ABSTRACT
Gonzalo de Berceo is the first Spanish poet whose name is known. Affiliated to the Catholic Church, he was educated in a monastery and became a deacon in 1220 and a presbyter in 1237. He belonged to the school of mesters de clerecía. He wrote in the Castilian dialect of the Rioja region. His books include Milagros de Nuestra Señora [Miracles of Our Lady], Martirio de San Lorenzo [Martyrdom of St. Lawrence], and De los signos que apdrecerán antes del Juicio [Of the Signs to Appear before the Last Judgment]. The poem by Berceo that follows is evidence of the anti-Semitic lore of the thirteenth century. It is a call to arms against the Jewish infidels who, in their ingrained evil, repeatedly crucify Jesus Christ. The poem is representative of Berceo's views. In another one by him, about the corruption of Jewish children, he states: "As quick as you can count/ one coin with your thumb,/ this Jew a mound of embers/ and ashes had become;/ not one prayer for his soul/ was said, no psalm was sung;/ instead they cried great curses/ and insults quite a sum." In noble Toledo, where the archbishop holds sway, toward the middle of August on the holy feast day of Christ's glorious Mother, to whom we all pray, a great miracle happened, so the people say. The archbishop himself to God consecrated, on the highest altar at mass officiated; all the multitude with devotion waited; the aisles were full, the choir populated. The populace devoutly were engaged in prayer, like those who for salvation to God their souls bare; a voice in great anguish resounded in the air, which troubled all the people who were assembled there. A pained anguished voice rang out in the sky: "Listen to me, Christians, and I will tell you why the Jewish people, deaf of ear and blind of eye, today against Sir Christ even more than ever vie. According to the stories in holy Scriptures' lore, they waged against Sir Christ their persecuting war; their deeds have hurt me too, they've drilled me to the core although their wild excesses have injured them still more. They pitied not the Son to whom no ill was due, nor His Mother who was forced His agonies to view; a people so unheedful, who would such evil do, deserve that their misdeeds on themselves should accrue. Those false deceitful people, born on an evil night, have brought old tribulations newly to my sight; in me they've caused great anguish, my torments they incite; my Son is on the cross, who of sinners is the light. Once again to the cross they have affixed my Son; no one can comprehend how deep my sorrows run; in Toledo this vile crew has once again begun to fester; more evil than they are there are none." All the gathered clergy thereupon this voice did hear, and all the Mozarabs who were congregated near; that it was Holy Mary's voice to them was clear, and that the Jews were doing Her injuries severe. The archbishop who was singing the mass broke off his song and spoke to the people who gathered in that throng; "Believe me, my council, that voice you heard so strong protested that She suffers from these prideful folk great wrong. Be advised that the Jews are committing some vile thing against Jesus Christ, Mary's Son, Holy King; this causes his Mother renewed suffering; her anguish is real, it has a truthful ring. You officials of the city, you leaders gathered here, you must not ignore all this that you hear; If you peer into this their tracks will appear; this foul deed requires that your justice be severe. Let's go to the chief rabbis' homes; we must not tarry; we're sure to find there something out of the ordinary; we have no time for eating, no time for making merry if we would not incur the wrath of Holy Mary." The clerics and the people and all their retinues rushed off headlong together to the district of the Jews; Jesus Christ was their guide, the Virgin was their muse; they rapidly discovered the vile treacherous news. There where the most honored rabbi did reside they found a wax figure as a man personified; exactly like Sir Christ it had been crucified made fast with large nails, a great wound in its side. To our great dishonor God's body they scored, over and over, this whole evil horde; although with small pleasure they put them to the sword: as they did was done to them, thanks be to the Lord. They quickly dispatched all the ones that they caught; they gave them bad graves, as surely they ought; they heard the final words and to bad deaths were brought: that they'd acted rashly these folks were thus taught. Whosoever should hurt Holy Mary this way, as these folks were paid thus shall be their pay; instead let us honor Her, serve and obey, for Her kind intercession shall aid us one day
