Nox, et tenebrae, et nubila. Prudentius. [Wednesday and Thursday.] This hymn is found in a manuscript of the 5th century, in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris (8084 f. 3 6.), and is given in all editions of Prudentius's works, including Aurelii Prudentii Clementis V. C, Opera Omnia, London, 1824, vol. i. p. 61, where it is given with notes. It is No. ii. of the Cathemerinon, and extends to 72 lines. At a very early date it was divided into two hymns, the first beginning as above, and the second, "Lux ecce surgit aurea.” Each of these must be taken in detail.
i. Nox, et tenebrae, et nubila. [Wednesday Morning.] This is found in four manuscripts of the 11th century, in the British Museum (Jul. A. vi. f. 266; Vesp. D. xii., f. 18; Harl. 2961, f. 2226; Add. 30848 f. 77), and is printed in the Latin Hymns of the Anglo-Saxon Church, 1851, from an 11th century manuscript at Durham (B. iii. 32, f. 7). It is found in most of the older Breviaries, as the Sarum, Roman, York, Aberdeen, &c. The text is also in Mone, No. 276; Daniel i. No. 104; in Card. Newman's Hymni Ecclesiae 1838 and 1865, &c. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
Translations in common use:—
1. Lo, night and clouds and darkness wrapp'd. By Bishop Mant, in his Ancient Hymns from the Roman Breviary, 1837, p. 15 (edition 1871, p. 29). This is given with alterations in the Hymnary, 1872.
2. The pall of night o'ershades the earth. By E. Caswall, in his Lyra Catholica, 1849, p. 26, and again in his Hymns, &c, 1873, p. 16.
3. Ye glooms of night, ye clouds and shade. By J. D. Chambers, in his Psalter, 1852, p. 208, and his Lauda Syon, 1857, p. 21. This is repeated in the Peoples Hymnal, 1867.
4. Hence, night and clouds that nighttime brings. By J. M. Neale, in the enlarged edition of the Hymnal Noted, 1854; and the Hymner, 1882. In Skinner's Daily Service Hymnal, 1864, the hymn "O gloom of night and clouds and shade," is an altered form of this translation with portions borrowed from the tr. by J. D. Chambers.
5. Night and darkness cover all. By H. Bonar. in the 2nd Series of his Hymns of Faith & Hope, 1864. This is in Nicholson's Appendix Hymnal, 1866.
Other translations are:—
1. Night and darkness, and thick cloud. Hymnarium Anglicanum, 1844.
2. Shade, and cloud, and lowering night. Bishop J. Williams, 1845.
3. Night and clouds in darkness sailing. W. J. Copeland, 1848.
4. Swift as shadows of the night. R. Campbell, 1850, and Shipley's Annus Sanctus, 1884.
5. Haunting gloom and flitting shades. Card. Newman, 1853 and 1868.
6. Begone, dark night, ye mists disperse. J. Wallace, 1874. [Rev. John Julian, D.D.]
ii. Lux ecce surgit aurea. [Thursday Morning.] This portion of the hymn is also found in four manuscripts of the 11th century in the British Museum (Vesp. D. xii. f. 20 b; Jul. A. vi. f. 28; Harl. 2961, f. 223 b; Add. 30848. f. 78 b: and is printed in the Latin Hymns of the Anglo-Saxon Church, 1851, from an 11th century manuscript at Durham (B. iii. 32, f. 8). It is also in Card. Newman's Hymni Ecclesiae, 1838 and 1865; Daniel i. No. 105; and other collections of Latin hymns. It is in the Sarum, Roman, York, and other Breviaries. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
Translations in common use:—
1. Behold, it shines, the golden light. By Bishop Mant, in his Ancient Hymns from the Roman Breviary, 1837, p. 25 (edition 1873, p. 47). This is given in Kennedy, 1863, with the omission of stanza v.
2. Lo, the golden light is peering. By W. J. Copeland, in his Hymns for the Week, &c, 1848, p. 36. In Kennedy, 1863, No. 1446, stanza v. is new. In the Hymnary, 1872, it begins, "Lo, the golden sun is shining," Kennedy's stanza v. being repeated, and Copeland’s stanza v. is given as stanza vi.
3. Now with the rising golden dawn. By E. Caswall, in his Lyra Catholica, 1849, p. 27, and his Hymns, &c, 1873, p. 16. It is given in the People's Hymnal, 1867; Thring's Collection, 1882, and others. In the American Unitarian Hymns of the Spirit, 1864, it reads, "Now with creation’s morning song" The alterations were made by S. Longfellow, one of the editors. This arrangement of the text is repeated in Martineau's Hymns, 1873.
4. Behold the golden dawn arise. By J. M. Neale, in the enlarged edition of the Hymnal Noted, 1854; and the Hymner, 1882.
Other translations are:—
1. See, the golden dawn is glowing. Card. Newman, 1853.
2. 'Tis morn! behold the golden ray. Hymnarium Anglicanum, 1844.
3. Lo! the golden light arises. Bishop J. Williams,
1845.
4. Behold the golden dawn [morn] arise. J. D. Chambers, 1852 and 1857.
5. Lo, now doth rise the golden light. J. W. Hewett, 1859.
6. As at morn's golden ray. R. Campbell, in Shipley's Annus Sanctus, 1884.
7. See now the golden light appears. J. Wallace, 1874.
8. See! the golden morning rises. W. P. Lunt, in Putnam's Singers and Songs of the Liberal Faith. Boston, U.S.A., 1875. [Rev. John Julian, D.D.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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Nox, et tenebrae, et nubila, p, 820, ii. Additional translations are:—
1. Day is breaking, dawn is bright, a fine version by W. J. Courthope in the Society for Promoting Church Knowledge Church Hymnal. 1903, No. 63.
2. Hence gloomy shades which night-time brings, in the New Office Hymn Book, 1905, No. 168, based on Neale.
3. Ye clouds and darkness, hosts of night , by R. M. Pope, in his Hymns of Prudentius, 1905, p. 15, repeated, slightly revised by the author, in The English Hymnal, 1906, No. 54. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
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