Venantius Fortunatus: Collected Lyrics
02 / 2
Public-domain lyrics

Vexilla Regis prodeunt

Venantius Fortunatus

“Vexilla Regis prodeunt” as printed in Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences (1867).

Venantius Fortunatus: Collected Lyrics Text 2 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

The Royal Banners forward go;

The Cross shines forth in mystic glow;

Where He in flesh, our flesh Who made,

Our sentence bore, our ransom paid.

Verse 2

Where deep for us the spear was dy'd,

Life's torrent rushing from His side,

To wash us in that precious flood

Where mingled Water flow'd, and Blood.

Verse 3

Fulfill'd is all that David told

In true Prophetic song of old;

Amidst the nations God, saith he,

Hath reign'd and triumph'd from the Tree.

Verse 4

O Tree of Beauty! Tree of Light!

O Tree with royal purple dight!

Elect on whose triumphal breast

Those holy limbs should find their rest!

Verse 5

On whose dear arms, so widely flung,

The weight of this world's ransom hung:

The price of human kind to pay,

And spoil the Spoiler of his prey.

Verse 6

[O Cross, our one reliance, hail!

This holy Passiontide, avail

To give fresh merit to the Saint,

And pardon to the penitent.

Verse 7

To Thee, Eternal Three in One,

Let homage meet by all be done;

Whom by the Cross Thou dost restore,

Preserve and govern evermore.]

Credits

Written by Venantius Fortunatus

Words by Venantius Fortunatus. 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, “Vexilla Regis prodeunt”

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.
Keep tracing

More from Venantius Fortunatus: Collected Lyrics.

01Pange lingua gloriosi (Fortunatus)Public-domain lyrics