The Archpoet, or "Archipoeta", is a name given to the bibulous and boastful anonymous author of many of the poems contained in the Carmina Burana collection of mediævalLatin verse.
Another section of this long poem supplies the text to the aria Estuans interius ira vehementi (Burning with inner rage) that was set to music by Carl Orff in his Carmina Buranacantata.
The Archpoet is a character in the novel Baudolino by Umberto Eco.
The Archpoet opens by apologising to his patron for being unable to fulfil a request (the writing of a poem on Frederick's Italian wars); the apology is accompanied by copious praise of the patron and by a statement of the poet's inadequacy for the task.
Both poets are trying to present the claims of patronage as flexible in a potentially delicate situation, and the Archpoet is able to add in a compliment to Rainauld by comparing him to Maecenas as a generous and discerning patron.
The Archpoet's second stanza asks for pardon for the poet's inadequacy in not fulfilling the patron's request (IV.2.1-4) : Audi preces, domine, veniam petentis : exaudi suspiria gemitusque flentis et onus impositum ferre non valentis, quod probare potero multis argumentis.
The usual excuse for speaking in such a voice is to deliver the inward vision of a prophet who is outraged at the behavior of his fellow men.
The Archpoet, however, is aggravated not by the usual motives for a satirist, but by his own impecunity.
Poem IV begins with a disclaimer that combines the humility-topos with a series of adynata, as the Archpoet proclaims himself not the man the Archchancellor thinks he is, since he does not have time enough for his assigned task, which Homer and Vergil themselves would not have been able to finish in five years.
The Archpoet: The Confession Of Golias (C. The twelfth century saw the development of literature which satirized the Church and exalted the delights of wine, love, and song.
The author is known by his title of Archpoet and by the personal details he gives in his ten surviving poems.
The Archpoet employed his talents to secure favors for himself and his friends.
Cairns had argued that the Archpoet's voluminous reminiscences of classical authors and of the Bible are "fleeting or trivial" and "lacking in contextual associations." This position was soon attacked in the same journal by Johannes Hamacher ("Die 'Vagantenbeichte' und ihre Quellen," Mittellateinisches Jahrbuch, 18 [1983], pp.
Among the authors who appear and reappear most prominently in the various articles are Horace (mostly the Sermones and Epistles) and Ovid (the amatory poems), of the ancients; and the Archpoet, Walter of Chatillon, and the like to represent their medieval counter- parts.
Surely the contributors might have spared a word occasionally to communicate to the reader that the reading of these authors' works can sometimes be fraught not only with significance but with pleasure as well.
Pennae Atrae(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-09)
This anonymity had the double blessing of both giving more power to an unknown author, and disguising the true rank of the more privileged writers of the defamation and obscenity that was so popular in Goliardic verse.
As for his character, he was known to be a noble who wrote scalding and ribald poetry, often for wealthy patrons who took fame in sponsoring his works, but little of the blame.
In the case of the Archpoet, politics entered his work as often as decadence and immorality.
AllRefer.com - Goliardic songs (Miscellaneous European Literature) - Encyclopedia(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-09)
It was formerly believed that in the 13th cent.
they joined to form a burlesque religious order, but it is now thought that the ordo vagorum, with its legendary archpoet Bishop Golias (Goliath) as grand master, was a literary fiction.
Although most of the songs are anonymous or bear pseudonyms, some of the best are attributed to Archipoeta, or the Archpoet (fl.
The most individualistic adaptation of the dramatic story of Jonah in the Middle Ages is surely that of the Archpoet.
That is surely a startling parody fo Jonah’s humble prayer for salvation, and his sufferings in a situation typically understood to portray the death of Christ.3
What the Archpoet is pleading to be relieved from is poverty: “paupertatis premor peste.” No predecessor of St. Francis he; nor, as the English author of Patience, 4 mindful of the Beatitudes in Mathew:
Hugh Primas and the Archpoet - Cambridge University Press(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-09)
Included are poems on religious topics, depictions of low life, and the Archpoet's famous "Confession." The work is characterized by its touches of satire and coarse realism, features that Fleur Adcock captures superbly in her renderings.
This unique resource will appeal not only to medievalists but to all lovers of poetry.
Introduction; Hugh Primas and the Archpoet: some historical (and unhistorical) testimonies Peter Dronke; Poems by Hugh Primas; Poems by The Archpoet; Textual and explanatory notes.
Hugh Primas and the Archpoet - Cambridge University Press
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During the weekly discussion sections, you'll learn a modicum of Latin.
The outcome is the ability to do "parsed translation" of key texts: selections from the Vulgate Bible, the Archpoet and the Carmina Burana, and Medieval Christian hymns.
Parsed translations identify Latin grammatical forms and syntax, recognize Latin vocabulary, and thus create plausible English translations.
Hugh Primas And The Archpoet; Editor: Adcock, Fleur; Author: Hugo; English;Latin; Hardback; Book
Modern verse translations by renowned poet Fleur Adcock of some of the liveliest medieval poetry.Modern verse translations by renowned poet Fleur Adcock of some of the liveliest medieval poetry.
Prices subject to change to be advised on confirmation of order.
Renowned poet Fleur Adcock here provides modern verse translations of the complete work of two of the most exciting poets of the twelfth century, Hugh Primas of Orleans and the so-called Archpoet, beside their Latin originals.
Included are witty epigrams, treatments of classical themes, poems on religious and ecclesiastical topics, depictions of low life, begging-poems, and the Archpoet's famous Confession.
