Commentary

1-24: The nuns of Remiremont hold a unique Council on the subject of Love.
1. Veris: ver, veris: "spring."
1. sub: with words of time, either "just before" or "just after."
2. Romarici montium: Remiremont; see Introduction.
3. contio = conventio; in Classical Latin, typically a political assembly. Here the subject of habuit.
3. coenobio: < coenobium, from two Greek words meaning "shared" and "life"; hence "a commune, monastery, convent."
4. Tale: Forms of this word occur often in the Concilium Romarici Montis. It is characteristic in Medieval Latin of formal and technical language, especially that of law and philosophy; consequently elsewhere it tends to lend an air of pretentiousness.
6. sed neque: This somewhat redundant combination ( = simply neque) is a favorite of the poet; it occurs again in ll. 65, 80, and 166 (in this last instance, the neque is omitted in R).
7. negotio: here the equivalent of "agenda" or "subject."
8. Amoris: See Introduction.
8. tractatum est: < tracto, "handle," frequentative of traho, "pull." Impersonal verb; translate "there was discussion."
8. nullo: sc. alio concilio.
9. Evangelio: < Evangelium, "the Gospel"; from a Greek word meaning literally "good news."
11. de longe: "from afar." The preposition de in Medieval Latin develops a great many new uses, which parallel developments in the Romance languages.
12. laici: "laymen" ( = nonmembers of the clergy). From a Greek word meaning "the people."
13. Tullensibus: the people (here men; see quorum in following line) of Toul, a town about 55 miles from Remiremont.
14. quorum: clearly so in both T and R; Meyer queries the possibility of emending to quarum, which makes sense, but would change the scenario drastically and unnecessarily. Retaining the reading of the manuscripts suggests that the Tullenses here are the same as the laici of the preceding stanza.
solacium: a common euphemism in Medieval Latin love poetry that refers to pleasure rather than more narrowly to solace; see ll. 69, 92, 187, 190.
15. I have moved this line here from its position in TR after l. 12. Other editors are satisfied to leave it where it is, although it then refers back to the preceding stanza and not to what follows in this one, contrary to the usage elsewhere in the poem.
15. intus et : = et intus. The author of the Concilium Romarici Montis favors postponing conjunctions and other introductory words within their clauses. The matter is obscured by variant readings of the manuscripts in several of the possible instances. Still there remain enough clear cases to justify calling attention to the phenomenon; the textual vacillation can be explained as scribal attempts to avoid what was felt as awkwardness. See below, with notes on the problematical cases, ll. 32 (in R only), 33 (in T only), 47 (probably, but only by emendation), 51, 87 (twice, the second instance in T only), 212, and 237 (where there is a variant reading in both T and R).
16. For the assumption of a lacuna here, see Introduction.
19. custodia: The abstract noun here by metonymy = custos; or perhaps the author regards it as the feminine agent noun.
19. haec: hardly a true demonstrative; it adds the sense of "familiar" or "well known."
20. miles: an ironic word in the context of this poem.
21. In R, the two halves of this line appear in reverse order.
21. invita: < invitus, "unwilling, reluctant."
22. Veteranae: a term with military associations (like its English derivative); see above.
arcentur: < arceo, "bar, turn away."
23. taedium: "annoyance, disgust"; a somewhat stronger word than the English derivative, "tedium."
25-48: The opening ceremonies of the Council are described.
27. This and the following line are omitted in R.
28. Lectrix: In T, the only witness to the text here, this word is garbled, but enough is legible to support this emendation by Waitz.
29. Danubrio: Danubrium was a medieval market village near Remiremont; it survives today only in the personal name Deneuvre.
officio: From its literal meaning in Classical Latin, "duty," this word comes to refer in Medieval Latin to a prayer or church service. "Office," in this sense, will do as a translation, or "service, ceremony, performance."
30. artis amatoriae: the name of Ovid's work referred to in l. 27. It occurs again just below, in l. 35.
31. Cantus: genitive singular, with modulamina, "measures."
32. satis et: See note on intus et above. R here reads satisque.
33. non quaelibet: "not just anyone."
33. duae sed: See note on intus et above. R here reads Eva et.
34. latuit: < lateo, "be hidden from, be a secret from"; with accusative. Its subject here is quicquid Amor statuit.
36. opere: "from experience," the equivalent of the Greek praxis; contrasts with notitia in the previous line which is to be understood as "theoretical knowledge."
facere: object of sciat; "what a man knows (how) to do."
37. oblectamina: "delights" < oblectamen < oblecto.
38. adstitit: < adsto, "stand up."
38. indicto: < indico, "call for, demand."
39. qua refloruit: "in which she was like a flower." In l. 43 she is explicitly identified with a flower.
41. gemmis . . . auro: ablatives of comparison.
44. For the placement of this line, see Introduction.
46. talis: sc., as the poet has described her.
47. habens et: See note on intus et above. Both T and R lack et here, but a syllable is needed to complete the rhythm.
secundum: functions as a preposition; "according to, proportional to, in keeping with." She is as eloquent as if she had studied rhetoric.
48. coetus: "assembly, meeting."
48. ora sic aperuit: Biblical language (Job 33.2, Ecclesiasticus 51.33, etc.) made additionally high-flown here by the use of the plural ora.

49-60: The Cardinalis Domina declares that she has been sent to inquire into the ways of the women of Remiremont.

49. lascivia: does not have the derogatory connotation of the English derivative, but a proper English translation is hard to find. Something like "sportiveness, fun-loving quality, frolicsomeness" will have to do. The word occurs again in l. 113.
50. Aprilis cum Maio: = Aprilis et Maii, used for the sake of the rhyme.
51. facimus: The Cardinalis Domina here refers to herself with the majestic or royal "we." She is subsequently inconsistent in this regard, shifting between singular and plural.
51. ad vos quare: See note on intus et above.
51. venimus: Typically indirect questions have their verb in the subjunctive in Classical Latin. Exceptions, as here, are common in colloquial usage; e.g., comedy.
52. quotquot: "however many"; indeclinable. Also in l. 138.
53. visere: The infinitive expressing purpose as a substitute for ut with the subjunctive (or a gerund or gerundive construction) is uncommon in Classical Latin until the later period.
56. obtestor: "implore."
57. vestrum: not the possessive adjective, but the genitive of the pronoun vos in a partitive sense, here with nulla: "let no one of you . . . "
57. quae vos vita teneat: The whole phrase functions as the object of sileat < sileo, "keep silent about, suppress, fail to reveal."
58. For the assumption of a lacuna here, see Introduction.
59. si cui parcendum est: impersonal passive of an intransitive verb: "if anyone is to be shown mercy."
60. meum est: "it is up to me, my prerogative."

61-108: Several of the women speak of their devotion to the service of love, exclusively the love of clerks rather than of knights.

61. ex quo: sc. tempore; "from the time when, ever since."
63. inscienter: adverb based on scio; "unwittingly."
64. servando: The ablative of the gerund and a simple participle are often logically interchangeable: "we, by holding to our rule" ="we, holding to our rule." Similarly in l. 240. In Medieval Latin the use of the gerund sometimes extends even to cases where it is strictly illogical; e.g., in l. 150. The instance in l. 99 comes after a lacuna, making it impossible to determine to which class it belongs. See also note on l. 168 below.
65. habendam: sc. esse, indirect statement with eligimus. The subject of the indirect discourse is copulam. "We choose not to have an association with any man." Copulam is also understood as the object of cognovimus, and it governs talis hominis.
65. sed neque: See note on l. 6 above.
67. This and the following two lines are omitted in R.
69. nil tardat: Nil is the inner object of tardat, and solacia is its regular (outer) object. Translate: "makes no delaying of pleasures."
72. quos: antecedent is clericorum.
72. scimus affabiles: sc. esse.
73. curialitas: < curialis < curia, "court, senate house." Curialitas, not a Classical Latin word, may be translated "courtesy," but in the special medieval, not in the modern sense; "courtliness" is perhaps preferable.
73. clericis: dative governed by prefix of compound verb.
74. fallere: The infinitive in Medieval Latin comes to function much more readily than in Classical Latin as a noun, so that posse, for example, commonly means "power." Here translate, "They do not know how to deceive."
75. peritiam: = skill and experience combined.
76. foedera: usually a military or political term; here pacts of love.
77. quid: for aliquid, after si. To account for the neuter, this may be construed as an inner object. An accurate (if somewhat inelegant) translation then would be, "If they do any loving . . . " For this syntax, compare l. 105.
78. assumpsimus: < ad + sumo, "single out, choose."
80. sed neque: See note on l. 6.
82. Experto: < experior. The participle is used in both the active and the passive sense: either "one who has experienced, an expert," or "a thing that has been experienced, evidence." The gender here calls for the latter interpretation, while the relative pronoun cuï seems to call for the former. The general sense is clear enough, and perhaps we must let it go at that.
84. labilis: < labor, labi, "slippery, fickle."
85. insipientiam: the opposite of sapientia.
85. notitiam: "acquaintance."
87. dolus ut: See note on intus et above. The reading of T, in eis qui, farther on in this line is another instance of the same pattern; R reads qui in eis.
87. in eis: As here printed (see preceding note) this could be taken equally with the phrase before it or after it; it is very likely intended to be felt with both.
88. nos: accusative.
88. notavimus: < noto, "indicate, mention."
89. dilectio: "love, esteem."
89. vitio: "blemish, sin."
91. ulterius: "hereafter."
92. valet: "is able"; introduced by quod in the previous line. Main verb in a clause of indirect discourse, frequently so expressed in Medieval Latin rather than with an infinitive as in Classical Latin. Governs disiungere in the following line.
94. claustralibus: "cloistered" < claustrum, "enclosure," < claudo.
95. susceptio: "acceptance."
97. For the assumption of a lacuna here, see Introduction.
99. amplectendo: See note on l. 64 above.
99. recuso: "reject."
103. Tali: such as has just been described.
105. quid: for aliquid, after si; inner object of normally intransitive peccavimus. "If we have sinned any (sin)."
107. adeo: "to the same extent." With quam, "as," in the following line. Both T and R here read audio.
108. laudibus: can be taken with in omnibus: "in all your praises," or as an instrumental ablative, in which case in omnibus means, "in all respects."

109-132: Those who favor the knights now speak in their turn.

110. Amoris: See Introduction.
112. nobis sunt memoriae: "are in our thoughts"; a double dative.
113. lascivia: See note on l. 49.
114. obsequium: "compliance with, being agreeable to."
115. pro nostra gratia: "to win our favor."
118. praeelegimus: < prae + e + lego, "give preference to."
121. sectam: in Classical Latin usually refers to a philosophical "school" rather than what we mean by its derivative, "sect." Here perhaps may be translated, "class of men."
122. habere: Whatever is to be understood as the direct object of this verb is left vague.
124. This and the following two lines are omitted in R.
124. magis: sc. placet.
124. psalterium: "a psalter (copy of the Book of Psalms)."
125. legere: sc. psalterium.
126. parvi pendo: "I little value." Parvi is genitive of value.
regulam: the Rule by which her religious order was formally governed.
127. pervium: "accessible, open."
128. congrua: "suitable."
129. exposuimus: "opened to, placed at the disposal of, made available to." Parking problems are not an altogether recent phenomenon.
novimus: sc. esse.
130. summopere: adverb, "very greatly, exceedingly" = summo opere. Magnopere and tantopere also occur.
131. R omits from here through line 162 Since T does not generally indicate changes of speaker, in this passage they must be inferred by the editor.

133-153: A representative of the faction of the clerks speaks in their favor once more.

133. parum: "too little"
133. regnavimus: somewhat obscure; perhaps, "we have been our own mistresses." The general sense of the line is clear enough: the speakers are still young and inexperienced.
135. clero: "the clergy, clerks."
137. ad libitum: "at our pleasure, as it pleases us"; or it may be, "at their pleasure." Most likely the author intends a little of both.
138. This entire line is in apposition with debitum above.
viro: T, the only witness for the text here, reads virgo. Emendation seems to be called for, although a forced case could be made for the manuscript reading.
141. nos: accusative.
141. mutabimus: "exchange, give up, renounce."
143. quaerit studium: The phrase is probably chosen for the sake of the rhyme, and does not really yield much sense. Perhaps "seeks excuses," or "demands enthusiasm."
144. ridet: "smiles at." Gaudia is the direct object. The ladies cite no evidence to support their proposition.
145. rhythmis atque versibus: Greek and Latin words for more or less the same thing: poems.
147. This line is garbled in T, the only witness for the text at this point; it reads: Dulcis amicia clericis est et gloria. In themargin appear the cryptic letters Dane, and there is extra space left after the line. The emendations adopted here make sense of the line, including metrically, but there can be no certainty. The puzzle of Dane remains.
148. aliae . . . opere: so in both T and R, producing an intolerably poor rhyme; the first half of this line is identical with that of line 140, where the rhyme is correct. Should we here read alterae (that is, altere)? See Introduction, footnote 4.
149. habilis: "capable, competent, adept."
150. habendo: See note on l. 64.
152. habeatur irritum: "let it be regarded as null and void."
153. absque: "free of"; preposition with ablative.

154-171: The Cardinalis Domina calls for the Council's verdict. They pronounce emphatically on the side of the clerks.

156. quarum: subjective genitives.
157. gratia: "favor, good will."
158. quibus: antecedent is militum, although a case could be made for notitia et . . . gratia.
159. detegere: < de + tego, "uncover, reveal."
161 odibiles: "hateful" < odi. Here feminine.
164. It seems probable that the lacuna at this point includes a change of speaker; there may be other unmarked changes of speaker in this passage as well.
166. sed neque: See note on l. 6. R here omits neque.
168. vitando ducimus T; vitando dicimus R. Emendation seems called for, although some sort of sense can be wrested out of the readings of either manuscript, perhaps by the application of the procedure noted on l. 64. As here emended, with vitandos understand esse, and ducimus has the sense of "we consider, regard as."
169. sapere: parallel with bonum.

172-204: The Cardinalis Domina accepts the verdict, and declares that violators are to be shunned.

172. iure consulitis: "duly give as your advice."
173. eas: that is, those who favor knights.
173. consortio: "companionship."
175. paenituerint: This verb does not occur with a personal subject in standard Classical Latin; but see ll. 212 and 239 below. This is the reading of T. R has respuerint, which is unmetrical, but may easily be emended to resipuerint < re + sapio, "come to one's senses," the opposite of desipere (see l. 195). The reading of R, with this emendation, may well be preferable.
176. talis: "the following."
177. ne sic peccent amplius: This clause defines the condicio of the previous line as an indirect command: "the following condition, that they should . . . "
178. Hoc . . . obedientiam: "We charge you to obey the following as well."
180. Uni soli: dative singular (all genders).
181. banno: This is the only word without classical roots in the entire poem (unless we wish also to count amen, ll. 214 and 241). The Germanic bann was a public proclamation, often, as here, a denunciation. It survives in English "ban" and "banish," and it is still familiar in the archaic phrase, "posting the banns," publicly announcing a forthcoming marriage.
184. sed non sub silentio: "not bound by a rule of silence."
185. vos: nominative; an emphatic subject. The object of detis is tactum in the next line.
185. vilibus: < vilis, "lowborn." A separate group from the militibus farther on in the line.
186. vel coxae vel femoris: It is a little puzzling why the Cardinalis Domina should here be so explicit anatomically. The reading of the rather inappropriate coxae ("hip") is not perfectly clear in T; colli and cordis have been suggested as emendations. Femoris may be chosen simply for the sake of the rhyme.
189. For the assumption of a lacuna here, see Introduction.
191. cum non creditur: "(even) when one does not expect it."
192. quorum: antecedent is militum in l. 190.
194. sapientia: ablative.
195. totum quicquid: "absolutely everything."
195. desipimus: < de + sapio, "relax, seek pleasure."
196. Causas...regere: "to act on our behalf and manage our affairs." Causas nostras agere in Classical Latin would mean "to plead our cases"; but causa has here acquired its Medieval Latin sense as virtually the equivalent of res (reflected in modern French chose and Spanish and Italian cosa).
198. abdita: < abdo, -ere < ab + do, dare, "secrets."
201. haec: subject (feminine singular). The line is garbled in R: Et si cui his placeat hos neque taceat.

205-241: The Cardinalis Domina pronounces an awful curse on all who fail to conform to the new orthodoxy.

206. alias: could be construed with ecclesias, but is most likely to be taken as the adverb, "elsewhere."
208. vetitum: T here reads vitium.
210. T for this line has only Non ullo sophismate and then breaks off. R reads Cum nostro sophismate sint sub anathemate. The line may plausibly be reconstructed as here by combining the two sources.
sophismate: ablative case of sophisma, a Greek word; best taken as truncated ablative absolute ("there being no . 20. 20."). If the reading suggested in the preceding note is adopted, sophisma would have its common meaning of "subterfuge, specious reasoning"; freely, "mincing words." If the reading of R is accepted, then it has its literal meaning, "wisdom."
210. anathemate: < anathema (Greek), "curse."
211. rationabiliter: The line as it is in T is metrically faulty. R reads rationabile, which scans and can be made to yield a kind of sense, but does not rhyme. Probably the -tio- is to be pronounced as one syllable,
212. paeniteant: See note on l.175.
212. clericis ut: See note on intus et above.
213. Huius . . . consilio: = let this ban be ratified by your wisdom.

214b (Subhead). REBELLARUM: Since rebellis belongs to the third declension, this form is an outright solecism. (Only in T; R reads simply EXCOMMUNICATIO.)

215. Vobis: like ceteris at the end of the line, dative of disadvantage with maneat in l. 217.
subditis: < sub + do, "subject (oneself)." Present indicative.
217. The curse that runs breathlessly from here almost to the end of the poem is like an operatic patter song. Some of it seems to be mere sound and fury (for example, what is the meaning of cultus inconstantiae in l. 220?) but it is all amusing.
220. faex: "dregs."
222. species: "appearance."
223. famula . . . vernula: Both mean "servant." Vernula (masculine of the first declension) refers to Phoebus, the sun, and suus refers back to Iovis.
226. dies celebris: "special day."
227. caelitus: adverb, "from heaven."
227. penitus: adverb, "utterly."
231. obviam: "when they encounter you."
236. Laboris . . . taedii . . . pudoris: These genitives are all partitive with si quid: "But if anything remains (if I have omitted anything) of hardship," etc.
237. si quid: For the position of these words relative to the partitive genitives they govern, see note on intus et above. T here reads: si quid residuum (without sed), and R reads unmetrically sed si quid est residuum.
238. spretis: < sperno, "spurn, disdain."
239. paenituerit: see note on l. 175.
241. For the two lines that conclude the poem, see above, Introduction.