Chapter VIII: Part 8

p. 36, l. 1250. «Cousyn to King Charles», cf. l. 1117. In ll. 1499 and 1671 Oliver is said to be nephew to Charlemagne. He was the son of Renier de Gennes, who according to «Sir Ferumbras», l. 652: “Y am Charlis emys sone”—was the uncle of Charlemagne. In the poem «Girar de Viane» we find Oliver among the enemies of the [p117] Emperor and fighting with Roland in close combat; they are at length stopped by divine interposition. Then began a close friendship which lasted till their death at Roncesvaux. Oliver’s sister Aude was betrothed to Roland. See, besides, «Syr Ferumbras», ll. 422, 1297, 1305, 1354.

p. 36, l. 1258. «harde grace», “misfortune,” cf. l. 2790.

p. 36, l. 1259. «Persagyn.» This name does not occur in any other version again, except in the «Destruction», where one Persagon appears in the list of the Saracen barons. But it is not stated there that he is uncle to Ferumbras; cf. besides «Fierabras», ll. 2614, 2784.

p. 37, l. 1263. Observe the four consecutive feminine rhymes.

p. 37, l. 1277. The scene as related here widely differs from that described in the Ashmolean version. In the «Sowdone», Oliver gets hold of the sword which is “trussed on Ferumbras’s stede.” In the Ashmolean poem it is not Oliver who is disarmed, but Ferumbras, and Oliver allows him to pick up his weapon again. This in itself furnishes us an argument for conjecturing that the author of the «Sowdon» did not follow, or even know of, the Ashmolean version. In the French poem, as well as in the Provençal, it is likewise Oliver who is disarmed. If in those poems we find mentioned besides that Ferumbras offered his enemy to take up his sword again—an incident not related in the «Sowdan»—we do not consider this to disprove our supposition that the French version was the source of the «Sowdan», as we may consider our author in this case simply to have adhered to his favourite practice of shortening his original as much as possible, so far as no essential point is concerned. Cf. the French «Fierabras», ll. 1289–1346.

p. 37, l. 1286. «saught» is a misprint for «raught».

p. 37, l. 1289. «He thought he quyte.» «quyte» may be explained as standing for «quyted», or else «he» must be changed into «to»: «He thought to quyte», the latter reading is perhaps preferable. We find in l. 3110 a passage agreeing almost exactly with this.

p. 38, l. 1298. «Qwyntyn.» The name of this Saint does not occur in any other version of our romance.

p. 38, l. 1308. There is no mention made of this prayer in the Ashmolean version, the «Sowdan» here (ll. 1308–1340) agrees again with the French «Fierabras», ll. 1164–1244 (and with the Provençal poem, l. 1493, «et seq.»), with the only difference, that the prayer which Charlemagne addressed to God, in order to bestow the victory upon the Christian hero, is much longer in «F»; and is stuffed with so many details of the Scripture, that in some way it may be regarded as a succinct account of the whole life of the Lord.

p. 38, l. 1320. «skomfited» = «discomfited», l. 1464. It is formed by the same analogy as stroyeth = destroyeth. See note to l. 780. The substantive «discumfiture», O.Fr. «desconfiture», occurs in l. 336; the same [p118] word, without prefix, is found in M.H.G., cf. «Kudrun», ed. Martin, 646, 2:

“dô si hêten gerne die porten zuo getân
dô muosten si daz lernen durch «schumphentiuren» verlân.”

The Italian noun is «sconfitta», and the verb «sconfiggere».

p. 38, l. 1327. «God aboue» does not rhyme with «lord almighty». The rhyme is easily restored if we read «of might» (cf. l. 2059) for «aboue», and if we change «almighty» into «almighte», so that we have:

l. 1327. “Tho Charles thanked God of myghte.”

l. 1329. “And saide, ‘blessed be thou, lord almyghte.’”

The adjective «almiȝt» is of frequent occurrence in Mid. Eng. writers. So in «Allit. Poems», I. 497: “in sothful gospel of god almyȝt;” «Syr Ferumbras», l. 3580, “God almyȝte: siȝte;” «ibid.» l. 3815, “god almyȝt: wyȝt.”

p. 39, l. 1349. «cas» is an erratum for «ras».—“Ras, shave.” “Rees 1693, evening.” These explanations given by the editor of the Roxb. Club ed. are wrong. «Ras» and «rees» being both derived from O.E. «r[^æ]s», “impetus cursus,” are indiscriminately used in three meanings: (1) “onset, assault;” (2) “course, run, rush, haste, hurry;” (3) “space, time, occasion.” The last signification is well shewn by the following passages:

“Hit lasteþ but a lutel rees.”
(«Cl. Maydenhod», l. 26.)
“Þat ys to seye upon a rees,
Stynkyng Saxone, be on pees.”
(«Arthur», ed. Furnivall, l. 525.)

In the «Sowdan» «ras» or «rees» means (1) “time, instant, occasion,” ll. 1349, 1693; (2) “rush, hurry, haste,” ll. 645, 489. «rase», l. 774 = “current in the sea,” the same word as the preceding «ras» and «rees», meaning properly, “a narrow rush, or violent current of water.” See Morris, «Chaucer’s Prologue» (Clarendon Press), s. v. «reyse». Cf. the French expressions, “raz de mer,” “raz de courent,” “raz de marée.”

p. 39, l. 1361. «sene» : «be». Read «se» as in ll. 1124, 658, 1826.

p. 40, l. 1372. «ryden», which does not rhyme with «foghten», is evidently a clerical error. I suppose «soghten» to be the true reading. For examples of «soght» = “came, went, moved,” see Zupitza’s note to «Guy», l. 7151, and Skeat’s Glossary to «Specimens», s. v. «socht».—There is still another corruption in this passage, as «assembled» does not rhyme with «ordeyned».

p. 40, l. 1380. Note the transition from the indirect to the direct speech.

p. 40, l. 1381. As it stands, the line is too long and spoils the rhythm. The words “if ye cast me downe” can be dispensed with.

p. 40, l. 1383. «thare» : «were» (O.E. werian). The rhyme is easily restored by reading «there» instead of «thare», cf. ll. 2604, 2404, 2245, etc. and see «Introduction», p. xxxv. [p119]

p. 41, ll. 1419–22. Observe the weak rhymes alternating with the strong ones.

p. 41, l. 1420. «brother» means “brother-in-law.” Oliver’s sister Aude was Roland’s intended bride. Perhaps also «brother» may be taken here in sense of “brother in arms,” as in most romances we find Roland and Oliver mentioned as a couple of true friends united by the most tender ties of comradeship. Besides, Oliver was highly indebted to Roland, who had rescued him when he had been made a prisoner after his duel with Ferragus.

p. 41, l. 1423. «cowthe» miswritten for «caughte», which we read in ll. 1411, 1603.

p. 41, l. 1424. «Ascopartes» is the correct form. See note on l. 495.

p. 51, l. 1427. «foolde» cannot be “earth” here, for which the editor of the Roxburghe Club ed. takes it. «Foolde» is the participle past of «fealden», “to fold, plicare.” It means, “folded, bent down, fallen.” This seems also to be the sense of «folde» in the following passages:

«Laȝamon», 23983–4:

“Þa feol Frolle
folde to grunde.”

«Ibid.» ll. 27054–6:

“Romanisce veollen
fiftene hundred
folden to grunden.”

«Ibid.» ll. 20057–60:

“he þohte to quellen
Þe king on his þeode
& his folc valden
volden to grunde.”

Cf. «Stratmann», p. 194.

p. 41, l. 1433. Roland and Olyver are taken prisoners. This incident is differently related in the other poems. There Roland is not taken at all, but sent afterwards among the messengers to the Soudan’s court. Together with Oliver four knights are taken, viz. Gwylmer, Berard, Geoffrey and Aubry, who all are carried away by the flying Saracens in spite of the efforts of Roland and Ogier.

p. 42, l. 1451. «what» = “who.” See Koch, «Eng. Gr.» II. § 339, and Skeat’s note to «Piers the Plowman» (Clarendon Press), 113/19. So in ll. 1133, 1623.

p. 42, l. 1456. «astyte» has nothing to do with the Latin «astutus» with which the editor of the Roxb. Club ed. apparently confounds it in explaining it as “cunningly devised.” «Astyte» means “at once, immediately, suddenly”; see Morris, Glossary to «Allit. Poems». It is a compound of the simple word «tyte», “soon, quickly,” which see above, l. 181.

p. 43, l. 1475. «Turpyn.» The name of the archbishop is not mentioned in the Ashmolean version. The French text, ll. 1836–40, runs as follows: [p120]

“Karles, nostre empereres, en est en piés levés,
Il apela Milon et Turpin l’alosés,
Deus rices arcevesques de moult grant sainteté:
Faites moi tost uns fons beneir et sacrer;
Je woel que cis rois soit bauptiziés et levés.”

Cf. also the Provençal poem, l. 1899, «et seq.»

p. 43, l. 1483. «nought for thane» = “nevertheless,” cf. Koch, «Eng. Gr.» II. p. 473.

p. 43, l. 1486. «Rome» is a corruption of «Roye», as follows from the French «Fierabras», l. 1851:

“C’est sains Florans de Roie, ce dist l’auctorités.”

Cf. the Ashmole «Ferumbras», l. 1087, and Grœber, «Zeitschrift für romanische Philologie», IV. p. 167.

p. 43, l. 1495. «affrayned», which must not be confounded with «affrayed», as the editor of the Roxburghe Club ed. does, means “asked, inquired.” It is the compound of «freynen» or «fraynen», O.E. «frignan», “to ask.” Goth. «fraihnan». Germ. «fragen».

p. 43, l. 1497. «allayned», “concealed.” The simple verb «layne» (from Icel. «leyna», cf. Zupitza’s note to «Guy», l. 2994) is still retained in the Scottish dialect, with the sense of “to hide.” Cf. also Morris, «Allit. Poems», Gloss. s. v. «layned».

p. 43, l. 1498. In the other poems the prisoners do not tell their true names; see «Introduction», pp. xxvii and xxix; and cf. «Syr Ferumbras», l. 1167.

p. 43, l. 1499. Roland is nephew to Charlemagne on his mother’s side. See note to l. 1888, and cf. the Ashmole «Ferumbras», l. 2066. For Oliver, see above, note to l. 1250.

p. 44, l. 1515. In the «Sowdan» Floripas herself advises Laban not to slay his captives, but to imprison them. In the other versions it is one of the barons who gives the same advice. See «Introduction», p. xxviii.

p. 44, l. 1539. «depe» : «myrke». The rhyme will be restored by reading «dirke» or «derke» instead of «depe». «derke» occurs in l. 2541.

p. 45, l. 1604. «maute.» “In Old French «mauté» is malice.” Gloss. to Roxburghe Club ed. I do not know whether «mauté» exists in O.Fr., but even if it did, it would make no sense here. I feel sure «maute» is a corruption of «mynte» or «mente» (cf. l. 1784), the preterite of «minten» or «menten» = “to aim a blow, to strike,” from O.E. «myntan», “to intend, to purpose.” See Zupitza’s note to «Guy», l. 6579, and Morris, «Allit. Poems», s. v. «mynte». Cf. also «Syr Ferumbras», l. 5587:

“Þan Charlis a strok till hym gan mynte;
Ac hym faylede of ys dynte,
for þat swerd hym glente. . .”

p. 47, l. 1615. «trew» instead of «free» will restore the rhyme. The same rhyme «trewe» : «newe» occurs in ll. 67, 588.

p. 47, l. 1619. «fele sithe», “many a time, often.” So in ll. 2740, 2815. Cf. «ofte sithe», l. 916. [p121]

p. 47, l. 1624. «ruly», O.E. hrêowlîc = “rueful, sorrowful, mournful, piteous.”

p. 47, l. 1645. «harme skathe» makes no sense. Read «harme & skathe», which occurs in «Gen. and Exod.» l. 2314:

“ðis sonde hem overtakeð raðe
And bicalleð of harme and scaðe.”

p. 48, l. 1665. In the French «Fierabras» (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 the «Sowdan». In the Provençal poem it is only Guy who protests. Cf. ll. 2263–2282 of the French «Fierabras»:

“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, and «Syr Ferumbras», l. 1486–1493.

p. 49, l. 1683. «lese», “lose.” So in l. 2655 and 1696, where it rhymes with «chese», 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.”

p. 49, l. 1691. «Bery» must be miswritten for «Terry», as we find Terris d’Ardane in the French «Fierabras», l. 2290, and Terry of Ardane in «Syr Ferumbras», l. 1469. According to l. 3187 of «Sir Ferumbras», Thierry is the father of Berard (Bryer) of Mountdidier. Cf. the French text, ll. 2290–96 and «Syr 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. See «Introduction», 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 his «Wörterb.», 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 the «Gallia Christiana», held the see of Reims from A.D. 753 to 794. As we find him described in the romances, Turpin was the very type of a knight-bishop. In the poem of «Aspremont», 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 the «Enfances Ogier» it 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 the «Chanson de Roland», ll. 2242ss, Turpin met his death at Roncesvaux, but according to the «Chronicle 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 Essay «De Pseudo-Turpino» we 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,” in «Syr Ferumbras», ll. 114, 156.

p. 50, l. 1721. «gyfe no coost» has the same meaning as «give no tale» = “make no account, do not mind.” See Zupitza’s note to «Guy», 8143. Cf. also «Sowdan», l. 2793, and «Syr 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 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 poem «Dragoman seiner»; cf. also «Fierabras», 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.”

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 is «Bro»u«land», as shewn by «Fierabras», ll. 1549, 5174, &c.; «Destruction», ll. 1240–159, 441, and «Sowdan», ll. 1759, 2456. The Ashmole MS. has «Bruyllant».

p. 51, l. 1751. «thane» = “thane that.” See Zupitza’s note to «Guy», 992, p. 363.

p. 51, l. 1778. «charke» hardly makes sense here. It is perhaps a clerical error for «charge», “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. «þen» instead of «þan» would improve the rhyme.

p. 52, l. 1788. «lorde of Spayne.» Cf. the French expression, “amirans d’Espaigne,” which we find so often used in the «Destruction».

p. 52, l. 1802. «trappe» is 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 reading «byleven».

p. 53, l. 1854. «tyme» makes no sense here. Perhaps we ought to read «I dyne»; cf. ll. 1508, 1114, 1837, and «Syr Ferumbras», l. 5621:

“Oþer elles þoo shalt þyn hefd forgon,
To morwen, or y wil dyne.”

«Fierabras», l. 1914:

“Ja mais ne mengerai si sera desmembrés.”

See also «Guy», 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.”

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 seigneur
Milon d’Anglers, s’en ot Rollant.”

If, therefore, in the passage quoted above from «Fierabras», 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 of «Guy de Bourgoyne», Guy’s father was Samson of Burgundy. Cf. besides, «Histoire Poétique», p. 407, and «Syr 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 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 also «Syr 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 of «Fierabras», l. 2800, «et seq.»

“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”

says Guilhelm de Poitiers in speaking of his lady (Mahn, «Werke der Troubadours», p. 3). Cf. also «Rits. Rom.» II. 19, and «Web. Rom.» II. 131.

p. 55, l. 1927. «myghty» seems 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 to «Guy», 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 sont «fol» prové.”

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 French «Fierabras», ll. 2907–2932. Cf. also «Syr Ferumbras», ll. 2230–2251.

p. 57, l. 1997. «assorte» = “assembly, company;” by one assorte = “in one company” (Halliwell). It seems to be connected with «sort» = “set, assemblage,” see Skeat, «Specimens of E. E.», 425/999

p. 58, l. 2000. «i-fest» : «blast». Perhaps we ought to read «i-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 for «awapide» (Herrtage), “astounded, bewildered.” Cf. Stratmann, p. 10.—Mätzner, «Wörterbuch», p. 150, connects it with Goth. «afhvapjan», “to suffocate.” We find «m» written for «w» several times in our poem; thus we read «ga»m«ylokes» for «ga»w«ylokes» in l. 2650, and «ro»m«me» for «ro»w«me» in l. 876.

p. 60, l. 2085. «Assyne.» The rhyme shows that «Assye» is the true reading. «Assye» occurs in ll. 102, 123.

p. 60, l. 2093. «wone», “heap, plenty.” O.Icel. «wân». See Zupitza’s note to «Guy», p. 444.

p. 61, l. 2119. «Brenlande.» It ought to be «Breuland» or «Brouland»; see above note to l. 1743.

p. 61, l. 2120. The first foot in the line consists of the single word «what». Thus in ll. 2288, 2374, 2394, etc.

p. 62, l. 2145. «Espyarde.» This name only occurs in this poem. In «Syr Ferumbras», l. 3824, the messenger sent to the bridge-keeper is called Malyngryas. There is no name mentioned in the French «Fierabras», l. 4265.

p. 62, l. 2156. «That no man by the brigge.» There is no verb in the sentence. Perhaps we ought to read «that no man passe by the brigge», or, «that no man passe the brigge».

p. 63, l. 2191. Cf. the description of the giant in «Fierabras», ll. 4740–4755, and «Syr Ferumbras», ll. 4435–4441.

p. 63, l. 2199. «nolde not.» See note to l. 1096.

p. 64, l. 2225. The line is too long. «Wilde» can be dispensed with, and instead of «horses» we may read «hors»; cf. Skeat, Gloss. to «Prioress’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). «Magnelle» is the O.Fr. «Mangonel», or «Mangoneau», the Italian «manganello» (= “arbalist, cross-bow”). The latter is the diminutive form of «mangano», “a sling;” Greek, μαγγανον. See Diez, «Etym. Wörterb.», I. 261.

p. 64, l. 2238. «Cornel» or «carnel», 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 verb «carneler» or «creneler» signifying, “to carve out, to jag, to notch.” «Carnel» is derived from Latin «crena» (See Diez, «Gramm.», I. 14), which means “a notch, a cut, an incision” (Diez, «Etym. Wörterb.», II. 266). Thus «carnel» came 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. also «Syr Ferumbras», l. 3314.

p. 65, l. 2245. The line is too long. Perhaps «or he hit» may 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,” «al» is 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 prefix «for-» has intensive or augmentative power; it is particularly used in past participles. See Mätzner’s «Grammatik», I^2. 542.

p. 66, l. 2290. «faile» is 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. As «you» and «that» may 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 French «soûl» (Gloss. to Roxb. Club ed.), but from «soûlée».

p. 66, l. 2311. «yede» = “went.” Not from O.E. «eode», but from «ge-eode». See Zupitza’s note to «Guy», 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 the «Academy» of June 23, 1877 (vol. xi. p. 564, col. 1).

p. 66, l. 2313. We must scan this line thus:

And dídẹṇ it aboútẹ hem éverychón.

«-en» in «diden» is mute; see «Introduction», 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 pronounced «lafte», 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.
Et «a dit son conjur»: tota s’es desfermada.”
ll. 2757–60.

p. 68, l. 2365. The rhyme is restored if we read «ledde» instead of «ladde». See l. 1651.

p. 69, l. 2390. «By God and seynte Mary, myn avour.» I think the words «myn avoure» are due to the scribe, not to the author, as they spoil the rhythm. So we get «Mary» : «we». This rhyme, although not perfect, is of no rare occurrence in Mid. Eng. works, see «Introduction», p. xliv. As to the spelling of «avour» I am not aware of any other instance of this form of the word. There is a form «avyowre» cited by Halliwell. Besides, «avoury» and «avowery», which he quotes under different heads, are perhaps only different spellings of the same word.

p. 69, l. 2399. «slepinge» must be altered into «slepande» in order to restore the rhyme. The author employed «-and» and «-ynge» as terminations of the present participle. See «Introduction», p. xxxviii.

p. 69, l. 2421. «also» belongs to l. 2422.

p. 70, l. 2433. «so mete I spede», “as I may succeed.” See Zupitza’s note to «Guy», l. 615.

p. 71, l. 2477. «and now» is perhaps miswritten for «inow»; cf. the French text, l. 3803:

“«Tant» y a plates d’or, nus nes porroit nombrer.”

p. 71, l. 2482. «wast» gives no sense. Perhaps we ought to read «went».

p. 72, ll. 2491–2502. The arrangement of the stanzas seems, as regards the rhymes, to be incorrect.

p. 72, l. 2507. In the Ashmole «Ferumbras» this 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 French «Fierabras», 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 French «Fierabras» was the source of our poem. See «Introduction», p. xxx, and of «Fierabras», ll. 3957–3994, and «Syr Ferumbras», l. 4921.

p. 73, l. 2538. «wynde» : «hende»; «wende» which 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 of «wringe», “to press well out, force one’s way.”

p. 73, l. 2558. Does «thile» stand for «while», as «then», l. 2527, seems to be miswritten for «when»? Or is «thile» = the while?

p. 74, l. 2564. «sloughe» : «drowe». Read «slowe», as in ll. 2401, 2683, 304, 2208, etc.

p. 75, l. 2597. «itolde», “in number,” see Zupitza’s note to «Guy», 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». See «Introduction», p. xxxvii.

p. 76, l. 2651. «lurdeyn», Mod. Eng. «lurdan», which is said to be the Fr. «lourdin» (diminutive of «lourd»). 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.

p. 76, l. 2654. «sewes.» See Skeat, «Prioress’s Tale», p. 286.

p. 76, l. 2660. «let armes» makes no sense. Read «as armes»—«As armes» = Fr. «aux armes», “to arms,” is of pretty frequent occurrence in Mid. Eng. poems; see Mätzner’s «Wörterb.», p. 112. Cf. also «Syr Ferumbras», l. 2933:

“As armes,” þanne cride Rolond,
“As armes everychone!”

Cf. «ibidem», l. 4125. So we read in the «Destruction», l. 1460.

“Ore as armes, seignours, franc chevalier membré.”

Perhaps we ought to read «as armes» also in l. 491, where the reading «and armes» is somewhat suspicious, since «armes», if we regard «and armes» to be the true reading, would be the only instance of the imperative plural ending in «-es» (instead of «-eth») in the «Sowdan».

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 hadde
Gyfen suche grace to spede.”

p. 77, l. 2694. «alaye», written as one word in the MS., must be divided into two, «a» being the indefinite article, and «laye» meaning “unploughed ground, field, pasture, meadow.” Mod. Eng. «ley», «lea», «lay». See «Stratmann», s. v. «leȝe», p. 356.

p. 77, l. 2698. «he», “they.” This is the only instance of «he» instead of the common «thay». But «he», which is further confirmed by the rhyme, must certainly be attributed to the author; «thay» occurs only once [p129] (l. 3021) as a rhyme, but the rhyme is not a good one, and there also it would be preferable to read «he».

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 to «Guy», 163.

p. 78, l. 2719. «wole» : «skille». The rhyme shows that «wole» cannot be due to the author; we must read «wille» (or «welle» which occurs l. 2633).

p. 78, l. 2732. «bikure» or «bykeringe», 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 requires «leef» or «leeve». «leef», O.E. «leof», means “dear, beloved.” For examples of «leef» being 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 requires «late».

p. 81, l. 2810. «cliffe.» Here the author of the «Sowdan» goes 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 what «cliff» is here intended to mean. From the French «Fierabras» we 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.”

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 fou «auta de C pes» ses 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:

“Or oiés quel vertu Diex i vaut demonstrer
Por le roi Karlemaine, qui tant fait à douter.
Ançois que on ëust une liuée alé,
Veïssiés si Flagot engroissier et enfler,
Que par «desous la rive commence à seronder».”

Provençal, ll. 3741–45: [p130]

“Ara podetz auzir, si m voletz escoutar:
Tan bela meravilha li volc dieus demostrar
Per lo bon rey de Fransa que el volc tant amar;
Ans un trag de balesta pogues lunhs hom anar,
Pogratz vezer Flagot «sus la riba montar».”

(2) A deer appears and shows Richard the way across the river to the top of the opposite bank.

“Atant es vous .i. cerf, que Diex i fist aler,
Et fu blans comme nois, biaus fu à resgarder.
Devant le ber Richart se prent à demostrer,
Devant lui est tantost ens en Flagot entrés.
Li dus voit Sarrazins après lui aroutés,
S’il ot paour de mort ne fait à demander.
Après le blance bisse commencha à errer
Tout ainsi com ele vait, lait le ceval aler;
Et li ciers vait devant, qui bien s’i sot garder,
D’autre part à la rive se prent à ariver.”

Cf. also the Provençal version, ll. 3751–54:

“Apres la blanca bestia laycha ’l destrier anar.
E lo cer vay denan, que l saup mot ben guizar,
De l’autra part de l’aygua l’a fayt ben aribar,
«E dieus a fayt Flagot en son estat tornar».”

This bank which formerly was steep and inaccessible, but is now covered with water, is called «cliff» by our poet. In the Ashmolean poem the first miracle is not mentioned; cf. «Syr Ferumbras», ll. 3943, «et seq.»

p. 81, l. 2811. «he blessed him in Godis name.» The phrase occurs also in «Syr Ferumbras», l. 3961, but is not to be found in the French text. Mr. John Shelley (in his paper printed in the «Annual Report and Transactions» of the Plymouth Institution, IV. i. 71) took this phrase as a proof that the original of the «Sowdan» could not have been the French poem. But it must be stated that as in the «Sowdan», l. 2807, so in the French version Richard is said to have addressed a prayer to God:

“Escortrement commence Jhesu à reclamer:
Glorieus sire pere, qui te laissas pener
En la crois beneoite pour ton pule sauver,
Garisiés hui mon cors de mort et d’afoler,
Que je puisse Karlon mon message conter.”
«Fierabras», ll. 4360–64.

If now we consider that some lines back (l. 4093) the French poem expressively states that Richard seeing himself hard pressed by the Saracens, signed himself with the sign of the cross—

“Lors a levé sa main, de Jhesu s’est signiés”

an incident which at that moment is omitted in the «Sowdan»—we think ourselves entitled to regard this proof as not very convincing.

p. 81, l. 2820. «Ganelon», one of Charlemagne’s officers, who by his treachery was the cause of the defeat of Roncesvaux, the death of Roland, etc., for which he was torn to death by horses. For [p131] several centuries his name was a synonymous word with traitor. «Ganelo» = Germ. «Wenhilo».

p. 81, l. 2845. «Fremounde» cannot be the true reading, as it does not rhyme with «kinge». Besides «Fremounde» does not occur again in the poem. Perhaps we ought to read «Qwyntyne», as in l. 1298. In the corresponding passage of the French «Fierabras» (l. 4625) it is to St. Denis that Charles swears; cf. also «Syr Ferumbras», l. 4289.

p. 82, l. 2850. «And» makes no sense. Read “«God».”

p. 83, l. 2887. «gryse» : «assaye». We get a perfect rhyme if we read «gray» instead of «gryse». Halliwell, «s. v.» “gray,” has: “the skin or fur of a badger.”

p. 83, l. 2891. As it stands, the line does not rhyme with l. 2893. The rhyme will be restored if we read:

“«Lycence gete ye noone nere»,” or perhaps “«Lycence gete ye of me nere»,”

«nere» meaning «ne’er», «never», as in «Guy», 10550 and 10716.

p. 84, l. 2939. The name of the giantess is «Amiette» or «Amiote» in the other poems.

p. 84, l. 2941. This line is too long; «as þikke» may be omitted.

p. 84, l. 2942. «bydene», “immediately, all at once.” On the etymology see Zupitza’s note to «Guy», 2408.

p. 85, l. 2981. «ayene» means “back.” So in «Genesis and Exodus», l. 1097:

“And bodem hem and tagten wel
ðat here non wente agen.”

Again, l. 3267:

“ðo quoðen he ‘wende agen,
An israel folc lete we ben.’”

p. 86, l. 3020. As it stands, this line does not scan well. Perhaps we may read «month» instead of «monthes», and «childre» instead of «children», and scan the line thus:

Foúnd two chíldrẹ of séven month oólde.

p. 87, l. 3021. «thay» : «Normandy». The rhyme, though imperfect, cannot be objected to; but as the rhyme «e» : «y» («i») is frequently employed by our author (see «Introduction», p. xliv), and was of rather common use about that period (see Ellis, «Pronunciation», I. 271), we might incline to the supposition that «he» is the true reading. Cf. besides l. 2698.

p. 87, l. 3034. «mene» makes no sense. Perhaps we ought to read: «mete», “food.”

p. 87, l. 3044. In the French poem, l. 5108, Hoel and Riol are appointed governors of Mantrible, whereas Richard goes on with Charles and commands one of the divisions of his army (l. 5577). Cf. «Syr Ferumbras», l. 5643.

p. 88, l. 3062. «coost», “country, region.” See Mätzner’s «Wörterb.», 487.

p. 88, l. 3084. In the «Fierabras», l. 5374, it is Naymes who first recognizes the banner of France; cf. «Syr Ferumbras», l. 5209. [p132]

p. 89, l. 3098. «of the Ethiopes» = “some of the Ethiopians.” This may be regarded as an example of the partitive use of «of». Cf. Zupitza’s note to «Guy», 1961.

p. 89, l. 3103. «alto hewe» must be more correctly written «al to-hewe»;—«to-», as a mere prefix (signifying “in twain, asunder, apart” = Germ. «zer») belongs essentially to the verb; the intensive adverb «al» (= “utterly, omnino,”) used before verbs beginning not only with «to-», but also before other prefixes, still further strengthens, and belongs to, the whole expression. So «al to-treden», l. 1382, «to-braste», l. 1168.

p. 89, l. 3122. «Belmore.» Perhaps identical with Belmarine.

p. 90, l. 3130. «wode-wroth», “madly angry.” Cf. Skeat, «Specimens of Early Eng. Lit.», 80/37.

p. 90, l. 3141. «game», “sport, joke, affair.”

p. 90, l. 3154. «hat», “be called.” See note, l. 613.

p. 91, l. 3164. «bronde», “sword.” In the next line «bronte» means “blow, stroke.”

p. 91, l. 3189. «lande» : «commaunde». See note, l. 59.

p. 91, l. 3191. The rhyme is spoiled. Perhaps «than» must be transposed so that we get the rhyme «baptysed» : «imaryed».

p. 92, l. 3210. «there to abide in store» = “to be kept in store”; cf. Skelton, ed. Dyce, I. 162, 221.

p. 92, l. 3227. «victory» = “booty, spoils of victory, trophy.”

p. 92, l. 3232. «the hyer honde to have» = “to have conquered or vanquished.” The same phrase is found in M. H. G.; cf. Hartmann’s «Iwein», ed. Lachmann, l. 1537–8:

“Vrou Minne nam die obern hant,
daz sî in vienc unde bant.”

p. 93, l. 3236. In the French «Fierabras», l. 6082, «et seq.», and in the Provençal poem, l. 5067, «et seq.», the relics are distributed as follows: Part of the crown and one nail to St. Denis, and “«li signes»,” the winding-sheet of the Lord, to Compiègne. There is no mention made of the cross in the French poem (see note to l. 665); cf. Introd. pp. l and liv.

p. 93, l. 3253. According to the «Chanson de Roland», Ganelon has been drawn and quartered in a field near Aix-la-Chapelle.

p. 94, l. 3254. «By lawe», cf. «Syr Ferumbras», l. 307: “As for traytours ȝaf þe lawe.” On this law compare Léon Gautier’s note to l. 3736 of the «Chanson de Roland».

p. 95, l. 3274. The French poem ends with the assertion of the poet (or the scribe) that whoever has well listened to this romance will find every part of it good and excellent, the opening, the middle, and the end:

“De cest roumant est boine et la fin et l’entree,
Et enmi et partout, qui bien l’a escoutée.”

[p133]

GLOSSARY.

O.E. = Old English or Anglo Saxon. O.Fr. = Old French.
32/1094 = page 32, line 1094.

Abye, 32/1094, «vb.» to pay for, expiate. O.E. âbycgan.

adaunte, 28/957, «vb.» to subdue. Fr. danter, donter, dompter.

aferde, 39/1337, «pp.» afraid. O.E. âf[^æ]rde.

affrayned, 43/1495, «pt. s.» asked. O.E. frignan.

afraye, 26/896, «sb.» disturbance, fight.

agreved, 29/992, «pp.» aggrieved. Fr. aggrever.

alayned, 43/1497, «pt. s.» concealed, dissembled. Icel. leyna.

alle and some, 22/749, altogether, every one.

almiht, 38/1329, «adj.» «See note.»

ameved, 29/994, «pp.» moved.

amonge, 57/1994, «adv.» in the mean time, now and then, sometimes. «See note to» l. 1974.

aplight, 17/573, «adv.» certainly, indeed. «See note.»

areeste, 34/1166, «sb.» rest, support. O.Fr. arrest.

arson, 41/1410, «sb.» pommel. Fr. arçon.

aspied, 10/314, «pp.» espied. Fr. espier.

assaye, 83/2889, «sb.» value. Fr. essai.

assorte, 57/1997, «sb.» assembly, company. «See note.»

assoyled, 70/2455, «pt. pl.» absolved.

astraye, 16/532, «adv.» out of the right way, roving about without guidance.

astyte, 42/1456, «adv.» immediately.

asure, 5/134, «sb.» azure.

atame, 27/935, «vb.» to tame, subdue. O.E. âtamian.

atone, 32/1103, agree.

attones, 31/1067, at once.

avente, 36/1237, «vb.» to take breath. Fr. venter.

avoure, 69/2390, «sb.» protection, protectress.

avyse, 49/1716, «vb.» to consider, advise with one’s self. Fr. aviser.

awapide, 59/2057, «pp.» astounded, bewildered. «See note.»

ayene, 85/2981, «adv.» back.

Bandon, 19/636, «sb.» disposal.

bassatours (?), 29/995, «sb.» vavassors.

bawson, 2/52, «sb.» badger.

baye, 27/940, «sb.» recess, niche. «See note.»

beckyn, 3/64, «vb.» beckon. O.E. bêacnian.

bedight, 88/3070, «vb.» to dispose, to surrender, to send forth.

behight, 25/859, «pt. s.» promised. O.E. heht.

bende, 13/420, «vb.» to direct.

bente, 20/665, «adj.» bent, crooked.

benysone, 9/289, «sb.» blessing. Fr. benoison.

bette, 49/1716, «adv.» better.

bikure, 78/2732, «sb.» skirmish.

bispake, 5/165, «pt. s.» spoke with.

bistadde, 75/2616, «pp.» placed in peril, hardly bestead. Cf. O.E. stæððan. Dan. bestede.

biwry, 46/1580, «vb.» betray. O.E. biwrêgan.

bloo, 29/1005, «adj.» blue. Icel. blâr.

blynne, 70/2442, «vb.» to cease, stop. O.E. belinnan.

bobaunce, 7/211, «sb.» boasting.

boure, 54/1870, «sb.» a lady’s apartment, boudoir. O.E. bûr.

bowe, 53/1853, «sb.» bough, branch. O.E. bôg.

braide, 32/1098, «pt. s.» drew. O.E. brægd.

brayde, 8/247, «sb.» craft, deceit, artifice. «See note.»

breddes, 5/131, «sb.» birds. O.E. bridas.

broke, 57/1965, «vb.» to break.

bronte, 91/3166, «sb.» blow.

buskede, 31/1055, «pt. s.» prepared, arrayed. Icel. bûask.

by, 3/87, «vb.» buy, pay. O.E. bycgan.

bydene, 84/2942, immediately. «Originally» mid ene. «See note.»

bygone, 3/79, «pp.» afflicted. «See note.»

bykeringe, 74/2595, «sb.» skirmish.

by than, 10/344. «See note.»

Camalyon, 29/1008, «sb.» camel-leopard. «See note.»

carrikes, 4/118, a kind of large ship. «See note.»

caste, 12/394, «sb.» plan, stratagem; 60/2091, the throwing; 71/2471, missile. «See note to» l. 394.

ceased, 89/3109, «pt. s.» seized.

chaffer, 83/2885, «sb.» merchandise. O.E. cêap, faru.

charke, 51/1778, «vb.» to creak, crack. «See note.»

chek, 8/189, «sb.» a checkered cloth.

chere, 6/201, «sb.» demeanour, behaviour, humour.

chere, 80/2781, «sb.» friendliness, willingness.

chere, 87/3030, «adj.» pleased, merry.

chese, 49/1698, «vb.» to be free to choose. O.E. cêosan.

clepeth, 24/809, «pr. s.» calls.

clipped, 56/1935, «pt. pl.» embraced, hugged. O.E. clyppan.

clog, 46/1603, «sb.» “truncus,” block.

cloute, 58/2014, «sb.» blow.

combrest, 83/2909, «pr. s.» encumberest. Fr. combrer.

coost, 50/1721, «sb.» regard, account. «See note.»

cornell, 64/2238, «sb.» shaft of a pinnacle or battlement. O.Fr. carnell. «See note to» l. 2238, and compare Du Cange, «s. v.» quarnellus: “pinna muri per quam milites jaculantur.”

coude, 16/541, «pt. s.» knew.

counsail, 46/1590, secret.

Defouled, 7/233, «pp.» polluted. Cf. O.E. fŷlan, fûlian.

delte, 16/526, «pp.» dealt.

dere, 92/3202, «vb.» to harm, injure. O.E. derian.

derke, 73/2541, «adj.» dark.

dewe, 70/2452, «adj.» due.

dight, 79/2763, «pp.» dressed, prepared. O.E. dihtan.

dinge, 26/880, «vb.» to dash, beat. Cf. Icel. dengja.

dirke, 44/1539. «See note.»

dobbet, 33/1136, «pp.» dubbed. O.E. dubban. Fr. dober.

dome, 14/478, «sb.» glory.

don, 88/3078, «vb.» cause, order O.E. dôn.

donne, 11/347, «adj.» dun.

dowte, 9/297, «sb.» fear.

dradde, 36/1232, «pt. s.» feared. Cf. O.E. on-dr[^æ]dan.

dresse, 49/1702, «vb.» to direct one’s self, go, start. Fr. dresser.

dromonde, 3/63, «sb.» vessel of war.

dute, 30/1024, «sb.» duty. Deriv. of due, dewe. Fr. deu.

Egre, 29/1009, «vb.» to excite, to urge.

eke, 20/662, «adv.» also. O.E. êac.

engyn, 28/948, «sb.» a skilful contrivance. Fr. engin.

ensample, 27/931, «sb.» example.

entente, 16/550, «vb.» to turn one’s attention to, to try to get, to attempt.

entente, 28/945, «sb.» meaning, will, mind.

erille, 11/368, «sb.» earl.

erraunte, 5/139, quick, immediately.

eye, 80/2793, «sb.» egg. O.E. æg.

Fade, 20/678, «vb.» to dispose, to arrange, to set up (?).

fade, 30/1033, «adj.» weak, faint.

faste, 32/1086, «adv.» much, greatly.

fat, 90/3152, «sb.» Vat, tub. O.E. fæt.

fauchon, 76/2650, «sb.» a sword or falchion.

faye, 26/900, «vb.» truth, faith.

fele, 47/1619, «adj.» many.

felle, 29/1004, «adj.» fierce, furious.

felte, 41/1405, «pt. s.» made fall, killed.

fende, 92/3231, «pp.» defended, protected, granted.

fere, 36/1248, «sb.» fear. O.E. f[^æ]r.

fere, 44/1505, «sb.» companion. In fere, 31/1071, together.

fere, 2/59, «vb.» to terrify.

ferre, 4/103, «adv.» far.

fet, 91/3188, «pp.» fetched.

fille, 35/1210, «pt. s.» fell.

fleen, 88/3065, to flay. O.E. flêan.

folde, 71/1427, «pp.» felled, knocked down.

forcere, 66/2303, «sb.» chest, coffer. O.Fr. forcier.

for-famelid, 66/2282, «pp.» entirely famished.

foule, 77/2686, «vb.» foul luck, mischance.

fowarde, 15/502, 22/732, «sb.» vanguard.

frankensense, 20/679, «sb.» an odorous resin, pure incense.

fraye, 15/514, «vb.» to frighten, attack.

frike, 4/104, «adj.» quick, bold, active.

frith, 2/43, «sb.» enclosed wood.

froo, 79/760, «prep.» from.

fyne, 9/306, «sb.» end.

Game, 90/3141, «sb.» affair; 92/3199, pleasure. O.E. gamen.

gan, 16/549, «pt. s.» began.

gavylok, 41/1426, «sb.» a spear or javelin. O.E. gafoluc.

geaunesse, 84/2943 (?), «sb.» giantess.

geder, 45/1553, «vb.» to gather. O.E. gædrian.

glased, 35/1208, «pt. s.» glided. O.Fr. glacier. See Zupitza’s note to «Guy», l. 5067.

glede, 7/205, «sb.» a glowing coal, ember. O.E. glêd.

god, 3/67, «adj.» versed in, master of.

gome, 5/144, «sb.» man. O.E. guma.

gonge, 84/2934, «vb.» to go. O.E. gongan.

goulis, 6/189, «sb.» gules, a red colour. Fr. geules.

gray, 83/2887, «sb.» the fur of a gray, or badger. O.E. gr[^æ]g.

gree, 82/2850, «sb.» grace, favour. Fr. gré. Lat. gratum.

grenned, 84/2948, «pt. s.» grinned, roared. O.E. grennian.

grevaunce, 29/993, «sb.» grievance.

greved, 45/1543, «pt. s.» grieved, molested, troubled.

grith, 82/2850, «sb.» peace, agreement. O.E. grið.

gryse, 83/2887, «sb.» a kind of fur. Fr. gris.

guttis, 39/1351, «sb.» guts. O.E. gut.

gydoure, 5/163, «sb.» leader, guide.

gynne, 67/2326, «sb.» enginne, contrivance.

Harde, 59/2056, «pt. s.» heard.

hat, 90/3154, «vb.» to be called. O.E. hâtan.

he, 77/2698, «pron. nominat.» thay. O.E. hî.

heede, 62/2158, «sb.» head. O.E. hêafod.

hende, 73/2536, «adj.» gentle, polite. O.E. hendig.

hennys, 55/1922, «adv.» hence. O.E. heonan.

hente, 40/1370, «vb.» hold, take. O.E. hentan.

hie, 14/455, «sb.» haste.

hight, 18/613, «pt. s.» promised; 36/1242, art called. O.E. heht.

honde of honde, 12/394, in close fight.

hoole, 32/1119, «adj.» whole, sound. O.E. hâl.

hurle, 27/929, «vb.» to jostle, to strike. A contraction of «hurtle».

hurteled, 24/831, «pt. pl.» clashed against, jostled. Frequentative of «hurt». Fr. hurter, heurter.

hye, 32/1092, «sb.» haste.

I-fast, 58/2000, fixed.

ilkadele, 58/2016, every part. O.E. [^æ]lc, d[^æ]l.

ilke, 9/281, «adj.» same. O.E. ylca.

inowe, 25/854, «adv.» enough. O.E. genôh.

ishente, 66/2286, «pp.» destroyed. O.E. ge-scended.

istoke, 56/1963, «pp.» shut up, fastened. From steken. O.L.G. stecan.

istonge, 16/533, «pp.» stung, pierced. O.E. stungen.

it, 25/845, «vb.» to hit. Icel. hitta.

iwis, 3/71, «adv.» certainly, indeed. O.E. gewiss.

iwone, 11/358, «adj.» accustomed.

Japed, 75/2617, «pp.» mocked, laughed at. O.Icel. gabba.

jouste, 57/1991, «vb.» to joust, fight. Fr. jouster.

Kele, 93/3258, «vb.» to keel, cool. O.E. cêlan.

kind, 63/2196, «sb.» race, family.

kithe, 28/971, «vb.» to show, manifest. O.E. cŷðan.

kon, 66/2297, «prs. pl.» can.

kynde, 28/968, «sb.» nature, temper.

kynde, 2/42, «adj.» natural, inborn.

Lan, 15/516, «pt. s.» ceased, stopped. O.E. lan.

late, 71/2460, «pt. pl.» let, caused, ordered. O.E. lêt, l[^æ]ton.

launde, 2/59, «sb.» park, lawn.

laye, 77/2694, «sb.» lea, field. O.E. lêah. Cf. Water-«loo».

laye, 28/951, «sb.» law. O.E. lagu.

layne, 16/538, «pt. pl.» lay. O.E. l[^æ]gon.

lefe, 23/763, «vb.» leave, abandon, forsake. O.E. l[^æ]fan.

lefe-long, 24/832, «adj.» long, tedious.

legeeȝ, 23/775, leagues. Fr. lieue. O.Fr. legue. Lat. leuca.

leke, 50/1726, «sb.» leek. O.E. lêac.

lele, 33/1129, «adj.» leal, loyal. Fr. leal.

lenger, 72/2500, «compar.» longer.

lere, 66/2289, «sb.» countenance, complexion. O.E. hlêor.

lere, 74/2569, «vb.» to teach.

lered, 58/2005, «pp.» learned.

lerne, 33/1141, «vb.» to teach.

lese, 49/1683, «vb.» to loose. O.E. lêosan.

lette, 17/585, «vb.» leave off; 74/2610, to put a stop to, hinder, tarry. O.E. lettan.

leve, 23/794, «vb.» leave. O.E. l[^æ]fan; 30/1045, omit, neglect.

leve, 19/651, «vb.» live, remain. O.E. gelŷfan.

leven, 31/1050, «vb.» believe. O.E. lêfan.

lewde, 75/2601, «sb.» laymen, unlearned. O.E. l[^æ]wed.

light, 26/905, «adj.» active, nimble.

light, 33/1125, «pp.» alighted. O.E. lîhtan.

lithe, 81/1778, «sb.» limb, member. O.E. lið.

logges, 69/2399, «sb.» huts. Fr. loge.

longith, 28/951, «prs. s.» belongeth, becomes.

loute, 72/2513, «vb.» to stoop, bow down. O.E. lûtan.

lowly, 70/2454, «adv.» low, not loud.

lurdeynes, 76/2651, «sb.» lurdan, lout. Fr. lourdin.

lym, 59/2045, «sb.» limb.

lyued, 66/1261, «pt. pl.» lived.

Magre, 42/1442, «prep.» in spite of.

maistryes, 89/3117, «sb. pl.» mastery, proof of skill, combat.

manly, 29/989, «adj.» brave.

mayne, 16/528, «sb.» main, strength.

me, 9/287, «sb.» men, people, one.

meche, 6/179, «adj.» much. O.E. mycel.

mede, 31/1054, «sb.» meadow. O.E. m[^æ]d.

mede, 37/1289, «sb.» meed, pay. O.E. mêd.

medel, 73/2540, «vb.» meddle. O.Fr. mesler, mestler.

men, 4/115, «sb.» men, people, one.

menske, 28/972, «sb.» manliness, honour. O.E. mennisc.

mente, 51/1784, «vb.» to aim at, to intend to go. O.E. myntan. «See note to» l. 1604.

mervaylyth, 88/3066, «prs. s.» marvels, wonders. Cf. Fr. merveille.

mete, 47/1633, «sb.» food, repast.

meyne, 7/219, «sb.» host, company, retinue. O.Fr. maisniee.

mikille, 30/1016, «adj.» many. O.E. mycel.

moche, 15/505, «adj.» much.

mode, 29/1009, «sb.» mind, temper, courage. O.E. môd.

moolde, 5/136, «sb.» earth, worth. O.E. molde.

moone, 28/944, «sb.» moan, complaint. Cf. O.E. m[^æ]nan.

more, 23/777, delay. «See note to» l. 1110.

more, 29/1005, «sb.» moor, Maurian.

mot, 19/650, «vb.» may.

myghty, 56/1927, «adj.» «See the note.»

myrke, 45/1541, «adj.» dark. O.E. myrce.

Natheless, 15/506, «adv.» nevertheless.

nather, 36/1232, «adj.» nother.

ner, 13/416, «conj.» nor.

nere, 22/756, «adv.» near.

nerehond, 86/2998, «adv.» almost.

noght, 43/1497, «adv.» not.

noght, 78/2712, «sb.» nothing.

none, 32/1114, «sb.» noon.

nones, 3/74, «sb.» nonce, occasion.

nothinge, 6/175, not at all.

nothir, 8/267, «conj.» neither.

nought for than, 43/1483, nevertheless.

nyl, 17/585, «prs. s.» will not. O.E. nyle.