From Gospels to Boethius. The third rhyme as a metre for vernacular translation

Authors

  • Ugo Conti Unifi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3059-7373

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1721-4777/19321

Keywords:

Alberto della Piagentina, «Comedy», Dante, third rhyme, vernacular translation

Abstract

The paper aims to conduct a rhythmic and syntactic study of the third rhyme as a metre for medieval vernacular translations. Since scientifically reliable and specific tools for the rhythmic and syntactic analysis of the tercets are already available for Dante’s Commedia, the verses of Purg., XI, 1-24, in which the proud souls recite a vernacular version of the Pater noster from Matt. VI, 9-13, has been chosen as the starting point of this essay. After this preliminary section and using the same method, the study focuses on how the third rhyme works in a sample of passages from the vernacular version of Boethius’ Consolatio philosophiae, composed by Alberto della Piagentina in the first half of the 14th century. Thanks to this privileged point of view, the comparison between the two works opens up a new perspective to the stylistic study of the third rhyme, allowing the subtle differences that characterise the style of the two different authors to emerge and making possible a better understanding of how the metre works.

Published

2024-08-07

How to Cite

Conti, U. (2024). From Gospels to Boethius. The third rhyme as a metre for vernacular translation. Griseldaonline, 23(1), 125–146. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1721-4777/19321

Issue

Section

Methodologica