Wine, Women, and Song Part 21

No. 57.

While life's April blossom blew, What I willed I then might do, l.u.s.t and law seemed comrades true.

As I listed, unresisted, Hither, thither, could I play, And my wanton flesh obey.

When life's autumn days decline, Thus to live, a libertine, Fancy-free as thoughts incline, Manhood's older age and colder Now forbids; removes, destroys All those ways of wonted joys.

Age with admonition wise Thus doth counsel and advise, While her voice within me cries: "For repenting and relenting There is room; forgiveness falls On all contrite prodigals!"

I will seek a better mind; Change, correct, and leave behind What I did with purpose blind: From vice sever, with endeavour Yield my soul to serious things, Seek the joy that virtue brings.

The third would find a more appropriate place in a hymn-book than in a collection of _Carmina Vagorum_. It is, however, written in a lyrical style so closely allied to the secular songs of the _Carmina Burana_ (where it occurs) that I have thought it well to quote its grimly medieval condemnation of human life.

VANITAS VANITATUM.

No. 58.

This vile world In madness hurled Offers but false shadows; Joys that wane And waste like vain Lilies of the meadows.

Worldly wealth, Youth, strength, and health, Cramp the soul's endeavour; Drive it down In h.e.l.l to drown, h.e.l.l that burns for ever.

What we see, And what let be, While on earth we tarry, We shall cast Like leaves at last Which the sere oaks carry.

Carnal life, Man's law of strife, Hath but brief existence; Pa.s.ses, fades, Like wavering shades Without real subsistence.

Therefore bind, Tread down and grind Fleshly l.u.s.ts that blight us; So heaven's bliss 'Mid saints that kiss Shall for aye delight us.

The fourth, in like manner, would have but little to do with a Commersbuch, were it not for the fact that the most widely famous modern student-song of Germany has borrowed two pa.s.sages from its serious and tragic rhythm. Close inspection of _Gaudeamus Igitur_ shows that the metrical structure of that song is based on the principle of quoting one of its long lines and rhyming to it.

ON CONTEMPT FOR THE WORLD.

No. 59.

"De contemptu mundi:" this is the theme I've taken: Time it is from sleep to rise, from death's torpor waken: Gather virtue's grain and leave tares of sin forsaken.

Rise up, rise, be vigilant; trim your lamp, be ready.

Brief is life, and brevity briefly shall be ended: Death comes quick, fears no man, none hath his dart suspended: Death kills all, to no man's prayer hath he condescended.

Rise up, rise, be vigilant; trim your lamp, be ready.

Where are they who in this world, ere we kept, were keeping?

Come unto the churchyard, thou! see where they are sleeping!

Dust and ashes are they, worms in their flesh are creeping.

Rise up, rise, be vigilant; trim your lamp, be ready.

Into life each man is born with great teen and trouble: All through life he drags along; toil on toil is double: When life's done, the pangs of death take him, break the bubble.

Rise up, rise, be vigilant; trim your lamp, be ready.

If from sin thou hast been turned, born a new man wholly, Changed thy life to better things, childlike, simple, holy; Thus into G.o.d's realm shalt thou enter with the lowly.

Rise up, rise, be vigilant; trim your lamp, be ready.

Having alluded to _Gaudeamus Igitur_, I shall close my translations with a version of it into English. The dependence of this lyric upon the rhythm and substance of the poem on _Contempt for the World_, which I have already indicated, is perhaps the reason why it is sung by German students after the funeral of a comrade. The Office for the Dead sounding in their ears, occasions the startling _igitur_ with which it opens; and their mind reverts to solemn phrases in the midst of masculine determination to enjoy the present while it is yet theirs.

GAUDEAMUS IGITUR.

No. 60.

Let us live then and be glad While young life's before us!

After youthful pastime had, After old age hard and sad, Earth will slumber o'er us.

Where are they who in this world, Ere we kept, were keeping?

Go ye to the G.o.ds above; Go to h.e.l.l; inquire thereof: They are not; they're sleeping.

Brief is life, and brevity Briefly shall be ended: Death comes like a whirlwind strong, Bears us with his blast along; None shall be defended.

Live this university, Men that learning nourish; Live each member of the same, Long live all that bear its name; Let them ever flouris.h.!.+

Live the commonwealth also, And the men that guide it!

Live our town in strength and health, Founders, patrons, by whose wealth We are here provided!

Live all girls! A health to you, Melting maids and beauteous!

Live the wives and women too, Gentle, loving, tender, true, Good, industrious, duteous!

Perish cares that pule and pine!

Perish envious blamers!

Die the Devil, thine and mine!

Die the starch-necked Philistine!

Scoffers and defamers!

XXII.

I have now fulfilled the purpose which I had in view when I began this study of the _Carmina Vagorum_, and have reproduced in English verse what seemed to me the most characteristic specimens of that literature, in so far as it may be considered precursory of the Renaissance.

In spite of novelty, in spite of historical interest, in spite of a certain literary charm, it is not an edifying product of medieval art with which I have been dealing. When I look back upon my own work, and formulate the impression left upon my mind by familiarity with the songs I have translated, the doubt occurs whether some apology be not required for having dragged these forth from antiquarian obscurity.