Alfred's Alcuin
Here is a translation, or rather a treatment or version of the Epitaph of Alcuin of York, a medieval priest, scholar and poet. Picking up tendencies in the poem, Alfred added quite a bit of his own material, and I think the result is one of the most stunning things he wrote. I link this page to two others. One repeats what is here but with indications of what Alfred added to it. See it here:
A second is a link to the poem in Latin:
I am indebted to my friend Judith Mason for alerting me to the existence of the beautiful poem.
Busy as you are, do not go yet. Please. Stay with me a moment.
Busy as you are, do not go yet. Please. Stay with me a moment.
Study these lines I wrote you when my blood beat.
Study these lines I wrote you when my blood beat.
Learn what life holds for men in these words set in order.
Learn what life holds for men in these words set in order.
Looks go. They go. Yours will go as mine did.
Looks go. They go. Yours will go as mine did.
What you are now, hurrying past this gravestone,
What you are now, hurrying past this gravestone,
I was; and my name was known in every country.
I was; and my name was known in every country.
And what I am now, you yourself must come to.
And what I am now, you yourself must come to.
I looked for the world to be sweet with my heart like a spoiled child’s.
I looked for the world to be sweet with my heart like a spoiled child’s.
Now frail as paper ash and spotted with wet dust
Now frail as paper ash and spotted with wet dust
My blind skull hangs from the spine which is all that the worms left
My blind skull hangs from the spine which is all that the worms left
Of the nerves my imagination made such demands on.
Of the nerves my imagination made such demands on.
Worry about your soul, not about your body.
Worry about your soul, not about your body.
For the will to love remains when the starved nerves stiffen.
For the will to love remains when the starved nerves stiffen.
Why clear yourself new fields? You can see as I do
Why clear yourself new fields? You can see as I do
How I must rest content with this pocket of clay here.
How I must rest content with this pocket of clay here.
Why do you long, moist-eyed, for the day when your body
Why do you long, moist-eyed, for the day when your body
Will cuddle in silks dyed by snails’ guts the color of sunset
Will cuddle in silks dyed by snails’ guts the color of sunset
When vermin mangles [sic] tough skin as moths do soft damask?
When vermin mangles [sic] tough skin as moths do soft damask?
Flowers blacken with cold when the wind turns ugly;
Flowers blacken with cold when the wind turns ugly;
And the flesh on your bones will bruise when death blows the will out.
And the flesh on your bones will bruise when death blows the will out.
Will you do me a good turn for this song I have made you?
Will you do me a good turn for this song I have made you?
Will you please say “Christ, be good to your dead servant”?
Will you please say “Christ, be good to your dead servant”?
No man break into this tomb God cedes me to lie in,
No man break into this tomb God cedes me to lie in,
Waiting for it to explode, that bugle beyond where the stars end,
Waiting for it to explode, that bugle beyond where the stars end,
Reveille rousing the dead, and that shout from the mustering angels:
Reveille rousing the dead, and that shout from the mustering angels:
“No matter how deep you may lie, get up from the dirt now;
“No matter how deep you may lie, get up from the dirt now;
Your great Judge is at hand amidst troops without number.”
Your great Judge is at hand amidst troops without number.”
Alcuin was my name. I was always in love with wisdom.
Alcuin was my name. I was always in love with wisdom.
Say a prayer for me that you mean when you read this writing.
Say a prayer for me that you mean when you read this writing.