Propter hæc et per his similia passi sunt digne tormenta, et per multitudinem bestiarum exterminati sunt.

For these things, and by the like things to these, they were worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts.

Fittingly, then, were the Egyptians plagued by such beasts as these, that swarmed to their undoing.

Pro quibus tormentis bene disposuisti populum tuum, quibus dedisti concupiscentiam delectamenti sui novum saporem, escam parans eis ortygometram:

Instead of which punishment, dealing well with thy people, thou gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing for them quails for their meat:

Thy own people no plague befell; pined their queasy stomach for dainties, thou wouldst feed them on quails.

ut illi quidem, concupiscentes escam propter ea quæ illis ostensa et missa sunt, etiam a necessaria concupiscentia averterentur. Hi autem in brevi inopes facti, novam gustaverunt escam.

To the end that they indeed desiring food, by means of those things that were shewn and sent among them, might loathe even that which was necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want for a short time, tasted a new meat.

Though hunger drove them to food, the men of Egypt turned away with loathing from the necessaries they craved, so foul the sight of the frogs that came to punish them. Thy own people should go wanting for a little, only so as to prepare them for the dainties that would follow.

Oportebat enim illis sine excusatione quidem supervenire interitum exercentibus tyrannidem; his autem tantum ostendere quemadmodum inimici eorum exterminabantur.

For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon them that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how their enemies were destroyed.

Their oppressors must feel the pinch of poverty; for themselves, the sight of another’s chastisement should be lesson enough.

Etenim cum illis supervenit sæva bestiarum ira, morsibus perversorum colubrorum exterminabantur.

For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were destroyed with the bitings of crooked serpents.

When they themselves encountered brute malice, and the bites of writhing serpents threatened them with destruction,

Sed non in perpetuum ira tua permansit, sed ad correptionem in brevi turbati sunt, signum habentes salutis ad commemorationem mandati legis tuæ.

But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a short time for their correction, having a sign of salvation to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.

thy vengeance did not go to all lengths; enough that they should be warned by a brief experience of distress; they should be put in mind of thy law, yet have the assurance that thou wouldst come to their rescue.

Qui enim conversus est, non per hoc quod videbat sanabatur, sed per te, omnium salvatorem.

For he that turned to it, was not healed by that which he saw, but by thee the Saviour of all.

For indeed, he who turned to look did not win safety from the brazen serpent which met his eyes, but from thee, who alone canst save.

In hoc autem ostendisti inimicis nostris quia tu es qui liberas ab omni malo.

And in this thou didst shew to our enemies, that thou art he who deliverest from all evil.

No better proof could our enemies have, that from all peril thou alone deliverest.

Illos enim locustarum et muscarum occiderunt morsus, et non est inventa sanitas animæ illorum, quia digni erant ab hujuscemodi exterminari.

For the bitings of locusts, and of flies killed them, and there was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be destroyed by such things.

Bite of locust or sting of fly was the undoing of them; no salve could be found against the mortal punishment they had deserved.

Filios autem tuos nec draconum venenatorum vicerunt dentes: misericordia enim tua adveniens sanabat illos.

But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy children: for thy mercy came and healed them.

And here were these sons of thine, unvanquished even by the teeth of venomous serpents, because thy mercy came out to meet them and gave relief.

In memoria enim sermonum tuorum examinabantur, et velociter salvabantur: ne in altam incidentes oblivionem non possent tuo uti adjutorio.

For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and were quickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might not be able to use thy help.

They must feel the prick, to remind them of the commandments they had from thee, and then quickly be rescued before they sank into deep lethargy, beyond the reach of thy succour.

Etenim neque herba, neque malagma sanavit eos: sed tuus, Domine, sermo, qui sanat omnia.

For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster that healed them, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.

Herb nor plaster it was that cured them, but thy word, Lord, that all healing gives.

Tu es enim, Domine, qui vitæ et mortis habes potestatem, et deducis ad portas mortis, et reducis.

For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and leadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again:

Lord of life as of death, thou canst bring us down to the grave and back from the grave;

Homo autem occidit quidem per malitiam; et cum exierit spiritus, non revertetur, nec revocabit animam quæ recepta est.

A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone forth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is received:

thine is not the fatal stroke man deals in spite, that banishes life beyond recall, imprisons the soul for ever.

Sed tuam manum effugere impossibile est.

But it is impossible to escape thy hand.

Truly, thine is a power there is no escaping;

Negantes enim te nosse impii, per fortitudinem brachii tui flagellati sunt: novis aquis, et grandinibus, et pluviis persecutionem passi, et per ignem consumpti.

For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thy arm, being persecuted by strange waters, and hail, and rain, and consumed by fire.

the uplifted arm that plagued impious Egypt, where thou wast treated as a stranger. Strange, indeed, to that country were the rains that hunted them down, the fierce hail-storms; the fire, too, that wasted them.

Quod enim mirabile erat, in aqua, quæ omnia extinguit, plus ignis valebat: vindex est enim orbis justorum.

And which was wonderful, in water, which extinguisheth all things, the fire had more force: for the world fighteth for the just.

Wonder beyond all wont, that in water, the all-quenching, fire should rage its fiercest; no element but must rally in the cause of right.

Quodam enim tempore mansuetabatur ignis, ne comburerentur quæ ad impios missa erant animalia, sed ut ipsi videntes scirent quoniam Dei judicio patiuntur persecutionem.

For at one time, the fire was mitigated, that the beasts which were sent against the wicked might not be burned, but that they might see and perceive that they were persecuted by the judgment of God.

Here the flame would burn low, to spare those creatures a scorching, that were thy emissaries against the godless; doubt there should be none, for any who saw it, but divine justice was at his heels.

Et quodam tempore in aqua supra virtutem ignis exardescebat undique, ut iniquæ terræ nationem exterminaret.

And at another time the fire, above its own power, burned in the midst of water, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land.

Here, in the very midst of the water it would burn as never fire burned yet, to blast all the fruits of that accursed land.

Pro quibus angelorum esca nutrivisti populum tuum, et paratum panem de cælo præstitisti illis sine labore, omne delectamentum in se habentem, et omnis saporis suavitatem.

Instead of which things thou didst feed thy people with the food of angels, and gavest them bread from heaven prepared without labour; having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste.

And thy own people, Lord? Them thou didst foster with the food of angels; bread from heaven thou didst set before them, which no labour of theirs had made ready, every taste uniting that could bring content, of every appetite the welcome choice.

Substantia enim tua dulcedinem tuam, quam in filios habes, ostendebat; et deserviens uniuscujusque voluntati, ad quod quisque volebat convertebatur.

For thy sustenance shewed thy sweetness to thy children, and serving every man’s will, it was turned to what every man liked.

So would thy own nature manifest a father’s universal love; this food should humour the eater’s whim, turning itself into that which he craved most.

Nix autem et glacies sustinebant vim ignis, et non tabescebant: ut scirent quoniam fructus inimicorum exterminabat ignis ardens in grandine et pluvia coruscans;

But snow and ice endured the force of fire, and melted not: that they might know that fire burning in the hail and flashing in the rain destroyed the fruits of the enemies.

In Egypt, snow and ice had resisted the fire, never melting; plain it was that this fire, which shone out amid the hailstones and the rain, was in alliance with them to burn up and destroy the enemy’s harvest.

hic autem iterum ut nutrirentur justi, etiam suæ virtutis oblitus est.

But this same again, that the just might be nourished, did even forget its own strength.

Now, once again, fire forgot its own nature, this time, to give faithful souls their nourishment!

Creatura enim tibi factori deserviens, exardescit in tormentum adversus injustos, et lenior fit ad benefaciendum pro his qui in te confidunt.

For the creature serving thee the Creator, is made fierce against the unjust for their punishment; and abateth its strength for the benefit of them that trust in thee.

So well does thy creation obey thee, its author, now exerting all its powers to punish the wicked, now abating its force to do thy loyal followers a service!

Propter hoc et tunc in omnia transfigurata, omnium nutrici gratiæ tuæ deserviebat, ad voluntatem eorum qui a te desiderabant:

Therefore even then it was transformed into all things, and was obedient to thy grace that nourisheth all, according to the will of them that desired it of thee:

Why should nature, seconding that universal bounty of thine, go to all shifts to meet the needs of thy suppliants,

ut scirent filii tui quos dilexisti, Domine, quoniam non nativitatis fructus pascunt homines, sed sermo tuus hos qui in te crediderint conservat.

That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but thy word preserveth them that believe in thee.

but for the instruction of thy own children, Lord, children so well beloved? They were to learn that man lives, not by the ripening of crops, but by thy word, ever protecting the souls that trust in thee.

Quod enim ab igne non poterat exterminari, statim ab exiguo radio solis calefactum tabescebat:

For that which could not be destroyed by fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam presently melted away:

This manna, that never shrank from the fire while it was a-cooking, would melt before the heat of the sun’s first feeble ray.

ut notum omnibus esset quoniam oportet prævenire solem ad benedictionem tuam, et ad ortum lucis te adorare.

That it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun to bless thee, and adore thee at the dawning of the light.

What meant this, but that we must be up before the sun to give thee thanks, seeking thy audience with day’s earliest light?

Ingrati enim spes tamquam hibernalis glacies tabescet, et disperiet tamquam aqua supervacua.

For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter’s ice, and shall run off as unprofitable water.

Thankless if a man be, like the hoar frost of winter his hopes shall dissolve; like water that goes to waste they shall vanish.