The mirror broken anew : the manuscript evidence for opposition to Marguerite Porete's Latin 'Mirror of simple souls' in the later Middle Ages
This thesis examines three manuscripts which demonstrate negative attitudes towards the Latin translation of the fourteenth-century Old French mystical work The Mirror of Simple Souls, written by Marguerite Porete. Marguerite was burned at the stake for heresy in Paris in 1310, and her Mirror was also condemned and meant to be destroyed. The Mirror survived inquisitorial efforts to exterminate it, was translated into Italian, Middle English, and Latin, and became accepted and valued by many religious circles in the later fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. Examination of the Latin manuscripts, however, demonstrates that there was also a continuing trend of opposition towards and condemnation of the Mirror, even after its original Parisian condemnation was forgotten. This level of opposition is not seen in the Mirror's other vernacular circulations, making the Latin tradition unique in the amount of censure it received. This demonstrates a multi-faceted tradition in the Mirror's circulation, showing that the Mirror, rather than entering definitively into either the realm of orthodoxy or heresy, instead had a place in both, occupying a grey area between the two. This thesis provides new and detailed information
Trombley, Justine Lida
Marguerite Porete ; Heretical texts ; Manuscripts ; 'Mirror of simple souls' ; Germany ; Italy
The mirror broken anew : the manuscript evidence for opposition to Marguerite Porete's Latin 'Mirror of simple souls' in the later Middle Ages. This thesis examines three manuscripts which demonstrate negative attitudes towards the Latin translation of the fourteenth-century Old French mystical work The Mirror of Simple Souls, written by Marguerite Porete. Marguerite was burned at the stake for heresy in Paris in 1310, and her Mirror was also condemned and meant to be destroyed. The Mirror survived inquisitorial efforts to exterminate it, was translated into Italian, Middle English, and Latin, and became accepted and valued by many religious circles in the later fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. Examination of the Latin manuscripts, however, demonstrates that there was also a continuing trend of opposition towards and condemnation of the Mirror, even after its original Parisian condemnation was forgotten. This level of opposition is not seen in the Mirror's other vernacular circulations, making the Latin tradition unique in the amount of censure it received. This demonstrates a multi-faceted tradition in the Mirror's circulation, showing that the Mirror, rather than entering definitively into either the realm of orthodoxy or heresy, instead had a place in both, occupying a grey area between the two. This thesis provides new and detailed information
mirror broken anew manuscript evidence opposition latin simple soul later middle_ages examines manuscript negative attitude_towards latin translation fourteenth_century old french mystical work mirror simple write burn stake heresy paris mirror also condemn meant destroyed mirror survive inquisitorial effort translate italian middle_english latin become accepted value many religious circle examination latin manuscript however demonstrate also continue trend opposition towards condemnation mirror even original parisian condemnation forgotten level opposition see mirror vernacular circulation make latin tradition unique amount receive demonstrate multi_faceted tradition mirror circulation show mirror rather enter definitively either realm orthodoxy heresy instead place occupy grey area provide_new detailed_information