Ut queant laxis resonare fibris (Part II)

In caves of the lone wilderness thy youth
Thou hiddest, shunning the rude throng of men,
And guarding the pure treasure of thy soul
From the least touch of sin.

There to thy sacred limbs the camel gave
A garment coarse; the rock a bed supplied;
The stream thy thirst; locusts and honey wild
Thy hunger satisfied.

Oh, blest beyond the Prophets of old time!
They of the Saviour sang that was to be:
Him present to announce, and shew to all,
Was granted but to thee.

Through the wide earth was never mortal man
Born holier than John; to whom was given
The guilty world’s Baptizer to baptize,
And ope the door of Heaven.

Immortal glory to the Father be,
With his Almighty sole-begotten Son,
And Thee, coequal Spirit, One in Three,
While endless ages run.