Mowa kardynała Stanisława Hozjusza ku czci zmarłego Zygmunta II Augusta, króla Polski
The Speech of Cardinal Stanisław Hozjusz in Memory of the Late Sigismund II Augustus, King of Poland

Summary/Abstract: The paper contains a translation of a Latin mourning speech, namely a panegyric sermon arranged in Rome by Cardinal Stanisław Hozjusz in honour of King Sigismund II Augustus, the last Polish king of the Jagiellonian dynasty, who died on 7 July 1572. It is one of a few speeches preserved to this day from the abundant oratorio-predicatory output of this Catholic theologian and polemicist, then wellknown in Europe. It was delivered by Stanisław Reszka, the secretary and close collaborator of Hozjusz, on 10 November 1572 at the church of San Lorenzo il Damaso during a solemn funeral service administered by Pope Gregory XIII. The ceremony took place in a magnificent scenery created by an elaborate castrum doloris erected especially for this ceremony by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, the protector of Polish affairs, with the participation of Hozjusz and his close collaborators. The translation is accompanied by explanations that concern events and historical figures, geographical names, quotations, and phrases taken from the Bible and ancient authors. It is preceded by a short introduction in which, apart from the origins and circumstances of the delivery of the speech, its composition and style are discussed. The sermon has a clear structure. It consists of three parts, typical of this type of public utterance. In accordance with the customs of the epoch and the preaching textbooks of that time, the initial part (lamentatio) and the final part (consolatio) are rich in biblical phrases (especially from the prophetic books) that perfectly emphasize the dramatic character of the situation, as well as the significance and further consequences for Poland of the death of the last Jagiellon. The leitmotif that integrates the whole speech is a thought from Prophet Jeremiah (Jer 13:18): “your beautiful crown has come down from your head.” The middle part (laudatio) is filled with the praise of Sigismund II Augustus and the Jagiellonian dynasty. Hozjusz draws here an image of the ideal ruler, enriched with Renaissance elements, such as striving for peace and good relations with neighbours, supporting humanists, excellent and refined customs, as well as a perfect mastery of the art of elocution. Following the postulates formulated by the author himself, the style of this sermon is characterized by simplicity, naturalness, and elegance.

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