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Chief of martyrs, he whose name 
Chief of martyrs, he whose name doth a mystic crown proclaim: not of flowers that see decay, weave we this his crown today. 
Bright the stones,which wound him, gleam, sprinkled with his life’s red stream; radiant o’er his faintly head, stars could ne’er such luster shed. 
Where his brow receives the blows, flashing light divinely glows; bursting forth, each holy ray doth an angel-face betray. 
Christ for him a victim bled; he for Christ his blood first shed; first confessor, whose last breath flies to own him God in death. 
First upon the path is he, marked across the crimson sea! Forth he leads the martyr-band; lo! they follow close at hand. 
Virgin-born, to thee we raise, with the Father, endless praise; God the Spirit we adore, now, henceforth, for evermore! 
Paris Breviary, 18th century; trans.