Mededelingen van het Cyriel Buysse Genootschap 11

23

July 4, 1891

...

Literature in the Flemish language continues to flourish in the Flemish part of Belgium. Among the verse may be mentioned the complete poems of Major V. Van de Weghe, a retired officer. In prose M. Reimond Styns, ‘In de Ton’; an interesting little volume of ‘Gedichten in Proza,’ by M. Brans; some novelettes by M.O. Wattez, styled ‘Jonge Harten’; and sundry promising sketches by two beginners, M.L. Smits, ‘Uit het Leven,’ and ‘Novellen en Schetsen,’ by M. Gustaaf d'Hondt. The chief dramatist, M. Gittens, of Antwerp, imitates Shakespeare with more success in Flemish than M. Maeterlinck in French. M. Gittens's last piece, an historical drama of the times of the first Napoleon, ‘De Maire van Antwerpen,’ has proved extremely popular.

To archaeology Flemish literature has added a new volume of M.F. de Potter's elaborate history of the buildings and streets of Ghent. In the fourth volume of his ‘Verzamelde Prozaschriften’ M. Julius Vuylsteke has collected some important historical dissertations on

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the Arteveldes, on the copper Dragon which crowns the belfry of Ghent - it was made at Ghent at the close of the fourteenth century, and was not brought from Constantinople by the Flemings after the fourth Crusade, as has been believed till now on the faith of an absurd legend - and upon the political assemblies which the people of Ghent of the fourteenth and fifiteenth centuries used to hold in the open air in the Vrydag Markt (Friday Market), as the ancient Greeks did in the agora or the Romans in the forum. Prof. J. Vercoullie, of the University of Ghent, has published an excellent ‘Etymologisch Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal.’ This work proves the revival of Germanic Philology, which has been languishing in Belgium. A pupil of the same university, M. Frans Vanden Weghe, has devoted an interesting monograph to the literary and linguistic movement in West Flanders, which has long exhibited particularist tendencies, and to the chief poet of that district, the late Albrecht Rodenbach. A modest parish school-master in the neighbourhood of Ghent, M.A. de Cock, has written a considerable work on the ‘Medical Folk-lore’ (‘Volksgeneeskunde’) of Flanders, which we may recommend to the notice of specialists in all countries; while all who feel an interest in the study of popular poetry will welcome with pleasure the first volume of the ‘Nederlandsch Liederboek,’ issued by the Willemsfonds. In it will be found patriotic and local chansons (texts and melodies) from the sixteenth century to our time - such as the ‘Wilhelmus’ of Marnix de Ste. Aldegonde in honour of William the Silent, and the Transvaal; the songs of the Gueux in revolt against Spanish tyranny; the national lyrics of Flanders, Holland, the Orange Free State, and the Transvaal; the song of Ypres; and the mediaeval song of the four sons of Aymon and their horse Bayard, which is still sung at Termonde, the native town of M. Polydore de Keyser. The second volume, which is in the press, will contain a selection of mediaeval ballads, of love songs, of students' songs, several of which are of ancient date. The musical part of the work, which is important, has been superintended by M. Florimond van Duyse, son of one of the chief Flemish poets of the last generation, and our most learned authority on Flemish music.

ÉMILE DE LAVELEYE-PAUL FREDERICQ
[Trans. by Editor]