“Let Mary arise, and let her enemies be scattered.” [Exurgat Maria, et dissipentur inimici ejus.—­P. 483.]

In the opening of the 93rd psalm there is a most extraordinary, rather, as it sounds to me, a most impious and blasphemous comparison of the Supreme God with the Virgin Mary, in reference to the very Attribute, which shines first, last, and brightest in HIM,—­His eternal mercy.  Nay, it draws the contrast in favour of the Virgin, and against God.  Most glad should I be, to find that I had misunderstood this passage; and that it admits of another acceptation[133].  But I fear its real meaning is beyond controversy.

[Footnote 133:  A similar idea indeed pervades some addresses to the Virgin of the present day, representing the great and only potentate as her heavenly husband, in himself full of rage, but softened into tenderness towards her votaries by her influence.  See a hymn, in the Paris collection already referred to, p. 353, &c. of this work (Nouveau Recueil de Cantiques, p. 183).

    Daignez, Marie, en ce jour Vouchsafe, Mary, on this day
      Ecouter nos soupirs, To hear our sighs,
      Et seconder nos desirs.  And to second our desires. 
    Daignez, Marie, en ce jour Vouchsafe, Mary, on this day
    Recevoir notre encens, notre amour.  To receive our incense, our
                                             love. 
    Du celeste epoux Calm the rage
    Calmez le courroux, Of thy heavenly husband,
    Qu’il se montre doux Let HIM show himself kind
    A tous qui sont a vous.  To all those who are thine. 
    Du celeste epoux Of thy heavenly husband
    Calmez le courroux, Calm the rage,
    Que son coeur s’attendrisse sur nous.  Let his heart be softened
                                             towards us. {359}
    ]

“The Lord is a God of vengeance; but thou, O Mother of Mercy, bendest to be merciful.” [Deus ultionum Dominus; sed tu, Mater Misericordiae, ad miserandum inflectis.—­P. 485.]

The well known and dearly valued penitentiary psalm (129th) “De profundis,” is thus addressed to Mary:—­

“Out of the depths have I called to thee, O Lady: 

“O Lady, hear my voice.  Let thine ears be attent to the voice of thy praise and glorifying:  deliver me from the hand of my enemies:  confound their imaginations and attempts against me.  Rescue me in the evil day; and, in the day of death, forget not my soul.  Carry me into the haven of safety:  let my name be enrolled among the just.” [De profundis clamavi ad te, Domina:  Domina, exaudi vocem meam.  Fiant aures tuae intendentes in vocem laudis et glorificationis tuae.  Libera me de manu adversariorum meorum:  confunde ingenia et conatus eorum contra me.  Erue me in die mala:  et in die mortis ne obliviscaris animae meae.  Deduc me ad portum salutis:  inter justos scribatur nomen meum.—­P. 489.] {360}