Walter of Châtillon: On the murder of Thomas Becket.

When in 1170, Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered at the instigation of King Henry II, the whole Western world was shocked. Initially both were close friends, but as the dispute between Rome and the kings of Europe about the ultimate authority heightened, Becket chose in 1164 the side of the Pope. Becket fled to France There was a kind of reconciliation in the summer of 1170 and Becket was allowed to return to Canterbury, but King Henry refused to give Becket a kiss as a sign of peace (stanza 2, 3-4). The dispute about authority was still not settled and kept lingering. "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?", is King henry reported to have said. Four knights took this as an order and in the evening of December 29 they forced themselves into Canterbury Cathedral and slew Becket in from of the altar.

Note: this is the very short version of this event.

The French poet Walter of Châtillon (1135 – 1190 or 1201) was furious and wrote this poem.

Orba suo pontifice

tristatur Cantuaria.

O monstrum gentis Anglicae

scribendum in historia,

quod stantem pro iustitia,

quod viventem canonice,

martyrizavit publice

tyranni violentia!

      O regio

digna res epitaphio!

orbus: bereaved

tristor: to mourn

monstrum: evil deed

quod: because

stantem, viventem: Becket

canonice: according to the rules of the Church

O regio etc: i.e. for defaming the royal epitaph of Henry II. Digna res is of course ironic.

Haec levis excusatio

quae praetendit ad populum :

`Dum osculum refugio,

quod pacis est signaculum,

proditionis iaculum

nequaquam’, inquit, `iacio’,

ac si non sit proditio,

quod non praecessit osculum!

O regio etc.

excusatio –ionis (f.) : excuse

dum = cum: because

osculum: kiss

proditio  -onis (f.): betrayal

iaculum: javelin

nequaquam: not at all

ac si non: and if it is not

praecedo –cessi –cessum: to precede

O quanto dignus fulmine

vel qua Megaera creditur!

Infausto natus omine,

cui scelus obicitur,

rex abusive dicitur

qui totus est in sanguine ;

sic emutato nomine

rex in tyrannum vertitur.

O regio etc.

O quanto: O how much

qua Megaera: of some Megaera (one of the Furies)

infaustus: unlucky

cui scelus obicitur: who is reproached for (such a) crime

abusive: wrongly

emutato nomine: the name being altered

In tota regum serie

quos habuit Brittania

ab antiqua barbarie

quae processit a Phrygia

pollutus hac infamia

numquam fuit rex Angliae,

in isto tribus regiae

degloriavit gloria.

O regio etc.

barbaries = barbaria

a Phrygia:  according to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Brutus, cousin of Aeneas, was the first king of Britain (Phrygia is modern Turkey)

pullutus rex

in isto (rege)

tribus –us (f.): tribe, lineage

gloria: abl.

Vittae imbelles gerere

licebat priscis vatibus

et bellis non intendere

sacris sacratos usibus;

sed nunc moris est regibus

in pace pacem solvere

et suis pontificibus

Parcarum fila rumpere.

O regio etc.

vitta: headband

gero gessi gestum: to wear

priscus: of old

licebat…vatibus et sacratos plus an acc. cum inf. with sacratos (priests, clergymen) as acc. and sacris usibus as adverbial phrase (according to sacred customs). These two different constructions are for reasons of rhythm and rime.

intendo intendi intentum: to strive for (mostly constructed with acc, but here with dat.)

moris est: it is of practice  = it is practice

pacem solvere: to dissolve peace

Parcarum fila: the threads of the Parcae, the goddesses of fate

rumpo rupi ruptum: to break

 

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Becket

Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis: making fire on a whale.

One of the most charming poems in Middle Dutch is De Reis van Sint Brandaan (the voyage of Saint Brendan), dating from the 12^th century. It is based on a Latin prose story, which was widely popular in the Middle Ages. It tells the story of the Irish abbot Brendan, who with 16 monks sets sail for finding the Island of the Blessed. Saint Brendan of Clonfert (c. AD 484 – c. 577) was indeed a historical figure, but the earliest story of his voyage dates from the ninth century. During their voyage, Brendan and his monks visit all kinds of mysterious islands. Traces of Celtic mythology are clearly visible in this story. On one occasion it is not an island, but a sea-monster, mostly considered a whale. The monks make a fire on it for cooking…

Note: this text is taken from the Bibliotheca Augustana (Transcription du manuscrit d'Alençon à la bibliothèque municipale d'Alençon, Codex 14, f° 1 r à 11 v., XIème siècle) and differs from the standard edition by C. Selmer (1959). Also the numbering of the chapters and the order in which the adventures appear differs in the various manuscripts. The translation below comes from a different edition, but apart from the beginning it mainly agrees with the Latin text below.

Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis, Cap.  XI.    

Sanctus vero Brendanus sciebat qualis erat illa insula sed tamen noluit illis indicare ne fuissent perterriti. Mane autem facto precepit sacerdotibus ut singuli missas cantasset et ita fecerunt. Cum ergo sanctus Brendanus et ipse cantasset missam in navim, ceperunt fratres crudas carnes portare foras de navi ut condidissent sale et etiam pisces quos secum tulerunt de alia insula. Cum haec fecissent posuerunt cacabum super ignem. Cum autem ministrassent lignis ignem et fervere cepisset cacabus, cepit illa insula se movere sicut unda. Fratres vero ceperunt currere ad navim deprecantes patrocinium sancti patris.

At ille singulos per manus trahebat intus. Relictisque omnibus quae portabant in illam insulam ceperunt navigare. Porro illa insula ferebatur in oceanum. Tunc poterant videre ignem ardentem super duo miliaria. Sanctus Brendanus narravit fratribus quod hoc esset, dicens: Fratres admiramini quod fecit haec insula?» Aiunt: «Admiramur valde nec non et ingens pavor penetravit nos.» Qui dixit illis: «Filioli mei nolite expavescere. Deus enim revelavit mihi hac nocte per visionem sacramentum hujus rei. Insula non est ubi fuimus sed piscis. Prior omnium natancium in oceano querit semper suam caudam ut simul jungat capiti et non potest pro longitudine, quam habet nomine Jasconius».

illis: the brethren

mane facto: when morning had arrived

praecipio praecepi praeceptum: to instruct, order

singuli: one by one, individually

crudus: raw

caro carnis (f.): flesh, meat

foras: outside

condo sale: to pickle

cacabus: cooking pot

ministro: (here) to add

lignum: wood

fervo: to become hot, boil

cepisset: not from capio but from coepio coepi coeptum, to start, begin (mediaeval spelling)

deprecor deprecatus: to pray, beg

patrocinium: protection

traho traxi tractum: to draw

intus: inside

porro: next

ferebatur: the medial-passive of fero means `to move (one’s self)

super duo miliaria: from more than two miles distance

admiror admiratus: to wonder

valde: very much

nec non: very, indeed

pavor pavoris: fear

filiolus: diminutive of filius

expavesco: to be terrified

sacramentum: mystery

natancium = natantium

prior: the greatest

quaero quaesivi quaesitum: to seek, strive

cauda: tail

ut simul: at the same time

pro longitudine: because of it length

iungo iunxi iunctum: to join (when whales jump above water, they have a curved back, hence the idea that they try to touch their tail with their head.)

Jasconius: latinization of the Irish word iasc, `fish’

 

16th century engraving.

Translation by D. O’Donoghue (1893)

When they drew nigh to the nearest island, the boat stopped ere they reached a landing-–place; and the saint ordered the brethren to get out into the sea, and make the vessel fast, stem and stern, until they came to some harbour; there was no grass on the island, very little wood, and no sand on the shore. While the brethren spent the night in prayer outside the vessel, the saint remained in it, for he knew well what manner of island was this; but he wished not to tell the brethren, lest they might be too much afraid. When morning dawned, he bade the priests to celebrate Mass, and after they had done so, and he himself had said Mass in the boat, the brethren took out some un–cooked meat and fish they had brought from the other island, and

put a cauldron on a fire to cook them, After they had placed more fuel on the fire, and the cauldron began to boil, the island moved about like a wave; whereupon they all rushed towards the boat, and implored the protection of their father, who, taking each one by the hand, drew them all into the vessel; then relinquishing what they had removed to the island, they cast their boat loose, to sail away, when the island at once sunk into the ocean. Afterwards they could see the fire they had kindled still burning more than two miles off, and then Brendan explained the occurrence: ‘Brethren, you wonder at what has happened to this island,’ ‘Yes, father,’ said they: ‘we wondered, and were seized with a great fear.’ ‘Fear not, my children,’ said the saint, ‘for God has last night revealed to me the mystery of all this; it was not an island you were upon, but a fish, the largest of all that swim in the ocean, which is ever trying to make its head and tail meet, but cannot succeed, because of its great length. Its name is Iasconius.’

Pseudo-Matthew: the birth of Mary.

In the course of the first centuries of Christianity, Mary rose to the status of almost a goddess, especially in popular devotion. No wonder that her birth must also have been special. Indeed, her birth was also virginal. It is to some extent a copy of Mary gettimg pregnant by the Holy Spirit, but the story of Hanna at old age getting Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1-28), was also a model. This story is form the beginning of Pseudo-Matthew, an apocryphal gospel, written in the first quarter of the 7th century, but much of its material comes from the (Greek) Gospel of James, written in the latter half of the second century. These and other apocryphal gospels and acts are but little studied outside the world of specialist. A pity, as they show us a Christianity outside official theology and which influence reached far into mediaeval art and literature.

Pseudo-Matthew 1-4.1

1.1. In diebus illis erat vir in Ierusalem nomine Ioachim de tribu Iuda. Hic erat pastor ovium suarum, timens dominum in simplicitate et bonitate sua. Cui nulla erat alia cura nisi gregum suorum, de quarum fructibus alebat omnes timentes deum, et duplicia offerens in timore dei munera in doctrina laborantibus iis qui ministrabant ei. Ergo sive in agnis sive in ovibus sive in lanis sive in omnibus rebus suis quascumque possidere videbatur tres partes faciebat: unam partem dabat orphanis, viduis et peregrinis atque pauperibus; alteram vero partem dabat colentibus deum; tertiam partem sibi et omni domui suae reservabat.

grex, grecis (m.): flock

alo alui altum/alitum (-ere): to nourish

munus muneris (n.): gift

in doctrina laborantibus: occupying themselves with  (religious) teachings. i.e. scribes and priests

qui ministrabant ei:  who served Him (God)

lana: wool

peregrinus: pilgrim

colo colui cultum: to serve

 

2. Haec autem eo faciente multiplicabat et dominus greges suos ita ut non esset homo similis illi in populo Israel. Hoc itaque inchoavit facere quindecim annorum habens aetatem. Cum esset viginti annorum, accepit Annam filiam Achar uxorem ex tribu sua, id est de tribu Iuda, ex genere David. Cumque simul permansissent per annos viginti, filios aut filias ex ea non habuit.

haec eo faciente: abl abs

inchoo (incoho): to start, begin

permaneo permansi: to wait, endure

 

2.1. Factum est autem ut in diebus festis inter eos qui offerebant incensum domino staret Ioachim munera sua parans in conspectu domini. Et accedens ad eum sacerdos nomine Ruben dixit: `Non tibi licet inter sacrificia dei agentes consistere, quia non te benedixit deus ut daret tibi germen in Israel.‘

Passus itaque verecundiam in conspectu populi abscessit de templo domini plorans, et non est domi reversus, sed abiit ad pecora sua secum ducens pastores in montes in longinqua terra, ita ut per quinque menses nullum nuntium potuisset audire de eo Anna uxor eius.

 

accedo accessi: to come near, approach

ut daret tibi germen in Israel: that he gave you offspring (germen –inis , n.) in Israel

passus verecundiam: having suffered shame, ashamed

pecus pectoris (n,): cattle

lonquinquus: distant, far away

 

2. Quae dum fleret in oratione sua et diceret: `Domine Deus Israel fortissime, iam quia filios non dedisti mihi, virum et meum quare tulisti a me? Ecce iam quinque menses sunt quod virum meum non vidi. Et nescio ubi iam moratus sit; vel si mortuum scissem, sepulturam eius fecissem.’ Et dum nimis fleret, ingressa est in pomerium domus suae, prosternens se in oratione, precesque coram domino fudit.

 

quae: Anna

dum: then

iam quia: because already

et: also

moror moratus: to dwell

sepultura: grave, burial

pomerium: court, open space at the entrance of a building

coram (+ abl.): in front of

fundo fudi fusum: to pour out

 

Post haec surgens ab oratione, elevans oculos ad deum vidit nidum passerum in arbore lauri, et emisit vocem ad dominum cum gemitu et dixit: `Domine Deus omnipotens, qui dedisti filios omni creaturae, bestiis et iumentis, serpentibus et volucribus et piscibus, et gaudent omnes super filios suos, me solam a benignitatis tuae dono excludis. Tu enim, deus, nosti cor meum, quia ab initio coniugii mei hoc vovisse me confiteor, ut si tu Deus, dedisses mihi filium aut filiam, obtulissem eos tibi in templo sancto tuo.’

nidus: nest

passer passeris (m.): sparrow

in arbore lauri: in a laurel-tree

gemitus –us (m.): lament

iumentum: draught-cattle

hoc vovisse me confiteor: I confess that I have promised this

 

3. Et dum ista diceret, subito ante faciem eius apparuit angelus domini dicens: `Noli timere, Anna, quoniam in consilio dei est germen tuum: quod enim ex te natum fuerit, erit in admiratione omnibus seculis usque in finem.‘ Et cum haec dixisset, ab oculis eius elapsus est. Illa autem timens et pavens quod vidisset talem visionem et talem audivisset sermonem, demum ingressa in cubiculum iactavit se in lecto, quasi existens mortua. Et tota die ac nocte in tremore nimio ac oratione permansit.

elabor elapsus: to slip away, disappear

demum: finally

 

4. Post haec vero vocavit ad se puellam suam et dixit ad eam: `Vides me viduitate deceptam et in angustia positam; et tu ingredi ad me noluisti?’   

Tunc illa parvo murmure sic respondit dicens: `Si deus conclusit uterum tuum et virum tuum a te abstulit, quid ego tibi factura sum?’ Hoc audiens Anna, emittens vocem cum clamoribus flebat.

 

puella: maid 

me viduitate deceptam et in angustia positam: deceived by my widowhood an placed in a dire situation

 

3.1. Eodem tempore apparuit quidam iuvenis in montibus Ioachim,

ubi greges suos pascebat; dixitque ad eum: `Quare non reverteris ad uxorem tuam?‘  

Dixitque Ioachim: `Per viginti annos eam habui, et noluit ex ea mihi deus dare filios. Ego ergo cum verecundia de templo domini exprobratus exivi. Ut quid revertar ad eam,semel abiectus et valde despectus? Hic ergo cum ovibus meis ero: et quamdiu huius seculi deus mihi lucem concedere voluerit, per manus puerorum meorum pauperibus et orphanis et deum colentibus suas partes libenter tribuam.’

Ioachim: dative

pasco pavi pastum: to pasture

verecundia: shame

exprobro: to blame, reproach

semel: once

valde: very much

despectus: scorned

quamdiu: as long as

puer: servant

suas partes: their fair share

 

2. Et cum haec dixisset, respondit ei iuvenis: `Ego sum angelus Dei, qui apparui hodie uxori tuae flenti et oranti, et consolatus sum eam, quam scias ex semine tuo concepisse filiam, et tu nesciens reliquisti eam. Haec in templo dei erit, et spiritus sanctus requiescet in ea: et beatitudo eius erit super omnes sanctas feminas, ita ut nullus possit dicere aliquam ante eam similem ei fuisse, nec post eam futuram in hoc seculo. Propterea descende de montibus et revertere ad coniugem tuam, quam invenies habentem in utero: excitavit enim deus semen in ea de quo gratias referas deo, et semen eius erit benedictum, et ipsa erit benedicta et mater benedictionis aeternae constituetur.‘

consolor consolatus: to console, comfort

habentem in utero: pregnant

excitavit semen: has brought semen to life

 

 

3. Tunc adorans angelum Ioachim dixit ei: `Si inveni coram te gratiam, sede modicum in tabernaculo meo et benedic servum tuum.‘ Dixitque illi angelus: `Noli dicere te servum sed conservum unius enim servi domini sumus. Sed et cibus meus invisibilis est, et potus meus a nullo mortali potest videri. Ideo me rogare non debes ut intrem tabernaculum tuum; sed si quid mihi daturus eras, offer domino in holocaustum.‘ Tunc Ioachim accepit agnum immaculatum, dixitque ad angelum: `Non ausus essem domino holocaustum offerre nisi iussio tua daret mihi pontificium offerendi.‘ Et dixit illi angelus: `Non ego te ad offerendum invitarem nisi domini voluntatem cognovissem.‘ Cum autem offerret deo Ioachim sacrificium, simul angelus et odor sacrificii cum fumo perrexit ad coelum.

 

tabernaculum: tent

conservus: fellow-slave

cibus: food

potus –us (m.): drink

daturus eras: you wanted to give

holocaustum: burnt-offering

audeo ausus: to dare

nisi iussio tua daret mihi pontificium offerendi: unless by your command He (God) gives me the priestly authority to offer

4. Tunc Ioachim in faciem se prosternens ab hora diei sexta usque ad vesperam iacuit in oratione. Videntes autem pueri ac mercenarii eius qui cum eo erant, nescientes qua de causa iaceret, putabant eum esse mortuum; et accedentes vix elevaverunt eum de terra. Quibus cum visionem angeli enarrasset, nimio timore et admiratione impulsi eum hortabantur ut sine mora visionem angeli perficeret et ad suam coniugem velocriter remearet. Cumque Ioachim in animo suo evolvendo cogitaret si reverteretur an non, contigit ut sopore gravaretur, et ecce angelus, qui ei vigilanti iam apparuerat, apparuit ei in somnis dicens:

mercenarius:  tradesman

vix: with difficulty

remeo: to return

evolvendo = evolvens pondering

contigit ut sopore gravaretur: it happened that he became heavy like in a sleep

vigilanti: when he was awake

 

`Ego sum angelus qui a deo custos tibi datus sum: descende securus et revertere ad Annam, quia misericordiae quas tu et Anna uxor tua fecistis in conspectu altissimi recitatae sunt; vobisque deus talem dabit fructum qualem ab initio nunquam habuerunt prophetae nec sanctus aliquis nec habituri sunt.’  Cum autem Ioachim evigilasset a somno, omnes gregarios ad se vocavit eisque somnium indicavit. Illi vero adoraverunt dominum et dixerunt ei : `Vide ne ultra angeli dicta contemnas. Sed surge proficiscamur hinc, et pascentes greges lento gradu redeamus.’

 

custos costodis (m.): guardian

misericordiae..recitatae sunt: the compassions have been mentioned

gregarius: herdsman

ultra : further

proficiscor profectus: to depart

hinc: from here

lento gradu: with easy pace

 

 

5. Qui cum spatio triginta dierum morando revertentes iam prope essent,ecce angelus domini stanti Annae et oranti apparuit dicens ei: `Vade ad portam quae dicitur porta aurea, et occurre viro tuo in via, quia hodie ad te veniet.’ Illa ergo festinanter perrexit [ad eum] cum puellis suis, et deprecando dominum stans in porta diu expectabat eum. Quae enim nimia expectatione deficeret elevans oculos vidit procul Ioachim venientem cum pecoribus; et occurrens illi ad collum eius se suspendit, agens gratias deo et dicens:

spatio triginta dierum morando (= morantes) : tarrying during a time of 30 days

prope: nearby

occurro occurri occursum (+ dat.): to run to meet

festinanter: hastely

deprecando (= deprecans): praying

diu: for a long time

nimia expectatione: due to waiting for a long time

deficio defeci defectum: to become tired

procul: in the distance

ad collum eius se suspendit: and hang her on his neck

`Vidua eram, et ecce iam non sum; sterilis eram, et ecce iam concepi.’

Itaque adorato domino domum sunt ingressi. Hoc audito factum est gaudium magnum vicinis omnibus et notis eius, ita ut universa terra Israel de ista fama gratularetur.

4. Post haec autem expletis mensibus novem peperit Anna filiam, et vocavit eam Mariam.

adorato domino: abl. abs.

vicinus: neighbour

notus: acquaintance

gratulor gratulatus: to congratulate

Translation:

http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0848.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Anne