This is a Latin hymn, meant to be sung, which combines elements from
many of the ancient devotional texts devoted to Antinous. The
translation provided below is only for the purposes of understanding
what is being spoken--the original language of the hymn and its best
form should be considered the Latin version.
Ave, laudo Antinoe; / Ave, laudo Antinoe;
Ave, laudo Antinoe; / Ave, laudo Antinoe; [iterum]
Natus est in Bithynia, / mortus est in Aegypto
In deorum numerum / is vivit laudo;
Erat delicia / amans Hadriani,
Domini Mundi / Caesaris Romani;
Canto laudes tua / omni tuis populis,
In Scapha tua / tu vivis perennis;
Puer aeternus / cum vultu pleno gratia,
Mors tui Hadrianum / plevit cum tristitia;
Saeculum ad saeculum / forma tua durens,
In modis sacris tuis / nos purum faciens;
Ave, laudo Antinoe; / Ave, laudo Antinoe;
Mantinoea dicitur / beata tua mater
Hermes, qui appellamus / Mercurius pater;
Flamma Cupidinis / summersum est in aqua
Factum est florens tua / pulcher iuventa;
Imperator vidit / in tuis pulchritudine
Bonitatem quam possit / fideliter diligere;
Similiter Herculi / et leone venatio
Potentia tua / magnum transformatio
Accidit quando / leonis sanguis
Transmutus est / in ruborem floris;
Hasta invicta / Hadrianus subvenit
Beneficium qui / mors tua solvit;
Mox peragraveras / adverso flumine
Sacra Nilus flumen / tua Domine;
Tota terra torrida / sine vitae aqua
Locus mortis tuae / urbs Thothis sacra;
Mysteria maximae / in noctes illas
Cognitus est te / altissimas tenebras;
Luna Diana / noctis regina
Occidit Actaeonem / in modo canina;
Eras fidelissimus / canis venaticus
Sublatus est Diana / clarus tuus vultus;
Ave, ave Antinoe/ Liberator
Homo Deus, Victor, / pacis Imperator;
Ave Antinoe / Ave Navigator
Veni veni Antinoe / Amator
Stella arderens / tua in Aquila
Donec nautae sanctae / in tua Scapha;
Floris tuae in terra / radices agerens
Dum templa tua / in nostra corda faciens;
Tuum oraculum / dicit clara voce,
Nos reficimur / mirabilibusque;
Nos conservarmur / nostra fidelitas,
Omnes laudis Liberator / te agemus gratias;
Vel in limine / mundi, Ecce,
Ego semper / sum coram te!
Ave Ave Antinoe; Ave Ave Antinoe; [iterum]
Haec est unde, haec est unde, haec est unde vita venit; [iterum]
Hail Antinous, I praise you!... [repeat]
Born in Bithynia, died in Egypt,
He lives among the gods, I praise you!
He was the favorite lover of Hadrian--
Ruler of the World, Caesar of the Romans.
I sing your praises to all your people;
You live forever in your Boat,
The eternal youth with a face full of grace
(Your death filled Hadrian with sadness)
Your beauty enduring from age to age
Making us pure in your ways.
Hail Antinous, I praise you!...
Your beautiful mother was called Mantinoe,
Hermes your father, whom we call Mercury;
Eros' fire submerged in the water
Made the fair flowering of your youth;
The Emperor saw in your beauty
The goodness which he would be able to love truly.
Like Hercules and the hunt for the lion
By your power a great transformation
Happened when the blood of the lion
Was transmuted into the redness of a flower.
With an invincible spear Hadrian came to your aid--
A favor which your death repaid.
Soon you would have traveled up the river,
The Sacred Nile, your river, O Lord!
The entire land was parched without the water of life;
The place of your death was the holy city of Thoth.
The greatest mystery in those nights
Was known by you, the deepest obscurities.
Diana Luna, queen of the night
Killed Actaeon in a bitchy way;
You were the most faithful hunting-hound:
Your glorious face was elevated by Diana.
Hail, hail Antinous the Liberator!
Hail Antinous, Hail Navigator!
O come, o come Antinous the Lover!
Man-God, Victor, Emperor of peace!
Your star burning in the Eagle
While the holy sailors are in your boat,
Your flowers taking root in the earth
As the making of your temples in our hearts;
Your oracle speaks in a clear voice
And we are renewed by your miracles.
May our fidelity save us;
All praises to you, Liberator, we give you thanks!
Even at the edge of the world, behold!--
I am always in your presence!
Hail, Hail Antinous; Hail Hail Antinous!
This is where, this is where, this is where life comes from!
