* queant laxis
*sonare fibris
*ra gestorum
*muli tuorum,
*ve polluti
*bii reatum, Sancte Joannes.

What syllables are missing?
What special meaning do they have?
Why was St.J. more suitable than some other saint?

I believe the missing syllables are some combination of:
do re mi fa so la ti, representing musical singing notes, perhaps:
C, D, E, F, G, A, B
So there should be a 6 note tune.

I don't have a full translation, but here is what I have so far, I'm sure some of what I have is not correct:

Laqueant laxis = loosen the noose
Resonare fibris = let resonate ???, maybe sound the drum or something
mira  gestorum = carrying wonderful things ??
famuli tuorum = to serve you
fave = be favorable to
pollus = to defile
tibii = to you ;   labii = lip

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Or it could be a message:  A D E F F A; or A D E F F B

Edited on November 28, 2010, 10:02 pm

Edited on November 28, 2010, 10:06 pm

Edited on November 28, 2010, 10:10 pm

Posted by Larry on 2010-11-28 21:46:24