Page:The seven great hymns of the mediaeval church - 1902.djvu/16

 three times its preent ize; but after traveling around the circle of thee years I top very nearly where I began, for I am now of the opinion that the preent edition, with the alterations and additions which it embodies, does about all for the reader in the way of expoition, either of the general subject or of the everal hymns, which it is poible for me to do.

During this lape of years there have been three books publihed which hould be brought to the attention of any peron who may be intereted in early religious poetry. The firt is the "Chrit in Song" of Dr. Schaff. This is not limited to mediæval times, but on the contrary contains a wealth of the bet hymns of all times and lands. In it will be found many tranlations of mediæval hymns with Dr. Schaff's annotations—the annotations of one of the mot learned and judicious commentators who ever touched the ubject. The econd is a mall volume of mediæval hymns with tranlations and notes by the late Eratus C. Benedict, a member of the New York bar. Its title is "The Hymn of Hildebert." The third is the "Chritian Life and Song" of Mrs. Charles,