HumanitiesResearchCentre
MedievalWomen’sWriting
Workshop:ReadingPack.
Wednesday22ndFebruary2017.
GenerouslysupportedbytheDepartmentofEnglishand
ComparativeLiteraryStudies
University of Warwick
Contact
Medieval Seminar
LouiseCampion:[email protected]
Series
@medievalwarwick
JaneSinnett-Smith:[email protected]
HumanitiesResearchCentre
HildegardofBingen
Germany,1098-1179
HildegardofBingenwasaGermanBenedictinenun,whoisoftencitedasavisionary
writer,philosopher,composer,polymath,andChristianmystic.Bornintoanoblefamily
andtheyoungestoftenchildren,shewasvowedtoGodbyherparents.Attheageofeight,
shejoinedherauntasanenclosednun,andanewfoundationofnunsgrewuparound
them.InGermany,sheisoftennotedasthefounderofscientificnaturalhistory.Indeed,
hervastcollectionofworksreflectsthisbroadspreadofknowledge,assheiscreditedwith
writingtheoldestsurvivingmedievalmoralityplay,anumberofmedicaltreatises,works
onbotany,songs,andlyricpoems.Muchofhermusicsurvives,andisstillperformedtoday.
Shealsofoundedtwomonasteries,oneatRupertsberg,in1150,andanotheratEibingen,
in1165.HildegardsuggestedthatsheexperiencedherfirstvisionfromGodattheageof
five,andthoughshewasinitiallyreluctanttorecordhervisions,shebegantodosoinher
earlyforties,whenshereceivedadivinemessageinstructinghertowritedownallthatshe
sawandheard.
1.Hildegard’sLyrics.
Hildegard’slyricsdrawuponboththeBibleandthelanguageandexperiencesofher
visions,receiveddirectlyfromGod.Medievalwomenvisionaries,whohadoftenbeen
excludedfromthemale-dominatedworldofBiblicalcommentaryandexegesis,made
greatuseofthedivineauthoritythatreceivingvisionsstraightfromGodaffordedthem.
ThislyricisdedicatedtotheVirginMary.
Avegenerosa-ymnusdeSanctaMaria
Hail,nobleone-hymnofSaintMary
Hail,girlofanoblehouse,
shimmering
andunpolluted,
youpupilintheeyeofchastity,
youessenceofsanctity,
whichwaspleasingtoGod.
Fortheheavenlypotion
waspouredintoyou,
inthattheHeavenlyword
receivedaraimentoffleshinyou.
Youarelikethelilythatdazzles
whomGodknewbeforeallothers.
Omostbeautiful
anddelectableone:
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howgreatlyGoddelightedinyou!
intheclaspofHisfire
Heimplantedinyousothat
Hissonmightbesuckledbyyou.
Thusyourwomb
heldjoy,
whentheharmonyofallHeaven
chimedoutfromyou,
because,Virgin,youcarriedChrist
whenceyourchastityblazedinGod.
Yourfleshhasknowndelight,
likethegrasslandtouchedbydew
andimmersedinitsfreshness;
soitwaswithyou,
omotherofalljoy.
NowletthesunriseofjoybeoverallEcclesia
andletitresoundinmusic
forthesweetestVirgin,
Marycompellingallpraise,
motherofGod.Amen.
2.Hildegard’sVisions.
ThisshortexcerptfromHildegard’sextensivecatalogueofvisionsdrawsuponapervasive
imagethroughouttheworksofmanywomenmystics,thatoftheBrideofChrist.Tobea
BrideofChrististoenterintowhatisoftendescribedasa‘spiritualmarriage’withJesus,
inwhichoneisentirelydevotedtoGod,oftenforsakingthematerialworldforamore
profoundconnectiontothespiritualrealm.InHildegard’svision,theBrideofChristis
allegorisedasahugecity,intowhichallofthedevoutChristianscanenter.Manymedieval
religioustexts,particularlythosewrittenforandbywomen,allegorisetheirreadersin
termsofspacesorbuildings,oftendrawingonimagesofcastles,stonetowers,churches,
andhouses.
Takenfrom:VisionIII:TheChurch,BrideofChristandMotheroftheFaithful.
AfterthisIsawtheimageofawomanaslargeasagreatcity,withawonderful
crownonherheadandarmsfromwhichsplendourhunglikesleeves,shiningfrom
Heaventoearth.Herwombwaspiercedlikeanetwithmanyopenings,withahuge
multitudeofpeoplerunninginandout.Shehadnolegsorfeet,butstoodbalancedon
herwombinfrontofthealtarthatstandsbeforetheeyesofGod,embracingitwith
outstretchedhandsandgazingsharplywithhereyesthroughoutallofHeaven.Icould
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notmakeoutherattire,exceptthatshewasarrayedingreatsplendourandgleamed
withlucidserenity,andonherbreastshonearedglowlikethedawn;andIhearda
soundofallkindsofmusicsingingabouther,‘Likethedawn,greatlysparkling’.
Andthatimagespreadoutinsplendourlikeagarment,saying,‘Imustconceive
andgivebirth!’Andatonce,likelightning,therehastenedtoheramultitudeofangels,
makingstepsandseatswithinherforpeople,bywhomtheimagewastobeperfected.
Hildegardexcerptstakenfrom:WomenandWritinginMedievalEurope:ASourcebook.
Ed.CarolyneLarrington.London:Routledge,1995.Print.
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ClemenceofBarking
England,fl.c.1163to1200
LittleisknownaboutClemence,otherthantheinformationshegivesaboutherselfwhen
shesignshernameattheendofherLifeofStCatherine,writteninAnglo-NormanFrench
inthelate12thcentury:thathernameisClemenceandsheisanunfromBarkingAbbeyin
Essex:
IwhohavetranslatedherlifeamcalledClemencebyname.IamanunofBarking,for
loveofwhichItookthisworkinhand.FortheloveofGod,Iprayandbeseechallwho
willhearthisbookandwholistentoitwithareceptivehearttopraytoGodonmy
behalf,thathemayplacemysoulinparadiseandguardmybodywhileitisalive,he
whoreignsandlivesandwillreign,andisandwasandwillalwaysbe.(2689-2700)
Jokisavieaitranslatee,
2690ParnunsuiClemencenumee.
DeBerkingesuinunain.
Purs’amurpriscestoevreenmein.
Atuzcelskicestlivreorrunt,
Ekideboncoerl’entenderunt,
2695PuramurDeuprierequier,
Qu’ilvoillentDeupurmeipreier,
Qu’ilm’anmemetteenpareis,
Eguartlecorstantcumertvis,
Kiregneeviteregnera
2700Eesteerteparmeindra.
1.TheLifeofStCatherine,c.1163to1200.
TheLifeofStCatherinewrittenbyClemencefollowsthetaleofCatherineofAlexandria,a
youngChristianmartyrwhodiedintheearly4thcentury.AccordingtoClemence’stext,
Catherinewasverywise,highlyeducated,andtrainedintheartsofargumentation.After
shespeaksoutagainstpaganreligiouspractice,thepaganemperorMaxentiusembarks
onaseriesofeffortstoconverthertopaganism,frompersuasiontoviolenttorture,but
CatherineholdsfirmtoherChristianfaith.50ofthemostlearnedpaganphilosophersare
summonedtodebatewithher,butshedefeatsthemallwiththestrengthofherarguments
andherrhetoricalskill.Inthefollowingextract,oneofthephilosophersadmitsdefeat,
praisingherwisdom.
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Atthisoneoftheclerks,whowasveryworthyandwise,replied:‘Truly,’hesaid,‘lord
emperor,sinceourmothersboreus,wehaveneverheardawomanspeakso,ordebate
sowisely.Sheisnotrevealingfoolishthingstous,butmattersfulloftruth.Her
argumentwasmainlyaboutthegodhead.Noonewithwhomwemighthavedebated
waseverabletostanduptousso.Hewhothoughthimselfwiseattheoutsetthought
himselfafoolattheend.Ihaveneverseenaclerk,howeverskilled,whomIcouldnot
haveforcedtosurrender.ButIcannotrefuteherclaims,forIseenothingwrongwith
them.Itisnosmallthingthatthisladyadvancesagainstus.Shespeaksofthecreatorof
theworldandconfoundsourgodswiththetruth.Wenolongerknowwhattosaytoher,
forourcauseisfalse.WetrulybelieveinherGod,whocreatedeverythingfromnothing.
FromthemomentthisladyspoketousaboutJesusChrist’sholycross,hisname,his
power,hisdeathandhisbirth,allourwisdomfledandwewerecompletelyovercome.
Webelieveinhimwithallourhearts;weshallsaynothingelsetoyou.’(1075-1108)
1075Unsclersrespuntaitant
Kymutestsagesetvailliant:
“Certes,”faitil,“dreizemperere,
Unkepuisquefumesneezdemere,
N’oimesfemmesiparler,
1080Nesisagementdesputer.
Nenusmustrepaschosesveines,
Enzsuntdeveritétutespleines.
Leplusdunteleaddesputé,
Estdeladivinité.
1085Unkemesnenouspotcuntreester
Nulakideigniumparler.
Telsetientsageal’envair
Kefolsetientaldepartir.
Unkesneviclercsivailliant,
1090K’elenefeissetutrecreant.
Messesdizdesdirenepuis,
Karnulefauseténetruis.
Ceon’estpaspetitechose
Duntcestedamenusoppose.
1095Delfaitreparoledelmund,
Etparveritétuznozdeusconfund.
Nusneluisavummesdire,
Karfauseeadnostremateire.
EtsonDeucreumveraiment
1100Kytuterienfistdenient.
Puiskecestedamenusdist
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DelacroizseinteJhesuCrist,
Desonnun,desapuissance,
Desamortetdesanaissance,
1105Trestuitlesancnusenfui
Etsisumestutesbay.
DenosquersensonDeucreum;
Autrechosenetedirrum.”
Englishtranslationfrom:JocelynWogan-BrowneandGlynS.Burgess(trans),Virgin
LivesandHolyDeaths:TwoExemplaryBiographiesforAnglo-NormanWomen(London:
Everyman,1996),pp.19-20,43.
OldFrenchversionfrom:ElectronicCampseyProject
http://margot.uwaterloo.ca/campsey/cmphome_e.html
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MariedeFrance
England,fl.c.1160-1215
ThelittleweknowaboutMariedeFrance,MarieofFrance,comesfromherownwriting,
mostlikelyundertakenduringthe12thcenturyinEngland.Aswellastranslationsof
Aesop’sFables,MarieisprobablybestknownforhercollectionofBretonLais,shorttexts
whichareoftenidentifiedtodayashavinganinterestinCelticfolkloreandmagic,aswell
asidentitypolitics.Shealsowroteasaint’slife,theLegendofthePurgatoryofSt.Patrick.
ShepaintsanimageofherselfasatranslatorfromBretonandLatinintoFrench,andher
work,particularlytheFables,enjoyedmuchpopularityintheMiddleAges.Herewe
provideyouwithmodernEnglishtranslationsoftheProloguetotheFablesfollowedbythe
fableoftheCrowandtheFox.
1.Prologue
Learnedandletteredpeopleought
todevotestudy,time,andthought
tothosewhosebooksandtextsarefull
ofsayings,tales,examples,all
composedbythephilosophers,
whomarkedwellwhatcametotheirears.
Toteachthemoralandthegood
theywrotedownproverbsthattheyheard
sofolkwhowishedtheirlivestobetter
couldprofitbythelearnedletter.
Fatherstheyweretoallofus!
Theemperor,oldRomulus,
instructedthushisson,andby
hisownexampletaughttheboy
howhemustbeonguard,sothat
henotbedoneinbysomeplot.
Aesopwrotetohismaster,too--
heknewhisman,hismindandview--
fableshe’dfound;theyhadbeendone
fromGreekintotheLatintongue.
Somepeoplethoughtitludicrous
he’dwastehismindtolaborthus.
nofableissofoolish,though,
thatwisdomisnotfoundthere,too;
intheexamplesyou’llsoonsoo
there’salwayssomephilosophy.
Tome,whomustcomposetheserhymes,
Ithappensthereare,oftentimes,
wordsquiteunsuitableatbest.
However,hewhodidrequest
mytask,isflowerofchivalry,
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ofwisdomandofcourtesy.
Whensuchamanapproachesme,
innowaydoIwishtobe
shirkerofanypainsinstore,
thoughsomemaytakemeforaboor
inhonoringsuchabehest.
AndnowIshallbeginthefirst
offablesAesopuswrotedown
andtohismasterpassedalong.
2.TheCrowandtheFox
Ithappenedonce--aswellitcould--
thatbyawindowwithagood
pantryjustnexttoit,inside,
acrowflewby;andtherehespied
somecheeseslyingondisplay,
spreadoutuponawickertray.
Hesnatchedoneup,andflewaway.
Hemetafoxwhileonhisway.
Nowagreatlonginghadthisfox
tosharethecheese;hethoughtsometricks
he’dtry,somecunningstratagem,
andthecrowmightbefooledbyhim.
“DearGod,Sire”,saidthefox,“Isee
abirdofsuchgentility!
nofairerfowlhaslivedonearth.
NeverhaveIbeheldsuchworth!
Doesthesongmatchtheform?Ifso,
finegold’snaughttothisbeauteouscrow!”
Thispraisethecrowwasboundtohear.
Onearthhethoughthehadnopeer,
andheresolvedtosing,forhe
aschanteur,gotmuchflattery.
Hesang,hisbeakwasallagape,
thecheese,ofcourse,madeitsescape,
andfellrightdownupontheground.
Andthefoxsnappeditwithabound.
Nowhe’dnocareforsong,nopraise;
hehadhisobject,andhischeese.
Exampletake:theproudmusthave
thepraiseandplauditsthattheycrave;
byliesandtricksandblandishments
they’remadetoserviceothers’wants.
Fools,squanderers,they’venotachance
withcunningfraudsandsycophants.
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ExtractstakenfromMariedeFrance:Poetry,trans.anded.ByDorothyGilbert(New
York:W.W.Norton&Co.,2015.
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ChristinedePizan
France,1364–c.1430
ChristinedePizanwasborninVenicein1364,butgrewupattheFrenchcourtofCharles
V,whereshewaseducatedbyherfather,acourtphysicianandastrologer.Shewas
marriedat15,andwhenherhusbanddiedtenyearslatershewaslefttorunhisestate
andsupportherthreechildren,aswellasanieceandherownmother.Around1399
Christineturnedtowritingtomakealiving.Shewashugelysuccessful,enjoyingthe
patronageandfinancialsupportofinfluentialfiguresatcourt.Hervastandvariedoutput
includeslyricpoetry,biography,andmoralanddidactictreatises.Sheoftenincluded
autobiographicaldetailsaboutherownlifeinherwork,andwroteeloquentlyontherole
ofwomeninsociety.
1.TheLetteroftheGodofLove,1399.
L’epistreauDieud’amoursisoneofChristine’searliestworks.TheLetteriswritteninthe
voiceofCupid,thegodoflove,whoaddressesittoallwhoareinhisservice.IntheLetter,
Christinetakesaimatthemisogynyandanti-feminismofthe(male,clerical)literary
establishment.Inthisextract,Cupiddefendswomenfromtheslanderousaccusations
levelledatthembymen:
“Whythenifwomenareweakandflighty,andeasilymanipulated,sillyandlackingselfcontrol,assomeclerklyauthorssay,whydothosewhopursuethemhaveanyneedof
ruse?Andwhydowomennotgiveinatonce,withoutrequiringthatstrategiesand
tricksbeusedtocatchthem?Foritisnotnecessarytogotowarforacastlethatis
alreadycaptured.[...]Itisnecessarytoconcludethat,sincescheming,greatingenuity
andgreateffortarerequiredtodeceiveanobleorlow-bornwoman,theyarenotso
fickleasitissaid,noristheirbehavioursochangeable.
Andifanyonesaystomethatbooksarefullofsuchficklewomen(achargemadeby
many,andonethatIdislike),Ianswerthatwomendidnotwritethebooks,nordidthey
putintothemthethingsthatonereadsthereagainstwomenandtheirbehaviour.Thus
domaleauthorswritetotheirhearts’delighttheirdescriptionsofwomen;these
authorsshownomercywhentheypleadtheircases,happytoyieldinnothingandto
takeforthemselvesthespoilsofvictory:foraggressivepeoplequicklyattackthosewho
donotdefendthemselves.Butifwomenhadwrittenthebooks,iknowforafactthat
theywouldhavebeenwrittendifferently,forwomenwellknowthattheyarewrongly
condemned.Thepartsarenotfairlydistributed,forthestrongesttakethelargest
pieces,andtheonewhodividesupthepiecestakesthebestforhimself.”
TheSelectedWritingsofChristinedePizan,trans.RenateBlumenfeld-KosinskiandKevin
Brownlee(NewYork:W.W.Norton,1997),p.22-23
‘Etcommentdoncquantfreslesetlegieres,
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380Ettournables,nycesetpouentieres
Sontlesfemmes,sicomaucunsclersdient,
Quelbesoingdoncestilaceulzquiprient
Detantpourcepourchacierdecautelles?
Etpourquoytostnes’iaccordentelles
385Sanzqu’ilfailleartn’enginaellesprendre?
Carpourchastelprisnefaultguerreemprendre.
…
Dontconvientiltoutdeneccessité,
Puisqu’artconvient,grantengineetgrantpeine,
Adecevoirfemmenobleouvillaine,
405Qu’elznesoientmiesivariables,
Commeaucundit,n’enleurfaitsimuables.
Ets’onmeditlilivreensonttuitplein,
C’estleresponsamaintdontjemeplain,
Jeleurresponsqueleslivresnefirent
410Paslesfemmes,neleschosesn’imirent
Quel’enylistcontreellesetleursmeurs:
Sidevisental’aisedeleurscuers
Ceulzquiplaidentleurcausesanzpartie,
Sanzrabatrecontent,etgrantpartie
415Prenentpoureulx,cardelegieroffendent
Lesbatailleuxceulzquinesedeffendent.
Maissefemmeseussentleslivresfait
Jesçaydevrayqu’autrementfustdufait,
Carbiensceventqu’atortsontencoulpées,
420Sinesontpasadroitlesparscoupées,
Carlesplusforsprenentlaplusgrantpart,
Etlemeilleurpoursoyquipiecespart.’
MauriceRoy(ed.),ŒuvrespoétiquesdeChristinedePisan,3vols(Paris:FirminDidot,
1886–96;rpt.NewYork:JohnsonReprintCorporation,1965),vol2,pp.13–14
2.TheBookoftheCityofLadies,1405.
[AdaptedfromTheBookoftheCityofLadies,trans.RosalindBrown-Grant(London:
PenguinBooks,1999),pp.Xvii-xviii]
LeLivredelaCitédesDamesiscomposedofacatalogueofbiographiesofcelebrated
women,withintheframeworkofadream-visioninwhichChristineistheprotagonist.The
visioncomestoherwhensheisreadingamisogynisttiradeagainstmarriagethatvilifies
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womenasdepravedandmalicious.ThreepersonifiedVirtues-Reason,Rectitudeand
JusticecometoChristinetocorrectthenegativeportrayalofwomen,informingChristine
thatshewillwriteabookthatwillrefutethemisogynists’accusationsagainstwomen.
Thisbookwillbelikeacitythathousesvirtuouswomenandprotectsthemfromantifeministattack.TheVirtuesprovideChristinewithexamplesofdistinguishedheroineswho
demonstratethecrucialrolewomenhaveplayedinhumanhistory.Inthispassage,
ChristinespeakswithRectitudeabouttheeducationofwomen:
BookII,Chapter36.Againstthosewhoclaimthatitisnotgoodforwomentobe
educated.
Afterhearingthesewords,I,Christine,said,‘Mylady,Icanclearlyseethatmuchgood
hasbeenbroughtintotheworldbywomen.Evenifsomewickedwomenhavedoneevil
things,itstillseemstomethatthisisfaroutweighedbyallthegoodthatotherwomen
havedoneandcontinuetodo.Thisisparticularlytrueofthosewhoarewiseandwell
educatedineithertheartsorthesciences,whomwementionedbefore.That’swhyI'm
allthemoreamazedattheopinionofsomemenwhostatethattheyarecompletely
opposedtotheirdaughters,wivesorotherfemalerelativesengaginginstudy,forfear
thattheirmoralswillbecorrupted.’
Rectitudereplied,‘Thisshouldprovetoyouthatnotallmen’sargumentsarebasedon
reason,andthatthesemeninparticulararewrong.Thereareabsolutelynogroundsfor
assumingthatknowledgeofmoraldisciplines,whichactuallyinculcatevirtue,would
haveamorallycorruptingeffect.Indeed,there’snodoubtwhatsoeverthatsuchforms
ofknowledgecorrectone’svicesandimproveone’smorals.Howcouldanyonepossible
thinkthatbystudyinggoodlessonsandadviceonewillbeanytheworseforit?[...]
Therefore,itisnotallmen,especiallythemostintelligent,whoagreewiththeviewthat
itisabadideatoeducatewomen.However,it’struethatthosewhoarenotveryclever
comeoutwiththisopinionbecausetheydon’twantwomentoknowmorethantheydo.’
TheBookoftheCityofLadies,trans.RosalindBrown-Grant(London:PenguinBooks,
1999),pp.139-41.
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MargeryKempe
England,c.1373-c.1439
MargeryKempewasborninwhatisnowKing’sLynn,inNorfolk,thedaughterofa
successfulmerchant.Shortlyaftershewasmarriedandhadgivenbirthtoherfirstchild,
shereceivedherfirstvisionofChrist.Aftergivingbirthtoafurtherthirteenchildren,and
attemptingsomewhatunsuccessfullytomakealivingfrombrewingandmilling,Margery
devotedherselftoalifeofpenance,prayer,andpilgrimage.TheBookofMargeryKempe
isoftencitedasthefirstautobiographyinEnglish,anddetailseverythingfromMargery’s
maritalproblemsandherstintasanunsuccessfulbusinesswoman,toherextensive
pilgrimagesacrosstheHolyLand,aswellashervisitstoallofthemajorholysitesin
Europe.Herpilgrimagevisitsareoftencharacterisedbyheruncontrollablecryingand
weepingatvariousimportantlocations,includingtheChurchoftheHolySepulchrein
Jerusalem.Itseemsthatshedidnotgetalongatallwellwithherfellowpilgrims,andshe
oftencomplainsthattheyignoreherandturnawayfromher,andevenmentionsthatthey
can’tstandtotravelalongsideher.Margery’sBookalsorecordssomeofhermystical
visions,inwhichsheispresentatboththeNativityandthePassionofChrist,quite
audaciouslyinsertingherselfintoBiblicalnarrative.Inafewplaces,itseemsasthoughshe
ismakingthecaseforherselftobemadeasaint,wantingrecognitionforherboldand
outlandishspirituality.
FromTheBookofMargeryKempe.
ThisexcerptfromtheproemtoMargery’sBookintroducesapervasivethemeofthetextas
awhole,thatofMargeryasmalignedandinsultedbythosearoundher,whilealso
detailingsomeofthereasonsastowhyMargerywaskeentowritedownher‘treatise’.
WhatisnotableaboutthispassageisthatMargeryoftenreferstoherselfinthethird
person,as‘thiscreature’.Margerycallsherselfa‘creature’throughouttheBook,andthe
questionofwhythetextiswritteninthethirdpersonisveryinteresting,asitprovokes
somedebateaboutpreciselywhatismeantbytheterm‘author’.Margeryisoftencitedas
oneofthefirstEnglishfemaleauthors,butshedidnotphysicallywritehernarrativedown
herself.Rather,shedictatedittoseveraldifferentscribesandlisteners,includingoneof
hersonsandherlocalpriest,whowasinitiallyreluctanttorecordherstoryasMargery
wasthesubjectofsuchahighvolumeofunfavourablegossip.
1.
Proem
InthenameofJesusChrist.
Herebeginsashortandcomfortingtreatiseforsinfulwretches,inwhichtheymight
havegreatsolaceandcomfortforthemselvesandunderstandthehighand
indescribablemercyofoursovereignSaviour,LordJesusChrist-whosenameshallbe
worshippedandmagnifiedwithoutend-whonowinourtimedeignstoexerciseHis
nobilityandHisgoodnesstous,theunworthyones.
AlltheworksofourSaviourareforourexampleandinstruction,andwhatever
graceHeworksinanycreatureistoourprofit,iflackofcharitybenotourhindrance.
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Sotherefore,bytheleaveofourmercifulLordChristJesus,tothemagnifyingof
Hisholyname,Jesus,thislittletreatiseshalldealsomewhatwithpartsofHiswonderful
works;howmercifully,howbenignly,andhowcharitablyHemovedandstirredasinful
wretchtowardsHislove,thewhichsinfulwretchformanyyearswantedandintended,
throughthepromptingoftheHolyGhost,tofollowourSaviour,makinggreatpromises
offastsandmanyotherpenitentialdeeds.Yetshewasalwaysturnedbackintimesof
temptation-likethereed’sstalkwhichbowswitheverywindandisneverunwavering
unlessnowindblows-untilthattimethatourmercifulLordJesusChrist,havingpity
andcompassionforHishandiworkandHiscreature,turnedhealthintosickness,
prosperityintoadversity,esteemintodisgrace,andloveintohatred.
Thuswithallthesethingsturningupsidedown,thiscreature,whoformany
yearshadgoneastrayandalwaysbeenunstable,wasperfectlydrawnandstirredto
enteruponthewayofperfection,theperfectwaywhichChristourSaviourinHisown
personexemplified:steadfastlyHetroditgravelyanddulyHetookitbefore.Thenthis
creature(ofwhomthistreatiseshall,throughthemercyofJesus,revealinpartthe
mannerofliving)wastouchedbyourLord’shandwithgreatbodilysicknessthrough
whichshelostherreasonandherwitsforalongtimeuntilourLord,bygrace,returned
hertohealthagain,asshalllaterbeshownmoreopenly.Herworldlygoods,whichin
thosedayswereplentifulandabundant,wereshortlyafterwardsutterlybarrenand
bare.Thenpompandpridewascastdownandputaside.Thosewhohadpreviously
respectedherafterwardsrebukedhermostsharply;herkinsmenandthosewhohad
beenherfriendswerenowherutmostenemies.Thenshe,consideringthisshocking
change,andseekingsuccourunderthewingsofherspiritualmother,HolyChurch,went
andsubmittedherselftoherconfessor,accusingherselfofmisdeedsandafterwardsshe
didgreatphysicalpenance.InashorttimeourmercifulLordvisitedthiscreaturewith
profusetearsofcontritiondaybyday,somuchsothatsomepeoplesaidshewould
weepwhenevershewantedtoandindoingsotheyslanderedtheworkofGod.
Shewassousedtobeingslanderedanddisgraced,tobeingchidedandrebuked
bytheworldforthegraceandvirtuewithwhichshewasprovidedthroughthestrength
oftheHolyGhost,thatitwasakindofsolaceandcomforttoherwhenshesufferedany
distressfortheloveofGodandforthegracethatGodperformedinher.Sincethemore
slanderanddisgracethatshesuffered,themoresheincreasedingraceandholy
meditation,ofhighcontemplation,andofwonderfulspeechesandconversationwhich
ourLordspokeandintimatedtohersoul,teachingherhowsheshouldbedespisedfor
Hislove,howsheshouldhavepatience,settingallhertrust,allherlove,andallher
affectiononHimonly.
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2.
FromBookOne,Chapter30.
ThisexcerptdealswithsomeofMargery’smostsignificantpilgrimagevisitstoanumber
ofsitesacrosstheHolyLand,manyofwhichareimportantplacesinBiblicalnarrative.It
alsopicksupthethemeofMargeryasmalignedanddislikedbyherfellowtravellers:some
wouldnotevenbepaidtotakeajourneywithher.Margeryismuchmorecomfortable,and
apparentlybetterliked,bythelocalpeoplethatshemeetsalongtheway,andtheyare
seentofacilitateherdevotion.ThegreatscaleofMargery’stravels,alongwithherdogged
determinationtovisitthemostimportantholysitesiscleartosee,andsheisfrequently
spurredonbyinteractionswithGod.
Anothertime,thiscreature’spartywantedtogototheRiverJordanandwouldnotlet
hergowiththem.ThenthiscreaturepleadedwithourLordthatshemightgowith
them,andhechargedthatsheshouldgowiththemwhethertheywanteditornot.And
thenshesetoutbythegraceofGodanddidnotasktheirpermission.Whenshecameto
theRiverJordan,theweatherwassohotthatshebelievedherfeetwouldburnforthe
heatthatshefelt.
AfterthatshewentonwithhercompanionstoMountQuarantine,whereour
Lordfastedforfortydays.Theresheaskedhercompanionstohelpherupthe
mountain.Andtheysaid‘no’,becausetheycouldbarelyhelpthemselvesup.Thenshe
hadmuchsorrow,forshecouldnotgetupthehill.AndthenaSaracen*,agood-looking
man,chancedtocomeuponher,andsheputagroatintohishand,makingsignstohim
totakeherupthemountain.AndswiftlytheSaracentookherunderhisarmandledher
upthehighmountainwhereourLordfastedforfortydays.Thenshewasterribly
thirstyandhadnosympathyfromherparty.ThenGod,inHishighgoodness,movedthe
GreyFriarswithcompassionandtheycomfortedherwhenherowncompatriotswould
notevenacknowledgeher.
AndsoshewaseverstrengthenedintheloveofourLordandallthemorebold
tosuffershamesandrebukesforHissakeineveryplaceshewent,forthegracethat
Godperformedinherinweeping,sobbing,andcrying,thewhichgraceshecouldnot
resistwhenGodwishedtosendit.Andshealwaysprovedherfeelingsweretrueand
thosepromisesthatGodhadmadetoherwhileshewasinEngland,andinotherplaces
too,cametoherinactualityjustasshehadsensedbefore,andthereforeshedaredthe
betterreceivesuchspeechesandconversations,andactallthemoreboldlythereafter.
Afterthat,whenthiscreaturehadcomedownfromtheMount,asGodwishes,
shewentonwardstotheplacewhereStJohntheBaptistwasborn.Andafterthatshe
wenttoBethany,whereMaryandMarthalived,andtothegravewhereLazaruswas
buriedandraisedfromdeathtolife.ShealsowenttothechapelwhereourblessedLord
appearedtoHisblissfulmotherbeforeallothersonEasterDayinthemorning.Andshe
stoodinthesameplacewhereMaryMagdalenefirststoodwhenChristsaidtoher,
‘Mary,whyweepestthou?’Andsoshewasinmanymoreplacesthanarewritten,for
shewasinJerusalemforthreeweeksandintheregionsthereabouts.Andshewas
alwaysverydevoutwhileshewasinthatregion.
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AndthefriarsoftheTemplemadeherverywelcomeandgavehermanyfine
relics,wishingthatshemightstaywiththem,ifshewanted,astheyhadsuchfaithin
her.Also,theSaracensmademuchofherandescortedherandledheraroundthe
region,wherevershewishedtogo.Andshefoundallthepeopletobegoodandgentle
towardsher,exceptherowncompanions.
AndasshecamefromJerusalemtoRamlah,shewantedtoreturntoJerusalem
forthegreatgraceandspiritualcomfortthatshehadfeltwhenshewasthere,andto
purchasemorepardonsforherself.AndthenourLordcommandedhertogotoRome,
andfromtherehometoEngland,andsaidtoher:‘Daughter,asoftenasyousayorthink,
“WorshippedbeallthoseholyplacesinJerusaleminwhichChristsufferedbitterpain
andPassion”youshallhavethesamepardonasifyouwerephysicallypresentthere,
bothforyourselfandforallthosetowhomyouwishtogiveit.’
AndasshewentontoVenice,manyofhercompanionswerereallysick,andour
Lordalwayssaidtoher,‘Donotbeafraid,daughter,nopersonshalldieintheshipyou
arein.’
Andshefoundherfeelingstobereallytrue.AndwhenourLordhadbrought
thembacktoVeniceinsafety,hercompatriotsforsookherandwentawayfromher,
leavingheralone.Andsomeofthemsaidthattheywouldnottravelwithherfora
hundredpounds.
*‘Saracen’isatermthatisoftenusedinmedievaltextstodescribeArabic-speakingMuslimpeoples.
MargeryKempeexcerptstakenfrom:TheBookofMargeryKempe.Ed.andtrans.
AnthonyBale.Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress,2015.Print.
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ImportantDates:Timeline.
1098:BirthofHildegardofBingen.
1141:HildegardofBingenreceivesavision,whichtellshertowritedownhervisions.
c.1160-c.1215:MariedeFrancewriteshermostimportantworks.
1160s-1170s:HildegardofBingenteachesmanysermons.
c.1163-c.1200:ClemenceofBarkingcomposesTheLifeofSt.Catherine.
1179:DeathofHildegardofBingen.
1364:BirthofChristinedePizan.
1380:ChristinedePizanismarried,aged15,andiswidowed10yearslater.
c.1373:BirthofMargeryKempe.
c.1405:ChristinedePizanfinishesTheBookoftheCityofLadies.
1413:MargeryKempesetsoffforJerusalem,alsovisitingBologna,Constance,and
Venice,amongotherplaces.
1417:MargeryKempetravelstoSantiagodeCompostela.
c.1432:ApproximatedateoffirstwritingdownofMargeryKempe’sBook.
1436:PrieststartstorewritepartsofMargeryKempe’sBook.
c.1438:DeathofMargeryKempe.
c.1460:DeathofChristinedePizan.
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AselectionofotherwomenwritinginwesternEurope,1000-1500:
11thcentury:
UmmAl-Kiram,Andalusianpoetandprincess,wrotelovepoetryinArabic
Walladabintal-Mustakfi,1001-1091,noblepoetfromCordoba,9Arabicpoems
survive
MuhyabintAl-Tayyani,poetofnon-noblebirthfromCordoba,becameastudentof
Wallada,composedinArabic
Nazhunal-Garnatiyabintal-Qulai’iya,d.c.1100,poetfromGranada,oflow-status
birth,composedwittyArabicverse
Ava(ofGöttweig?OfMelk?),c.1060-1127,firstnamedwomanwriterinGerman,
composedreligiouspoemsinMiddleHighGerman
12thcentury:
ḤamdabintZiyādAlMuaddib,poetfromGuadixinGranada,wroteinArabic
Héloïse,1090/1100-1164,Frenchnunandscholar,7lettersinLatintoherformer
loverPeterAbelardsurvive
TiborsdeSarenom,c.1130–1198,theearliestattestabletrobairitz,orwoman
troubadour,whowrotelyricpoetryinOccitan,thelanguageofsouthernFranceand
Catalonia
HerradofLandsberg,c.1130-1195,nunandabbessfromAlsace,completedpictorial
encyclopediaTheGardenofDelightsinLatinin1185
Ḥafṣabintal-Ḥājjar-Rakūniyya,c.1135-1190/91,aristocraticpoetfromGranada,19
compositionssurive,includinglovepoetry,elegyandsatiricalverse
AnonymousnunofBarking,fl.c.1163-89,anonymousnunfromBarkingAbbeyin
Essex,wroteaLifeofEdwardtheConfessorinAnglo-NormanFrench
AlmucsdeCastelnau,c.1140-1184,trobairitz(womantroubadour)fromProvence,
wroteinOccitan
AzalaisdePorcairagues,late12thcentury,trobairitz(womantroubadour),wrotein
Occitan
ComtessadeDia,fl.c.1175orc.1212,trobairitz(womantroubadour),wrotein
Occitan
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MariadeVentadorn,late12thcentury,trobairitz(womantroubadour),wrotein
Occitan,1worksurvivesfromc.1197
13thCentury:
Marie,fl.early13thcentury,workedinEngland,wroteaLifeofSaintAudreyinAngloNormanFrench
Castelloza,fl.early13thcentury,aristocratictrobairitz(womantroubadour)from
Auvergne,wroteinOccitan
DameMargotandDameMaroie,fl.13thcentury,2poetsfromArrasinFrance,who
debateeachotherinadebatepoeminOldFrench
BeatriceofNazareth,c.1200-1268,nunfromTieneninFlanders,wrotereligious
dissertationTheSevenWaysofHolyLoveinMiddleDutch
MechthildofMagdeburg,c.1207–1282/1294,nobleGermanmystic,composesThe
FlowingLightofDivinityinMiddleLowGermanc.1250-c.1280
GormondadeMonpeslier,fl.1226–1229,trobairitz(womantroubadour)from
Montpellier,wroteinOccitan
MechtildofHackeborn,1240-1290,GermanBenedictinenunandvisionarywriter.
WritesTheBookofGostlyGraceinthelate13thcentury
Marguerited'Oingt,c.1240-1310,Frenchnunandmystic,composesMeditationsin
Latinin1286,aswellas2textsinFranco-Provençal
MargueritePorete,c.1248/1250-1310,Frenchmystic,composesTheMirrorofSimple
SoulsinOldFrenchinthe1290s
HadewijchofBrabant,poetandmysticfromBrabant,composesletters,visionsand
poetryinMiddleDutch
GertrudetheGreat,1256–c.1302,Germannun,mysticandtheologian,composesThe
HeraldofDivineLoveinLatinfrom1289
14thcentury:
ChristinaEbner,1277–1356,Germannunandmystic,composesLifeandRevelationsin
Germanc.1317-1324,theBookofSistersfrom1344andasecondbookofRevelations
from1352
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BridgetofSweden,1303-1373,noblemysticfromSweden,recordedhermystical
visionsinthetextCelestialRevelations,translatedintoMiddleEnglishc.1410-1420
CatherineofSiena,1347-1380,Italiannunandphilosopher,recordedhervisionsin
TheDialogueofDivineProvidenceinLatin,1377-1378,lettersandprayersalsosurvive
JulianofNorwich,1342–c.1416,Englishanchoressandmystic,writesRevelationsof
DivineLovec.1395inEnglish
15thcentury:
CatherineofBologna,1413-1463,Italiannunandartist,writesTreatiseontheSeven
SpiritualWeaponsNecessaryforSpiritualWarfare1438-1456inItalian
FlorenciaPinar,poetfromCastile,4worksinCastiliansurvive
TeresadeCartagena,c.1425-?,Spanishnun,2worksinSpanishsurvive,Groveofthe
InfirmandWonderattheWorksofGod
EleanordePoitiers,1444/1446-1509,noblewomanfromBurgundy,writesetiquette
bookLesHonneursdelaCourinthe1480sinFrench
GwerfulMechain,fl.1460–1502,noblepoetfromMechaininPowys,wrotereligious
anderoticpoetryinWelsh,includingOdetothePubicHair
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