Prudentius, Cathemerina

pectus sepultum crimine

the heart buried in sin

et lucis oblitum suae.

and forgetful of its own light.

ferunt vagantes daemonas

They say that the roaming demons,

laetos tenebris noctium

happy in the darkness of the nights,

gallo canente exterritos

terrified when the cock crows,

sparsim timere et cedere.

scatter in fear and give way.

invisa nam vicinitas

For the hated nearness

lucis, salutis, numinis,

of light, of salvation, of the divine,

rupto tenebrarum situ

when the stagnant gloom of darkness is broken,

noctis fugat satellites.

puts the henchmen of night to flight.

hoc esse signum praescii

That this is the sign, those who foreknow it

norunt repromissae spei,

know well: [the sign] of the promised hope,

frontem locumque cordis

your forehead and the place of your heart

crucis figura signet.,

let the figure of the cross sign them.

crux pellit omne crimen,

The cross drives away all sin;

fugiunt crucem tenebrae:

darkness flees from the cross:

tali dicata signo

dedicated by such a sign,

mens fluctuare nescit.

the mind does not know how to waver.

procul, o procul vagantum

Away, O away, you portents

portenta somniorum,

of wandering dreams;

procul esto pervicaci

away with you and your stubborn

praestigiator actu.

doings, you deceiver.

o tortuose serpens,

O twisting serpent,

qui mille per meandros

who through a thousand windings