Richard Rolle of Hampole--mystical mediator -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 15:13:11 02/17/08 Sun
Author: j.jackson
Subject: Richard Rolle of Hampole--mystical mediator

I'm teaching an independent study on 14th century English mystics. One of the key figures of this literary/spiritual movement is Richard Rolle. A great amount of his work was intended for female audiences, specifically nuns. I don't want to get into the whole history/theology of mysticism here, but we can see in his letters his desire to act as a model for a certain nun in Yedingham. In the opening paragraph of "Ego Dormio," he writes (I'll save you from early 14th century English):
"Because I love, I woo (am courting) you in order to have you exactly as I would wish--not for myself, but for my Lord! I wish to become that messenger (a go-between) to bring you to his bed, of the one who who has made you and bought you, Christ the King, Son of Heaven. For he wishes to dwell with (marry) you, if you wish to love him: he asks for nothing more than your love. And my dear sister in Christ, you do my will when you love him."

Take that, Pandarus! Rolle's language throughout is so very sensual. It's quite shocking at times to explain a divine-human relationship in such terms, but seems perfectly appropriate when we keep in mind the Imitatio Dei, Imitatio Christi, Imitatio Pauli.

This short passage above is an introduction to a treatise which is really nothing other than exemplary imitative non-egoic desire. We see the way in which Richard appropriates and outdoes traditional courtly language, re-translating courtly eros in to divine agape. We'll see this in narrative again when we get to Chaucer and Boccaccio.

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