Macaronea (Tifi Odasi poem)
Encyclopedia
Macaronea or Carmen Macaronicum de Patavinisis ("Macaronic Song from Padua
") a comical
poem by the Italian Renaissance poet Tifi Odasi
. It is considered to be the earliest example of macaronic verse, and the genre
's namesake.
The year of first printing is not indicated on the book itself, but is believed to be 1488 or 1489. The author's pen name is given as "Tifi" in the frontispice, and as "Tifetus" in an acrostic
that precedes the text.
The title of the poem is thought to come from maccerone, a kind of pasta
or dumpling
eaten by peasants at the time . Macaronea tells of a prank applied by a band of university students (macaronea secta) on an apothecary
. It is written in a mix of Latin and Italian
, in hexameter
verse (as would befit a classical Latin poem). It reads as a satire
of the bogus humanism and pedantism of doctors, scholars and bureaucrats of the time.
The poem was a success; it was reprinted several times, and inspired many other Macaronea in the following decades.
The following excerpt describes the preparation for a magical rite where a duck
would be served:
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
") a comical
Humour
Humour or humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement...
poem by the Italian Renaissance poet Tifi Odasi
Tifi Odasi
Michele di Bartolomeo degli Odasi , pen name Tifi Odasi , was an Italian poet, the inventor of macaronic verse....
. It is considered to be the earliest example of macaronic verse, and the genre
Literary genre
A literary genre is a category of literary composition. Genres may be determined by literary technique, tone, content, or even length. Genre should not be confused with age category, by which literature may be classified as either adult, young-adult, or children's. They also must not be confused...
's namesake.
The year of first printing is not indicated on the book itself, but is believed to be 1488 or 1489. The author's pen name is given as "Tifi" in the frontispice, and as "Tifetus" in an acrostic
Acrostic
An acrostic is a poem or other form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out a word or a message. As a form of constrained writing, an acrostic can be used as a mnemonic device to aid memory retrieval. A famous...
that precedes the text.
The title of the poem is thought to come from maccerone, a kind of pasta
Pasta
Pasta is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine, now of worldwide renown. It takes the form of unleavened dough, made in Italy, mostly of durum wheat , water and sometimes eggs. Pasta comes in a variety of different shapes that serve for both decoration and to act as a carrier for the...
or dumpling
Dumpling
Dumplings are cooked balls of dough. They are based on flour, potatoes or bread, and may include meat, fish, vegetables, or sweets. They may be cooked by boiling, steaming, simmering, frying, or baking. They may have a filling, or there may be other ingredients mixed into the dough. Dumplings may...
eaten by peasants at the time . Macaronea tells of a prank applied by a band of university students (macaronea secta) on an apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
. It is written in a mix of Latin and Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, in hexameter
Hexameter
Hexameter is a metrical line of verse consisting of six feet. It was the standard epic metre in classical Greek and Latin literature, such as in the Iliad and Aeneid. Its use in other genres of composition include Horace's satires, and Ovid's Metamorphoses. According to Greek mythology, hexameter...
verse (as would befit a classical Latin poem). It reads as a satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
of the bogus humanism and pedantism of doctors, scholars and bureaucrats of the time.
The poem was a success; it was reprinted several times, and inspired many other Macaronea in the following decades.
The following excerpt describes the preparation for a magical rite where a duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
would be served:
Original text Mercurio fuerat lux illa sacrata, sed ille ad strigariam zobiam spectaverat aptam. Illa etiam nocte coniunx cavalcabat Herodis et secum strige, secum caminat et Orcus; Hanc expectavit tamen, oca tirante la gola. |
English translation That day was sacred to Mercury, but he waited for the Thursday, the proper day for witchcraft Witchcraft Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft... . Herodes's wife was horse-riding that night, and with her went the witches, and with her the orc Orc An orc is one of a race of mythical human-like creatures, generally described as fierce and combative, with grotesque features and often black, grey or greenish skin. This mythology has its origins in the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien.... s. So he waited that night, already savoring the duck. |
See also
- Catinia by Sicco PolentonSicco PolentonSicco Polenton was an Italian jurist, Neolatin author, and Renaissance humanist.Sicco Ricci was born at Levico Terme in either 1375 or 1376. He took the name "Polenton" from his father Bartolomeo. He studied grammar and rhetoric at Padua under Giovanni Conversini and periodically with Vittorino...
- Repetitio Zanini by Ugolino Pisani
- Tosontea by Corrado of Padua
- Baldo by Teofilo FolengoTeofilo FolengoTeofilo Folengo , who wrote under the pseudonym of Merlino Coccajo or Merlinus Coccaius, was one of the principal Italian macaronic poets.-Biography:...
- Macharonea medicinalis by Gian Giacomo Bortolotti
- Macharonea by Vincenzo Baglioni