THE MOVEABLE FESTIVALS. 371 



Willows are substituted for real Palm boughs, and, together with a 

 few Evergreen boughs, are blessed and distributed to the congrega- 

 tion. Hence to day was called Dominica in Ramis Palmarum. 

 The custom is derived from the Palm boughs strewed on the road 

 when Our Lord entered Jerusalem riding on an Ass. Hospinian 

 thus alludes to this feast in his Origines : 



Hinc venit alma dies qua Christus dicitur urbem 

 Iiigressus Solymara dorso gestatus aselli. 



It seems that many of the Willows are always to be found in 

 flower on this day, even when the moveable feasts occur early. 

 When they occur late, the Willows are nearly in leaf. 



There was once a ceremony practised this day of drawing along 

 a wooden Ass, in memory of that whereon Christ rode into 

 Jerusalem. 



The following is the ancient hymn for Palm Sunday, and sung at 



Laudes. There is another for Matins, which we have not inserted, 



as it is printed in the Prayer Books, beginning Pange Lirgu 



Gloriosi, &c. : 



Hymnus ad Dominica Palmarum. 



Lvstra sex qui .jam pcre^it 

 Tenipus impleiis corporis, 

 Spoiitt libera redeniptor 

 Passioni deditus, 

 Agnus in Cnicis levatur 

 Inimolaudus stipite. 

 Felle potus ecce languet, 

 Spina, clavi, lancea 

 ftlite corpus perforarunt : 

 Vnda nianar & cruor : 

 Terra, pontus, astra, JIundus, 

 Quo lavantur fluniine ! 

 Cnix fiiielis inter omncs 

 Arbor una nolulis : 

 Silva talem nulla profert 

 Fronde, llore, geiinine . 

 Duke t'errum, duke lignum, 

 Duice pondus siistinent. 

 Flecte ramos arbor aita, 

 Tensa laxa viscera, 

 Et rigor lentescai ille, 

 Queiii dedit nativitas j 

 Et superni membra Kegi= 

 Tende niiti stipite. 

 Sola digna tu tuisti 

 Fen e Muudi Victimani ; 

 Atque portum praeparare 

 .■^rca mundo nautrago, 

 Quam sacerciuor peruiixit, 

 Fusus Agni corpore. 

 Sempiterna sit beatae 

 Trinitati gloria, 

 Aequa Patri, Filioque : 

 Par decus Paraclito : 

 Uiiius, Tiinique nomen 

 Laudet universitas.— Anim. 



