The song Egidius waer bestu bleven (Translation: Egidius, where have you gone?) is an early rondeau from Flemish literature and a famous Middle Dutch song.
History The song was found in the Gruuthuse manuscript, which dates from around 1400 and includes musical notation. It was first published in 1849 by Charles Carton (1802 - 1863), a Belgian catholic priest. In 1966 Klaas Hanzen Heeroma (1909 - 1972), a Dutch poet and linguist, published a new edition of the songs and poems from the Gruuthuse manuscript which reached a broad audience. In 2007 the manuscript was bought from its private owner by the Royal Library of the Netherlands (Dutch: Koninklijke Bibliotheek) in The Hague.
The song was written in the late 14th century by an author who was first identified as Jan van Hulst, and later as Jan Moritoen--the manuscript has a number of authors. Egidius was tentatively identified as Gillis Honin, who is known to have died suddenly on October 8, 1385. According to Professor Frits van Oostrom, this is the most anthologized Dutch poem.
Content Egidius waer bestu bleven is an elegy or lamentation. It is about the death of a friend called Egidius, a Latinised version of the Flemish name Gillis. The poet, who calls out to Egidius rather than just mention him, envies Egidius because he has ascended to the heavens whilst the poet is still suffering on earth. He begs Egidius to reserve a place next to him in heaven.
Music The exact melody of the song is still unknown. Not only do we not know which words correspond to which notes, musicologists are also not clear how these notes have to be sung.
Original text with translations
Middle Dutch Modern Dutch English1 (A1) Egidius waer bestu bleven Mi lanct na di gheselle mijn Du coors die doot du liets mi tleven Egidius, waar ben je gebleven? Ik verlang naar jou, mijn vriend Jij proefde de dood, je liet mij het levencoors, from coren (cueren): "keuren, proeven, smaken, onderzoeken, beoordelen, kiezen, bepalen, beproeven, ondervinden". The line is interpreted as "Jij koos de dood, je liet mij het leven" (You chose death, you left life to me). 'Choose' however is more emphatic than the original coren or cueren, that might be translated here as 'ondervinden' (to experience). (Compare note 3) Another interpretation might be "You chose death" in the sense of "You preferred heaven over the existence on earth"J. Verdam, Middelnederlandsch Handwoordenboek. Egidius, where have you gone? I long for you, my mate You tasted death, you left me life2 (B1) Dat was gheselscap goet ende fijn Het sceen teen moeste ghestorven sijn Dat was gezelschap goed en fijn Het leek dat wij tegelijk zouden stervenThis line has an alternative interpretation as: "het scheen één moest sterven" ("apparently one had to die"), omitting the 't-' in front of 'een', meaning . Your company was good and nice It seemed we would die together3 (A2) Nu bestu in den troon verheven Claerre dan der zonnen scijn Alle vruecht es di ghegheven Nu ben je opgenomen in de hemel Stralender dan de zonneschijn Alle vreugde is aan jou gegeven Now you have been taken up into heaven More radiant than the sunshine All joy has been given to you4 (A1) Egidius waer bestu bleven Mi lanct na di gheselle mijn Du coors die doot du liets mi tleven Egidius, waar ben je gebleven? Ik verlang naar jou, mijn vriend Jij proefde de dood, je liet mij het leven Egidius, where have you gone? I long for you, my mate You tasted death, you left me life5 (A3) Nu bidt vor mi ic moet noch sneven Ende in de weerelt liden pijn Verware mijn stede di beneven Nu bid voor mij, ik moet nog ongelukkig zijn En in de wereld pijn lijden Bewaar mijn plaats naast jou Now pray for me, I have yet to be unhappy And suffer pain in the world Reserve my place next to you6 (B2) Ic moet noch zinghen een liedekijn Nochtan moet emmer ghestorven sijn Ik moet nog een liedje zingen Toch moet ook ik eens stervenOr: "toch moet iedereen eens/ooit sterven" (However, everyone has to die sometime). I still have to sing a little song But I too will have to die sometime7 (A1) Egidius waer bestu bleven Mi lanct na di gheselle mijn Du coors die doot du liets mi tleven Egidius, waar ben je gebleven? Ik verlang naar jou, mijn vriend Jij koos de dood, je liet mij het leven Egidius, where have you gone? I long for you, my mate You chose death, you left me life8 (B1) Dat was gheselscap goet ende fijn Het sceen teen moeste ghestorven sijn Dat was gezelschap goed en fijn Het leek dat wij tegelijk zouden sterven Your company was good and nice It seemed we would die together
Bibliography Primary text
Secondary scholarship
References
External links Page about the song at literatuurgeschiedenis.nl Royal Library of the Netherlands (Dutch: Koninklijke Bibliotheek): the Gruuthuse manuscript. Text of 'Egidius' with music (mp3)