Ad regias Agni dapes. The Roman Breviary version of the Ambrosian Ad coenam Agni providi, above. It is the hymn at Vespers, "Sabbato in Albis," i.e. on Saturday in Easter-week, and afterwards on Sundays and week-days, when no Festival occurs and the Ferial Office is said, till the first Vespers of the Ascension. In addition to the ordinary editions of the Roman Breviary the text is given in several modern Roman Catholic hymnals, Card. Newman's Hymni Eccl., 1838-65; Biggs's Annotated edition of Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1867; Daniel, i. No 81, &c. [Rev. W. A. Shouts, B. D.]
Translations in common use:—
1. In garments dight of virgin white. By W. J. Copeland. First published in his Hymns for the Week, 1848, p. 81. In its original form it is not in common use; except in Hymns and Introits, 1852, No. 70, but as "Now at the Lamb's high royal feast," it was given in Murray's Hymnal, 1852, No. 57, and later collections. The opening line was borrowed from E. Caswall’s translation as under.
2. Now at the Lamb's high royal feast. By E. Caswall, in his Lyra Catholica, 1849, p. 94, and again in his Hymns and Poems, 1873, p. 53, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines. This is the translation usually found in Roman Catholic hymn-books. An altered form of this in 4 stanzas is No. 52 in the Irvingite Hymns for the Use of the Churches, 1864, beginning "Guests at the banquet of the Lamb."
3. At the Lamb's High Feast we sing. By R. Campbell, written in 1849 [C. MSS.], and first printed in his collection commonly known as the St. Andrew's Hymnal, 1850, in 4 stanzas of 8 lines. In the original manuscripts the first two lines are added as a refrain to each verse, but are omitted in the printed text. Cooke and Denton's Hymnal was the first to bring it into prominent notice, although in an altered form which has been copied by many compilers. Its use exceeds that of all other translations of the "Ad Regias Agni" put together; being found in a more or less correct form, in the most important collections of the Church of England. Many of the alterations in Hymns Ancient & Modern, Church Hymns, Thring, and others date from Cooke and Denton's Hymnal, 1853, the Salisbury Hymn Book 1857, and others. Another arrangement of Campbell's text is, "To the Lamb's High Feast we press" given in Rev. Francis Pott's Collection, 1861, No. 90.
4. At the Lamb's right royal feast. By J. A. Johnston. First published in the 2nd ed. of his English Hymnal, 1856, No. 117, and repeated in the 3rd ed., 1861. It is an imitation, in the same metre, of R. Campbell's translation, and takes the place of Johnston's translation "Now at the banquet of the Lamb," in L.M., which appeared in the first ed. of the English Hymnal, 1852, No. 110.
5. The Banquet of the Lamb is laid. By R. C. Singleton, made for and first published in his Anglican Hymn Book, 1868, No. 119.
6. We keep the Festival. By A. R. Thompson, contributed to Schaff’s Christ in Song, 1869.
7. Come, join the Kingly Banquet free. By F. Trappes, in his Liturgical Hymns, n. d., (1865), in 8 stanzas of 4 lines. In 1871 stanzas i.-v. and viii. were given as a hymn in 3 stanzas of 8 lines in Hymns and Carols, Church Sisters' Home, St. John's Wood, 1871.
Translations not in common use:—
1. At the Lamb's regal banquet where. Manual of Prayers and Litanies, 1686.
2. From purple seas and land of toil. Primer, 1706.
3. Now at the Lamb's imperial Feast. Bp. Mant, 1837.
4. Passed the Red and angry sea. Bp. Williams, 1845.
5. The Red Sea now is passed. Beste, 1849.
6. In garments bright of saintly white. Rorison, 1851.
7. Come to the Lamb's right royal feast. Wallace, 1874.
8. Sing, for the dark Red Sea is past. H. N. Oxenham, 1867.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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Ad regias Agni dapes. "Once the angel started back." This in the American Episcopal Hymnal, 1871, begins with st. iii. of Bishop J. Williams's translation, 1845.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)
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