musicians of old

Chapter 807 Vacant Positions
"In Latin?"

Translating Eastern poetry into Latin is indeed a rather unusual task.

Generally speaking, poetry needs to be sung, and the more colloquial Italian language is more conducive to singing. Since Guido Daleto, who was canonized, made improvements, the literary quality of Italian has also been quite remarkable.

But now the requirement to use Latin is another form of interrogation of faith.
Fan Ning paused, frowned, and pondered for a while before beginning to write.

Qian Qi's "Imitating the Ancients: A Long Autumn Night".

"Lamentatio Puellae Algidae" (Lament of the Cold Woman) – that's the title he proposed for the translated work.

"Please take a look, sister," Fan Ning said softly half an hour later.

"What kind of writing is this?" Joan took it, her brows furrowing.

For example, the first line: "Autumn frost flies over the Han River, the north wind sweeps away the fragrance of lotus."

Fanning wrote in bold—

“VERSICLE: Gelu caeli volitat (Frost dances in the sky);

RESPONSO: Flos nymphaeae perit (Flos wither)!

VERSICLE: Aquilo rapit odores (The North Wind Steals Fragrance);

RESPONSO: Pannus puellae scinditur (the girl's clothes are torn)! .”

“Sister, I used the Latin liturgical response system,” Fanning explained. “Since His Excellency the Bishop is interrogating faith, I tried to borrow from the liturgical scene, using short sentences where the priest recites and the congregation responds, and I also made sure to adapt Eastern vocabulary by referencing doctrinal texts.”

"For example, in the first sentence, I quoted 'gelu caeli' (frost from heaven) from Lamentations, and in the following sentences, such as 'pannus scinditur' (clothes torn), it echoes the passage in Matthew 27:35, 'When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by lot.'"

Joan listened to Fan Ning's explanation and read it carefully many times.

Fanning seemed quite satisfied with the bishop's response, nodding and placing it in the wooden box.

The maids also carefully collected the poetry collection and the scattered scrolls of translation.

When Fan Ning finished reading the poem, he got up and sat back down in the seat opposite him.

“Is there anything else you want to tell me?” Joan gestured for the maid to step aside, then asked him.

"Did I tell you? Uh, no, I don't think so."

"No?"

"It seems there aren't any for the time being."

"Is there any need to talk about what happened yesterday?"

“Yesterday.” Fan Ning’s expression froze.

"Why do you think the Church of Tucville suddenly ordered you to present scripture? Many people have reported this to me, let alone the bishop. Your Excellency, the scribe, your reputation is spreading far and wide, both within and outside your family."

"So the reason His Holiness the bishop ordered me to be interrogated about my faith is because someone told him about my debates at the monastery?"

"You call that debating?" Joan's voice turned cold. "As a member of the Sacred Music Review Council, you argued with Dean Bogre in front of the entire jury of monks? Is that debating?"

"I'm sorry, sister."

Fanning's immediate apology surprised Joan. Joan knew his character all too well; once he had set his mind on "justice and conscience," even the greatest authority—if it was merely "authority"—was very difficult to persuade him to compromise, unless one could convince him with scriptural reasoning, or not try to persuade him at all, but merely offer temporary advice from other advantageous angles.
It is precisely for this reason that if Joan had not gradually gained real power in the family in recent years, and had not particularly appreciated her half-brother's talent, and had given him much care, whether openly or secretly, given Fan Ning's personality and background, he would probably have suffered a lot more.

However, Fan Ning's performance today surprised her.

“Then let’s make a statement,” Joan said.

Fanning immediately laid his hand on his breast and swore: "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who pray to the Lord in a pure heart. But renounce foolish and unlearned arguments, knowing that they lead to contention. Yet the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but gentle with everyone, good at teaching and patient."

"??? What kind of statement is this?" Qiong felt something was wrong as she listened.

“Sister, it is the teaching and instruction recorded in 2 Timothy 2:22, 2:23, 2:24, etc.” Fan Ning’s expression remained unchanged as she quoted scripture as always.

"."

Joan's chest heaved a few times.

"The scripture is a scripture of piety, but do you think it's appropriate to cite 'the foolish and unlearned debate' when discussing this issue? If you insist on this view, why did you apologize in the first place?"

“I’m apologizing to you,” Fan Ning said. “Because this matter has troubled and worried you, I haven’t apologized to anyone else.”

"..." Joan's gaze lingered on him.

After a moment, she gestured for a waitress to come over, who, carrying a glass, poured Fanning a glass of red wine.
“Drink it. Your face looks like moss in a cellar.”

“Cultivators must not indulge in feasting and revelry.” Fan Ning shook his head. “Those who drink strong wine will surely find it bitter.”

"This is not a banquet. I am your lord. Drink."

Fan Ning reluctantly picked up his wine glass.

Seeing his reluctant expression, Qiong assumed he would only take a small sip to appease him, but Fan Ning gulped it down in one go. She realized he was ultimately acting out of youthful impetuosity. Thinking back to his earlier comment, "An apology isn't really an apology," she felt a mixture of anger and amusement, and her voice finally softened slightly.

“I went to great lengths to send you to the monastery because I knew that with your temperament, you wouldn’t get any benefit in the power struggles within the family. It would be better for you to use your talents in music and reasoning to receive the gospel on the path of righteousness.”

Fanning stared at the table and admitted, "I am able to gain such respect and status now all because of my sister's care."

“You don’t need to be modest. There are many people I need to consider and take care of, but the actual growth of each person after being given the opportunity varies greatly.” Joan reached out and fiddled with the apricot blossoms in the Byzantine glass bottle. “The situation in the Mertraun region is changing, and it’s hard to say what will happen in the next few years. As for the younger generation of the family, I haven’t seen anyone truly capable yet. Do you understand what I mean?”

Fanning nodded.

"This 'debate' will most likely be dropped. The family has always maintained a good relationship with Bishop Tucville. Others have reported the matter to him, and his questioning of you is simply to give an explanation to his subordinates. Your presentation was very skillful."

"The Easter ceremony is just around the corner, and more importantly, your commission to compose sacred music is an opportunity that has been hard-won. Both the Bishop of Tucville and the Bishop of Christover from the neighboring diocese of Verona will be invited to attend the ceremony. Let's not add any more variables. Do you understand?"

"Understood." Fan Ning nodded again.

You seem to have something on your mind.

".No."

“Then, tell me your plans.” Joan picked up a peacock feather pen that was not dipped in ink and drew a circle on the table.

"The position of Sacred Music Director of the Diocese of Mertraun will soon be vacant as the old director is dying in his sickbed."

"As for his rivals for the position, his nephew is eyeing it. This man is tone-deaf, but his father controls the distribution channels for indulgences, and he also has a musician named Adonis who works at the lord's castle. It is said that he has supporters, but after investigation, it turns out that the so-called supporters are just that young master with limited power."

"Therefore, these are not major obstacles. The Diocese of Mertraun is territory that the Nehemiah family has cultivated for many years, and your clerical experience is a good match for it. As long as you perform well this Easter, the family is 60-70% confident that they will support you to take this position."