Pictures of Christ and the Apostles
Well was it drawn, in proper fashion,
the bosom of the Son of God above who reigns over us.
It has been set splendidly in a new painting,
4 the image of the Lord, on shining wooden panels,
in order to display to His fine church
each one of the twelve and the Passion
(so full of grace) upon the cross
8 on which the Lord God suffered,
together with the Trinity (precious propriety),
whose grace is one with Jesus.
Well was He drawn, the holy Lord Jesus,
12 with expert skill, He and His disciples,
a powerful image, faultlessly formed,
all thirteen of them, is not the painting fair?
It's God Himself who's in the middle,
16 a gentle image, most worthy of praise,
and the twelve, a fair joyful group,
have been joined together all around Jesus.
Divided into six on each side,
20 they are all assembled around God our Lord.
On his right side,
genial lord, God most gentle,
are Peter (his gaze is well set)
24 and John of fine and worthy muse;
and Philip of well-travelled grace
(his feet are white), and goodly Andrew;
kind James, prosperous, worthy, dear,
28 and Saint Simon of generous gifts.
Coloured gold, on the other side
of the wise almighty Lord
are Paul, so worthy and full of wisdom,
32 and fine kindly Thomas;
Bartholomew - he never shirked,
he of clear and proper praise;
in sumptuous colour, fair Matthew,
36 and James, who are above reproach;
Saint Jude in splendid incense,
there they are, handsomely strung together.
They're full of grace (far-reaching wisdom)
40 where they've been placed in honest colour.
A wise man considers the fine story
of the day those twelve were allowed
to roam the world with Him
44 (a fair abode) before His suffering.
After the pain that Christ endured
upon the rood's cross-beam, and His agony,
and His dying too (it was not in vain)
48 and his departing from the world unto the grave,
when God Jesus, our true friend,
rose again from the black earth,
He brought to his side (no need to fear)
52 those twelve honourable men,
true Son of Mary (a word of love),
to conquer the Father's kingdom.