St. Francis of Assisi's Poetry
CANTICLE OF THE SUN
Canticum fratris solis vel Laudes creaturarum-
THE CANTICLE OF BROTHER SUN OR THE PRAISE OF CREATURES
(written circa 1224)
Most high and all powerful Lord
Yours be the praise, the glory, the honor and all good-tidings.
To you alone are they reserved
and no man is worthy of them.
Praised be my Lord for all your creatures
especially Brother Sun,
who illuminates us by day,for he is beautiful and radiant in great splendor
and carries You, oh most High, as a sign.
Praised be for Sister Moon and the stars
you formed with them in the sky, so bright, precious, and beautifully.
Praised be for Brother Wind,
for air, clouds, and all kind of weather,
by which you give sustenance to all Your creatures.
Praised be for Sister Water
who is most useful, humble and pure.
Praised be for Brother Fire
by which You light up the night,
for he is beautiful, cheerful, robust, and strong.
Praised be for Sister Mother Earth
which both governs and sustains us,
producing many fruits, colorful flowers and grasses.
Praised be those who pardon
because of Your Love,
forbearing weakness and tribulation.
Blessed be they who bear such trials in peace,
for by You, oh most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be, My Lord, for Our Sister Bodily Death
which no living man can escape.
Beware those who die in mortal sin,
and blessed be those will be found in Your most Holy Will,
for the second death will do them no harm.
All ye praise and bless the Lord
thank and serve Him with great humility.
Cantico di Frate Sole
Altissimu onnipotente bon signore,
tue so le laude, la gloria e l’honore et onne benedictione.
Ad te solo, altissimo, se konfano,
et nullu homo ene dignu te mentovare.
Laudato sie, mi signore, cun tucte le tue creature,
spetialmente messor lo frate sole,
lo qual’è iorno, et allumini noi per loi.
Et ellu è bellu e radiante cun grande splendore,
de te, altissimo, porta significatione.
Laudato si, mi signore, per sora luna e le stelle,
in celu l’ài formate clarite et pretiose et belle.
Laudato si, mi signore, per frate vento,
et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo,
per lo quale a le tue creature dai sustentamento.
Laudato si, mi signore, per sor aqua,
la quale è multo utile et humile et pretiosa et casta.
Laudato si, mi signore, per frate focu,
per lo quale enn’allumini la nocte,
ed ello è bello et iocundo et robustoso et forte.
Laudato si, mi signore, per sora nostra matre terra,
la quale ne sustenta et governa,
et produce diversi fructi con coloriti flori et herba.
Laudato si, mi signore, per quelli ke perdonano
per lo tuo amore,
et sostengo infirmitate et tribulatione.
Beati quelli ke ’l sosterrano in pace,
ka da te, altissimo, sirano incoronati.
Laudato si, mi signore, per sora nostra morte corporale,
da la quale nullu homo vivente pò skappare.
Guai a quelli, ke morrano ne le peccata mortali:
beati quelli ke trovarà ne le tue sanctissime voluntati,
ka la morte secunda nol farrà male.
Laudate et benedicete mi signore,
et rengratiate et serviateli cun grande humilitate.
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