and I shall not be trying.
At least, not till my eyes make out
the angels to me flying,
their choirs to me singing a
requiem for the dying.
To snuff it in the boozer, boys,
has always been my plan.
It’s so that I can fade and die
with a bottle in my hand.
Then all the angel choirs will sing
as merrily as they can:
‘May the good Lord be merciful
towards this drinking man!’
Cecco Angiolieri
Cecco Angiolieri of Siena (ca 1260–ca 1312/3) has actually been described as a ‘raucous beatnik.’ Certainly his very forceful poems (of which these are probably the best known) celebrate indulgence in drinking, sex and gambling, just like those of the Archpoet. But Cecco’s are coupled with a hatred of his parents: of his father for being rich but miserly, and of his mother just because she hated him. He didn’t get on too well with his wife, either, nor was he keen on Dante, whom he attacked in two sonnets. These, however, are more general.
Cecco Agniolieri of Siena
Two Sonnets
If I were fire, I’d burn up everything;
if I were wind, I’d tempest it away;
if I were water, drown it in a day;
if I were God, to hell the world I’d fling;
if I were Pope, now that would make me sing!
I’d take the loot and make the Christians pay!
If I were Emperor – hear what I say! –
I’d chop their heads off, commoner or king!
If I were death, I’d call my father’s name;
if I were life I’d run from him again,
and for my mother I’d do just the same!
If I were Cecco (as I am), well, then
I’d roger every young and bouncy dame
and leave the fat old slags to other men.
There are three boons and blessings known to men,
but, sadly, I don’t often get a share.
Women, the boozer and the gambling den –
those are the things that really make me cheer.
But I can only get them now and then,
because my purse won’t let me. It’s unfair!
and when I think of it, I howl with pain,
that lack of money makes my pleasures rare.
So, dammit, let him get it with a spear!
Papa, that’s who! His great allowance-freeze
means that I’d come back broke from France, I fear!
You’d prize cash out of him with far less ease
(even at Easter, gift-time of the year)
than catch a tiger with mouse-trap and cheese.
The Destruction of the World
The Reformation brought a certain amount of mud-slinging with it, and a Swiss Protestant, Jacob Ruf (whose surname is spelt in more ways than one would believe possible for a monosyllable, and who doubled as surgeon-obstetrician for the town of Zurich and religious dramatist) compares the Bible story of the ‘wicked generation’ that God wiped out in the flood, with current (he implies ‘Catholic’) society, in which people fail to listen to Luther just as they failed to listen to Noah in the old days. First of all we are shown the sons of Seth in the city of Hanoch eyeing up (against God’s commandment) the wicked daughters of Cain, a predatory bunch against whom the Sethites don’t stand a chance. Then we see their descendants; but it is a very modern-looking society in what is obviously meant to be sixteenth-century Rome rather than the ancient world that is drowned in Ruf’s climax to his two-day outdoor spectacular, first performed in 1555. The only ones who are worried are the city Guards. But Guards in Rome in the 1550s were Ruf’s fellow-countrymen, the Swiss, just like today.
Jacob Ruf
Adam and Eve
[The start of the wicked generation: the sons of Seth lust after the daughters of Cain – and vice versa (Act V, lines 4615–4766)]
FIRST SETHITE MAN
(or son of the race of God’s children)
Hallo, old friend! God’s blessing, too!
SECOND SETHITE MAN
My thanks! Now what, my friend, of you?
What have you done? Where have you been?
Tell me about the things you’ve seen.
FIRST SETHITE MAN
I’ve been in Hanoch, visiting.
SECOND SETHITE MAN
What news from there? What’s happening?
Tell me, I’m curious to hear
if you’ve seen something strange or rare.
FIRST SETHITE MAN
I’ve never, in all my born days,
seen folk more beautiful than those
in Hanoch, in the Cainite town.
The women are of great renown,
shapely, well-dressed, clean and neat,
and flocks of them in every street!
You won’t see better anywhere!
And anyone who turns up there,
regardless where he comes from, he
will be received most civilly.
They’re well brought up in every way,
they sing, they dance, and they can play
the fiddle, organ, flute and fife.
I’ve not seen finer in my life.
If it were not tabu, I’d say
I’d marry one of them today.
SECOND SETHITE MAN
Odds fish! What’s this you’re telling me?
We’re God’s folk, we’re Seth’s family,
and God forbade us, as His men,
to have dealings with Cain’s children
of any sort. And so, what’s more,
did Adam, our progenitor,
(whom we buried not long ago),
and Enoch, whom God took up, too –
he warned against the kin of Cain,
so you should really think again.
With that lot we must not mix in –
you’d only fall into great sin,
you really ought to keep away.
FIRST SETHITE MAN
God help us! What things you do say!
What would it hurt, if I should dare
to find myself a wife down there
in Hanoch, pretty, just my size
(yours too – you want to trust your eyes!)
and if we have a kid or two
then they’d serve God, like me and you.
If I bring her to my belief
wouldn’t that be a great relief?
FIRST SETHITE MAN
No, no, my friend, that’s wrong, I fear!
God’s commandment was very clear:
Cain’s lot are unbelievers, so
to them we really must not go
for wives (or any other plans!)
That’s why I say ‘no’ out of hand.
And you, my friend, would God’s law break
if you an unbeliever take.
FIRST SETHITE MAN
If you’d look for yourself, my friend,
you’d say there’s no sin, in the end!
If you should see this lovely lot,
you’d say they’re better than we’ve got!
I don’t think that it’s sinfulness
for me to take a wife, I guess,
who’d love me, and who’s sweet and fine,
and whose desires match up with mine.
I’d live for her and she for me –
I wish, my friend, that you’d agree!
I’m sure of her God would approve,
more than a wife who did not love
me anyway, and I could find
no love for her of any kind.
Is that God’s holy marriage law?
No happiness is there, I’m sure!
I’ll take what wife I want, and you
cannot dissuade me from that view!
SECOND SETHITE MAN
It’s up to you, dear friend, although
God has commanded us, you know,
t
o lust after a girl is sin,
nor may we mingle with Cain’s kin,
because they’re full of fleshly lust
and proud and haughty, and we must
avoid them, everyone the same,
for they are full of sin and shame,
pride, envy, greed – all of that race,
so God has turned from them His face.
There’s no good in that common herd,
who twist and who reject God’s word,
who distort all propriety,
and only live in luxury.
So friend, if for a wife you’d care,
make sure you do not seek one there.
Beautiful girls are close at hand,
so why not take from our land?
FIRST SETHITE MAN
You won’t dissuade me now, dear man,
I’ll take the prettiest I can
in any country that I know –
and I shan’t be ashamed to go.
SECOND SETHITE MAN
On your head be it – in God’s name,
go forth and walk right into shame,
that tribe lives shockingly, I say,
and God may someday make you pay.
[The first man leaves to find the Cainite women]
***
FIRST CAINITE WOMAN
(or daughter of the race of the children of men)
Good day to you, my cousin! Say,
where are you heading this fine day?
For by the way you’re dressed I see
that you’re out walking purposefully!
SECOND CAINITE WOMAN
Well, thank you, cousin! You are kind.
Yes, I do have something in mind.
FIRST CAINITE WOMAN
You’re lively! Tell me if you can!
SECOND CAINITE WOMAN
Odd’s lungs! What I want is a man
from God’s folk! I’ve heard people say
they’re now like us in every way,
they’re good-looking and cheerful men,
love women and are good to them
and kind – I need that sort of man
so I’ll do everything I can
and try and see if I can catch
a Sethite man to make a match.
FIRST CAINITE WOMAN
Odd’s bodikins! You are a clot!
You want a man from God’s own lot?
I think you’ve gone a bit too far.
Don’t you know what their customs are?
For life and lust they just don’t care,
they’re always on their knees in prayer,
they don’t go in for women, so
these things are what you ought to know!
Besides, the main thing that I meant
is: their religion’s different.
SECOND CAINITE WOMAN
So their religion’s not the same?
That’s nothing to do with the game.
And any man I’m sure I’ll twist
to be my co-religionist!
Come on, women have tricks, we can
soon get our way with any man,
we’ll use attractions, swiftly done,
you’ll see! So all I need is one,
and he’ll soon see who’s in the right,
in daylight or in bed at night.
I’ll get him with my woman’s wiles,
if I have to chase a hundred miles!
FIRST CAINITE WOMAN
Odds gherkins, cousin! I can tell
you’re barmy, and you’re deaf as well,
to go and try and find a man
foolishly in a foreign land
amongst God’s people! What you say!
They’ve no lusts of the flesh, and they
just don’t enjoy things, that’s no good.
SECOND CAINITE WOMAN
Come on! they’re only flesh and blood,
they’re born and made the selfsame way
as we are, and that’s why I say
not one of them is quite that pious
that when I offer, he won’t try us.
Besides, they’re gentlemen, you see,
so they’ll be very nice to me.
That’s why I’m off into that land
to try and catch myself a man …
[Later, Noah tries to warn the descendants of this union that the flood is coming; but they are carousing, and nobody, from the local count to the kitchenboy, takes much notice]
NOAH
God’s greeting to you, my dear friends,
but when will you all turn from sin,
stop shaming God with blasphemy?
This must lead to catastrophe!
God’s judgement has been passed on you
and soon you’ll see what he can do
for punishment – of that be sure!
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Oh, shut your trap and say no more,
stop blethering, and make an end,
that’s my advice to you, my friend,
and leave us to our food and drinks.
How can you tell us what God thinks?
You just accuse us constantly
of sin – including the gentry!
You won’t give up or go away.
Be warned – sometime you’ll have to pay.
NOAH
The rage of God, the Trinity,
is threefold over you – really –
according to His holy name.
Through Him the world at first became
created, formed out of the void,
and now it all can be destroyed,
wiped out, demolished completely –
that’s what God has revealed to me.
So you should do your best again,
repent and turn away from sin.
CHAMBERLAIN
Don’t threaten us, that’s what I say,
and that’s enough of ‘judgement day,’
clear off, that’s the advice I give –
you’re far too argumentative,
but won’t persuade us, that’s for sure.
We’ll go on and we’ll hate you more.
NOAH
You really do not understand!
God wants to flood all of the land
with everything that’s on the earth
that He created, brought to birth.
God sent me to you to dissuade
away from sin the things He’d made.
THE COUNT
If God intends to drown the lot,
then that includes you, does it not?
In God Himself I’ll trust instead
that things won’t happen as you’ve said.
Have you ever seen God lay low
His handiwork? Or do you know
His mind? Have you visited God,
that you’re so certain of His word?
You talk about it as if you
were telling God what He should do,
making Him follow your advice
to do your bidding in a trice!
God hasn’t given up His throne!
So we’ll enjoy ourselves! Begone!
MAYOR
If you just want to make a fuss,
cause trouble and just bother us,
you might as well shut up! And so
we really think you ought to go.
NOAH
My God! My God! Why be that way?
You should be pleased at what I say,
that God gives you a warning true
and sends His mercy down to you.
But warnings aren’t the slightest use
if you continue to abuse
yourselves with all these acts of lust,
for God will punish, as He must!
Your lordship, sirs, dear friends, resist!
Repent, and from your sins desist.
FIRST SERVANT
Old man, for all your gloomy chat
judgement won’t come as fast as that!
You o
nly want to spoil our fun,
wreck the party for everyone.
You should have stayed at home instead
and had some fun yourself in bed!
Just leave the gentry and us all
in peace, so we can have a ball!
SECOND SERVANT
Noah, Noah, please hear my plea,
just go away, and rapidly.
I tell you this, and it is true,
there’s really nothing here for you!
Before too long the master will
call for his wine – they’ll drink their fill
and when they’re full they’ll break your head,
so you’d best get away instead.
NOAH
It really makes me very sad
that your reaction is so bad,
that you will not heed God’s intent
for judgement and for punishment.
You sin and sin, and never fear,
God’s warnings you just will not hear.
Instead you scorn the holy name
and live a wicked life of shame
with whoring, drinking, lust and pride
behind closed doors – yes and outside! –
without honour and decency.
You only care for luxury.
God will not suffer this much more.
One day He’ll be avenged, for sure.
[…]
COOK
I beg you, sing another song,
or you’ll get beaten before long.
No-one believes you anyway.
DRUMMER
Perhaps I’ll help him on his way.
Why should we listen to his words?
He’s really not that close to God,
and if God did punish us all
it wouldn’t help old Noah at all,
’cause he’d be drowned too anyhow.
He can’t get over that one, now.
KITCHENBOY
Clear off, old man, I’m telling you
if not, we’ll beat you black and blue.
You’d better stop your drivelling noise –
I’ll have to thump you otherwise.
NOAH
God’s mercy on your spirits poor,
you won’t hear warnings any more,
whatever I may cry or shout.
Well, you will very soon find out
about God’s vengeance and His rage
on you, this sybaritic age,
blasphemers, cursers, evil race
which simply will not seek God’s grace
or change its lifestyle any more.
And all God’s warnings you ignore.
Your hearts have sunk too deeply in
your decadence and vice and sin.
You’ve all made your deliberate choice,
The Dedalus Book of Medieval Literature Page 13
