A FAVOURITE NURSERY HYMN.
Known to the rustics of England, France, and Italy since the days of the
great Charlemagne, has a peculiar history. Like many other rhymes of
yore it is fast dying out of memory. The educational influences of the
National Schools in the former part of this century, and the Board
Schools at a later date, have killed this little suppliant's prayer, as
well as most of the other rural rhymes and folk-lore tales handed down
by mother to child.
The hymn, though still used in some parts of Northern England, and
especially amongst the Nonconformists, as a child's evening ode of
praise, runs--
"Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Look upon this little child;
Pity my simplicity,
Suffer me to come to Thee."
The next verse, a more modern addition, is--
"Fain I would to Thee be brought,
Lamb of God, forbid it not;
In the kingdom of Thy grace
Give this little child a place."
Leo III. is the supposed author of the book in which it is found, viz.,
_Enchiridion Leonis Papae_. However, the _Enchiridion_ was a book of
magic, and not authorised by the Church of Rome, but used by spurious
monks and charlatans, wizards and quacks, in their exploits amongst the
credulous rural folk. It was full of charms, prayers, and rhymes to ward
off evil spirits. The Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John verses are part of
the same "Gentle Jesus, meek and mild." The _Enchiridion_ was first
published in 1532. This hymn was, in the main, derived from the White
Paternoster, and handed down to posterity and preserved by the rustics.
THE LATIN VERSION OF THE VIRGIN'S LULLABY.
"Dormi fili, dormi! mater
Cantat unigenito,
Dormi, puer, dormi! pater
Nato clamat parvulo:
Millies tibi laudes canimus
Mille, mille, millies.
"Dormi cor, et meus thronus,
Dormi matris jubilum;
Aurium c[oe]lestis sonus.
Et suave sibilum!
Millies tibi laudes canimus
Mille, mille, millies.
"Ne quid desit, sternam rosis
Sternam f[oe]num violis,
Pavimentum hyacinthis
Et praesepe liliis
Millies tibi laudes canimus
Mille, mille, millies.
"Si vis musicam, pastores
Convocabo protinus
Illis nulli sunt priores;
Nemo canit castius
Millies tibi laudes canimus
Mille, mille, millies."