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[17] (p. 29.) Holy Strong One, Holy God,
From the depth I pray to Thee.
Mercy, O my Judge, for me;
Spare me, Lord.
In the Proper for the season of Good Friday the passage which
suggested this reads, in Greek and Latin:
1st choir. Agios O Theos (O Holy God).
2d choir. Sanctus Deus (O Holy God).
1st choir. Agios Ischyros (O Holy Strong One).
2d choir. Sanctus Fortis (O Holy Strong One).
[18] (p. 30.) Death dissolves me.
[19] "_Rescue him, O Lord_," etc. The solemn chant again. Note
the difference in metre between this and the "Novissima hora est; and I
fain would sleep. The pain has wearied me." Note the ardor of the
Priest's "Proficiscere, anima Christiana," etc.
[20] (p. 32.) The final hour is here. "Into Thy hands." The whole of
this prayer for the dying is: "Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my
spirit. O Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Holy Mary, pray for me. O
Mary, Mother of grace, Mother of mercy, do thou protect me from the
enemy and receive me at the hour of death."
[21] (p. 32.) "Go forth, O Christian soul, from this world." These
words begin the prayer of the priest, recited while the soul is
departing from the body. It is paraphrased in English by the
Cardinal.
[22] "_I went to sleep_," etc. The soul of Gerontius has left
the body:
[Illustration]
[23] (p. 35.) "Another marvel." According to the teaching of the
Catholic Church, each soul is given at its birth in charge of a
Guardian Angel. It is this angel that sings, "My work is done."
"Alleluia" is from two Hebrew words united by a hyphen. It means
"Praise the Lord." St. John in the Apocalypse says that he heard the
angels singing it in heaven. It occurs in the last five Psalms and in
Tobias.
[24]
"_My work is done_,
My task is o'er,"
is expressed with a joyous movement,--
[Illustration]
[25] Compare the thought in "Hamlet"--Act II, Scene II.--"What a
piece of work is man!"
[26] (p. 41.) When the soul has departed, the priest says the prayer
beginning "Subvenite, Sancti Dei; occurrite Angeli Domini," etc.
("Come to his assistance, ye saints of God," etc.).
[27] "_Low-born clods_," etc. The most marked change comes
here. The solemnity and sweetness of the soul and the angel's
music--their _leit-motif_--is easily discernible. Now come
dissonances and discords,--the rapidity of jangled cymbals struck in
scorn. The phrase "chucked down" has been censured as "inelegant."
Its meaning and sound accord exactly with the spirit of the demoniac
chorus.
[28] (p. 49.) "Extension," "the position of parts outside parts." See
p. 366, General Metaphysics, by John Rickaby, S.J., Manuals of
Catholic Philosophy.
[29] (p. 51.) St. Francis d'Assisi. In 1224, while on Mount Alvernus,
keeping a fast of forty days in honor of St. Michael, a seraph
appeared and marked the hands, feet, and right side of St. Francis
with the five wounds of Our Lord's Passion.
[30] "_Praise to the Holiest in the height._" A movement
associated by English readers with the hymn particularly:
[Illustration]
or
[Illustration]
[31] (p. 54.) "Dreed," from the old English verb "dreogan," to suffer.
[32] "_Angel of the Agony._" Note the solemn and pathetic
rhythm effect.
[33]
"_Take me away_, and in the lowest deep,
There let me be," etc.
The catalexis--pause--is finely used here:
[Illustration]
[34] (p. 64.) This appeal is paraphrased by the author from the
Psalms. The words at the end are translated from the Lesser Doxology:
"Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio
et nunc, et in sÊcula sÊculorum. Amen." The Greater Doxology begins:
"Gloria in excelsis Deo." "Doxology" is from two Greek words meaning
"praise" and a "discourse."
[35]
"_Softly and gently, dearly ransomed soul_,
In my most loving arms I now enfold thee," etc.
[Illustration]
[36] (p. 66.) In Dante's Vision of Purgatory (Canto I.) hell is spoken
of as a "cruel sea," and the water surrounding the Island of
Purgatory as the "better waves." The spirit of Gerontius is dropped
into these "better waves"--"miglior acqua."
"Per correr miglior acqua alza le vele
Omai la navicella del mio ingegno
Che lascia dietro a se _mar si crudele_."
"O'er better waves to speed her rapid course,
The light bark of my genius lifts her sail,
Well pleased to leave so cruel sea behind."
--_Cary's Translation._
[A][In compliance with a suggestion received by the Editor the full
text of Father Faber's "The Eternal Years," referred to on page 14,
is printed on the following pages.]