THE MOVEABLE FESTIVALS. 379 



served, at least from the fourth or fifth century, and probably long' 



before, with a fast of precept, in order to prepare the faithful for the 



descent of the Holy Ghost. This is expressly mentioned in the 



sacramentaries of Pope Gelasius and St. Leo. 



Whitsuntide is called Rose Easter, that beautiful tribe being 



usually now in blow ; but we might as well call Easter, Daffodil 



Whitsuntide. The genus Narcissus blowing as abundantly about 



the feast of Our Lord's Resurrection, as the genus Rosa does about 



his Ascension. 



Hymnus in festo Pentacost, 



Veiii, Creator Spiritus, 



Mentes tuorum visita, • 



Imple supenia gratia, 



Quae tu creasti, pectora. 



Qui tliceris Paraclitus, 



Altissimi dOQum Dei, 



Foils vivus, ignis, Chaiitas, 



Et spiritalis unctio. 



Tu scptiformis munere, 



Digitus Paternae dexterae, 



Tu rit^ pioniissuni P.itris, 



Sermoue ditans guttuia. 



Accende lumen sensibns, 



Iiifuiide amorem cordibus, 



lufiriua iiostri corporis 



Virtute finnans perpeti. 



Hostem repellas longius, 



Paceiiique dones protinus : 



Ductore sic te pracvio 



Viteinus omne noxiain. 



Per te sciainus da Patreiii, 



Noscainus atque Filiusn ; 



Teque iitriusque Spirituni 



Credauius oiniii tempore. 



Deo Patri sit gloria, 



£t Filio, qui a mortuis 



Surrexit, ac Paraclito, 



111 saeculoi'uni saecula. 



Hymmis alter in Bom. Pentacost. 

 lam Cliristus astia ascenderat, 

 Revetsus unde venerat, 

 Patris fruendum munere 

 •Sanctum datunis Spirituni, 

 Solemnis ur^ebat dies. 

 Quo tnystico septemplici 

 Orbis volutus septies. 

 Signal beata tempora. 

 Cum lucis liora tertia 

 Kepenti Mnndus intonat, 

 Apostolis oraiitibus 

 Deum venire nuntiat. 

 De Patris ergo lumine 

 Decorus ignis almus est. 

 Qui fida Ohristi pectora 

 Calore verbi compleat. 

 Impleta gaudent viscera, 

 Afilata saiicto .Spiritu, 

 Vocesque diversas sonant, 

 Fantur Dei magnalia. 

 Notique cunclis Gentibus, 

 Graecis, Latinis, Barbaris, 



