166 
JOUKNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
A part of this poem is included by Pabricius in his collection of 
the "Early Latin Christian Poets," published in 1564, and Shirley 
may have met with it there. 
The beginning of a poetical epistle to Felix, Bishop of Nantes 
(Misc. iii. 9), affords a good example of the best verse of For- 
tunatus. The grand Easter hymn, Salve Festa Dies," is a cento 
taken from this poem. 
" The spring is blushing, decked with new-born flowers, 
And broader light streams through heaven's open gate : 
The fiery sun climbs higher up the sky ; 
From ocean rising, in its waves he sets, 
His beams upon the rij)pling waters shine. 
Now nights grow short, he lengthens out the day ; 
The brilliant skies make Nature's face look calm. 
And the clear weather testifies her joy. 
The willing earth pours forth its various gifts. 
And all its vernal wealth the year displays. 
Sweet violet beds with purple tinge the lawn ; 
The meadows green are thick with quivering blades ; 
In many a field the springing corn appears, 
And gives the farmer hope of full return. 
From its pierced stem the vine sheds tears of joy, 
And water yields where wine one day shall flow ; 
From out the sheltering bark the swelling buds 
Rise through the tender down and burst their folds. 
The copse, stripped bare by tempests, now renews 
Its leafy covering, growing freshly green ; 
Leaving the hive, the bee among the flowers 
Goes murmuring, gathering honey in its thigh ; 
The birds awake to song again, erewhile 
Made sad and silent by the winter frost. 
Behold, the beauty of the world new born 
Shows every gift returning with its Lord." 
This kind of description of the revival of the earth in spring con- 
tributing to the gladness of Easter, and being a sort of symbol of 
the joy and glory of the resurrection, is very common among the 
mediaeval poets ; but there is perhaps no more picturesque example 
of it than this, the earliest of all ; and, certainly, nothing can be 
finer than the outburst which succeeds — 
Salve festa dies toto venerabilis aevo, 
Qua Deus infernum vicit et astra tenet." 
It is curious, however, that the Christian poet, in his acclamation 
of the greatest of Christian festivals, should be found an imitator 
