Eulalia sequence

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The Eulalia sequence (French Chanson/Séquence/Cantilène de sainte Eulalie), which was written around 880, is commonly believed to be the first example of French Hagiography and the first literary piece written in Old French.

[edit] The text

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Old French	English
Buona pulcella fut Eulalia, Bel auret corps, bellezour anima. Voldrent la veintre li Deo inimi, Voldrent la faire diaule servir. Elle no'nt eskoltet les mals conselliers, Qu'elle Deo raneiet, chi maent sus en ciel, Ne por or ned argent ne paramenz Por manatce regiel ne preiement; Niule cose non la pouret omque pleier La polle sempre non amast lo Deo menestier. E por o fut presentede Maximiien, Chi rex eret a cels dis soure pagiens. Il li enortet, dont lei nonque chielt, Qued elle fuiet lo nom chrestiien. Ell'ent adunet lo suon element; Melz sostendreiet les empedementz Qu'elle perdesse sa virginitét; Por os furet morte a grand honestét. Enz enl fou lo getterent com arde tost; Elle colpes non avret, por o nos coist. A czo nos voldret concreidre li rex pagiens; Ad une spede li roveret tolir lo chieef. La domnizelle celle kose non contredist: Volt lo seule lazsier, si ruovet Krist; In figure de colomb volat a ciel. Tuit oram que por nos degnet preier Qued auuisset de nos Christus mercit Post la mort et a lui nos laist venir Par souue clementia.^[1]	Eulalia was a good virgin Beautiful was her body, more beautiful was her soul God's enemies wanted to defeat her Wanted to make her serve the devil She did not obey the bad counsellers That she should abstain from God, who reigns in heaven above Not for gold, not for silver, not for jewellery Not by royal threat, nor by plea Nothing could ever convince her, The girl, not to love serving God. So she was brought to Maximian, Who was king about the heathens this time. He admonished her, but she did not care much, To abolish the name Christian". She concentrated her forces, As she would prefer torture Over losing her innocence. For that, she died with great honour. Into the fire they threw her so that she be burned She had no sin, so she didn't burn. He ordered to chop off her head by sword. The girl did not object, She wanted to leave this earthly life and prayed to Christ. Like a dove she flew to heaven. Let us all pray that she may pray for us That Christ be merciful to us And let us come to him after death By his grace.

[edit] Language

The Eulalia sequence is written in Old French, a language evolved from Vulgar Latin. This text shows some characteritics of this lingua romana (this is probably how its speakers called it, as mentioned in the Oaths of Strasbourg), for instance sharp change of phonology, simplifications of declension, development of verbal circumlocution, first instances of the article and personal pronouns of the third person.