A letter from Adam de Perseigne? (1184)

Translated letter:

A song that David made, that our lord put in his heart, I shall say, my lady of Champagne, whom the Lord God teaches and inspires with all goods so she lacks nothing; rather, if one dare say it, there is a little too much of one thing: he who created her put so much largesse in her that she has too much. Largesse and high spending bring care and constraint often to noble hearts; God grant that we have no harm from it! On Christmas day in the morning the holy church recites in Latin the psalm that I begin for you; I want to put it into romance [French] for you so you can take from it what you will, if folly does not deceive you. (1-20) Noble sister of the king of France, remember your faith. Think, lady, of loving well, of serving and imploring him who inspires the faith in us in which your noble heart sees itself. Yours is true and sharp, I do not know where you took it but I make you wise about one thing: that you have a great advantage for there is a word in holy scripture that assures us of great good: who loves God and seeks from him can be sure that he will profit from it. He puts his heart to a very good school who willingly hears his word and you, lady, are always ready to hear it and seek it. The good master from whom you have retained whatever you know, as he is a true friend, believe well that he has put it there. (2079-2100)

Original letter:

Une chancon que David fist Que nostre sire an cuer li mist Dirai ma dame de Champaigne, Celi cui Damedes ansaigne Et espire de toz ses biens Si qu'an li ne faut nule riens; Ancois i a, qui dire l'ose, Un po trop d'une sole chose: Tant i mist cil qui la cria Largece que trop en i a. Largece et li hauz despans Metent cusancon et espans Mainte foiz an jantil'corage; Deus doint que n'i aiens damage! Le jor de Noel au matin Nos dist sainte eglise an latin Le saume que je vos comanz; Metre le vos vuel an romanz, S'i porroiz prandre que que soit Se folie ne vos decoit. (1-20) La jantis suer le roi de France, Recordez i vostre creance. Pansez, dame, de bien amer, De servir et de reclamer Celui qui la foi nos espire Ou vostre jantis cuers se mire. Mout l'avez fin et aguisie, Ne sai ou vos avez puisie Mes d'une chose vos faz sage: Que mout avez grant avantage, Qu'un mot a an sainte escriture Qui de grant bien nos asseure: Qui Dieu aime et de lui anquiert Seurs soit il que miauz l'an iert; Mout met son cuer a bone escole Qui volantiers ot sa parole, Et vos, dame, estes toz jorz preste De l'oir et d'estre an anqueste. Li bons maistre don vos avez Retenu quanque vos savez, Si comme il est verais amis Croisse le bien qu'il i a mis! (2079-2100)

Historical context:

The author of the poem is not known, though it is assumed that he was a Cistercian and the editor Jenkins argues for Adam de Perseigne. The work was composed for Marie early in her regency, Jenkins suggests, in a period when she was taking in the Jews expelled by her half-brother Philip II; the poem makes a plea for humane treatment of the Jews, ll.839-44: “God commanded us, do not doubt, not to kill the Jews, but to let them live among us because the books of our faith and the witnesses we need are in their law.” The French poem sets the psalm and commentary within a vision king David has of heaven and the coming of Christ. I cite only the passages that specifically address Marie.

Authenticity:

The attribution of the letter to Adam de Perseigne is questionable. 

Printed source:

"The Eructavit: An Old French Metrical Paraphrase of Psalm XLIV," ed. T. Atkinson Jenkins, Gesellschaft für Romanische Literatur, 20 (Dresden: GfRL, 1909)

Date:

1184, December