Canwn anthem nefol rin

Tῶν ἱερῶν ἀθλόφoρων / Let us now our voices raise

(Merthyri)
Canwn anthem nefol rin,
  Unwn mewn clodforedd;
Tristwch y Methyron blin
  Drowyd yn orfoledd:
Aethant trwy aur byrth y dydd,
  Coron hardd a gawsant;
O'u marwoldeb maent yn rhydd,
  Anfarwoldeb wisgant.

Aethant adref trwy y tān -
  Cofleidiasant fflamau;
Trechodd y gwroniaid glān
  Uffern a'i phicellau:
Trwy eu ffydd y gwelsant draw
  Gyrrau'r wlad dragwyddol,
Lle y canant yn ddi-daw
  Felys gān fuddugol.

Ffydd, fel craig mewn stormydd certh,
  Cariad anorchfygol,
Gobaith nefol dorrodd nerth
  Ing y fflam angerddol:
Gyda hwy, O Gristion, dos,
  Canlyn yn eu camre;
Dim ond munud fer yw'r nos,
  Bythol fydd y bore.
cyf. J A Jackson 1845-75

Tonau [7676D]:
St John Damascene (Arthur H Brown 1830-1926)
Weimar (M Vulpius / J S Bach)

(Martyrs)
Let us sing the anthem of heavenly virtue,
  Let us join in extolling;
The sadness of the weary Martyrs
  Turned into jubilation:
They went through the golden gates of day,
  A beautiful crown they received;
From their mortality they are free,
  Immortality they wear.

They went home through the fire -
  They had embraced the flames;
The holy braves ones overcame
  Hell and its spears:
Through their faith they saw yonder
  The borders of the eternal land,
Where they sing unceasingly
  The sweet song of victory.

Faith, like a rock in fierce storms,
  Love insurmountable,
Heavenly hope broke the strength
  Of the sting of the ardent flame:
With them, O Christian, go,
  Follow in their steps;
Only a short minute is the night,
  Everlasting shall be the morn.
tr. 2025 Richard B Gillion
(The Holy Prize-Bearers)
Let us now our voices raise,
  Wake the day with gladness;
God Himself to joy and praise
  Turns our human sadness;
Joy that martyrs won their crown,
  Opened heav'ns bright portal,
When they laid the mortal down
  For the life immortal.

Never flinched they from the flame,
  From the torment never;
Vain the tyrant's sharpest aim,
  Vain each fierce endeavour:
For by faith they saw the land
  Decked in all its glory,
Where triumphant now they stand
  With the victor's story.

Up and follow, Christian men!
  Press through toil and sorrow;
Spurn the night of fear, and then,
  O the glorious morrow!
Who will venture on the strife;
  Who will first begin it?
Who will grasp the land of life?
  Warriors, up and win it!
John Mason Neale 1818-66

from the Greek:
Tῶν ἱερῶν ἀθλόφoρων

Όσιος Ιωσήφ ο Υμνογράφος /
St Joseph the Hymnographer C9th

Tune [7676D]: Tempus Adest Floridum
    (Piae Cantiones 1582)

The middle column is a literal translation of the Welsh. A Welsh translation is identified by the abbreviation 'cyf.' (emulation by 'efel.'), an English translation by 'tr.'

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