XXI.

The transition from these trivial and slightly interesting comic songs to poems of a serious import, which played so important a part in Goliardic literature, must of necessity be abrupt. It forms no part of my present purpose to exhibit the Wandering Students in their capacity as satirists. That belongs more properly to a study of the earlier Reformation than to such an inquiry as I have undertaken in this treatise. Satires, especially medieval satires, are apt, besides, to lose their force and value in translation. I have therefore confined myself to five specimens, more or less closely connected with the subjects handled in this study.

The first has the interest of containing some ideas which Villon preserved in his ballad of the men of old time.

DEATH TAKES ALL.

No. 56.

Hear, O thou earth, hear, thou encircling sea, Yea, all that live beneath the sun, hear ye How of this world the bravery and the glory Are but vain forms and shadows transitory, Even as all things 'neath Time's empire show By their short durance and swift overthrow! Nothing avails the dignity of kings, Naught, naught avail the strength and stuff of things; The wisdom of the arts no succour brings; Genus and species help not at death's hour, No man was saved by gold in that dread stour; The substance of things fadeth as a flower, As ice 'neath sunshine melts into a shower. Where is Plato, where is Porphyrius? Where is Tullius, where is Virgilius? Where is Thales, where is Empedocles, Or illustrious Aristoteles? Where's Alexander, peerless of might? Where is Hector, Troy's stoutest knight? Where is King David, learning's light? Solomon where, that wisest wight? Where is Helen, and Paris rose-bright? They have fallen to the bottom, as a stone rolls: Who knows if rest be granted to their souls? But Thou, O God, of faithful men the Lord, To us Thy favour evermore afford When on the wicked judgment shall be poured!

The second marks the passage from those feelings of youth and spring-time which have been copiously illustrated in Sections xiv.-xvii., to emotions befitting later manhood and life's autumn.

AUTUMN YEARS.

No. 57.

While life's April blossom blew, What I willed I then might do, Lust and law seemed comrades true. As I listed, unresisted, Hither, thither, could I play, And my wanton flesh obey.

When life's autumn days decline, Thus to live, a libertine, Fancy-free as thoughts incline, Manhood's older age and colder Now forbids; removes, destroys All those ways of wonted joys.

Age with admonition wise Thus doth counsel and advise, While her voice within me cries: "For repenting and relenting There is room; forgiveness falls On all contrite prodigals!"

I will seek a better mind; Change, correct, and leave behind What I did with purpose blind: From vice sever, with endeavour Yield my soul to serious things, Seek the joy that virtue brings.

The third would find a more appropriate place in a hymn-book than in a collection of _Carmina Vagorum_. It is, however, written in a lyrical style so closely allied to the secular songs of the _Carmina Burana_ (where it occurs) that I have thought it well to quote its grimly medieval condemnation of human life.

VANITAS VANITATUM.

No. 58.

This vile world In madness hurled Offers but false shadows; Joys that wane And waste like vain Lilies of the meadows.

Worldly wealth, Youth, strength, and health, Cramp the soul's endeavour; Drive it down In hell to drown, Hell that burns for ever.

What we see, And what let be, While on earth we tarry, We shall cast Like leaves at last Which the sere oaks carry.

Carnal life, Man's law of strife, Hath but brief existence; Passes, fades, Like wavering shades Without real subsistence.

Therefore bind, Tread down and grind Fleshly lusts that blight us; So heaven's bliss 'Mid saints that kiss Shall for aye delight us.

The fourth, in like manner, would have but little to do with a Commersbuch, were it not for the fact that the most widely famous modern student-song of Germany has borrowed two passages from its serious and tragic rhythm. Close inspection of _Gaudeamus Igitur_ shows that the metrical structure of that song is based on the principle of quoting one of its long lines and rhyming to it.

ON CONTEMPT FOR THE WORLD.

No. 59.

"De contemptu mundi:" this is the theme I've taken: Time it is from sleep to rise, from death's torpor waken: Gather virtue's grain and leave tares of sin forsaken. Rise up, rise, be vigilant; trim your lamp, be ready.

Brief is life, and brevity briefly shall be ended: Death comes quick, fears no man, none hath his dart suspended: Death kills all, to no man's prayer hath he condescended. Rise up, rise, be vigilant; trim your lamp, be ready.

Where are they who in this world, ere we kept, were keeping? Come unto the churchyard, thou! see where they are sleeping! Dust and ashes are they, worms in their flesh are creeping. Rise up, rise, be vigilant; trim your lamp, be ready.

Into life each man is born with great teen and trouble: All through life he drags along; toil on toil is double: When life's done, the pangs of death take him, break the bubble. Rise up, rise, be vigilant; trim your lamp, be ready.

If from sin thou hast been turned, born a new man wholly, Changed thy life to better things, childlike, simple, holy; Thus into God's realm shalt thou enter with the lowly. Rise up, rise, be vigilant; trim your lamp, be ready.

Having alluded to _Gaudeamus Igitur_, I shall close my translations with a version of it into English. The dependence of this lyric upon the rhythm and substance of the poem on _Contempt for the World_, which I have already indicated, is perhaps the reason why it is sung by German students after the funeral of a comrade. The Office for the Dead sounding in their ears, occasions the startling _igitur_ with which it opens; and their mind reverts to solemn phrases in the midst of masculine determination to enjoy the present while it is yet theirs.

GAUDEAMUS IGITUR.

No. 60.

Let us live then and be glad While young life's before us! After youthful pastime had, After old age hard and sad, Earth will slumber o'er us.

Where are they who in this world, Ere we kept, were keeping? Go ye to the gods above; Go to hell; inquire thereof: They are not; they're sleeping.

Brief is life, and brevity Briefly shall be ended: Death comes like a whirlwind strong, Bears us with his blast along; None shall be defended.

Live this university, Men that learning nourish; Live each member of the same, Long live all that bear its name; Let them ever flourish!

Live the commonwealth also, And the men that guide it! Live our town in strength and health, Founders, patrons, by whose wealth We are here provided!

Live all girls! A health to you, Melting maids and beauteous! Live the wives and women too, Gentle, loving, tender, true, Good, industrious, duteous!

Perish cares that pule and pine! Perish envious blamers! Die the Devil, thine and mine! Die the starch-necked Philistine! Scoffers and defamers!