"In the ancient town of Bruges
In the quaint old Flemish city,
As the evening shades descended,
Low and loud and sweetly blended,
Low at times and loud at times,
And changing like a poet's rhymes,
Rang the beautiful wild chimes
From the belfry in the market
Of the ancient town of Bruges."
In the prologue to The Golden Legend, we have the attempt of Lucifer and
the Powers of the Air to tear down the cross from the spire of the
Strasburg Cathedral, with the remonstrance of the bells interwoven:
"Laudo Deum verum! Funera plango!
Plebem voco! Fulgura frango!
Congrego clerum! Sabbata pango!
"Defunctus ploro! Excito lentos!
Pestem fugo! Dissipo ventos!
Festa decoro! Paco cruentos!"
"I praise the true God, call the people, convene the clergy;
I mourn the dead, dispel the pestilence, and grace festivals;
I mourn at the burial, abate the lightnings, announce the Sabbath;
I arouse the indolent, dissipate the winds, and appease the avengeful."