O Gemma, Lux et Speculum

O Gemma, Lux et Speculum

"O Jewel, Light and Mirror"

(Anonymous, arranged by G.Dufay)

O jewel, light and mirror

Illuminating our whole age

Dear pledge of Italy.

May your prompt oracle

Bring you to our sight

For our relief!

Voluntarily leaving Greece

You will be led into Apulia

By sailing to Bari.

Protecting your homeland from the enemy

Through your heavenly glory

You live there joyously.

For the weaknesses driven out

And demons put to flight

Behold, the people rejoice.

Great shouts go up, as

Liquid flows from marble:

They move forward anointed,

Those who just now lacked energy

Give themselves up to their earlier fervour,

And obtain salvation.

Motetus

Holy shepherd of the people of Bari

Leader of popes Bishop Nicolas, hear

These voices of people begging

That you will bring aid

That they may open their mouths with your praise!

You took away the scandal

The desire of golden money

And then you gave back a double love.

And serving heaven's God

And helping the people

You handed out wheat.

And in the shipwreck at sea

The people's devotion to you

Grows and their prayers, drawn together,

Have strength

And through you the act of cheating

Collapses into itself.

Triplum (translation by David Wyattin) :

O gemma, lux et speculum Totum perlustrans saeculum, Vas almum Italiae. Modo praesens oraculum Tuum trahat spectaculum Nostrum in levamine! Sponte relinquens Graeciam Duceris in Apuliam Barinam gubernando. Ab hoste tuens patriam Coelestem tu per gloriam Inhabitas laetando. Pro expulsis languoribus Fugatisque daemonibus Populis en jubilat. Exhaltis clamoribus Manat liquor marmoribus: Liniti gradiuntur, Priscis dantur fervoribus Qui carebant jam motibus, Salutem sortiuntur. Motetus Sacer pastor Barensium, Regule pontificium, Nicolae praesul, audi Has voces supplicantium Conferendo praesidium, Ut hiscant tuae laudi! Abstulisti opprobia, Talenti fulvi gratia, Tunc duplam reddidisti. Et Deo caeli serviens Et populo subveniens Cereres impartisti. In marisque naufragio Plebes in te devotio Succrescit et collata Habet vires oratio Ac per te fraudis actio Discedit in se data.