Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Egidius - a famous Dutch elegy from around 1400

REVISED! PLEASE GO TO 16.08.14!
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 My attention has been drawn to the probable meaning of line 5, especially the word 'teen'. This is discussed at www.janstroop.nl/artikelen/egidius.shtml

This poem consists of palindromes in terms of rhyme. The refrain is ABA, the verses BBABA ABABB. The masculine and feminine rhymes intensify this. 

It has been used for the David Reid translation prize. After Francis Jones' brilliant palimpsest (not translation!), you will find many attempts to translate the poem. It is no easy task.



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