H (Historia Septem Sapientum): Difference between revisions
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|Has Title=Historia Septem Sapientum | |Has Description=The ''Historia Septem Sapientum'' (or, the History of the Seven Wise Masters) is usually referred to by its Latin title because of the early and broad proliferation of Latin textual transmission of this version. The Latin ''Historia'' was translated into many languages, including Armenian, Danish, Dutch, English, French, Hungarian, Icelandic, Polish, Russian, Swedish, and Czech, and with particular popularity into German, and Latin texts continued to circulate well into the late Middle Ages. | ||
|Has Siglum=H | |||
The ''Historia'', also known as Version H, likely developed out of the narrative tradition of the [[A (Seven Sages)|Version A]] redaction of the ''Seven Sages'', and shares most of its stories with the Version A texts. However, the ''Historia'' introduces a new story, [[Amatores]], and often combines two otherwise separate narratives ([[Senescalcus]] and [[Roma]]) which makes space for the new addition. Another variation is found in the prince's story; after relating the narrative [[Vaticinium]] with its focus on interpreting animal speech and prophecy, the prince then segues into a continuation of the story that follows the popular medieval narrative of the faithful friend, often called ''Amicus and Amelius'', ''Ami et Amile,'' or ''Amis and Amiloun'' in Middle English. The resulting story, [[Vaticinium and Amici]], is a long and wide ranging conclusion to the ''Historia'''s embedded narrative tradition. | |||
The ''Historia'' tradition is set apart from other ''Seven Sages'' narratives by its 'unique fullness of detail' (Campbell 1907), and by the extensive, elaborate moralisations apended to the tales in many Version H texts. These moralisations are, in some versions, developed into religious allegories, referred to as ''reductiones''. These ''reductiones'' are found primarily in the versions of the ''Historia'' that are included within the frame text of the ''Gesta Romanorum'' (notably the Latin and German Version H texts); according to Gerdes, as many as four fifths of all manuscript versions of the ''Historia'' narrative may be embedded within the ''Gesta'' (Gerdes 1992). Gaston Paris suggests that the inclusion of the ''Historia'' within the larger ''Gesta'' tale collection might account for the emperor's name in Version H: the emperor is called 'Poncianus' rather than 'Diocletianus', perhaps because the ''Gesta Romanorum'' already includes the story of an Emperor Diocletian. | |||
It is also worth noting that unlike many of the Version A texts, the ''Historia'' usually concludes with further relevations that are intended to prove the empress's villainy. One of the empress's maidens is called forward by the prince, and publicly stripped, revealing male (not female) genitalia. The outing of this character's biological sex is universally read as proof of the empress's adultery, with the assumption being that this 'maid' is really a man cross-dressing in order to conduct an affair with the empress. The supposed-lover is then executed alongside the empress. | |||
|Has Title=Historia Septem Sapientum | |||
|Has Siglum=H (Historia Septem Sapientum) | |||
|Has Branch Of Tradition=West | |Has Branch Of Tradition=West | ||
|Is Adapted From=A (Seven Sages) | |Is Adapted From=A (Seven Sages) | ||
|Is Adapted Into=Historia Calumniae Novercalis; Pontianus; Latin Version H; English Version H; German Version H; Czech Version H; Old Swedish Version H | |||
|Has Original Language Of Version=Latin | |Has Original Language Of Version=Latin | ||
|Is Translated Into Languages=Armenian; Danish; Dutch; English; French; German (High and Low German); Hungarian; Icelandic; Polish; Russian; Swedish | |Is Translated Into Languages=Armenian; Danish; Dutch; English; French; German (High and Low German); Hungarian; Icelandic; Polish; Russian; Swedish; Czech | ||
|Has Modern Research Literature=Roth (2003); Roth (2008); | |Has Start Date Of Composition=1300 | ||
|Has End Date Of Composition=1342 | |||
|Has Source For Date Of Text Composition=Campbell (1907); Roth (2004) | |||
|Has Modern Research Literature=Gerdes (1992); Gerdes (2004); Roth (2003); Roth (2008); Schmitz (1904); Campbell (1907); Runte, Wikeley, Farrell (1984); Runte, Society of the Seven Sages Portal (2014); Roth (2004); Paris (1876) | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{EmbeddedStory | {{EmbeddedStory | ||
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|Has Short Title=Canis | |Has Short Title=Canis | ||
|Has Sequence Number=2 | |Has Sequence Number=2 | ||
|Has Narrator=Bancillas | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{EmbeddedStory | {{EmbeddedStory | ||
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|Has Short Title=Puteus | |Has Short Title=Puteus | ||
|Has Sequence Number=4 | |Has Sequence Number=4 | ||
|Has Narrator=Lentulus | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{EmbeddedStory | {{EmbeddedStory | ||
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|Has Short Title=Avis | |Has Short Title=Avis | ||
|Has Sequence Number=6 | |Has Sequence Number=6 | ||
|Has Narrator=Cato | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{EmbeddedStory | {{EmbeddedStory | ||
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|Has Short Title=Tentamina | |Has Short Title=Tentamina | ||
|Has Sequence Number=8 | |Has Sequence Number=8 | ||
|Has Narrator=Malquidras | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{EmbeddedStory | {{EmbeddedStory | ||
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|Has Short Title=Medicus | |Has Short Title=Medicus | ||
|Has Sequence Number=10 | |Has Sequence Number=10 | ||
|Has Narrator=Josephas | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{EmbeddedStory | {{EmbeddedStory | ||
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|Has Short Title=Amatores | |Has Short Title=Amatores | ||
|Has Sequence Number=12 | |Has Sequence Number=12 | ||
|Has Narrator=Cleophas | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{EmbeddedStory | {{EmbeddedStory | ||
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|Has Short Title=Vidua | |Has Short Title=Vidua | ||
|Has Sequence Number=14 | |Has Sequence Number=14 | ||
|Has Narrator=Joachim | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{EmbeddedStory | {{EmbeddedStory | ||
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|Has Narrator=Prince | |Has Narrator=Prince | ||
}} | }} | ||
Latest revision as of 10:17, 13 February 2025
The Historia Septem Sapientum (or, the History of the Seven Wise Masters) is usually referred to by its Latin title because of the early and broad proliferation of Latin textual transmission of this version. The Latin Historia was translated into many languages, including Armenian, Danish, Dutch, English, French, Hungarian, Icelandic, Polish, Russian, Swedish, and Czech, and with particular popularity into German, and Latin texts continued to circulate well into the late Middle Ages.
The Historia, also known as Version H, likely developed out of the narrative tradition of the Version A redaction of the Seven Sages, and shares most of its stories with the Version A texts. However, the Historia introduces a new story, Amatores, and often combines two otherwise separate narratives (Senescalcus and Roma) which makes space for the new addition. Another variation is found in the prince's story; after relating the narrative Vaticinium with its focus on interpreting animal speech and prophecy, the prince then segues into a continuation of the story that follows the popular medieval narrative of the faithful friend, often called Amicus and Amelius, Ami et Amile, or Amis and Amiloun in Middle English. The resulting story, Vaticinium and Amici, is a long and wide ranging conclusion to the Historia's embedded narrative tradition.
The Historia tradition is set apart from other Seven Sages narratives by its 'unique fullness of detail' (Campbell 1907), and by the extensive, elaborate moralisations apended to the tales in many Version H texts. These moralisations are, in some versions, developed into religious allegories, referred to as reductiones. These reductiones are found primarily in the versions of the Historia that are included within the frame text of the Gesta Romanorum (notably the Latin and German Version H texts); according to Gerdes, as many as four fifths of all manuscript versions of the Historia narrative may be embedded within the Gesta (Gerdes 1992). Gaston Paris suggests that the inclusion of the Historia within the larger Gesta tale collection might account for the emperor's name in Version H: the emperor is called 'Poncianus' rather than 'Diocletianus', perhaps because the Gesta Romanorum already includes the story of an Emperor Diocletian.
It is also worth noting that unlike many of the Version A texts, the Historia usually concludes with further relevations that are intended to prove the empress's villainy. One of the empress's maidens is called forward by the prince, and publicly stripped, revealing male (not female) genitalia. The outing of this character's biological sex is universally read as proof of the empress's adultery, with the assumption being that this 'maid' is really a man cross-dressing in order to conduct an affair with the empress. The supposed-lover is then executed alongside the empress.
| Identification and general Information | |
|---|---|
| Reference Number | |
| Siglum of the version of the Seven Sages | H (Historia Septem Sapientum) |
| Version Number | |
| Title | Historia Septem Sapientum |
| Author | |
| Tradition and Lineage | |
|---|---|
| Branch of the tradition | West |
| Adapted from (version) | A (Seven Sages) |
| Adapted into (version) | Historia Calumniae Novercalis, Pontianus, Latin Version H, English Version H, German Version H, Czech Version H, Old Swedish Version H |
| Source for composition and adaptation information | |
| Connected manuscripts |
|---|
|
|
| Language and Composition | |
|---|---|
| Original language of version | Latin |
| Language of text | |
| Regional or specific language of version | |
| Translated into (languages) | Armenian, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German (High and Low German), Hungarian, Icelandic, Polish, Russian, Swedish, Czech |
| Place of composition | |
| Date of composition | 1300 - 1342 |
| Islamic date of composition | |
| Hebrew date of composition | |
| Source for date of composition | Campbell (1907), Roth (2004) |
| Modern Scholarship and Editions | |
|---|---|
| Modern research literature | Gerdes (1992), Gerdes (2004), Roth (2003), Roth (2008), Schmitz (1904), Campbell (1907), Runte, Wikeley, Farrell (1984), Runte, Society of the Seven Sages Portal (2014), Roth (2004), Paris (1876) |
| Modern Editions | |
| Notes and Commentary | |
|---|---|
| Note | |
| Notes on motifs | |
| Notes on the frame | |
| Pattern of embedded stories in this version |
|---|
|
| Connected prints |
|---|
|
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