Footnote 94:[(return)]
"Ecclesiam, tuam, Domine, benignus illustra, ut beati Johannis Apostoli tui et evangelistæ illuminata doctrinis, ad dona perveniat sempiterna. Per Dominum."—Husen. H. p. 243.
II. The second stage supplies examples of a kind of rhetorical apostrophe; the speaker addressing one who was departed as though he had ears to hear. Were not this the foundation stone on which the rest of the edifice seems to have been built, we might have passed it by unnoticed. Of this we have an instance in the address to the Shepherds on Christmas-day. "Whom have ye seen, ye shepherds? Say ye, tell ye, who hath appeared on the earth? Say ye, what saw ye? Announce to us the nativity of Christ[95]."
Footnote 95:[(return)]
Quem vidistis, Pastores? Dicite, Annunciate nobis. In terris quis apparuit? Dicite quidnam vidistis? Et annunciate Christi nativitatem.—H. 219.
Another instance is seen in that beautiful song ascribed to Prudentius and used on the day of Holy Innocents:
"Hail! ye flowers of Martyrs." [Salvete flores martyrum. H. 249.]
It is of the same character with other songs, said to be from the same pen, in which the town of Bethlehem is addressed, and even the Cross.
"O Thou of mighty cities." [O sola magnarum urbium. H. 306.]
"Bend thy boughs, thou lofty tree...." [Flecte ramos arbor alta, &c. Aut. 344.]
"Worthy wast thou alone