The Hymn of St. Eulalie (La Cantilène de sainte Eulalie)

Eulalia was a perfect girl.

She had a beautiful body, a soul still more beautiful.

God’s enemies wanted to vanquish her.

They wanted to make her serve the devil.

But she did not listen to bad counselors

Who advised her to deny God, who lives in Heaven.

Not gold, nor silver, nor finery

Nor the king’s threats and entreaties

Could ever make the girl

Stop loving the service of God.

And so she was brought before Maximian,

Who was king of the pagans in those days.

He exhorts her, though without success,

To give up the name of Christian.

She endures the torment of the fire.

She would rather endure the torture

Than lose her virginity.

Thus she died in glory.

They threw her in the fire so she would burn quickly.

She had done nothing wrong, so the fire did not consume her.

The pagan king would not give in.

He ordered that she be beheaded with a sword.

The demoiselle did not refuse.

She wanted to leave this earth, prayed Christ that she could.

In the form of a dove she flew to Heaven.

Let us all pray that she will deign to pray for us

And that Christ will have mercy on us

After our death, and let us come to him

In his mercy.

Translated by Richard Stracke