The Cambridge Songs {Carmina Cantabrigiensia} (Cambridge, University Library MS Gg. 5.35) are an important collection of Latin poems that English scribes copied in the middle of the eleventh century. The poems come from across medieval Europe and include some classical Latin verse. A number of poems concern music, six have at least some neumes, and many have formal associations with music (sequences, “modus” in title). Breul’s facsimile edition (1915) is available online, as well as Strecker’s edition (1926). The current best edition is that of Ziolkowski (1994).
The revered fourth-century desert monk Saint John the Dwarf learned that he must work and eat. In life of this world, you must do likewise. … Read the post desert monk John the Dwarf learned to be good as man, not angel
With an atomic theory denying immortality, Lucretius wrongly associated penetration with destruction rather than joy and creating new life. … Read the post Lucretius’s atomic theory lacks bodily penetration & immortality
At attack on an ass that ended with faith in the Lord became a fairy-tale: a doll attacks an ass, but everyone ultimately lives happily ever after. … Read the post loss of faith: fairy-tale ending to attack on ass
Goscelin’s Vita & Translatio of tenth-century saint Edith of Wilton describes miracles for bowel movements without any medieval sense of stench. … Read the post bowel miracle of Saint Edith exposed thief
Proterius’s daughter didn’t respect her father as much as Charlemagne respected his mother Bertrada. Children honor mothers more than fathers. … Read the post Proterius’s daughter wasn’t like Charlemagne toward Bertrada