352 ADVENT. 



DEC. 17. St.Olympias, widow, A.D, 410. 

 St. Begga, widow and abbess, 698. 



Saturnalia. — Julian Cal. 



Obs. St. Olympias, the glory of the widows in the eastern church, was 

 a lady of illustrious descent and a plentiful fortune. She was horn about the 

 year 368. The devil assailed her by many trials, which God permitted for the 

 exercise and perfecting of her virtue ; frequent severe sicknesses, most outra- 

 geous slanders, and unjust persecutions, succeeded one another. She died in 

 her snfterings, and, deserving to receive the recompense due to holy and 

 faithful servants, enjoyed the ttlory of heaven among the saints. 



St. IJegga was daughter of Peppin of L.anden, sister to St. Gertrude of 

 Nivelle. She founded the Beguines. 



White Cedar Cupressus Thyoides fr. 



The Pines and Cedars seem to have been marked down on certain days, ag if 

 the young winter frondescence had been first observed on those days ; we can 

 discover no other reason. The White Cedar is a native of more southern 

 climes than our own, but will grow very well in our gardens. 



The ancient custom still preserved at the College of Our Ladv at Winchester 

 of singing the DulceDomum, though it takes place before the Wnitsun holidays, 

 may equally well be sung now, when scholars are soing home to spend Christ- 

 mas. The song is simple and beautiful, and is as follows : 



Concinamus, O Sodales 



Eja! quid silemus ? 

 Nobile canticum ! 

 Dnlce melos, domum I 



Dulce domum resoneraus ! 



CAon«,— Domum, domum, dulce domnm! 



Appropinquat ecce I felix 



Hora gaudiorum, 

 Post grave tedium 

 Advenit omnium 



Meta petita laborum. 



Domum, domum, &c. 



Musa! libros mitte, fessa; 



Mitto pensa dura 

 Mitte, negotium 

 Jam datur otium 



Me mea mettito cura. 

 Domun), &c, 



Ridet annus prata rident 



Nosque rideamus 

 Jam repetat Domum 

 Danlias advena 



Nosque domum repetamas. 

 Domum, &c. 



Heus Roeere fercabellos 



Eja nunc eamus 

 I.imen amabile 

 Matris et oscula 



Sauviter et repetamus. 

 Domum, &c. 



Concinamus ad Penates, 



Vox et audiatur; 

 Phosphore I quid jubar, 

 Segnms emicans, 



Gaudia nostra moratnr. 



Domum, domnm, &c. 



A translation of this sonn occurs in the Gent. Mag. for March i"96, rol. hvi. 

 p. 209. See also Gent. Mag. for Dec. 1811, vol. lixxi. p. 603. 



