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Polymnia is the muse of sacred song.


Here you will find the works of the faithful. Here also, will be
found matters of ethics and morals, metaphysics and philosophy
and other unique matters occupying the minds of human beings.



The spirit at
Elfinspell is one of tolerance to all--our philosophy of
what we
don't include on this page, i.e., examples of fanaticism
and intolerance, can be better stated by William Makepeace
Thackeray's definition
here.

We also agree with Dr. Byrn's stance
here.


Other than that general premise the works inspired by faith, any
faith, are welcome.   

A charming twelfth century legend is here, too:

Our Lady's Tumbler, translated by P. H. Wicksteed

(It is also linked through Terpsichore, because it has dancing, sort
of, and would make a wonderful play!)

Another legend suborned by the Christians from pagan literature
and adapted for their purposes, is this excerpt from the
Gesta
Romanorum.  
This book is a collection of short pieces compiled in
the Middle Ages.  This one is in the common allegorical style.  
The excerpt is
Of Christ, who, by his Passion, delivered us from
Hell.

The Return of the Golden Age, (The Messianic Eclogue) by Virgil,
translated by Sir Charles Bowen.  

Along with it, to compare:
A Sacred Eclogue in Imitation of Virgil's Pollio by Alexander Pope.

There is also a lyrical and powerful excerpt from a sermon,
The
Return of Prayers
, by the Reverend Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) here.

The Sibyl speaks!
.... sort of, in:
The Sibylline Oracles, translated into English by Milton S. Terry.

The Adventures of Istar, from "The Chaldean Account of
Genesis," translated by George Smith.

Ancient Indian Hymns, translated, with essay, by Sir Monier
Monier-Williams is up.

Hymn to the Nile, from Ancient Egypt about 1500 B. C.

Hymn to the God Merodach, An Akkadian Psalm
(3000 BC).

The Hymn of Cleanthes, a third century B. C. Stoic Philospher.

A
prayer of Saint Ambrose, or Ambrosius, Bishop of Milan, 4th
century.

Some extracts of the works of
Lyman Abbott, a famous American
pastor and writer at the turn of the 20th century, on The Old
Testament, on Jesuits, and on the Theory of Evolution by a
theologist.

Lord Chesterfield on Lying.

A lyrical prayer by St. Francis of Assisi, in both Italian and
English.

A Letter by Saint Boniface, and other bishops, to King AEthelbald
(Ethelbald), King of Mercia in the 8th century, recalling him to
virtue.

The rest of the English Correspondence of Saint Boniface is online
to, edited and translated by William Kylie.  These give a good
idea of the beliefs, thoughts and hopes of 8th century nuns and
monks.

A chapter on
John Scotus, (John the Scot), by Reginald Lane
Poole, who admired the man for his belief in the essential
goodness of God.

Also by Poole,
the Appendix material on additional information
on John the Scot.


Short and Sweet,  but with all the nuts and bolts and a few odd
bits of hardware:  


A reminder that the "religious," are too often found to be
irreligious, here's what
Major-General Charles Lee, in his will:

          “I desire most earnestly,  that I may not be buried
    in any church or churchyard, or within a mile of any
    presbyterian or anabaptist meeting-house;   for since I
    have resided in this country,  I have kept so much bad
    company while living, that I do not choose to continue
    it while dead.


The Study of Philosophy encompassed Religion in the Classical
Period, see what it entailed in Rome, by a pagan philosopher in
the early years of the Christian era, by reading
The Teachings of
Epictetus: Being the ‘Encheiridion of Epictetus,’ with Selections from the
‘Dissertations’ and ‘Fragments.’, translated from the Greek, with
Introduction and Notes,
by T. W. Rolleston, (the Americanized
version, probably pirated by some good Christians in Chicago.)


With some references to medieval customs and habits, secular
and holy, here are some sermons from the most popular
preachers until the Reformation, with an excellent overview by
the editor:
No Uncertain Sound, Sermons That Shaped the Pulpit
Tradition, edited, with an introduction, by Ray C. Petry.