The Works of Hrotsvit of Gandersheim

Facsimile of the First Edition (1581)

Hrotsvitha Hrotsvit of Gandersheim, David H. Price

• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9780252098161
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literary Collections
• Index: Literature

Hrotsvit of Gandersheim, born circa 935, was a canoness at Gandersheim, a Benedictine monastery in Saxony. She may have come from the Saxon nobility, and she had the education to refer to ancient authors like Ovid and Virgil. Hrotsvit died around the year 975. David H. Price is professor of religious studies, history, and Jewish studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.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 PLAYS

Based on the translations by Christabel Marshall and published originally in 1923 under the nom de plume Christopher St. John

Translations edited and revised by David H. Price

PREFACE

There are many Catholics, and we cannot entirely acquit ourselves of the charge, who, attracted by the polished elegance, prefer the vanity of pagan books to the usefulness of the holy scriptures. There are others who, although they are deeply attached to the sacred writings and have no liking for most pagan productions, make an exception in favor of the fictions of Terence, and, fascinated by their charm, are corrupted by the wickedness of the matter. Wherefore I, the strong voice of Gandersheim, have not hesitated to imitate in my writings a poet whose works are so widely read, my objective being to glorify, within the limits of my poor talent, the laudable chastity of Christian virgins in that same form of composition that has been used to describe the shameless acts of licentious women. Nonetheless, one thing has embarrassed me and often brought a blush to my cheek. It is that I have been compelled through the nature of this work to apply my mind and my pen to depicting the dreadful frenzy of those possessed by illicit love, and the insidious sweetness of their speech—things that should not even be named among us. Yet if from modesty I had refrained from treating these subjects, I should not have been able to attain my object—to glorify the innocent to the best of my ability. For the more seductive the blandishments of deranged lovers, the more wonderful the divine succor and the greater the victory of those who resist, especially when it is fragile woman who is victorious and strong man who is routed with confusion.

I have no doubt that many will object that my poor writing is much inferior to that of the author whom I have taken as my model, that it is on a much humbler scale, and indeed altogether different.

Well, I do not deny this. No one can justly accuse me of wishing to place myself on a level with those who by the sublimity of their genius have so far surpassed me. No, I am not so arrogant as to presume to compare myself even with the least among these writers’ students. I strive only, although my power is not equal to my desire, to use what talent I have for the glory of him who gave it to me. Nor is my self-love so great that I would, to avoid criticism, abstain from proclaiming wherever possible the virtue of Christ working in his saints. If my pious devotion gives satisfaction, I shall rejoice; if it does not, either on account of my own worthlessness or of the faults of my unpolished style, I shall still be glad that I made the effort. For, in the humbler works of my naiveté, I gathered up my poor researches in heroic strophes, but here I have sifted them into a series of dramatic scenes and avoided through omission the pernicious voluptuousness of pagan writers.

Epistle of the Same to Certain Learned Patrons of this Book

To the learned and virtuous, who do not envy the success of others, but on the contrary rejoice in it as becomes the truly wise, Hrotsvit, of little learning and merit, sends wishes for your health in this life and your joy in eternity.

I cannot praise you enough for your humility, or pay an adequate tribute to your kindness and affection, for I am too lowly. To think that you, who have been nurtured in the most profound philosophical studies and have attained knowledge in perfection, should have deigned to approve the humble work of an obscure woman! You have, however, not praised me but the giver of the grace that works in me, by sending me your fraternal congratulations and admitting that I possess some little knowledge of those arts, the subtleties of which exceed the grasp of my woman’s mind. For until now I hardly dared to show my rough little writings even to a few and then only to my intimate companions. I came near abandoning this form of writing altogether, for if there were few to whom I could submit my compositions at all, there were fewer still who could point out what needed correction and encourage me to go on. But now, reassured by your verdict (is it not said that the testimony of three witnesses is “equivalent to the truth”?), I feel that I have enough confidence to apply myself to writing, if God grants me the power, and to submit it to the criticism of the learned whoever they may be. Still, I am torn by conflicting feelings. I rejoice from the depths of my soul that God, through whose grace alone I am what I am, should be praised in me, but I am afraid of being thought greater than I am. I know that it is as wrong to deny a divine gift as to pretend falsely that we have received it. So I will not deny that through the grace of the creator I have acquired some knowledge of the arts. He has given me the ability to learn because I am a teachable creature. Yet by my own power I should know nothing. He has given me a perspicacious mind, but one that lies fallow and idle since my mistresses have finished teaching me. That my divine gift might not be made void by negligence I have been at pains, whenever I have been able to pick up some threads and scraps torn from the old mantle of philosophy, to weave them into my own little book, in the hope that my lowly ignorant effort may become more distinguished through the introduction of something of a nobler strain, and that the creator of genius may be the more honored through me since it is generally believed that a woman’s intelligence is slower. Such has been my motive in writing, the sole reason for the sweat of my labors. I do not pretend to have knowledge where I am ignorant. As for myself, I know only that I know nothing.

Impelled by your kindly interest and your express wish I come, bending low like a reed, to submit this little work to your judgment. I wrote it indeed with that idea in my mind, although doubt as to its merits has made me withhold it until now. I hope you will revise it with the same careful attention that you would give to a work of your own, and that when you have succeeded in bringing it up to the proper standard you will return it to me, that I, instructed by your expertise, may learn what are its worst faults.

THE CONVERSION OF GALLICANUS, THE MILITARY COMMANDER

ARGUMENT:

The conversion of Gallicanus, the military commander. On the eve of his departure for a campaign against the Scythians, Gallicanus is betrothed to Emperor Constantine’s daughter, Constance, a consecrated virgin.

When threatened with defeat in battle, Gallicanus is converted by John and Paul, chief chamberlains to Constance. He is immediately baptized and takes a vow of celibacy.

But later he is exiled by order of Julian the Apostate and receives the crown of martyrdom. John and Paul are put to death by order of the same prince and buried secretly in their own house. Not long after, the son of their executioner becomes possessed by a devil. He is cured after confessing the crime committed by his father. He bears witness to the merits of the martyrs and is baptized, together with his father, next to their tombs.

CHARACTERS IN PART I:

Emperor Constantine

Gallicanus

Constance, Daughter of Constantine

Artemia and Attica, Daughters of Gallicanus

John and Paul, Chamberlains to Constance

Lords of the Court

Bradan, King of the Scythians

Tribunes

Roman Soldiers

Scythian Soldiers

Helena, Mother of Constantine

CHARACTERS IN PART II:

Julian the Apostate

Terentianus

Consuls

Christians

SCENE I

CONSTANTINE. Gallicanus, your delay irks me since you are postponing the strike against the Scythians, the only nation, as you well know, that resists the Roman peace and foolishly rejects our laws. You know well enough that you were chosen for this military campaign because of your strength in defense of your country.

GALLICANUS. Most noble Constantine, I have served you hand and foot, ungrudgingly, devotedly, and have always striven to repay your trust in me with deeds. I have never shirked any task.

CONSTANTINE. There is no need to remind me. This is fixed in my mind. It is for that reason that I admonished you with encouragement, rather than with censure, that you obey.

GALLICANUS. I will pursue that at once.

CONSTANTINE. I am rejoiced to hear it.

GALLICANUS. I am ready to obey your orders if it costs me my life.

CONSTANTINE. Your zeal pleases me. I appreciate your devotion.

GALLICANUS. Yet the ultimate task of service should receive the ultimate reward.

CONSTANTINE. That is only fair.

GALLICANUS. It is easier for a man to undertake a difficult enterprise when he is sustained by the knowledge of receiving a sure reward.

CONSTANTINE. Of course.

GALLICANUS. I beg you then to promise me now a reward for this dange...

Table of contents

• Omslag
• Titel
• Copyright
• Introduction
• Verse Legends
• The Plays
• The Deeds of Otto