Quam Despectus

Quam despectus QUAM DEJECTUS, is the beginning of a passion-hymn, written by the doctor seraphicus, St. Bonaventura (q.v.), of which the first stanza runs thus:

"Quam despectus, quam dejectus, Rex coelorum est effectus, Ut salvaret saeculum; Esnrivit et sitivit, Pauper et egenius ivit Usque ad patibulum."

This beautiful hymn has been translated into English by P. S. Worsley, and from the Lyra Messianica, p. 277, we subjoin the first stanza:

"Oh, what shame and desolation, Working out the world's salvation, Deigned the King of Heaven to bear! See him bowed with sorrows endless, Hungry, thirsty, poor, and friendless, Even to the cross repair."

For the original, see Trench, Sacred Latin Poetry (Lond. 1864), p. 143 sq. (B. P.)