The three parts of this hymn have been tv. into English as follows:— i. Ut queant laxis resonare fibris. 1. 0 that, once more, to sinful men descending, By T. I. Ball, in the 1863 Appendix to the H. Noted. In the Office II. Book, 1889, it is given as " 0 that to sinners once again descending." 2. Greatest of prophets, messenger appointed. By R. F. Littledale, in the 1860 Appendix to the H. Noted, in the Day Hours of the Church of England, 1864, and again in the People's H., 1867, with the signature " B." 3. 0 heavenly Father, cleanse our lips. By W. Cooke, in the Hymnary, 1872, with the signature "A. C. C." and again in Thring's Coll., 1882. 4. 0 for thy spirit, holy John, to chasten, Anonymous in the Antiphmer and Grail, 1880, and the Hymner, 1882. It is based upon W. J. Blew's tr. as below. Other trs. are:— 1. That thy rare doings, 0 S. John we pray thee. Primer. 1599. 2. That we thy servants may with joy declare. Primer. 1615. 3. That we with deep-tun'd strings may sound. Primer. 1685. 4. 0 sylvan Prophet, whose eternal Fame. Primer. 1706 and 1782. 5. That we with tuneful Notes may sound thy Life. Evening Office. 1760. 6. 0 for thy spirit, holy John, once more. W. J. Copeland. 1848. 7. Unloose, great Baptist, our sin-fetter'd lips. E. Caswall. 1849. 8. O for thy spirit, holy John, to chasten. IF. J. Blew. 1852-55. 9. That with glad voices, we thy matchless virtues. T. J. Potter in Catholic Psalmist. 1858. 10. In flowing measures worthily to sing. J. D. Chambers. 1866. 11. That we may worthy be in tuneful strain. J. Wallace. 1874. ii. Antra deserti teneris ab annis, 1. In caves of the lone wilderness thy youth. By E. Caswall, in his Lyra Catholica, 1849, p. 156; his Hys. <f Poems, 1873, p. 85, and a few Roman Catholic hymn-books for Missions and Schools. 2. Thou, young in years, in desert caverns hidest. By T. I. Ball, in the 1863 Appendix to the H. Noted. In the Office Hy. Book, 1889, it is greatly altered as, "Thou, in the wilds,thy tender years art hiding." 3. Thou in thy childhood to the desert caverns. Anon, in the Antiphoner and Grail, 1880, and the Hymner, 1882. Other trs. are:— 1. From noisy crowds your early years Recess. Primer. 1706. 2. In tenderest years withdrawn from haunts of men. W. J. Copeland. 1848. 3. In the lone desert, to the caves and coverts. W. J. Blew. 1852-55. 4. Thou in the desert caves thy tender youth. J. D. Chambers. 1866. 5. Thy childhood's home the desert was. J. Wallace. 1874. iii. O nimis felix meritique celsi. 1. 0 blessed saint, of snow-white purity. By E. Caswall, in his Lyra Catholica, 1849, p. 158, and his Hys. fy Poems, 1873, p. 86. It is given in a few collections. In Hys. for the Year, 1867, it begins, " O Saint of snow-white purity." 2. O Messed saint of high renown and honour. By R. F. Littledale, in the Day Hours of the Church of England, 1864, and the People's II., 1867, where it is signed " B." 3. 0 more than blessed, merit high attaining. VAN ALSTYNE, F. J. 1203 Anon, in the Antiphoner and Grail, 1880, and the Hymner, 1882. Altered in the Office II. Book, 1889, to " O Saint most blessed, merit high attaining." Other trs. are:— 1. Hail Prince of Prophets, Prince of Martyrs, hail. Primer. 1706. 2. O, all too blest, and of transcendent worth. W. J. Copeland. 1848. 3. Baptist thrice blessed, John august and holy. W. J. Blew. 1852-55. 4. Most blest, most excellent in holiness. J. D. Chambers. 1866. 5. Thrice happy, thou exalted saint. J. Wallace. 1874- [J. J.]
V
V. In the New Golden Shower, N. Y., 1870, i.e. Mrs. Van Alstyne.
Vain are the hopes the sons of men. I. Watts. [Justification by Faith.] Pub. in his Hys. and S. Songs, 1709, Bk. i., No. 94, in 4 st. of 4 1., and headed "Justification by Faith, not by Works; or, The Law condemns, Grace justifies, Rom. iii. 19-22." In the Draft of the Scottish Translations and Paraphrases, 1745, it was given unaltered; in that of 1751 it was slightly changed; and in the authorised issue of the Trs. and Paraphs., 1781, No. xli., st. i., ii. wore rewritten, but began with the original first line as above; st. iii. was taken from the Draft of 1751; and st. iv. unaltered from Watts. In the markings by the eldest daughter of W. Cameron (p. 200, ii.) these alterations are attributed to him. The use of the 1781 form of the text is far more extensive than that of the original. [J. J.]
Van Alstyne, Frances Jane, nee Crosby, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was b. at South East, Putnam County, New York, March 24, 1823. When six weeks old she lost her sight. About 1835 she entered the New York City Institution for the Blind. On completing her training she became a teacher therein from 1847 to 1858. In 1858 she was married to Alexander Van Alstyne, a musician, who was also blind. Her first poem was pub. in 1831; and her first volumes of verse as A Blind Girl, and Other Poems, 1844; Monteresy, and Other Poems, 1849; and A Wreath of Columbia's Flowers, 1858. Her first hymn was "We are going, we are going " (Death and Burial), which was written for Mr. Bradbury and pub. in the Golden Censer, 1864. From 1853 to 1858 she wrote 20 songs, which were set to music by G. F. Boot. Her songs and hymns number some 2,000 or more, and have been published mainly in several of the popular American Sunday school collections, and often under a nom de plume. About 60 have come into C. U. in G. Britain. The majority of these are taken from the following American collections:— i. From The Shining Star, 1864. 1. Softly on the breath of evening. Evening. ii. From Fresh Laurels, 1867. 2. Beautiful Mansions, home of the blest. Heaven. 3. Jesus the Water of Life has given. The Water of Life. 4. Light and Comfort of my soul. In Affliction. 4 II
