Monasterial Pastimes

Baudri de Bourgueil (1045/46–1130), a monk and later bishop, wrote a verse letter to – the possibly fictitious – Constance, a nun, alternating between chaste affection and Ovidian eroticism. The poem cunningly explores the themes of love and desire while emphasising Baudri’s commitment to his monastic vows. In turn, Constance (fabricated or not) responded with another poem, similarly characterised by rapid shifts between flirtatious banter and assertions of chastity. Through titillating jokes, embedded in ambiguities and mythological references, Baudri thus navigates the complexities of love, showcasing the evolving literary landscape of the twelfth century.