ANCIENT, MEDIEVAL, AND EARLY MODERN WINTER POETRY
READING BY
MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA MEDIEVAL, RENAISSANCE, AND REFORMATION COMMITTEE (UAMARRC)
NOV. 14, 2005, 6-8 P.M., UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, ILC 140.
Funded by COH.
Organized by Albrecht Classen, Dept. of German Studies
Ancient Greek, read by Kenneth Porter:
Hesiod (b. ca. 700 B.C.E.), Works and Days, 504-563:
“Avoid the month Lenaeon, wretched days, all of them fit to skin an ox, and frost which are cruel when Boreas blows over the earth. He blows across horse-breeding Thrace upon the wide sea and stirs it up, while earth and the forest howl. On many a high-leafed oak and thick pine he falls and brings them to the bounteous earth in mountain glens: then all the immense wood roars and the beasts shudder and put their tails between their legs, even those whose hide is covered with fur; for with his bitter blast he blows even through them although they are shaggy-breasted. He goes even through an ox’s hide; it does not stop him. Also he blows through the goat’s fine hair. But through the fleeces of sheep, because their wool is abundant, the keen wind Boreas pierces not at all; but it makes the old man curved as a wheel. And it does not blow through the tender maiden who stays indoors with her dear mother, unlearned as yet in the works of golden Aphrodite, and who washes her soft body and anoints herself with oil and lies down in an inner room within the house, on a winter’s day when the Boneless One gnaws his foot in his fireless house and wretched home; for the sun shows him no pastures to make for, but goes to and fro over the land and city of dusky men, and shine more sluggishly upon the whole race of the Hellenes. Then the horned and unhorned denizens of the wood, with teeth chattering pitifully, flee through the copses and glades, and all, as they seek shelter, have this one care, to gain thick coverts or some hollow rock. Then, like the Three-legged One whose back is broken and whose head looks down upon the ground, like him, I say, they wander to escape the white snow.
“Then put on, as I bid you, a soft coat and a tunic to feet to shield your body, ?and you should weave thick woof on thin warp. In this clothe yourself so that your hair may keep still and not bristle and stand upon end all over your body. Lace on your feet close-fitting boots of the hideof a slaughtered ox, thickly lined with felt inside. And when the season of frost comes on, stitch together skins of firstling kids with ox-sinew, to put over your back and to keep off the rain. On your head above wear a shaped cap of felt to keep your ears from getting wet, for the dawn is chill when Boreas has once made his onslaught, and at dawn, a fruitful mist is spread over the earth from starry heaven upon the fields of blessed men: it is drawn from the ever flowing rivers and is raised high above the earth by wind-storm, and sometimes it turns to rain towards evening, and sometimes to wind when Tracian Boreas huddle the thick clouds. Finish your work and return home ahead of him, and do not let the dark cloud from heaven wrap round you and make your body clammy and soak your clothes. Avoid it: for this is the hardest month, wintry, hard for sheep and hard for me. In this season let your oxen have half their usual food, but let your man have more; for the helpful nights are long. Observe all this until the year is ended and you have nights and days of equal length, and Earth, the mother of all, bears again her various fruit.”
Medieval Latin, read by Kenneth Porter and Heather Wiilliams:
| Alcuin Carmen 58 Conveniunt subito cuncti de montibus altis Pastores pecudum vernali luce sub umbra Arborea, pariter laetas celebrare Camenas. Translation: Alcuin Suddenly, all come together from the tall mountains The shepherds of the sheep in the spring light below the wooded Shade, to celebrate the happy poems equally. |
MEDIEVAL FRENCH — read by Jonathan Beck
“On the Approach of Winter.” Anonymous.
North central France. 13th century.
Edited by Jeanroy and Langfors, Chansons satiriques et bachiques du XIIIe siècle. Trans. J. Beck.
Between 1209-1244, the South of France was invaded by armies from the North to whom the pope had promised the land and wealth of Christian nobles—principally the counts of Toulouse—considered too lax in their tolerance of heretics and Jews. Backed by hardline Cistercians like St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Innocent III declared the “Albigensian crusade” in 1208, which eventually succeeded in exterminating the Cathars (ascetic adherents of a Manichean dualism widespread in the Mediterranean basin for centuries), and in expropriating their land—Albi, Toulouse, Caracasonne, Agen, Béziers. Disgusted by the plundering and gratuitous massacres, the dukes of Burgundy and Nevers, the earliest supporters of the crusade, refused to accept the blood-stained fiefs offered them by the pope, and returned home in 1209. The song below, “On the approach of Winter,” reflects the disgust in the ranks of the soldiers.
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Quand je lou tans refroidier voi et geleir
et les arbres despoillier et iverneir adonc me voil aaizier et sejorneir a boen feu leiz lou brazier, et a vin cleir en chade mason par lou tans fellon; ja n’ait il perdon ki n’amet sa garison.
Je ne voil pas chivachier et feu bouteir et si haz mout garroier et cris leveir et grans proies acoillier et gent robeir; asseis i a fol mestier a tot gasteir; a poc d’acheson se prannent baron par consoil bricon muevent guerres et tansons. Kant je seus leiz lo brasier et j’oz venteir et je voi plain lou hastier a feu torneir, et lou boen vin dou sillier amont porteir, adonc voil boivre et mangier et repozeir a feu de charbons… |
When I see the weather turning cold and starting to freeze and the trees going bare and winter coming, then I want to ease up and spend time with a good fire beside the brazier, and a glass of claret in a warm house during foul weather ; may he have no pardon, who won’t take care of himself.
I don’t want to ride out and burn places down, and so I really hate going to war and the battle cries and piling up great pillage and robbing people; it’s a crazy enough business to waste everything; for little gain the masters in charge counseled with lies start wars and disputes.
When I’m home by the fire and I hear the wind outside and I see the loaded spit turning on the grill, and good wine from the cellar being brought up, then I want to drink and eat and rest, by the wood fire… |
MIDDLE HIGH GERMAN — read by Albrecht Classen
(English translations by Albrecht Classen)
Heinrich von Veldeke
Ez habent die kalte nähte getân (MF 64, 26)
Ez habent die kalte nähte getân,
daz diu löuber an der linden
winterlîche val stân.
der minne hân ich guoten wân
und weiz sîn nû ein liebez ende;
daz ist mir zem besten al vergân,
Dâ ich die minne guot vinde
und ich mich ir aldâ underwinde.
Translation:
The cold nights have been guilty
of changing the leaves on the linden trees
to take on a wintry color.
I had enjoyed high hopes for love,
and now I know that my love has ended.
I have lost the best time and place
there where I find good love
and where I can win this happiness.
Rudolf von Fenis
Daz ich den sumer alsô mæziclîchen klage (MF 83, 25)
1. Daz ich den sumer alsô mæzeclîchen klage, / walt unde bluomen die sint gar betwungen / daz ist dâ von, daz sîn zît mir noch her hât gevrumt harte kleine umb ein wîp. / vil lîhte gvreuwent si die liehten tage, / den dâ vor ist nâch ir willen gelungen. / mac mir der winter den strît noch gescheiden hin zir, der ie gerte mîn lîp, / Sô ist daz mîn reht, daz ich in iemer êre, / wan mîner swære wart nie mêre. / owê, zwiu lât mich verderben diu hêre?
2. Diu heide noch der vogel sanc / kan ân ir trôst mir niht vröide bringen, / diu mir das herze und den lîp hât bewungen, daz ich ir niht vergezzen mac. / swie vil si gesingent, mich dunket ze lanc / daz bîten. durch daz verzage ich an guoten gedingen. / dâ muoz ich dur nôt von verderben von ir, wan mir nie wîp sô nâhe gelac. / Swenne si wil, so bin ich leides âne. / mîn lachen stât sô bî sunnen der mâne. / doch was gnuoc grôz her mîn vröide von wâne.
Translation:
The reason why I lament the passing of summer so moderately, and equally little the defeat of trees and flowers, is that its wonderful time has hardly helped me to win a lady’s favor. Those who have been able to achieve their goals have the summer days in wonderful memory. If winter can help me win the struggle to gain her love, I would be very thankful to him. Then it would be my duty to give him honor, as my pain right now has never been worse. Oh dear, why does the harsh lady allow my death to happen?
Neither the meadow nor the bird song can give me any joy without her, she who has control over my heart and my body so that I cannot forget her. However much they might be singing, for me it seems to take too much time to beg for her favor. I will have to perish because of her, as I have never loved any lady more than her. My laughter is so close to her as the moon is to the sun, but I had enough happiness before because of my hope for her love.
Heinrich von Morungen
Uns ist zergangen (MF 140, 32)
1. Uns ist zergangen der lieplîch summer.
dâ man brach bluomen, da lît nu der snê.
mich muoz belangen, wenne sî mînen kummer
welle volenden, der mir tuot so wê.
Jâ klage ich niht den klê,
swenne ich gedenke an ir wîplîchen wengel,
diu man ze vröide so gerne ane sê.
2. Seht an ir ougen und merkent ir kinne,
seht an ir kele wîz und prüevent ir munt.
Si ist âne lougen gestalt sam diu minne.
mir wart von vrouwen so liebez nie kunt.
Jâ hât si mich verwunt
sêre in den tôt. ich verliuse die sinne
genâde, ein küniginne, du tuo mich gesunt.
3. Die ich mit gesange hie prîse unde krœne,
an die hât got sînen wunsch wol geleit.
in gesach nu lange nie bilde alsô schœne
als ist mîn vrowe; des bin ich gemeit.
Mich vröit ir werdekeit
baz danne der meie und alle sîn dœne,
die die vogel singt; daz sî iu geseit.
Translation:
1. The lovely summer has passed away.
Where we picked flowers, there is now snow
it troubles me deeply, when she wants to increase my pain; this hurts me so much.
I do not lament about the loss of clover
when I think of her womanly cheeks
which men like to look at out of pure joy.
2. Look in her eyes and notice her chin,
look at her white neck and check her lips.
She truly looks just like Lady Love.
No other woman has given me so much joy.
Yes, she has hurt me deeply
almost killed me. I am losing my senses,
mercy, you queen, make me healthy again.
3. She whom I praise and crown with my song,
has been the realization of God’s own ideal.
I have never seen such a beautiful image
as my lady. This makes me happy
her worthiness gives me more joy
than the month of May and all his noises,
which the birds make, be assured of that.
Walther von der Vogelweide (L 28, 31)
Ich hân mîn lêhen, al die werlt, ich hân mîn lêhen. / nû enfürhte ich niht den hornunc an die zêhen, / und wil alle bœse hêrren dester minre flêhen. / der edel künec, der milte künec hât mich berâten, / daz ich den sumer luft und in dem winter hitze hân. / mîn nâhgebûren dunke ich verre baz getân: / si sehent mich niht mêr an in butzen wîs als sî wîlent tâten. / ich bin ze lange arm gewesen ân mînen danc. / ich was sô voller scheltens daz mîn âten stanc: / daz hât der künec gemachet reine, und dar zuo mînen sanc.
Translation:
I have a farm, listen world, I have a farm, / now I do no longer fear February at my toes / and now I will no longer beg from all the evil lords. / The noble king, the generous king has helped me to enjoy fresh air during the summer and warmth in winter. / From now on my fellow men will think more highly of me, they will no longer look at me as some strange creature. / I have been poor just too long without any fault on my part. / I was so full of criticism that my breath began to smell. The king has cleaned it up, and so also my singing.
Walther von der Vogelweide (L. 39, 1)
Uns hât der winter geschât über al:
heide unde walt sint beide nû val,
dâ manic stimme vil suoze inne hal.
sæhe ich die megde an der strâze den bal
werfen! sô kæme uns der vogele schal.
Möhte ich verslâfen des winters zît!
wache ich die wîle, sô hân ich sîn nît,
daz sîn gewalt ist sô breit und sô wît.
weizgot er lât ouch dem meien den strît:
sô lise ich bluomen dâ rîfe nû lît.
Translation:
Winter has caused damage everywhere:
meadow and forest are all grey,
where before you heard many sounds.
If I could see the girls play ball on the street,
then bird song would come back.
If only I could sleep through the winter!
When I am awake I feel only hatred
that his power is so far and wide.
God knows, he even fights with May;
I picked flowers where there is now snow.
Neidhart L 24
Kint, bereitet iuch der sliten ûf daz îs!
da ist der leide winder kalt;
der hât uns der wünneclîchen bluomen vil benomen.
manger grüenen linden stênt ir tolden grîs,
unbesungen ist der walt.
daz ist allez von des rîfen ungenâden komen
mugt ir schouwen, wie er hât die heide erzogen?
diust von sînen schulden val.
dar zuo sint die nahtigal
alle ir wec gevlogen.
Wol bedörfte ich mîner wîsen vriunde rât
umbe ein dinc, als ich iu sage,
daz si rieten, wâ diu kint ir vreuden solten phlegen.
Megenwart der wîten stuben eine hât.
obz iu allen wol behage,
dar sul wir den gofenanz des vîretages legen.
ez ist sîner tohter wille, kom wir dar.
ir sultz alle ein ander sagen.
einen tanz alum die schragen
brüevet Engelmâr.
Translation:
Girls, prepare your sleds for the ice!
The miserable winter is cold;
he has stolen our wonderful flowers.
Many green linden trees are all shriveled.
Nobody sings in the forest.
This is caused by the merciless frost.
Do you want to see how he treated the meadow?
It has become withered because of his fault.
Moreover, the nightingales
have all flown away.
Now I need advice from my wise friends
because of one thing, as I tell you.
Where should the young people have fun.
Megenwart has a big hall.
If you all agree,
then we’ll have a dance on weekends there.
His daughter wants us to come there
tell everybody about it.
We’ll have a dance around the table
with Engelmâr as the leader.
Neidhart L 41
Sumer, dîner süezen weter müezen wir uns ânen
dirre kalte winder trûren unde senen gît.
ich bin ungetrœstet von der lieben wolgetânen.
Wie sol ich vertrîben dise langen swæren zît,
diu die heide velwet unde mange bluomen wolgetân?
dâ von sint die vogele in dem walde des betwungen,
daz si ir singen müezen lân.
Alsô hât diu vrouwe mîn daz herze mir betwungen,
daz ich âne vröude muoz verswenden mîne tâge.
ez vervæhet niht, swaz ich ir lange hân gesungen.
mir ist alsô mære, daz ich mêre stille dage.
ich geloube niht, daz sî den mannen immer werde holt
wir verliesen, swaz wir dar gesingen unde gerûnen,
ich und jener Hildebold.
Der ist nû der tumbist under geilen getelingen,
er und einer, nennet man den jungen Willegêr.
den enkunde ich disen sumer nie von ir gedringen,
so der tanz gein âbent an der strâze gie entwer.
mangen twerhen blic den wurfen sî mich mit den ougen an
daz ich sunder mînes guoten willen vor in beiden
ie ze sweime muose gân.
Closing stanza:
Her Nîthart hât uns hie verlâzen als diu krâ den stecken
diu dâ hinne fliuget unde sitzet ûf ein sât.
ez sol ein man mit fremden frouwen niht ze vil gezecken
der der wâren schulde an sîner keine vunden hât.
er niez sîn tegelîche spîse (der hât er dâ heime genuoc)
lâz Hildebolten mit gemache! ez was ein eichel, die
er bî im in dem biutel truoc.
Translation:
Summer, we are missing your good weather
this cold winter gives us sorrow and longing.
My beautiful beloved does not give me solace.
What shall I do during these long, heavy times,
as the meadow and the flowers have withered?
The birds in the wood are defeated by you
and have to stop singing.
The same way my lady exerts force on my heart
and I have to waste my time without any joy.
It is of no use what I used to sing for her,
this weighs so heavily on me that I stay quiet.
I do not think that she will ever love any man,
both I and that [peasant] Hildebold
forfeit the award for our singing and flattering.
He is the dumbest among the horny boors
he and another guy, called the young Willeger.
All summer I could never push him from her side
when the evening dance took place on the street.
Both [guys] looked at me full of jealousy
that I could not help but to feel like a pig
right in front of their eyes.
Closing Stanza:
Lord Neithart has left us as the crow left the stick
when it flies away and sits down on the seed field.
A man should not fool around too much with other women
when there is nothing wrong with his own wife.
He should enjoy his daily bread (of which he has enough at home)
leave Hildebolt alone, it was an acorn which
he carried in his bag (scrotum).
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Middle English Winter Poetry – read by Roger Dahood |
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| Myrie* it is whil somer ylast* Wyth foweles* song; But now neigheth* wyndes blast And weder* strong*. Ei! Ei! What, this nyght is long, And I wyth wel* muchel* wrong Sorwe* and murne* and faste. |
Merry / lasts birds’ nears weather / strong, severe, violent very / much |
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| Wynter wakeneth* al my care; Now thise leves waxen* bare. Ofte I sike* and murne sare* Whan it cometh in my thought Of this worldes joye, how it goth al to noght. |
wakens grow sorely, grievously |
| Now it is and now it nis*, Also* it ner* nere*, y-wis*. That* many man seyth, sooth* it is– Al goth* but Goddes wille; Alle we shullen* deye*, thogh us like ille*. |
isn’t As if / never / had been / truly What / true passes, ends must / die though (it) displease us |
| Al that greyn* me* graveth* grene*, Now it faleweth* al bidene*. Jhesu, help that it be sene, And shilde* us from Helle; For I not* whider* I shal*, ne*how long heer dwelle. |
grain, seed/one/plants/new withers, dies / quickly plain, understood shield don’t know/ whither/must (go)/nor |
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| “The carol is spoken or sung by the minstrel in the person of the Lord of Misrule, who presided over the Christmas festivities: his authority is indicated by his orders to the marshal (l. 2, a functionary in charge of seating arrangements at feasts) and by his power to extract forfeits, e.g. confinement in the stocks for those who did not enter into the revelry (l. 11).” –R. H. Robbins |
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| Refrain: | |
| Make we mery bothe more & lasse* great and small, i.e., everyone For now ys the tyme of Crystymas. |
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| Lett no man cum into this hall– Grome*, page, nor yet marshall, But that sum sport he bring with-all*, For now ys the tyme of Crystmas. |
Groom, man-servant entertainment / in addition |
| Yff that he say he cannot syng, sum oder* sport then lett hym bring, That* yt may please at thys festing, For now ys the tyme of Crystmas. |
other |
| Yff he say he can nowght* do, Then for my loue aske hym no mo*; But to the stokkes then lett hym go, |
nothing more |
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| Refrain: Hay, ay, hay, ay, Make we mery as we may. |
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| 1. Now ys Yole comyn with gentyll chere, Of merthe & gomyn* he has no pere*; In euery londe where he comys nere* Is merthe & gomyn, I dar wele say. |
amusement / peer, equal near |
| 2. Now ys comyn* a messyngere Of yore lorde, Ser Nu Yere*, Byddes* vs all be mere* here And make as mere as we may. |
has come Sir / New Year (Who) commands / merry |
| 3. Therefore euery mon that ys here Synge a carol on hys manere*; Yf he con* non, we schall* hym lere*, So that we be mere allway. |
in his own way, as best he can know / must / teach |
| 4. Whosoeuer makes heve* chere*, Were he neuer to me dere*, In a dyche* I wolde* he were, To dry hys clothes tyll hyt were day. |
heavy, serious / face, facial expression No matter how dear he might be to me ditch / would wish |
| 5. Mende the fyre, & make gud chere! Fyll the cuppe, ser* botelere*! Let euery mon drynke to hys fere*! Thys endes my carol with care awaye. |
sir / butler fellow, companion |
| From Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (?1390) | |
| Þis kyng lay at Camylot vpon Krystmasse With mony luflych˚ lorde, ledez˚ of þe best, Rekenly˚ of þe Rounde Table alle þo rich breþer˚, With rych reuel oryght˚ and rechles merþes.˚ Þer tournayed tulkes˚ by tymez ful mony˚, Justed ful jolilé˚ þise gentyle knightes, Syþen kayred˚ to þe court caroles to make. For þer þe fest watz ilyche ful˚ fiften dayes, With alle þe mete and þe mirþe þat men couþe avyse˚; Such glaum ande gle˚ glorious to here, Dere˚ dyn vpon day, daunsyng on nyghtes, Al watz hap˚ vpon heghe in hallez and chambrez With lordez and ladies, as leuest him þoght˚. With all þe wele of þe worlde þay woned þer samen˚, Þe most kyd˚ knyghtez vnder Krystes seluen˚, And þe louelokkest˚ ladies þat euer lif haden˚, And he þe comlokest˚ kyng þat þe court haldes˚; For al watz þis fayre folk in her˚ first age, on sille˚, Þe hapnest˚ vnder heuen, Kyng hyghest mon of wylle˚; Hit were now gret nye to neuen˚ So hardy a here˚ on hille. |
many a courteous / men worthily / brothers (in arms) properly / carefree joys men / very many times jousted very gallantly afterwards rode kept up in full (for) devise noise and revelry pleasant happiness as seemed most pleasant to them remained there together renowned / Christ himself most courteous ladies / lived comeliest / rules their in the hall most fortunate temper, mind difficulty to name troop |
| Wyle Nw Yer watz so yep˚ þat hit watz nwe cummen, Þat day doubble on þe dece˚ watz þe douth˚ serued. Fro˚ þe kyng watz cummen with knyghtes into þe halle, Þe chauntré of˚ þe chapel cheued to an ende˚, Loude crye watz þer kest of˚ clerkez and oþer, Nowel nayted˚ onewe, neuened˚ ful ofte; And syþen riche˚ forth runnen to reche hondeselle˚, Yeyed˚, “Yeres-yiftes!” on high, yelde˚ hem bi hond, Debated busyly aboute þo˚ giftes; Ladies laghed ful loude, þogh þay lost haden, And he þat wan watz not wrothe, þat may ye wel trawe. Alle þis mirþe þay maden to þe mete˚ tyme; When þay had waschen worþyly þay wenten to sete, Þe best burne˚ ay abof, as hit best semed, Whene Guenore, ful gay˚, grayþed˚ in þe myddes, Dressed˚ on þe dere des, dubbed˚ al aboute, Smal sendal˚ bisides, a selure hir ouer Of tryed˚ tolouse˚, and tars˚ tapites˚ innoghe, Þat were enbrawded and beten˚ wyth þe best gemmes Þat myght be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye˚, in daye. Þe comlokest to discrye Þer glent˚ with yghen gray, A semloker˚ þat euer he syghe Soth moght˚ no mon say. |
new dais / company After singing from / having ended spoken by celebrated, repeated / spoken nobles / give gifts cried / gave those meal highest ranking man |
| Bot Arthure wolde not ete til al were serued, He watz so joly˚ of his joyfnes˚, and sumquat childgered˚: His lif liked hym lyght˚, he louied þe lasse˚ Auþer˚ to longe lye or to longe sitte, So bisied˚ him his yonge blod and his brayn wylde˚. And also an oþer maner meued him eke˚ Þat he þurgh nobelay˚ had nomen˚, he wolde neuer ete Vpon such a dere day er hym deuised were˚ Of sum auenturus˚ þyng an vncouþe˚ tale, Of sum mayn˚ meruayle, þat he myght trawe, Of alderes˚, of armes, of oþer auenturus, Oþer˚ sum segg˚ hym bisoght˚ of sum siker˚ knyght To joyne wyth hym in iustyng˚, in jopardé to lay˚, Lede˚, lif for lyf, leue vchon oþer˚, As fortune wolde fulsun hom˚, þe fayrer˚ to haue. Þis watz þe kynges countenaunce˚ where˚ he in court were, At vch farand fest˚ among his fre meny˚ in halle. Þerfore of face so fere He stightlez˚ stif˚ in stalle˚, Ful yep˚ in þat Nw Yere Much mirthe he mas˚ withalle. |
lively / youthfulness / boyish active / didn’t like (lit. loved the less) either stirred / restless as well on his honor / undertaken before it were told to him daring / strange, marvelous great princes or / man / for some true To joust with him / to risk (each) man / allow the other help them / the better (i.e., victory) custom / wherever splendid feast / noble retinue rules / boldly / erect |
| Thus þer stondes in stale þe stif kyng hisseluen, Talkkande bifore þe hyghe table of trifles ful hende˚. There gode Gawan watz grayþed˚ Gwenore bisyde, And Agrauayn a la Dure Mayn˚ on þat oþer syde sittes, Boþe þe kynges sistersunes˚ and ful siker knightes; Bischop Bawdewyn abof biginez þe table˚, And Ywan, Vryn son, ette with hymseluen˚. Þise were dight on þe des˚ and derworþly˚ serued, And siþen mony siker segge at þe sidbordez˚. Þen þe first cors come with crakkyng of trumpes, Wyth mony˚ baner ful bryght þat þerbi henged; Nwe nakryn noyse˚ with þe noble pipes, Wylde werbles˚ and wyght˚ wakned lote˚, Þat mony hert ful highe hef at her towches˚. Dayntés dryuen þerwyth of ful dere metes˚, Foysoun˚ of þe fresche, and on so fele˚ disches Þat pine˚ to fynde þe place þe peple biforne For to sette þe sylueren þat sere sewes halden˚ on clothe. Iche lede as he loued hymselue˚ Þer laght˚ withouten loþe˚; Ay two˚ had disches twelue, Good ber and bryght wyn boþe. |
noble, courteous seated of the Hard Hand nephews (sister’s sons) sits on Arthur’s right-hand side Shared dishes with him (i.e., Baldwin) seated at the dais / nobly lower tables many a each one as he pleased |
| Now wyl I of hor˚ seruise say yow no more, For vch wyghe˚ may wel wit˚ no wont þat þer were˚. An oþer noyse ful newe neghed˚ biliue˚, Þat˚ þe lude˚ myght haf leue liflode to cach˚; For vneþe˚ watz þe noyce˚ not a whyle sesed˚, And þe fyrst cource in þe court kyndely˚ serued, Þer hales˚ in at þe halle dor an aghlich mayster˚…. |
their
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Medieval Italian Poetry – read by Fabian Alfie
Dante
Io son venuto al punto de la rota
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1. Io son venuto al punto de la rota che l’orizzonte, quando il sol si corca, ci partorisce il geminato cielo, e la stella d’amor ci sta remota per lo raggio lucente che la ‘nforca sì di traverso, che le si fa velo; e quel pianeta che conforta il gelo si mostra tutto a noi per lo grand’arco nel qual ciascun di sette fa poca ombra: e però non disgombra un so penser d’amore, ond’io son carco, la mente mia, ch’è più dura che petra in tener forte imagine di petra.
2. Levasi de la rena d’Etiopia lo vento peregrin che l’aere turba, per la spera del sol ch’ora la scalda; e passa il mare, onde conduce copia di nebbia tal, che, s’altro non la sturba, questo emisperio chiude tutto e salda; e poi si solve, e cade in bianca falda di fredda neve ed in noiosa pioggia, onde l’aere s’attrista tutto e piagne: e Amor, che sue ragne ritira in alto pel vento che poggia, non m’abbandona; sì è bella donna questa crudel che m’è data per donna.
3. Fuggito è ogne augel che ‘l caldo segue del paese d’Europa, che non perde le sette stelle gelide unquemai; e li altri han posto a le lor voci triegue per non sonarle infino al tempo verde, se ciò non fosse per cagion di guai; e tutti li animali che son gai di lor natura, son d’amor disciolti, però che ‘l freddo lor spirito ammorta: e ‘l mio più d’amor porta; ché li dolzi pensier non mi son tolti né mi son dati per volta di tempo ma donna li mi dà c’ha picciol tempo.
4. Passato hanno lor termine le fronde che trasse fuor la virtù d’Ariete per adornare il mondo, e morta è l’erba; ramo di foglia verde a noi s’asconde se non se in lauro, in pino o in abete o in alcun che sua verdura serba; e tanto è la stagion forte ed acerba, c’ha morti li fioretti per le piagge, li quai non poten tollerar la brina: e la crudele spina però Amor di cor non la mi tragge; per ch’io son fermo di portarla sempre ch’io sarò in vita, s’io vivesse sempre.
5. Versan le vene fummifere acque per li vapor che la terra ha nel ventre, che d’abisso li tirasuso in alto; onde cammino al ben giorno mi piacque che ora è fatto rivo, e sarà mentre che durerà del verno il grande assalto; la terra fa un suol che par di smalto e l’acqua morta si converte in vetro per la freddura che di fuor la serra: e io de la mia guerra non son però tornato un passo a retro, né vo’ tornar; ché, se ‘l martiro è dolce, la morte de’ passare ogni altro dolce.
Canzone, or che sarà di me ne l’altro dolce tempo novello, quando piove amore in terra da tutti li cieli, quando per questi geli amore è solo in me, e non altrove? Saranne quello ch’è d’un uom di marmo, se in pargoletta fia per core un marmo. |
1. I have come to that point on the wheel when the horizon, once the sun goes down, brings forth the twinned heaven for us; and the star of love is removed from us by the shining beam which so rides across it as to veil it away; and the planet that intensifies the cold stands fully revealed to us along the great arc in which each of the seven casts the shortest shadow. And yet my mind does not shake off a single one of the thoughts of love that burden me—my mind is harder thanstone in strongly retaining an image ofstone.
2. The pilgrim wind that darkens the air rises from the sands of Ethiopia, now heated by the sun’s sphere; and crossing the sea, it brings up such a quantity of cloud that, unless dispersed by another wind, the cloud-mass encloses and blocks up our hemisphere; and then it dissolves and falls in white flakes of chill snow and dreary rain, so that all the air grows sad and weeps. And yet Love, who draws his nets aloft with the soaring wind, still does not leave me, so fair is this cruel lady who is given to me as alady.
3. Every bird that follows the warmth has fled from the European lands which never lose the seven freezing stars; and the rest have imposed a truce on their tongues, and will make no sound until the green season, unless it be to lament; and all the beasts that are lusty by nature are released from love, for the cold numbs their spirit. And yet my spirit is more full of love than ever; for sweet thoughts are neither taken from me, nor given, with changes of season, but a woman gives them who has lived but a short season.
4. The leaves brought forth by the power of the Ram to adorn the world have passed their term, and the grass is dead; branches green with leaf are taken from our sight, save in bay or pine or fir, or in other trees that retain their leaf; and so harsh and bitter is the season, it has killed the frail flowers of the field, unable to withstand the frost. And yet Love will not draw from my heart his cruel thorn; so that I am resolved to bear itever, all life long, though I were to live for ever.
5. The springs spew forth fumy waters because the earth draws the gases that are hot in its bowels upwards from the abyss; so that a path that pleased me in fine weather is now a stream, and so will remain as long as winter’s great onslaught endures; the earth has formed a crust like rock and the dead waters turn into glass because of the cold that locks them in. And yet I have not withdrawn one step from the struggle, nor will I withdraw; for is all suffering be sweet, death must be sweet above all things.
Congedo. My song, what will become of me in that other, that sweet young season when love pours down to the earth from the heavens; if love, amid all this cold, is found only in me and nowhere else? It will be with me as a man of marble, if a girl keeps a heart of marble. |
Al poco giorno e al gran cerchio d’ombra
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1. Al poco giorno e al gran cerchio d’ombra son giunto, lasso, ed al bianchir de’ colli, quando si perde lo color ne l’erba: e ‘l mio disio però non cangia il verde, sì è barbato ne la dura petra che parla e sente come fosse donna.
2. Similemente questa nova donna si sta gelata come neve a l’ombra; ché non la move, se non come petra, il dolce tempo che riscalda i colli, e che li fa tornar di bianco in verde perché li copre di fioretti e d’erba.
3. Quand’ella ha in testa una ghirlanda d’erba, trae de la mente nostra ogn’altra donna; perché si mischia il crespo giallo e ‘l verde sì bel, ch’Amor lì viene a stare a l’ombra, che m’ha serrato intra piccioli colli più forte assai che la calcina petra.
4. La sua bellezza ha più vertù che petra, e ‘l colpo suo non può sanar per erba; ch’io son fuggito per piani e per colli, per potere scampar da cotal donna e dal suo lume non mi può far ombra poggio nè muro mai nè fronda verde.
5. Io l’ho vedua già vestita a verde, sì fatta ch’ella avrebbe messo in petra l’amor ch’io porto pur a la sua ombra: ond’io l’ho chesta in un bel prato d’erba, innamorata com’anco fu donna, e chiuso intorno d’altissimi colli.
6. Ma ben ritorneranno i fiumi a’ colli, prima che questo legno molle e verde s’infiammi, come suol far bella donna, di me; che mi torrei dormire in petra tutto il mio tempo e gir pascendo l’erba, sol per veder do’ suoi panni fanno ombra.
Quandunque i colli fanno più nera ombra, sotto un bel verde la giovane donna la fa sparer, com’uom petra sott’erba. |
1. To the short day and the great circle of shadow I have come, alas, and to the whitening of the hills, when the grass loses its color: and yet my desire remains ever green, it is so rooted in the hard stone which speaks and has senses like a woman.
2. This young woman stays frozen like snow in shadow; for the sweet season moves her no more than stone, the season that warms the hills and turns them from white to green, covering them with flowers and grass.
3. When she wears on her head a garland of grass she takes every otherwoman from our mind; for the curling yellow and the green mingle so beautifully that Love comes to dwell in their shadow, Love who has locked me between his small hills more tightly than cement locks stone.
4. Her beauty has more power thanstone, nor can her blows be healed bygrass: and I have ever fled over plains and hills to escape, if possible, from such a woman; but from her light I can find no shadow under mountain or wall or green bough.
5. I once saw her clothed in greenand such that she would have imparted to stone the love I bear to her mere shadow; hence I have desired her in a fair grass field—as much in love as ever a woman was—enclosed by great hills.
6. But surely rivers will return to thehills before this wet green wood catches fire, as is the way of fairwoman, for me—who would consent to sleep on stone all my days and go about eating grass, only to see where her dress casts a shadow.
Whenever the hills cast darkestshadow this young woman makes it disappear beneath a fair green, as one makes stone disappear under grass.
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Folgore da San Gimignano
To a Noble Company of Sienese
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A la brigata nobele e cortese en tutte quelle parte, dove sono con allegrezza stando, sempre dono cani, uccelli e danari per ispese, ronzin portanti, quaglie a volo prese, bracchi levar, correr veltri a bandono: in questo regno Niccolò corono, per ch’ell’è ‘l fior de la città sanese; Tengoccio e Min di Tengo ed Ancaiano, Bartolo con Mugàvero e Fainotto, che paiono figliuoi del re Priàno, prodi e cortesi più che Lancilotto; se bisognasse, con le lance in mano farìano torneamenti a Camelotto. |
To the noble and courteous band wherever they may be, for they are always joyful, I give dogs, hawks and plenty of money,
Good riding horses, quails taken in flight, deer-hounds, greyhounds and swift whippets: and in this kingdom I crown Niccolò because he is the flower of the city of Siena.
Tingoccio, Min di Tigo, and Anchaiano, Bartolo, Mugavero and Fainotto, who might be sons of King Priam,
More gallant and more courteous than Lancelot—worthy with land in hand to joust at Camelot. |
November
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E di novembre a Petrïuolo al bagno, con trenta muli carchi de moneta: la ruga sia tutta coverta a seta; coppe d’argento, bottacci di stagno: e dar a tutti stazzonier guadagno; torchi, doppier che vegnan di Chiareta; confetti con cedrata de Gaeta; e bèa ciascun e conforti ‘l compagno. E ‘l freddo vi sia grande e ‘l fòco spesso; fagiani, starne, colombi, mortiti, lèvori, cavrïoli rosto e lesso: e sempre aver acconci gli appetiti; la notte e ‘l vento, ‘l piover a ciel messo: e siate ne le letta ben forniti. |
For November you shall go to the baths of Petriuolo with thirty mules laden with money; let the street be covered with silk, silver cups and pewter bottles;
And let the shopkeepers have their profit. Your torches and candlesticks shall come from Chiareta and from Gaeta you lemon-flavored candies; let each man drink and rejoice the company.
The cold shall be great and your fires frequent. Pheasants, partridges, pigeons, ragouts, hares roebucks roast and boiled—
Let your appetites be always ready for them; at night there shall be a gale and pouring rain but you shall all be well tucked-up in bed. |
December
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E di dicembre una città in piano: sale terrene, grandissimi fòchi, tappeti tesi, tavolier e giochi, torticci accesi, star co’ dadi en mano, e l’oste inebrïato e catellano, e porci morti e finissimi cochi, ghiotti morselli, ciascun bèa e mandòchi: le botte sian maggior che San Galgano. E siate ben vestiti e foderati di guarnacche, tabarri e di mantegli e di cappucci fini e smesurati; e beffe far de’ tristi cattivegli, de’ miseri dolenti sciagurati avari: non vogliate usar con egli. |
And for December I give you a city in the plain, ground-floor rooms and huge fires, woven carpets, chess boards and games and lighted torches; and let there be always gifts in your hands;
For your host I give you a glutton and wine-bibber; with dead pigs and most skillful cooks, neat morsels, each one good and sumptuous, and wine-kegs higher than San Galgano.
And you shall be well-clothed and wrapped in long gowns, mantles and cloaks, and in fine voluminous hoods;
And make scorn of all sad vagabonds and miserable mournful wretches. Misers—have nothing to do with them.
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January
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I’ doto voi, nel mese de gennaio corte con fochi di salette accese, camer’ e letta d’ogni bello arnese, lenzuol’ de seta e copertoi di vaio, tregèa, confetti e mescere arazzaio, vestiti di doagio e di rascese, e ‘n questo modo star a le defese, mova scirocco, garbino e rovaio. Uscir di fòr alcuna volta il giorno, gittando de la neve bella e bianca a le donzelle che staran da torno; e quando fosse la compagna stanca, a questa corte faciase retorno: e si riposi la brigata franca. |
I give you in the month of January banquets with fires of burning rushes, rooms and beds with beautiful embroideries, silk sheets an coverlets of vair,
Sweetmeats, comfits and sharp mixed wine, cloth of Douai and of Russia. Thus you shall be defended when South Wind or West Wind or North Wind rise.
Sometimes during the day you shall go out to throw soft white snowballs at the girls,
And when you are all tired of this you shall come back to dinner, and there refresh the whole company.
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PERSIAN POETRY –
Poems by Jalal Al-Din Rumi
Read by Professor Kamran Talattof
Translations into English Verse’ by A.J. Arberry, 1949.
Number one
Essence is poverty,
Accidents all else be;
Poverty is heart’s ease,
All else the soul’s disease.
The round world complete
Delusion is, and deceit;
Poverty is the sole
Treasure, and spirit’s goal.
Thou who lovest, like a crow,
Winter’s chill and winter’s snow,
Ever exiled form the vale’s
Roses red, and nightingales:
Take this moment to thy heart!
When the moment shall depart,
Long thou’lt seek it as it flies
With a hundred lamps and eyes.
Thy childhood days are sped,
Thy youth is gone,
Old age is about thy head;
From the world fare on.
Three days is the pledge, no more,
The guest shall stay;
Master, thy time is o’er-
Up, be on thy way
Number two
Seek, and thou shalt find
Another purpose in my mind;
See, and thou shalt prove
A fairer idol is my love.
God my witness be,
Love too is not enough for me;
Comes another spring
After this autumn blossoming.
In love if for one moment
Thy spirit finds repose,
Where stand the ranks of lovers
What place hast thou with those?
Then like a thorn be pricking,
That like a rose thy fair
May pin thee to her bosom,
And braid thee in her hair.
Number three
Time bringeth swift to end
The rout men keep;
Death’s wolf is nigh to rend
These silly sheep.
See, how in pride they go
With lifted head,
Till Fate with a sudden blow
Smiteth them dead.
Thou who lovest, life a crow,
Winter’s chill and winter’s snow,
Ever exiled from the vale’s
Roses red, and nightingales:
Take this moment to thy heart!
When the moment shall depart,
Long thou ‘lt seek it as it flies
With a hundred lamps and eyes.
RUMI’S LAST LETTER TO SHAMS
Sometimes I wonder, sweetest love, if you
Were a mere dream in along winter night,
A dream of spring-days, and of golden light
Which sheds its rays upon a frozen heart;
A dream of wine that fills the drunken eye.
And so I wonder, sweetest love, if I
Should drink this ruby wine, or rather weep;
Each tear a bezel with your face engraved,
A rosary to memorize your name…
There are so many ways to call you back-
Yes, even if you only were a dream.
Translation by Arberry (Mystical Poems of Rumi 1, #80, p.70):
Die now, die now, in this Love die; when you die in this Love, you will
all receive new life.
Die now, die now, and do not fear this death, for you will come forth from
this earth and seize the heavens.
Die now, die now, and break away from this carnal soul, for this carnal
soul is as a chain and you are as prisoners.
Take an axe to dig through the prison; when you have broken the prison you
will all be kings and princes.
Die now, die now before the beauteous King; when you have died before the
King, you will all be kings and renowned.
Die now, die now, and come forth from this cloud; when you come forth from
this cloud, you will all be radiant full moons.
Be silent, be silent; silence is the sign of death; it is because of life
that you are fleeing from the silent one.
Lover Me
Translation by from Shahram Shiva
Lover me, cave me,
the sweet burn of Love me.
Lover you, cave you,
Shams protect me.
Noah you, soul you,
conqueror and the conquered you
the awakened heart you.
Why hold me at that gate of your secret?
Light you, celebration you,
the victorious land you
the bird of Mount Sinai you.
You carry me on your tired beak.
Drop you, ocean you,
compassion and rage you,
sugar you, poison you.
Please don’t continue to hurt me.
The orb of the Sun you,
the house of Venus you,
the sliver of hope you.
Open up the way for me.
Day you, night you,
fasting and the crumbs of a beggar you,
water and a pitcher you.
Quench my thirst, Beloved.
Bait you, trap you,
wine you, cup you,
baked and raw you.
Please don’t let me be unbaked.
If you don’t run my body too hard,
if you don’t cut my way too much,
if you try to help rather than make my life more difficult.
Oh, all these words of mine.
Hebrew Poems by Judah Halevi, read by Esther Fuchs, University of Arizona