TRANSLATED BY
FRANCES ELIZABETH COX
“Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp.”
Ps. lvii. 9.
LONDON
WILLIAM PICKERING
MDCCCXLI
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND
EDWARD, LORD BISHOP OF SALISBURY,
AND TO HIS EXCELLENCY
CHARLES CHRISTIAN BUNSEN,
ETC. ETC. ETC.
ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY OF HIS PRUSSIAN MAJESTY
TO THE HELVETIC CONFEDERATION,
(FROM WHOSE COLLECTION THESE HYMNS ARE TAKEN,)
THIS LITTLE VOLUME
IS BY PERMISSION RESPECTFULLY AND
GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED.
Germany, since the time of the Reformation,has always had its sacred poets,whose hymns have formed a beautiful substitutefor the Latin ones of the Roman ritual. Englishliterature, on the contrary, till of late years, hasproduced scarcely any devotional pieces, withthe exception of the impressive hymn introducedinto our Ordination service, and those few subjoinedto the old version of the Psalms. BishopKen set the example of a more elegant style ofsacred song, and latterly there has been no lackof compositions of the kind, tinged more or lessby the theological school and religious bias of thewriters.
The Hymns contained in this little volume varyin date from the Reformation to the present day;they are taken from the large and interesting collectionof Chevalier Bunsen, and it is hoped thatthe translations will be found to give not only a[008]faithful version, but, as far as the English languagewill admit, a close expression of the styleand character of the originals, the metres havingbeen retained, in order to keep up the resemblanceas much as possible.
One chief characteristic is their great simplicity;and surely, even in these days of refinementand laxity, there are still many ‘true of heart,’who can appreciate pious thoughts clothed insimple verse; and if these Hymns should occasionallyawaken a holy train of reflection, or comfortan afflicted soul, or cause but a few hearts toexpand with love for their Redeemer, the pleasurewhich has been experienced in translating themwill be followed by heart-felt gratitude to Him,who can so bless the humblest efforts, as to causethem, in some degree, to advance his glory.
Das ist der Herr, auf den wir harren:
Dass wir uns freuen und fröhlich sein in seinem Heil.
Auf! auf! weil der Tag erschienen,
Der uns muss zur Freude dienen;
Auf! es kommt des Herren Jahr,
Das der frommen Alten Schaar
Mit so sehnlichem Verlangen
Hat erwartet, hergegangen;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Nunmehr ist die Zeit erwachet,
Da die Tochter Zion lachet,
Da sie jauchzt und jubilirt,
Weil sie dessen Nähe spürt,
Der ihr Bräutigam und König,
Ob ihn gleich erkennen w