See, the Spouse, the Christ, is coming;
— Virgins, be ye ready then!—
He whose advent brings rejoicings
Now and always, from all men.
He is coming to deliver
All those founders of mankind
Who, thro’ our first mother’s sinning,
Were by demons held confin’d.
Now behold the ‘second Adam’
(So the prophet did Him call)
Who, for us, has abrogated
All that stemm’d from Adam’s fall.
He was on the cross suspended
So that we should heav’n regain;
Being by Him liberated
From the Enemy of man.
He is coming as the Bridegroom,
He, whose sacrifice for us
Wash’d away our stains of evil
Through His death upon the cross.
– Sponsus, a medieval mystery play, c. 1050
Locus Communis 