These works by a tenth-century woman, who wrote plays when no one else in Europe was writing plays and who imitated the style of Terence when most people thought the classics had been forgotten, caused a literary sensation when they were first published in 1501.
These works by a tenth-century woman, who wrote plays when no one else in Europe was writing plays and who imitated the style of Terence when most people thought the classics had been forgotten, caused a literary sensation when they were first published in 1501.
The Works of Hrotsvit of Gandersheim: Facsimile of the First Edition (1581)
164
The Works of Hrotsvit of Gandersheim: Facsimile of the First Edition (1581)
164eBook
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Overview
These works by a tenth-century woman, who wrote plays when no one else in Europe was writing plays and who imitated the style of Terence when most people thought the classics had been forgotten, caused a literary sensation when they were first published in 1501.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780252098161 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | University of Illinois Press |
| Publication date: | 03/01/2017 |
| Series: | Women in Print |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 164 |
| File size: | 777 KB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
The Works of Hrotsvit of Gandersheim
Facsimile of the First Edition (1501)
By David H. Price
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS PRESS
Copyright © 2015 Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-252-09816-1
CHAPTER 1
HISTORY OF THE NATIVITY AND OF THE PRAISEWORTHY CONVERSATION OF MARY, THE IMMACULATE MOTHER OF GOD, THAT I HAVE FOUND IN THE WRITINGS OF ST. JAMES, BROTHER OF THE LORD
Hail! Sole hope of the world, illustrious queen of the heavens, holy mother of the king, resplendent star of the sea; who, a pious virgin, has by obedience restored to the world that life that the virgin of old forfeited. May you graciously deign to assist the prayers and new little songs of your handmaiden Hrotsvit, who with zeal ministering to my womanly muse, now humbly sings in dactylic measures, desiring to touch, if ever so lightly, upon a tiny portion of the praise that is yours, O virgin, and to celebrate the bright beginnings of your blessed origin and also your royal child. However, I am conscious that any effort of mine to sing your merited praise far exceeds my feeble powers, for the whole world cannot adequately extol you, who shine far beyond the praises of the angels, since you as a virgin have carried in your chaste womb him who rules and sways the universe. But he who once commanded a mute beast to speak in praise of his sacred name, and who at the words of the angel caused you, tender maiden, to conceive of the holy ghost and has made you the mother, most worthy, of his son, without violation of your virginity. If it please him, he is able to loosen the strings of my tongue and to touch my heart with the dew of his grace. And thus assisted by the gift of his tender kindness, I will render thanks to him, and sing of you also, virgin, lest I be condemned — and rightly so — as a companion to those ungrateful and slothful servants who neglect to send, according to their ability, praise to the one enthroned on high; but rather may I merit to be united to the choirs of virgins and to praise eternally the crimson lamb of God.
When five thousand years of the gliding world had been completed, that happy era began in which God with faithful solicitude ordered all things to be fulfilled that the prophets had long since foretold, predicting that Jesus would soon come into the world. Now in the tribe of Judah there was a certain old man of the ancient law, sprung from the royal house of David, who, they say, was called Joachim. This man had from earliest infancy lived justly, zealously, and in holiness. He took the greatest care to lead his vast herds to rich pasturage, striving thus to be truly a good shepherd and a worthy parent in the flesh of him, indeed, who did not disdain to carry upon his own shoulders his own sheep, leading them to the joys of a happy life; ready to suffer death out of his great love for us, and to redeem our fallen humanity with the precious price of his own life.
This hero, Joachim, whose deeds I shall here relate, the happy ancestor indeed of such a grandchild, adorning himself with supreme effort by worthy deeds, divided his wealth into three parts, giving one portion to widows, strangers, and orphans; a second portion to those serving often in the temple; and keeping back a third part for his own use. By doing this frequently and with tender kindness Joachim merited to receive such a recompense that his own substance was increased very rapidly, and he excelled all his associates in prosperity; nor was there another on earth who was as enriched with an abundance of all things.
When Joachim had thus lived twenty years care-free and happy amid great prosperity, he betrothed himself to a maid endowed not only with extraordinary beauty but also with singular virtue and holiness as well. The maid was Anna, the daughter of Achas, born of the illustrious family of David, and her he joined to himself in lawful wedlock.
It is said, however, that Anna being barren for many years gave no promise of offspring to her loyal husband. At length, after twice ten years had passed, it chanced one festival day that Joachim was standing in the temple among those ministers who were deemed worthy to offer incense to the lord. When Ruben, the scribe of the sacred temple saw Joachim, he was moved with envy at the fact, and he said in bitter tones: "It is not lawful for you to touch the sacred incense, nor is it right that you bring an offering to God by sacrificing, for he despises you, since he has denied you the blessings of progeny."
The noble man made no response, but in grief and sadness of heart he left the sacred place and sought the forest, where he had in times past been accustomed to pasture his flock. Here he made his way by devious paths into a far-distant place, taking with him his flocks each with its own shepherd, and he hid in those recesses. Neither did he care while pasturing to return to his country which he had left, for in his heart he suffered a great humiliation because of the bitter words of Ruben who had derided him.
His illustrious spouse, after an interval of five months, fearing that he was no longer alive, wept day after day, nor did she know any solace for her grief. In her sad affliction she poured forth this prayer to God: "Sole ruler of Israel and lover of thy people! You always console the grieving and refresh them in your tender kindness. Why has it pleased you to take from me my cherished husband, thus adding sorrow to one ever sad and distressed without hope of offspring? But now I lament the pangs of a greater grief, for I do not know in my innermost heart what misfortune has befallen my lawful spouse, a devoted servant of thy law. O, great indeed would be my happiness, if I were but to know whether bitter death has claimed him, or whether he is still alive and enjoying your healthy air. If I were certain of these things, I would have no right for such excessive grief, even though he were slumbering in the shades of death. But I would like to honor his remains with the greatest ceremony and consign those noble members to a worthy resting place."
When she had finished this prayer she raised her eyes and beheld in the branches of a laurel some birds caroling in sweet melodies and covering their young with downy wings. Seeing this, Anna continued in sad plaint: "Mighty king of heaven, to whom the starry sky is submissive; you who are powerful to dispose of all things rightly! To you be exalted praise from all the faithful, because you have granted as a loving gift to all living creatures, to the fishes, the beasts, the reptiles, and the birds that they might rejoice in the care of their offspring. But me alone, alas, you have ordered according to your just judgment to remain without this consolation. However, in the constancy of my heart, I call upon you as witness. Father of all, I vowed to you in the first days of our marriage that if you, in your clemency, would present me with a child, I would early present it to you in your sacred temple in obedience to the manner of the prescribed law, and dedicate it to your service."
Such were the words her pure lips uttered, when suddenly from the starry heaven an angel descended, bearing for her in her sadness words of consolation; and standing before her he spoke to her with kindness: "Put aside your grief and place far from your heart this depressing sorrow, and believe that by the decree of the most high God, you shall conceive a child, and the fruit of your womb will in all truth be wonderful among all nations." This he said, and soaring aloft he cut the ether with his air-roaming wings. But Anna, exceedingly terrified at the words of the angel, sadly sought her home; and trembling, lay upon her couch, rehearsing the psalms of the lord throughout that day and continuing her prayers throughout the ensuing night.
Thereupon she summoned her maid and asked her when she came into her presence why she despised her mistress, and why she had delayed to come to her when she realized that some great thing was about to happen to her. But the insolent maid answering her mistress hurled at her a word in derision in the low murmur customary among servants: "If God despised you by making you barren, tell me, how does the cause of the divine wrath concern me?" But Anna bore this opprobrium patiently, pouring out her grief in silent tears.
It happened that at the same hour the same angel appeared also to Joachim in great splendor among the hills where he was hiding while pasturing his flock. The heavenly messenger commanded Joachim to return to the spouse he had left. In great distress, he said to his heavenly visitant: "I have lived with my spouse for twice ten years, and God has given me no offspring from her. Then too it was but recently that I departed from the temple after having been bitterly reproached for this very cause. And now after I have been derided and filled with reproaches, do you exhort me to return and subject myself to my former disgrace?"
The celestial messenger then spoke these gentle words: "Believe that I am a heavenly citizen, given to you as a guardian by the grace of the most high king, who granted that through me Anna, your just wife, should be consoled while amid tears she poured out her efficacious prayers. But now also for your sake I have come down from the realms of heaven, bringing you similar gifts of joy surpassing. For this I announce to you: that soon the most noble Anna will conceive a daughter whom all generations shall call blessed. The child will be holy among all the daughters of men, and the holy spirit will find in her a fitting temple. Through her the greatest blessing shall come to the world, nor was there one like her before, nor shall there be one like her coming after. But now, attempt to return to your happy spouse, who will rejoice in giving birth to such a child who is to be a glory for the entire world. And always render sweet gratitude to the creator, who was pleased to grant to you two this offspring like to whom indeed all the chosen prophets have never known, nor after this one will ever know."
Joachim, overjoyed upon hearing these promises, said to the angel: "If your manifest favor continues toward your servant, agree to rest awhile beneath my roof, and do not disdain to enjoy the repast I have prepared."
To him the angel made response in words of dignity: "Desist, I pray you, henceforth to call yourself my servant, but consider yourself a companion to the angelic hosts. As for me, earthly nourishment is not necessary, for I am constantly satisfied with the presence of God on high. Therefore I advise you to bring as a sacred offering to the lord that which you are so kind to place for my table."
Thereupon Joachim speedily chose a yearling from his flock of lambs, confident that the former criticism of Ruben had been blotted out. With a glad heart, after he had placed the fire, he joyfully prepared, as the law prescribed, to sacrifice to the lord. The angel after having seen all these things done as he had ordered, raising himself above the smoke of the altar, hastened toward the stars.
And thus gradually the glory of the heavenly father began to break forth to the world in resplendent rays, and ancient discord was brought to a definite end as soon as the celestial citizens had promised companionship to those earthborn citizens whom hitherto they had disdained by reason of the guilt of their father, Adam. Neither did the clemency of the father of all lie hidden from the angelic host when, in the fullness of time, he in his mercy decreed to send his own son into the womb of a virgin, in order that this son, born of the father before all ages, might in time assume flesh of a virgin mother, and thus save all humankind by his all-holy blood, and that after this, the wily enemy of man might not rejoice in holding the world in his malicious snare; but that the godhead of the father and of the son and likewise of the fostering spirit, equal in nature, might under this triune name, reign as is just throughout the peaceful world even unto the end of time.
When the angel had ascended to star-bearing Olympus, Joachim, hardly bearing such great predictions, was seized with an intense fear. Prostrating himself to the earth, he lay there overcome with awe at this great heavenly manifestation; and he lay there unconscious, if I am not mistaken, from the sixth hour of that day until the sun had run its course at evening.
In the meantime his servants came with the wearied herd; and when they saw their master prone upon the ground, standing about they began sadly to inquire the cause of the unusual distress in his distracted mind. And it was indeed with great difficulty that they were able to raise him up. When he had told the message of the heavenly visitor, they persuaded him to obey the divine injunction and to return speedily to the country he had left.
Collecting his flocks, Joachim departed from the forest, joyfully taking with him his servants. And it came to pass that after thirty days an angel appeared to blessed Anna while she was at prayer and addressed her in these consoling words: "Rise quickly, Anna, and hasten with a calm mind and countenance to the gate called in the language of the people the Golden Gate. There you will soon meet your lawful spouse returned to you alive and in great peace."
When these things were said, Anna followed quickly that lovable command and impatient of delay she hastened to the gateway, expecting her lord with joyous heart. And, indeed, when she beheld him with astonished eyes, across those flowery fields she sped to meet him and she threw herself into his cherished embrace, rendering thanks to the most high in these words: "Praise to you, greatest giver of every good, who granted to me, although unworthy, such great bliss! Behold, I see before me my own beloved, safe and well; for so long a time I have lived as a widow; and I, who have been barren, have conceived to my joy!" Then all the Hebrew people, learning these events, with one accord gave thanks to God with joyful hearts.
Nine months after these events came that blessed day on which the illustrious Anna brought forth her child, who was to be revered among all generations. After eight days the high priests, who had been summoned, came, so that according to custom they might confer a name upon the child and purify the mother. Joachim pouring forth prayers to God said: "O king of heaven, who alone names the stars, deign to indicate in a heavenly manner by some brilliant sign the name of this tender babe." When he had said this, a mighty voice sounded suddenly from on high, commanding that the name "Mary" be bestowed upon the chosen child. "Stella Maris," as our Latin tongue has it. Fittingly this name was conferred upon that holy child, because she is the brightest star shining forever in the beautiful diadem of the eternal Christ.
After two years had measured the space of time and the happy mother according to custom had weaned her holy babe, she hastened to present her, who would be the temple of God, with a worthy gift in the temple, where in company with other holy maidens the child would persevere in singing praises to God, whom the celestial choirs laud. Arriving at the threshold of the sacred temple the little one paused unmindful of her tender age, and filled with love of God, mounted the steep ascent of thrice five steps, bravely hurrying upward; nor did she even turn, childlike, to look for her parents who stood watching. Startled at these happenings all who beheld her marveled greatly, as did also the ministers of the temple. The chief priests praised the action of the little one and said that by this deed she had foreshadowed what great things would be accomplished through her, truly and deservedly a great marvel for all.
For what can be believed to be, or what can truly be greater than the maid who bore in her virginal bosom the great creator of the world, her own maker? Nor is it to be wondered at, if the babe with its tender infant limbs began early to direct its steps upward; that child whom you, most loving father, have enriched with your holy spirit while she was yet enclosed in the womb of her saintly mother; you who knew that she alone would be found worthy to bring forth your only begotten son, prayed for throughout the ages. This son, who after he had taken upon himself a human form, opened the way to eternity, by which all reach the father's land which had been lost; he who is called Christ, to whom be celestial glory. Amen.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Works of Hrotsvit of Gandersheim by David H. Price. Copyright © 2015 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Excerpted by permission of UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS PRESS.
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