§0LS Sisce quasi semper victurus ; vive quasi eras moritTLms. VOL. XVIL NOTRE DAME, INDIANA, JANUARY 5, 1SS4, No. 17. Salutatio AD R. T. E. WALSH, C. S. C. NOSTRA DOMIXJE UXIVERSITATIS PR^BSIDEM IN DIE FESTO PATRONI ILLIUS S. THOM^ APOSTOLI AB ALUMNIS ANNO MDCCCXXXIV GRADCJS ACCEPTURIS OBLATA. NOS LiCEAT THOMA DIGNUM CONSCRIBERE CARMEN. • O prjEclara dies, hyranO sacrata canor o, Semper adauscebis noStr^e sraudia mentis. Lingua tacere potest, bLanda jam luce micat s'oL In CCEIO atque homini vltam dat Christus et orbj. Oum fidei constant miraOula tauta, Deo nunO Est standum, Thoma, nEque fas incredulus essE. Aeterno Verbo cAi'nem internerata MariA Tempore donavit cerTo: perfectus homo fiT. T e r r i f i c a T mundum, aTque InfanDum numen adoranT HoiTescendo Homines Homo, nam luvat esse JehovaH- Omnipotens Oi'itur, mOrbos Dominatur, et unO Mors verbo Moritur: Lazarus Mox corpore vita M Accipit:ex ipsA radiAt vis Morte supei'nA. Discipulis reSonat Domini vox desIJbito; seD Interea Didimus tetlgit Sacra vulnera "VidI! Gratia me domuit!" Qaudens, " Deus " I exclamat et nunG; Nos LiCEAT THOMA DtGNUM CONSCRIBERE CARMEN. Usus inest animum gratUm depromere versIJ: M'ljorem juvenes Malunt persolvei'e laudeM- Orescit amor. Humerus Crescit: Senioribus anno hoO Officium majus, festO redeunte patemO- Num quid enim melius Nobis quam pectora sint? AN. Sexcentos PatriS mereamur amore favoreS? Oonstantes Thomce Ouras mirantur alumni, aO Ridentem faciem et fRontem placidam, ut maris sBquoR. Ingenio eximius, vigil ans, . ac mente sagacj, Blanditias horrens, duBitas, Cunctator, asrendo: aB Extremis iTa te rEmoves, sapiens .que v5 viderE- Regulce Honos, fidus sacRata^ cRucis amatoR Et . Nostra! DOminae, Explanas sacrA dogmata, nevE Obristiadas unquaM praiOludat mEns mala nos neC Allici - Ant honor, ebrietAs, laScivia, gazA. Rector virtutiS, pRjeses, exEmplar et ultoR, Multiplicem ad rectum M e r i t u S form are juventaM Et donum, O Reverende ! valBbis habere perennE- Nos LiCEAT THOMA DIGNUM CONSCRIBERE CARMEN. 2^8 THE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC. cation has reached us containing three hymns in The Holy Father as a Poet. honor of SS. Herculanus and Constantius, both martyrs and bishops of Perugia, a See of which, as is well known, Pope Leo himself was the Or­ [Through the kindness of the Rev. editor of lite " Ave dinary in former days. The hj-mns are in Latin, Mai-ia" we are permitted to reprint from advanced sheets accompanied by an Italian translation by Prof. Fran­ the following article, from the pen of PUOF. A. J. STAGE, on some recent poems of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII. cesco Manini. The dedication is to" the Cardinal The learned Professor gives an original metrical translation Bishop of Verona, and secondarily to the Italian of one poem b_v the Holy Father, while extracts from the pilgrims who visited Rome in the months of Sep­ remaining are presented, which serve to show the charac­ tember and October of last 3-ear. A distich ad­ teristic features of the distinguished poet's style. We have no doubt that our readers will appreciate the literary treat dressed: Leo/ii XIII., Poniifici Maximo^ Sa-pi- afforded them.—ED. SCHOL.] entissimo. Poetcc Hyvinografho Prccsfantissi7no. does not appear worthj- of the place it occupies The cares of the ruler of a great people—of one after the dictation. The versifier, whoever he was, to whom the welfare and happiness of multitudes might have managed the hexameter without eliding of his fellow-hein<j^s have been entrusted—are usu- half of the name of the person addressed; and the 3\\y so engrossing as to exclude all other occupa­ comparison of a poet to a swan is not only worn tions. Instances there have been where the here­ threadbare, but has the additional disqualification ditary incumbent of a throne has found some art, of not being true to nature, as experience and re­ some science, or even some mechanical employ­ search have amply proved that the swan is not ment more congenial to his tastes than that of melodious under an}- circumstances. reisTninsf: but he has indulji^ed his inclinations to Thus preluded, follow the hymns, the Italian his own detriment and that of his people. Had translation, which is metrical and rhymed, being Louis XVT not been so industrious a locksmith, placed opposite the Latin' original—the composi­ and had he applied himself more diligentl}- to a tion of the Pope himself. The first is in honor of study of the wants of his subjects, the horrors of St. Herculanus, Bishop of Perugia, and martyr,— the French Revolution might have-been averted, a saint unknown to Alban Butler, as was also St. and what was of evil in a necessary reform might Constantius. From the brief notices of the Ro­ have been eliminated. man Martyrology under date of March the ist-we . Hence we are accustomed to dispute the possi­ learn that St. Herculanus "was beheaded by order bility of a great potentate being also a great artist, of Totila, king of the Goths. His body, on the a great sculptor, a great chemist, or a great astron­ fortieth day after his decapitation, was, as Pope St. omer. To achieve greatness in such diverse walks Gregoiy relates, found as sound and as firmly of life seems be\-ond the power of a created mind. joined to the head as if it had never been touched But in the vast circle of human occupations, by the sword." The hymn itself contains many there is one which seems peculiarly privileged,—to other interesting particulars; and as the period to which the epithet " divine " has been not seldom which it relates has received very inadequate light attached,—wliich ennobles the lowest rank of so- from history, I have attempted a metrical version", ciet3-, and attaches no disgrace to the highest: it is sticking as closely to the original as the exigencies the calling of the POET. From the time when of metre and rh^-me would allow. The metre of Royal David strung his harp to the praises of the m}' translation is the same as that of the original, Almight}', we have found poets frequently seated familiar to Catholic ears in Creator ahne sideriiin^ upon the throne; and voice of authorit}- has been Lticis Creator opflme, and fully one-half of the modulated b}' the sweet influence of the Muse. liturgical hymns. It is not sin-prising, then, that "the Chair of St. Peter,—the throne of thrones,—has been frequently HYMN TO ST. HERCULANUS, BISHOP AND MARTYR. filled bj- poets, main- of whom have been canonized I. as saints. It was the delight of St. Damasus to Hair Herculanus, prompt to aid. adorn the tombs of the martyrs in the catacombs Protector of th}' native State, with the poetical epitaphs still found upon them. Assist thy sons who now have made He also wrote poems in praise of virginity. The A hymn thj- Feast to celebrate. contributions of St Gregbiy the Great to the h)-mnic II. portions of the liturg\- are still better known. Pope Fierce Totila with Gothic horde Innocent HI is the author of that sublime invo­ Besieged Perugia's Avails and towers: cation, the VcJii Sancte Spiritus, and also, it is Their frozen shores, with one accord, said, of that hjann which has aroused such tender ' The}- left, to seize this land of ours. sentiments in the faithful heart, and inspired the genius-of the musician with such grand harmonies, III. the Siabat Mater. Popes Urban VIII and Alex­ Disaster reigned supreme, and grief; ander VII were also distinguished for their poetical No aid the straitened citj- found. compositions; and these are but a few of the Sover­ No friendly hand affords relief; eign Pontiifs whose brows have been adorned v.-ith With cries the citadels resound; the laurus -poetica. Our present Holy Father is walking in the foot­ But Herculanus, undismayed. steps-of-'distinguished predecessors. A late publi­ True pastor; thou'dost watchful stand; THE NOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC. 259 Thou cheeresc hearts thougii sore afraid, Late per umbram cerneres And dread dost banish from the land. Ardere colles ignibus. V. Urbisque ferri ad mcenia " Fight, sons, for your ancestral faith, Incessu et ore supplici And God's high altars! He will lead! Senes, \'iros cum matribus No hostile force our home shall scathe!" Longo puellas agmine. Thus spakest thou in direst need. VI. Ut ventum ubi ara Martyris Corusca lycnis emicat, Thej rally at thine ardent speech; Festiva turba civium Courage renewed pervades the town; Irrumpit ardens, clamjtat. " For God and country fight!" cries each, " Or, dying, earn a martyr's crown!" The third hj'^mn, written for the festival itself VII. of the same Saint, begins by giving a history of For seven years, at least, 'tis said. the various torments to which the martyr was The barbai'ous horde were kept at bay; subjected, and of the miracles which embarrassed Thy children nobly fought and bled the infernal malice of the torturers, at the same Like heroes of an earlier day. time that they attested the sanctity of the victim. It is written in a well-known Horatian metre, in­ VIII. troduced into hymnography in the Isie Confessor^ For thou wast leader. Thou didst fall so often sung at Vespers. The final v^erses will With faith no guile could undermine; give an idea of the style of the composition, at the On God with thy last breath didst call: same time that they reveal the exalted sentiments .A. truly glorious death was thine. of the author: IX. Dive, Pastorem tua in urbe quondam For when the city fell, by fraud.