Poem from medieval times, Carnal love is folly!

[Beringia]

I read this poem the other day on Poets.org and it got me thinking, there was so much repression and moral teachings against the pleasures of sex, and yet they never mention for instance the moral problems of having too many children. Lust, one of the 7 deadly sins.


Carnal love is folly!
He who wishes to love wisely
Avoids it because life’s brevity
Doesn't allow it to endure long.
Never did flesh exist or flourish
That didn't descend to rottenness.
Lechery is a brief pleasure,
But torment lasts without end.


The principal scribe was a Ludlow-area man who worked as a legal scrivener. The scribe had training in religion and law, to judge from his known library. Scholars think it likely that he served as chaplain for a well-to-do household and that he held among his general duties, besides being spiritual counselor, the education of boys (that is, young heirs in a French-speaking English household) and the planning of entertainments for mixed-gender social events.

Harley Lyrics is a collection of lyrics in Middle English, Anglo Norman (Middle French), and Latin found in Harley MS 2253, a manuscript dated ca. 1340

https://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/fein-harley2253-volume-2-article-24a

https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-372884342/the-four-scribes-of-ms-harley-2253



7 deadly sins
pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth

7 heavenly virtues
prudence, justice, temperance, courage, faith, hope and charity

[AJT]

1. I am guessing that, at that time, so many children died

before maturity that having many children was thought neccessary to keep the population going.

[Beringia]

2. Right

The thinking still goes on the Catholic Church today, even though the world is overpopulated. Sex only for procreation.

[AJT]

3. You can't maintain power without followers.

[Karadeniz]

4. And then there are the hidden poems discovered in the Benedictbuern monastary, some of

Which were set to music by Carl Orf as the Carmina Burana. O Fortuna is probably the best known, since its tune is used in every other ad or movie. They are lusty, fun (gambling, drinking, girl chasing) poems. One that a professor told me about, not part of the C.B., Said that the students were taught to emulate their betters...so they'd better go to town and chase young boys! The Catholic churchmen's proclivities have been an open secret since(before) the 12th century.

[guillaumeb]

5. Human love is a reflection of divine love.

And it is a form of prayer in my view.

And given that we have intellect and body, both loves are good.

[Beringia]

6. Good sentiment

I believe in balance too.