Ad regias Agni dapes

Now at the Lamb’s high royal feast,
In robes of saintly white we sing.
Through the Red Sea in safety brought
By Jesus our immortal King.

O depth of love! for us He drinks
The chalice of his agony;
For us a Victim on the Cross
He meekly lays Him down to die.

And as the avenging Angel pass’d
Of old the blood-besprinkled door;
As the cleft sea a passage gave,
Then clos’d to whelm th’ Egyptians o’er:

So Christ, our Paschal Sacrifice,
Has brought us safe all perils through;
While for unleaven’d bread we need
But heart sincere and purpose true.

Hail, purest Victim Heav’n could find,
The powers of Hell to overthrow!
Who didst the chains of Death destroy;
Who dost the prize of Life bestow.

Hail, victor Christ! hail, risen King!
To Thee alone belongs the crown;
Who hast the heavenly gates unbarr’d,
And dragg’d the Prince of darkness down.

O Jesu! from the death of sin
Keep us, we pray; so shalt Thou be
The everlasting paschal joy
Of all the souls new-born in Thee.

Now to the Father, and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given;
With Thee, O holy Comforter,
Henceforth by all in earth and Heaven.