SECOND HOMILY ON ST. LUKE I. 26.

ST. BERNARD, ABBOT OF CLAIRVAUX: XII. CENT. From the VII. and VIII. Lessons, in the Third Nocturn of Mattins, for the Third Day within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception. Translated (1879) by John, Marquess of Bute, in 'The Roman Breviary,' Vol. I. Winter.

'Rejoice, father Adam, and yet more thou mother Eve, ye that are the source of all, and the ruin of all, and the unhappy cause of their ruin before ye gave them birth. Be comforted both in your Daughter, and such a Daughter; but chiefly thou, O Woman, of whom the first evil came, and who has cast thy slur upon all women. The time is come for the slur to be taken away, and for the man to have nothing to say against the woman.

Wherefore, O Eve, betake thyself to Mary; mother betake thyself to thy Daughter; let the Daughter answer for the mother; let her take away her mother's reproach; let her make up to her father for her mother's fault; for if man be fallen by means of woman, it is by means of Woman that he is raised up again. What didst thou say, O Adam? "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." These are wrathful words by the which thou dost rather magnify than diminish thine offence. Nevertheless, Wisdom hath defeated thy malice. One woman answereth for another the Wise for the foolish; the Lowly for the proud; for her that gave thee of the tree of death, Another that giveth thee to taste of the Tree of Life. accuse the woman no more, but speak in thanksgiving, and say, "Lord, the Woman whom thou hast given me, she hath given me of the Tree of Life, and I have eaten." Behold, it was for this that the Angel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin, to the most worshipful of Women, a Woman more wonderful than all women, the Restorer of them that went before, and the Quickener of them that come after her.'

Wherefore

IN MEMORY OF

JOHN, MARQUESS OF BUTE,

Who, in addition to giving poetical and literary help,

generously expressed during his mortal sickness a wish, which has been loyally fulfilled by his Trustees, to defray the cost of its publication,

THIS VOLUME IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED

BY THE EDITOR.

HAIL, Holy Queen

Mother of Mercy, Hail

Our Life, Our Sweetness and our Hope

To thee do we cry

Poor banished Children of Eve

To thee do we send up our sighs
Mourning and weeping in this vale of tears
Turn then, most Gracious Advocate
Thine eyes of mercy towards us
And after this our exile, show unto us
The Blessed Fruit of thy Womb

JESUS

O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary
Pray for us, Holy Mother of God

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Preface.

A FULL and detailed statement of the object and intention of CARMINA MARIANA, of the plan and wish of the Editor, of the sources from which the collection of verse has been drawn and the materials which have been used, together with the methods and limitations adopted in the compilation, appeared in the Preface of the First Series. To this statement the reader of the Second Series is referred. It renders needless further discussion of such points, as the sources and materials in both volumes are similar, and the intention and plan which influenced the compiler are identical. The amount of English verse, however, whether old or new, whether original or translated, having our Lady for its august theme, which a quest pursued during nearly a score of years proves to be in existence, is far richer than had been anticipated, or indeed, than could be foreseen by one who had made no such search. A body of poetry -actually in extract or potentially in reference-was thus gradually collected by the Editor, larger than it was possible to reproduce in a single volume. This fact, emphasised by the sympathetic reception of the First Series both by reviewers and students, and the widespread interest evinced towards such a poetical tribute to the Blessed Virgin in the English tongue, encouraged an idea which had grown with the everincreasing growth of the poetical excerpts-the idea, namely, of publishing another instalment of sacred song in Mary's praise. The generosity, moreover, of many competent co-adjutors in aiding the compiler in various ways with the literary production of the book-if he may express his deep sense of individual obligations in vague and impersonal, but not ungrateful terms-has been very great, and has sensibly lightened his labours: whilst the spontaneous and unconditioned liberality of one munificent benefactor-offered after the MSS., in course of issue by subscription, had been placed in the hands of the printer-relieved the Editor from further anxiety on the score of finance. The result of this manysided co-operative action, both mental and material, of good and kind friends in honour of Mary may be found in the following pages.

For the right appreciation by the reader of the Allegorical and Mystical Poems, of the Love-Songs of the Elizabethan Age, and of other verse reprinted in the present volume, as well as on behalf of their authors, a few words of apologia seem to be desirable. The writers who have been consulted on the policy of such an addition to the contents of the Carmina, at the outset suggested some doubt as to the propriety of the inclusion of these poems. But after discussion, they either generously acquiesced in such inclusion, on the Editor's responsibility, or declared themselves satisfied with the explanation suggested. It is true, that more than one author affirmed that our Lady was not consciously contemplated during the creation of their work; or if present, that unique and indispensable Personality in our holy Religion was present only with vagueness and indefinitely. But it is also true that, in such verse, thoughts were conceived and words were employed by the writers which could hardly have been used if the