Western Civilization

Aquinas’s reputation derives from his masterful

attempt to reconcile faith and reason. He took it for

granted that there were truths derived by reason and

truths derived by faith. He was certain, however, that

the two truths could not be in conflict:

The light of faith that is freely infused into us does not

destroy the light of natural knowledge [reason] implanted

in us naturally. For although the natural light of the human

mind is insufficient to show us these things made manifest

by faith, it is nevertheless impossible that these things

which the divine principle gives us by faith are contrary

to these implanted in us by nature [reason]. Indeed, were

that the case, one or the other would have to be false, and,

since both are given to us by God, God would have to be

the author of untruth, which is impossible.... It is impossi-

ble that those things which are of philosophy can be con-

trary to those things which are of faith.^5

The natural mind, unaided by faith, could arrive at

truths concerning the physical universe. Without the

help of God’s grace, however, reason alone could not

grasp spiritual truths, such as the Trinity (the belief that

God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are three manifestations

of the same unique deity) or the Incarnation (the belief

that Jesus in his lifetime was God in human form).

LITERATURE IN THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES Latin was the universal

language of medieval civilization. Used in the church

and the schools, it enabled learned people to communi-

cate anywhere in Europe. The intellectual revival of the

High Middle Ages included an outpouring of Latin lit-

erature, including a large body of Latin verse dedicated

to themes of love and nature. Many of these poems

constitute the so-called Goliardic (gohl-YAR-dik) poetry

(see the box above).

Goliardic Poetry: The Archpoet

The Goliards (GOHL-yurdsorGOHL-yards) were a

group of Latin writers who wrote poems satirizing the

hypocrisy of the church while celebrating the joys of

wine, women, and song. Although it was once thought

that the Goliards were “wandering scholars”—vagabond

students and teachers—many historians today believe

that they were established poets living at courts or in

monasteries. One of these poets was a German known

only as the Archpoet, who was probably in service at

the court of the archbishop of Cologne. This selection is

from his most famous work,The Confession of Golias.

The Archpoet,The Confession of Golias

Down the primrose path I post

Straight to Satan’s grotto,

Shunning virtue, doing most

Things that I ought not to;

Little hope of heaven I boast,

Charmed by pleasure’s otto [fragrance]:

Since the soul is bound to roast

Save the skin’s my motto....

Much too hard it is, I find,

So to change my essence

As to keep a virgin mind

In a virgin’s presence.

Rigid laws can never bind

Youth to acquiescence;

Light o’ loves must seek their kind,

Bodies take their pleasance....

Next, I’m called in terms precise

Monstrous fond of gaming;

Losing all my clothes at dice

Gains me this worth naming:

While outside I’m cool as ice,

Inwardly I’m flaming,

Then with daintiest device

Poems and songs I’m framing....

My intention is to die

In the tavern drinking;

Wine must be at hand, for I

Want it when I’m sinking.

Angels when they come shall cry,

At my frailties winking:

“Spare this drunkard, God, he’s high,

Absolutely stinking!”

Q What groups of people in medieval society would

be attracted to Goliardic poetry? Why?

Source: George Whicher,The Goliard Poets: Medieval Songs and Satires in New Verse Translations(New Directions, 1949), pp. 107–111.

The Intellectual and Artistic World of the High Middle Ages 215

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