The “Sacrum Commercium” is a tissue of the words and phrases of St Jerome’s beautiful Latin version of Holy Scripture. Where so much is Biblical, I have had to a certain extent to adopt Biblical language, but I have striven earnestly to avoid those excesses of Archaism which irritate even the most equable nerves. With the help of Cardinal Hugo’s “Concordantiæ Sacrorum Bibliorum” (may his name live for ever!) I have endeavoured to give references to the principal quotations from Holy Writ. Some will assuredly have escaped me, and I shall be grateful to him who points out to me any omissions.
The reader must not forget that it was the Latin Vulgate which was used by the author of the “Sacrum Commercium.” To be faithful, therefore, I could not take my quotations straight from the “Authorised Version.” I have translated sometimes after my own fashion, sometimes with the help of the “Douay” version, but when the sense has allowed of it, I have gladly adopted the noble English of King James’ Bible.[17]
And now, lector humanissime, I am glad to have done with all these dry details, necessary perchance to a right understanding of the subject, and to leave thee free to hasten onward to the green Pastures and still Waters of one of the fairest of Mediæval Idylls. Feed in those fresh Pastures, dip in the restoring Waters: thou canst not but gather therefrom health and strength, life, and the Life to come; together with a right knowledge of the Past, a loving pity for the Present, and a valorous good resolution for the Future.
VALE!
M. C.
Livorno, 13th June 1901.
THE LADY POVERTY
“O amor di Povertade
La tua gran nobilitade