Veni Creator Spiritus

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 Paraclete!    Thrice Holy Fount, thrice Holy Fire,  Our hearts with heav'nly love inspire;  Come, and thy Sacred Unction bring  To sanctify 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 earthly parts;  But, oh, inflame and fire our hearts!  Our frailties help, our vice control;  Submit the senses to the soul;  And when rebellious they are grown,  Then, lay thy hand, and hold 'em down.      Chase from our minds th' Infernal Foe;  And peace, the fruit of love, bestow;  And, lest our feet should 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 glorified,  Who for lost Man's redemption died:  And equal adoration be,  Eternal Paraclete, to thee.

At­trib­ut­ed var­i­ous­ly to Char­le­magne,

Am­brose of Milan,

Gre­go­ry I, and Rha­ban­us Maur­us (Ve­ni Cre­at­or Spir­it­us,

Men­tes tu­or­um vi­si­ta); trans­lat­ed from Latin to Eng­lish by Dry­den,

Mis­c.

Po­ems, 1693.