ment of the stanzas differs, in different copies of the same hymn. I have followed what seemed to me the best authority for the text, and I have not hesitated to adopt the arrangement of the stanzas which seemed to me the most forcible and beautiful. In like manner I have also substituted a word and changed the arrangement of words in a line, where the rhythm so plainly demanded it as to compel the belief that such was the author's arrange ment. I have preceded most of the hymns with a brief sketch of the supposed author, or a sort of argument of the hymn, or brief commentary upon it. I am, however, far from believing that the authorship of them is thus attributed on sufficient evidence in all cases. There is hardly one that has not been attributed, with equal confidence, to more than one author, and there are few of them whose authorship can be considered as settled, on evidence. A word more as to the thread by which these hymns are here connected-so slight that, perhaps, it might not be perceived, unless it were pointed out. The Christian faith, life, and hope, founded upon the being and attributes of God; the birth, teachings, sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension, and commemoration of our Lord, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, are exhibited in the order which I have adopted, while the doctrines of faith and grace, and the spirit of devotion, animate the whole. The careful and learned remarks of the Rev. Dr. Williams in his "Miscellanies," p. 72, of Dr. Coles in his "Dies Iræ," of Dr. Schaff in his "New Stabat Mater," of Dr. Neale in his "Medieval Hymns," and, above all, the Preface, Introduction, and notes of Archbishop Trench in his "Sacred Latin Poetry," are worthy of careful study by all who desire to be informed on the subject of Latin hymnology. I have read them with the greatest interest, and have borrowed much from them, as well in this preface as elsewhere, for which I desire to make this acknowledgment, because I have almost. always neglected to do so in the text of my remarks. INDEX. Abbey of St. Victor, 98. Angel choirs on high, 123. Astant angelorum chori, 122. Benedictis, 18. Bernard, 26. Bertin, St., 85. Be still the voice, 141. Celano, Thomas de, 109 Comforter denominated, 7. Cur mundus militat. 18, 28. Day of death, 129. Day of judgment, 32, 35. Dies Ira, 32, 108, 110, 116, 118. Dying swan, 133. Ecquis binas columbinas, 58. Father, God, my God, 3. Goethe, 108. Gravi me terrore, 128. Hamerken, 121. Holy Spirit from above. 87. Jam quiesce, 140. Kempis, Thomas à, 121. Last Supper, 52. Lavardin, 1. Proses, 74, 75. Raise the everlasting gates, 81. Rhyme, v., vi., vii., 75, 76. Si vis vere gloriari, 70. Spirit, creative, power divine, 48. Spirit, Holy, 6, 42 to 50, 84 to 87. Lauda Sion salvatorem, 75. 90,92. Stabat Mater speciosa, 18, 19, 20. Pange lingua gloriosi, 52, 54, 90. Weeping stood his mother, 65. |