Читать книгу Best Loved Hymns and Readings - Martin Manser - Страница 28

This hymn was written by the Italian Bianco da Siena. He trained originally as an apprentice in wool in Siena and at 17 became a member of a mystic lay order that followed St Augustine’s rule. He was the author of several hymns. This particular hymn, a favourite choice for weddings, asks the Holy Spirit to fill the hearts of the faithful with a deep sense of God’s presence. It owes its modern popularity to the tune (‘Down Ampney’) composed for this hymn by the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Come down, O love divine,

Seek Thou this soul of mine,

And visit it with Thine own ardour glowing.

O comforter, draw near,

Within my heart appear,

And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn,

Till earthly passions turn

To dust and ashes in its heat consuming;

And let Thy glorious light

Shine ever on my sight,

And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity

Mine outward vesture be,

And lowliness become mine inner clothing;

True lowliness of heart,

Which takes the humbler part,

And o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong,

With which the soul will long,

Shall far outpass the power of human telling;

For none can guess its grace,

Till he become the place

Wherein the Holy Spirit makes His dwelling.

Bianco da Siena (c.1350-1434)