„Wieczność wlać w granice małe”. Remigiusza Suszyckiego (1642–1705) wizja zaświatów

Abstract

The aim of this study is to characterise Pieśni nabożne by Remigiusz Suszycki and to reflect on the vision of the hereafter presented in this poetic cycle. Pieśni nabożne were first printed in 1697 by the print house of Franciszek Cezary the Younger in Kraków. They were subsequently reprinted and supplemented in 1700 and 1702. The collection is internally diverse. The third part, collectively titled Świat górny, contains two genres of works: songs and echoes. On close reading, it is possible to recognise Remigiusz Suszycki’s literary strategy, which consisted in juxtaposing songs and echoes, creating a form of dialogue between two subjects in two corresponding works. The dialogue that takes place between the two pieces is intended to highlight two different perspectives – the earthly one (representing the human viewpoint) and the heavenly one (showing the vision of the heavenly intelligences). The whole is tied together by an idea related to the tradition of negative theology: throughout Świat górny, unscientific faith is valued positively, while the attitude of man possessing uncertain knowledge is valued negatively, against the background of man’s intellectual achievements in the field of natural science presented in the work. These observations also allow us to present the profile of a little-known author, namely Remigiusz Suszycki. A fuller characterisation of Pieśni nabożne also fills a gap in research on late Baroque religious poetry.