De laudibus sancte crucis

FIGURE IIII. ON THE CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM WRITTEN ON THE CROSS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.

A second pattern poem by Rabanus Maurus. The grid of letters is overlaid with red ink drawings of a central cross and four angelic figures. Two seraphim are positioned at the top arms of the cross, and two cherubim at the bottom. The horizontal and vertical bars of the cross contain specific verses. The vertical text reads: "On the cross the Creator fixed as King to the wood" original: In cruce factorem confixum in stipite regem. The horizontal text reads: "Behold, this is the throne of the king, this is the reconciliation of the world" original: En thronus hic regis haec conciliatio mundi.

O Cherubim and Seraphim from heaven, now exalt
The name of Jesus, for from here your fire shines with speech.
Since the true praise of the divine Cross is this way and life.
Christ is the true fruit of light, and this is the companion praise:
The King then conquered sad things, and now He exults everywhere,
He who is dear to the Seraphim: let prayers be made here by celebrating.
O heavenly wonders, reveal the High One with much praise:
One altar of wings by daring, for it sanctifies the one
that was condemned, and they confirm the beauty of the altar by their vow.
They proclaim what virtue is, and what good things the King grants.
By this counsel, Christ burned away wicked things with this matter,
Behold, having suffered, He put to flight all the powerful with His heel:
And He broke the narrow enclosures of the driven-out serpent.
And He crushes the old deeds; He Himself, being kind, gave
The kingdoms of the Lord of Hosts term: Sabaoth in the heights, where Adam had stood.
Which prayers prove: His virtue and divinity bring help to him there
In the darkness and in the prison, as commanded to the blessed one.
On the cross the Creator was fixed as King to the wood.
Behold, this is the throne of the king, this is the reconciliation of the world.
A banner, a sword, the lot of war, a distinguished ornament.
This tramples the enemies and shatters the wicked weapons:
It lifts up His own and gives the rewards of virtue.
For from here, know that the fire of the exile and the hidden weapons
Are gone. The Cherubim stand, they who assist at this altar in the heights.
Here they give these banners rightly by a sign, and they understand
the holy altar with their mouths and destinies, and they become one by sacred help.
Anointed ones, they establish the dishes of triumph and effort:
And joyful, they speak of these deeds by blessing with wings spread.
Behold, they gradually hand over nourishing things with their wings and reveal high things.
The Seraphim also reveal their faces with their wings, so that now the time
is near when carnal luxury and vices may depart from here.
Here they offer the stretched-out arms of the Savior by their office.
By these, He Himself might be drawn and carried to the high judgment.
Then dispensing into safety, He will read those very things by proving
What was already known before by increase, and He proved them dear everywhere.
The messages of the just prophets do not waver concerning the Cross.
The signs of these living creatures do not fail concerning the Cross.

FIRST BOOK. FOLIO IX.

A large red woodcut initial O begins the poem text.

O Cherubim and Seraphim from heaven, now exalt the name of Jesus,
For from here your fire shines with speech.
Since the true praise of the divine Cross, this way, this life.
Christ is the true fruit of light, who is also the companion praise:
The King then conquered sad things, and now He exults everywhere,
He who is dear to the Seraphim: let prayers be made here by celebrating.
O heavenly wonders, reveal the High One with much praise:
One altar of wings by daring, for they confirm the beauty of the altar,
and they declare by their vow what virtue is, and what good things the King grants.
By this counsel, Christ burned away wicked things with this matter,
Behold, having suffered, He put to flight all the powerful with His heel:
And He broke the narrow enclosures of the driven-out serpent,
And He crushes the old deeds. He Himself, being kind, gave the kingdoms
of the Lord of Hosts in the heights, where Adam had stood:
Which prayers prove. His virtue and divinity bring help to him there
In the darkness, in the prison, as commanded to the blessed one.
On the Cross the Creator, the King fixed to the wood:
Behold, this is the throne of the king, this is the reconciliation of the world,
A banner, a sword, the lot of war, a distinguished ornament:
This tramples the enemies, it shatters the wicked weapons:
It lifts up His own, and gives the rewards of virtue:
For from here the fire of exile is gone, and know what weapons were hidden.
The Cherubim stand, those who assist at the altar in the heights.
Here they give these banners rightly by the sign, and with their mouths
they understand the holy altar, and they become one by sacred help.
Anointed ones, they establish the dishes of triumph and effort:
And joyful, they speak of these deeds by blessing with wings spread.
Behold, they gradually hand over nourishing things with their wings and reveal high things.
The Seraphim cover their faces with their wings, so that now the time is near
When carnal luxury may go and vices depart from here:
They offer the stretched-out arms of the Savior here by their office,
By these things He Himself is drawn and carried to the high judgment.
Then dispensing into safety, He will read those very things by proving
What was already known before by increase, and He proved them dear everywhere:
The messages of the just prophets do not waver concerning the Cross.
The signs of these living creatures do not fail concerning the Cross.