Page:The seven great hymns of the mediaeval church - 1902.djvu/68

38 "I have no heitation in aying that I look on thee veres of Bernard as the mot lovely, in the ame way that the Dies Iræ is the mot ublime, and the Stabat Mater the mot pathetic of mediæval poems. They are even uperior to that glorious hymn on the ame ubject, the De Gloriâ et Gaudiis Paradii of St. Peter Damiani. For the ake of comparion, I quote ome of the mot triking tanzas of the latter, availing myelf of the admirable tranlation of Mr. Wackerbarth (Med. Hymns, 2d Edition, London):

nor waxing moon, nor waning

Sun nor tars in coures bright;

For the to that glad city

Shines an everlating light:

There the daylight beams for ever,

All unknown are time and night.

For the Saints, in beauty beaming,

Shine in light and glory pure;

Crowned in triumph's fluhing honors,

Joy in union ecure;

And in afety tell their battles,

And their foes' dicomfiture.

Freed from every tain of evil,

All their carnal wars are done;

For the fleh made piritual

And the foul agree in one;

Peace unbroken preads enjoyment,

Sin and candal are unknown.