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A Nun’s Sermon
T he anonymous poem “A Nun’s Sermon to Ladies Carenza, Iselda, and Alais on Priority of Knowledge and Light over Earthly Body” is an example of a commingling of sacred and secular poetry among the troubadours. The poem in Provençal (langue d’oc ) is anonymous, in a woman’s voice, purportedly by a nun, who with humor, satire, and delicious skill advises the ladies of her concern of the perils of family, of the physical degradation of the temporal body, and of the greater satisfaction and thrill to be gained from marrying god, who is the crown of knowledge and light.
A NUN’S SERMON 1
My lady Carenza of the lovely body,
please offer sisters your profound advice,
and since you know what’s best, tell us
precisely what to do. You know. Your ways embody
all ways of woman. Please say: shall I wed
someone we know? Or stay a virgin? I’ve said
that would be good. But having kids—what for?
To me a marriage seems a painful bore.
Lady Carenza, I’d like to have a man,
but what a penance when you have a clan
of brats. Your tits hang halfway to the ground;
your belly is discomfited and round.
My lady Iselda and my lady Alais,
you have youth, beauty; your skin a fresh color
and you know courtly manners; you have valor
beyond all other women in your place.
Hear me. And for the best seed from a cod,
marry the crown of knowledge, who is god.
And you will bear the fruit in glorious sons,
saving your chastity like married nuns.
My lady Iselda and my lady Alais,
remember me and may my light transcend
all fears. Please ask the king of glory,
when you enter heaven, to join us once again.