Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-02-19
DIES IRE.
[From the Norfolk Journal

- 81 DIES IRE. E1 '7s=.
from the Norfolk Journal
We transfer to our columns from the Round
robe an eclectric or compiled translation of the
smous old Monkish hymn, Dies Irae. This
lcric is Justly regarded as one Of the sublimeSt
n the Latin or any language. 1t was written
abont the year A. D: 1850, by Monk named
Thomas Of the Order Of ST. Francis, who was
horn at Celauo, Neapolitan village: and thus
for six hundred years in fragments or as a
whole, among Catholics and Protestants, it
has given expression to the devout feelings OF
the pious heart, amid the solitude and sanctlty
of Monkish cell and convent chapel, or AMID
the august pomp and divine music OF splendid
churches and Catbedrals. 1t forms Sequence
f,r the Dead in the Catholic Burial service, and
NAV Therefore be heard at high Mass In any OF
our churches; but it is only, IN the Slstlne
Chapel OF ST. Peters that this magnificent
and awful grandeur.
Mozart, Haydn, Schegel, Scott, Macaulay
and others have attempted its translation but
Individually have failed Perhaps no one
human composition ever engaged the labors
and bafhed the skill Of so many scholars as this
ancient but simple hymn A German theolo--
pian, Lisco of Berlin, in lS45, collected and
published eighty seven versions IN the German
language '.,-..:
The task Of rendering it into English verse
il more difficult even than in the German, be-
cause of the comparative poverty OF our tongue
in double rhymes and compound words, essen
tial TO the trochaic measure Of the original
No translation can therefore be considered
even an approximation without thus conform
ing to the rhythmic quantities OF the Latin.
since the music of the Dies lrae is as ancient. It
not older than the words of the hymn, and tor
centuries the two have been welded IN thought
and association.
To escape this difficulty, there have been
several translations in single rhyme, of which
Mr. Slosson's is, perhaps, the most correct,
but liable to the grave objection just mention
ed Among so many versions, it is natural to
suppose that with many strong and accurate
individual stanzas, we should hnd many very
weak and incorrect No one translator has
succeeded as a whole, whilst many have rem
dered portions we'll The translation that we
publish to-day, is, therefore, compiled or sepa-
rate stanzas from many, and is not, therefore,
the work of any one brain.
The text upon which is based this noble
lyric, is found in the 18th and 10th verses Of
the chapter of Zepbaniah, and is thus rendered
in King James's translation of the Bible
THAT day, day Of wrath "a day. .of trouble
and distress, day of wastenesS and desolatlon,
8 day of darkness and gloominess,a day otcouds
and thick dark ness, a day OF the trumpet and
alarm, against the fenced cities, and against
the high towers.
We close our notice of this hymn by recall
ing to our readers few lines at the close OF
Sir Walter Scotts Lay of the Last Min
strel,'' which, 10 strength, vividness, and spir-
it, surpass anything Of the kind in our Ian
guage: ...... .... .
The mass was sung, and prayers were said,
And solemn requiem for the dead;
And bells tolled out their mighty p al,
For the departed spirits veal;
And ever in the office close,
The hymn of inte: cessi0n rose;
And far the echoi aisles prolong
The awful burthen of the song
Dies Irae, Dies lila
Solvet saeclun in favilla;
Whilst the pealing organ rung,
Thus the holy Fathers sung
from the Round Tablet
Day of wrath that day of burning,
Seer and sibyl speak concerning,
All the world to ashes turning.
II. ..
Oh, what fear of wrath impending,
When the Judge is seen descending,
Inquisition strict Intending.
III.
Wondrous sound the trumpet Aingeth,
Thro' earth's sepulchres 1t rlngeth,
All before the throne it bringeth!
".
Death and nature, mazed, are qusking.
Wen, the graves long sumber breaking
Man to judgment is awaking
Y.
Lo. the book, exactly wo1ded
Wherein all nath been recorded;
Thence shall judgment be awarded.
VI.
When the,Judge his seat attainetb,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.
VII
What shall T, frail man. be pleading,
Who for me be intercedlng,
When the just are mercy needing
VIII.
Awful Monarch of Creation!
Saving without compe sation,
Save me, Fountain of Salvation!
TX.
Think, dear Lord am the reason
Thou did st bear esrth's spite and treason;
Lose not me in that dread season.
Faint and weary thou hast sought me,
On the cross of suffer n g bought me:
Shall such grace be yanly brought me!
XI
Righteous Judge of Retribution!
Make me gift of absolution,
Ere that day of executionl
XII
AS culprit see me moaning,
Redd' ming brows my errors owning
Spare o God, thy suppliant, grooming.
NIL
Thou the sinful woman savest, .. ...
Thou the dying thief forgavest;