Unfortunately for Antonini Guliani lovers everywhere, his excellent and indeed major collection, the Song Book, comes to us only in fragments. A great many of the ‘songs’ or ‘poems’ (we are not really sure which, as all the music if it ever existed is lost) are complete, and I (after arduous toil), have translated them from the original Latin. However, the Prelude in which Antonini Guliani invokes the Muses is completely lost. We know, and are able to reconstruct the form of what we believe to be the Prelude, from the many criticisms which were written during the Prelude, and these quotes are reproduced here. We believe that the Prelude itself was in five sections. In the first section Antonini Guliani praises the Muses.
Do I dare,
Through my humility to be Great,
Praise thee, Muses,
In verse and rhymes?
Is this the time
To sing to thee,
O Magnificent Singers?
Would they care, if I dare
Praise them? Is it fair…
In the second section, Antonini Guliani, very elegantly requests the help of the Muses.
O Ancient Muses
Let thy voice
Be my voice,
And sing through me
Of trial and anger,
Mischief and danger,
As no one else
Flinging truth, not uncouth.
For uncouth truth in youth
Forsooth, like rotted wood,
Is not very good…
In the third section, Antonini Guliani demands the help of the Muses.
Old-fashioned Muses,
Do not be so inept
As to forget, Me.
Do not tempt me
Or make me fret it.
Mark my words,
Or you’ll regret it!
And all the World will see
That no one can, ignore my demand,
Set forth so Nobly…
In the fourth section, Antonini Guliani, admonishes the Muses.
O Muses who quack like a duck,
Fuck you!
O Muses who so calmly sit,
Eat shit!
O Muses who…
In the fifth section, Antonini Guliani decides that he does not need the Muses.
I don’t need you Muses!
I don’t need anybody
I don’t…
From this shot exposition, the reader gets an idea of the tremendous force and intellect of the poet. It is regretful that so fine a ‘poem’ or ‘song’ as the Prelude, is for the most part lost upon the sands of time.
Through there are many who afforded me their advice and encouragement in this endeavor, there is neither time nor space to mention them. I must, however, take this opportunity and express my gratitude to all the little people who helped make this volume what it is.
This piece originally appeared in Poetry 1969-1972, Writing Folio Number Two, published in 1972.