The Comedy of Eros.

Medieval French Guides to the Art of Love.

Translated by Norman S. Shapiro.

Notes and Commentaries by James B. Wadsworth and Betsy Bowden

University of Illinois Press 1997

Stron XXVI+133, format 13x23 cm.

"Reached the market somewhat late for the spring mating season, but it should not be overlooked." — George R Clark, Louisville Courier-Journal and Times

"It is a particular pleasure to encounter this joyful, lusty book of poetry ... poetry that is fun, strong in rhyme, strong in me­tre. It fairly demands to be read aloud." — Bob Lyhne, Pen­insula Living*

The Comedy of Eros, a high-spirited collection of medieval French love poetry in modern translation, takes delightful advantage of the preoccupation of writers of that time and place with love and sex. Decidedly sexist by today's standards, it offers the modern reader translations from seven texts, among them Ovid's Ars amatoria, one of the earliest "practi­cal" love guides—a satirical treatise chockablock with shrewd tips for seducers and lovers—as well as selections from the anonymous On Courtesy, from Robert de Blois's Advice to La­dies, and four other works. The volume's illustrations—seven woodcuts by Robert and Corinne Borja—are a blend of mod­ern and medieval styles.

Norman R. Shapiro, a.professor of Romance languages and literatures at Wesleyan University, is a leading translator of French prose, poetry, and theater. His translations of George Feydeau and other French comic dramatists are frequently performed in the United States and abroad. James B. Wads-worth is a professor emeritus of Romance languages at Tufts University. Betsy Bowden, a professor of English at Rutgers University, Camden, has published on subjects including lit­erature, folklore, visual art, performance art, and obscene puns in medieval Latin.

CONTENTS



Translator's Preface to the Second Edition, vii
Introduction to the Second Edition, ix
Translator's Preface to the First Edition, xix
Introduction to the First Edition, xxii

Ovid's "On the Art . . ."   MAITRE ELIE, 3

The Key to Love   ANONYMOUS, 9

The Art of Love    GUIART, 43

On Courtesy     ANONYMOUS, 56

Advice to Ladies    ROBERT DE BLOIS, 63

"On the Rules of Love" from The Book of Love DROUART LA VACHE, 85

Advice on Love   RICHARD DE FOURNIVAL, 93

Notes, 127