“ðis sonde hem overtakeð raðeAnd bicalleð of harme and scaðe.”
“ðis sonde hem overtakeð raðeAnd bicalleð of harme and scaðe.”
“ðis sonde hem overtakeð raðe
And bicalleð of harme and scaðe.”
p. 48, l.1665. In the FrenchFierabras(as well as in the Ashmolean version) it is Roland whom Charlemagne addresses first (see above, note to l. 1433); he tells him that he must go on a mission to demand the surrender of Oliver and his companions. Upon which Naymes and the other twelve peers remonstrate, but are all sent to Laban one after the other, just as in theSowdan. In the Provençal poem it is only Guy who protests. Cf. ll. 2263–2282 of the FrenchFierabras:
“Rollant regarda tost, si l’a araisonné:Biaus nés, ce dist li rois, trop sui por vous irés;Vous movrés le matin, à Aigremore irés;Si dirés l’amirant, gardés ne li celés,Rende moi la courone dont Dix fu couronésEt les autres reliques dont je sui moult penés;Et en après demant mes chevalier menbrés;Et se il ne le fait si que deviserés,Dites jel ferai pendre par la goule à un trefs,En destre le menrai com .i. larron prové,Ne troverai putel où il ne soit passé.” etc.
“Rollant regarda tost, si l’a araisonné:Biaus nés, ce dist li rois, trop sui por vous irés;Vous movrés le matin, à Aigremore irés;Si dirés l’amirant, gardés ne li celés,Rende moi la courone dont Dix fu couronésEt les autres reliques dont je sui moult penés;Et en après demant mes chevalier menbrés;Et se il ne le fait si que deviserés,Dites jel ferai pendre par la goule à un trefs,En destre le menrai com .i. larron prové,Ne troverai putel où il ne soit passé.” etc.
“Rollant regarda tost, si l’a araisonné:
Biaus nés, ce dist li rois, trop sui por vous irés;
Vous movrés le matin, à Aigremore irés;
Si dirés l’amirant, gardés ne li celés,
Rende moi la courone dont Dix fu couronés
Et les autres reliques dont je sui moult penés;
Et en après demant mes chevalier menbrés;
Et se il ne le fait si que deviserés,
Dites jel ferai pendre par la goule à un trefs,
En destre le menrai com .i. larron prové,
Ne troverai putel où il ne soit passé.” etc.
p. 48, l.1668. Cf.Fierabras, ll. 2309–2321, andSyr Ferumbras, l. 1486–1493.
p. 49, l.1683.lese, “lose.” So in l. 2655 and 1696, where it rhymes withchese, which occurs again in ll. 2748, 2934.
p. 49, l.1687. French text gives (ll. 2297,et seq.):
“Ogiers li boins Danois s’en est levés en piés:Sire drois emperere, pour amour Dieu, oiés:Bien sai se il i vont ja n’en revenra piés.Avoec irés, dist Karles, par les ex de mon cief:Or i serés vous .v. qui porterés mes briés.”
“Ogiers li boins Danois s’en est levés en piés:Sire drois emperere, pour amour Dieu, oiés:Bien sai se il i vont ja n’en revenra piés.Avoec irés, dist Karles, par les ex de mon cief:Or i serés vous .v. qui porterés mes briés.”
“Ogiers li boins Danois s’en est levés en piés:
Sire drois emperere, pour amour Dieu, oiés:
Bien sai se il i vont ja n’en revenra piés.
Avoec irés, dist Karles, par les ex de mon cief:
Or i serés vous .v. qui porterés mes briés.”
p. 49, l.1691.Berymust be miswritten forTerry, as we find Terris d’Ardane in the FrenchFierabras, l. 2290, and Terry of Ardane inSyr Ferumbras, l. 1469. According to l. 3187 ofSir Ferumbras, Thierry is the father of Berard (Bryer) of Mountdidier. Cf. the French text, ll. 2290–96 andSyr Ferumbras, ll. 1468–1473.
p. 49, l.1693.rees, “time, occasion.” See note to l. 1349.
p. 49, l.1695. Folk Baliant is not mentioned in any other poem of our romance. SeeIntroduction, p. xxvii.
p. 49, l.1698.chese, O.E.cêosan, Mod. E.choose. It here means “to be free to choose”:—“You shall not be free to choose,” “you shall have no choice,” “you shall do what you are ordered.” See Mätzner’s remark [in hisWörterb., p. 562, s. v.cheosen] to Halliwell,Dict.p. 250.‹p122›
p. 49, l.1699.Aleroyse.See note to l. 884.
p. 49, l.1711.Turpyn.There was a real bishop of this name, who, according to theGallia Christiana, held the see of Reims fromA.D.753 to 794. As we find him described in the romances, Turpin was the very type of a knight-bishop. In the poem ofAspremont, he bears before the Christian army the wood of the true cross which in his hands beams with brightness like the sun. In the romance of theEnfances Ogierit was he, into whose custody Ogier was given, when he had been made a prisoner after his revolt, in company with the king of Lombardy, against Charlemagne (see above, note to l. 856), and who, notwithstanding the order of Charles to have Ogier starved to death, kept the Dane alive, who afterwards, when the Saracens invaded France, proved a great help to the Christian arms. As we read in theChanson de Roland, ll. 2242ss, Turpin met his death at Roncesvaux, but according to theChronicle of Turpin, he survived the disaster of Roncesvaux, and was saying mass for the dead, when he saw the angels carrying the soul of Roland up to heaven. But from Gaston Paris’s EssayDe Pseudo-Turpinowe know this chronicle to be an apocryphical book written by two monks of the eleventh and twelfth century.
p. 49, l.1717.set not of youre barons so light= “do not count, consider them so little.” Cf. “to take one so lighte,” inSyr Ferumbras, ll. 114, 156.
p. 50, l.1721.gyfe no coosthas the same meaning asgive no tale= “make no account, do not mind.” See Zupitza’s note toGuy, 8143. Cf. alsoSowdan, l. 2793, andSyr Ferumbras, l. 5847, 101, 4975; and also ll. 173, 1578.
p. 50, l.1723. Bryer of Mounteȝ or Berard de Montdidier was celebrated for his gallantries and attentions to the ladies:
“D’ardimen vail Rotlan et OlivierE de domnei Berart de Mondesdier.”
“D’ardimen vail Rotlan et OlivierE de domnei Berart de Mondesdier.”
“D’ardimen vail Rotlan et Olivier
E de domnei Berart de Mondesdier.”
i. e.—“In prowess I am equal to Rolland and to Oliver, in matters of love to Berart of M.” says the troubadour Peire Vidal in his poemDragoman seiner; cf. alsoFierabras, ll. 2125–7:
“Je ne sai cui vous estes, car ne vous puis viser,Mais je cuit c’as pucieles sivés moult bien juer,En cambre sous cortine baisier et acoler.”
“Je ne sai cui vous estes, car ne vous puis viser,Mais je cuit c’as pucieles sivés moult bien juer,En cambre sous cortine baisier et acoler.”
“Je ne sai cui vous estes, car ne vous puis viser,
Mais je cuit c’as pucieles sivés moult bien juer,
En cambre sous cortine baisier et acoler.”
See, besides,Syr Ferumbras, ll. 422, 1297, 1305, 1354. This Bryer of Mountes must be the same as the one slain in a sally of the twelve peers, ll. 2604, 2622, because, according to l. 1723, it was he who was among the peers sent on a mission to the Soudan. There is one Bryer of Brytaine occurring in l. 886, whom one might be inclined to think identical with Bryer of Mountes, as in l. 886 he is cited together with the other peers. But since we find him again as the treasurer of Charlemagne (l. 3205), this is impossible, unless we suppose the mention of Bryer in l. 3205 to be owing to the‹p123›absent-mindedness of the author, who may be accused of a similar inadvertency with regard to Rychard of Normandy; cf. note to l. 2797, and Index of Names,s. v.Flagot.
p. 50, l.1743.Bronland.The true reading isBrouland, as shewn byFierabras, ll. 1549, 5174, &c.;Destruction, ll. 1240–159, 441, andSowdan, ll. 1759, 2456. The Ashmole MS. hasBruyllant.
p. 51, l.1751.thane= “thane that.” See Zupitza’s note toGuy, 992, p. 363.
p. 51, l.1778.charkehardly makes sense here. It is perhaps a clerical error forcharge, “to command, to order.” The sense would then be, “and to tell him the Soudan’s strict orders which by peril of death (=upon life and lithe) Laban recommended him to obey.”
p. 51, l.1779.þeninstead ofþanwould improve the rhyme.
p. 52, l.1788.lorde of Spayne.Cf. the French expression, “amirans d’Espaigne,” which we find so often used in theDestruction.
p. 52, l.1802.trappeis Mod. Eng.trape, which is used in the sense of “to traipse, to walk sluttishly.” Halliwell has “trapes = to wander about.”
p. 52, l.1816.byleved.Rhyme and sense will be improved by readingbyleven.
p. 53, l.1854.tymemakes no sense here. Perhaps we ought to readI dyne; cf. ll. 1508, 1114, 1837, andSyr Ferumbras, l. 5621:
“Oþer elles þoo shalt þyn hefd forgon,To morwen, or y wil dyne.”
“Oþer elles þoo shalt þyn hefd forgon,To morwen, or y wil dyne.”
“Oþer elles þoo shalt þyn hefd forgon,
To morwen, or y wil dyne.”
Fierabras, l. 1914:
“Ja mais ne mengerai si sera desmembrés.”
“Ja mais ne mengerai si sera desmembrés.”
“Ja mais ne mengerai si sera desmembrés.”
See alsoGuy, l. 3695.
p. 54, l.1888.Syr Gy, nevew unto the king Charles.Cf.Fierabras, ll. 3406–8:
“On m’apele Guion, de Borgoigne fui nés,Et fils d’une des filles au duc Millon d’Aingler,Cousin germain Rollant, qui tant fait à douter.”
“On m’apele Guion, de Borgoigne fui nés,Et fils d’une des filles au duc Millon d’Aingler,Cousin germain Rollant, qui tant fait à douter.”
“On m’apele Guion, de Borgoigne fui nés,
Et fils d’une des filles au duc Millon d’Aingler,
Cousin germain Rollant, qui tant fait à douter.”
Duke Milon d’Anglers was brother-in-law to Charlemagne, whose sister Berte was Milon’s wife and mother to Roland. Cf. Philippe Mousket, l. 2706–8:
“S’ot Charles une autre sereur,Bertain: cele prist à seigneurMilon d’Anglers, s’en ot Rollant.”
“S’ot Charles une autre sereur,Bertain: cele prist à seigneurMilon d’Anglers, s’en ot Rollant.”
“S’ot Charles une autre sereur,
Bertain: cele prist à seigneur
Milon d’Anglers, s’en ot Rollant.”
If, therefore, in the passage quoted above fromFierabras, Guy is said to be the grandson of Milon, he must have been the grand-nephew of Charlemagne, and nephew to Rollant. As we learn from the French poem ofGuy de Bourgoyne, Guy’s father was Samson of Burgundy. Cf. besides,Histoire Poétique, p. 407, andSyr Ferumbras, ll. 1922, 2091, 1410, etc.
p. 55, l.1892.And yet knowe I him noght.Floripas has already once‹p124›seen Guy when he was defeating Lukafer before Rome; cf.Fierabras, ll. 2237–2245:
“.i. chevalier de France ai lontans enaméGuis a nom de Borgoigne, moult i a bel armé;Parens est Karlemaine et Rollant l’aduré.Dès que je fui à Romme, m’a tout mon cuer emblé;Quant l’amirans mes peres fist gaster la cité,Lucafer de Baudas abati ens ou pré,Et lui et le ceval, d’un fort espiel quarré.Se cis n’est mes maris, je n’arai homme né;Pour lui voel je croire ou roi de sainte maïsté.”
“.i. chevalier de France ai lontans enaméGuis a nom de Borgoigne, moult i a bel armé;Parens est Karlemaine et Rollant l’aduré.Dès que je fui à Romme, m’a tout mon cuer emblé;Quant l’amirans mes peres fist gaster la cité,Lucafer de Baudas abati ens ou pré,Et lui et le ceval, d’un fort espiel quarré.Se cis n’est mes maris, je n’arai homme né;Pour lui voel je croire ou roi de sainte maïsté.”
“.i. chevalier de France ai lontans enamé
Guis a nom de Borgoigne, moult i a bel armé;
Parens est Karlemaine et Rollant l’aduré.
Dès que je fui à Romme, m’a tout mon cuer emblé;
Quant l’amirans mes peres fist gaster la cité,
Lucafer de Baudas abati ens ou pré,
Et lui et le ceval, d’un fort espiel quarré.
Se cis n’est mes maris, je n’arai homme né;
Pour lui voel je croire ou roi de sainte maïsté.”
See alsoSyr Ferumbras, ll. 2073–2087. Our line does not necessarily imply a contradiction to the French text, as on the former occasion she probably saw the duel from a great distance, when the latter’s features were hidden by his helmet. That she really did not recognize him follows from the following passage ofFierabras, l. 2800,et seq.
“Je aim en douce France .i. leger baceler.”—“Dame, comment a nom?” ce dist Rollans li herEt respont la puciele: “ja le m’orrés nommer;Guis a nom de Borgoigne, moult i a bel armé.”—“Par mon cief” dist Rollans “à vos ex le véésN’a pas entre vous deus iiii piés mesurés.”
“Je aim en douce France .i. leger baceler.”—“Dame, comment a nom?” ce dist Rollans li herEt respont la puciele: “ja le m’orrés nommer;Guis a nom de Borgoigne, moult i a bel armé.”—“Par mon cief” dist Rollans “à vos ex le véésN’a pas entre vous deus iiii piés mesurés.”
“Je aim en douce France .i. leger baceler.”
—“Dame, comment a nom?” ce dist Rollans li her
Et respont la puciele: “ja le m’orrés nommer;
Guis a nom de Borgoigne, moult i a bel armé.”
—“Par mon cief” dist Rollans “à vos ex le véés
N’a pas entre vous deus iiii piés mesurés.”
Besides there are numerous instances to be met with in mediæval poetry of persons enamoured of some one they had never seen:
“Ans no la vi et am la fort”
“Ans no la vi et am la fort”
“Ans no la vi et am la fort”
says Guilhelm de Poitiers in speaking of his lady (Mahn,Werke der Troubadours, p. 3). Cf. alsoRits. Rom.II. 19, andWeb. Rom.II. 131.
p. 55, l.1927.myghtyseems to mean “excellent, delicious,” rather than “heavy.”
p. 57, l.1974.amonge, “every now and then, from time to time, occasionally.” See Zupitza’s note toGuy, 2301. It is often used as a kind of expletive.
p. 57, l.1995.foulis, “fools, foolish.” Cf. the French text:
“Par Mahoun, dist li rois, trestout sontfolprové.”
“Par Mahoun, dist li rois, trestout sontfolprové.”
“Par Mahoun, dist li rois, trestout sontfolprové.”
p. 57, l.1996. There is no mention made of this game in the Provençal poem. It is described here even more explicitly than in the FrenchFierabras, ll. 2907–2932. Cf. alsoSyr Ferumbras, ll. 2230–2251.
p. 57, l.1997.assorte= “assembly, company;” by one assorte = “in one company” (Halliwell). It seems to be connected withsort= “set, assemblage,” see Skeat,Specimens of E. E., 425/999
p. 58, l.2000.i-fest:blast. Perhaps we ought to readi-fast.
p. 59, l.2036.maden orders.I do not know the exact meaning of this expression. Perhaps it may be taken with the same sense as the Mod. H. Germ. phrase = “ordnung schaffen,” which literally means‹p125›“to set in order, to put matters straight,” but is often used in the sense of “to clear away,” or, “to remove or despatch.”
p. 59, l.2045.that he wente awaye with lym= “that he had escaped with (his limbs, or having) his limbs safe and sound.”lyme, O.E.lim, Mod. Eng.limb.
p. 59, l.2052.tho= O.E.Þâ, “those, them,” it is used as a definite article in l. 2063.
p. 59, l.2057.amapide, miswritten forawapide(Herrtage), “astounded, bewildered.” Cf. Stratmann, p. 10.—Mätzner,Wörterbuch, p. 150, connects it with Goth.afhvapjan, “to suffocate.” We findmwritten forwseveral times in our poem; thus we readgamylokesforgawylokesin l. 2650, andrommeforrowmein l. 876.
p. 60, l.2085.Assyne.The rhyme shows thatAssyeis the true reading.Assyeoccurs in ll. 102, 123.
p. 60, l.2093.wone, “heap, plenty.” O.Icel.wân. See Zupitza’s note toGuy, p. 444.
p. 61, l.2119.Brenlande.It ought to beBreulandorBrouland; see above note to l. 1743.
p. 61, l.2120. The first foot in the line consists of the single wordwhat. Thus in ll. 2288, 2374, 2394, etc.
p. 62, l.2145.Espyarde.This name only occurs in this poem. InSyr Ferumbras, l. 3824, the messenger sent to the bridge-keeper is called Malyngryas. There is no name mentioned in the FrenchFierabras, l. 4265.
p. 62, l.2156.That no man by the brigge.There is no verb in the sentence. Perhaps we ought to readthat no man passe by the brigge, or,that no man passe the brigge.
p. 63, l.2191. Cf. the description of the giant inFierabras, ll. 4740–4755, andSyr Ferumbras, ll. 4435–4441.
p. 63, l.2199.nolde not.See note to l. 1096.
p. 64, l.2225. The line is too long.Wildecan be dispensed with, and instead ofhorseswe may readhors; cf. Skeat, Gloss. toPrioress’s Tale(Clarendon Press),s. v.hors.
p. 64, l.2233.a magnelle, “a mangonel,” an ancient military engine used for battering down walls (Halliwell).Magnelleis the O.Fr.Mangonel, orMangoneau, the Italianmanganello(= “arbalist, cross-bow”). The latter is the diminutive form ofmangano, “a sling;” Greek,μαγγανον.See Diez,Etym. Wörterb., I. 261.
p. 64, l.2238.Cornelorcarnel, Fr.carnel, Mod.Fr.créneau, “battlement, pinnacle.” Literally it means, “a piece carved out,”i. e.of the wall on the top of a building; the French verbcarnelerorcrenelersignifying, “to carve out, to jag, to notch.”Carnelis derived from Latincrena(See Diez,Gramm., I. 14), which means “a notch, a cut, an incision” (Diez,Etym. Wörterb., II. 266). Thuscarnelcame to denote a battlement or indented parapet; or more‹p126›exactly it was applied to those parts of the wall projecting upwards between the openings or embrasures. It was one of these projecting portions that was here knocked down. Cf. alsoSyr Ferumbras, l. 3314.
p. 65, l.2245. The line is too long. Perhapsor he hitmay be dispensed with.
p. 65, l.2247. The episode of Marsedag being slain by Guy is not found in any other poem of this romance.
p. 65, l.2271.Alkaron, “the Koran,”alis the Arabic article. There is a god named Alcaron occurring in l. 2762.
p. 66, l.2282.dye:waye. See l. 441.forfamelid= “famished, starved to death.” I am not aware of any other instance of this word. Halliwell has “famele = to be famished.” The prefixfor-has intensive or augmentative power; it is particularly used in past participles. See Mätzner’sGrammatik, I2. 542.
p. 66, l.2290.faileis the infinitive mood = “to be wanting, to become deficient.” “Roland seeing the ladies white and pale (with hunger) and (seeing) the bread wanting on their table spoke some words of lamentation,” etc.
p. 66, l.2303.forcere, “chest, coffer.” For the etymology see Diez,Wörterb., II. 31,s. v.forziere.
p. 66, l.2309. As it stands the line is too long. Asyouandthatmay be dispensed with, we ought perhaps to read,I pray ye wole us alle it shewe.
p. 66, l.2310.saule, “fill, hunger satisfied to repletion.” The rhyme shows that the last syllable is accentuated. Therefore it cannot be derived from the Frenchsoûl(Gloss. to Roxb. Club ed.), but fromsoûlée.
p. 66, l.2311.yede= “went.” Not from O.E.eode, but fromge-eode. See Zupitza’s note toGuy, l. 60, and Skeat,Piers the Plowman(Clarendon Press), 94/40.
p. 66, l.2312.vertue:fewe; the rhyme is perfect, see the Abstract of Mr. Nicol’s paper in theAcademyof June 23, 1877 (vol. xi. p. 564, col. 1).
p. 66, l.2313. We must scan this line thus:
'And dídẹn it aboútẹ hem éverychón.' with scansion markup
'And dídẹn it aboútẹ hem éverychón.' with scansion markup
-enindidenis mute; seeIntroduction, p. xxxix.
p. 67, l.2326.ginne= “engin, contrivance, trick.” See note to l. 780.
p. 67, l.2337.lefte.The rhyme shows that the author pronouncedlafte, which we find in l. 426.
p 68, l.2351. Cf.Fierabras, ll. 3046–3097. In the Provençal poem Maubyn or Malpi, as he is called in Provençal, enters the room by means of a charm which makes the door open itself:‹p127›
“Vengutz es al fossat, pres de la tor cayrada.Tantost intret dedins cuendamens a celada,Venc a l’us de la cambra: si la trobet tancada.Eta dit son conjur: tota s’es desfermada.”ll. 2757–60.
“Vengutz es al fossat, pres de la tor cayrada.Tantost intret dedins cuendamens a celada,Venc a l’us de la cambra: si la trobet tancada.Eta dit son conjur: tota s’es desfermada.”
“Vengutz es al fossat, pres de la tor cayrada.
Tantost intret dedins cuendamens a celada,
Venc a l’us de la cambra: si la trobet tancada.
Eta dit son conjur: tota s’es desfermada.”
ll. 2757–60.
p. 68, l.2365. The rhyme is restored if we readleddeinstead ofladde. See l. 1651.
p. 69, l.2390.By God and seynte Mary, myn avour.I think the wordsmyn avoureare due to the scribe, not to the author, as they spoil the rhythm. So we getMary:we. This rhyme, although not perfect, is of no rare occurrence in Mid. Eng. works, seeIntroduction, p. xliv. As to the spelling ofavourI am not aware of any other instance of this form of the word. There is a formavyowrecited by Halliwell. Besides,avouryandavowery, which he quotes under different heads, are perhaps only different spellings of the same word.
p. 69, l.2399.slepingemust be altered intoslepandein order to restore the rhyme. The author employed-andand-yngeas terminations of the present participle. SeeIntroduction, p. xxxviii.
p. 69, l.2421.alsobelongs to l. 2422.
p. 70, l.2433.so mete I spede, “as I may succeed.” See Zupitza’s note toGuy, l. 615.
p. 71, l.2477.and nowis perhaps miswritten forinow; cf. the French text, l. 3803:
“Tanty a plates d’or, nus nes porroit nombrer.”
“Tanty a plates d’or, nus nes porroit nombrer.”
“Tanty a plates d’or, nus nes porroit nombrer.”
p. 71, l.2482.wastgives no sense. Perhaps we ought to readwent.
p. 72, ll.2491–2502. The arrangement of the stanzas seems, as regards the rhymes, to be incorrect.
p. 72, l.2507. In the AshmoleFerumbrasthis episode of the Soudan breaking the image of Mahound is omitted. In the French text he only threatens to make him cry, as soon as he gets hold of him, but he is rebuked by Sorbrance telling him that Mahomet being over-tired with guarding the treasure has only fallen asleep. Cf.Fierabras, ll. 3820–3829.
p. 72, l.2512.ore, O.E.âr, “mercy, favour.”Thyn ore= “grant us thy favour,” “have mercy upon us,” or, “with thy favour.”
p. 73, l.2535. Richard of Normandy appearing here as in the FrenchFierabras, among the twelve peers besieged by the Soudan, without having been mentioned before in the number of the knights sent on a mission by Charles, furnishes us with an argument in support of our supposition that the FrenchFierabraswas the source of our poem. SeeIntroduction, p. xxx, and ofFierabras, ll. 3957–3994, andSyr Ferumbras, l. 4921.
p. 73, l.2538.wynde:hende;wendewhich occurs in l. 2328 would improve the rhyme.‹p128›
p. 73, l.2549.paramour= “object of chivalrous affection and devotion.”
p. 73, l.2557.wronge, preterite ofwringe, “to press well out, force one’s way.”
p. 73, l.2558. Doesthilestand forwhile, asthen, l. 2527, seems to be miswritten forwhen? Or isthile= the while?
p. 74, l.2564.sloughe:drowe. Readslowe, as in ll. 2401, 2683, 304, 2208, etc.
p. 75, l.2597.itolde, “in number,” see Zupitza’s note toGuy, 1770.
p. 75, l.2614.quell= “kill,” which occurs in l. 3006.
p. 75, l.2616.bistadde, “hard bestead, greatly imperilled.”
p. 75, l.2617.japed, “mocked, tricked, laughed at.” Connected with Icel.gabba, “to mock.”
p. 76, l.2639.tha. SeeIntroduction, p. xxxvii.
p. 76, l.2651.lurdeyn, Mod. Eng.lurdan, which is said to be the Fr.lourdin(diminutive oflourd). Regarding it as a corruption of “lord Dane” is a mere joke:
“In every house lord Dane did then rule all,Whence laysie lozels lurdanes now we call.”Mirrour for Magistrates, p. 588.
“In every house lord Dane did then rule all,Whence laysie lozels lurdanes now we call.”
“In every house lord Dane did then rule all,
Whence laysie lozels lurdanes now we call.”
Mirrour for Magistrates, p. 588.
p. 76, l.2654.sewes.See Skeat,Prioress’s Tale, p. 286.
p. 76, l.2660.let armesmakes no sense. Readas armes—As armes= Fr.aux armes, “to arms,” is of pretty frequent occurrence in Mid. Eng. poems; see Mätzner’sWörterb., p. 112. Cf. alsoSyr Ferumbras, l. 2933:
“As armes,” þanne cride Rolond,“As armes everychone!”
“As armes,” þanne cride Rolond,“As armes everychone!”
“As armes,” þanne cride Rolond,
“As armes everychone!”
Cf.ibidem, l. 4125. So we read in theDestruction, l. 1460.
“Ore as armes, seignours, franc chevalier membré.”
“Ore as armes, seignours, franc chevalier membré.”
“Ore as armes, seignours, franc chevalier membré.”
Perhaps we ought to readas armesalso in l. 491, where the readingand armesis somewhat suspicious, sincearmes, if we regardand armesto be the true reading, would be the only instance of the imperative plural ending in-es(instead of-eth)in theSowdan.
p. 77, l.2689.Thay thanked God that thay him hadde Gyfe thaye suche grace to spede.These lines are corrupt. I propose to read:
“Thay thanked God that hem haddeGyfen suche grace to spede.”
“Thay thanked God that hem haddeGyfen suche grace to spede.”
“Thay thanked God that hem hadde
Gyfen suche grace to spede.”
p. 77, l.2694.alaye, written as one word in the MS., must be divided into two,abeing the indefinite article, andlayemeaning “unploughed ground, field, pasture, meadow.” Mod. Eng.ley,lea,lay. SeeStratmann, s. v.leȝe, p. 356.
p. 77, l.2698.he, “they.” This is the only instance ofheinstead of the commonthay. Buthe, which is further confirmed by the rhyme, must certainly be attributed to the author;thayoccurs only once‹p129›(l. 3021) as a rhyme, but the rhyme is not a good one, and there also it would be preferable to readhe.
p. 78, l.2706.by my thrifte, the same as “so mote y thryve,” or, “so mote y spede” = “as (verily as) I may thrive,” “in truth.”
p. 78, l.2707.see; cf. Zupitza’s note toGuy, 163.
p. 78, l.2719.wole:skille. The rhyme shows thatwolecannot be due to the author; we must readwille(orwellewhich occurs l. 2633).
p. 78, l.2732.bikureorbykeringe, l. 2559 = “fight, battle, skirmish.”Er durste bikure abide.The subject is wanting, see note to l. 67. Or is there any corruption in this line? Perhaps we ought to read: “Lenger durste [thay] no bikure abyde.” Cf. ll. 3117, 2610, 2947.
p. 79, l.2748.love.The rhyme requiresleeforleeve.leef, O.E.leof, means “dear, beloved.” For examples ofleefbeing used as a substantive, see Stratmann, p. 359.
p. 80, l.2793.eye, “egg.” See Koch,Eng. Gr.II. § 582, and compare the French phrase “valoir un œuf pelé.”
p. 80, l.2797.and his meyne.This must be a mistake of the author himself. According to l. 2557, Richard had ventured alone on a mission to Charlemagne. There is no mention whatever made afterwards that he was joined by any one; the other poems likewise state that Richard was without any companion.
p. 80, l.2805.lete:gate. The rhyme requireslate.
p. 81, l.2810.cliffe.Here the author of theSowdangoes so far in shortening his original as to be wholly unintelligible. Indeed, any reader, not comparing these lines with corresponding passages in the French poem, will be left without any clue to whatcliffis here intended to mean. From the FrenchFierabraswe know that the water of the river was very deep and broad, and that the banks were exceedingly steep and almost inaccessible. Cf.Fierabras, ll. 4349:
“Et voit l’augue bruiant, le flot parfont et lé.”
“Et voit l’augue bruiant, le flot parfont et lé.”
“Et voit l’augue bruiant, le flot parfont et lé.”
l. 4358: “La rive en est moult haute, bien fait à redouter.” Cf. also the Provençal poem, ll. 3733,et seq.:
“Richart regarda l’aygua, que fe mot a duptar,E fo grans e preonda, que no y auza intrar,E la riba fouauta de C pesses gaber.”
“Richart regarda l’aygua, que fe mot a duptar,E fo grans e preonda, que no y auza intrar,E la riba fouauta de C pesses gaber.”
“Richart regarda l’aygua, que fe mot a duptar,
E fo grans e preonda, que no y auza intrar,
E la riba fouauta de C pesses gaber.”
Now it was by means of a twofold myracle that the Christian knight was enabled to cross the river:
(1) The waters suddenly increased and rose so as to reach the very top of the banks; cf.Fierabras, ll. 4365–69: