Christine de Pizan dans les “Lamentations de Matheolus” ou le détournement de sa persona. Étude d’une interpolation unique au manuscrit XXIII. D. 74 de Prague

Abstract

In the middle of one of the fourteen known manuscripts of Matheolus’s Lamentations translated by Jean Le Fèvre at the end of the xivth century, one can find a very peculiar textual addition. Indeed, the manuscript XXIII. D. 74 of Prague, dated from the middle of the xvth century, presents an interpolation of 26 verses, at the end of the second book of the Lamentations, dealing with Christine de Pizan. After a long misogynistic satire, Matheolus urges men to reject marriage and to multiply sexual conquests. The author of the interpolation offers then the example of Christine de Pizan. At first glance, this portrait appears in every way true to the persona created by Christine herself as a brave independent widow devoting her life to studies. She thus appears to be a model for those who seek to avoid remarriage and lead a faithful life. But such a reading, which would place the author of the interpolation as a continuator of Christine’s works more than an imitator of Jean Le Fèvre, disregards too heavily the context or cotext in which this example takes place. The choice of inserting those verses at this specific textual place cannot be inconsequential: if it might not completely change its meaning, it should at least invite us to be more cautious. This interpolation might in fact be an ironic depiction of Christine de Pizan and a criticism of her persona.