Abstrakt: | Th is article discusses the infl uence of Litanies of the Saints on Middle English ly rics,
which is exemplifi ed by Of on that is so fayr and bright (New Index No. 2645)
and Five Joys of Mary from the Harley Miscellany 2253. Th e infl uence of liturgy on
Middle English poetry is thus confi rmed again. Th e introductory parts of the poem
in the vernacular are interspersed with Latin phrases that must have been taken
from litanies, which makes the text a representative of the so-called “litanic verse.”
Furthermore, events from the Virgin Mary’s life are referred to, which is inspired
by the Byzantine Great Akathist hymn. Th e Great Akathist itself also uses diverse
Holy Names of Mary. Th e Harley Five Joys of Mary must have derived from a similar
inspiration, since under the form of chanson d’aventure lies the tradition of the
Names of Mary, and the listing of the Joys of Mary also suggests the Great Akathist
as a source for the lyric. Recent research on litanic verse in various literatures of Europe
throughout the ages includes the term “polyonymic,” which refers to the many names of God, Jesus, and Mary. Th e Great Akathist also includes the “chairetismic”
element of this type of verse, since Mary is addressed with the word “hail.” |