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François, Wim.

Giovanni Bologni (Johannes a Bononia) e la lettura della Bibbia nella Lovanio del Cinquecento

2021 - Leo S. Olschki

P. 217-246

  • The writer and bishop Hildebert of Lavardin (1056-1133) was regarded in his time as a literary model; his poems spread out in the well educated Latin writing world at least in France, Italy and England. Scholars of the latest century (among which E. Norden and E.R. Curtius) helped reestablish this outstanding literary personage; the modern critical edition of his poem was first published in 1960s.The present analysis focuses on one of Ildebert's most significant poems, i.e. on the XXIInd elegy, a ninety-verse long poem which deals entirely with the topic of Fortune.
  • The author describes two periods of his life, which was once rich and wealthy, until he was banned from France and exiled for a certain time to England. During the voyage Hildebert experienced a dramatic storm, which is described in a magnificent epic style. From a literary point of view, the poem shows references to classical, late antique and biblical authors and works (Ovid, Boethius, Job). Fortune is presented resorting to both classical and christian concepts: along with references to pagan gods, the last lines of the poem clearly refer to the christian almighty God, who rules over Fortune itself.The Latin text is followed by an Italian translation. [Publisher's text]

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Rivista di storia e letteratura religiosa : LVII, 2, 2021