On the fount of life eternal

Author: Edward Caswall

Edward Caswall was born in 1814, at Yately, in Hampshire, where his father was a clergyman. In 1832, he went to Brasenose College, Oxford, and in 1836, took a second-class in classics. His humorous work, "The Art of Pluck," was published in 1835; it is still selling at Oxford, having passed through many editions. In 1838, he was ordained Deacon, and in 1839, Priest. He became perpetural Curate of Stratford-sub-Castle in 1840. In 1841, he resigned his incumbency and visited Ireland. In 1847, he joined the Church of Rome. In 1850, he was admitted into the Congregation of the Oratory at Birmingham, where he has since remained. He has published several works in prose and poetry. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >

On the fount of life eternal. By E. Caswall. First published in his Masque of Mary , 1858, and again in his Hymns & Poems, 1873, pp. 214-218, in 20 stanzas of 6 lines. From this two centos have been compiled (1) beginning with the opening stanza in the Hymnary, No. 614, and consisting of stanzas i., iii., v., viii, ix., xv., xvii., xix., and xx., with slight alterations. (2) "Who can paint that lovely city," in the Roman Catholic Hymns for the Year, No. 51. This is composed of stanzas iii., v., vi., vii., and xix., also slightly altered.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)