An investigation into the difference in poetic form between certain Medieval and Renaissance poets writing in Latin, with particular reference to Milton

[摘要] By tracing the tradition of secular metrical Latin verse from theFifth to the Seventeenth Century the final assimilation of classicalsources into the mainstream of vernacular European literature can bemuch more meaningfully understood.Venantius Fortunatus began his poetical career in the Sixth Centuryas a professional court versifier, who earned his living by writingpoems for wealthy patrons. His work initially fell strictly withinthe bounds of the rhetorical tradition of Latin poetry but later hestarted to write more spontaneously upon personal subjects when hewas settled at Poitiers. Eventually he abandoned the confines ofmetrical verse altogether and wrote his finest poems in rhythmicalverse upon Christian subjects.The Dark Ages closed in rapidly upon Venantius' death and littleLatin poetry of any worth was produced. The Irish scholars formedan isolated body of learned men whose work was rivalled after sometime by schools in England. Bede's work at Jarrow marked a significantadvance in learning while Charlemagne prompted a renaissanceof the arts on the continent. Alcuin was appointed to head thisrevival of letters and gathered together a circle of highly talentedmen.The monasteries subsequently took upon themselves the weight oflearning and the abbots of St. Gall maintained a particularly goodstandard during the Tenth Century. Secular studies were not encouragedby the monks, however, and towards the Eleventh Century classicalstudies were more readily promoted in separate cathedral schools.In the Twelfth Century philosophy and satire were reinstated inscholarly writings. The differences between humanism and Christianitygrew clearer so that men such as Abelard openly wrote as scholarsfor scholarship's sake. The immortality of letters Has recognizedonce more. The career of Serlo of Wilton is typical of the times.Initially he wrote about grammar, then licentious subjects but finallypreferred religious topics in rhythmical verse.The beginning of the Renaissance has marked by Petrarch and Italy'srecovery of Greek manuscripts from Byzantium, Classical studieswere pursued with fervour and the original Greek text s of the greatphilosophical schools were read. Metrical verse attained the graceof ancient models through a process of painstaking imitation. Erasmus was a popularizerof the classics and re-asserted the value of ancientworks to his contemporaries.Milton's first task as a poet was to attain a mastery of classicalmetrical technique and his first exercises display a remarkableproficiency. He later developed an original way of transforming themass of inherited conventions which had stymied so many of hispredecessors. His Epitaphium Damonis was a highly individual solutionto the problems of writing upon Christian topics in a secular traditionand signified the final assimilation of a classical inheritance.

[发布机构] University of the Free State