Roccati, G. Matteo, ed., "A Gersonian Text in Defense of Poetry: De Laudibus Elegie Spiritualis (c. 1422-1425)" (Traditio 60: 369-385, 2005).

Text name(s): De Laudibus Elegie Spiritualis; On the Praises of Spiritual Elegy

Number of pages of primary source text: 0

Medieval Author(s): Gerson, John

Dates: 1422 - 1425

Archival Reference:

Original Language(s): Latin;

Translation: Original language included. English translation.

Translation Comments:

Geopolitical Region(s): France; Europe;

County/Region:

Apparatus: Introduction

Comments:

Jean Gerson, though best remembered as a 15th century Chancellor of the University of Paris and as a theologian influential in the conciliar movement, was also a prolific poet. Many of his poems survive, providing insight into the culture of the University. This lengthy poem represents a defense of the genre of poetry and its capacity to educate and enoble, using many citations drawn from classical sources.

Introduction Summary:

The editor’s brief (11 pp) introduction notes that there is no modern critical edition of Gerson’s poetry, and offers the present edition as a partial fulfillment of that gap. The editor discusses the dating and authorship of the work, situating it in the larger framework of Gerson’s poetry. He provides an English prose translation of the Latin verse to illustrate the main themes that Gerson addresses (372-376), particularly the use of poetry as a means to the spiritual elevation of humankind.

Cataloger: MCB