Page:The seven great hymns of the mediaeval church - 1902.djvu/126

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HE, with the Dies Iræ, poees the power of imparting a hadowy impreion of its meaning by the melody of its vere. Its oft, ad cadence echoes the feeling of its pathetic words. In fame it ranks next to the Dies Iræ, yet is neither o imple nor o grand; nor does it rie, like the Great Hymn, above ectarian faults. It has attracted the ame great admiration, and been praied and repeated by the fame great admirers, but always in a leer degree. As the Dies Iræ has been pronounced the greatet, o the univerally is deemed the mot pathetic of hymns.

The life of its author was in fit keeping with its plaintive utterances. He was born at Todi, of the noble Italian houe of Benedette, and roe to ditinction as a jurit. A few years