On Reading Apollinaire

Abstract

This very interesting and complex book is based on the intelligent and sane proposition that literary theory can assume no safe and stable metalinguistic distance from its object, providing at the outset the answers to the questions it poses, but must engage texts actively in a process that Mathews calls 'creative intervention'. What emerges is analysis in the most productive sense, a releas ing of meanings; analysis, the dictionary reminds us, suggests a loosening up, a releasing. The ambiguities of Apollinaire's poetry are particularly wellsuited to Mathews's approach, since they constantly recruit the interpreter's desire to seize upon accessible meanings and at the same time remain delight fully elusive to that masterful gesture. Mathews eschews thematic or semiotic decoding and engages Apol linaire's writings in ways that remain open to its ambiguities, paradoxes and opacities. Taking seriously the jibe that Apollinaire was a brocanteur, he finds in that term a valuable insight into the tensions in Apollinaire's experi ence and his literary anxieties. Like the treasures in a pawn shop, the objects of the modern poet's experience are both cherished and much used ('un medaillon toujours ferme' (xiii)); they are both familiar to the writer and estranged from him, circulating in a general economy of meaning. As Walter Benjamin reminded us, writing of Baudelaire, the modern lyric poet cannot write with assurance that lyricism is an authentic experience, shared by writer and public. The poet must problematize the lyric stance even while writing within the major motifs of lyricism: memory, transience, desire. Mathews's readings discover again and again instances in Apollinaire when the poetic moment is fraught with anxiety when 'the text is discovered as textlanguage uncoupled from its producer' (xiii). As language seeks entry into the world, it is revealed to be intensely idiosyncratic, personal, opaque. The self of the poem is a self fragmented in and by language, its 'place' never secure and stable, 'it dissolves into the forms of its articulation' (xv).The chapter on Alcools traces the configurations of two simultaneous and divergent experiences emerging in the space of the poems. On the one hand, the poems are among the most lyrical of Apollinaire's texts, seductively appealing to a profound sense of 'nostalgia, frustration and loss' (xii). On the other hand, they are impenetrable, full of shifts in register, disconcerting, unexpected turns, very similar, one might add, to the shock effects which Paragraph Volume 13

‘The State of Germany’, 1569

“…And by the benifitt of these Riuers and other smale Riuers, that fall into these, The {abovesaid} a foresaid ffree Citties are Cheifely mayntained, for by meanes thereof they have Trafficque with the most parte of all other Nacions. 519 Empire enter two persons, And for everie Counte and Baron, enter likewise two. And into the Third Councell Come those, that are sent from the ffree Citties.…”

“…334 This Notwithstanding, Grombach Continewed 335 his ffaccion, And 336 was receiued by John ffrederick into his Castle at 337 Gottha, the which was of suche force, as they in all respectes thought themselues safe from theire enemies. 338 But Augustus now Elector of Saxonie being in the a foresaid dyett, Appointed the Emperors Leivetenant for this Warre, 339 and having for 340 the Charges of the Empire 341 6000 Horses, 30 342 Ensignes of ffootemen, {and} 343 40 Peeces of great Ordinance, beseeiged the towne of Gottha, and the Castle {of} Grimsteines, 344 which thing the Citizens and certaine Captaines there perceiueing, & weighing with themselues, that the matter was taken in hand by all the Estates of the Empire, were now 345 Contented to yeild both Grombach [begin 200v] the Towne, and the Castle, to the said Elector, Whoe as soone as hee was entred, tooke John ffrederick and sent him with a sufficient Guard to the Emperor, with whome hee remayneth still, <a> Prysoner, in the Cittie of Prespurge in Hungaria, 346 a boue a hundred {English} 347 Miles beyond Vienna, <near Turkey,> And executed aboue 348 xx of the Cheiffest Robbers, 349 Whereof Grombach & Doctor {Pounta} Pontanus, 350 Chauncellor to the Duke John ffrederick, with Certaine others were quartered quicke. This Victorie was soe ioyefull to the Elector Augustus, That in memorie thereof, hee Caused dollers to be Coyned with this Inscripcion (Tanden 351 bona causa triumphat) <A good cause at last prevails>.…”

“…358 Grombach and diuerse others that were executed with him, and sithence, 359 before their death Confessed that their intent was to haue killed Augustus, And to have reduced the Electorshipp to John ffrederickes howse, whome Notwithstanding Grombach in that respect did declare, 360 as not privie to that enterprize, 361 for the killing of Augustus, and protested that hee was not Culpable in anie thing, But in defending him, to the which hee said hee was 362 by greate perswations hee had alsoe allured him. 363 And moreover because his Brother Duke John William 364 would not agree to this enterprise, but ever with stood the same, The said Grombach found meanes to sett disencion betwixt him and his Brother, A bout the particion of the Third 365 Brothers parte, whoe dyed a Little before, the said time[.] ffor the which Cause, Duke John William was Content to Assist Augustus the Elector against his Brother in the seige of Gottha.…”

“…432 The said Duke Julius is now agreed with them, and entreth the towne with 700 Horses, the 3 of October next, but <is> not to remayne there with anie force. 433 Bucolt a gentleman of that Country, 442 because they refused to paie a smale Toll, vnto him, hath of Malice throwne a nomber of great Trees, and stones into it, soe that they Cannot passe 443 to and from 444 {Hab} Hamburge by water, as they were wont to doe, But are drawne 445 to Carrie all their Wares by Land which is greatlie to their discomodities, 446 Hamburge standeth 447 att the mouth of the greate River <of> Albis and is 448 a boute 100 English Miles beneath, and 449 is famous for the nomber of Beerebrewers, Whereof there are dwelling {there} 450 howsholders 720. 451 There is alsoe Auspurge, vppon the Riuer {of} 452 Lech in the which are the ritchest Marchauntes in Europe, namely the Fowlkers, Piemells, Schorers, Bawingatners.…”

“…558 Of all the rest of the Ecclesiasticall Princes, the Bishopp of Munster 559 is the greatest enemie to the true Religion, and the greatest supporters, to the Countrie. 560 The Abbot of ffelda, 561 whoe is the Empress 562 Chauncellor by Inherritance hath in his territorie<s>, all sortes of Religion vizt Iesuites, Iewes, Lutherans, Annabaptistes, &c. 563 Of the Temporall Lordes, that dwell in Germany, the duke of Baueire 564 only maketh open profession of Poperie, whose Countrie abideth still in the dreges thereof, As alsoe the Countrie of Tyrolis and Absetiado {do}, 565 that are vnder the 566…”