A Second Middle High German Translation of the Benediction of St. Clare

A SECOND MIDDLE HIGH GERMAN TRANSLATION OF THE BENEDICTION OF ST. CLARE The earliest known version of the Benediction of St. Clare, and the one which is generally accepted as the most nearly authentic, is a Middle High German translation dating from around the middle of the fourteenth century. This version was first edited in 1914 by Walter W. Seton.1 There are, however, numerous other versions, some of which have been discovered since Seton published his edition . Although none of these other versions can displace the Middle High German translation from its position as the earliest, it is quite likely that there are among them versions that more faithfully reflect what St. Clare originally wrote. All other versions of the Benediction, although they may have deficiencies of their own, disagree with the oldest version in two places, and an examination of these instances of disagreement shows that the errors are in the German version. I wish here to present an edition of a second German translation and to discuss the two passages which are unique to the earlier German translation. The text of the later German version will illustrate the passages as they occur in the other versions. It will be helpful to list the several different versions of the Benediction in chronological order — insofar as that order can be determined — before moving to the text of the second German translation . A. A Middle High German translation extant in eight manuscripts , the oldest of which was probably written around 1350. This is the version which was first edited by Seton, who knew of five of the manuscripts. In all manuscripts the Benediction follows a trans1 Walter W. Seton, "Some New Sources for the Life of Blessed Agnes of Prag including some Chronological Notes and a New Text of the Benediction of Saint Clare," Archivum Franciscanum Historicum (AFH), 7 (1914), 185-97 and Some New Sources for the Life of Blessed Agnes of Bohemia (Aberdeen: The University Press, 1915), pp. 164-165. C MARK BORKOWSKI lation of St. Clare's four letters to Blessed Agnes of Prague and is addressed to Agnes. In each case the Benediction, which is called the fifth letter in some manuscripts, is incorrectly divided from the fourth letter: the first paragraph is written as a part of the fourth letter, and the title designating the fifth letter or Benediction is placed before the second paragraph. A new edition of the letters and the Benediction, using all of the manuscripts, has been prepared by the present writer.2 B.A French translation printed in the volume Seraphicae Legislationis Textus Originales (SLTO), which the editors say represents a version found in early Colettan manuscripts.3 If the manuscripts in question were written during St. Colette's lifetime we may place them in the first half of the fifteenth century. It is quite possible, however, that the translation was first made somewhat earlier in a convent which was later reformed by St. Colette. C.A Dutch translation extant in nine manuscripts and edited by David de Kok.4 The earliest manuscript was written in 1460. D.A French translation found in a manuscript which was written between 1482 and 1484, edited by Ubald d'Alençon.5 E.A German translation found in the manuscript Thennenbach 4 of the Badische Landesbibliothek in Karlsruhe, ff. i8or-i82r. The manuscript was written in 1492 by the nun Magdalena Steimerin, probably in a convent in Freiburg. The benediction appears with a translation of St. Clare's letters to Blessed Agnes and is called the fifth letter. It is correctly separated from the fourth letter. This version is also addressed to Agnes. The text is presented below.6 F.An Italian translation of the text of Mark of Lisbon originally 8 C. Mark Borkowski, "Two Medieval German Translations of the Letters of St. Clare of Assisi to Blessed Agnes of Prague and of the Benediction of St. Clare," Diss. Chapel Hill 1974. 8 Seraphicae Legislationis Textus Originales (SLTO) (Ad Claras Aquas, 1897), p. 282. 4 David de Kok, "S. Clarae Benedictionis Textus Neerlandici," AFH, 27 (1935). 387-398. 8 Ubald d'Alençon, "Le plus ancien texte de la Bénédiction...