Sing after times of sadness To God thy Lord with gladness! Our God His heart hath turned How successfully Kelly has caught the spirit of Gerhardt's nature description is evident in stanza 9: Die Bäume werden schön The trees so very fair Nun laszt uns gehn und treten.-(Goed. 19.) Evidently written during the Thirty Years' War. It first appeared in Crü.—Runge, 1653, no. 106, in 15 stanzas of 4 lines; thence in Wackernagel: no. 12; Bachmann: no. 24; Berlin G. L. S.: 1863, no. 200. English Versions: I. In prayer your voices raise ye. In full, by J. Kelly, 1867, p. 45. Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. 2. Now let each humble creature. From this 8 stanzas are included in the Ohio In the Suppl. to Ger. Psal., 1765, p. 4, and Select Hymns from Ger. Psal., Tranquebar, 1754, p. 7. In the Moravian Hymn Bk., 1789, no. 507 (1849, no. 1106) greatly altered and beginning, "Year after year commenceth." Noch dennoch must du drum nicht ganz.-(Goed. 23.) Appeared in the Crü. Praxis, 1656, no. 814. This hymn of consolation seems to refer to some particular disaster that had befallen the community during the Thirty Years' War. The "drum" in line I may possibly refer to some address or announcement made to the congregation. The poem has been well translated in full by J. Kelly, 1867, p. 230. He makes no attempt to render the doubtful meaning above referred to in the word "drum." On the other hand his interpretations of several rather obscure lines (cf. lines 29 and 43 below) are undoubtedly correct. In this last citation Kelly is right in assuming it is not literally the "army" but rather the congregation or community that Gerhardt is here addressing. Wie soll ich dich empfangen.-(Goed. 25.) Nun du lebest, unsre Krone.-(Goed. 28.) This poem was appended to an address delivered in Berlin on the 23d of March, 1648, at the funeral of Peter Fritzen, the President of the Consistory. English Version: Standing near thy Savior's throne. Endless joy thy portion now! Why should tears so freely flow? What should thus in sorrow sink us? Up! aright let us bethink us! A complete translation by J. Kelly, 1867, p. 338. Sei mir tausendmal gegrüszet.-(Goed. 40.) Taken from the "Salve mundi salutare," ascribed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux. The text of this beautiful poem is in St. Bernard's Opera Omnia, Paris, 1609, cols. 1655-56. Here it is entitled "A rhythmical prayer to anyone of the members of Christ suffering and hanging on the Cross," and is divided into 7 parts viz: I. Salve mundi salutare (to the Feet). II. Salve Jesu, Rex sanctorum (to the Knees). The whole poem has been frequently translated into German. The best known translations are those by Paul Gerhardt, which are free versions of all the seven parts from the Latin text of 1609. Of Gerhardt's versions, nos. I, V, VI, and VII have passed into English, as follows: I. Sei mir tausendmal gegrüszet.-(Goed. 40.) This appeared in the 5th ed., Berlin, 1653, and the Frankfort ed., 1656, of Crü. Praxis, no. 150; thence in Wackernagel: no. 16; Bachmann: no. 48; Unv. L. S.: 1851, no. 116. English Versions: 7 1. Thousand times by me be greeted. In pt. I of the Moravian H. Bk. 1754. Repeated in later editions. 2. Ever by my love be owned (st. I, III, IV). A. T. Russell in his Psalms and Hymns, 1851. Bernard of Clairvaux, saint, abbot, and doctor, was born in Burgundy in 1091, entered the monastery of Citeaux in 1113. In 1146 he spent much time in traversing France and Germany to rouse the people to participate in the ill-fated second crusade. He died in 1153. The hymns by which he is best known are (1) "Jesu dulcis memoria," a long poem on the "Name of Jesus," and (2) "Salve mundi salutare," an address to the various members of Christ on the cross. Hymns, translated from, or founded on, St. Bernard's will be found in almost every modern hymnal. V. Gegrüszet seist du, Gott, mein Heil.-(Goed. 46.) Appeared in the Frankf. ed., 1656, of Crü. Praxis; thence in Wackernagel: no. 20; Bachmann: no. 52. English Versions: I. 2. All hail to Thee, my Savior and my God. Mrs. Stanley Carr in her translation of Wildenhahn's Paul Gerhardt, ed. 1856, p. 116. All hail! my Savior and my God. R. Massie in the British Herald, Feb., 1865, p. 18. VI. O Herz des Königs aller Welt.-(Gocd. 47.) Appeared in the Frankf. ed., 1656, of Crü. Praxis, no. 155; thence in Wackernagel: no. 21; Bachmann: no. 53; Berlin, G. L. S.: 1863, no. 258. English Version: I. O Heart of Him who dwells on high. R. Massie in the British Herald, May, 1866, p. 260. VII. O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden.-(Goed. 49.) Wach auf, mein Herz, und singe.-(Goed. 59.) Nun ruhen alle Wälder.-(Goed. 60.) (Cf. p. 98 ff.) Weg, mein Herz, mit den Gedanken.-(Goed. 62.) [Lent.] Founded on St. Luke XV. Appeared in Crü. Praxis, 1648, no. 36 in 12 stanzas. English Versions: 1. Let not such a thought e'er pain thee. J. Kelly, 1867, p. 83. 2. Hence, my heart, with such a thought. Miss Winkworth, 1869, p. 210. Herr, höre, was mein Mund.—(Goed. 65.) Appeared in Crü. Praxis, 1648, no. 37. This prayer for favor in judgment is based on Psalm CXLIII. It is pervaded with deep humility and devoutness. English Versions: I. Lord, lend a gracious ear To my desire sincere From heart all free from guile And glad me with Thy smile, Accept my petition. J. Kelly, 1867, p. 92. His rendering of the similes and metaphors of this hymn is especially Based on St. Luke II, 21. It appeared in Crü. Praxis, 1648, no. 97 in 4 stanzas. Bunsen, in his Versuch 1833, no. 120, gives stanzas III, IV, altered to "Freut euch, Sünder, allerwegen." English Versions: 1. Mortals, who have God offended. Miss Cox, 1841, p. 21, from Bunsen. 2. Why should they such pain e'er give Thee. J. Kelly, 1867, p. 43. Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld.-(Goed. 68.) O Welt, sich hier dein Leben.-(Goed. 71.)8 [Passiontide.] Cf. Koch IV, 161, 711, 787. First published in Crü. Praxis, 1648, no. 119, in 16 stanzas of 8 lines, reprinted in Wackernagel: no. 15; Bachmann: no. 8; Unv. L. S.: For adaptations of this hymn cf. p. 137. |