Part 7

Such is the more literal rendering of the original Hebrew text, in the first verse of the first Psalm. For the criticism I am indebted to my preceptor, the late Prof. Nordheimer, of the University of New York, whose sudden and early death is so universally regretted by the learned, and lamented by his grateful pupils.

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_When Israel from the land of Nile._

I cannot forbear to refer the reader, for a much better rendering of the 114th Psalm, to the critical and elegant translation of my friend and brother, the Rev. George Burgess, M. A., of Hartford, whose metrical version of the Psalms is such an honor to American literature and taste. The peculiar beauty of the second verse, which I have sacrificed by introducing the name of God, (which is only elegantly implied in the original,) is in Mr. Burgess’ translation very happily preserved.

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_That awful day of ire._

This is a free translation of some select portions of the _Dies_ _Iræ_; so well known to English readers, by the fine imitation of Scott; and to scholars, by the impressive use made of it by Goethe in his Faust. I have partially imitated, as well as translated, several passages; that famous one, in particular, which is known as the _Rex Tremendæ_. In so doing, I have been forced, however, to sacrifice, in some degree, a desirable gracefulness of expression, for the sake of approximating, in some degree, to the sonorous melody of the Latin.

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_Not unto us, oh Lord, our God._

I have put together, this hymn, and the translation of the _Te_ _Deum_, which follows, because the _Non Nobis_ was once always associated with that sublime doxology, in Thanksgiving services; though now seldom heard of, except as performed at public dinners, on the removal of the cloth. The exclamation of Henry V., on the field of Agincourt, is familiar to all:

Do we all holy rites, Let there be sung _Non Nobis_ and _Te Deum_.

It is interesting, also, to remember, that _Te Deum_ was the first Christian thanksgiving ever offered to God, in this hemisphere. The piety of Columbus, at once suggested the propriety of its use, when he found himself the discoverer of a New World; and the hymn that was introduced to public worship, in the Cathedral at Milan, at the baptism of Augustine, was made the offering of a free heart, when the first European foot was planted in America. We doubt whether any thing as good was chaunted on Plymouth Rock; though had the Pilgrim Fathers been Churchmen, they would have found in the Psalms for the day, a very appropriate as well as inspired thanksgiving: “Then are they glad because they are at rest; and so He bringeth them unto the haven where they would be. Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness; and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men.”

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_Holy Orders._

In the last verse the allusion is to the text, “Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself, as he that putteth it off.” I. _Kings_, xx. 11th.

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I trust the reader has noticed that the arrangement of these Lays has not been merely fortuitous. They are meant to succeed each other, as did the experiences which suggested them, from the pursuit of trifles, to the choice of God’s holy service; and to exhibit as a moral what St. Augustine so appositely says in his confessions: Tu, Domine, excitas, _ut laudare Te delectat_; quia fecisti nos ad Te, et inquietum est cor nostrum, donec requiescat in Te.

CONTENTS.

Page.

Preface, 3

HALLOWEEN, 5

Notes to Halloween, 64

LAYS, MEDITATIVE AND DEVOTIONAL, 67

Dedication, 69

Preface, 71

Give me the Hour, 73

Hymn of the Wreath, 75

Star that Hast, 78

Stanzas, 81

Canzonet, 82

Thou art gone to the Land, 83

Song, 84

Canzonet, 85

Caution, 87

Oh Where’s the Hope, 87

Canzonet, 89

I’ve Left the Giddy Throng, 91

March, 93

Lake Byrom, 95

Stanzas, 96

Lament, 98

The Zenaida Dove, 101

Remember, 103

Christmas, 104

Oh Would I were happy, 106

The Mirage, 108

Meditation, 109

Lines, 110

Hymn, 111

Hymn, 113

Home Music, 114

To all that’s Glorious and Bright, 116

There is a Land, 118

The Heart’s Song, 120

Lament, 121

In Radiance He came, 122

Lament of the Virgins, 125

The Last Plague of Egypt, 128

Hymn to the Redeemer, 131

Stanzas, 134

Stanzas, 135

But Thou, oh Lord, 136

Verses, 137

Still as our Day, 137

There’s not a Cloud, 139

Oh Walk with God, 140

The Land of Beulah, 142

Hymn in Holy Week, 143

Hymn, 145

Mariner’s Hymn, 147

Little Hymn, 148

Thy Glory, Lord, 150

Hymn for the Dead, 151

The First Psalm, 152

Our God in Glory, 153

When Israel from the Land of Nile, 155

Right Glad was I, 156

Orisons, 157

Advent Hymn, 160

Not Unto us, 163

Thee, God, we Praise, 164

A Lent Hymn, 167

Stanzas for Eastertide, 168

Hymn for Holy Thursday, 170

Hymn for Trinity Sunday, 171

Let out thy Soul, 173

Watchwords, 176

Holy Orders, 178

Notes, 183

H. S. PARSONS

Has for sale, by the author of _Halloween_,

ATHANASION,

Second Edition, with Notes.

Also will publish shortly, in uniform with Halloween,

CHRISTIAN BALLADS,

Second Edition, with Additions.

⁂ Several poems published with the former edition of the Ballads, have been retained in their proper places, among the Lays published with Halloween, as they will not again be printed with the Ballads.

Also, H. S. P. has in press,

ANCIENT HYMNS OF HOLY CHURCH,

BY J. WILLIAMS, M. A.,

Rector of St. George’s, Schenectady.

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Transcriber’s Notes:

Hyphenation and archaic spellings have been retained as in the original text. Punctuation and obvious typesetting errors have been corrected without note.

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[End of _Halloween, A Romaunt with Lays, Meditative and Devotional_, by Arthur Cleveland Coxe]