Beatrijs

Beatrijs (English: Beatrice) is a poem written in the last quarter of the 14th century (ca.1374),[1] possibly by Diederic van Assenede, and is an original Dutch poem about the legend of a nun, Beatrijs, who deserted her convent for the love of a man, lives with him for seven years and has two children.

The Dutch poem was created out of a legend recorded in Latin, Dialogus Miraculorum (1219-1223)[2] and Libri Octo Miraculorum (1225-1227)[2] written by Caesarius von Heisterbach.

Although Hilka[3] claims that Caesarius von Heisterbach was not the actual author of the latter text, as Duinhoven[2] points out, he was undoubtedly the author of record during the Middle Ages.

The subject matter is possibly of Dutch origin during his travels in the Netherlands.

The tale is translated into English, Esperanto, Frisian, French, German, Spanish, Old Norse and Arabic.