Martyrum gemma latria / iligenter inquiramus / A Christo honoratus, Motet 19

Martyrum gemma latria [Gem of martyrs in veneration]

Tyranni trucis impia [Quintinus; you who through wisdom spurned]

Quintine, sapientia [The impieties of the harsh tyrant]

Verba spernens mavortia [As well as the warlike words]

Triplum: Jubentis terribilia [Of him who ordered to devise] Machinari supplitia [Those terrible tortures] Motetus: Diligenter inquiramus [Let us diligently set about]

Triplum: Romanorum prosapia [Coming from a most eminent house] Cenatorum celestia [Of Roman senators] Rictiovari solia [Seeking the dwelling of Rictiovarus] Motetus: Quintini preconia [Praising Quintinus]

Triplum: Affectans et Pitania [And countering] Admovens supercilia [The Poitevin pride] Motetus: Congaudenter impendamus [Let us joyfully dedicate]

Triplum: Ambianensis propria [With the cheerfulness] Gentis alacrimonia [Native to the folk of Amiens] Motetus: Numini suffragia [Signs of affection to his sanctity]

Triplum: Humilitate socia [With humility as its companion] Victis volens martyria [Wishing to suffer tortures for the ones defeated] Motetus: Fuit vite mirabilis [In life, he was to be marvelled at]

Triplum: Oleique ledentia [And the pains from the oil] Martirii redolentia [And the fragrance of martyrdom] Motetus: Despuit obnoxia [Shunning disgusting sins]

Triplum: Quibus fit appoplecia [To the apoplectics] Prece cujus anadia [By your entreaty medicine is given] Datur cecis et gracia [As well as assuagement to the blind] Motetus: Fuit Deo laudabilis [God found him worthy of praise]

Triplum: Cunctorum purgans vicia [You purge all the sick] Infirmorum pernicia [Of their pernicious defects] Motetus: Meruit suppedia [And he merited His rich gifts]

Triplum: Sospitati vestigia [Enabling cripples to walk] Claudorum filocalia [Through your love of beauty] Motetus: Illimis bacca fons erat [His mouth was a clear spring]

Triplum: Prebentur morbis gravia [Powerful medicines are provided for deadly diseases] Cujus fulget provincia [The province of Vermandois is set aglow] Motetus: Bargueries nobilis [His rhetoric noble]

Triplum: Virmandorum presentia [By the presence of this saint] Quo livor, advaricia [Through whom envy, greed] Motetus: Animis Deo venerat [In his mind had come to God]

Triplum: Cadunt, gula, luxuria [Gluttony, lust] Ira, fastus, accidia [Anger, pride and sloth are brought low] Motetus: Mollicies fragilis [The frailty of his flesh]

Triplum: Malaque cuncta noxia [As well as all poisonous evils] Quo viget pacientia [Through whom patience reigns] Fides, spes et prudencia [As well as faith, hope and wisdom] Motetus: Colentes hunc karissime [Those who revere him with great love]

Triplum: Quo simus ad palatia [And through whom we may be counted present] Celorum refulgentia [In the resplendent palaces of heaven] Motetus: Exultabunt suaviter [Their rejoicing will be sweet]

Triplum: Ubi pax est et gloria [Where peace is, and glory too] Motetus: Canentes nobilissime [Their singing will be sublime] Dabunt laudes dulciter [Harmoniously will they render him praise]

[English: R Barton Palmer © 2025]