| Citation |
GG(J.763.026
29 Dec 1763:12 (39)
Extract of a letter from Mons in Flanders, dated Sept. 2.
I was prompted by my curiosity to go last Sunday to the
cathedral, to hear the canonesses sing. These are nuns of a
royal order, established in this city. The present Abbess
is a Princess of the house of Lorrain, being sister to the
Emperor of Germany. This nunnery was instituted that the
nuns might always perform the chanting part of the cathedral
service at high mass, and sing the anthems. Their dress is
uniform and becoming, but very unlike that of other nuns, as
they wear ruffles, &c. their faces are not covered with
veils, they visit whom they please, and, whenever they are
inclined, may marry. To be admitted into this convent, a
lady must prove her nobility for 16 descents.
I was particularly charmed with their performance at
the cathedral; their voices are heavenly, and many of their
faces are angelical. But what most attracted my attention
was, to see two of them advance into the middle of the
choir, and soon afterwards to hear them sing a fine anthem,
my heart was struck, and for a moment I thought myself in
Heaven.
"---For all we know
Of what the blessed do above,
Is that they sing, and that they love."
Was I to compare their faces to those of angels, and
their voices to those of the cherubim, you would perhaps
judge me mad; I shall therefore content myself with saying,
that I never saw any thing more beautiful than their faces,
nor heard any thing more enchantingly agreeable than their
voices.
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