The Garden of Delights: Reform and Renaissance for Women in the Twelfth Century

Appendix: Latin Texts and Translations

Appendix: Latin Texts and Translations Herrad’s Introductory Poem and Prologue hd no. 1 Rithmus Herradis abbatisse per quem Hohenburgenses virgunculas amabiliter salutat et ad veri sponsi fidem dilectionemque salubriter invitat. Salve cohors virginum Hohenburgiensium Albens quasi lilium Amans Dei Filium. Herrat devotissima Tua fidelissima Mater et ancillula Cantat tibi cantica. Te salutat milies Et exoptat in dies, Ut leta victoria Vincas transitoria. O multorum speculum Sperne, sperne seculum, Virtutes accumula, Veri sponsi turmula.1 Insistas luctamine, Diros hostes2 sternere, 1 scilicet tu. 2 id est demones. 226 Appendix Te rex3 regum adjuvat Quia te desiderat.4 Ipse tuum animum Firmat contra Zabulum, Ipse post victoriam5 Dabit regni gloriam. Te decent delicie6 Debentur divicie7 Tibi celi curia, Servat bona plurima. Christus parat nupcias8 Miras per delicias, Hunc expectes9 principem Te servando virginem. Interim monilia10 Circumdes11 nobilia, Et exornet faciem Mentis purgans aciem. Christus odit maculas,12 Rugas13 spernit vetulas, Pulchras14 vult virgunculas Turpes15 pellit feminas. 3 Christus. 4 in sponsam. 5 id est mortem. 6 scilicet regni celestis. 7 eternitatis. 8 in celo. 9 in isto seculo. 10 virtutes. 11 exerceas. 12 peccata. 13 crimina anime. 14 castas. 15 id est incestas. Latin Texts and Translations 227 Fide cum turturea Sponsum istum redama, Ut tua formositas Fiat perpes claritas. Vivens16 sine fraudibus Es monenda17 laudibus, Ut consummes18 optima Tui gradus19 opera. Ne vacilles dubia20 Inter mundi flumina21 Verax Deus premia22 Spondet post pericula.23 Patere nunc aspera, Mundi spernens prospera, Nunc sis cruci24 socia25 Regni consors postea. Per hoc mare26 naviga, Sanctitate gravida,27 Dum de navi28 exeas Syon29 sanctam teneas. Syon turris celica, Bella30 tenens atria, 16 tu. 17 a me. 18 finias. 19 ordinis. 20 in fide. 21 impedimenta. 22 tibi. 23 mundi. 24 Christi. 25 duram sustinens. 26 mundum. 27 plena. 28 corpore. 29 id est urbem celestem. 30 pulchra. 228 Appendix Tibi fiat statio,31 Acto32 vite spacio. Ibi33 rex virgineus34 Et Marie Filius35 Amplectens te redamet A merore36 relevet. Parvipendens omnia Temptatoris37 jacula, Tunc gaudebis38 pleniter Jubilando 39 suaviter. Stella maris fulgida,40 Virgo mater unica, Te conjungat Filio Federe41 perpetuo. Et me tecum trahere Non cesses precamine, Ad sponsum42 dulcissimum43 Virginalem Filium. Ut tue victorie, Tue magne glorie, Particeps inveniar44 De terrenis45 eruar. 31 requies. 32 finito. 33 in Syon. 34 Christus. 35 Christus. 36 hujus seculi. 37 diaboli. 38 in Syon. 39 canticum agni. 40 Maria. 41 amore. 42 Christum. 43 scilicet. 44 in celis. ut. 45 de periculis. Latin Texts and Translations 229 Vale casta contio, Mea jubilatio, Vivas sine crimine46 Christum semper dilige. Sit hic liber utilis, Tibi delectabilis Et non cesses volvere47 Hunc48 in tuo pectore.49 Ne more strucineo Surrepat50 oblivio, Et ne viam51 deseras Antequam pervenias.52 Amen amen amen Amen amen amen Amen amen amen Amen amen amen. hd no. 1 The poem of the abbess Herrad, in which she lovingly salutes the Hohenbourg virgins and with good wishes invites them to faith and love of the true bridegroom. Hail, virgin band Of Hohenbourg, Who, white as the lily, Love the Son of God. Herrad, Your most devoted and faithful 46 in hac vita. 47 pertractare. 48 librum. 49 memoria. 50 tibi. 51 Christum. 52 ad illum. 230 Appendix Mother and little handmaid, Sings songs for you. She greets you a thousand times And prays each day That, in happy victory, You shall overcome all things that pass. O mirror of many, Scorn, scorn the world! Pile up virtues, Little troop of the true Bridegroom. Persevere in the struggle To overthrow the terrible enemies The King of kings aids you Since he longs for you. He himself strengthens your soul Against Zabulon After death, which is our victory, He himself will give you the glory of his kingdom. The delights of the celestial kingdom become you The riches of eternity are your due For you, the heavenly court Reserves many blessings. Christ prepares a wedding Wonderful in delights, May you await this prince By keeping yourself a virgin. Meanwhile, gird yourself With noble necklaces And let Christ adorn each face Purifying the mind’s power, For he hates the blemishes of sin And scorns the aged wrinkles of a guilty soul, Latin Texts and Translations 231 His desire is for beautiful little maidens Ugly women he drives away. With faith like a dove, Love your Bridegroom in return So that your beauty May become an everlasting brightness. You who are living without deceit Be admonished...