Litanic Tradition in "Of on that is so fayr and bright" and the Harley Ms "Five Joys of Mary"

Abstract

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.”