Master Polikarp's Dialog with Death (Polish: Rozmowa Mistrza Polikarpa ze Śmiercią, Latin: De morte prologus, Dialogus inter Mortem et Magistrum Polikarpum) is a late medieval dialog in verse, written probably in the early 15th century. Master Polikarp's Dialog with Death is now regarded as one of the most important examples of medieval poetry in the Polish language.
Title page of Śmierci z Mistrzem dwojakie gadania... (contains Master Polikarp's Dialog with Death), Maciej Scharffenberg edition, c. 1542
Its author is unknown, but after discovering the complete, printed version from 1542, some historians speculate that Mikołaj Rej rewrote the original text for print.
One of the unique features of the work is its use of humour. The dialog mocks monks and priests, inn-keepers, fat women, dishonest physicians and unjust judges. The work is patterned after the 12th century Latin poem Dialogus mortis cum homine, and other such Latin-language publications popular in medieval Europe.
The original version of the dialogue has been lost; what remains is an incomplete copy from c. 1463–1465, belonging to Mikołaj of Mirzyniec (Mikołaj z Mirzyńca). The ending of the work was known due to its 16th century Russiantranslation. It has 498 lines, and presents the everyday life of members of different social classes in 15th century Poland.
A formerly unknown printed edition of Rozmowa Mistrza Polikarpa ze Śmiercią (Master Polikarp’s Dialogue with Death) from 1542 (Cracow, Maciej Scharffenberg) has been discovered in one of the European university libraries.[1] The discovery was made by Professor Wiesław Wydra from the Institute of Polish Philology at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.[1] In the contrast to the previously known version of the dialogue from the Płock manuscript, this text has been preserved in its entirety.[1]
This discovery, with a complete Polish text of 918 verses, was the most important event in Polish language and literature scholarship for several decades.[2] The critical edition of the discovered text has been published by prof. Wiesław Wydra and became available on 7 November 2018.[3]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2018)
Charactersedit
Master Polikarp – a well-educated person
Death – pale, skinny, bald, yellowish, without nose and lips, showing its ribs, naked, a rotten kind of a woman; it holds a scythe in its hands, and its appearance reminds the reader that life is short, and that after death, human bodies decay
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2018)
^ abc"Professor Wydra's Great Discovery". The Polish Book Institute. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^Nowacki, Aleksander (14 July 2018). "Full text of Polish literature's oldest masterpiece found". The first news. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^"Niezwykłe odkrycie". Wydawnictwo "Poznańskie Studia Polonistyczne" UAM. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
Sourcesedit
Polska poezja świecka XV wieku, oprac. M. Włodarski, Wrocław - Warszawa - Kraków 1997, BN I, 60.
"Śmierci z Mistrzem dwojakie gadania…". Nieznany drukowany przekaz "Rozmowy mistrza Polikarpa ze Śmiercią" z 1542 r., wydał Wiesław Wydra, Poznań 2018.
External linksedit
English translation of the beginning of the manuscript (fragment) at staropolska.pl
April 12, 2024
master, polikarp, dialog, with, death, polish, rozmowa, mistrza, polikarpa, Śmiercią, latin, morte, prologus, dialogus, inter, mortem, magistrum, polikarpum, late, medieval, dialog, verse, written, probably, early, 15th, century, regarded, most, important, exa. Master Polikarp s Dialog with Death Polish Rozmowa Mistrza Polikarpa ze Smiercia Latin De morte prologus Dialogus inter Mortem et Magistrum Polikarpum is a late medieval dialog in verse written probably in the early 15th century Master Polikarp s Dialog with Death is now regarded as one of the most important examples of medieval poetry in the Polish language Title page of Smierci z Mistrzem dwojakie gadania contains Master Polikarp s Dialog with Death Maciej Scharffenberg edition c 1542Its author is unknown but after discovering the complete printed version from 1542 some historians speculate that Mikolaj Rej rewrote the original text for print One of the unique features of the work is its use of humour The dialog mocks monks and priests inn keepers fat women dishonest physicians and unjust judges The work is patterned after the 12th century Latin poem Dialogus mortis cum homine and other such Latin language publications popular in medieval Europe Contents 1 Versions 2 Characters 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Sources 5 External linksVersions editThe original version of the dialogue has been lost what remains is an incomplete copy from c 1463 1465 belonging to Mikolaj of Mirzyniec Mikolaj z Mirzynca The ending of the work was known due to its 16th century Russian translation It has 498 lines and presents the everyday life of members of different social classes in 15th century Poland A formerly unknown printed edition of Rozmowa Mistrza Polikarpa ze Smiercia Master Polikarp s Dialogue with Death from 1542 Cracow Maciej Scharffenberg has been discovered in one of the European university libraries 1 The discovery was made by Professor Wieslaw Wydra from the Institute of Polish Philology at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan 1 In the contrast to the previously known version of the dialogue from the Plock manuscript this text has been preserved in its entirety 1 This discovery with a complete Polish text of 918 verses was the most important event in Polish language and literature scholarship for several decades 2 The critical edition of the discovered text has been published by prof Wieslaw Wydra and became available on 7 November 2018 3 This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it November 2018 Characters editMaster Polikarp a well educated person Death pale skinny bald yellowish without nose and lips showing its ribs naked a rotten kind of a woman it holds a scythe in its hands and its appearance reminds the reader that life is short and that after death human bodies decayThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it November 2018 See also editOld Polish Danse Macabre Death personification Morana goddess Santa MuerteReferences editCitations edit a b c Professor Wydra s Great Discovery The Polish Book Institute 3 July 2018 Retrieved 8 November 2018 Nowacki Aleksander 14 July 2018 Full text of Polish literature s oldest masterpiece found The first news Retrieved 8 November 2018 Niezwykle odkrycie Wydawnictwo Poznanskie Studia Polonistyczne UAM 3 July 2018 Retrieved 8 November 2018 Sources edit Polska poezja swiecka XV wieku oprac M Wlodarski Wroclaw Warszawa Krakow 1997 BN I 60 Smierci z Mistrzem dwojakie gadania Nieznany drukowany przekaz Rozmowy mistrza Polikarpa ze Smiercia z 1542 r wydal Wieslaw Wydra Poznan 2018 External links editEnglish translation of the beginning of the manuscript fragment at staropolska pl Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Master Polikarp 27s Dialog with Death amp oldid 1187872391, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
