explanation (razo):
“Angelus ad virginem” (from which I stole the language and meter of this prayer-song) was a popular medieval English carol of the mid-14 th century. It was made famous by Geoffrey Chaucer when, in his Canterbury Tales’ “Miller’s Tale,” Nicholas the adulterous handyman is noted as often singing it to woo the ladies.
I say that I “am given” off of the idea that the future of my medieval life wouldn’t be dictated by me, but probably by my parents – and so throughout the poem I try subtly (and not-so-subtly) to express my lack of appreciation of my new ‘career’ as a servant/apprentice.
Begging God for aid and help was extremely popular in prayers. I took the ‘guard me from Efenwealt’ routine from the infamous (though undocumented) “save us from the fury of the northmen, o lord” prayer of the Irish monks against invading Viking raiders.
Of course, to offset the hilarious inappropriateness of my description of Efenwealt, I utilized another popular medieval theme to describe Aenor – that of unrequited courtly love. Where Efenwealt is insulted, Aenor is praised, to just as great extremes. In “The Romance of the Rose,” the object of the narrator’s affections is often described as a rose in the garden of love. Here, Aenor (and her angelic halo) becomes the sun.
The usage of the phrase “velut sol” is a nod to the Carmina Buran’s “O fortuna” and its second line, “velut luna.” Maybe it’s not that great a nod, but I wanted to point out the constancy of Aenor’s effects on the world versus the ever-changing effects of the moon (and fortune).
“Miserere” (have mercy) is present as a plea in a number of medieval prayers and psalms.
The final lines are based on the prayer “In te credo” :
In te credo, in te spero, te amo, te adoro, beata Trinitas unus Deus, miserere mei nunc et in hora mortis meae et salva me. Amen.
I believe in You, I hope in You, I love You, I adore You, blessed Trinity, one God, have mercy on me now and at the hour of my death and save me. Amen.