Annotations to James Joyce's Ulysses/Nausicaa/344

Annotations

Tableau!     (French) Picture! In the theatre, a tableau is a static scene in a play in which the performers hold their positions; the term is also used as the corresponding stage direction. Here, Gerty is using it as an interjection to draw attention to a dramatic scene. According to Gifford, Tableau was also the name of a parlour game in which participants would create a tableau the meaning of which was to be guessed by the remaining participants; when the pose was complete, one of the participants would cry Tableau! See also 352.19.

Tantum ergo     (Latin) Tantum Ergo is the title and opening words of a hymn comprising the final two stanza's of Saint Thomas Aquinas's hymn Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium. It is commonly sung as part of the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

Tantum Ergo

Tantum ergo Sacramentum Veneremur cernui: Et antiquum documentum Novo cedat ritui: Praestet fides supplementum Sensuum defectui. Genitori, Genitoque Laus et jubilatio, Salus, honor, virtus quoque Sit et benedictio: Procedenti ab utroque Compar sit laudatio.

Therefore so great a Sacrament Let us venerate with bowed heads: And may the old practice Give way to the new rite: May faith make up for The failings of the senses. To the Begetter and the Begotten Praise and jubilation, salutation, honour, virtue also May there be, and blessing: To Him who proceeds from both May there be equal praise.

Tantumer gosa cramen tum     (Latin) Gerty's rhythmic version of the opening line of the Tantum Ergo suggests that the syllables er, sa and men are set to longer notes than the other syllables. Over the centuries there have been literally hundreds of settings of this hymn, but I have not yet identified which if any matches the rhythm of Gerty's swinging foot.