Jim Bugslag noted:
>What about St Alexis, whose vita was included in the psalter made (or
adapted) for Christina of Markyate as an example to her (i.e. the St
Albans Psalter)? (I couldn't find him in Butler)
Yes!
My thought exactly (great minds in the same ruts do thus run).
Try that little mine of marital practice and non-practice, the 11th c.
Old French _Vie de Saint Alexis_ and its decent English trans. at
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/8716/alexis.html
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/8716/alexis-english.html#english1 ,
esp. stanzas VIII-XV (hope the formating survives cyberspacial travel):
VIII .......
So he [Alex's papa] bought a wife from a noble Frank.
[Donc li achatet fille ad un noble franc.]
XII
As he [Alex] saw the bed and looked at the maiden,
He then remembered* his heavenly Lord,
Whom he valued* more than anything thing on Earth.
"Oh, God," he said, "Strong sin threatens me indeed.
If I flee not now, I should greatly risk losing you."
XIII
When they were left all alone in the room,
Lord Alexis began by calling her to his side, and
Then by cursing his mortal existence;
He explained to her the truth of heavenly life,
All the while wishing that he had already fled.
XIV
"Do you understand me, maiden?
Take He who redeemed us with His holy blood as your spouse.
For in this world, there is no perfect love;
Life is fragile, nothing is eternal.
See, already this joy is turning into great sadness."
etc.
The opening lines of this wonder are my all-time favorites:
I
Bons fut le siecles al tems anciënour,
Quer feit i eret e justisie ed amour,
S'i ert credance, dont or n'i at nul prout;
Toz est mudez, perdude at sa colour:
Ja mais n'iert tels com fut as anceisours.
II
Al tems Noe ed al tems Abraam
Ed al David, cui Deus par amat tant,
Bons fut li siecles: ja mais n'iert si vaillanz;
Vielz est e fraieles, toz s'en voit declinant,
Sist empeiriez toz biens vait remanant.
Thanks Joseph Price!
Best from here,
Christopher
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