Charles d'Orleans is one of the great unknown, lesser-known or under-known poets, in my opinion. And he may have been THE greatest love poet, or second only to the immortal Sappho...
I was glad to see Ralegh on your list. His Twenty-first Book of the Ocean to Cynthia is a magnificent and prescient piece of erotic verse which, I think. elevates him to a unique height in the Temple of Love. Raleigh's lines are at once passionate, courtly, metaphysical and baroque. His love is apotheosized to the light of Cynthia, the virgin moon, in the night sky. For Sir Walter His Cynthia was the guardian of birth and death, the patroness of the no-man's land between love's rejection and its ecstasy. It is a tribute to his greatness that Chapman, that great poet of neoplastic control of passion and sense, did not hesitate to be charmed and perhaps spiritually seduced by the power and passion of Sir Walter's celebration of love's power. While there is much speculation on Ralegh's role in a so-called School of Night, I think his Cynthia is his beacon, his guiding light through that dark night.
That's quite a list, Mike. Thanks for the mention. It's much appreciated. Glad to see Bob Dylan there also. You might consider including his song 'Sarah' in your list of great love songs. It works well on paper, even without that perfect voice. I must get back now to Charles d'Orleans.
I knew nothing whatsoever about Raleigh and his poetry until I read this. Now I'm going to try to get a copy of the book you mention above. It sounds sounds exactly like the type of poetry that I love most. Thanks, Bob, for all the intriguing information.
Very interesting that I picked up the Enya vibe. Are we operating on the same wavelength, perhaps? BTW, have you heard Enya sing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel?" I think it's a top ten vocal performance of all time.
I'm glad to see CdO getting reads and likes with my translations.
I have heard it, and Enya is a great singer. But singing is in the family. Her sister is Moya Brennan, and her group is Clannad, and they're brilliant. If you get time check out 'Theme from Harry's Game'.
Martin, I have the Muses Library Edion of Ralegh's poems. I think if you were interested in this very fine collection, you would get the best deal in used book shops. My copy has been with me for about fifty years, and is "reconditioned" with scotch and masking tapes.
I also have the fine and thorough collection in Robert Bender's anthology, Five Courtier Poets of the English Renaissance. I think it is still available at Abe and Amazon. I also have The Poems of Sir Walter Ralegh, a Historical Edition, Edited by Michael Rudick. This edition attempts a compilation based on classical methods of textual criticism, so it preserves rhe orthography and texts of sources such as the Cecil Papers. Hence the orthography is not normalized. I find it interesting and think it probably preserves features of the Devonshire speech which was Ralegh's childhood dialect. Finally, I also have the Delphi electronic Edition of The Complete Works of Sir Walter Ralegh, available as PDF or Epub from Amazon and from Delphi. Aside from the wealth of material in this book, the price is very attractive: $1.99.
Thanks, Bob, for all the information. I'll try Abe books and Amazon and I'll buy all of those if I can get them second-hand for the right price. At least I know now what I'm looing for.
I was glad to see Ralegh on your list. His Twenty-first Book of the Ocean to Cynthia is a magnificent and prescient piece of erotic verse which, I think. elevates him to a unique height in the Temple of Love. Raleigh's lines are at once passionate, courtly, metaphysical and baroque. His love is apotheosized to the light of Cynthia, the virgin moon, in the night sky. For Sir Walter His Cynthia was the guardian of birth and death, the patroness of the no-man's land between love's rejection and its ecstasy. It is a tribute to his greatness that Chapman, that great poet of neoplastic control of passion and sense, did not hesitate to be charmed and perhaps spiritually seduced by the power and passion of Sir Walter's celebration of love's power. While there is much speculation on Ralegh's role in a so-called School of Night, I think his Cynthia is his beacon, his guiding light through that dark night.
Bob, I'm glad to see that we agree about Ralegh. I think he's undervalued as a poet. I especially love his poem "The Lie."
That's quite a list, Mike. Thanks for the mention. It's much appreciated. Glad to see Bob Dylan there also. You might consider including his song 'Sarah' in your list of great love songs. It works well on paper, even without that perfect voice. I must get back now to Charles d'Orleans.
I knew nothing whatsoever about Raleigh and his poetry until I read this. Now I'm going to try to get a copy of the book you mention above. It sounds sounds exactly like the type of poetry that I love most. Thanks, Bob, for all the intriguing information.
I will add "Sarah" thanks. I'm listening to your CD and agree that Ostara's voice suits the lyrics. She has a bit of an Enya vibe.
That's very perceptive of you. Enya was exactly what we were going for. I'm so pleased to hear that!
By the way , I restacked 'My Very Gentle Valentine' by Charles d'Orleans, and it got a four likes. It's a fine love poem.
Very interesting that I picked up the Enya vibe. Are we operating on the same wavelength, perhaps? BTW, have you heard Enya sing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel?" I think it's a top ten vocal performance of all time.
I'm glad to see CdO getting reads and likes with my translations.
I have heard it, and Enya is a great singer. But singing is in the family. Her sister is Moya Brennan, and her group is Clannad, and they're brilliant. If you get time check out 'Theme from Harry's Game'.
Will do.
Martin, I have the Muses Library Edion of Ralegh's poems. I think if you were interested in this very fine collection, you would get the best deal in used book shops. My copy has been with me for about fifty years, and is "reconditioned" with scotch and masking tapes.
I also have the fine and thorough collection in Robert Bender's anthology, Five Courtier Poets of the English Renaissance. I think it is still available at Abe and Amazon. I also have The Poems of Sir Walter Ralegh, a Historical Edition, Edited by Michael Rudick. This edition attempts a compilation based on classical methods of textual criticism, so it preserves rhe orthography and texts of sources such as the Cecil Papers. Hence the orthography is not normalized. I find it interesting and think it probably preserves features of the Devonshire speech which was Ralegh's childhood dialect. Finally, I also have the Delphi electronic Edition of The Complete Works of Sir Walter Ralegh, available as PDF or Epub from Amazon and from Delphi. Aside from the wealth of material in this book, the price is very attractive: $1.99.
Thanks, Bob, for all the information. I'll try Abe books and Amazon and I'll buy all of those if I can get them second-hand for the right price. At least I know now what I'm looing for.