Gesta Romanorum: Difference between revisions
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'''''Gesta Romanorum''''' is a [[Latin]] collection of anecdotes and tales that was probably compiled about the end of the 13th century or the beginning of the 14th. It still possesses a two-fold literary interest, first as one of the most popular books of the time, and secondly as the source, directly or indirectly, of later literature, in [[Geoffrey Chaucer]], [[John Gower]], [[Giovanni Boccaccio]], [[Thomas Hoccleve]], [[William Shakespeare]], and others. |
'''''Gesta Romanorum''''' is a [[Latin]] collection of anecdotes and tales that was probably compiled about the end of the 13th century or the beginning of the 14th. It still possesses a two-fold literary interest, first as one of the most popular books of the time, and secondly as the source, directly or indirectly, of later literature, in [[Geoffrey Chaucer]], [[John Gower]], [[Giovanni Boccaccio]], [[Thomas Hoccleve]], [[William Shakespeare]], and others. |
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Of its authorship nothing certain is known. It is conjecture to associate it either with the name of [[Helinandus]] or with that of [[Pierre Bersuire|Petrus Berchorius]] (Pierre Bercheure). It is debated whether it took its rise in England, Germany or France. |
Of its authorship nothing certain is known. It is conjecture to associate it either with the name of [[Helinandus]] or with that of [[Pierre Bersuire|Petrus Berchorius]] (Pierre Bercheure). It is debated whether it took its rise{{huh}} in England, Germany or France. |
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==Content== |
==Content== |
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* the story of ''Darius and his Three Sons'', versified by [[Thomas Occleve]]; |
* the story of ''Darius and his Three Sons'', versified by [[Thomas Occleve]]; |
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* part of [[Geoffrey Chaucer]]'s ''[[The Man of Law's Prologue and Tale|Man of Lawes Tale]]''; |
* part of [[Geoffrey Chaucer]]'s ''[[The Man of Law's Prologue and Tale|Man of Lawes Tale]]''; |
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* a version of the Crescentia cycle, similar to (though more piously phrased than) ''[[Le Bone Florence of Rome]]'';<ref |
* a version of the Crescentia cycle, similar to (though more piously phrased than) ''[[Le Bone Florence of Rome]]'';<ref name="Schlauch1969"/> |
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* a tale of the emperor Theodosius, the same in its main features as that of Shakespeare's ''[[King Lear]]''; |
* a tale of the emperor Theodosius, the same in its main features as that of Shakespeare's ''[[King Lear]]''; |
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* the story of the ''Three Black Crows''; |
* the story of the ''Three Black Crows''; |
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* the ''Hermit and the Angel'', later known from [[Thomas Parnell]]'s version; |
* the ''Hermit and the Angel'', later known from [[Thomas Parnell]]'s version; |
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* a story identical with the ''[[Fridolin]]'' of [[Schiller]]; and |
* a story identical with the ''[[Fridolin]]'' of [[Schiller]]; and |
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* a retelling of the ''Man Tried by Fate'', a story also known in the legends of [[Saint Eustace]] and [[chivalric romance]]s such as [[Sir Isumbras]].<ref |
* a retelling of the ''Man Tried by Fate'', a story also known in the legends of [[Saint Eustace]] and [[chivalric romance]]s such as [[Sir Isumbras]].<ref name="Hibbard1963"/> |
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==Manuscripts== |
==Manuscripts== |
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==Editions and translations== |
==Editions and translations== |
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The earliest editions are those of [[Nicolaus Ketelaer]] and [[Gerardus de Leempt]] at Utrecht, of [[Arnold Hoenen]] at Cologne, and of [[Ulrich Zell]] at Cologne; but the exact date is in all three cases uncertain.<ref |
The earliest editions are those of [[Nicolaus Ketelaer]] and [[Gerardus de Leempt]] at Utrecht, of [[Arnold Hoenen]] at Cologne, and of [[Ulrich Zell]] at Cologne; but the exact date is in all three cases uncertain.<ref name="Cambridge"/> |
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An English translation, probably based directly on the manuscript [[Harleian Collection|Harl.]] 5369, was published by [[Wynkyn de Worde]] about 1510–15, the only copy of which now known to exist is preserved in the library of [[St John's College, Cambridge]]. In 1577 the London printer [[Richard Robinson (printer)|Richard Robinson]] published a revised edition of Wynkyn de Worde, as ''Certain Selected Histories for Christian Recreations'', and the book proved highly popular. |
An English translation, probably based directly on the manuscript [[Harleian Collection|Harl.]] 5369, was published by [[Wynkyn de Worde]] about 1510–15, the only copy of which now known to exist is preserved in the library of [[St John's College, Cambridge]]. In 1577 the London printer [[Richard Robinson (printer)|Richard Robinson]] published a revised edition of Wynkyn de Worde, as ''Certain Selected Histories for Christian Recreations'', and the book proved highly popular. |
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Between 1648 and 1703 at least eight impressions were issued. In 1703 appeared the first vol. of a translation by BP, probably [[Bartholomew Pratt]], from the Latin edition of 1514. A translation by the Rev. Charles Swan, first published in 2 vols in 1824, forms part of [[Bohn's Antiquarian Library]], and was re-edited by [[Wynnard Hooper]] in 1877 (see also the latter's edition in 1894). |
Between 1648 and 1703 at least eight impressions were issued. In 1703 appeared the first vol. of a translation by BP, probably [[Bartholomew Pratt]], from the Latin edition of 1514. A translation by the [[Rev. Charles Swan]], first published in 2 vols in 1824, forms part of [[Bohn's Antiquarian Library]], and was re-edited by [[Wynnard Hooper]] in 1877 (see also the latter's edition in 1894).<ref name="Swan1905"/><ref name="Swan1906"/> |
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The German translation was first printed at Augsburg, 1489. A French version, under the title of ''Le Violier des histoires romaines moralisez'', appeared in the early part of the 16th century, and went through a number of editions; it has been reprinted by [[Pierre-Gustave Brunet]] (Paris, 1858). |
The German translation was first printed at Augsburg, 1489. A French version, under the title of ''Le Violier des histoires romaines moralisez'', appeared in the early part of the 16th century, and went through a number of editions; it has been reprinted by [[Pierre-Gustave Brunet]] (Paris, 1858). |
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*[[Francis Douce|Douce]], ''Illustrations of Shakespeare'', vol. ii. |
*[[Francis Douce|Douce]], ''Illustrations of Shakespeare'', vol. ii. |
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*[[Frederic Madden]], Introduction to the Roxburghe Club edition of ''The Old English Versions of the Gesta Romanorum'' (1838). |
*[[Frederic Madden]], Introduction to the Roxburghe Club edition of ''The Old English Versions of the Gesta Romanorum'' (1838). |
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*A [[:s:Index:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Hooper.djvu|1905 English edition]] of Swan's and Hooper's ''Gesta Romanorum''. |
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==Cultural references== |
==Cultural references== |
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* ''Dijannia ryms'ki'' (selection), Rostyslav Paranko (Trans.), [http://gesta-romanorum-ua.blogspot.com Діяння римські. Український переклад збірки Gesta Romanorum {{ref-uk}}] |
* ''Dijannia ryms'ki'' (selection), Rostyslav Paranko (Trans.), [http://gesta-romanorum-ua.blogspot.com Діяння римські. Український переклад збірки Gesta Romanorum {{ref-uk}}] |
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* 'Gesta Romanorum', Welsh translation by Llywelyn Sion c.1600. |
* 'Gesta Romanorum', Welsh translation by Llywelyn Sion c.1600. |
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* '[https://books.google.es/books?id=rOSKk8DqZXkC&pg=PA3 |
* '[https://books.google.es/books?id=rOSKk8DqZXkC&pg=PA3 Gesta Romanorum: exempla europeos del siglo XIV]', Spanish translation by Ventura de la Torre and Jacinto Lozano Escribano, 2004. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Matter of Rome]] |
* [[Matter of Rome]] |
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==Notes== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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<references> |
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<ref name="Cambridge">{{cite web |url=http://www.bartleby.com/211/1700.html |title=Gesta Romanorum |work=The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes |volume=1 |quote=Printed first at Utrecht, then at Cologne, c. 1472–5. First English edition printed by [[Wynkyn de Worde]], c. 1510–15. For a full discussion of the different [[wikt:manuscripts|MSS.]] used, the sources of the groups, etc., see the indispensable edition of [[Hermann Oesterley|Oesterley, H.]], Berlin, 1872.}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Hibbard1963">{{cite book |author=Laura A. Hibbard |title=Medieval Romance in England |page=3 |location=New York |publisher=Burt Franklin |date=1963}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Schlauch1969">{{cite book |author=[[Margaret Schlauch]] |title=Chaucer's Constance and Accused Queens |location=New York |publisher=Gordian Press |date=1969 |page=111}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Swan1905">{{cite book |title=Gesta Romanorum |author=Charles Swan |editor=Wynnard Hooper |location=London |publisher=George Bell & Sons |date=1905 |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Index:Gesta_Romanorum_-_Swan_-_Hooper.djvu}} (at Wikisource)</ref> |
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<ref name="Swan1906">{{cite book |title=Gesta Romanorum |author=Charles Swan |editor=Wynnard Hooper |location=London |publisher=George Bell & Sons |date=1906 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mlwKAAAAIAAJ&pg=PR4}} (at Google Books)</ref> |
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</references> |
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==Further reading== |
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*{{1911|wstitle=Gesta Romanorum|volume=11|page=910}} |
*{{1911|wstitle=Gesta Romanorum|volume=11|page=910}} |
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Revision as of 19:57, 20 July 2018
Gesta Romanorum is a Latin collection of anecdotes and tales that was probably compiled about the end of the 13th century or the beginning of the 14th. It still possesses a two-fold literary interest, first as one of the most popular books of the time, and secondly as the source, directly or indirectly, of later literature, in Geoffrey Chaucer, John Gower, Giovanni Boccaccio, Thomas Hoccleve, William Shakespeare, and others.
Of its authorship nothing certain is known. It is conjecture to associate it either with the name of Helinandus or with that of Petrus Berchorius (Pierre Bercheure). It is debated whether it took its rise[clarification needed] in England, Germany or France.
Content
The work was evidently intended as a manual for preachers, and was probably written by one of the clerical profession. The name, Deeds of the Romans, is only partially appropriate to the collection in its present form, since, besides the titles from Greek and Latin history and legend, it comprises fragments of different origins, Asian and European. The unifying element of the book is its moral purpose, but the work contains a variety of material. It includes, for example:
- the germ of the romance of Guy of Warwick;
- the story of the three caskets, as in The Merchant of Venice;
- the story of Darius and his Three Sons, versified by Thomas Occleve;
- part of Geoffrey Chaucer's Man of Lawes Tale;
- a version of the Crescentia cycle, similar to (though more piously phrased than) Le Bone Florence of Rome;[1]
- a tale of the emperor Theodosius, the same in its main features as that of Shakespeare's King Lear;
- the story of the Three Black Crows;
- the Hermit and the Angel, later known from Thomas Parnell's version;
- a story identical with the Fridolin of Schiller; and
- a retelling of the Man Tried by Fate, a story also known in the legends of Saint Eustace and chivalric romances such as Sir Isumbras.[2]
Manuscripts
Owing to the loose structure of the book, it was easy for a transcriber to insert any additional story into his own copy, and consequently the manuscripts of the Gesta Romanorum exhibit considerable variety. Hermann Oesterley recognizes an English group of manuscripts (written always in Latin), a German group (sometimes in Latin and sometimes in German), and a group which is represented by the vulgate or common printed text.
Editions and translations
The earliest editions are those of Nicolaus Ketelaer and Gerardus de Leempt at Utrecht, of Arnold Hoenen at Cologne, and of Ulrich Zell at Cologne; but the exact date is in all three cases uncertain.[3]
An English translation, probably based directly on the manuscript Harl. 5369, was published by Wynkyn de Worde about 1510–15, the only copy of which now known to exist is preserved in the library of St John's College, Cambridge. In 1577 the London printer Richard Robinson published a revised edition of Wynkyn de Worde, as Certain Selected Histories for Christian Recreations, and the book proved highly popular.
Between 1648 and 1703 at least eight impressions were issued. In 1703 appeared the first vol. of a translation by BP, probably Bartholomew Pratt, from the Latin edition of 1514. A translation by the Rev. Charles Swan, first published in 2 vols in 1824, forms part of Bohn's Antiquarian Library, and was re-edited by Wynnard Hooper in 1877 (see also the latter's edition in 1894).[4][5]
The German translation was first printed at Augsburg, 1489. A French version, under the title of Le Violier des histoires romaines moralisez, appeared in the early part of the 16th century, and went through a number of editions; it has been reprinted by Pierre-Gustave Brunet (Paris, 1858).
Critical editions of the Latin text have been produced by Adelbert von Keller (Stuttgart, 1842) and Hermann Oesterley (Berlin, 1872). See also:
- Warton, "On the Gesta Romanorum", dissertation iii., prefixed to the History of English Poetry
- Douce, Illustrations of Shakespeare, vol. ii.
- Frederic Madden, Introduction to the Roxburghe Club edition of The Old English Versions of the Gesta Romanorum (1838).
Cultural references
The title Gesta ("Deeds") was later gallicised as Geste. As later editions of the work tended to emphasise lighthearted or buffoonish episodes from chivalric myth, this led to the English usage of jest as a synonym of joke.
Translations in other languages
- Gesta Romanorum (Os Feitos dos Romanos) (selection), Scott Ritter Hadley (Trans.), (n.t.) Revista Literária em Tradução, nº 1 (set/2010), Fpolis/Brasil, ISSN 2177-5141
- Dijannia ryms'ki (selection), Rostyslav Paranko (Trans.), Діяння римські. Український переклад збірки Gesta Romanorum Template:Ref-uk
- 'Gesta Romanorum', Welsh translation by Llywelyn Sion c.1600.
- 'Gesta Romanorum: exempla europeos del siglo XIV', Spanish translation by Ventura de la Torre and Jacinto Lozano Escribano, 2004.
See also
References
- ^ Margaret Schlauch (1969). Chaucer's Constance and Accused Queens. New York: Gordian Press. p. 111.
- ^ Laura A. Hibbard (1963). Medieval Romance in England. New York: Burt Franklin. p. 3.
- ^ "Gesta Romanorum". The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes.
Printed first at Utrecht, then at Cologne, c. 1472–5. First English edition printed by Wynkyn de Worde, c. 1510–15. For a full discussion of the different MSS. used, the sources of the groups, etc., see the indispensable edition of Oesterley, H., Berlin, 1872.
- ^ Charles Swan (1905). Wynnard Hooper (ed.). Gesta Romanorum. London: George Bell & Sons. (at Wikisource)
- ^ Charles Swan (1906). Wynnard Hooper (ed.). Gesta Romanorum. London: George Bell & Sons. (at Google Books)
Further reading
- public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Gesta Romanorum". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 910. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
External links
- Media related to Gesta Romanorum at Wikimedia Commons
- Quotations related to Gesta Romanorum at Wikiquote
- Works related to Gesta Romanorum at Wikisource
- Latin Wikisource has original text related to this article: Gesta Romanorum
- Latin text of the Gesta Romanorum
- Full text of the Gesta Romanorum in Modern English translation