Hildegard of Bingen: Responsory for the Virgin

God is no respecter of men, in the sense that he treats us all the same, but does that include the same partiality with the way he chooses to use us for His glory? Hildegard of Bingen, author of Responsory for the Virgin, expresses that in the way we conduct our spiritual life determines how God uses us by portraying the double meaning behind Mary's virginity. Hildegard expresses Mary's pureness of living by describing the sight of her through God's eyes as a, "rose that sprang from [her] when the supernatural father saw her virgin splendor." She also goes on and states, "[Mary's] mortal flesh spoke his word," between each stanza and I believe that the first two instances were meant in a literal way of which Mary was faithful in her relationship with him. Due to her devout nature he chose her to be a gateway for his spirit and give birth to Jesus who is the Word of God made flesh which would apply to the last instance of her speaking his word. The second section of Responsory for the Virgin speaks of the usage of her physical virginity to give birth to Jesus. God chose Mary to become the gateway for his spirit to roam the earth the same way her Hymen was a physical gateway for baby Jesus.

Hildegard of Bingen. "Responsory for the Virgin." 2012. The Norton Anthology World Literature. 3rd ed. Vol. B. New York: W. W. Norton, 2012. 330-31. Print.

William IX: I'll Make a Verse of Nothing at All

William IX, author of I'll Make a Verse of Nothing at All, writes about not remembering who he is or when he falls asleep, being sick, being in love, and making statements of indifference about the one he loves. He is stating Love can drive you to insanity if it is not returned and even hate. He was, "bewitched one dark night, [on] a lonely hilltop." One can assume that is the point in time where he saw her. It explains why he falls asleep and doesn’t know why, supposing he returned to see her in during the night. The, "sharp sad sorrow," can only mean rejection; the statement, "I don't give a damn for that," is his pride at work. Driven by pride, most don’t take rejection lightly due to the bloated image they have of themselves and it explains why he references a prettier lovelier woman He wants to hate her for not accepting him, but at the same time he is also conflicted for his love for her. Therefore his love is torture to him. He speaks of never seeing her; only with eyes of love has he seen her, which cause him his pain and for him to say, "I'm just as happy if I never see her again," so he can finally claim the peace she never gave him. Still with the theme of confusion he ends still in search of an answer; a clue to cure his lovesickness.

William IX. "I'll Make a Verse of Nothing at All." 2012. The Norton Anthology World Literature. 3rd ed. Vol. B. New York: W. W. Norton, 2012. 325-26. Print.