Cantilena

SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. 408 Report by Papoose the Birth and Infancy of Christ. In mediawal times the tern; 'cantilena' was' often applied to a ballad on a sacred subject, e.g., the

famous monorhymed Passiontide Lament beginning: The sufferings of sweet Jesus Christ and His sore agony Hear ye, good people, one and all, of high and low degree.

Seven years He trod a pilgrim's way, right penitentially, And fasted forty days and nights in His humility.

Competitors were to insert five or six distichs between these two, on

THE essence of the mediteval is simple direct- ness and extreme economy, the qualities both ...rf the ballad and of the cantilena. Perhaps in this sophisticated twentieth century is it easier for a child than for a grown-up to recapture the mediteval. Certainly in these respects the two Youngest competitors came well towards the top of the short list, Jacquelyn Pinkney (aged four- teen) and C. L. Lambert (aged sixteen). Unfortu- nately, the former was among several competi- tors who ignored the rubric 'monorhymed; and the latter, in such good company as Rhoda Tuck Took, G. J. Blundell and Vera Telfer, came down With a fanciful adjective.

In its economy the mediteval rejects (1) any but a stock or an essential epithet ('star-drawn' and the like are taboo); (2) any but the simplest vocabulary, a word like 'kenosis' or 'transcenden- tal' being sufficient for a competitor's undoing; (3) any sort of.prolepsis : `So perils did encompass round his tender infancy. Foretelling sorrow yet to come upon the bitter tree.' (Kenneth S. Kitchin) nnu (4) even a simple comparison or reflection : s an 'As though. in an apprenticeship to His great Ministry.' (James S. Fidgen) tears The medieval narrative moves rapidly, neglect- isteat ing subordination and plunging into direct al

r, h speech, often with anachronistic expressions :

afte ' "Now by the Mass," old Herod swore, "no king n my reigns here save me." ' (Arthur Bartow) rteen. ,.., Keres G. E. S. is also commended on this count.

akia), No competitor seems to me to have attained Hun- perfectly the naivete of the original, but I sug- it the gest dividing the prize money equally among with Miss G. Pitt, H. B. McCaskic and Alberick, as ell to Coming nearest thereto. Highly commended, and striking a false note sometimes in only a single ecasti Word, are those mentioned above and also the rong following : Russell Edwards, J. Aitken, Sgob- ist be bone, N. P. R. Blyth, R. Kennard Davis.

PRIZES (Miss (. Pin) How shepherds, keeping watch, While certain angels sang of Christ His birth most bright did see joyfully.

And how the tidings glad were sent afar to sages three; So as the star them guided they did go in company.

To Bethlehem they fared and, lo, in all that fair citie A stable was the only room in which His Birth might be.

Where Mary, His sweet mother—blest above all women she—

Was glad for kinc to warm him with their breath right willingly.

But presently, in sorry sooth, to Egypt must they flee Lest Herod's will should work the Child a grievous injury.

And there abode till Herod's death from terror set them free And Jesus was become a Nazarene of Galilee.

(Fl. B. MCCASKIF.)

The Angel Gabriel announced Our Lord's Nativity And He was born in Bethlehem, fulfilling prophecy.

A star led wise men from the East, three kings in company, With gold and myrrh and frankincense to offer on their knee.

And Simeon knew 'Him for the Lord whom his old. eyes must see

Ere from the burden of his years he might at last he free.

He must to Egypt to escape from Herod's cruelty. Who being dead He came again to His own Galilee.

Thenceforth He grew in stature and in wisdom, so that He With doctors in Jerusalem once argued learnedly, Yet grudged not in His Mother's house as any son to be.

Till He must set out on that road whose end was Calvary. a star exceeding

(ALBERICK)

First shall ye hear the joyous tale, in fivefold mystery, eav How Hen's Monarch stooped to earth and donned humanity.

THE FIVE JOYFUL MYSTERIES

To Mary Maid came Gabriel, and spoke on beaded knee, 'Hail, Virgin blest! God's Only Son is to be born of thee.'

Elizabeth then greeted her. 'Such honour comes to me, 0 Mother of my Lord, the babe within me leaped for glee.'

In Bethlehem town, one winter's night, at Christ's Nativity.

To silly shepherds in the field angels sang 'Glory he!'

His parents brought the Holy Child to Zion's sanctuary, And Simeon cried, embracing him, 'Salvation here I see!'

When in the Temple he was found, discoursing skilfully, 'About my Father's business know,' he said, '1 now must he.'

COMMENDED

(c. I.. LAMBERT)

A stable was his poor birthplace and in the straw lay he, But people came from far and near the star- crowned babe to sec.

Among the shavings grew he well and full of clemency.

And mystified the temple scribes with wise words and holy.

His words were such to quite confound old Joseph and Mary, But Mary kept them in her heart and loved him constantly.

To John the Preacher came he once, seeking baptised to be, And God from heaven spoke, '1 am indeed well pleased with thee.'

Straightway the Holy Ghost was there in him right gloriously, And quickly led him forth into his trial of misery.