The literature of the Highlanders : $b a history of Gaelic literature from the earliest times to the present dayMacNeill, Nigel
History
The literature of the Highlanders : $b a history of Gaelic literature from the earliest times to the present day
MacNeill, Nigel
Scottish Gaelic literature -- History and criticism
The ancient Christian Scots had their own saints, to whom they were
naturally attached as the fathers of their Church. The names of
Patrick, Columba, and others, as well as of Brigit constantly occur
in these Latin Hymns. Brigit comes next in importance to Patrick in
Hibernian hagiology. Ultán’s hymn in praise of her begins with these
words, “Christus in nostra insola que uscatur hibernia;” and towards
the end, the “angelic and most holy Brigit” in all her wondrous works
of power, is spoken of as “like unto the holy Mary.” We have only
fragments of this poem. It appears to have been originally composed,
like Sechnall’s and several others in these MSS., in the A B C style,
with a stanza for each letter of the alphabet. There is another
found in the beginning of an old Celtic copy of the Greek Psalter,
in praise of Brigit, whose feast day is also celebrated in another,
“Phœbi diem.” The feast day of Patrick has also its celebration hymn,
beginning thus: “Lo, the solemn feast day of Patrick is shining most
brightly.”
The hymn “In Te Christe” is one of the three attributed to Columba,
and bears in some places the stamp of his majestic spirit. The
“Ignis Creator igneus” starts with the conception of the Paschal
candle, and proceeds to describe the columns of smoke and flame
which guided Israel out of Egypt. A few of the metrical compositions
in the Bangor Antiphonary have a more local and historical than a
devotional interest, such as the “Good Rule of Bangor,” and the
commemoration of the abbots of that place, already referred to. The
name of Comgall, the head of the monastery, who died in 602, occurs,
as also Molaisran, or Molio of the Holy Isle, Arran, who died in 639.
There is an evening hymn beginning with “Christe qui Lux es” and a
Pentecostal one about the Apostles, with the initial words “Christi,
Patris in dextera.” There is one hymn, and only one, in the group in
praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Cantemus in omni die.”
Metrical translations of seven, in whole or in part, of these hymns
are given here, to indicate the general character of the devotional
portions of the group. The one beginning with the words: “Precamur
Patrem” has not had any date assigned it, but judging by internal
evidence, it appears to belong to the era of Patrick. It contains
one hundred and sixty-eight lines; starting with an address to the
Lord’s Day, it proceeds to give an abstract of the life of Christ. A
comparison made between the beginning of the physical and that of the
spiritual creation, is worked out in somewhat original fashion. In
the following verses the Lord and His Own Day are contrasted as the
first-born children of light:
PRECAMUR PATREM.
We worship Thee, Almighty King:
To God the Father praise we bring;
To Jesus, Saviour of the lost;
And to the Blessed Holy Ghost.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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