rded accent and in which rhyme
occurs even in its earliest extant literature, as in Ennius'
_Andromacha_:

Haec omnia vidi inflammari,
Priamo vi vitam evitari, etc.

Among the famous authors of Latin hymns are Adam of St. Victor; St.
Ambrose; Fortunatus; Robert the Second, King of France; Bernard of
Clairvaux; Bernard of Cluny; and Abelard. Among the greatest of the
hymns are the Te Deum, the Veni, Creator Spiritus, the Stabat Mater, the
Veni, Sancte Spiritus, the Dies Irae, the Ut Iucundas, the Iesu, Dulcis
Memoria, and the Hora Novissima.

For Reference: Trench, _Sacred Latin Poetry_ (London, 1874); March,
_Latin Hymns_ (New York, 1874); Daniel, _Thesaurus Hymnologicus_
(Leipzig, 1841-1856, 5 vols.); Merrill, _Latin Hymns_ (Boston, 1904);
Julian, _Dictionary of Hymnology_ (London, 1907). In all see indices of
first lines.

ANONYMOUS. FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.

This was till recently a favorite in the Lutheran churches of Germany.
Like most of the other hymns in this collection, it has often been
translated; as by Schaff in his _Christ in Song_. The oldest text known
is as early as the fourteenth century.

The subject is the birth of Christ. Cf. Matthew 2. 1. Bethlehem:
indeclinable, like most proper names of Hebrew origin. 5, 6. The ox and
ass were believed to have occupied the stable with Christ on the
combined authority of the Septuagint reading of Hahakkuk 3. 2: 'Between
two animals shalt thou be known'; and of Isaiah 1. 3: 'The ox knoweth
his owner, and the ass his master's crib.' quod: that. 7. Reges: Isaiah
60. 3; Psalms 72. 10, 15. Saba: Psalms 72. 10, 15. 11. Sine serpentis
vulnere: without 'original sin.' Cf. Genesis 3. 14, 15; 1 John 3. 5.

FOR EASTER DAY.

This fine sequence was highly esteemed by Luther and became a favorite
in many countries. Its composition was as early as the eleventh century.
At first sight it appears to be prose, but proves on closer examination
to be rhymed throughout. The dialogue form made possible its dramatic
use in the Easter Mystery Plays and the church service. For this and for
translations see Julian, p. 1223 ff.

The subject is the Resurrection. Cf. Matthew 28. 1-15; John 20. 1-18.

2. Agnus: John 1. 29. oves: John 10. 11. 3. regnat: Matthew 25. 34. 4-9.
Dic ff.: the conversation supposed to have taken place between Mary
Magdalene and the disciples after her return from the sepulchre.
Surrexit: Luke 24. 34.

PLAUDITE CAELI.

This hymn was composed b