At 10:55 AM 6/11/98 GMT, you wrote:
>At 16:35 11/06/98 +0800, you wrote:
>>Re Madeleine Gray's question about courtly literature inviting nuns to
>>break vows. There is a medieval French lyric complaint in which the persona
>>is a young nun lamenting that she's been put into the convent at an when
>>she should be experiencing love. I'm pretty sure it's in Volume I of the
>>Penguin Book of French Verse, edited by Brian Woledge. The language, as I
>>remember, is like one form of courtly lyric: 'joliete', 'plaisante', etc,
>>but I don't know the provenance. Perhaps there were others of these?
>>
>>It isn't exactly what Maddy is looking for, but a not entirely dissimilar
>situation is that of Heloise, who became a nun against her will, when she
>would have preferred to enjoy the love of Abelard. Abelard's hymns and
>especially his planctus in no way encourage Heloise to leave the cloister,
>but are fascinating as (among many other things) exploring an acceptable
>way of expressing his love to Heloise. Maddy, even if they're not what
>you need, do have a read of them - they are some to the finest poems of the
>Middle Ages.
>
>Bill.
>
>May I join Nell Gifford Martin in appreciation of Bill East's remarkable
postings? They have been truly a "liberal education" in high medieval
liturgy and poetry, Abelard and Heloise, and so much more. Having been away
(following the road to Santiago - alas, by car rather than walking), I had
missed the Renihan episode and was curious enough to visit the archive and
look at the thread. Bill's response to this clueless young (?) person was an
exemplary lesson in patience and willingness to inform and teach, and I for
one benefitted greatly from his expositions. The response from list members
in general and from our leader George Ferzoco was exemplary too - one reason
why this list stands out is the kind helpfulness that "young Mr. Renihan"
evoked from its members.
Aline Hornaday
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