Archpoet

The Archpoet (c. 1130 – c. 1165), or Archipoeta (in Latin and German), is the name given to the author of some ten known poems from medieval Latin literature, the most famous of these being his "Confession" found within the Carmina Burana. Along with Hugh Primas of Orléans, he is often cited as the best exemplar of Goliardic poetry and one of the stellar poets of the Latin Middle Ages.

Quotes

"Confession"

Translations are from Helen Waddell, Mediaeval Latin Lyrics, 1933 [1929].

• Estuans intrinsecus
  ira vehementi
  in amaritudine
  loquar meę menti:
  factus de materia
  levis elementi
  similes sum folio
  de quo ludunt venti.
  • Seething over inwardly
    With fierce indignation,
    In my bitterness of soul,
    Hear my declaration.
    I am of one element,
    Levity my matter,
    Like enough a withered leaf
    For the winds to scatter.
  • Line 1

• Feror ego veluti
  sine nauta navis,
  ut per vias aeris
  vaga fertur avis,
  non me tenent vincula,
  non me tenet clavis,
  Quęro mihi similes,
  et adiungor pravis.
  • Hither, thither, masterless
    Ship upon the sea,
    Wandering through the ways of air,
    Go the birds like me.
    Bound am I by ne’er a bond,
    Prisoner to no key,
    Questing go I for my kind,
    Find depravity.
  • Line 17

• Quicquid Venus imperat
  Labor est suavis,
  quę nunquam in cordibus
  habitat ignavis.
  • Whatsoever Venus bids
    Is a joy excelling,
    Never in an evil heart
    Did she make her dwelling.
  • Line 29

• Mortuus in anima
  curam gero cutis.
  • Since the soul in me is dead,
    Better save the skin.
  • Line 39

• Meum est propositum
  in taberna mori,
  ut sint vina proxima
  morientis ori.
  • For on this my heart is set:
    When the hour is nigh me,
    Let me in the tavern die,
    With a tankard by me.
  • Line 89

External links

• J. A. Symonds' complete English translation of "The Confession of Golias" at the Internet Medieval Sourcebook.
• Helen Waddell's complete English translation of "His Confession" at TheHyperTexts.
• F. J. E. Raby's complete English translation of "Aestuans intrinsecus" posted on the FETUSVENERIS blog.