Der Naturen Bloeme, an encyclopedia of nature in verse by Jacob van Maerlant from ca. 1270 retranslated into contemporary Dutch prose. His work of more than 16,000 verses has now been translated into modern Dutch prose for the first time, a painstaking work for which Herman Thys (1938) deserves all praise. For this he made use of the diplomatic edition of Gysseling and the critical edition of Verwijs. But sometimes he also turned to Thomas of Cantimpré's source text. The translation is preceded by a table of contents of seventeen pages, against which an introduction of just one page contrasts very poorly. On the other hand, the most necessary information accompanying the text is given in footnotes. It is not clear for whom this translation is intended. Medievalists will surely be proficient in Middle Dutch and the number of other interested parties will not be so great. But that does not alter the fact that it is good that a modern and pleasantly readable translation of a well-known medieval work is now available. - [Review]

Language: Dutch

ISBN: 978-90-5341-936-6