Historical Notes 



7 



" Ferte Deo, pueri laudem, pia solvite vota, 

 Spargite flore solum, prsetexite limina sertis ; 

 Purpureum ver spiret hyems, sit floreus annus 

 Ante diem, sancto cedat natura diei^." 



Which has been rendered into EngHsh thus : — 



Sing praises to your God, ye youths, and pay your holy vows. 

 The floor with many flowers strew, the threshold bind with 

 boughs. 



Let Winter breathe a fragrance forth, like as the purple 

 Spring ; 



Let the young year, before the time, its floral treasures bring. 

 And nature yield to this great day, herself an offering." 



Likewise S. Jerome, in speaking of his friend 

 Nepotian, says ^^that his pious care for the Divine 

 worship was such, that he made flowers of many- 

 kinds, and the leaves of trees and the branches of 

 the vine, contribute to the beauty and ornament of 

 the Church." These things," continues S. Jerome, 

 " were indeed but trifling in themselves ; but a pious 

 mind, devoted to Christ, is intent upon small things 



2 Paulinus Natal. 3 ; Felicis Hieron. Ep. 3 ; Epitaph. Nepo- 

 tiam. Ed. Bened. tom. iv. 272. 



