medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I have some quotes concerning the status of poetry in 12th century letter
collections. Peter of Blois (c. 1135-c. 1212) does include some bits of
poetry in his collection. So does Gerald of Wales, though he is anxious to
point out these were composed in his young days and cites an alleged dictum
of Cicero's: Si mihi etiam duplicaretur aetas numquam lyrica legerem
(Prologue to Symbolum electorum). Peter claims that his love poetry was
written in his young days, but that he has written more serious things
since: he includes some samples of the latter (P.L. 207, ep. 57).
Herbert Losinga, bishop of Norwich in the early 12th cent., was pestered by
some young students to compose poetry for them, but declared that this was
not a fitting occupation for an old man and a bishop. However, he set them
similar work to do, even if he did get tired of their incessant imitations
of Ovid.
Of my bunch of 10 or so letter collectors, the ones that do write poetry,
are the ones belonging to the secular clergy (Peter and Gerald were both
archdeacons, Guido of Bazoches, another archdeacon, wrote his book in
imitation of Sidonius Apollinaris, with a poem at the end of every letter).
There seems to be an implication that this is something you do when you are
young or not in a very responsible position, and that it is a useful part of
a young man's rhetorical education, but that it would go against the
gravitas of, say, a bishop or an abbot.
Wasn't one of Berengar's accusations against St Bernard that he had written
lascivious poetry in his youth?
On this subject, Nicholas of Clairvaux (secretary and black sheep to St
Bernard) wrote to a friend who had been sending him poetry that he had not
received it and that he would not have read it if he had, quia nos (i.e. the
Clarevallians) nihil recipimus quod metricis legibus coarcetur. Does anyone
know if there was a formal rule in the Cistercian order against the reading
of poetry and where one would find it?
Thanks in advance
Lena Wahlgren-Smith
Margaret Cormack wrote:
>
> I would also be most interested in any indictions that
> composition of poetry was considered an inappropriate or
> frivilous occupation for clerics, any time from the
> mid 12th century through the 14th.
> thanks.
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