95
{se kai nyn eulogoumen}--(Evening Hymn), 97
{orthrios didomi to theo mou dexias}--(Morning Hymn), 98
{epseusamen se ten aletheian, loge}--(Evening Hymn), 99
Synesius, 102
{soi nyx me pherei ton aoidon, anax}, 103
{lypais d' astiptos psycha}, 104
{age moi psycha}, 105
{autos phos ei pagaion}, 106

INTRODUCTION

I. Thirty-eight years ago, Dr. John Mason Neale published his _Hymns of
the Eastern Church_ , and for the first time English readers were
introduced to the priceless gems of Greek hymnody. At the close of his
preface he throws out a challenge which, as far as the present writer is
aware, has not yet been taken up. He says: 'And while fully sensible of
their imperfections, I may yet, by way of excuse rather than of boast,
say, almost in Bishop Hall's words--

"I first adventure: follow me who list,
And be the second Eastern Melodist."'

It would be presumptuous to believe that the translations which follow
are in any particular a worthy answer to that challenge; but the
translator can honestly say that they are a very earnest attempt to
acquaint English readers still further with the valuable praise
literature which lies buried in the service-books of the Greek Church,
and they constitute the first real attempt in that direction since Dr.
Neale issued his collection in 1862.

II. The renderings contained in this volume are the product of many happy
hours during the past five years. No method was adopted in the work. As
the translator waded through the closely printed pages of the Greek
offices, what appeared at first sight to be lines worthy of translation
were taken up and examined, sometimes to be cast aside again because of
some unremovable blemish, at other times to be moulded to the form which
they now bear. Of the forty-seven pieces, thirty-five appear for the
first time in English verse.

For the original, the translator has gone to the service-books, and for
the most part has confined himself to the hymns which are to be found in
the Triodion, containing the Lenten services; and in the Pentecostarion,
in which are found the hymns for the services of Easter and