Linguis loquuntur omnium; A Pentecostal hymn. Dudum sacrata pectora In this hymn the terminal assonance, still unconscious, foreshadows rhyme. 1. Ad Gal. v 22 fructus autem spiritus est charitas gaudium. 3. S. Ioann. xiv 16 et alium Paraclitum dabit vobis. 6. detulit, sc. spiritus. 11. Act. Apost. ii 13 quia musto pleni sunt isti. 14. Pascha is the Latin for Easter; Whitsunday or Pentecost follows approximately fifty days after Easter day. 16. Levit. xxv 10 sanctificabisque annum quinquagesimum, et vocabis remissionem cunctis habitatoribus terrae tuae: ipse est iubilaeus. 18. cernuo, prono. DAMASUS Damasus was probably of Spanish origin; he became Pope in 366. Another hymn, for S. Andrew, is extant. He wrote many epigrams, most of which are lost. See Manitius 120; Kayser 104. Martyris ecce dies Agathae Terrea prospera nil reputans, This hymn is the earliest in honor of a saint. Its authenticity is dubious, principally on account of the terminal rhyme, which we should not expect to find developed so early. Metre: dactylic tetrameter catalectic, an unusual rhythm. 1. Agatha suffered at Catana, Feb. 5, 251; according to custom her day of martyrdom became her day of memorial in the calendar. 2. "Agatha...cuius lampas coruscit emicat fulgoribus,” Ambros. Lit. 4. duplex, virgin and martyr. 5. "Ingenua sum et ex spectabili genere," Roman breviary in festo S. Agathae. 9. Quintianus, proconsul of Sicily, conducted her martyrdom. 10. "primum colaphis caesa mittitur in carcerem," breviary. 12. patulo, an adverb. 17. Ethnica, S. Matt. v 47 nonne et ethnici hoc faciunt? 18. ipsa, i.e. turba. One year after Agatha's martyrdom the lava flood from Etna, impending over Catana, was stayed by her veil. - meretur, enjoys. 20. venerem, lust. -ipsa, i.e. Agatha. 25. Damasus is said to have introduced the custom of singing the "Gloria" after the psalms (Kayser 92). AMBROSIUS S. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, confessor and doctor, was born in 340. Among his voluminous writings are twelve hymns, ascribed to him by his Benedictine editors; ninety-two others written in his style are called Ambrosian. He introduced antiphonal chanting in the Western church, and began the systematic treatment of church music which was perfected by Gregory. I Deus, creator omnium Diem decoro lumine, An evening hymn; common in all the early breviaries. Metr. tr. "Maker of all things, God most high," by Chambers, is best known; six others have been made. Commentary by Kayser 134. 4. gratia, with favor of. 11. Voti reos, because the morning prayer has been answered: votiva munera, Hilarius p. 1, 30. Daniel and others emend to votis reos. 18. noctium, blackest night. 24. vaporem, the fire of concupiscence is checked in waking hours by the control of the higher soul. 26. alta, depths. A morning hymn in constant use, both in ancient and modern times. Commentary by Kayser 195. Metr. tr. in A. & M. 3; N. Laud. D. 21; In Exc. 71. 1. Ep. ad Hebr. i 3 cum sit splendor gloriae eius. 3. "Lumen de lumine," Nicene Creed. 5. Malachi iv 2 orietur . . . sol iustitiae. 12. lubricam, of the sin that does so easily beset us, causing us to slip. 14. Diabolus is envious of the righteous. 24. Ad Ephes. v 18 nolite inebriari vino... sed spiritu sancto. 26. The blush of modesty is like the dawn. A Christmas hymn found in almost all ancient breviaries. Commentary by Kayser 172. Metr. tr. in Schaff I 9; twenty-five English versions have been made. Original melody in Young 93, with metr. tr. 7. S. Ioann. i 14 et verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis. 9. Psalm xix 5 tamquam sponsus procedens de thalamo suo exultavit ut gigas ad currendum viam. 11. "Consors divinitatis et corporis," S. Ambrose says in the De Incarnatione; there is a reference to the progeny of angels and women in Gen. vi 4. 13. Psalm xix 7 a summo caelo egressio eius. 15. ad inferos descendit. 18. The flesh is the trophy of Christ's victory over death. Cingere is imperat. 21. fulget, as in Correggio's "Holy Night." 23. interpolet, interrupt. O lux beata, Trinitas Te mane laudum carmine, 5 IV Te nostra supplex gloria [Deo patri sit gloria Et nunc et in perpetuum.] 10 An evening hymn; in most of the ancient and modern breviaries. Metr. tr. in A. & M. 19; thirty-three have been made. Original melody in Young 253. Note the rhyme which has caused some to disregard the Benedictine opinion that it is by Ambrose. The doxology is an addition. 7. nostra supplex gloria, nos supplices. AMBROSIANI These hymns are of unknown authorship and are called Ambrosian because written in imitation of those by Ambrose. I Te Deum laudamus, te Domi- Pleni sunt caeli et terra ma |