will show how curiously intricate could be his symbolism. Having spoken of the ineffable wonder of the Incarnation, he proceeds:
"Frondem, florem, nucem sicca
Virga profert, et pudica
Virgo Dei Filium.
Fert coelestem vellus rorem,
Creatura creatorem,
Creaturae pretium.
"Frondis, floris, nucis, roris
Pietati Salvatoris
Congruunt mysteria.
Frons est Christus protegendo,
Flos dulcore, nux pascendo,
Ros coelesti gratia."[1]
"A dry rod puts forth leafage, flower, nut,[2] and a chaste Virgin brings forth the Son of God. A fleece bears heavenly dew,[3] a creature the Creator, the creature's price.
"The mysteries of leafage, flower, nut, dew are suited to the Saviour's tender love (pietas). The foliage by its protecting is Christ, the flower is Christ by its sweetness, the nut as it yields food, the dew by its celestial grace."
One observes that here the symbolism first touches Christ's birth, the dry rod and the fleece representing the Virgin. Then the leafage, flower, nut and dew typify His qualities. The remaining stanzas of this hymn carry out in further detail the symbolism of the nut.
Besides the hymns devoted to the Saviour, the greater part of Adam's hymns are symbolical throughout. Those written for the dedication of churches are among the most interesting. One beginning "Quam dilecta tabernacula"[4] sketches the Old Testament facts which prefigure Christ's holy Church. The keynote is in the lines:
"Quam decora fundamenta
Per concinna sacramenta
Umbra praecurrentia!"
- ↑ Gautier, o.c. p. 10.
- ↑ The reference is to Aaron's rod in Numbers xvii.
- ↑ The reference is to Gideon's fleece, Judges vi. 37, which is a type of the Virgin Mary.
- ↑ Gautier, o.c. 1st ed., i. 155 (Migne 196, col. 1464). In his third edition, Gautier is doubtful of Adam's authorship of this hymn because of its irregular rhyme.
