Literacka "oprawa" śmierci i pogrzebu Jerzego Radziwiłła (1616-1617)

Abstract

The article makes use of unknown manuscript and printed sources from the 17th century presenting death of Jerzy, a one year son of Krzysztof and A nna Radziwiłł. In the light of these materials it is possible to bring the Old-Polish attitude towards children’s death closer and reconstruct the details of pompa funebris at that time. The letters of Protestant clerics, above all, preserved condolences offered to the hetman. Also, they contain notes on preparations for the funeral and occasional publishing houses concerning the dead. One of such prints is Lacrymae exequiales in obitum praeproperum Georgii Radivilli infantis a studiosis Gymnasi Birzensis fusae which consists of the Polish poems by Rajski brothers. The authors, comforting princess Anna, referred to, among other things, Jan Kochanowski’s Laments. What remained was also a copy of the speech given during the funeral of Jerzy Radziwiłł. It is a thanksgiving oration on behalf of the dead’s family, directed at the participants of the ceremony. An anonymous author referred to the authority of Heraclitus of Ephesus and cited The Bible, above all, The Book o f Psalms and The Book o f Job many times.