按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Tr。 by Kroeger。
FROM THE CRUSADERS' HYMN。
Sweet love of Holy Spirit Direct sick mind and steer it； God； who the first didst rear it； Protect thou Christendom。 It lies of pleasure barren No rose blooms more in Sharon； Comfort of all th' ill…starren； Oh！ help dispel the gloom！ Keep； Savior； from all ill us！ We long for the bounding billows； Thy Spirit's love must thrill us； Repentant hearts' true friend。 Thy blood for us thou'st given； Unlocked the gates of heaven。 Now strive we as we've striven To gain the blessed land。 Our wealth and blood grows thinner； God yet will make us winner Gainst him； who many a sinner Holds pawne'd in his hand。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 God keep thy help us sending； With thy right hand aid lending； Protect us till the ending When at last our soul us leaves； From hell…fires； flaming clamor Lest we fall 'neath the hammer！ Too oft we've heard with tremor； How pitiably it grieves The land so pure and holy All helplessly and fearfully！ Jerusalem； weep lowly； That thou forgotten art！ The heathen's boastful glory Put thee in slavery hoary。 Christ； by thy name's proud story In mercy take her part！ And help those sorely shaken Who treaties them would maken That we may not be taken And conquered at the start。
Tr。 by Kroeger。
When from the sod the flowerets spring； And smile to meet the sun's bright ray； When birds their sweetest carols sing； In all the morning pride of May； What lovelier than the prospect there？ Can earth boast any thing more fair？ To me it seems an almost heaven； So beauteous to my eyes that vision bright is given。
But when a lady chaste and fair； Noble； and clad in rich attire； Walks through the throng with gracious air； As sun that bids the stars retire； Then； where are all thy boastings； May？ What hast thou beautiful and gay； Compared with that supreme delight？ We leave thy loveliest flowers； and watch that lady bright。
Wouldst thou believe me；come and place Before thee all this pride of May； Then look but on my lady's face； And which is best and brightest say： For me； how soon （if choice were mine） This would I take； and that resign； And say； 〃Though sweet thy beauties； May； I'd rather forfeit all than lose my lady gay！〃
Tr。 by Taylor。
The Minnesingers wrote many songs in praise of the Virgin。 She was the embodiment of pure womanhood； their constant object of devotion。 The following extracts are taken from a hymn to the Virgin； formerly attributed to Gottfried von Strassburg。 It is one of the greatest of the Minnesongs。 It consists of ninety…three stanzas； of which six are given。
Stanza 1。 Ye who your life would glorify And float in bliss to God on high； There to dwell nigh His peace and love's salvation； Who fain would learn how to enroll All evil under your control； And rid your soul Of many a sore temptation； Give heed unto this song of love； And follow its sweet story。 Then will its passing sweetness prove Unto your hearts a winge'd dove And upward move Your souls to bliss and glory。
Stanza 12。 Ye fruitful heavens； from your ways Bend down to hear the tuneful lays I sing in praise Of her； the sainted maiden； Who unto us herself has shown A modest life； a crown and throne； Whose love has flown O'er many a heart grief…laden。 Thou too； O Christ； thine ear incline To this my adoration； In honor of that mother thine Who ever blest must stay and shine； For she's the shrine Of God's whole vast creation。
Stanza 19。 Thou sheen of flowers through clover place； Thou lignum aloe's blooming face； Thou sea of grace； Where man seeks blessed landing。 Thou roof of rapture high and blest； Through which no rain has ever passed； Thou goodly rest； Whose end is without ending。 Thou to help…bearing strength a tower Against all hostile evils。 Thou parriest many a stormy shower Which o'er us cast in darkest hour； The hell worm's power And other ruthless devils。
Stanza 20。 Thou art a sun； a moon； a star； 'Tis thou can'st give all good and mar； Yea； and debar Our enemies' great cunning。 That power God to thee hath given That living light； that light of heaven： Hence see we even Thy praise from all lips running。 Thou' st won the purest； noblest fame； In all the earth's long story； That e'er attached to worldly name； It shineth brightly like a flame； All hearts the same Adore its lasting glory。
Stanza 82。 To worship； Lady； thee is bliss； And fruitful hours ne'er pass amiss To heart that is So sweet a guest's host…mansion。 He who thee but invited hath Into his heart's heart love with faith； Must live and bathe In endless bliss…expansion。 To worship thee stirs up in man A love now tame； now passion。 To worship thee doth waken； then Love e'en in those love ne'er could gain； Thus now amain Shines forth thy love's concession。
From praising Mary； the poet passes to praising Christ。
Stanza 59。 Thou cool； thou cold； thou warmth； thou heat； Thou rapture's circle's central seat； Who does not meet With thee stays dead in sadness； Each day to him appears a year； Seldom his thoughts wear green bloom's gear； He doth appear Forever without gladness。 Thou art most truly our heart's shine Our sun wide joy…inspiring； A sweet heart's love for all that pine； For all the sad a joyful shrine； A spring divine For the thirsty and desiring。
Tr。 by Kroeger。
CHAPTER V。 ITALIAN LITERATURE。
There was no folk poetry and no popular literature in Mediaeval Italy。 There were two reasons for this： （1） Italian history； political and intellectual； attaches itself very closely to that of Rome。 The traditions of classic learning never died out。 Hence the Italian nation was always too learned； too literary to develop a folk literature。 （2） Italy was for many centuries dominated by ecclesiastical influence； and the people's minds were full of matters of religious and scholastic philosophy； which excluded art。
The Italians translated and adapted some of the epics； romances； and tales of other countries； during the earlier years of the Middle Ages； but they were written in Latin； or in a kind of French。 They produced none of their own。 There was no literature written in Italian before the thirteenth century。
In the thirteenth century （1250） there came the first outburst of Italian literaturereligious songs； love songs； dramas； and tales。 In almost every part of Italy men began to write。 But it was in Tuscany； in Florence； that the most remarkable literary development of this period appeared。 It was of the nature chiefly of lyric and allegoric poetry。 The work of this group of Tuscan poets was really the beginning of Italian literary art。 Yet it was a finished art product； not at all like the beginnings of poetry in other countries。
The group numbered a dozen poets of considerable power and skill。 The greatest of them and the greatest of Italian poets was Dante Alighieri。 In Italian mediaeval literature three names stand out far above all others。 They are Dante； Petrarch； and Boccaccio。 So completely do they overshadow their contemporaries； that in making our selection of Italian literature we shall confine ourselves entirely to these three。
Dante Alighieri was born at Florence； in May； 1266； and died at