The Lauds of Saint Francis.

The Lauds of Saint Francis

Altissime! Omnipotent, Good-Sir-Our-Lord,
Thine be the praises, glory and honor, Thine every in-blessing-spoken
word.

With thee alone, Altissime, do such things accord.

Blessed be Thou, Good-Sir-Our-Lord, and with Thee each Thy created
creature,
and, in especial, Master-Our-Brother the Sun
inasmuch as he dawns and through him Thou dost us illumine
and as he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor.
Of Thee, Altissime, bears he--for us--signification.

Blessed be Thou, Sir-My-Lord, for Sister the Moon and the Stars all:
In heavens Thou fashioned them, clear, precious and beautiful.

Blessed be Thou, Good-Sir-My-Lord, for Brother the Wind
and the Airs all, for clear times, and cloudy, and weather, each kind
in that through them Thy creatures are ever sustained.

Blessed be Thou, Good-Sir-My-Lord, for Sister Water
for that she is much useful, and humble, and precious and pure.

Blessed be Thou, Good-Sir-My-Lord, for Brother Hearth-fire
in that through him Thou lightenest the night hour
and beautiful is he and jolly and robust and great is his power.

Blessed be Thou, Good-Sir-My-Lord,
for Thy servants who in Love of thee are willing to pardon;
and for those who bear up in sickness and tribulation.

Blessed be they who shall persevere in Peace
as they shall by Thee, Altissime, be crowned with wreaths.

Blessed be Thou, Good-Sir-My-Lord, for Sister Our Death-of-the-Body
from whom no man alive escapes from here scot-free.

Woe, woe unto them who shall die in their sins mortal.
Blessed be they who shall find in Thy Good Will
that the second death can work them no evil.

Praised be Thou! Blessing be spoken of Thee, Sir-Lord, and thanked be
and may Thou be served in greatest humility.

--translated by Gerald Fitzgerald