Beatrijs
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Beatrijs written in last quarter of 13th century, possibly by Diederic van Assenede, is an original Dutch poem about the legend of a nun who deserted her convent for the love of a man, and lives with him for seven years and has two children. When their money is low he deserts her, and she becomes a prostitute to support her children for another seven years. ONe day she is near her old convent so inquires discretely what has become of the nun Beatrijs, and learns that people think Beatrijs is still at the convent. One night a voice urges her to return to the convent, and when she returns, Beatrijs learns that Mary (mother of Jesus) has been acting in her role at the convent, and she can return without anyone knowing of her absence.
The Dutch poem was created out of a legend recorded in Latin, Dialogus Miraculorum of 1223 and Libri Octo Miraculorum of 1237 written by Caesarius von Heisterbach. The subject matter is possibly of Dutch origin during his travels in the Netherlands. The Dutch version was not a word-for-word translation. The tale was translated also into German, French, Spanish, Old Norse and Arabic.[1]
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[edit] Adaptations
In the 20th century several modern adaptations have been produced:
- Poem: Beatrijs by Dutch poet P.C. Boutens
- Play: Ik dien (Dutch for I serve) by Herman Teirlinck
- Opera libretto: Beatrijs by Felix Rutten
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Meijer 1971:20-21.
[edit] References
Meijer, Reinder. Literature of the Low Countries: A Short History of Dutch Literature in the Netherlands and Belgium. New York: Twayne Publishers, Inc., 1971, page 20-21.
[edit] External links
- Beatrijs full text (in Dutch)
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