artlessness and simplicity indicate that it can be turned readily into another language, but its secret power refuses to be thus transferred." "The song of Thomas," says Daniel,1 "is not only in words but in spirit intensely Latin and uncongenial to any other language." He finds the chief difficulty in reproducing the vowel assonances which constitute the musical power and effect of the original. By far the greatest number of translations are German and English. Mohnike gives, in full or in part, 24 German versions made. prior to 1824, and added 21 more in 1832. Lisco, in his monograph on the Dies Ira, 1840, increased the number to 54, exclusive of incomplete versions. In a subsequent monograph on the Stabat Mater, 1843, he republished in full, in three parallel columns, 53 German versions of the Stabat Mater Dolorosa, and, in an appendix, 17 additional versions of the DIES IRE. This would make in all 71 German translations before the year 1843. But this list has since considerably increased, so that the whole number of German translations now existing cannot fall short of eighty, if not a hundred. Some eminent poets, as Herder, A. W. von Schlegel, and Albert Knapp, are among the German translators of the DIES IRE. Larger in number, and equal or superior in merit, are the English versions. I counted over a hundred and fifty. They are mostly of recent date. The English language, by its solemnity, music and force, is admirably adapted for the DIES IRÆ, notwithstanding its comparative poverty in double rhymes. The oldest translation was made in 1621 by Joshua Sylvester, in 10 stanzas of 6 lines each. Then followed, in 1646, the free and vigorous reproduction of Crashaw, an Anglican clergyman of poetic genius, who from the school of Archbishop Laud went over to the Roman Church. The Earl of Roscommon (16331684), a nephew of the famous Earl of Strafford, and the only virtuous popular poet in the licentious age of the Restoration, a poet, "To whom the wit of Greece and Rome was known, And 1 Thes. Hymnol., ii., 121. 2 See the list at the close of the essay. made a more faithful version, in iambic triplets. In the present century Sir Walter Scott, by his partial, but most happy reproduction, awakened a new literary interest in the poem, to which we owe the easy and elegant version of Lord Macaulay from the year 1826. High dignitaries and eminent divines of the Church of England, as Archbishop Trench and Dean Alford, adhered more closely to the original. Several members of the Anglo-Catholic school of Oxford, Isaac Williams, W. J. Irons, and E. Caswall (the last seceded to Rome) furnished excellent translations. In America, ministers and laymen of various denominations have taken part in this rivalry and nearly or fully doubled the number of English translations. Among them are Dr. W. R. Williams (Baptist), Dr. H. Mills (Presbyterian), Dr. Robert Davidson (Presbyterian), Charles Rockwell, Edward Slosson, Epes Sargent, Erastus C. Benedict (Dutch Reformed), General John A. Dix (Episcopalian), Thomas C. Porter (German Reformed), Dr. Ch. P. Krauth (Lutheran), Samuel W. Duffield (Presbyterian), Dr. Franklin Johnson (Baptist), Dr. W. S. McKenzie (Baptist), Rev. A. H. Fahnestock (Presbyterian). The palm among American translators must be awarded to a physician, Abraham Coles, of Scotch Plains, New Jersey. He prepared, between 1847 and 1859, thirteen versions, six of which are in the trochaic measure and double rhyme of the original, five in the same rhythm, but in single rhyme, one in iambic triplets, like Roscommon's, the last in quatrains, like Crashaw's version. The first two appeared anonymously in the Newark Daily Advertiser, 1847, and a part of one found its way into Mrs. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, the other into H. W. Beecher's Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes. The thirteen versions were published together with an introduction in a beautiful volume, in antique type, on tinted paper, New York (Appletons), 1866. He has since published three additional versions in double rhyme, New York, 1881 ("The Microcosm and other Poems"). In August, 1889, he made one more version in single rhyme and four lines. These seventeen versions show a rare fertility and versatility, and illustrate the possibilities of variation without altering the sense. ENGLISH VERSIONS. Of these translations I select some of the best in double and in single rhyme. Of others I can only give one or more stanzas. 1 Dr. Irons, like Dean Alford, follows the reading of the Parisian Missal, "Dies irae, dies illa, Crucis expandens vexilla, Solvet sæclum in favilla." 2 I prefer the original form of this stanza as it appeared in the Newark Daily Advertiser for March 17, 1847: "Day of wrath, that day of burning, All shall melt, to ashes turning, As foretold by seers discerning." 9. Think, kind Jesu'-my salvation Caus'd Thy wondrous Incarnation; Leave me not to reprobation! 10. Faint and weary Thou hast sought me, On the Cross of suffering bought me :Shall such grace be vainly brought me? 11. Righteous Judge of retribution, Grant Thy gift of absolution, 12. Guilty, now I pour my moaning, All my shame with anguish owning; 13. Thou the sinful woman savest; Thou the dying thief forgavest, 14. Worthless are my prayers and sighing, Yet, good Lord, in grace complying, Rescue me from fires undying! 15. With Thy favor'd sheep, O place me! Doom'd to flames of woe unbounded, 17. Low I kneel, with heart-submission; 18. Ah! that Day of tears and mourning! From the dust of earth returning, Man for judgment must prepare him; Spare! O God, in mercy spare him ! 9. Think, O Jesus, for what reason Thou didst bear earth's spite and treason, Nor me lose in that dread season! 10. Seeking me Thy worn feet hasted, On the cross Thy soul death tasted: Let such travail not be wasted! 11. Righteous Judge of retribution! 12. Culprit-like, I plead, heart-broken, With Thy sheep, from goats divided 16. When th' accursed away are driven, To eternal burnings given, Call me with the blessed to heaven! 17. I beseech Thee, prostrate lying, Heart as ashes, contrite, sighing, 18. Day of tears and late repentance, Man shall rise to hear his sentence: RICHARD C. TRENCH. Archbishop of Dublin (d. 1886). 1. O that day, that day of ire, Told of Prophet, when in fire, Shall a world dissolved expire! 2. O what terror shall be then, When the Judge shall come again, HENRY ALford. Dean of Canterbury (d. 1871). 1. Day of anger, that dread Day Shall the Sign in Heaven display, And the Earth in ashes lay. 2. O what trembling shall appear, When His coming shall be near, Who shall all things strictly clear: 3. When a trump of awful tone, Thro' the caves sepulchral blown, Summons all before the throne. 4. What amazement shall o'ertake, 5. Open then the book shall lie, 6. When the Judge His place has ta'en, 7. What then, wretched! shall I speak, Or what intercession seek, When the just man's cause is weak? 8. King of awful majesty, Who the saved dost freely free; 9. Jesus, Lord, remember, pray, 10. Tired Thou satest, seeking me- 11. Terrible Avenger, make Of Thy mercy me partake, 13. Thou who Mary didst forgive, 14. Though my prayer unworthy be, 15. 'Mid Thy sheep my place command, 17. Lying low before Thy throne, 3. When the Trumpet shall command Through the tombs of every land All before the Throne to stand. 4. Death shall shrink and Nature quake, When all creatures shall awake, Answer to their God to make. 5. See the Book divinely penned, In which all is found contained, Whence the world shall be arraigned! 6. When the Judge is on His Throne, All that's hidden shall be shown, Naught unfinished or unknown. 7. What shall I before Him say? How shall I be safe that day, When the righteous scarcely may? 8. King of awful majesty, Saving sinners graciously, Fount of mercy, save Thou me! 9. Leave me not, my Saviour, one For whose soul Thy course was run, Lest I be that day undone. 10. Thou didst toil my soul to gain; Didst redeem me with Thy pain; Be such labor not in vain! 11. Thou just Judge of wrath severe, Grant my sins remission here, Ere Thy reckoning day appear. 12. My transgressions grievous are, Scarce look up for shame I dare; Lord, Thy guilty suppliant spare! 13. Thou didst heal the sinner's grief, And didst hear the dying thief; Even I may hope relief. 14. All unworthy is my prayer; Make my soul Thy mercy's care, 15. Place me with Thy sheep, that band Who shall separated stand From the goats, at Thy right hand! 16. When Thy voice in wrath shall say, Cursed ones, depart away! Call me with the blest, I pray! 17. Lord, Thine car in mercy bow! Broken is my heart and low; Guard of my last end be Thou! |