The problem with mediaeval lyrics is not so much the
syntax, but the vocabulary, though purists get nervous breakdowns seeing the
unclassical grammar. This song is a good example: the syntax is not difficult,
but ever heard of laudila or lupilulat? Besides, one needs to be an
ornithologist for this song. Noteworthy are also the onomatopoeic words
denoting the sound the birds make. However, it is not a description of nature
as such, but an invitation to dance and sing in blooming spring. The variations
on this theme are almost endless in mediaeval lyrics. No wonder: winter was a
time of hardship and lent was awaited eagerly.
Carmina Burana 145
1.
Musa venit
carmine;
dulci modulamine melody
pariter cantemus! equally
ecce virent omnia:
to become
green
prata, rus et nemus. meadows;
field, grove (nemus, nemoris, n.)
venit: no
distinction was made between short and long i in the middle ages, but the
perfect tense seems likely.
2.
Mane garrit laudila, in
the morning; to chatter; lark
lupilulat acredula;
iubente natura obeying
philomena queritur
nighingale ; queritur
de ; to complain over
antiqua de iactura. loss
laudila or alaudila is a diminutive of alauda `alouette’, a Celtic loanword.
lupilulat is an
onomatopoeic word `to sing lupiluta’
acredula is an
unknown bird and some editors read cornicula `little crow’
3.
Hirundo iam finsat, swallow:
to twitter (finsare)
cygnus dulce trinxat swan:
to be shrill (trinsare)
memorando fata, memorando = memorans
cuculat et
cuculus
per nemora
vernata. verno : to be green
memorando fata: the swan sings at best when about
to die.
cuculat et cuculus:
in many languages the name of the cuckoo is formed after the sound it makes.
4.
Pulchre cantant volucres;
terre nitet
facies terre = terrae; to shine
vario colore
et in partum solvitur
and opens/dissolves
in giving birth
redolens odore. to
smell with
in partum solvitur:
the image of the earth as mother, giving birth to nature in spring.
5.
Late pandit tilia to
spread out; lime-tree
frondes, ramos, folia; leafy
branch (frons): branch
thymum est sub
ea
viridi cum
gramine, green; gras (gramen)
in quo fit
chorea. dancing
and singing
6.
Patet et in gramine to
spread out
iocundo rivus
murmure; brook
locus est festivus.
ventus cum
temperie moderate temperature
susurrat
tempestivus. to whisper;
seasonable
The last stanza completes the picture of the locus amoenus (lovely spot), a common
theme in mediaeval lyrics.
Here the song by the Mediaeval Baebes. It is easy to
imagine these babes dancing in the locus
amoenus!
Dancing girls. Italian, source unknown to me.
