Beatrijs

Illuminated initial at the beginning of the Beatrijs legend. The Hague, Royal Library, 76 E 5

Beatrijs (English: Beatrice), was a poem written in last quarter of 14th century (ca.1374),^[1] possibly by Diederic van Assenede, and is an original Dutch poem about the legend of a nun, Beatrijs, who deserted her convent for the love of a man, who 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 discreetly 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 (1219-1223)^[2] and Libri Octo Miraculorum (1225-1227)^[2] written by Caesarius von Heisterbach. Although Hilka^[3] claims that Caesarius von Heisterbach was not the true author of the latter text, as Duinhoven^[2] points out, he was certainly the author of record during the Middle Ages. The subject matter is possibly of Dutch origin during his travels in the Netherlands. However the Dutch version was not a word-for-word translation. The tale was translated also into English, Esperanto, Frisian, French, German, Spanish, Old Norse and Arabic.^[4]

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

See also

• Dutch folklore

Notes

1. Koninklijke Bibliotheek
2. Duinhoven 1989:13
3. Hilka 1933:145
4. Meijer 1971:20-21.

References

• Duinhoven, A.M. De geschiedenis van Beatrijs. Utrecht: HES, 1989.
• Die Wundergeschichten des Caesarius von Heisterbach." Ed. A Alfons Hilka. Gesellschaft für rheinische Geschichtskunde, Publikationen 43, 1933.
• 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.

External links

• Beatrijs full text (in Dutch)