‘De Arca Noe’: An Early Lewis-Barfield Collaboration

Abstract

This essay brings to light a newly identified and previously unpublished poem by C.S. Lewis and Owen Barfield. The poem is written in Latin and is entitled ‘De Arca Noe’. The essay presents the poem for the first time, transcribing the Latin (with a prose translation) and providing detailed context. The contextual discussion situates the poem within other poetic collaborations by Lewis and Barfield, explains why it has hitherto slipped under the radar of Lewis and Barfield scholars based on its archival context (particularly at the Bodleian), considers earlier fragmentary texts which are closely related to ‘De Arca Noe’, proposes a date (with rationale) for this undated manuscript text, and provides a full transcription with discussion of the physical copies of the collaborative working draft of ‘De Arca Noe’, as well as a translation with notes to the Latin text. Finally, it considers ‘De Arca Noe’ in relation to Lewis’s other more famous poetic handling of the Noah story, ‘The Sailing of the Ark’.