NOTES.[It may be observed, once for all, that the expressionin torepeatedly occurs where we should simply usein; andone tois in like manner put forunto. The ending-ith(for-ed) is frequent in the past tense, and-it(also for-ed) in the past participle, though this distinction is not always observed. A still more noticeable ending is-ing(for-en) in the infinitive. Observe further that the lettersv,u, andware perfectly convertible, and used quite indiscriminately; so thatwponemeansupon;vthirmeansuthir, i.e.,other:ouris put forover;voundesignifieswound, etc.]Page 1,line 1.The soft morow.This nominative case has no verb. A similar construction occurs in the first lines of Books II. and III.4.Uprisith—his hot courss, Upriseth in his hot course;chare, chariot.6.sent, sendeth; so alsostant, standeth,l. 326.8.valkyne, waken.10.gyrss, grass.11.assay, assault.13.wox, voice.17.frome I can, from the time that I did.18.It deuit me, it availed me. Jamieson gives “Dow, 1. to be able; A.S.dugan(valere), to be able. 2. to avail; Teut.doogen.”P. 2,l. 23.hewy ȝerys, heavy years.24.“Until that Phœbus had thrice gone through his full circuits” (lit. spheres). See the peculiar use of “pas” in other places.26.“So, by such a manner, was my lot fated;” seel. 41.28.carving can, did cut.30.be the morow, by the morn.36.neulyngis, newly, anew.43.walkith, walked.50.I-clede, y-clad, clad. Ch. hasclede.54.“No one within thought he could be seen by any wight outside.”P. 3,l. 56.clos it, enclose it; the MS. hasclosit.57.alphest.This reading of the MS. is an error foralcest. See Chaucer, Prologue to Legend of good women, l. 511:“The gretegoodnesse of the quene Alceste,That turned was into a dayesye,”Alceste being the contracted form of Alcestis.59.Wnclosing gane, did unclose.60.“The bright sun had illumined the spray, andhad updrawn (upwarped) into the lusty air the night’s soft (sober) and moist showers; and had made the morning soft, pleasant, and fair.” With this difficult passage we should comparel. 2477.66.Quhill, until.67.till ony vicht, to any wight.69.Bot gladness til the thochtful, euer mo, etc., “But, as for gladness to the melancholy man, evermore the more he seeth of it, the more wo he hath.”73.represent, represented (accented on the second syllable).74.Al day gan be sor, etc., “All the day, my spirit began to dwell in torment, through sorrow of thought;”be sor, by sorrow (A.S. sorh).77.Ore slep, or how I wot, “Or sleep, ere I knew how.”83.A-licht, alighted.84.levis in to were, livest in doubt.P. 4,l. 91.be morow, by morrow; at early morn.99.set, although.103.weil accordinge, very fitting.105.long ore he be sonde, (It is) long ere he be sound.108.seith, for to consel, saith, that as for concealing or shewing, etc.109.althir-best, lit. best of all; see Chaucer’s use ofalderfirst, alderlast.P. 5,l. 127.lat be thi nyss dispare, let be thy nice (foolish) despair.128.erith, earth.134.schall hyme hating, shall hate him. The termination-ingis here the sign of the infinitive mood after the verbshall.140.Set, although.146.tak one hand and mak, undertake and compose;trety, treatise;vnkouth, unknown, new.151.belevis, believe will please thy lady.160.yis, this.P. 6,l. 161.troucht, truth.163.discharge, release.170.spir, sphere.171.“At command of a wise (god from) whose vision,” etc. We sometimes find in old English the adjective “a wise” used absolutely for “a wise man.” See “Le Morte Arthur,” ed. F. J. Furnivall, l. 3318.175.tynt, lost.177.be this worldis fame. Here again, as in many other passages, “be” expresses with relation to, as regards.185.yaim, them.191.demande, demur.P. 7,l. 198.Quhill, until.200.conten, treat; lit. contain.202.Lancelot is here called the son of Ban, king of Albanak; so again inl. 1447.204.redis, read.214.“I will not waste my efforts thereupon.”219.wnwyst, unwist, unknown.225.nome, name.226.Iwondit to the stak, very deeply wounded; but there is no doubt about the origin of the phrase. See Glossary.228.astart, get rid of it, escape it.P. 8,l. 240.dedenyt to aras, deigned to pluck out.244.hurtare, hurter.245.Iwond, wounded.248.ful wicht, full nimble.251.of quhome, by whom.253.send, sent.257.pasing vassolag, surpassing prowess.260.“Passed down into the fell caves.”264.tane, taken.266.cwre, care.P. 9,l. 267.gart be maid, caused to be made.271.awoue, vow.275.in to that gret Revare, in that great river.284.o gret confusione of pupil and knychtis, al enarmyt, a great medley of people and knights, all fully armed. Stevenson actually readsunarmyt!294.I wil report; both here and inl. 320we should almost expect to find “I nil report;” i.e. I will not tell. It must mean, “I willtell you why I omit to mention these things.” Compare lines266,320.297.thing, think.P. 10,l. 305.veris, wars.306.be the wais, by the ways.307.Tuex, betwixt;accorde, agreement.314.mot, must.316.stek, concluded.319.most conpilour, very great composer.320.“As to whose name I will only say, that it is unfit,” etc.326.stant, standeth.328.yroung, rung.330.beith, shall be; observe thefuturesense ofbeithin this place.331.suet, sweet.332.“His soul in bliss preserved be on that account.”334.and this endit.Whetherendithere refers toinditingorendingis perhaps doubtful.NOTES TO BOOK I.P. 11,l. 336. If byaryeitis here meant thesign, not theconstellationof Aries, the day referred to is April 1 or 2, according to Chaucer’s “Astrolabie.”338.bewis, boughs.340.makyne gone, did make.341.in ther chere, after their fashion. (Forchere, see Glossary.)345.auerding to, belonging to.351.Anoit, annoyed.352.For why, wherefore; so alsofor-thi, therefore.354.can, began.355.sende, sent.358.heryng, hear (infin. mood). In the next line it occurs as a present participle.362.to pas hyme, to go, depart.364.meit, to dream of;aperans, an appearance, apparition.P. 12,l. 365.hore, hair.375.vombe, womb; hence bowels.377.stert, started.384.gert, caused.390.traist, trust.397.demande, demur, delay.398.at, that.P. 13,l. 407.whill, until.408.the, they.410.to viting, to know.412.shauyth al hall, sheweth all whole.414.chesith, chooseth.422.shire, sir.424.fore to awysing, in order to take counsel. 432. All this aboutastronomy(i.e. astrology) should be compared with Gower; Conf. Amantis, lib. vii; ed. Pauli, vol. 3, pp. 133, 134. Arachell, Nembrote, Moises, Hermes are there mentioned as astrologers.433.The MS. has “set” (notwith a longs). Mr Stevenson has “fet,” which would seem right.P. 14,l. 435.nembrot, Nimrod; seeGenesis and Exodus(E.E.T.S.), l. 659.436.herynes, miswritten forherymes, i.e. Hermes.439.“The which they found were wondrously evil set.”440.his sweuen met, dreamed his dream.443.waryng in to were, were in doubt.444.danger, power to punish; compare Shakspere’s use of the word.457.but delay, without delay.459.stondith heuy cherith, stood heavy-cheered, was sad in his demeanour.465.fundyng, found.466.depend to, depend upon.P. 15,l. 475.tone, taken.478.assey, test.481.record, to tell out, speak.487.preseruith It allan, is preserved alone.499.affy in-tyll, rely upon.500.failye, fail.504.there clergy, their science.P. 16,l. 519. “Through the watery lion, who is also faithful,and through the leech and eke the water also, and through the counsel of the flower.” It is very possible this passage is partly corrupt;l. 520should certainly be (as may be seen from lines2010,2056),“And throuch the leich withouten medysyne.”The meanings of lion, leech, and flower are fully explained, however, in lines2013-2120.524.weyne, vain.527.passid nat his thoght, left not his thoughts.531.rachis, braches, dogs.533.grewhundis, grayhounds.536.This purely conjectural line is merely inserted to carry on the sense. It is imitated from line 3293. In the next line we should read “grewhundis,” rather than “grewhund.”538.Befor ther hedis, before their heads.P. 17,l. 545. “All armed, as was then the fashion.”546.salust, saluted.548.kend, known.549.leuyth, liveth.552.The rime requires “land,” as inl. 638.553.yald hyme our, yield him over.554.if tribut, give tribute.566.recist, resist;mone bee, must be.568.be, by.569.day moneth day, ere this day month; comp.l. 1162.P. 18,l. 577.fairhed, fair-hood, beauty.587.magre myne entent, in spite of my intention.591.nome, took.593.Inquere at, inquire of.596.wes, was.599.rase, rose.605.accordith, agree thereto.606.recordith, belongith.607.visare, wiser.P. 19,l. 621.This spek I lest, this I list to speak.622.varnit, warned.626.“Though the season of the year was contrary.”627.atte, at the.629.the ilk, that (Scotchthilk).632.Melyhalt, the name both of a hill, and of the town built upon it.636.affray, terror.642.wnconquest, unconquered.643.cwre, care.P. 20,l. 649.nemmyt, named.652.were, war.654.or than to morn, earlier than to-morrow.660.our few, over few.677.northest, north-east.P. 21,l. 686.fechteris, fighters.688.holde, held.691.presone, prison.697.peite, pity.699.The metre of Lancelot’s lament is that of Chaucer’s “Cuckoo and Nightingale,” and was very possibly copied from it.Qwhat haue y gilt, what crime have I committed.702.ago, gone.703.nat, naught;me glaid, gladden me.706.til haue, to have.709.Sen thelke tyme, since that time.P. 22,l. 718.of remed, for a remedy.719.sesith, ceaseth.723.with this lady, by this lady.728.laisere, leisure.731.diuerss wais sere, divers several ways.733.bur, bore.735.cher, car.740.dout, to fear.745.but were, without doubt. This expression often occurs.P. 23,l. 751.few menye, small company; an oddly sounding expression to modern ears.753.cold, called.754.hot, hight, was named.755.but in his cumpany, unless he had with him.757.He saith; the speaker is the captain of the hundred knights, called inl. 806Maleginis.768.als fell, just as many.777.hard, heard.781.clepit, called.P. 24,l. 793,as he wel couth, as he well knew how.796.sen, seen.800.sen, since.806.was hot, was hight, was named.809.In myde the borde and festinit in the stell, In the midst they encounter, and fastened in the steel. Seel. 850.812.Rout, company.815.ferde, fourth.817.sauch thar latter batell steir, saw their last division stir.P. 25,l. 820.gane his mortall fell.A word seems here omitted; if aftermortallwe insertstrokis, the sense will be, “His enemies began hismortallstrokes to feel.”825.worth, worthy. It would improve the metre to readworthy(l. 875).828.In to were, in war, in the strife.829.hyme bure, bore himself.839.to-for, heretofore.841.Atour, i.e.at over, across.842.assall, assault. The rime shews we should readassaill, as inl. 855.849.socht atour, made their way across. The use ofsekein Early English is curious.P. 26,l. 861.setith his payn vpone, devotes his endeavours to.868.al to-kerwith, wholly cutteth in pieces.880.dirk, dark.883.tan and slan, taken and slain.P. 27,l. 895. It frequently occurs in the MS. that a space is left at the beginning of a line, and the first letter of the line is omitted. It is evident that the intention was that the first letter should be illuminated, and that this, after all, was not done. Here, for instance, the T is omitted, as indicated by the square brackets. So also inl. 1083, etc.897.pasing home, go home.899.was vent, had gone.905.dulay, delay. So alsoduclarfordeclare.907.comyne, came.908.ill paid, displeased.909.homly, humbly. Stevenson readshourly, but this is wrong; seel. 914.911.carful, full of care, unhappy.912.withouten were, without doubt.914.lawly, lowly.918.wight, with (unusual, and perhaps wrong).P. 28,l. 924.leife, live.929.eft, after.933.thar longith, there belongeth.943.I was for til excuss, I had some excuse.944.“Because I did behove (to do it), out of very need.”946.lefe it but, leave it without.953.ma, make.954.ga, go.955.of new, anew.958.But if that deth or other lat certan, “Except it be owing to death or other sure hindrance.”P. 29,l. 960.be hold, be held. MS.behold. Stevenson suggested the alteration, which is certainly correct.961.withthy, on the condition that.965.promyt, promise;als fast as, as soon as.973.ferd, fourth.982.“Where we shall decide the end of this war.”P. 30,l. 997.cag, cage, prison.999.amen, pleasant.1000.vodis, woods.1004.lust, pleasure (Ch.). But the line is obscure; unless we read “diuersitee.”1009.“His spirit started (owing to the) love (which) anon hath caught him,” etc.1012.at, that.1014.“(As to) whom they know not at all.”1019.sen at, since that.1022.the dewod, devoid thee.1024.and, if.1026.be ony mayne, by any mean.P. 31,l. 1027.y red, I advise.1035.To warnnyng, to warn.1040.our the furdis, over the fords.1044.oyer.So in MS.; theyrepresenting the oldth(þ); other.1046.hufyng, halting.1050.worschip, honour. “It were more expedient to maintain your honour.”1058.wonk, winked.1062.vare, aware.P. 32,l. 1064. The meaning of “ferst-conquest” is “first-conquered” (conquestbeing Old Fr. for conquered). It is explained inl. 1547as having been a title given to the king whom Galiot first subdued.1067.ferss, fierce.1070.suppos, although.1073.he; viz. the shrew.1077.The MS. has “ſched.”1080.ymen, I mean.1095.tais, takes.P. 33,l. 1109.Galyotput forGaliotes, the genitive case-ending being often omitted, after a proper name especially.1110.prewit, proved, tried.1129.traist, trust.1131.that euery thing hath cure, that (of) everything hath care.P. 34,l. 1135. “Aye from the time that the sun began to light the world’s face, until he was gone.”1137.o forss, perforce.1141.taiis, takes.1142.hecht, promised.1151.failȝeis, fail.1154.fet, fetched.1156.stant, standeth.1162.resput, respite.1166.very knychtis passing, weary knights go.P. 35,l. 1170.till spere, to inquire.1177.ne wor his worschip, had it not been for his valour.1187.qwheyar, whether.1191-4. “And fond,” etc. These four lines are now for the first time printed. They were omitted by Stevenson, evidently by accident.1196.Per dee.Fr.par Dieu: an oath common in old ballads, generally in the formpardy.1197.vsyt, used.1198.“I advise that we go unto his arms” (armour).1203.haill, whole.P. 36,l. 1207.abwsyt, abused, i.e. made an ill use of.1208.vsyt, used.1209.suppos the best that lewis, even though (it were) the best that lives.1217.on slep, asleep. The prefixa-in English is due to the Saxonon.1221.al to-hurt, etc. See note in Glossary on the wordTo-kerwith.1225.sauch, saw;rewit, rued, pitied.1233.one syd a lyt, a little on one side.1236.our mekill, over much.P. 37,l. 1240.yarof, thereof.1241.ruput, repute, think.1242.ablare, abler, readier.1253.Insert a comma afterthret, and destroy that afterlowe. The meaning perhaps is, “But what if he be appealed to and threatened, and (meanwhile) his heart be elsewhere set to love.” Observe thatandis often the third or fourth word in the sentence it should begin. Seel. 2833.1258.ȝhe tyne yowr low, you lose your love.1260.conclusit, ended.1265.mokil, much.1268.of new, anew, again.1273.pan, pain.NOTES TO BOOK II.P. 38,l. 1279.thocht, anxiety.1284.apperans, i.e. vision, as inl. 364.1295.aqwynt, acquainted; Burns usesacquent.1297.com, coming.P. 39,l. 1316. “So far out of the way you go in your course.” Comparel. 1797.1317.“Thy ship, that goeth upon the stormy surge, nigh of thy revels (i.e. because of thy revels) in the gulf it falls, where it is almost drowned in the peril.”1321.“In the wretched dance of wickedness.” See the curious uses of the word “daunce” in Chaucer.1323.the son, thee soon.1330.powert, poverty;as the-selwyne wat, as thyself knows.1334.in to spousag, in wedlock.P. 40,l. 1343. The worddiuerssis required to complete the line; cf.l. 731.1352.suppriss, oppression.1354.wedwis, widows.1367.that ilke, that same.1369.sufferith, makest to suffer.P. 41,l. 1379. Eccles. iv. 9, 10.1387.yow mone, thou must.1392.her-efter leif, hereafter live.1401.A comma is scarcely needed after “sapiens.” It means “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Prov. ix. 10.P. 42,l. 1409.to ryng wnder his pess, to reign under His peace, by His permission. Roquefort givespais, licence, permission.1420.arour, error.1427.leful, lawful.P. 43,l. 1447. Ban, king of Albanak, was Lancelot’s father. Seel. 202,1450.1474.The MS. has “aſſit.”P. 44,l. 1491.tak the bak apone themself, turn their backs.1500.yewyne, given.1504.till, to; redundant.1506.stand aw, stand in awe. So also inl. 2684. The same expression occurs inThe Bruce, iii. 62, ed. Pinkerton, p. 42, ed. Jamieson; and also inHavelok, l. 277, where the wordin, supplied from conjecture, should be struck out.P. 45,l. 1537.throw his peple, by his people.1541.Thus falith not, etc., “Except wise conduct falleth to a king.”
[It may be observed, once for all, that the expressionin torepeatedly occurs where we should simply usein; andone tois in like manner put forunto. The ending-ith(for-ed) is frequent in the past tense, and-it(also for-ed) in the past participle, though this distinction is not always observed. A still more noticeable ending is-ing(for-en) in the infinitive. Observe further that the lettersv,u, andware perfectly convertible, and used quite indiscriminately; so thatwponemeansupon;vthirmeansuthir, i.e.,other:ouris put forover;voundesignifieswound, etc.]
Page 1,line 1.The soft morow.This nominative case has no verb. A similar construction occurs in the first lines of Books II. and III.
4.Uprisith—his hot courss, Upriseth in his hot course;chare, chariot.
6.sent, sendeth; so alsostant, standeth,l. 326.
8.valkyne, waken.
10.gyrss, grass.
11.assay, assault.
13.wox, voice.
17.frome I can, from the time that I did.
18.It deuit me, it availed me. Jamieson gives “Dow, 1. to be able; A.S.dugan(valere), to be able. 2. to avail; Teut.doogen.”
P. 2,l. 23.hewy ȝerys, heavy years.
24.“Until that Phœbus had thrice gone through his full circuits” (lit. spheres). See the peculiar use of “pas” in other places.
26.“So, by such a manner, was my lot fated;” seel. 41.
28.carving can, did cut.
30.be the morow, by the morn.
36.neulyngis, newly, anew.
43.walkith, walked.
50.I-clede, y-clad, clad. Ch. hasclede.
54.“No one within thought he could be seen by any wight outside.”
P. 3,l. 56.clos it, enclose it; the MS. hasclosit.
57.alphest.This reading of the MS. is an error foralcest. See Chaucer, Prologue to Legend of good women, l. 511:
“The gretegoodnesse of the quene Alceste,That turned was into a dayesye,”
“The gretegoodnesse of the quene Alceste,
That turned was into a dayesye,”
Alceste being the contracted form of Alcestis.
59.Wnclosing gane, did unclose.
60.“The bright sun had illumined the spray, andhad updrawn (upwarped) into the lusty air the night’s soft (sober) and moist showers; and had made the morning soft, pleasant, and fair.” With this difficult passage we should comparel. 2477.
66.Quhill, until.
67.till ony vicht, to any wight.
69.Bot gladness til the thochtful, euer mo, etc., “But, as for gladness to the melancholy man, evermore the more he seeth of it, the more wo he hath.”
73.represent, represented (accented on the second syllable).
74.Al day gan be sor, etc., “All the day, my spirit began to dwell in torment, through sorrow of thought;”be sor, by sorrow (A.S. sorh).
77.Ore slep, or how I wot, “Or sleep, ere I knew how.”
83.A-licht, alighted.
84.levis in to were, livest in doubt.
P. 4,l. 91.be morow, by morrow; at early morn.
99.set, although.
103.weil accordinge, very fitting.
105.long ore he be sonde, (It is) long ere he be sound.
108.seith, for to consel, saith, that as for concealing or shewing, etc.
109.althir-best, lit. best of all; see Chaucer’s use ofalderfirst, alderlast.
P. 5,l. 127.lat be thi nyss dispare, let be thy nice (foolish) despair.
128.erith, earth.
134.schall hyme hating, shall hate him. The termination-ingis here the sign of the infinitive mood after the verbshall.
140.Set, although.
146.tak one hand and mak, undertake and compose;trety, treatise;vnkouth, unknown, new.
151.belevis, believe will please thy lady.
160.yis, this.
P. 6,l. 161.troucht, truth.
163.discharge, release.
170.spir, sphere.
171.“At command of a wise (god from) whose vision,” etc. We sometimes find in old English the adjective “a wise” used absolutely for “a wise man.” See “Le Morte Arthur,” ed. F. J. Furnivall, l. 3318.
175.tynt, lost.
177.be this worldis fame. Here again, as in many other passages, “be” expresses with relation to, as regards.
185.yaim, them.
191.demande, demur.
P. 7,l. 198.Quhill, until.
200.conten, treat; lit. contain.
202.Lancelot is here called the son of Ban, king of Albanak; so again inl. 1447.
204.redis, read.
214.“I will not waste my efforts thereupon.”
219.wnwyst, unwist, unknown.
225.nome, name.
226.Iwondit to the stak, very deeply wounded; but there is no doubt about the origin of the phrase. See Glossary.
228.astart, get rid of it, escape it.
P. 8,l. 240.dedenyt to aras, deigned to pluck out.
244.hurtare, hurter.
245.Iwond, wounded.
248.ful wicht, full nimble.
251.of quhome, by whom.
253.send, sent.
257.pasing vassolag, surpassing prowess.
260.“Passed down into the fell caves.”
264.tane, taken.
266.cwre, care.
P. 9,l. 267.gart be maid, caused to be made.
271.awoue, vow.
275.in to that gret Revare, in that great river.
284.o gret confusione of pupil and knychtis, al enarmyt, a great medley of people and knights, all fully armed. Stevenson actually readsunarmyt!
294.I wil report; both here and inl. 320we should almost expect to find “I nil report;” i.e. I will not tell. It must mean, “I willtell you why I omit to mention these things.” Compare lines266,320.
297.thing, think.
P. 10,l. 305.veris, wars.
306.be the wais, by the ways.
307.Tuex, betwixt;accorde, agreement.
314.mot, must.
316.stek, concluded.
319.most conpilour, very great composer.
320.“As to whose name I will only say, that it is unfit,” etc.
326.stant, standeth.
328.yroung, rung.
330.beith, shall be; observe thefuturesense ofbeithin this place.
331.suet, sweet.
332.“His soul in bliss preserved be on that account.”
334.and this endit.Whetherendithere refers toinditingorendingis perhaps doubtful.
P. 11,l. 336. If byaryeitis here meant thesign, not theconstellationof Aries, the day referred to is April 1 or 2, according to Chaucer’s “Astrolabie.”
338.bewis, boughs.
340.makyne gone, did make.
341.in ther chere, after their fashion. (Forchere, see Glossary.)
345.auerding to, belonging to.
351.Anoit, annoyed.
352.For why, wherefore; so alsofor-thi, therefore.
354.can, began.
355.sende, sent.
358.heryng, hear (infin. mood). In the next line it occurs as a present participle.
362.to pas hyme, to go, depart.
364.meit, to dream of;aperans, an appearance, apparition.
P. 12,l. 365.hore, hair.
375.vombe, womb; hence bowels.
377.stert, started.
384.gert, caused.
390.traist, trust.
397.demande, demur, delay.
398.at, that.
P. 13,l. 407.whill, until.
408.the, they.
410.to viting, to know.
412.shauyth al hall, sheweth all whole.
414.chesith, chooseth.
422.shire, sir.
424.fore to awysing, in order to take counsel. 432. All this aboutastronomy(i.e. astrology) should be compared with Gower; Conf. Amantis, lib. vii; ed. Pauli, vol. 3, pp. 133, 134. Arachell, Nembrote, Moises, Hermes are there mentioned as astrologers.
433.The MS. has “set” (notwith a longs). Mr Stevenson has “fet,” which would seem right.
P. 14,l. 435.nembrot, Nimrod; seeGenesis and Exodus(E.E.T.S.), l. 659.
436.herynes, miswritten forherymes, i.e. Hermes.
439.“The which they found were wondrously evil set.”
440.his sweuen met, dreamed his dream.
443.waryng in to were, were in doubt.
444.danger, power to punish; compare Shakspere’s use of the word.
457.but delay, without delay.
459.stondith heuy cherith, stood heavy-cheered, was sad in his demeanour.
465.fundyng, found.
466.depend to, depend upon.
P. 15,l. 475.tone, taken.
478.assey, test.
481.record, to tell out, speak.
487.preseruith It allan, is preserved alone.
499.affy in-tyll, rely upon.
500.failye, fail.
504.there clergy, their science.
P. 16,l. 519. “Through the watery lion, who is also faithful,and through the leech and eke the water also, and through the counsel of the flower.” It is very possible this passage is partly corrupt;l. 520should certainly be (as may be seen from lines2010,2056),
“And throuch the leich withouten medysyne.”
“And throuch the leich withouten medysyne.”
The meanings of lion, leech, and flower are fully explained, however, in lines2013-2120.
524.weyne, vain.
527.passid nat his thoght, left not his thoughts.
531.rachis, braches, dogs.
533.grewhundis, grayhounds.
536.This purely conjectural line is merely inserted to carry on the sense. It is imitated from line 3293. In the next line we should read “grewhundis,” rather than “grewhund.”
538.Befor ther hedis, before their heads.
P. 17,l. 545. “All armed, as was then the fashion.”
546.salust, saluted.
548.kend, known.
549.leuyth, liveth.
552.The rime requires “land,” as inl. 638.
553.yald hyme our, yield him over.
554.if tribut, give tribute.
566.recist, resist;mone bee, must be.
568.be, by.
569.day moneth day, ere this day month; comp.l. 1162.
P. 18,l. 577.fairhed, fair-hood, beauty.
587.magre myne entent, in spite of my intention.
591.nome, took.
593.Inquere at, inquire of.
596.wes, was.
599.rase, rose.
605.accordith, agree thereto.
606.recordith, belongith.
607.visare, wiser.
P. 19,l. 621.This spek I lest, this I list to speak.
622.varnit, warned.
626.“Though the season of the year was contrary.”
627.atte, at the.
629.the ilk, that (Scotchthilk).
632.Melyhalt, the name both of a hill, and of the town built upon it.
636.affray, terror.
642.wnconquest, unconquered.
643.cwre, care.
P. 20,l. 649.nemmyt, named.
652.were, war.
654.or than to morn, earlier than to-morrow.
660.our few, over few.
677.northest, north-east.
P. 21,l. 686.fechteris, fighters.
688.holde, held.
691.presone, prison.
697.peite, pity.
699.The metre of Lancelot’s lament is that of Chaucer’s “Cuckoo and Nightingale,” and was very possibly copied from it.Qwhat haue y gilt, what crime have I committed.
702.ago, gone.
703.nat, naught;me glaid, gladden me.
706.til haue, to have.
709.Sen thelke tyme, since that time.
P. 22,l. 718.of remed, for a remedy.
719.sesith, ceaseth.
723.with this lady, by this lady.
728.laisere, leisure.
731.diuerss wais sere, divers several ways.
733.bur, bore.
735.cher, car.
740.dout, to fear.
745.but were, without doubt. This expression often occurs.
P. 23,l. 751.few menye, small company; an oddly sounding expression to modern ears.
753.cold, called.
754.hot, hight, was named.
755.but in his cumpany, unless he had with him.
757.He saith; the speaker is the captain of the hundred knights, called inl. 806Maleginis.
768.als fell, just as many.
777.hard, heard.
781.clepit, called.
P. 24,l. 793,as he wel couth, as he well knew how.
796.sen, seen.
800.sen, since.
806.was hot, was hight, was named.
809.In myde the borde and festinit in the stell, In the midst they encounter, and fastened in the steel. Seel. 850.
812.Rout, company.
815.ferde, fourth.
817.sauch thar latter batell steir, saw their last division stir.
P. 25,l. 820.gane his mortall fell.A word seems here omitted; if aftermortallwe insertstrokis, the sense will be, “His enemies began hismortallstrokes to feel.”
825.worth, worthy. It would improve the metre to readworthy(l. 875).
828.In to were, in war, in the strife.
829.hyme bure, bore himself.
839.to-for, heretofore.
841.Atour, i.e.at over, across.
842.assall, assault. The rime shews we should readassaill, as inl. 855.
849.socht atour, made their way across. The use ofsekein Early English is curious.
P. 26,l. 861.setith his payn vpone, devotes his endeavours to.
868.al to-kerwith, wholly cutteth in pieces.
880.dirk, dark.
883.tan and slan, taken and slain.
P. 27,l. 895. It frequently occurs in the MS. that a space is left at the beginning of a line, and the first letter of the line is omitted. It is evident that the intention was that the first letter should be illuminated, and that this, after all, was not done. Here, for instance, the T is omitted, as indicated by the square brackets. So also inl. 1083, etc.
897.pasing home, go home.
899.was vent, had gone.
905.dulay, delay. So alsoduclarfordeclare.
907.comyne, came.
908.ill paid, displeased.
909.homly, humbly. Stevenson readshourly, but this is wrong; seel. 914.
911.carful, full of care, unhappy.
912.withouten were, without doubt.
914.lawly, lowly.
918.wight, with (unusual, and perhaps wrong).
P. 28,l. 924.leife, live.
929.eft, after.
933.thar longith, there belongeth.
943.I was for til excuss, I had some excuse.
944.“Because I did behove (to do it), out of very need.”
946.lefe it but, leave it without.
953.ma, make.
954.ga, go.
955.of new, anew.
958.But if that deth or other lat certan, “Except it be owing to death or other sure hindrance.”
P. 29,l. 960.be hold, be held. MS.behold. Stevenson suggested the alteration, which is certainly correct.
961.withthy, on the condition that.
965.promyt, promise;als fast as, as soon as.
973.ferd, fourth.
982.“Where we shall decide the end of this war.”
P. 30,l. 997.cag, cage, prison.
999.amen, pleasant.
1000.vodis, woods.
1004.lust, pleasure (Ch.). But the line is obscure; unless we read “diuersitee.”
1009.“His spirit started (owing to the) love (which) anon hath caught him,” etc.
1012.at, that.
1014.“(As to) whom they know not at all.”
1019.sen at, since that.
1022.the dewod, devoid thee.
1024.and, if.
1026.be ony mayne, by any mean.
P. 31,l. 1027.y red, I advise.
1035.To warnnyng, to warn.
1040.our the furdis, over the fords.
1044.oyer.So in MS.; theyrepresenting the oldth(þ); other.
1046.hufyng, halting.
1050.worschip, honour. “It were more expedient to maintain your honour.”
1058.wonk, winked.
1062.vare, aware.
P. 32,l. 1064. The meaning of “ferst-conquest” is “first-conquered” (conquestbeing Old Fr. for conquered). It is explained inl. 1547as having been a title given to the king whom Galiot first subdued.
1067.ferss, fierce.
1070.suppos, although.
1073.he; viz. the shrew.
1077.The MS. has “ſched.”
1080.ymen, I mean.
1095.tais, takes.
P. 33,l. 1109.Galyotput forGaliotes, the genitive case-ending being often omitted, after a proper name especially.
1110.prewit, proved, tried.
1129.traist, trust.
1131.that euery thing hath cure, that (of) everything hath care.
P. 34,l. 1135. “Aye from the time that the sun began to light the world’s face, until he was gone.”
1137.o forss, perforce.
1141.taiis, takes.
1142.hecht, promised.
1151.failȝeis, fail.
1154.fet, fetched.
1156.stant, standeth.
1162.resput, respite.
1166.very knychtis passing, weary knights go.
P. 35,l. 1170.till spere, to inquire.
1177.ne wor his worschip, had it not been for his valour.
1187.qwheyar, whether.
1191-4. “And fond,” etc. These four lines are now for the first time printed. They were omitted by Stevenson, evidently by accident.
1196.Per dee.Fr.par Dieu: an oath common in old ballads, generally in the formpardy.
1197.vsyt, used.
1198.“I advise that we go unto his arms” (armour).
1203.haill, whole.
P. 36,l. 1207.abwsyt, abused, i.e. made an ill use of.
1208.vsyt, used.
1209.suppos the best that lewis, even though (it were) the best that lives.
1217.on slep, asleep. The prefixa-in English is due to the Saxonon.
1221.al to-hurt, etc. See note in Glossary on the wordTo-kerwith.
1225.sauch, saw;rewit, rued, pitied.
1233.one syd a lyt, a little on one side.
1236.our mekill, over much.
P. 37,l. 1240.yarof, thereof.
1241.ruput, repute, think.
1242.ablare, abler, readier.
1253.Insert a comma afterthret, and destroy that afterlowe. The meaning perhaps is, “But what if he be appealed to and threatened, and (meanwhile) his heart be elsewhere set to love.” Observe thatandis often the third or fourth word in the sentence it should begin. Seel. 2833.
1258.ȝhe tyne yowr low, you lose your love.
1260.conclusit, ended.
1265.mokil, much.
1268.of new, anew, again.
1273.pan, pain.
P. 38,l. 1279.thocht, anxiety.
1284.apperans, i.e. vision, as inl. 364.
1295.aqwynt, acquainted; Burns usesacquent.
1297.com, coming.
P. 39,l. 1316. “So far out of the way you go in your course.” Comparel. 1797.
1317.“Thy ship, that goeth upon the stormy surge, nigh of thy revels (i.e. because of thy revels) in the gulf it falls, where it is almost drowned in the peril.”
1321.“In the wretched dance of wickedness.” See the curious uses of the word “daunce” in Chaucer.
1323.the son, thee soon.
1330.powert, poverty;as the-selwyne wat, as thyself knows.
1334.in to spousag, in wedlock.
P. 40,l. 1343. The worddiuerssis required to complete the line; cf.l. 731.
1352.suppriss, oppression.
1354.wedwis, widows.
1367.that ilke, that same.
1369.sufferith, makest to suffer.
P. 41,l. 1379. Eccles. iv. 9, 10.
1387.yow mone, thou must.
1392.her-efter leif, hereafter live.
1401.A comma is scarcely needed after “sapiens.” It means “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Prov. ix. 10.
P. 42,l. 1409.to ryng wnder his pess, to reign under His peace, by His permission. Roquefort givespais, licence, permission.
1420.arour, error.
1427.leful, lawful.
P. 43,l. 1447. Ban, king of Albanak, was Lancelot’s father. Seel. 202,1450.
1474.The MS. has “aſſit.”
P. 44,l. 1491.tak the bak apone themself, turn their backs.
1500.yewyne, given.
1504.till, to; redundant.
1506.stand aw, stand in awe. So also inl. 2684. The same expression occurs inThe Bruce, iii. 62, ed. Pinkerton, p. 42, ed. Jamieson; and also inHavelok, l. 277, where the wordin, supplied from conjecture, should be struck out.
P. 45,l. 1537.throw his peple, by his people.
1541.Thus falith not, etc., “Except wise conduct falleth to a king.”