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Thu 28 Jul, 2005 06:05 pm
Hi, I'm a musician / composer taking a choir to Rome later this year. I really want to find a pithy Latin poem to set to music for them - preferably a hymn to the city of Rome. After much searching I've found this nice little poem by Alcuin of York (735-804):
His solidata fides, his est tibi, Roma, cantenis
simplicio nunc ipse dedit sacra iura tenere.
Libera semper eris: quid enim non vincula praestent,
quae tetigit, qui cuncta potest absolvere? cuius
haec invicta manus vel relligiosa triumpho
moenia non ullo pentius quateintur ab hoste.
Cluadit iter bellis, qui portam pandit in astris.
By these, by these chains, O Rome, Thou art strong,
Thy faith more absolute against the wrong.
For ever thou art free: what bonds avail
When he hath touched them who absolveth all?
That heart unconquered and these solemn walls
Shall stand, shaken it may be, not destroyed
By any trampling of the hosts of hate.
That road is closed to war, whose gate
Stands open to the stars.
It's pretty good I think - but I just wondered if you knew of any other poems that might fit the bill.
Many thanks,
Jim