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Pou de Logoi

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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(Ποῦ δὲ λόγοι πτερόεντες ) is the beginning of one of Gregory of Nazianzum's (q.v.) hymns, which he probably composed during the eight years that he spent in retirement. "When his work was done, the Church of the Anastasia had arisen, and father, mother, brother, and sister, all were dead. In the depths of its natural fears, and the firmness of the hope to which at last it rises, it tells the history of those solitary years, and echoes well the music of those ancient psalms which soar so often out of the depths into the light of God" (Mrs. Charles). Want of space does not allow us to give this beautiful hymn, of which the first stanza runs thus in Mrs. Charles's translation:

"Where are the winged words? Lost in the air.

Where the fresh flower of youth and glory ? Gone.

The strength of well-knit limbs? Brought low by care.

Wealth? Plumer’ d; none possess but God alone.

Where those dear parents who my life first gave,

And where that holy twain, brother and sister? In the grave."

Comp. Bassler, Auswahl altchristlicher Lieder, p. 11, 157; Fortlage, Gesä nge christlichen Vorzeit, p. 360 sq.; Mrs. Charles, Christian Life in Song, p. 65 sq. (B. P.)