Adam of Saint Victor: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Zyma vetus expurgetur

Adam of Saint Victor

“Zyma vetus expurgetur” as printed in Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences (1867).

Adam of Saint Victor: Collected Lyrics Text 10 1867 · historical text
Public domainHymnMediaeval song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences, edited by John Mason Neale, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Purge we out the ancient leaven,

That the feast of earth and Heaven,

We may celebrate aright:

On to-day our hope stands founded:

Moses teacheth how unbounded

Is its virtue and its might.

Verse 2

This day Egypt's treasure spoiled

And the Hebrews freed that toiled,

Pressed with bondage and in chains:

From the mortar, brick, and stubble

Heaviest toil and sorest trouble

Had they known in Zoan's plains.

Verse 3

Now the voice of exultation,

Now the triumph of salvation

Free and wide its tidings flings:

This is the day the LORD hath made: the day

That bids our sin and sorrow flee away,

Life and light and health that brings.

Verse 4

In the Law the types lay shaded:

In the promised End they faded,

Christ, Who all things consummates;

Christ, Whose Blood aside hath turned

That devouring sword which burned,

Waving wide, at Eden's gates.

Yea, that child, our Mystic Laughter,

For whose sake the ram fell after,

Signifies the Joy of Life;

Joseph from the prison goeth:

Christ, by Resurrection, showeth

He hath conquered in the strife.

Verse 5

He the Dragon that, devouring

Pharaoh's dragons, rose, o'erpowering

All their malice and their might;

He the Serpent set on high

That the people might not die

From the fiery serpents' bite.

Verse 6

He the Hook, that hid awhile,

Verse 7

Pierced Leviathan with guile:

Verse 8

He the Child that laid His hand

Verse 9

On the cockatrice's den:

Verse 10

That the ancient lord of men

Verse 11

Might avoid the ransomed land.

Verse 12

They, whose scorn the Seer offended

Verse 13

As to Bethel He ascended,

Verse 14

Feel the Bald-head's wrath, and flee:

Verse 15

David, after madness feigned,

Verse 16

Scapegoat, now no more detained,

Verse 17

Ritual sparrow, all go free.

Verse 18

Alien wedlock first despising,

Verse 19

With a jawbone Samson rising

Verse 20

Thousand Philistines hath slain:

Verse 21

Then in Gaza as he tarried,

Verse 22

Forth her brazen gates he carried

Verse 23

To the mountain from the plain.

Verse 24

Sleeping first the sleep of mortals

Verse 25

Judah's Lion thus the portals

Verse 26

Of the grave hath borne away:

Verse 27

While the Father's voice resounded,

Verse 28

He, with majesty unbounded,

Verse 29

Sought our Mother's courts of day.

Verse 30

Jonah, by the tempest followed,

Whom the whale of old time swallowed,

Type of our True Jonah, giving,

Three days pass'd is rendered living

From that dark and narrow space.

Now the myrrh of Cyprus groweth,

Widelier spreadeth, sweetlier bloweth;

Law its withered blossoms throweth

That the Church may take their place.

Verse 31

Death and life have striven newly;

Jesus Christ hath risen truly;

And with Christ ascended duly

Many a witness that He lives:

Dawn of newness, happy morrow

Wipes away our eve of sorrow:

Since from death our life we borrow,

Brightest joy the season gives.

Verse 32

Jesu, Victor, Life, and Head:

Jesu, Way Thy people tread;

By Thy death from death released

Call us to the Paschal Feast,

That with boldness we may come;

Living Water, Bread undying,

Vine, each branch with life supplying,

Verse 33

Thou must cleanse us, Thou must feed us,

Verse 34

From the Second death must lead us

Verse 35

Upward to our Heavenly Home!

Credits

Written by Adam of Saint Victor

Words by Adam of Saint Victor. Historical text published in Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences (1867); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences (1867), edited by John Mason Neale, “Zyma vetus expurgetur”

The 1867 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author or translator died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; other entries are held.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-25. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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