Days and moments quickly flying. E. Caswall. [Old and New Year.] This hymn appeared in 4 stanzas of 4 lines with the title, "Swiftness of Time," in his Masque of Mary and other Poems, 1858. With it was also given, under the title of "A Warning," one stanza, beginning "As the tree falls, So must it lie," &c. From these, together with abbreviations, additions, or alterations the following centos have been made:—
1. In Chope's Hymnal, 1862, the two with alterations.
2. In Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1868, the same without alterations.
3. In the Appendix to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Psalms and Hymns,
1869, the first hymn, 4 stanza with two additional stanzas.
4. In Hymnary, 1870-2. The first hymn of 4 stanzas with alterations, and a fifth stanza by the editors.
5. In Church Hymns, 1871, a new cento of which stanzas i., ii., iii., are from the first hymn, much varied; v., vi., from Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Psalms and Hymns, altered; and iv., vii., viii., by the compilers.
6. In Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1875, the first hymn of 4 stanzas slightly altered, and a new stanza.
7. In Thring's Collection, 1882, the same first hymn with alterations by the editor.
Other centos found in a few additional collections are in American use. Original texts in Caswall's Hymns & Poems, 1873, p. 250.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
==================
Days and moments quickly flying, p. 282, ii. The cento (5) as in Church Hymns, 1871, is adopted in the Hymnal Companion, 1876 and 1890, with the change by Bp. Bickersteth of stanza v., 1. 3, from "For the Old Year now retreating," to "For the bygone years retreating," to adapt the hymn for all seasons of the year.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)
==============
Days and moments quickly flying, p. 282, ii. The variations in the text of this hymn in recent collections are numerous and complicated. Taking the latest and most important we have in order of publication the following:—
1. The Scottish Church Hymnary, 1898. Stanzas i.-iv. are from Hymns Ancient & Modern. (complete edition), the refrain, "Life passeth soon," as st. v. and sts. vi.-ix., with slight alterations, from Church Hymn, 1871.
2. Church Hymns, 1903. Sts. i.-iv., the corresponding stanzas from Hymns Ancient & Modern, (complete edition); v., the refrain "Life passeth," &c, from Church Hymns, 1871, Pt. ii., "As a shadow life is fleeting," &c, also from Church Hymns, 1869 and 1871.
3. Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1904. Pt. i. from the complete edition, 1889; Pt. ii. from Church Hymns, 1871, Part ii., and an additional stanza, “Jesu, merciful Redeemer," from pt. i. of the same collection.
4. The Methodist Hymn Book, 1904. Sts. i., ii., iii. are from Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1889, and iv., v. and the refrain "Life passeth soon," &c, from Church Hymns, 1871.
5. The English Hymnal, 1906. St. i. Caswall altered; ii., iii. Caswall's original; iv. Caswall altered; v. Church Hymns, 1871 ; vi. Church Hymns, 1871 altered.
6. In the American Unitarian Hymns for Church and Home, 1895, the cento, "As a shadow life is fleeting," is compiled from the above centos with new readings.
In minor collections there are other arrangements of stanzas, but the origin of each may be found in Caswall's original text; Church Hymns, 1871; and Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1889.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files
