Note 22 — Chapter IV · POETIC, OLD AND NEW (FIFTH TO SEVENTH CENTURIES)

An excellent introductory summary is that of Blume (article hymnody) in the Catholic Encyclopedia, which may also be consulted for Ambrose, etc., and for some of the greater hymns. Britt makes the best known Latin hymns available in one volume, with carefully selected translations, trustworthy ascriptions, biographical and bibliographical notes, indexes, and brief historical introduction. But this admirable work, though otherwise constantly useful, does not give for most of the hymns the earliest known text. This will be found, through the invaluable index of Mearns, in AH. Other references will be found in Britt’s preface.