Adest sponsus is the processional song that begins Sponsus - the oldest liturgical drama with texts in the vernacular to have come down to us. Like other dramas of its type, this play, which is fro the Limoges region of central France, treats a sacred subject (the wise and foolish virgins) in a manner designed to dramatize a Christian mystery for a largely illiterate congregation.
Adest sponsus, qui est Christus – vigilate, virgins! - pro adventu cuius gaudent et gaudebunt homines. Venit enim liberare gentium origins, quas per primam sibi matrem subiugarunt demones. Hic est Adam qui secundus per propheta dicitur, per quem scelus primi Ade a nobis diluitur. Hic pependit ut celesti patrie nos redderet, ac de parte inimici liberos nos traheret. Venit sponsus qui nostrorum scelerum piacula morte lavit atque crucis sustulit patibula.
Arriving is the Bridegroom who is the Christ – be vigilant, maidens!- For His advent they rejoice, and rejoice will all men. He comes in fact to liberate our ancestors, whom because of our first mother the de vils conquered. In here is ‘the second Adam’, called so by the prophet, through whom the sin of the first Adam to us was abrogated. He hangs so that our heavenly home may be restored to us, and that from our enemies He may set us free. Come the Bridegro om who, as the propitiation for our sins death suffered, and on the cross bore our burdens.