Concerning St. Gennaro
1.
Let him praise God with golden lutes and cymbals
With Tuscany, Italy, noble monarchy,
It consecrates that Arrezo home of saints.
2.
In which place the martyr Donatus,
The guide, the leader, the way, the mirror holds fast the famous building (church);
It preserves also Gennaro, star of golden heaven.
3.
No human application, no eloquence of language
Is strong to raise up worthily for the sake of the merit of its glory;
For who will be able to report, what he was able to bring home?
4.
A furnace is smoking for three days uninterrupted,
So that he for whom it burns longer, he may burn faster;
While the martyr goes forward into this (furnace), (even) one hair is not injured.
5.
He soon rejoices with his tent-mate consoling angel;
While globes of fire hiss,the blaze of faith grows;
Thus the flame of desire is destroyed by fires of strength.
6.
The victor is dragged from the fire, he is seized to the tribunal;
He is considered, he is shackled; the voice returns the same (responses),
For he is vigorous the house is fixed on a stable rock.
7.
While the flesh is surrounded by punishments, the mind (soul) is fixed in the stars,
Tortures return those easy to look at favors;
Thus he believes a thousand deaths by sweet punishments in repose.
8.
The cruel hands of the torturer pluck out the nerves of his organs,
His roomy joints are loosened, afterwards the fastening is raised;
Death (the way out) happens through many different destructions.
9.
Next he is handed over to the biting of ferocious wild beasts,
But the beasts. putting aside their indomitable madness,
Their necks let go from heaven bend low with holy prayers.
10.
O morning star of the west, O worthy of the church,
What could all your heralds express?
We lean upon (you) to fill this but we are conquered by rejoicing.
11.
May there be praise to the unbegotten father, (and) his only begotten,
And may there be honor to the spirit equal of each by all,
With the one power of whom you rule all ages.