289. Sing, My Tongue, How Glorious Battle

Part I
1 Sing, my tongue, how glorious battle
glorious victory became;
and above the cross, his trophy,
tell the triumph and the fame,
tell how he, the world's Redeemer,
by his death for us o'ercame.

2 God in pity saw us fallen,
shamed and sunk in misery,
when we fell on death by tasting
fruit of the forbidden tree:
then another tree was chosen
which the world from death should free.

3 Thus the scheme of our salvation
was of old in order laid,
that the manifold deceiver's
art by art might be outweighed,
and the lure the foe put forward
into means of healing made.

4 Therefore, when the appointed fullness
of the holy time was come,
he was sent, who maketh all things,
forth from God's eternal home;
thus he came to earth incarnate,
offspring of a virgin's womb.

Part II
5 Thirty years among us dwelling,
his appointed time fulfilled,
born for this, he meets his Passion,
for that this he freely willed:
on the cross the Lamb is lifted,
where his life-blood shall be spilled.

6 Faithful cross! above all other,
one and only noble tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peer may be!
Sweetest wood and sweetest iron!
Sweetest weight is hung on thee.

7 Thou alone wast counted worthy
this world's ransom to uphold;
for a shipwrecked race preparing
harbor, like the ark of old;
with the sacred blood anointed
from the smitten Lamb that rolled.

8 To the Trinity be glory
everlasting, as is meet;
equal to the Father, equal
to the Son and Paraclete:
Trinal Unity, whose praises
all created things repeat.

Text Information
First Line: Sing, my tongue, how glorious battle
Title: Sing, My Tongue, How Glorious Battle
Author: Venantius Fortunatus (c. 530-609; tr. composite)
Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7
Language: English
Publication Date: 1985
Scripture: ;
Topic: Jesus Christ: Life and Ministry; Jesus Christ: Passion and Cross
Source: Pange lingua;
Tune Information
Name: PICARDY
Arranger: R. Vaughan Williams
Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7
Key: d minor
Source: French carol melody
Copyright: Arr. from the English Hymnal; used by permission of Oxford University Press



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