Page:The seven great hymns of the mediaeval church - 1902.djvu/170

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HE was written about the year 580—two hundred years before the time of Charlemagne, and even hundred years before the birth of the Englih language. It is therefore one of the oldet of mediæval hymns.

Venantius Fortunatus, an Italian, whoe birth-place is unknown, was in early life a citizen of Ravenna, from which he was driven by the great invaion of the Lombards. He paed into France, and became the fahionable poet of his time. Subequently he devoted his talents to a holier object, and became the friend of Saint Radegunde and Saint Gregory. He removed to Tours, was made Bihop of Poitiers, and died about the year 600.