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( Óôüìéïí ðώëùí ἀäáῶí ) is the beginning of a hymn attributed to Clement of Alexandria, and is found at the close of his Pedagogue. It is the oldest Christian hymn extant, and is a sublime but somewhat turgid song of praise to the Logos, as the divine educator and leader of the “human race.” The title of the hymn is òÕìíïò ôïῦ Óùôῆñïò ×ñéóôïῦ , i.e. “Hymn of the Savior Christ,” aid it addresses Christ as the leader of the youth, that he himself may gather them to praise him (Isa_3:1-8); then as the shepherd and king of the saints, that he may guide his sheep and rule over them; (Isa_3:9-22); and, finally, as the Eternal Word, whose footsteps lead to heaven (Isa_3:23-26). The first part runs thus in the original Greek:
Óôüìéïí ðώëùí ἀäáῶí Ðôåñὸí ὀñíßèùí ἀðëáíῶí Ïἴáî íçῶí ἀôñåêήò Ðïéìὴí ἀñíῶí âáóéëéêῶí· Ôïὺò óïὺò ἀöåëåῖò ðáῖäáò ἄãåéñïí , Áἰíåῖí ἁãßùò , ὑìíåῖí ἀäïëùò Á᾿êÜêïéò óôüìáóéí Ðáßäùí ἡãήôïñá ×ñéóôüí
There are three English translations of this hymn: one by W. Wilson, in the Ante-Nicene Christian Library, vol. 4; Clement of Alexandria, 1, 343 sq.:
“
Over our wills presiding,
Wing of unwandering birds,
Our flight securely guiding.
Rudder of youth unbending,
Firm against adverse shock;
Shepherd with wisdom tending
Lambs of the royal flock;”
“
Wing of nestlings a sho cannot fly,”
etc.
“
Guiding in love and truth,”
etc.
For the German translations, as well as for the literature on this hymn, see the very learned article on the contents and structure of this hymn by Prof. Piper, in his Evangel. Kalender for 1868, p. 17-39. (B.P.)