pay to Him our tuneful jubilee. Trusting in Him,  His guardianship supreme, Let us sing Him this wakeful hymn with cheer "Christ, King of all things, guardian godhead, keep This faithful city in Thy watchful care. Be to Thy people a bulwark none may breach, The fearsome enemy our enemies fear. Within Thy care no power can do us harm For Thou wilt drive all hostile force afar. Keep these our walls O Christ, under Thy care With the protection of Thy mighty spear. And Glorious Mary, mother of Lord Jesus With Saint John's aid entreat our victory, You whose most holy relics we revere, To whom we consecrate this chapel here." Swords under Christ's command strike victory. Without Him, of what use can weapons be? Brave, good young men, bold in your strength of arms Let the ramparts sound with song from wakeful hearts; And take your turns to stand on guard at arms That no foe's ploy may breech these walls of ours. Let the echo sound along the walls "Stand guard!" Let it resound "Comrades, stand watchful guard!" Notes: 1 - Reference is made here to the Gaulish siege of the Capitoline Hill in Rome following the Battle of Allia. The Gaulish forces attempted to sneak into the Capitoline by night, and managed to go undetected by the guards or the dogs. But the sacred geese consecrated to Juno were roused, which in turn alerted the Romans who rallied under Marcus Manlius Capitolinus to repel the Gauls back down the hill. The part about the Romans making a silver model of the goose is apparently the poet's invention. The Original: Carmen Mutinense O tu, qui servas　　 armis ista moenia, Noli dormire,　　 moneo, sed vigila. Dum Hector vigil　　 extitit in TroÄ­a, Non eam cepit　　 fraudulenta Graecia. Prima quiete　　 dormiente TroÄ­a, Laxavit Sinon　　 fallax claustra perfida. Per funem lapsa　　 occultata agmina Invadunt urbem,　　 et incendunt Pergama. Vigili voce,　　 avis anser candida Fugavit Gallos　　 ex Arce Romulea; Pro qua virtute　　 facta est argentea, Et a Romanis　　 adorata ut Dea. Nos adoremus　　 celsa Christi numina, Illi canora　　 demus nostra iubila. Illius magna　　 fisi sub custodia, Haec vigilantes　　 iubilemus carmina. Divina, Mundi　　 Rex Christe, custodia Sub tua serva　　 haec castra vigilia. Tu murus tuis　　 sis inexpugnabilis, Sis inimicis 　　hostis tu terribilis. Te vigilante,　　 nulla nocet fortia, Qui cuncta fugas　　 procul arma bellica. Tu cinge haec　　 nostra, Christe, munimina, Defendens ea　　 tua forti lancea. Sancta Maria　　 Mater Christi splendida, Haec cum Iohanne, 　　Theotocos, impetra: Quorum hic sancta 　　veneramur pignora, Et quibus ista　　 sunt sacrata limina Quo duce victrix　　 est in bello dextera, Et sine ipso　　 nihil valent iacula. Fortis iuventus,　　 virtus audax, bellica, Vestra per muros　　 audiantur carmina: Et sit in armis　　 alterna vigilia, Ne fraus hostilis　　 haec invadat moenia. Resultet Echo　　 comes: eia vigila. Per muros eia 　　dicat Echo, vigila!