Happy CT anniversary @Orfew ! Since your a rockin' dude and leather is the traditional 3rd anniversary present, lets celebrate with some Judas Priest!
Great coins in a short amount of time. Happy Anniversary! Orfeo was a riche king, In Engelond an heigh lording, A stalworth man and hardy bo, Large and curteis he was also!
I’m a medievalist but haven’t read this poem since college. After reading your posts I just went back and reread it. It’s short. Man, Orfeo was one smooth harpist.
That he was. Another favourite of mine is Le Chanson de Roland. Carles li reis, nostre emper[er]e magnes Set anz tuz pleins ad estet en Espaigne: Tresqu'en la mer cunquist la tere altaigne. N'i ad castel ki devant lui remaigne; Mur ne citet n'i est remes a fraindre, Fors Sarraguce, ki est en une muntaigne. Li reis Marsilie la tient, ki Deu nen aimet; Mahumet sert e Apollin recleimet: Nes poet guarder que mals ne l'i ateignet. Charles the King, our Lord and Sovereign, Full seven years hath sojourned in Spain, Conquered the land, and won the western main, Now no fortress against him doth remain, No city walls are left for him to gain, Save Sarraguce, that sits on high mountain. Marsile its King, who feareth not God's name, Mahumet's man, he invokes Apollin's aid, Nor wards off ills that shall to him attain.
I wish I had some Old French. I do teach the Song of Roland in translation, usually after a unit on the Qur’an and Islam. It’s interesting to see how Islam is (mis)represented in the French poem. But to keep this thread numismatic, the Song of Roland often mentions the bezant—the gold coin that gets its name from Byzantium. I believe it’s mentioned as part of the treasure faithlessly promised to Charlemagne by the Saracens. Here’s some eye candy from CNG.
Congrats on the anniversary orfew, you've built a really nice collection in that time. My collecting advice: more medievals! Reading both old and middle English is really impressive. I had a professor that taught medieval English history and had his classes memorize the first 30 or 40 lines of the prologue of Canterbury Tales when we studied it. I'm not sure what purpose it served, but I still have the first 5 or so memorized.
Thanks @TheRed Your advice will be taken seriously. I am currently targeting a very nice and rare medieval coin. It comes up for auction on Wednesday. If I win it, I will post it.
Congratulations on your 3 year anniversary, @Orfew ! When I became a member back in 2016, as I remember, it was you and @TIF who were the first to comment on my posts and consequently you have become two collectors who I greatly admire. Your contributions to this forum are always interesting and I look forward to seeing them.
Judging by the rousing celebrations, Orfew, are you sure it's your 3rd Anniversary, and not your 30th ???
@Orfew I would like to say, thank you for joining the group. I have always enjoyed your contributions, and I hope that your interest in 'Ancients' continues to grow, and that you are here, for some time to come.
I know nothing about Middle English but find it interesting that in Greek the w letter form was used for the long o sound 'omega'. Related? Coincidence? I have no idea.