I recently dusted off Medieval Europe: A Short History, a book which I started reading months ago, but which was put on hold for other books and schoolwork. I’m not quite done with it yet – about 40 more pages to go – but I came across something that I thought was pretty interesting. It’s a letter from a medieval university student to his parents:
The city is expensive and makes many demands; I have to rent lodgings, buy necessities, and provide for many other things that I cannot specify. Therefore I beg your paternity that by the prompting of divine pity you may assist me, so that I may be able to complete what I have so well begun.
As the author of the text remarks, that has quite a modern ring to it. It’s almost a little too similar to emails college kids might send their parents these days, begging for more ramen noodles and gas money.
The book also includes a father’s response to his son:
I have recently learned that you live dissolutely, preferring play to work, and strumming your guitar while others are at their studies.
Heh. I guess some things never really change. 
It’s probably more likely, however, that a modern father’s response would charge the offspring with spending his or her time partying or playing Xbox rather than strumming a guitar.
Comments 8
Or, playing too much Guitar Hero.
Posted 04 Jan 2008 at 6:27 pm ¶Hah, yeah, that’s an option; makes the similarity even stranger.
Posted 04 Jan 2008 at 6:45 pm ¶Hehe.
I came across the same thing in my history of Christianity class
. Though it’s amusing to see that the serious students don’t seem to get mentioned much unless they’re true geniuses.
Posted 05 Jan 2008 at 9:11 am ¶Tom: Yeah, s’way it goes. Either the really troublesome or the really smart folks get noticed; everyone else is just everyone else.
Posted 06 Jan 2008 at 10:42 am ¶Well, I can’t say that I’m surprised really. I have many times wondered if things really evolve, unfortunately sometimes I think we’re even going backwards….
Happy Hilarious New Blogging Year of 2008 – the same as other years
Posted 07 Jan 2008 at 3:26 pm ¶Lifecruiser: Thanks for the well-wishing; the same to you.
Don’t run your cruiseship aground from all the drinking (I saw all of your booze at the “party”!)
Posted 08 Jan 2008 at 11:15 am ¶…provide for many other things that I cannot specify…
Now that’s a sentence that fascinates me.
Posted 08 Jan 2008 at 3:54 pm ¶Nils: Hah! I got a chuckle out of that line. I suppose that’s the proper medieval way to say, “Dad, I need cash for booze, drugs, and prostitutes.”
Posted 09 Jan 2008 at 11:47 pm ¶Post a Comment