8 OUR HYMNS :
a great theologian, a follower of Augustine in his doctrines, which he taught with definiteness and held with decision. Earnest in effort, self denying in life, unsparing in censure of abuses and corruptions, full of zeal for what he believed to be Christian truth, he nevertheless erred in being carried by his fervour and success into extravagancies, especially in the claims he put forth for himself as the possessor of inspiration, and of the power to work miracles. Bernard is one of the principal saints in the Romish calendar, and has been styled the last of the Fathers.
His works include numerous " Epistles," " Sermons on the Song of Solomon," " Five Books on Consideration," with other sermons and treatises on religious and ecclesiastical subjects.
Bernard was also the author of some celebrated Latin hymns, " Jesus, the very thought of Thee " (No. 329) ; " ! Jesus, King most wonderful " (No. 405). These are parts of the translation of the same piece, " Jesu, dulcis memoria," a piece full of the ardent piety and missionary zeal of the illustrious author.
We are indebted to Edward Caswall for these beautiful render ings of Bernard. Hymn 329 is found at page 58 of "Lyra Catholica, containing all the breviary and missal hymns, with others from various sources, translated by Edward Caswall, M.A., 1849 ; " and hymn 405 is found at page 57 of the same work. "Wackernagel in his "Das Deutsche Kirchenlied, 1862," has given the original Latin in fifty- six, verses of four lines each. How near Mr. Caswall has kept to the original may be seen by taking verse four, with which " ! Jesus, King most wonderful " (No. 405) begins. The original Latin is as follows :
" Jesu rex admirabilis Et triumphator nobilis, Dulcedo ineffabilis, Totus desiderabilis."
Part of Bernard s piece
" Salve, caput cruentatum." " Hail ! Thou Head, so bruised and wounded."
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