n *:m
#v m' '^: ■ '
•^«i 'ffi m
&;, f:
■Pt J
I'-'Z^R,
iw'
f'Or <\'
%
,^v^^^)NIV£RJ•/A
vV
\i\jjnij a«
>bi
I u H t f r r^. ^-^ .
^ |
§ 1 |
|
'^ |
' |
|
2 <: |
? 1 |
|
|>^ ,^ J |
||
^OF-CAUfO/?^ |
^ ^^^,F•IWlVF!?5'/, |
|
k |
i * |
■ |
m |
=> t £32 |
|
'-r» |
||
-T» |
C ^ |
|
:f:> |
ii: 3 |
UUJ t_3 |
^ |
,^ ^2 |
S |
-t5 |
V =o |
|
i |
'•;- |
|
,>r' |
%a3AiNn-3Wv |
/3-JCi- |
^— i^ |
,...^,.,.,-^.,. |
-'jujny :>ui'
-jaJAlNn-3V^
'i.'AiiVijair J '
iriCUTt) t >
^c Tum i.riv.
,t !mT)/>.nv/,
^ur.nin\,TPr.
\
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH
v^
HISTORICAL READER
OF
EARLY FRENCH
CONTAINING PASSAGES ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE
GROWTH OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE
FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE END OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY
BY
HERBERT A. STRONG, LL.D.
OFFICIER DE l'INSTRUCTION PUBLIQUe; PROFESSOR OF LATIN, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL
AND
L. D. BARNETT, M.A., D.Litt.
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MCMI
133805
Ail Rights reserved
• 8 ■ *
L r t c * * ' c <
M) PC
PEEFACE.
The object of this work is to give the student materials for following the development of Latin in its different stages into Old French, and of Old French into Modern French.
The basis of the French portion of the work is the Chrestomathie clu Moyen Age, edited by M. , Sudre, to reproduce which with an English trans- ^'•■lation and notes leave was obtained from Messrs ' Delagrave. But several new pieces have been in- . serted, and nianv notes have been added to those * furnished by M. Sudre. Use has been made 1- throughout of Korting's Bomanisches Worterhuch, of Darmesteter's Historical French Graminar, trans- ^' lated by Hartog (Macmillan), of Toynbee's Speci- mens of Old French, and of Brachet and Toynbee's Historical French Grammar. The other works which have been consulted are mentioned where references to them occur.
Much gratitude is due to A. P. Goudy, Esq., Salomon's Lecturer in Eussian at Cambridge Uni- versity, for aid given in the Notes on Old French, and especially for supplying parallel instances of the usage of words in Fiomance.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
PAGE
I. PERIOD OF EARLY AND CLASSICAL LATIN ... 1
II. POST-CLASSICAL LATIN OF GAUL . . . .20
III. DOMINANCE OF VULGAR LATIN . . . .33
IV. LATIN AND FRENCH . . . . .46
ILL USTRA TIVE PA SSA GES. EARLY FRENCH.
STRASBURG OATHS ..... 68
ST EULA.LIA ....... 70
VIE DE SAINT L1^:GER . . . . . .73
ELEVENTH CENTURY.
life of st alexis ...... 76
chanson de roland . . . . . .79
Charlemagne's pilgrimage . . . . ,91
mystJ:re d'adam ...... 99
VIU
CONTENTS.
TWELFTH CENTURY.
COURONNEMENT LOUIS THE WAGGON OF nImES ALESCHANS
KAOUL DE CAilBRAI . LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR ROMAN DE ROU \_^ LE CHEVALIER AU LION CRUSADE SONGS
104 112 118 123 129 134 140 145
THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
GAME OF ROBIN AND MARION. REFLECTIONS OF A HERBALIST LE MTSTERE DE LA PASSION . L'aVEUGLE ET LE BOITEUX THE MINSTREL OF REIMS
147
149 153 155 158
THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH CENTURIES.
JOINVILLE
r i'
161
FIFTEENTH CENTURY.
FARCE DE MAISTRE PIERRE PATHELIN GEOFFROY DE VILLEHARDOUIN HISTOKY OF WILLIAM THE MARSHAL
C''
167 173 178
CONTENTS. IX FROISSART (1337-1410).
LES SIX BOURGEOIS DE CALAIS . . , .182
PHILLIPE DE COMINES (1445?-1511).
DU CHATIMENT DES FAUTES DES GRANDS ET DES PRINCES . 187
SUR LES DERNIERS MOMENTS DE LOUIS XI. . . 189
APPENDIX . , . . . . .192
INDEX —
LATIN . ... . . . .197
FRENCH ....... 197
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
A.S. or Anglo-) Auglo-Saxon. Sax. )
Arab Arabic.
Eng Eiiglisli.
Fr French.
Ger German.
Goth Gothic.
Gr Greek.
Ital Italian.
Lat Latin.
Ijow Lat low Latin.
Medieval Lat.. ..medieval Latin.
M.H.Ger J middle High
( German.
Mod. Fr modern Frencli.
Mod. Ger modern German.
Mod. Gr modern Greek.
N.Fr Norman French.
N.H.Ger i "« '^ ^'S^' ^^'-
( man.
O.Fr old French.
O.Fiank. -. old Frankish.
O.H.Ger {"^^ ^'^^^ ^"^
I man.
O.Norse f old Norse or Nor-
I wegian.
Kuss Russian.
Span Spanish.
Brachet and Toynbee \ ^'^''^'''^ ^""^ Toynbee's Historical French
( Gramiiiar.
Ch. de R " Chanson de Roland."
Darm Darmesteter's Historical French Grammar.
K. or Korting Korting's Romanisches IVdrterbuch.
Toynbee, Spec Toynbee's Specimens of Old French.
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
INTRODUCTION.
I.
PERIOD OF EARLY AND CLASSICAL LATIN.
1.
Ale. Satin parva res est vol-
uptatum in vita atque in
aetata agunda praequain quod molestumst ?
ita quoique coraparatunist
in aetata homonum ; ita divis est placitum, volup-
tatem ut rnaeror conies
consequatur, quin incommodi [ut] plus
raalique ilico adsit, boni
si optigit quid, nam ego idnuncexperiordomo
atqua ipsa de me scio, (juoi
voluptas parumper datast dum viri
mei potestas videndi fuit
mi
'Tis a pretty small matter of pleasure we get in our life and our allotted span, com- pared with the trouble ! 'Tis so arranged in the life of man for each of us ; ay, such is the gods' will, that sorrow should follow hard on plea- sure—or rather indeed that all the more worry and vexa- tion should be on us straight for each stroke of good luck. Why, now I am making proof of this in my own case, and of my personal experience I know it ; for to me was granted for a brief while the plcnsure of being able to see
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
noctem unam modo ; atque is
repeiite abiit a me . . . liinc
ante lucem. sola hie niihi nunc videoi',
quia ille hinc abest quern
ego amo praeter omnes. aegri plus ex abitu viri quam
ex adventu voluptatis cepi. sed hoc me beat saltern, quom
perduellis vicit et domum laudis compos
revenit : id solaciost. absit, dum
laude parta domum recipiat se ; feram et
perferam usque abitum eius animo forti
atque offirmato, id modo
si mercedis datur mi ut mens victoi" vir
belli clueat, satis mi esse
ducam. virtus praemiumst optum-
um . . . virtus omnibus rebus anteit
profecto ; libertas salus vita res et
parentes patria [hac] et prognati tu-
tantur servantur : virtus omnia in sese habet,
omnia adsunt bona quem penest virtus. — Plautus, Ainphitruo, II. ii. 1-21.
my husband for one sole night — and in a trice he went off from me ere day- break. Here now I seem to myself to be all alone ; for he whom I love beyond all others is away. The bitter- ness I felt at my lord's de- parture was greater than the joy at his home-coming. But this thought at any rate cheers me ■ — he has van- quished his foes and come back full of glory. That is my consoling thought. I don't mind his being away, if only he can get home with his laurels ; I will bear — yes, bear even to the end — his departure with stout and constant heart, if only this much of reward be mine, that my husband be hailed as conqueror in war. I shall deem this enough. Valour is the greatest of guerdons ; valour goes before every- tluHg, in truth ; freedom, safety, life, fortune, and pa- rents by it are guarded, are saved. Valourincludes every- thing ; all goods are his in whom is valour.
Titus Maccius Plautus — an official name derived from Ms stage-name Maccus Plotus — was an Uiiibriau from Sarsina. Prac- tically nothing is known of his life. He is said to have com- menced authorsliip while working as a journeyman miller. He was boru about 250 B.C., and lived to a great age.
2. Q. Marcius L.f S[p.] Postumius L.f. cos. senatimi conaoluerunt n. Octob. apud
2. Quintus Marcius son of Lucius and Spurius Postum- ius son of Lucius, Consuls,
PERIOD OF EARLY AND CLASSICAL LATIN.
aedem Duelonai. Sc(ribendo) arf(uerunt) M. Claudi(us)M.f. L. Valeri(us) P.f. Q. Miiiuci- (us) C.f.
De Bacanalibus quel foide- ratei esent ita exdeiceiiduni censuere —
Nei quis eorum Bacanal habuise velet. Sei ques esent quei sibei deicerent necesua ese Bacanal habere, eeisutei ad pr(aetorem) urbanem Eom- am venirent deque eeis rebus ubei eorum verba audita esent utei senatus deceriieret, dum ne minus senatoribus C ade- sent [quom e]a res cosoleretur. Bacas vir nequis adiese velet ceivis Eomanus neve nomin- U3 Latini neve socium quis- quam, nisei pr(aetorem) ur- banum adiesent isque [d]e senatuos sententiad, dum ne minus senatoribus C adesent quom ea res cosoleretur, iousi- set. Ce[n]suere. (Corpus In- scr. Lat. 1. 196.)
consulted the Senate on the Nones of October at the temple of Bellona. Witnes- ses of the drafting were Mar- cius Claudius son of Marcus, Lucius Valerius sou of Pub- lius, and Quiiitus Minucius son of Gaius.
With regard to Bacchic rites, it was proposed to make the following announcement to those in association : —
None of them shall hold a Bacchic lite. If there be any who declare a need to hold a Bacchic rite, they shall come to Rome before the Urban Prfetor, and on the matti r the Senate shall decide after hearing their statements, pro- vided there be present not fewer than one hundred Sen- ators while the matter is under discussion. No person, whether Roman citizen, or member of the Nomen Latin- um, or one of the Allies, shall approach a Bacchante, unless lie approach the Urban Prae- tor and the latter give per- mission on tlie advice of the Senate, provided there be present not fewer than one hundred Senators while the matter is under discussion. The resolution was passed.
This law wa.s pa.ssed 186 B.C., to suppress the licence of Bacchic rites, wliich were finding their way into Italy.
3. M. Cicero S. D. Volum- nio.
Quod sine piaenomine fam- iliariter ut debebas ad me epistulam misisti, prinnim addubitavi num a Volumnio
3. M. Cicero to Yolumimix Greeting.
You sent me a letter with the friendly and proper omis- sion of my first name ; and this at first led me to doubt whether it was from Volum-
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
senatore esset, quocimi mihi est inagmis iisus ; deinde fvrpaiTtAla litterariim fecit ut intellegeveni tuas esse ; qni- bus in litteris omnia per- iiieunda fuerunt praeter illud, quod parum diligenter posses- sio salinavum mearum a te procuratore defenditur ; ais enim, ut ego discesserim, omnia omnium dicta, in eis etiam Sestiana, inme conferri. quid ? tu id pateris 1 non me defendis ? non resistis 1 equi- dem sperabam ita notata me reliquisse genera dictorum meorum ut cognosci sua sponte possent ; sed quoniam t;inta faex est in urbe ut nihil tam sit aKveripov quod non alicui venustum esse videatur, pugna, si me amas, nisi acuta a/Kpi^oXla, nisi elegans inrepfioX-fj, nisi irapdypa/xfia Lellum, nisi rid- iculum Trap^ irpoffSoKiav, nisi cetera quae sunt a me in secundo libro De Oratore per Aiitonii personam disputata de ridiculis evTexva et arguta apjjarebunt, ut sacramento contendas mea non esse. nam, de iudiciis quod quer- eris, multo laboro minus : trahantur per me pedibus omnes rei : sit vel Selius tam eloquens lit posset probare se liberum ; non laboro. ur- banitatis possessionem amabo quibusvis interdictis defend-
nius the Senator, for he and I are ck)se friends ; but then the esprit of the letter showed me it was j'ours. T was highly pleased witli all its contents, except one item : the tenure of my wit-mines is being defended under your agency with insufficient care, for you tell me that since my departuie every good saying of everybody — and among them even those of Sestius — is ascribed to me. What ? You tnleiate this 1 You don't defend me ? You don't stand up against it? Upon my word, I thought I had left the types of my witticisms so well- hall- marked that they could be recognised of themselves. Bat since the canaille in town is so numerous that nothing, however much de mauvais gout, fails to strike somebody as tasteful, fight, if you love me — fight by maintaining on your oath that they are none of mine uidess there appear in them a pointed dovble entente, a graceful s2irc7-oU, a neat jeii de mots, a laughable surprise, or the I'est of the tou7's de mdthode and smartnesses handled by me in the sec- ond book of my De Oratore in treating the Laughable with Antonius as my mouth- jiiece. As to your complaints about the law-courts, I am much less concerned. For what I care, all the defen- dants may go hang ; even Selius may speak well enough to prove himself a freeman ; I (lon't care. But pray let ua defend with every possible
PERIOD OF EAELY AND CLASSICAL LATIN.
amus ; in qua te unum metuo, contemno ceteros. derideri te putas : nunc demum intellego te sapere. sed mehei'cules extra iocuni : valde mihi tuae litterae facetae elegantesque visae sunt. ilia quamvis ridicula essent sicut erant mihi tamen risum non move- runt ; cupio enim nostrum ilium amicum in tribunatu quam plurimum habere gra- vitatis : id cum ipsius causa — est mihi ut scis in amori- bus — turn mehercule etiam rei p. quam quidem, quamvis in me ingrata sit, aniare non desinam. tu, mi Volumni, quoniam et instituisti et mihi vides esse gratum, scribe ad me quam saepis- sime de rebus urbanis, de re 25. : iucundus est mihi sermo littei-arum tuarum. praeterea Dolaliellani, quem ego per- spicio et iudico cupidissimum esse atque amantissimum mei, cohortare et confirma et redde plane meum, non mehercule quo quicquam de- sit, sed quia valde cupio non videor nimium laborare. (Cic- ero, Ad Famil. vii. 32.)
caveat our tenure of wit ; on this ground I fear only you, the rest I despise. You think I am laughing at you 1 Well, now I pei'ceive your intelligence. But, on my word, jesting apart, your let- ter struck me as extremely witty and graceful. What you say, however laughable it might be, as indeed it was. nevertheless did not draw a smile from me ; for I am anx- ious that our friend should have as much influence as possible in his tribunate ; this not only for his own sake — as you know, he is one of my pets — but also for the sake of our country, which I shall never cease to love, however thankless it may be towards me. Pray, my dear Volumnius, since you have set yourself to it and you see I appi'eciate it, write to me as often as you can about the doings in town, and about the government : the conver- sation of your letters is pleas- ing to me. Furthermore, you must encourage Dolabella, whom I see through and judge to be strongly inclined towards me and deeply at- tached ; you must strengthen him and make him wbolly mine — not indeed that there is anything lacking, but the strength of my desire makes me think I don't overdo my efforts.
Marcus Tiillius Cicero, born 106 B.C. at Arpimnu, made his cUbtLt as a barrister in the year 80. lu 63 he became Consul. His at- tempts to buttress uj) tlie totter- ing republican constitution by a
6
HISTOIIICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
4. Euoharis Liciniae L(ib- erta) docta erodita omnes ar- tes virgo vixit an(nos) xiiii.
Heus oculo errante quei as-
picis leti domus morare gressum et titulum
nostrum perlege, amor j^arenteis quern dedit
natae suae ubei se reliquiae conlocarent
corporis, lieic viridis aetas cum floreret
artibus crescente et aevo gloriam con-
scenderet, properavit hora tristis fatalis
mea et denegavit ultra veitae spir-
itum. docta erodita paene Musarum
manu, quae modo nobilium ludos
decoravi choro et graeca in scaena prima
populo apparui, en hoc in tumulo cinerem
nostri corporis infistae Parcae deposierunt
carmine. Btudium patronae, cura amor
laudes decus
coml (illation of the capitalist Equites with the Patricii were cut short by his banishment in 58, due to Clodius. Restored in 57, he was henceforth politically in the shade until the murder of Julius Caesar in 44, through which he became the mouthpiece of the Senatorial policy. On the forma- tion of the Triumvirate in 43 he was assassinated.
4. Eucharis, freed woman of Licinia, a maid cultured and trained in all the arts, lived fourteen years.
Oh, you who with wan- dering eye regard the homes of death, delay your step and study my storied stone, be- stowed by a father's love upon a daughter that the rel- ics of her body might there be deposited. Here, while youth's freshness was lush in my limbs and was rising through age's increase into honour, the sad hour of my doom came premature and denied me further breath of life. Cultured and trained as it were by the very Muses' hand, but a little time ago I embellished with choirs the nobles' games, and was first of them that stand before the people on the Greek stage : and now, lo ! the unkind Fates with their charm have laid in this tomb the ashes of my body. My mistress's in- terest, care, love, pivaise, hon- our, are hushed over the
PERIOD OF EARLY AND CLASSICAL LATIN.
silent ambusto corpore et leto
tacent. reliqui fletum nata genitori
meo et antecessi genita post leti
diem, bis hie septeni mecum natal es
dies teuebris tenentur Ditis ae-
terna domu. rogo ut discedens terram mihi
dicas levem. (C.I. L., i. 1009 : vi. 10,096.)
5. Et mihi discendi et tibi docendi facultatem otium praebet. igitur perquam velim scire esse phantasmata et habere propriam figuram numenque aliquod putes an inania et vana ex metu nos- tro imaginem accipere. ego ut esse credam in primis eo ducor quod audio accidisse Curtio Rufo. tenuis adhuc et obscurus obtinenti Afri- cam conies haeserat : in- clinato die spatiabatur in ])orticu : offertur ei mulieris figura humana grandior pul- chriorque : perterrito Afri- can! se, futurorum praenun- tiam, dixit : iturum enim Romam honoresque gestur- um atque etiam cum sum- mo iniperio in candem ])ro- vinciam reversurum ibique moriturum. facta sunt om- nia, praeterea accedenti Carthaginem egrcdienti<jue nave eadem figui-a in litore
burnt corpse, silent before death. I bequeathed tears to my father, and though younger preceded his day of doom. Twice seven birth- days are here encompassed with me in darkness, in the ageless hall of Dis. I beg you in departing to bid the earth be light for me.
Epitaph on a young actress, from Rome ; date about the middle of the 1st century B.C.
5. Our leisure gives facili- ties for learning to me, and for teaching to you. So I par- ticularly want to know if you believe that ghosts exist and possess a special form and some supernatural power, or that empty and idle fancies take bodily shape through our terrors. I am led to believe in their existence mainly from what I hear befell Curtiu.s Rufus. When still poor and unknown he had remained as companion with the governor of Africa. At the close of day he was taking a stroll in the portico when a woman's form, taller and fairer than that of a mortal, appeared to him. She told the terrified list- ener that she was Africa, and proj)hesied his future : he was destined to go to Rome and hold office, to return moreover in the highest command to the same province, and there to die. It all came true. Be- sides this, as he was ap- proaching Carthage and dis- embarking from his ship,
HISTOEICAL HEADER OF EARLY FRENCH.
occurrisse narratur. ipse certe inplicitus morbo, fii- tura praeteritis, adversa se- cundis auguratus, spem sal- utis nullo suorum desperante proiecit. iam illud nonne et magis terribile et non minus mirum est quod exponam ut accepi 1 erat Atlienis spa- tiosa et capax domus sed in- famis et pestilens. per silen- tium noctis sonus ferri et si attenderes acrius strepitus vinculorum longius prirao, deinde e proximo reddeba- tur : mox apparebat idolon, senex macie et squalore con- fectus, promissa barba, hor- renti capillo ; cruribus com- pedes mauibus catenas gere- bat qnatiebatque. inde in- liabitantibus tristes diraeque noctes per metum vigila- bantur : vigiliam morbus et crescente formidine mors sequebatur. nam interdiu quoque, quamquam absces- serat imago, memoria ima- ginis oculis inerrabat, longi- orque causis timoria timor erat. deserta inde et dam- nata solitudine domus to- taque illi monstro relicta : proscribebatur tamen seu ([uis eniere seu quis con- ducere ignarus tanti mali
the same form, they say, met him. It is a fact that he himself at the tinie was in the cbitches of disease, and drawing from prosperity in the past his forecast of ad- versity in the future, he gave up hopes of recovery, though none of his people despaired. Now is not this case — which I shall narrate as I heard it — still more awe - inspiring and no less amazing ? There was in Athens a house, large and roomy, but of evil repu- tation and unhealthy. In the dead of night there used to be heard a din of iron, and, if one listened more carefully, a clanking of chains, first at a distance and then close at hand. Next would appear the ghost, an old man, emaciated and grimy, with a long beard and bristling hair. He wore and clanked on his legs fetters and on his hands manacle.s. So dwellers here passed dismal and fearsome niglits in terrified watching ; their sleeplessness was fol- lowed by sickness, and, as the alarm increased, by death. For even by day, though the phantom had vanished, recol- lections of it haunted their sight, and their fears out- lasted the causes of their fears. So the house was deserted and condemned to loneliness ; it was entirely abandoned to the Horror. Nevertheless it was adver- tised, if any one in ignorance of its awful curse wanted to buy or hire it. There came to Athens a philosopher Athenodorus. He read the
PERIOD OF EARLY AND CLASSICAL LATIN.
9
vellet. venit Athenas phil- osophus Athenodorus, legit titulum, auditoque pretio quia suspecta vilitas per- cunctatus omnia docetur ac nihilo minus, immo tanto magis conducit. ubi coepit advesperascere iubet sterni sibi in prima domus parte, poscit pugillares stilum lumen ; suos omnes in in- teriora dimittit, ipse ad Hciibendum animum oculos manum intendit, ne vacua mens audita simulacra et inanes sibi metus fingeret. initio, quale ubique, silen- tiura noctis ; dein concuti ferrum, vincula moveri : ille non tollere oculos, non re- mittere stilum, sed offirmai-e animum auribusque praeten- dere. turn crebrescere fra- gor, adventare, et iam ut in limine, iam ut intra limen audiri. respicit, videt agnos- citque narratam sibi effigiem. stabat innuebatque digito similis vocanti. hie contra ut paulum exspectaret manu significat rursusque ceris et stilo incumbit. ilia scri- bentis capiti catenis insona- bat. respicit rursus idem quod prius innuentem, nee moratus tollit lumen et se-
advertisement. On learning the price he made inquiries, as its cheapness was suspi- cious, and was informed of the whole story. None the less, or rather all the more readily, he hired it. As evening began to close in he ordered a couch to be pre- pared for him in the front part of the house, called for his note-book, his pencil, and a light, and sent away all his people into the inner cliambers, while he himself applied mind, eyes, and hand to writing,, so that the un- employed fancy should not conjuie up before him hear- say phantoms and empty terrors. At first, night's silence prevailed as usual ; then iron began to clank, fetters to move. He did not raise his eyes nor put by his pencil, but steeled his mind and opposed it to his hearing. Then the din grew louder. It drew nearer, and was heard, as it were, first on the threshold, and then within the tlu'eshold. He turned his head and saw ; he lecognised the phantom de- scribed to him. It stood there and beckoned with a finger, as though summoning him. He on the other hand ordered it with a gesture to wait a while, and applied himself anew to his note- book and pencil. It began to rattle its chains over the writer's head. Looking jound again, he saw it beckoning as before. With- out more ado he took up the light and followed. It walked with a slow step, as
10
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
quitur. ibat ilia lento gradu quasi gravis vinculis ; post- quam deflexit in aream do- mus repente dilapsa deserit comitem. desertus herbas et folia concerpta signum loco ponit. postero die adit magistratus, monet ut ilium locum effodi iubeant. inven- iuntur ossa inserta catenis et inplicita quae corpus aevo terraque putrefactum nuda et exesa reliquerat vinculis : collecta publice sepeliuntur. domus postea rite conditis manibus caruit. et haec quidem adfirmantibus credo ; illud adfiruiare aliis possum, est libertus mihi non inlitter- atus. cum hoc minor frater eodem lecto quiescebat. is visus est sibi cernere quen- dam in toro residentem ad- moventemque capiti suo cul- tros atque etiam ex ipso vertice amputantem capillos. ubi inluxit ipae circa verti- cem tonsus, capilli iacentes reperiuntur. exiguum tem- poris medium, et rursus simile aliud priori fidem fecit. puer in paedagogio mixtus i^luribus dormiebat. venerunt per fenestras, ita narrat, in tunicis albis duo cubantemque detonderunt et
though weighed down by its chains. After turning into the courtyard it suddenly vanished, and left its com- ])anion alone. Thus left to himself, he plucked some grass and leaves and laid them down to mark the spot. The next day he went to the magistrates and advised them to order the place to be dug up. Bones were found locked and confined in chains ; the flesh, wasted by time and the action of the earth, had left them bare and gnawed by the fetters. They were collected and officially buried. After this the spirit, having received due sepulture, did not appear in the house. The avouchers of these tales I believe. Here is one that I can avouch to others. I have a fairly well educated freedman. With him his younger brother was sleeping in the same bed. This person ima- gined he saw some one seat himself on the bed, api)ly razors to his head, and actually cut off hair from his crown. At daybreak he himself was found to be shorn about the crown of the head, and his hair to be lying by. A little while elapsed, and a second like event proved the truth of the former. A lad was sleeping with several others in the pages' hall. Through the windows, he says, came two figures in white tunics, cropped his hair as he lay there, and withdrew by the way they had come. L>ay- break displayed him too
PERIOD OF EARLY AND CLASSICAL LATIN.
11
qua venerant recesserunt. hunc quoque tonsum spar- sosque circa capillos dies ostendit. nihil notabile se- cutum, nisi forte quod nou fui I'eus, futurus si Domi- tianus, sub quo haec accide- runt, diutius vixisset. nam in scrinio eius datus a Caro de me libellus inventus est ; ex quo coniectari potest, quia reis moris est summittere ca- ])illum, recisos meorum ca- pillos depulsi quod immine- bat periculi signum fuisse. proinde rogo eruditionem tuam intendas. digna res est quam diu multumque consideres, ne ego quidem indignus cui copiam scientiae tuae facias, licet etiam ut- ramque in partem, ut soles, disputes, ex altera tamen fortius, ne me suspensum incertumque dimittas, cum mihi consulendi causa fuerit ut dubitare desinerem. vale. (Pliny, Epistles, vii. 27.)
with a shorn head and the liair scattered around him. Nothing worth mentioning followed, except, perhaps, that I was not accused of treason, as I should have Ijeen if Domitian, in whose reign this liappened, had lived longer ; fur in his desk was found a charge - sheet I'elating to me, which Cams liad given in. Hence one may conjecture, as it is usual with the accused to let their liair grow, that the shaving uf my people's hair was a token of the removal of the threatening dangei\ So pray set your learning to work. The matter is one that de- serves long and deep study on your part ; and I too am not unworthy to receive the benefit of your know- ledge. You may indeed, after your wont, support both sides with arguments ; only support one more vigor- ously than the other, so as not to send me away in sus- pense and uncertainty, when the very reason of ray con- sulting you was the wish to be put out of doubt.
Gaius Plinius CiEcilius Sec- uudus was born 62 a.D. at Novum Conium. A distiuguislied poli- tical career culminated in his consulate (a.D. 100), and his administration as imperial legate of Bithynia (about 112).
6. e.
{(i) Admirer o pariens te non («) I marvel, AVall, you have
cecidisse [ruini.s] not tumbled in ruin, since
qui tot scriptorum ta[e- so many writers inflict
d]ia sustineas. themselves upon you.
12
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
(b) Ubi periia cocta est si
convivae ajjponitur, non gustat pernam, liiigit ollam aut cac- cabum.
(c) Quis([uis amat veniat ;
Veueri volo fningere
costas fustibus et lunibos de-
bilitaie deae. si pot[iH] ilia niihi ten-
erum pertundere pec- tus, qu[r] ego non possini
caput ill[i] frangere
f uste ?
7. Is finis nobis et ser- monis et itineris communis fuit. Nam comites utrique ad villulam proximam laevor- sum abierunt. ego veio quod primum ingressu stab- ulum conspicatus sum, ac- cess! et de quadam anu cau- pona ilico percontor : estne, inquam, Hypata liaec civitas ? annuit. nostine Milonem quendam e primoribus ? arrisit et vere, inquit, pri- mus istic perhibetur Milo qui extra pomoerium et urbem totam colit. remoto, inquam, ioco, parens optima, die oro et cuiatis sit et quibus deversetur aedibus. videsne, inquit, extremas fenestras quae foris urbem prospiciunt et altrinsecus fores proximum resjoicientes
(b) If when a ham has been cooked it is set before the guest, he does not taste the ham, but licks the pot or saucepan.
(c) Let any lover come on ; I want to pound Venus' ribs with a cudgel and knock up the goddess' loins. If she can dig through my soft breast, why should not I be able to break her head with a cudgel ?
Verses scribLled on the walls of Pompeii (C.I.L. iv. 1904, 1896, 1824).
7. So ended our chat and our journey iti common; for both companions turned oif towards the left to the near- est homestead. As for my- self, I went up to the very first outhouse that met my eye on entering and straight- way asked an old woman who kept a tavei^n there, " Is tills city Hypata ? " She nodded. " Do you know Milo, one of the leading cit- izens?" She smiled. "Milo," she said, " is truly accounted a leading citizen there, when he lives outside the city boun- dary and the whole town." "Jesting apart," said I, " pray tell me, good mother, whei'e he comes from and in which house he lodges." "Do you see those farthest windows," quoth she, " which look forward towards the town from witliout, and on the other side the door back-
PERIOD OF EARLY AND CLASSICAL LATIN.
13
angiportiim ? inibi iste Milo deversatur ampliter mim- matus et loiige opulentus, verum extremae avaritiae et sordis infimae infamis homo, fenus denique copiosum sub airabone auri et argenti creb- riter exercens, exiguo lare inclusus et aerugini semper intentus ; cum uxore etiam calamitatis suae comite hab- itat, neque praeter unicam pascit ancillulam et habitu mendico semper incedit. ad haec ego risu subicio, ben- igne, inquam, et prospicue Demeas meus in me con- suhiit, qui peregrinatorem tali viro conciliavit, in cuius hospitio nee fumi nee nidoris nebulam vererer. et cum dieto modico secus progres- sus ostium accedo et ianuam firmiter oppessulatam pul- sare vocaliter incipio. tan- dem adulescentula quaedam procedens, heus tu, inquit, qui tam fortiter fores verb- erasti, sub qua specie mutu- ari cupis ? an tu solus ignoras praeter aurum argentumque nullum nos pignus admittere? meliora, inquam, ominare et potius responde an intra aedes erum tuum offenderim plane, inquit ; sed quae causa quaestionis liuius ? litteras ei a Corintho Demea sciiptas ad eum reddo. dum annuntio, inquit, hie ibidem me opper- iiiiinor. et cum dicto rursum foribus oppessulatis se intro
ing into the neighbouring alley ? That is where your Milo lodges — a man well nroneyed and monstrous sub- stantial, but in discredit for his ])iodigious greed and outrageous meanness ; a man too who constantly practises on a big scale usury on depos- its of gold and silver, confining himself in a narrow dwelling and brooding always over the rust of his cash. He lives with a wife who shares alike in his plight ; he keeps but one maid, and always goes about in the garb of a beggar." To this I replied with a smile, " My friend Demeas has kindly and con- siderately studied my inter- ests by Ijringing me in my pilgrimage to a man under whose roof I need apprehend reek neither of smoke nor of kitchen odours."
After this conversation I walked a little way onwai'ds and approached the doorway. The door was sti'ongly barred ; I began to knock on it, shouting the while. At length a young woman came forth, and said, " You, sir, who have been knocking so confidently at the door, what is your claim for desir- ing to raise a loan ? Or are you the only man who does not know that we accept noth- ing as a pledge but gold and silver?" " Don't talk so ominously," said I ; " tell me rather whether I have found your master at home." "Cer- tainly," said she ; " but what's your reason for ask- ing this?" "lam bringing him letters from Corinth
14
HISTORICAL READEK OF EARLY FRENCH.
capessivit. raodico deinde regressa patefactis foribiis, rogat te, inquit. intuli me eumque accubantem exiguo admodum grabatulo et com- modum cenare incipientem in- venio. adsidebat pedes uxor et niensa vacua posita, cuius monstratu, en, inquit, hos- pitium. bene, ego ; et ilico ei litteras Denieae trado. quibus properiter lectis, amo, inquit, nieum Demean qiii mihi tantuui conciliavit hos- pitem. et cum dicto iubet uxorem decedere utque in eius locum assidam iubet, meque etiam nunc vere- cundia cunctantem arrepta lacinia detrahens, adside, in- quit, istic. nam prae metu latroiium nulla sessibula ac ne sufficientem supellectilem parare nobis licet, feci, et sic, ego te, inquit, etiam de ista corporis speciosa habit- udine deque hac vii-ginali prorsus verecundia generosa stirpe proditum et recte con- icerem. sed et mens Demeas eadem litteris pronuntiat. ergo brevitatem gurgustioli nostri ne spernas peto. erit tibi adiacens et ecce illud cubiculum honestum recep- taculum. fac libenter dever- seris in nostro. nam et maiorem domum dignatione tua feceris et tibi specimen gloriosum arrogaris si con- tentus lare parvulo Thesei illius cogiiominis patria tui
which Demeas has written to him." " Wait for me here on the spot, the pair of you," .said she, " wliile I announce you. " With these words she barred the doors again, and withdrew into the house. Returning shoitly after, she opened the door and said, " He asks you in." I entered, and found him reclining on the tiniest of couches and just beginning dinner. At his feet his wife was sitting ; an empty table stood by, pointing to which he said, " Here is our hospitality ! " " Excuse me," said I, and forthwith handed him the letter of Demeas. He read it swiftly and said, " I am obliged to my friend Demeas for bringing to me a guest of such importance." So saying, he dismissed his wife and bade me sit down in her place by him. As I still from modesty hesitated, he seized me by the lappel and drew me down, saying, " Sit by me there — for we can't get chairs, or even sufficient furniture, from fear of burg- lars." I did so. Thereupon he said, " Even from this comely appearance and quite maidenly modesty of yours, I should guess you, and rightly too, to be a scion of some noble stock ; but my friend Demeas too makes the same statement in his letter. So I beg you won't despise the narrowness of our poor cabin. You will find yonder adjoin- ing chamber a decent lodg- ing. I hope you'll enjoy yourself with us ; for you will make our hotise the
PERIOD OF EARLY AND CLASSICAL LATIN.
15
virtu tes aemulaveris, qui non est aspernatus Hecales anus hospitium tenue. et vocata ancillula, Fotis, inquit, sar- cinulas hospitis susceptas cum fide conde in illud cub- iculum ac simul ex promp- tuario oleum unctui et lintea tersui et cetera huic eidem Usui profer ociter, et hos- pitem meum produc ad prox- imas balneas ; satis arduo itinere atque prolixo fatigatus est. (Apuleius, Metamorph. I. xxi.-xxiii.)
greater by your condescen- sion, and you will be aljle to claim honour as an example if you rival the virtues of Theseus, your father's name- sake, who did not despise old Hecale's scanty hospitality." Then, summoning the maid, he said, " Fotis, take my guest's iuorgage and bestow it carefully into that bed- room, and at the same time bring out at once from the store-room oil for anointing him, towels for drying him, and other things for the same purpose ; then show my guest to the nearest baths. After his really toil- some and tedious journey he is worn out."
8. Erant in quadam civi- tate rex et regina. hi tres numero filias forma conspic- uas habuere. sed maiores quidem natu quamvis gra- tisshna specie idonee tamen celebrari posse laudibus hu- manis credebantur, at vero puellae iunioris tam prae- cipua, tam praeclara i)ul- chritudo nee exprimi ac ne sufficienter quidem laudari sermonis humani penuria po- terat. multi denique civium et advenae copiosi, quos ex- iraii spectaculi rumor studi- osa celebritate congregabat, inaccessae formositatis ad- miratione stupidi, et admo- ventes oriVjiis suis dexteram, piimore digito in erectum pollicem residente, ut ipsani prorsus deam Venerem re-
8. In a ceitain country there lived a king and a queen. They had daughters three in number, of striking beauty. But while it was thought that the two eld- es*-, exquisite as were their charms, still were not be- yond the possible scope of mortal praise, the loveliness of the youngest was so uniijue, so transcendent, as to sur- pass description and even reasonable laudation fi'om sheer poverty of human lan- guage. Now there were many of her countrymen and nu- merous strangers who were banded by the fame of the rare vision in eagei' crowds ; dumb with admiration of her unapproachable loveliness, and applying their right hands to their mouths with the finger - tip closed down on the raised thumb, they adored her with the saluta-
16
HISTOEICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
ligiosis a(](ii'ationil)us venera- bantur. iauique proximas civitates et attiguas regiones fama jjervaserat, deam quam caerulum profundum pelagi peperit et ros spumantium fliictuum educavit iani nu- minis sui passim tributa venia in mediis conversari populi coetibus, vel certe rursum novo caelestium stel- larum germine non maria sed terras Venerem aliam virginali flore praeditam pul- lulasse. (lb., iv. xxviii.)
9. Aeliae AeUa\jiae\.
Littera qui nosti lege casum
et d[ole puellam f\. multi sarcophagum dicunt
quod cous[umit artus ?] ; set conclusa decens apibus
domus ista [vocanda]. o nefas indignum ; iacet hie
praeclara puella. hoc pUis quam dolorest ; rapta
est specios[a puelia]. pervixit virgo ubi iam matura
placebat ; nuptias indixit, gaudebant
vota parentes.
tioiis of religion as the god- dess Venus lierself. Ere long the rumour liad penetrateil the neighbouring states and adjacent lands that the god- dess born from the azure abyss of Ocean and nurtui'ed by the dew of the foamy waves had now freely vouch- safed the graces of her god- head and was ranging amidst popular throngs ; or that at least the heavenly stars had conceived anew, and the earth, not the sea, had brought forth a second Venus dowered with the flower of maiden loveliness.
Lucius Apuleius was born about 130 A.D. of a good family in Ma- •laura, on the borders of Numidia and Gaetulia. Having lost his patrimony in learned travel, he became a pleader at Rome and rapidly rose. He then returned home to Africa, where he married a rich widow of Oea, Pudentilla by name. The rest of his life was seemingly spent for the most ]iart in Carthage.
9. To Aelia Aeliana.
You who know your let- ters, read a girl's sad tale and weej). Many call that a "sarcophagus" which con- sumes the body ; but this should l>e called a dwelling- place closed and befitting the bee. O monstrous iniquity ! here lies a noble girl. This is more than grief : a lovely girl has been ravished away. She remained a maid in the time of her ripened charms ; she announced wedlock ; the parents rejoiced over her de- sire. For she lived 17 years,
PEEIOD OF EAELY AND CLASSICAL LATIN.
17
vixit enim ann(os) xvii et
menses vii diesque xviii. o felice patrem qui non vidit
tale dolorem. heret et infixo pectore volnus
Dionysiadi matri ; et iunctam secum Geron patei"
tenet ipse puellam.
(C. I. L., xii. 743.)
7 months, and 18 days. O liappy father, not to have lived to experience such anguish ! The wound abides in the pierced bosom of her mother Dionysias ; and her father Geron keeps the girl in his society,
A would-be metrical ej^itaph of the second century, from Gaul.
10. Neque enim Deus cocci- neas aut purpureas eves fecit, aut herbarum sucis et conchy- liis tingere et colorare lanas docuit, nee distinctis auro la- pill is et margaritis contexta serie et numerosa compage digestis monilia instituit, qui- bus cervicem quam fecit ab- sconderes, ut operiatur illud quod Deus in homine for- mavit et conspiciatur id de- super quod diabolus adin- venit. an vulnera inferri auribus Deus voluit, quibua innocens adhuc infantia et mali saecularis ignara cru- cietur, ut postea de aurium cicatricibus et cavernis pre- tiosa grana dependeant, gra- via etsi non suo pondere raercium tamen quantitate 1 quae omnia peccatores et apostatae angeli suis artibus prodiderunt quando ad ter- rena contagia devoluti a cae- lesti vigore rece.sserunt. illi et oculos circumduct© nigrore facare et genas mendacio lu- l)oris inficere et mntare adid- terinis coloribus crinem et expugnare omnom oris et
10. God did not create sheep of scarlet or purple hue ; He did not teach the dyeing and colouring of wool by vegetable juices and sliell- tishes' secretions ; nor did He create necklaces of gems framed in gold and pearls, arranged in threaded row and frequent conjuncture, that thei^eby you should con- ceal His work, cloaking what God moulded in man and ex- hibiting over it the Evil One's invention. Was it God's will that wounds should be in- flicted on the ears, for the torture of babes still innocent and unwitting of worldly evil, that later tiny gems, heavy from their commercial value if not from their own weight, should dangle from the scars and hollows of the ears ? All this the sinful and recreant angels devised by their arts when they sank to the defilements of eaith and letreated from heavenly energy. They by the as- saults of their fascination taught the embellishment of the eyes by surrounding blackness ; they taught the staining of the cheeks with a feigned bhish, the cliaiig- iiig of the Iiaii- with counter-
18
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
capitis veritatem coriiiptelae suae impugnatione docuerunt. et quidem isto in loco pro timore quern nobis fides sug- gerit, pro dilectione quam fraternitas exigit, non vir- gines tantum aut viduas sed et nuptas puto et omnes om- nino feminas admonendas quod opus Dei et factura eius et plastica adulterari nullo modo debeat adliibito flavo colore vel nigro pulvere vel rvibore aut quolibet deni- que lineamenta nativa cor- rumpenti medicamine. dicit Deus " faciamus hominem ad imaginem et similitudineni nostram." et audet quisquam mutare et convertere quod Deus fecit 1 manus Deo in- ferunt quando id quod ille formavit reformare et trans- figurare contendunt, nesci- entes quia opus Dei est omne quod nascitur, diaboli quod- cumque mutatur. (Cyprian, De Habitu Virgimim, xiv.
XV.)
fc'it hues, the subversion of all honesty as to the face and head. In this connexion, in- deed, the fear that faith in- si>ires in me and the affection demanded by brotlierhood lead me to think that not only maidens and widows, but also wives and all women in general, should be reminded that the work of God, the form made and moulded by Him, should in nowise be falsified by the use of golden dye, or black powder, or rouge, or in short by any medicament marring the fea- tures of nature. God says, " Let us make man in our image and likeness" ; and does any one dare to change and recast what God has made? They do violence to God when they strive to re- model what He has modelled, and to transform it, ignorant that all that comes to birth is the work of God, and all that undergoes change is the work of the Evil One.
Thascius Crecilms Cyprianus be- longs to the first half of the third century. He was Bishop of Car- thage, and his writings show traces of a youthful training in the African school of rhetoric.
11.
(«) D(is) M(anibus) T. Calvii Pompeiani. L. Cal- vius Secundus et Pompeia Q. f . Severilla filio pientissimo et desiderantissimo qui in- digne ereptus est iuvenis exempli rarissimi annorum
11.
(ff) To the blessed spirit of Titus Calvius Pompeianus. Lucius Calvius Secundus and Pompeia Severilla, daughter of Quintus (raised this tomb) to their most affectionate and sadly missed son, who was mercilessly carried off, a
PERIOD OF EARLY AND CLASSICAL LATIN.
19
xvii m(eiisium) v dier(iuii) vi.
(6) Perpetuae quieti. Do- mitio Tatiano infanti dul- cissimo quern prima aetate florentem mors dira sub- ripuit. Vixit ann(os) iii m(enses) vi d(ies) xx. Agri- pin. Donatus pater et lovina mater filio carissimo [p]os- uerunt. (C.I.L., xii. 3502, 3559.)
12.
Depossio (depositio) Ivniani pri. idvs Apriles Marcellino et
Probino Conss. Qvi bixit annis xl in pace decessit et amator pavperorvm vixit.]
Cvm Brginia (Virginia) annis xv benemerenti Bir- ginia sva Bictora (Victoria)].
Benemerenti fecit amatrix pavperorvm et operaria.
(In Mus. Lat. ; De Rossi, n. 62. ) See M'Caul's ' Christian Epitaphs ' (Toronto, 1869).
A Christian inscription of 341
A.D.
singularly exemplary youth, aged 17 years, 5 months, and 6 days.
(6) To Eternal Repose. In memory of Domitius Tati- anus, their darling babe, whom a cruel death snatched away in the blossom of his earliest years. He lived 3 years, 6 months, and 20 days. Agrippinus Donatus the father and Jovina the mother raised this monument to their beloved son.
Two epitaphs of the third cen- tury, from Gaul.
12.
The burial of Junianus (took place) on the day before the Ides of April, in the con- sulship of Marcellinus and Probinus {i.e., April 12, 341 A.D.), who lived forty years. He departed in peace (and was) a lover of the poor. He lived with his wife fifteen years. To him, well deserv- ing, his wife Victoria, a lover of the poor, and industrious, made (this) to him well de- serving.
Brginia = Virginia = a wife who was a maiden when married. Thus also Virginius = maritus.
Operaria, industrious. This praise of a woman is common to pagan and Christian epitaphs. Thus lanam fecit, Gruter, 769, 9 ; lanifica, Orelli, 4658 : and xal epya- Tiy, Boeck, Corp. Inscrip. Graec, 954. (Mainly from M'Caul.)
The popular character of the sufiBx -arius is fully described in Olcott, p. 137 sqq. The classical Latin woidd have been " operosa." These forms have produced the suffix -ier in French.
20
11.
POST-CLASSICAL LATIN OF GAUL.
1. Symmachus Flaviano ratri.
Baiai'ura solitudine vehe- menter offensus Puteolis ma- lui commorari. iuvat enim nos istius loci salubris habi- tatio. dehinc si adiutu dei optata processerint, Capuam paramus excurrere totumque hunc mensem Novembrem diversis Campaniae locis atque urbibus deputamus. haec est nostri sum ma pro- positi, sed lit animus al- acrior destinata promoveat, vestris alloquiis erigendus est ; qiiandoquidem sanitatis vestrae et felicitatis indicio nihil antiquius aestimamus. veriim hoc pro insigni re- ligione sponte facietis. atque ideo non est necesse volun- tariis officiis aculeos exhorta- tionis adhibere. interea quod te, mi f rater, affore poUic- eris vehementer amplector. atque utinam te doraus tota comitetur, ut et nobis lae-
1. Symmachus to his brother Flavianiis.
I was gi'eatly annoyed at the empty condition of Baiae, and have chosen rather to stay at Puteoli ; for the healthiness of the latter ))lace as a resort takes my fancy. Afterwards, if by the aid of Providence my wishes are realised, I pro- pose an excursion to Capua, and am devoting the whole of this month of November to the different places and towns of Campania. This is the main outline of my pro- gramme. But my mind needs the encouragement of your conversation in order to put its plans into execu- tion with spirit ; for there is nothing on which I set a higher value than on the indication of your health and happiness. But this you will do of your own not- able conscientiousness, with- out pressure ; so there is no need for me to apply to your spontaneous good offices the spur of request. Meantime, brother, I heartily greet the promise of your pres-
POST-CLASSICAL LATIN OF GAUL.
21
titiam pleniorem tribuat ad- ventus omnium et tibi causa non sit citius patriam re- curreiidi desiderio et amore remanentium. vale. (Sym- machus, Epist. ii. 26, Migne.)
2. DD. Theodosio et Ar- cadia semper Aug.
Certum est quidem Cle- meutiam vestram fidei amore et studio veritatis in exameii assiduum saepe explorata revo- care, dd. iraperatores. sed cum Auxentius v.c. et Cyriades comes et mechanicus pari- lis dignitatis quadam inter se concertatione dissentiunt, nonnihil .superioribus iudici- l)us derogatur. iam dudum enim v.c. et illustris Auch- eiiius Bassus pontis novi opere perspecto .sub actoi'um coufectione signavit culpam vel diligentiam singulorum ; denuo successor eius eadem loca rimatus asseritur. de- hinc cum apud me ex re- scripto quod Cyriades v.c. impetravit recidiva cogni- tione confligerent atque ipsis consistentibus censuissera ut utriusque tarn sumptus quam aedificationem investigatio diacussionis inquireret, v.c. Auxentius rej)ente deseruit iudicatum. de cuius facto
ence ; and I hope your whole household will come with you, so that the arrival of all may vouchsafe us a more abundant joy, and you may have no motive for hurrying back before due time to your country out of longing and affection for those who stay behind. Fare- well.
2. To their Majesties Theo- dosius and Arcadius.
I know well, my Imperial Lords, that youi' Clemencies, out of love for fairdealiiig and devotion to truth, frequently recall into diligent review matters already scrutinised. Now when the Honourable Auxentius and the official engineer Cyriades, of equal rank, cease through contro- versy to be in harmony with one another, a certain curtail- ment of authority befalls the higher judges. For some time ago the Right Honour- able Auchenius Bassus, after examining the works of the new bridge, noteil in drawing up his minutes the culi)ability or activity of individuals; his successor is stated to have subjected the same places to a seconfl scrutiny. Then, when ill a renewed investi- gation, on a rescript obtained liy the Honourable C!yi'iades, they ])leaded against one an- other before me and with the parties in my presence I had decided that an audi- torial scrutiny should look into the ex])enditure as well as the construction, the Hon- ourable Auxentius suddenly
22
HISTORICAL KEADEU OF EARLY FRENCH.
iiiissurus relationem quaiu sollicitudo remissi operis ex- igebat, alia numinis vestri decreta rursus accepi quibus examini meo v.c. et lauda- bilem vicaiium copulastis, ut utroque residente accusata pontis vitia quaererentur. nee obsequium defuit im- peratis. itaque adhibito v.c. tribuno et notario Aplirodisio cui post Auxentium v.c. iiovarum molitioniuu cui'a lesata est, liabita est de his quaestio qui pontis eiusdem fundamentaposuerunt. atque ita constitit partem brevem atque disci'etam sub exordio hiemis inclioatam vi fluminis corruisse, cuius impendium viginti solidorum definitione artifices aestimarunt. sad casus partis istius, utpote adhuc a cetero corpore segre- gatae, nihil videtur iniuriae locis distantibus attulisse ; quam facili aedificatione re- parandum Cyriades v.c. pol- licetur. post haec alterius loci exploratio hiulcam com- pagem lapidum deprehendit, quam Cyriades comes et me- chanicus consilio suo et ratione artis ita positam suggerebat ut infuso postea t impensarum liquore hiantia
refused to stand by the de- cision. I intended to send you a report on his conduct, as my anxiety at the cessa- tion of the woik demanded ; but I received again other de- crees of your Majesties, in which you associated with my investigation the Honour- able and Worshipful Deputy, so that the alleged defects of the bridge should l)e inquired into in the sittings of both of us. Due heed was given to your injunctions. So the Honourable Tribune and Notary Aphrodisius was sum- moned, on whom the charge of new buildings after the Honourable Auxentius de- volved, and an inquiry was held as to the persons who laid the foundations of the same bridge. It appeared in consequence that a limited and separate poi'tion of the bridge, which had been com- menced at the beginning of the winter, had given way before the force of the cur- rent, the damage of which the masons appraised at a quotation of 20 solidi. But the mishap of this portion, as it was still standing apart from the rest of the struc- ture, appears to have inflicted no harm on the parts separ- ate from it, and the Honour- able Cyriades promises to get it repaired by a simple pro- cess of Iniilding. After this our scrutiny of another place revealed a gap in the junc- ture of the stones. With regard to this, the official engineer Cyriades suggested as his jirofessional opinion and idea that it was placed so
POST-CLASSICAL LATIN OF GAUL.
23
striiigereiitur. quod cum facere debuisset succedentis industeia, affectasse potius dicitur ut in auctoris iuvid- iam patula quaeque feni et sparti manipulis clauderen- tur. quod cum astrueret I'ecitatione gestorum, factum quidem urinandi artifex iion negavit, sed ex usu operis, non in dehonestamentum Cyriadis v.c. asserebat, re- medium huiusmodi esse pro- visum. tunc responsionum varietate commoti coercuimus a praeteritis discrepantem. at ille Cyriadem sibi ait du- dum esse terrori. quod credibile non videtur, cum illius temporis cognitor ad fidem veri destricta quaes- tione pervenerit. interea Cyriades v.c. facilem profec- tum esse suggessit operis sarciendi, cuius stabilitatem, sicut assertum est, hiems tertia non resolvit. ipse autem de aedificationibus Auxentii v.c. et de usur- patione immodici auri non- nullaiudiciisintimavit. quae ideo gestorum paginis placuit applicari, ut aeternitas vestra cunctis per ordinem patienter auditis providere dignetur quemadmodum concortatione
that the crevices would close up on the influx of moisture. . . . Though tlie activity of his successor was in duty bound to comply with this, he is alleged to have instead made a mere pretence, so that all the open places were closed with wisps of hay and es- parto, to the discredit of the adviser. He suj^ported his charge by i^eading the min- utes. The diver acknow- ledged the fact ; but he stated that it was not to iliscredit the Honourable Clyriades, but to benetit the construction, that such a l)recautionary treatment had been adopted. Being now strongly moved by the dis- crepancy of his answers, we called him to order when his statements disagi'eed with what preceded. He said, however, that Cyriades had long overawed him. This seems beyond belief, since the previous commissioner held a close inquiry and suc- ceeded in establishing the truth. Meantime the Hon- ourable Cyriades has indi- cated an easy mode of pro- gress towards repairing the construction, the solidity of which, as was deposed, even a third winter has failed to shake. He in his turn has given certain information to the court about the building- methods of the Honourable Auxentius and the expendi- ture by him of extravagant sums. These we decided sliould be entered in the books of minutes, in order that your Elci-nities, after hearing with patience the
24
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
aeinulantium coiupressa et integritati sumptuum et firmitati open's consulatur. (lb. X. 46.)
3. Aihsonius Hymmacho.
Modo intellego quam mel- lea res sit oratio, quam de- lenitica et quam suada facun- dia. 2)ersuasisti mihi quod epistulae meae aput Capuam tibi redditae concinnatio in- humana non esset, set hoc non diutius quam dum epis- tulam tuam legi, quae me blanditiis inhiaiitem tuis ve- lut suco nectaris delibuta perducit. ubi vero chartu- 1am pono et me ipsum inter- rogo, tum absinthium meum resipit et circumlita melle tuo pocula depiehendo. si vero, id quod saepe facio, ad epistulam tuam redii, rursus inlicior ; et rursum ille sua- vissimus, ille floridissimus tui sermonis adflatus de- l)osita lectione vanescit et testimonii pondus prohibet inesse dulcedini. hoc me velut aerius bratteae fucus aut picta nebula non longius quam dum videtur oblectat,
whole sLory duly set forth, might deign to take measures whereby a stop should be put to the contention of the rival pai'ties, and provision be made for proper administra- tion of the funds and for the stability of the construction.
Quiutus Aurehus Symmacluis, a Roman of noble birth and a dis- tinguished orator, was prefect of Rome in 384 and consul in 391 a.d. He was the last great champion of the old faith.
3. Ausonius to S7/mmachus.
Now I comprehend the sweetness of style, the fascination and charm of eloquence. You made me believe that the composition of my letters delivered to you at Capua was not with- out taste ; but this lasted only till I read your letter, which, steeped in nectar's juices, carries me away in rapturous admiration of your graces. But when I put down the ])aper and call upon my own wits, the flavour of my absinth comes in, and I seize upon your honey- smeared cups. When again I come back, as I often do, to your letter, I am once more tempted ; again the supremely sweet, supremely brilliant inspiration of your style vanishes as my reading stops, and denies to elegance the weight of testimony. Like the airy flush of gold- leaf, or a painted cloud, it gives pleasure only so long as it is looked upon after the manner of that little creature the chamseleon,
POST-CLASSICAL LATIN OF GAUL.
25
chamaeleontis bestiolae vice, quae de subiectis sumit colorem. aliiid sentio ex epistula tua, aliud ex con- scientia mea. et tu me audes facundissimorum hom- inum laude dignari ? tu, inquam, mihi ista, qui te ultra emendationem omnium protulisti ? aut quisquam ita nitet ut comparatus tibi non sordeat ? quis ita Aesopi venustatem, quis sophisticas Isocratis conclusiones ? quis ita ad enthymemata Demos- thenis aut opulentiam TuUi- anam aut proprietatera nos- tri Maronis accedat ? quis ita affectet singula, ut tu imples omnia? quid enim aliud es quam ex omni bon- arum artium ingenio collecta perfectio ? haec, domine mi fili Symmache, non vereor ne in te blandius dicta vide- antur esse quam verius. et expertus es fidem meam mentis atque dictorum dum in comitatu degimus ambo aevo dispari, ubi tu veteris militiae praemia tiro meru- isti, ego tirocinium iam veter- anus exercui. in comitatu tibi verus fui, nedum me peregre existimes composita fabu- lari ; in comitatu, inquam, qui frontes hominum aperit, mentes tegit, tibi me et ])arentem et ami cum et si quid utroque cainus est cari- orem fuisse sensisti. set abeamus ab his, ne ista haec
which draws its hue from its neighbourhood. I have one feeling from your letter and another from my con- science. And you dare to honour me wath the praise of the masters of style ? 1 rejieat, you tell me this, you who have risen beyond the possibility of improvement ? Is there any one of such brilliance as not to lose his lustre when compared to you? AYho is there equally jiossessed of the charm of ^^sop, the I'hetorical periods of Isocrates ? Who is there that equally approaches the enthymemes of Demosthenes, the Ciceronian wealth of style, the correctness of our Vergil ? Who can imitate individual excellences as you attain all ? For what are you but a perfection com- pounded of the whole genius of liberal studies ? I have no fear, noble son, that you should deem tliese woi'ds uttered more in a spirit of flattery than of truth. You had exj)erience of my honesty of thought and speech while we were living together in the court, though so unequal in age ; then you, a young recruit, won the ])rizes of an old campaigner, while I, a veteran in years, did the work of a young soldier. I was truthful to you in the court ; how, then, could you imagine me, when so far away, to speak in a strain of pretence? — in the court, I say, which bai'es the faces of men, and conceals tlieir souls, you found me a father, a friend, and one even dearer than
26
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
commemoratioad illani Sosiae formidinem videatur acce- deie. illud quod paeue prae- terii, qua adfectatione addi- disti ut ad te didascalicuni aliquod opusculum aut ser- monem protrepticum mit- terem ? ego te docebo do- cendus adhuc, si essem id aetatis ut discerem 1 aut ego te vegetum atque alacrem commonebo 1 eadem opera et Musas hortabor ut canant, et maria ut effluant, et auras ut vigeant, et ignes ut cale- ant admonebo et si quid in- vitis quoque nobis natura fit superfluus instigator agitabo. sat est uniuB erroris, quod aliquid meorum me paeni- tente vulgatum est. quod bona fortuna in manus ami- corum incidit. nam si contra id evenisset, nee tu mihi per- suaderes placere me posse, haec ad litteras tuas res- ponsa sint : cetera quae nos- cere aves compendi faciam : sic quoque iam longa est epistula. lulianum tamen familiarem domus vestrae, si quid de nobis percontandum arbitraris, allego ; simul ad- moneo ut cum causam ad- ventus eius agnoveris iuves studium quod ex parte fovisti. vale. (Ausonius, ■^jnst. xvii.)
tliese, if there be aught dearer. But let us leave these topics, lest this refer- ence seem to you to recall the terror of Sosia in the play. There is a point I nearly passed over — what a pretence it was for you to add the request that I should send you some little educa- tional writing, or an exhor- tatory speech ! — I, who still should have to go to school if I were of an age to learn, I am to teach you ? I am to admonish one so vigorous and energetic as you 1 I might as well exhort the Muses to sing ; I might as well counsel the seas to roll on, the breezes to blow freshly, fire to be hot, and add needless stimulation to nature's operations that go on with or without our wish. Enough of the one mistake that one of my works, to my regret, was published. It was by good luck that it fell into friendly hands. Not even you could convince me that, had the reverse happened, I could give pleasure to the reader. Be this my answer to your letter. Of the other points on which you seek information I will make short work. Even so the letter is now a long one. However, I send Julianus, a friend of your family, if you think proper to make in- quiries about us ; at the same time I counsel you, on learning the reason of his arrival, to lend your assist- ance to the purpose which you have done something to foster. Farewell.
POST-CLASSICAL LATIN OF GAUL.
27
4. . . . pontem portas aquiduct(us) quaru r[eruiii] usus longa incuria et vetus- tate [corruejrat (?) civitati restauravit ac reddi[dit] et ad praeturianam Gall(iariim) prefect[uram]iudicio Auguste remuneratio[nis causa] evect [us est]. (C. I. L., xii. 4355.)
5. Sidonius Syagrio suo.
Cum sis consulis pronepos idque per virilem succes- sionera (quamquam id ad causam subiciendam minus attinet), cum sis igitur e semine poetae cui procul dubio statuas dederant lit- terae si trabeae non dedis- sent (quod etiam nunc auc- toris culta versibus verba testantur), a quo studia posterorum ne parum quid- em, quippe in hac parte, degeneraverunt, immane nar- ratu est quantum stupeam sermonis te German ici noti- tiam tanta facilitate rapuiase. atqui pueritiam tuam com- petenter scholis liberalibus memini imbutam et saepe-
Decius Magnus Ausonius (310- 395 A.D. ), poet and j)rofessor of Burdigala, rose from the position of tutor to the prince Gratianus to the consuLate (379). He be- came a Christian, but his Chris- tianity is very shallow.
4. . . . The bi'idge, gates, and aqueducts, of which the practical value, through long neglect and antiquity, had decayed, he restored for the benefit of tlie State, and handed them back to it ; and as a reward he was raised to the post of prefect of the Prge- torium of the Gauls by the judgment of the Augustus.
An honorific inscription from Gaul, of the fourth century.
5. Sidonius to his friend Si/agrius.
You are great-grandson to a consul, and in the male line too (though this is some- what irrelevant as regards the suggestion of cause) ; you are thus sprung from the seed of a poet to whom be- yond doubt literature had raised statues had not the robe of his office already given tliem (a fact attested to this (lay by that author's elegant metrical writings) a poet too whose descendants' accomplishments in this con- nexion certainly have not in the least fallen short of his. And so 'tis a monstrous sur- prise to me that you have sc readily grasped a kiuiwledge of the German tongue. Why, T I'enieniber that you in your childhood were prop-
28
HISTOKICAL HEADER OF EARLY FRENCH.
nuniero acritei- eloquent- erque declamasse coram ora- tore satis habeo conipertum. atque Laec cum ita sint, velim dicas unde subito hau- serunt pectora tua euphon- iam geiitis alienae, ut modo mihi post ferulas lectionis Maronianae postque desud- atam varicosi Arpinatis opulentiain loquacitatemque quasi de Jharilao vetere novus falco prorum))as. aesti- maii minime potest quanto mihi ceterisque sit risui quo- tiens audio quod te praesente formidet linguae suae facere barbarus barbarisnmm. ad- stupet tibi epistulas inter- pretanti curva Germanorum senectus et negotiis mutuis arbitrum te disceptatoremque desumit. novus Bumun-
O
dionum Solon in legibus disserendis, novus Amphion in citharis, sed trichordibus, temperandis amaris frequen- taris, expeteris oblectas, eli- geris adhiberis, decernis aud- ris. et quamquam aeque cor- l)oribus ac sensu rigidi sint indolatilesque, amplectuntur in te pariter et discunt sermouem patrium, cor latin- um. restat hoc unum, vir facetissime, ut nihilo segnius, vel cum vacabit, aliquid lectioni operis impendas cus- todiasque hoc, prout es eiegantissimus, temperamen-
erly initiated in the school- ing of a gentleman, and I know for a fact that you fre- quently practised declama- tion before an orator with vigour and eloquence. Such being the case, I beg you to tell me how it is that your heart has suddenly imbibed the phonetic graces of a for- eign people, so that directly after the canings of a reading in Vergil, and after the toil expended upon the varicose man of Arpinum's wordy wealth, 1 find you bursting out, so to speak, a new hawk from the old. . . . You cannot conceive how it amuses me and the others whenever I hear that in your presence the barbarian fears to commit a barbarism in his own tongue. Germans bowed with age look with speechless admiration on you as you translate letters, and select you as arbiter and judge in their mutual transactions. You are renowned as a latter- day Solon of the Burgundians in the exposition of laws, as a modern Amphion in modulat- ing the lyre- a three-stringed one ; you are loved and cele- brated, 3'ou are sought for and give pleasure, you are selected and summoned, you give your verdict and find a hearing. And though alike in body and feeling thej' are lubberly and defy culture, in you they greet their native tongue while learning a Latin soul. It only remains for you, my witty sir, to give with un- diminished zeal, even in your leisure, a little attention to reading, and agreeably to
POST-CLASSICAL LATIN OF GAUL.
29
turn, ut ista tibi lingua teneatur, ne ridearis, ilia exerceatur, ut rideas. vale. (Sidonius ApoUinaris, Epist. V. 5.)
your refined character to }n'eserve this combination by keeping up the one tongue so as not to be laughed at, and by practising the other so as to have your laugh.
6. Sidonius D. Papae Eutropio.
Postquam foedifragam gen- tem redisse in sedes suas comperi neque quicquam viantibus insidiarum parare, nefas credidi ulterius offici- orum differre sermonem, ne vester affectus quandam vitio meo duceret ut gladius im- politus de curae raritate robiginem. unde misso in hoc solum negotii gerulo litterarum, quam vobis sit corpusculi status in solido quamve ex animi sententia res agantur sollicitus in- quiro, sperans ne semel mihi amor vester indultus aut iuteriecti itineria longitu- dine aut absentiae communis diuturnitate tenuetur, quia bonitas conditoris habitati- onem potius hominum quam caritatem finalibus claudit angustiis. re.stat ut vestra beatitude compunctorii salu- britate sermonis avidam nostras ignorantiae pascat esuriem. est enim tibi ni- mis Usui ut exhortationibus tuis iiiterioris honiinismacieni .''aepenumero mysticua adeps
6. Sidonius to the Lord Bishop Eutropius.
When I learned that the perfidious nation had re- turned to its own home and was laying no ambush for wayfarers, I deemed it sinful to further postpone speech of my duties, lest from the intermission of attention your kindness through fault of mine should, like an un- polished sword, contract a rust. I have therefore de- spatched a courier on this sole errand, and earnestly desire to know what is the general health of your dear person, and in what accord- ance with your wishes mat- ters are proceeding, hoping that your affection once granted to me is not being lessened by the extent of the road sejjarating us or by the length of our common ab- sence ; for the grace of the Creator bounds by terminal limitations not so much the love as the habitation of men. It remains for your Beati- tude to satisfy with the wliolesomeness of your ad- monitory discourse the eager liunger of ray ignorance ; for it is truly the case with you that in conseijuence of your exhortations a mystic fat and spiritual suet frequently fills out the leanness of
30
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
et spiritalis arvina distendat. memor iiostri esse dignare, domine papa. (lb. vi. 6.)
the inner remember Bishop.
man.
me,
Deign to my Lord
Gaius Sollius Modestus Sidon- ius Apollinaris was born at Lugu- dunura (Lyons) of a good family of Gaulish Christians. He became prefect of Rome in 467, and in 472 Bishop of Clermont in Auvergne, dying in 483.
7. CI. Postumus Dardanus V. inl. et patriciae dignitatis, ex consulari provinciae Vien- nensis, ex magistro scrinii lib(ellorum), ex quaest(ore), ex praef(ecto) pret(orio) Gall- (iarum), et Nevia Galla clar. et inl. fem(ina), mater fam- (ilias) eius, loco cuius nomen Theopoli est viarum usum caesis utrimque montium la- terib(us) praestiterunt, muros et portas dederunt, quod in agro proprio constitutum tuetioni omnium voluerunt esse commune, adn[i]tente etian v. inl. com(ite) ac fratre raemorati viri CI. Lepido, ex consula[ri] Germaniae Primae, ex mag(istro) me- mor(iae), ex com(ite) rerum privat(arum) ; ut erga om- n[i]um salutem eonmi stud- ium et devotionis public[ae] titulus possi[t] ostendi. (C. I. L., xii. 1 524.)
7. The Honourable Claud- ius Postumus Dai'danus, of patrician rank, past Consular of the province of Vienne, past Comptroller - General, past Quaestor, past Prefect of the Prtietorium of the Gauls, and the Honourable and Noble Nevia Galla his consort, gave to the district known by the name of Theo- jjolis the enjoyment of road- ways formed by the cutting of both Hanks of the hills, and presented walls and gates, the which, situate in their private estate for its preservation, they desired to be common property ; where- in they were assisted by the Honourable Claudius Lepi- dus, State official and brother of the above - mentioned gentleman, past Consular of the First Germany, past Master of the Eecords, and past Privy Councillor ; to tlie end that their zeal for the benefit of all and a token of their devotion to the public service might be made manifest.
An inscription of the fifth cen- tury from Gaul.
POST-CLASSICAL LATIN OF GAUL.
31
8. " An nescitis quia tem- plum dei estis et spiritus dei habitat in vobis ? " ecce ergo et spiritus deus est si habitat tempkim, quod prae- ter deum nulkis inhabitat. unde inquit, "membra ves- tra teraplum in vobis est spii-itus sancti quern habetis a deo." ergo si habetis a deo deum et tempkim dei estis et corpus vestrum tem pkim est spiritus sancti, quocumque non receptus fuerit spiritus non capitur deus. igitur cum talia dicimus, non nobis obir- ascantur quibus sanctum apiritum persuadere cona- mur ; qui nisi deus creditur, ignoro quid de praesente fes- tivitate dicatur aut quid in eius adventu honoris haeret- icus excolat, quem quantum ad se est etiam nomine ser- vitutis inclamat ; cum, licet si vos fihus kberaverit tunc vere kberi sitis, " ubit amen spiritus domini ibi libertas sit." (Avitus, Homilies, xi.)
9. Iste sit ille quam dulcis tam terribilis locus, in quo Jacob cernens dominum scabs innixum perque eas ascend- entes descendentesque angel- os videns domum divinitatis intellegit. ubi parato mys- teriis lapide caput effultus futurorum causis aptavit un- guentum ; sicut cum passuri raediatoiis pendulum crinem iustificatae peccatricia ob-
8. " Do ye not know that ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you ? " You see then the Spirit likewise is God, if it dwells in a temple, which no one but God inhabits. So it is said, " Your limbs are a temple within you of the Holy Ghost which ye have from God." Then ' if you have God from God, and you are a temple of God and your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, God is only entertained by such as have received the Spirit. There- fore when we speak thus let not them be angry whom we seek to convince of the Holy Ghost. Unless this is believed to be God, I understand not what can be said of the pres- ent festival, or what honour a heretic can devise at its approach, upon which, for all he can, he cries out, even making accusation of slav- ery ; but in truth, though you are truly free if the Son have freed you, yet " where the Spirit of the Lord is there dwelleth freedom."
9. As sweet as awful must that place be where Jacob, beholding the Lord leaning on the ladder and seeing the angels going up and down, perceived the house of God. There he rested his head on a stone mystically made ready, and for coming events did prepare the ointment ; as when the wave of the frag- rant perfume-casket by the service of the justified wo- man of sin bathed the hang-
32
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
sequio fragrantis alabastri unda perfudit, ut quod lap- idibus vivis in spiritalem fabricam congruenter neces- sarium flueret ex inriguo an- gularis lapidis fonte manaret sicque Abrahae filii per lava- crum ex lapidibus suscitati, ut ariditatem contagii natur- alis evadant, odoriferi chris- matis munere gratia fecun- dante pinguescerent. istud lacob sopitus vidit in spiritu, expergefactus gessit in signo. cum nobis inde oratio con- secrantis inclamat, nobis ibi somninra dormientis invig- ilat. (lb. xvii.)
ing locks of the Mediator destined to Passion, so that from the streaming fount of the squared stone might gusli what from unhewii rocks flowed in natural fitness for spiritual workmanship, and thus the children of Abraham by the bath might be awak- ened from the stones, and to escape the dryness of natural pollution grow fat by the gift of the fragrant unction in fertilisinsr grace. This Jacob when asleep saw in the spirit, and when awak- ened performed as a sign. As thence the speech of his consecration cries out to us, so the dream of his slumbers there watches over us.
Alcimus Ecdicius Avitus (born ahout 460 A.D.) was Bishop of Vienne. He died about tlie year 525.
33
in.
DOMINANCE OF VULGAR LATIN.
The following extracts illustrate the rapid decay of Latin from the fifth century onwards in Gaul. A literary language by this time hardly existed. The Low Latin was generally supreme, and on its phonetic and syntactical developments in the direction of modern French these extracts throw a light.
In them we see Latin long or short e not seldom repre- sented by i — e.g., se, proficisset, causacionis, parentis, requiiscit, confetiri, pauperis, rignum, decrivi, citherorum (scil. ceterorum), j^^'scrpui, tenio, iUi, debit, libit, quim, tacit, nomeni, fedis, oportit, tinia, vivindum, refrigerit. The confusion is largely due to the fact that in Latin all short vowels were open in pronunciation (thus e was pronounced not unlike the South-English H), while the long were closed ; and when the quantities became un- certain, mistakes were inevitable. For like reasons we find Latin e written as ae in strenuae, pyi^ciecium, quaem, oppraesse)'unt, pacae, and diea (for diae). Naturally Latin ae often appears as e — e.g., bone.
Similarly, Latin I is often written, both in accented and unaccented syllables, as e- — e.g., scripsemus, manebus, civetate, legebus, inveda, obiet, requiescet, nomeni, confetiri, fedis, labede, insegnem, genetum, munimene, balitesmate, rapnet, nobele, praestaf>et, rrures, vocavetor, adebisci, lecit,
c
34 HISTORICAL HEADER OF EARLY FRENCH.
nilielliomenu^, lehenfer, fontes, inemts, ven/ene ; Latin I becomes e in quenos. So too Latin o often appears as 'u in sullicitus, Mavurtius, efudiet, incumptis ; ^ -wliile the converse happens in tahernamla, isiwluncola, daltitor, curpus, ioheatU, iocali, seo, foenmt, yenoarias, locopletavif, vocavetor, noncojianie, consolatuvi, by coins (for Lat. cuius). Lat. b is written u in scripturis, mens, cognuscas, annus, duus, amicus, tesaurus.
Latin c before /, followed by another vowel, was con- fused with ti — hence internitio — which was followed soon by assibilation. The combinatioii H before vowels was assibilated in vulgar Latin even before the fourth century ^ — hence ohservasione. As we often find Latin ti written ci (as in adpreciare, 2^')'ciecium, gracia, causacionis, pcdaciu, porciones, iiifancia, prudenciore, sid)siancia, hahetacioiiis, medetacionum), we may attribute to these spellings a sibilant sound after the fifth century.
Changes of mutes also occur. A tenuis appears inter- nally as meilia, thus following a common rule of liomance which already appears in Low Latin ^ — hence miga, adebisci, lahede (scil. Jap)idem). Anomalous are notinas (scil. nundinas), salega (for salica), puplicus (for ptddicus), adliticare (from litigo), iocali (for iugali), babtesmate ; obto may be by false analogy of ob.
Latin consonantal / (our y) was in vulgar speech con- fused with g before e, i. Latin ianuanus was vulgarly pro- nounced ienuarius, and hence comes genoarias of our inscription below. Whether this represents the sound of j which we find, e.g., in Italian Gennajo, or merely a spirant, is uncertain.* Fehr-arias is another vulgarism.
Latin b and v began to be confused from early in the second century ; hence praestabet (scil. pnxtestavit), and
^ See Lindsay, Latin Language, p. 32 f. '•^ Ibid., p. 83 f. =* Ibid., p. 74 ff.
•* Ibid., p. 49. We find the reverse change in ianiculorurii of the Keichenau glosses.
DOMINANCE OF VULGAR LATIN. 35
vocavetor (for vocahitur) in tlie same inscription (2, 11). Latin x appears as s in viset ; compare Ital. visse. Latin c is written qu in loqua. The aspirate is in decay ; it may be omitted (abiturum for liahiturum), or wrongly inserted {nihelliumemis, Heliae, Jianus, Helisaeum, Horosius, hor- avit), or used to divide syllables {Samuliel, Israheliti- corum)} The guttural g is lost before n in renum for regnum. Contraction has taken place in domnus, the usual word for an earthly lord. Trienta (Lat. triginta) is an anticipation of the modern trente.
In inistitui, i><peluncola, we see the prothesis of i before s and a tenuis which began in the later Empire, and is such a marked feature of Eomance.
In syntax the most marked feature is the growing disuse of the cases. Accusatives are often used as nomi- natives, which was the more easy as the final letters were to a large extent unheard in vulgar speech, and written or omitted at pleasure ; and sometimes oblique cases like the genitive are expressed by the use of prepositions. From the rhymes in 6, vv. 13, 14 by neuter nominatives written with final -o — e.g., cingolo — -and similarly spelt accusatives, we see that Latin final -u, -uni, -us tended rapidly to become indistinguishable.
We find also forms like conferrere, tisquuJ, and even in Gregory of Tours the barbarous meminiat. Deponents tend generally to become active, and the verbs of the first conjugation in 6 show a subjunctive identical with the indicative. The relative pronoun, too, tends to decay : quern appears as feminine (fem. plur. in 6), and qui has the same gender ; while quod apparently is masculine in 2 (9).
The participle noncopante for a passive (7) has already some parallels in archaic Latinity.
' Lindsay, p. .'J7.
36 HISTORICAL EEADER OF EARLY FRENCH.
De Fides Factas. — (1) Si quis ingenims aut letus ^ alteri fidem fecerit, tunc ille cui fides facta e(st) in xl noctes aut quomodo illius cum testibns vel cum illo qui praeciu(m) adpreciare debent, accedere debet. Ft si ei noluerit fidem facta solvere, mal(berg) thalasciasco,^ h(oc) e(st) sol(idos) xv super debitu(m) quod fidem fecerit culp(abilis) iud(icetur).
(2) Si adhuc noluerit conponere debet eum ad mallum^ maunire '^ et sic nexti canthichius ^ mallare ^ debet : Tiogo te, tluingine,'' ut nexti canthichus gasacio ^ meo illo qui mihi lidem fecit et debitum debet : et nominare debet quale debitum deljeat unde ei fidem fecerat. Tunc thunginus dicere debet : nexthe ganthichio ego illo in hoc quod lex salega ait. Tunc ipse cui fides facta e(st) testare debet ut nulli alteri nee solvat nee pignus donet solu- tionis, nisi ante ille impleat quod ei fidem fecerat. Et festinanter ad domum illius ilia die antequam sol coUocet^ cum testibus ambulare debet et rogare sibi debitum solvere. Si hoc noluerit facere solem ei collocet. Tunc si solem collocaverit, cxx din(arios) qui f(aciunt) sol(idos) iii super debitum adcrescant. Istud usque ad tres vices p(er) tres notinas fieri debet, et in tertio ista omnia facta voluerit conponere, usque ad ccclx din(arios), h(oc) e(st) sol(idos) nove adcrescat. Id est ut p(er) singulas admonitiones vel solem collocatum terni sol(idi) sup(er) debitum adcrescant. (Lex Salica, Cod. I., ed. Hessels.)
1. Serf.
2. Kern (notes to Mr Hessels' text) suggests talas gicesco oi gaisco, "claim for payment."
3. Public assembly.
4. Summon (hefore the mallns).
5. Kern reads ncxtich antichius (or anthichius), taking nextich as an adverb in the sense " very closely " (compare ON. ncesia, ncer), and antichius (antigim) as 2nd pers. sing. subj. of the verb an-tif/ian, " enjoin," " constrain ' (compare OS. thigglan, OH.Ger. digjan, " de-
DOMINANCE OF VULGAR LATIN. 37
mand"). A little further appears ncxthc (junthichio for ncjctich antichio (ur anthichio, antiijio), the 1st slug, pres. ind.
6. Summon (before the iiiallus).
7. Magistrate, judge.
8. Opponent, adversary.
9. Solem collocarc, to fix a day.
This codex, taken in conjunction with the other three which are designated in Mr Hessels' edition as Codd. 2, 3, and 4, gives a fair specimen of the worst Latinity in use in the latter half of the fifth century. In vel cum illo we should perhaps follow the reading of other codices, cum illis.
Sepulchral inscriptions : —
1. Hie reqitiiscet bone memoriae Eomanus vir religiosus qui viset annos octoginta. transiit in pace sub die xiiii k. octobris pec Yenanti viri clarissimi cc.-^ (C. I. L., xii. 2062.)
2. Hie iacet Agricia qui fuit in observasione annis sedece. (Le Blant, Inscriptions chretiennes, n. 18.)
3. Hie requiiscunt menbra ad duus fratres Gallo et Fidencio qui foerunt fili Magno CI. et vixerunt in pac . . . xviii al . . . (Ibid., n. 378.)
4. Hie requiet Auxiliuz dihaconus xxx trienta. (Ibid., n. G79.)
5. Hie requiiscit bene memoriae Bauderisima puella ({ui vixit annus decesepte et requiivit in pace in mensi lulio diea Sabato. (Le Blant, Nouveau Recueil des Imicr. chret., n. 2.)
6. Hie requiescit in pace bonememorius Maurolenus quim rapuit mors inveda cuius infanc;ia bona fuit qui vixit annus plus menus xxiii. (Ibid., n. 107.)
7. Hie in pace requiescit bone memoriae Paulus qui vixit pln[s] menus annos xliiii et obiet suV) die pride nouus geuoarias indictione s[e]ptima pos consolatum itrum iMavur[ti] v. [CI. Cos.^] (Ibid., n. 180.)
38 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
8. Ill hoc tuinulc requiescet in pacao boiiae memoriae Maria portans annus septe et mensis quinque. Notavi die xviiii Id. febrarias. (Ibid., n. 224.)
9. Hie ]\Iellebaudis reus et servus Ihm Xor inistitui milii ispeluncola ista ubi iacit indigni . . . sepultura mea quern feci in nomeni dni Ihm Xri q[ue]m amavi in quod . . . crededi. v[ere digjnum est confeti[ri] viv[um] . . . [cuius glorija magna est ubi pax fedis c[ari]tas est. ipse ds et [ho]mo est et ds in illo. si quis qui non hie amat adorare dnm. Ihm. Xrm. et distruit opera ista sit anathema niaranatha usquid in sempiternum. (Ibid., n. 247.)
10. Teodovaldo labede non revolvatur. (Ibid., n. 264.)
11. insegnem genetuin, cruees munimene septu[m], [ijnsontem, nulla peccati sorde fucatum, [The]udosium parvum, quem pura mente parentes [op]tabaiit sacro fontes babtesmate tingui, [iujproba mors rapuet. set summi. rector Olimpi [piajestabet requiem membris ubi nobele signum [injtixum est cruces, Xritpie vocavetor eres.
1. The iuscriptiou belongs to about the beginning of the sixth century. The dating is incorrect. We should expect PC, and at the end C : non solum alterum C post PC abundat, sed reniansit quoque ex solita clausula \Y. CC. pars posterior, quamquam pro ipsa hie substitutus est singularis perscriptus viri clarissimi, re- marks Mointnsen. See too Hiibner iu Miiller's Handh. d. Mass. Altertitmsicisscnschaft, 2nd ed., vol. i. [i. 681 f.
2. Paulus died the 4th of January in the year after the second consulate of Mavortius — soil. 529 a.d.
Prosequentes ordinem temporum, mixte confuseque tarn virtutes sanctorum quam strages gentium memora- mus. non enim inrationabiliter accipi puto, se felicem beatorum vitam inter miserorum memorenius excidia,
DOMINANCE OF VULGAE LATIN. 39
cum idem iion facilitas scripturis seel temporum series praestitit. nam sullicitus lector, si inquii'at streuiiae, invenit inter illas regum Israheliticorum historias sub Samuhel iustum Fineen interisse sacrilegum ac sub David, quern Fortem - manii dicunt, Golian alophiluni conruisse. meminiat etiam sub Heliae eximii vatis tempore, qui pluvias cum voluit abstulit et cum libuit arentibus terris infudit, qui viduae paupertatem oratione locopletavit, quantae populorum strages fuere, quae famis vel quae siccitas miseram oppraesserit humum ; quae sub Ezechie tempore, cui Deus ad vitam quindecim annos auxit, Hierusolima mala pertulerit. sed et sub Heli- saeum prophetam, qui mortuos vitae restituit et alia in populis nuilta miracula fecit, quantae internitiones, quae miseriae ipsum Israheliticum populum oppraesserant. sic et Eusebius Severus Hieronimusque in chronicis atque Horosius et bella regum et virtutes martyrum pariter texuerunt. ita ct nos idcircum sic scripsemus, quod facilius saeculorum ordo vel annorum ratio usque nostra tempora tota repperiatur. — Gregory, Bisbop of Tours (538-593), History of the Franks, Bk. ii., Preface: in Monumenta Germanica, Scriptores Merowing., i. 38.
4.
Clementissime Serenitati vestrae elegimus aduniri per foedera ct ilium, qui placet JJomino, inpendere vobis affectum pacate gentis ex vinculo, quod proficisset com- muniter utrisque partibus expeditum pacis conpendium. quapropter clementissime Tranquillitati vestrae honore summi culminis vcstri debito salutis officia fiducialiter porrigentis,^ sicut legatariis vestris praediximus, ut nos- tro dirigomus, divinitate propitia, implere deliberavimus adeo inlustro- viro, .sancto Ennodio, optimates Griponem spatarium, Iladanem cubiculaiium et Eusebio notario ; quibus pro certis articulis aliqua vestro principatui
40 HISTORICAL KEADEU OF EARLY FRENCH.
verbo commisimus iutimanda, quos integre reserantis,^ ad nos prospere remeantibus illud reddatis eloquiis, quod, inspirante Domino, proficiat res communis. Finit. (Monum. Germanica : Epistulae, torn. iii. p. 138 f.)
1. Apparently uominative, in agreement with deliberavimus.
2. This, with the following words down to notario, is seemingly meant for the direct object of implere.
3. This and remeantibus seemingly are the indiiect object of reddatis.
The letter is one fiom Childebert IL to the Emperor Mauricius, and belongs to the year 584.
5.
Illi prosecutor dixit : " rogo domno meis omnibus puplicis, ut sicut mandatum istum legebus cognovistis esse factum, ut dotem, quern per manebus tenio, vobis praesentibus in foro puplico iobeatis recitare." curia vero dixerunt : " dotem, quem te dicis per manibus retenire, illi diaconus et amanuensis Andecavis civetate nobis presentibus accipiat relegendum." quo accepto dixit :
(incipit. mandatus) "Domno mibi iocali meo illo. rogo adque supplico dulcissima gracia vestra, ut ad vicem nieam omnis causa- cionis nostras, tam in pago quam et in palacio seo in qualibet loqua, accidere faciatis, et illas porciones nostras, quaem ex alote ^ parentum meorum mihi legibus obvenisse vel obvenire debit, aut iustissime nobis est redebitum, haec contra parentis mens vel contra cuiuslibit bominum accidere vel admallare ^ seu adliticare faciatis ; et quicquid exinde ad vicem nostram egeris, feceris gesserisve, etenim me abiturum esse cognuscas ratum.
" luratum mandatum Andecavis civetate, curia puplica." (Mon. Germ. Legum Sectio V. p. 4.)
DOMINANCE OF VULGAR LATIN. 41
1. Alotc is from cdodes, alodis, or alodum, the hereditary estate of the German.
2. See note on 1. supr.
The volumeiit is a ' formula ' of mandation from the sixth century, hence the use of illc in a sense which we may translate by "so-aud-so."
Sanctorum mcritis beatificando domno et fratri Importune.
Domne dulcissime
Et frater carissime
Importune. Quod recepisti,
Tarn dura estimasti,
Nos iam vicina morte de fame perire, 5
Quando talem annonam voluisti largire.
Nee ad pretium nee ad donum
Non cupimus tale anone.
Fecimus inde comentum ^ —
Si Dominus imbolat^ formentum ! — 10
A foris -^ turpis est crusta,
Ab intus miga ^ nimis est f usca,
Aspera est in palato,
Amara et fetius odoratus,^
Mixta vetus apud novella , 15
Faciunt inde oblata non bella.
Semper habeas gratuni,
Qui tam larga manu voluisti duuatum,
Dum Deus servat tua potestate,
In qua cognovimus tam grande largitatis.'' 20
Vos vidistis in donio
Quod de fame nobiscum morimur. Homo,
Satis te presumo salutarc "
Et rogo ut pro nos dignetis orare.
Transmisimus tibi de illo pane ; ^ 25
4-2 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Probato si iiulc '* jjotis numducare.
Quamdiu vivimus, })laiie
Liberat nos Deus de tale pane !
Congregatio puellave sancta
Refudat tale pasta.^*^ 30
Nostra privata stultitia
Ad te in summa aniicitia
Obto, te semper valere
Et caritatis tue iiiro ^^ tenere.
— Mon. Germ. Legum Bectio V. Form. p. 220.
1. Apparently "L^af."
2. Subjunctive uf the vulgar involo, to carry off, steal, &c.
3. " Outside," a vulgarism like ah intus for the simple adverb. Formentum seems to be the classical frumcnhvm.
4. Scil. mica, "crumb."
5. Note that rhyme proves the endings of palato and odoratus practically identical.
6. Should we read largitatem or largitate ?
7. "I take it on myself to offer you greeting."
8. Partitive genitive, as in modern French.
9. Exactly the modern en manger.
10. Pdte, dough.
11. Probably for nira.
This is a satire in the form of an imaginary letter from Bisho]) Frodebert to Bishop Importuuus. It belongs to the seventh century.
7.
In nomine sanetae Trinitatis. yrosiierum saluhre et f^atLs iunmdum est<e (llnuscitiir ut de caduca quispiam saeculi facultate Deo conferat quo peccata fiua valeat rediniere et abluere, et quid prudenciore consilium ut homo de riniiidani» rehus con^aret jiaradiso et terrena substancia transferat in caelestia, sicut Dns in evangelio preclara voce intonat " tessauriciate vobis tesaurus in caelo, ubi nee fur efudiet nee eruco nil)igenat nee tinia sulcat." Iggitur ego in Dei nomine Cluothildis . . .
DOMINANCE OF VULGAK LATIN. 43
cogitans qualiter peccatorum meorum facinora possem abstergere et ad aeterna gaiidia pervenire, lecit incunip- tis pauperebus bene tribuendo potest amma adebisci remedium, sed tamen iuxta quod scriptum est "date elemosena et omnia niunda sunt vobis, precipui ad domesticis fedei " ; et illud " facite vobis amicus de Mammonae iniquitatis qui vos recipiant in aeterna taber- nacola " ; et alibi " beati pauperis spiritum quoniam ipsorum est rignum caelorum " ; nihelhonienus bonum est pro cunr/oruni necessetatebus lebenter nianum porre- gere; sed ad tale bona maxime oportit substancia trans- agendi conferrere, septam monastirie habetacionis constvn- ere vel de aeterna tabernacola debiant ad beneficia rebus respondere, precipui ubi chorus sanctorum virgenum iugiter medetacionum carniena devotamente Dno canun- tur, in loco ubi decernit construere, in quorum honore ditatur, ipsorum ante Dno intercessio spiretur. et ideo in Dei nomine et in honore sancti Mariae geneiricis Dni nostri Ihesum Christi et citherorum sanctorum quorum pignora in ipso monastirio habentur inserta, in loco non- copante Brocaria, situm in pago Stampense, props de fiuviolo Urbia, insjnrante Christo, monastirium puellarum devotamente decrivi fundare.
Foundation - deed of a convent at Bruyeres-le-Cliatel, near Etaiiipes (670-1). Arch. Nation., K. 2 n. 10; Tardif, Monn- iiicnU historiqucg, n. 19 ; Meyer, Recveil d'ancicns tcxtcs bas-latins, kc, p. 5 f. Restorations are in italics.
8.
Quid dc hominebus ' fuit ad portas parades! (piando nioriebatur Adam ? [8eth] et Evam, et sic fuit : olium petivit et non invciict. Hoc illis dexit angclus Micael " modo non dabitor vobis, set pos quaniquc " milia I> hanus venerit, plasmator vester natus ex Maria vergene sanctam ipsi dabet vobis oleum unde unguates curpus
44 iiisTOiacAL i;eadeu of eakly French.
vestrum et rufrigerit karo vestra. Hunc vobis erit baptismo."
Quis viviiidum ^ seculum vicit 1 Elias et Inoc.
Quis in mortem horavit, ad coins oracionem dnb ter
quenos adedit anos? Eciel reges.'^ Quis asinam psiquendum reimm invenet 1 Saul rex.
— loca Monacliorum ; vid. Romania, i. 483 If, ; Meyer, Eecueil, 16 ff.
1. Scil. " what mortal."
2. For postquam.
3. Note the use of the gerund, which has passed iuto Romance.
4. The king is Hezekiah.
The above are selections from the ' loca Monacliorum,' or ' Monks' Puzzles.' The use of accusative for nominative is strongly marked, the case-endings hopelessly confused.
Cenacula, mansimiculas (Gen. vi. 16). Femur, coxa vel cingolo (Gen. xxiv. 2). Cutarmces, quacoles (Ex. xvi. 13). Scrabrones, vuapces (Ex. xxiii. 28). Bculpare, intaliare (Ex. xxviii. 9). Poplife, innctnre ianiculornm vel reliquorum membroruni (Judg. vii. 6). Sarcina, bisatia (1 Kings xvii. 22). Onerati, carcati (2 Kings xvi. 1). Mtihio accejjeram, impruntatum habebam. lecore, ficato (Tob. vi. 4). Reruvi, causarum (Judith vi. 10). PaUium, drapum (Matt. v. 40). Mutuari, prestari (ib. 42). Inluserunt, deganaverunt (Mark xv. 20). Commoda, presta (Luke xi. 5). Perihet, perportat (John i. 15). Artemon ritalus, niastus navis (Acts xxvii. 40). In commutatione, in concambiis (Job xxviii. 15). Fex, lias (Ps. Ixxv. 8). Pruina, gelata (Ps. cxlvii. 16). Manipulos, segetes, garbas (Ps. cxxv. 6). Da, dona. (From the Reichenau Glosses to the Bible; ]\[eyer, Recueil.)
The above are glosses on the Vulgate Bible, giving in each case as explanation tlie word in use in Middle Latin, which hence has passed into Romance.
DOxMINANCE OF VULGAE LATIN, 45
10. Karl the Great (Charlemagne).
Carolus gratia Dei Rex Francorum et Langobardoruni ac Patricius Eomanorum dilecte nobis et valde amabili coniugo nostrae ill. Reginae.
Salutem amabilem tibi in Domino per hos apices mit- tere studuimus et per te dulcissimis filiabus nostris vel ceteris fidelibus nostris tecum commorantibus. scientem tibi facimvis quia gratias Deo sani et salvi sumus. missus quidem dilecti filii nostri ill. nomine ill. nobis nun- tiavit de eius sanitate ac domni apostolici vel de salva- tione confinium nostrorum illis partibus positis. unde valde laetificati extitimus. et insuper retulit nobis qualiter ilia scara ^ nostra, que prius de Italia iussimus pergere partibus Avariae in ill. confinia resedendum, perrexerunt infra fines ipsorum decirao kalendas Sep- terabris. et inierunt pugiiam cum eis. et dedit eis Dens omnipotens pro sua misericordia victoriam, et multitudinem de ipsis Avaris interfecerunt, in tantuni, ut dicunt, quod in multis diel)us maior stragis de ipsis Avaris factum non fuit. et expoliaverunt ipsum luialum, et sederunt ibidem ipsa nocte vel in crastina usque hora diei tertia. et acceptis expoliis reversi sunt in pace, et centum quinquaginta de ipsis Avaris vivos compraehen- derunt, quos reservaverunt ut nostra fiat iussio qualiter exinde age re debeant.
1. Scara, mod. Ger. Schaar = army.
E.xtract from a letter from Karl the Great to Fastrada in tlie year 791. " Our son " is Pippin, King of Italy ; " our Apostolic Lord," Hadrian I.
46
IV.
LATIN AND FRENCH.
§ 1. From quite early times there existed in Home side by side with the literary or " classical " Latin a popular form of the language, the vulgar or "Low" Latin, which often greatly differed from it. The unlikeness between the two Latins came to be greater and greater as the vulgar speech was spread over the face of the earth by soldiers and colonists and traders, and with the mobility of a truly living tongue took up new words or developed new idioms in different places ; while the literary tongife became petrified, and, after being artificially kept alive for some centuries, at last perished utterly in the triumph of barbarism. From the Low Latin spoken by the lower classes in Italy, and introduced into France, Si)ain, Por- tugal, Eoumania, &c., arose the Eomance or popular tongue, which is the basis of the " Eomance " languages (French, Provencal, Spanish, Portuguese, Eoumanian, and " Churwaelsch ").
These languages preserve many vulgar or " Low " words which were unknown to literary Latin, as Fr. achier from apiaria, oiseau from * avicellus (vulgar Latin of the first century had aviceUa), houche from hucca, cheval from cahallus, planche from 2^^<^'^^'^<^j oignon from unio ; and they have, too, words which were lost to the literary dialect very early, and sometimes only returned into it
LATIX AND FRENCH. 47
after the classical age, as aider from adiutare (pre- classical, post - classical), maigreur from marror (pre- classical). Again, the Low Latin on which they are based contained some primary words of wdiich no traces at all have survived elsewdiere, only derivatives appear- ing, such as Fr. masse directly from * matea, ■which is itself unknown, but has left a derivative in Lat. mateola. Further, there are many words in Middle Latin, passing thence into the liomance tongues, Avhich are not found earlier, yet must have existed in the vulgar latinity, as auea (Fr. oie), haia (Iniie), directum (droit), focus in the sense " fire " (feu), hostls in the sense " army " (OFr. oste), masca (masque), troiqms (trap).
Thus French has for its basis the vulgar Latin, rein- forced by a strong contingent of more classical words introduced by the learned. The former has suffered very great, the latter very little, phonetic change. The former are of the nature of home growths, the latter are like exotics. Thus encroidev is a native French word, in- cruste>' a learned importation.
The native Keltic tongue of France had given way to Latin even before the fifth century, though by no means in all districts. It has left very few traces. The part played by the tongue of the German invaders was far greater ; indeed, it is a more important element in French than in Spanish or Italian. The Germans (Goths, Franks, and Burgundians) began to pour into the country in the early fifth century ; the Normans or iS^orthmen from Scandinavia arrived five centuries later. They intro- duced many words relating to war, and above all to the feudal institutions which they set up. The word "French" — i.e., -'Frankish" — -was at first given to the native tongue of the Franks ; w^hen this decayed it was applied to the Romance speech of the North (not to that of Provence), and in particular to the dialect of the Ilo de France, which by about the thirteenth century had
48 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
come to be the literary language of all the country save Provence.^
1. This and the following paragraphs aim at giving but the merest outline of the most important points of difference between modern French and its ancestor the Latin. Reference should be made for details to Diez, ' Vergl. Gramm. d. Romanischen Sprachen ' ; Meyer - Liibke's 'Vergl. Gramm.'; and to Brachet- Toyubee, 'Historical Fr. Gramm.,' the last a work to which I am specially indebted ; and to Darmesteter, ' Historical Fr. Gramm.,' translated by Mr A. Hartog.
VOCALISM.
§ 2. At the basis of the Low Latin, and consequently of the French vocalism, lies a phenomenon Avell known to philologers. The classical Latin had ten pure vowels — a a, e e, i 1, o 6, u u — of which the short vowels were open (i.e., pronounced without lateral contraction of the tongue), while the long were close (uttered with such a contraction of the tongue). In consequence we find the Low Latin, Avhich is the foundation of French, confuses in quality long close utterances of a low (" obscure ") vowel with short open utterances of a slightly higher (" clearer ") vowel ; and hence, as quantities become more uncertain, classical
a becomes Low Latin a.
e, oe, £§, i II II e (close).
^ '^ II e (open).
It i.
II o (close).
It o (open).
II u (close).
II 0 (long open sound).
§ 3. Latin A.
L A accented, (a) in open ^ accented syllables regularly becomes e in French, as chanter, cantcire ; feve, fuham ; (h) in closed, accented syllables it remains, as quatre,
e, £6 |
|
1 |
|
0, ii |
|
0 |
|
Vl |
|
au |
LATIN AND FEENCH. 49
qudttuor (qiiaftor) ; eheval, cabdUum ; (c) in open ac- cented syllables before nasals it appears as ai — e.g., sain, sdnum ; essaim, exdmen ; {d) in accented syllables before semi- vocalic ^■^ it becomes ai, even though the i be pre- ceded by a consonant, as niaire, mdior ; hai, hadium ; and this change occurs also before Latin consonants which in Eomance have become i (see below, §§19, 20), the only exception being (e) cases where there is a consonant be- tween a and i which is affected by tlie i, or permits it to become consonantal, the a hence remaining — e.g., place, pJdieam (vulgarly jMtiam) ; sache, sdpiam ; champagne, Campdniam. In (/) accented open syllables after semi- vocalic i of Latin or Eomance origin (see above) it becomes ie, ^pitie,pietdtem; rente, renegdtum; and {g) when it has this Latin or Romance semi-vocalic i before and after (§§ 19, 20) it becomes * or y, as Lagnij, Latiniacmn ; git, iacet.
II. A unaccented in a final syllable, or the syllable following the secondary accent, becomes mute e, as honne, honavi ; orplielin, urphaninum.
III. Before the accent, a (a) becomes e if in the initial syllable and preceded by c, as cheml, cahdllum, unless this syllable be closed or followed by r or I, as chateau, castellwn ; (b) it regularly remains otherwise, as panier, pandrmra ; avoir, habere; chafiter, cantdre,^ unless (c) the next syllable contains semi-vocalic i, or a consonant follows which in Eomance becomes /, in which case a becomes ai, as aider, adiutdre ; raison, rationem ; fait, factum.
1. An open syllable is one in which the vowel is followed by a single consonant or by the groups tr, dr, pr, hr, or jis (when^^n early vanished). Such openness is to be distinguished from the openness of vowels, on which see above, § 2.
2. That is, an i before any other vowel. In the vulgar speech, which is the basis of French, such an I was pronounced conson- antally as y. Furtliermore, an e of classical Latin in the same position was vulgarly pronounced also as y. The same phonetic rdle aa that of this y is played by the i arising from the loss of the
D
50 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
consonants c and fj in Romance, on which nee § 19 ii. b, r, d, iii. a ; § 20 ii . b, c, iii. a.
3. There are, however, many cases of c for a in this position, as chetif, captivimi, &c.
§ 4. LaU7l E.
I. Under the accent this e (a close sound) becomes (a) 01 in open syllables, as soil', seram, unless (i) a nasal follows, when it is changed to ei, as frein, frfnwn, or unless (c) it is preceded by a palatal, when it becomes i, as cire, ceram. In all other cases — that is, whenever it occurs in closed syllables — it generally {d) remains, as sens, sensum ; when (e) followed by consonants becoming i in Eomance it appears both in open and close syllables as oi, as roi, regem ; croitre, crescere.
II. Before the accent, e remains as e — ejj., devoir, dehere. Before the Eomance t due to Latin consonants it becomes oi, as royal, regdlem
§ 5. Latin E.
I. Under accent this open sound becomes («) in open syllables ie, as pierre, jjc'tram ; licvre, leporem ; rien, rem ; (b) if, however, the next syllable contains semi- vocalic i or i of Eomance origin the e becomes i, as pi'ix, pretium ; lit, legit. But (c) in originally closed syllables it remains — -fer, ferrum ; tete, testam. For its treatment in secondarily closed syllables, see § 15 end, note.
II. Before acxent, e (a) remains as e, as eveqtie, epis- copum, unless (&) a Latin or Eomance semi-vocalic i follows, .en the e ap})ears as oi or oy by combination, as§poz'sso/i, messionem ; moyen, medidnmn ; noyer, necdre. Sometimes (c) under the influence of neighbouring palatal vowels or consonants, &c., it appears as i, as ici, eccehic ; issue, exiitam.
§ 6. Latin AE.
This sound (a), when in Low Latin the accent sue-
LATIN AND FRENCH. 51
ceeded in keeping its length, was treated like e, as proie, prdedma ; haleine, halldenarn ; (b) even liowever when under the accent it sometimes appears to have been short, and was then treated like e, as del, caelum; Steele, sdeclum. In other cases it generally shared the fate of e, sometimes, for instance, appearing before the accent as ^ (ciment, caemenium).
§ 7. Latin W.
This sound coincided in Low Latin generally with e — thus j^eiiie [poenam).
§ 8. Latin I.
(a) Whether under or before accent, this sound regularly remains in French, as nid, nidum ; rpine, spinam ; fille, filiam ; vilain, villdnum ; but (/>) when followed by accented i it is dissimilated to e, as derin, divinum.
§ 9. Latin 1.
This shared the fate of e (q.v.) Thus —
I. Under accent, (a) foi, fidem ; (h) sein, sinum ; (f) loisir, lieere ; (d) elle, ill am; (e) noir, nigrum}
II. Before the accent — menu, mimitum ; 2Jloyer, pilicdre.
1. It appears often as e if followed both by i (Latin semi-vowel, or a product by Romance laws from consonants) and n or I, as conseil, consilium ; oreille, auric{u)lam.
i * O"^
§ 10. Latin 0. ^^'^ ^V^'^
I. Under accent, U becomes {(i) in open syllables eu or feu, as oeuf, uvum ; jJlcMve, ploro, unless (h) a nasal follows which preserves o, as noin, vumen ; p)ersonne, personiim. If ('•) followed both by a nasal or other sound and a Latin or Eomance semi-vocalic i, o becomes oi, as gloire, gloriam ; temoin, testimonium ; loin, h'mgum ; voh; vucem, except {(l) in the case where the group is followed by a vowel other than that of final -u)n, in which case o
v'
52 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
remains, as cujogne, cicuniam. In closed syllables (e) the o becomes ou, as cour, cvrtem, except (/) before nasals, which preserA^e o, as pont, pontem.
II. Before accent, u (a) regularly becomes ou, as epouser, sponsdre ; nouer, noddre ; Coutances, Constantias, unless (J)) a nasal follows which preserves o, as nonimer, nom- indre, or unless (c) the next syllable contains semi-vocalic «', or i of Eomance origin, in which case o becomes oi, as toison, tonsiunem.
§ 11, Latin 6.
I. Under accent, (a) in open syllables 6 becomes eu or mu, and, when followed by I with a semi-vocalic * of Latin or Romance origin, becomes eu, as hoeiif, huvem ; seuil, solium ; mil, ocidum ; (h) in open syllables it is kept before nasals, as bon, honum ; (c) in closed syllables it is kept, as corps, corpus, unless it comes (d) before I, which gives ou, as moudre, m6l(e)re. Again, (e) before r or any other sound but I, followed by a semi-vocalic ?', or i of Romance origin, it becomes ui, as cuir, corium ; hui, Iwdie ; huit, octo.
II. Before accent, 6 (a) remains in closed syllables, or in open syllables followed by a single nasal, as mortel, mortdlem ; sonner, sondre ; it (fj) becomes ou in other open syllables, as moidin, molinum ; (c) with the semi- vocalic i arising from Latin c or g it combines to form the diphthong oi, as foyer, focdrium; prier (OFr. proiei-), precdre.
8 12. Latin U.
This (a) remains u in French both under accent and before it, except (i'^) when followed by the semi-vocalic i, or i of Romance origin, which gives ui, as pertuis, j)ertiisiuhi ; aiguiser, * acutidre ; fruit, fructum.
LATIN AND FRENCH. 53
§ 13. Latin U.
This sound coincided in colouring with a, and so shared its fortunes. Hence —
I. Under accent, (a) in open syllables it is eu or reii, as gueule, gulam ; jeune, uivenem, except (h) when preserved by a nasal, as sommes, sdmus. (c) Before nasals and other sounds followed by semi-vocalic i, Latin or Eomance, it becomes oi, as angoisse, angilstlam ; croix, crucem ; with (r?) the same exceptions as o, as vergogne, vei'eciin- diam ; and in other closed syllables (e) it becomes ou, as houcJie, hicrxcm, except (/) before nasals, Avhich keep o, as omhre, umhram.
II. Before accent, (a) it becomes ou, as souvent, mhinde ; poidain, pulldnwn ; except {h) before nasals, as sommer, summdre ; or (c) before semi-vocalic ^, Latin or Eomance, which gives oi, as oignon, * unionem.
§ 14. Latin Au.
This [a) generally remains as open o, as chose, caumm ; oreille, auric{u)lam ; but {h) followed by semi-vocalic i, Latin or Eomance, it forms a diphthong, as joie, gdudia ; joyeux, gaudivsum ; oie, ducam (scil. avicam ; cf. avicella, Ital. uccello),
§ 15. From the above it will be seen that the vowel of the syllable which in Latin bears the main accent of the word is regularly preserved from disappearance during the change of the word into its French form. The syllables other than those bearing the main accent have either a secondary accent or none at all. They fall into two classes according as they occur (1) before the main accent, or (2) after it. If (1) they are before it, the rule is (a) that initial syllables preserve their vowel in some form, as cheval from cabdllum ; but (A) if not initial they lose their vowel, as haute from bonitdtem,
54 HISTORICAL KEADEK OF EAIILY FEENCH,
unless (r-) the vowel is a, whicli becomes mnte e, as orphelin from orphaninum, or unless {d) the vowel is preceded by a group of consonants requiring its sonance, or followed by such a group, in which case it remains as e, as fourterelle from turfurellam, gouverner from (juberndre, or unless (e) it is followed by a consonant and semi-vocalic i coming just before the main accent, Avhich keeps tlie vowel in the form of i, as ijavillon from papilionem.
When (2) the syllal)le is later in the word than that bearing the main accent, the rule is that [a) vowels of final syllables are lost, as fier from ferum, unless {b) the vowel be a, whicli remains as mute e, as chaudc from cdl{i)dam, or unless (c;) the loss of the vowel would leave an unpronounceable group of consonants, in which case it becomes mute e, as peupJe from 2>6p{u)lum ; while in the last syllable but one {d) the vowel regularly vanishes — a change already anticipated in popular Latin — as chavd from cdl{i)dum}
1. In this case au e ill the j^revious syllable appears iii French as ie, as teji{i)dum, tiedc.
§ 16. Latin Liquids.
I. Both r and I of Latin remain regularly in French- when initial, as roi, rer/ein ; lit, ledum.
II. Liternally (a) they also remain, as vendi-e, vendere ; couronne, coronmn ; porte, ])ortam ; empMr, imptlei'e; valeur,. valorem ; except {h) in the case of I between a vowel and a consonant,^ Avhich was lost Avhen the vowel was I or z7, . and became u after other vowels, as p>uce iiovn pUl(^i)rem, poumon from pulmonem. The r and I (c) in final syllables, , whether they are originally final or come to be final by secondary loss of a vowel, persist in French, as coeur, cor ; sel, sal; venir, venire; nul, nullum, [d) Latin rv remains as rr or r ; rs, following the tendency of Low Latin, some-
LATIN AND FRENCH. 55
times becomes s, as r/ieae from chesne, * quercinum . The rr arising through the loss of an intermediate consonant and vowel becomes rdr, as tordre, tur((iue)re. A like cliange takes place before the similarly arising groups Ir, mr, m; ml, as poudre from jjoldre, 2ml{ve)rem ; nombi-e, niim{e)rum ; craindre, trem{e)re ; comhie, cum{u)lum, &c. Latin /, followed by semi-vocalic i (Latin or Eomance), or preceded by a palatal consonant, becomes liquid (mouill'^, as Jiile, filiam ; ceil, oc(u)lum. Latin II usually remains, as helle, bellam.
IIL Finally, r and I persist, whether they are originally final or only come to be so by secondary loss of a follow- ing vowel, as aL'ur, cor; sel, sal; venir, venire; nul, nullum; fer, ferrum (rr becoming r). For dos from dossum, dorsum, see above,
1. By consonant I shall designate both consonants and nasals, unless the distinction is expressly made : thus I here account the first m of pvZmoncm as consonant.
§ 17. Latin M.
This remains in French (I.) when initial and also (IT.) when internal, but only (a) after another non - vocalic sound, between two vowels, and before p, //, as mer, mare ; pauriie, jmlmam ; ami, amicum ; emplir, implere. But (ft) when a following vowel is lost after single m in Low Latin, m becomes n before palatal and dental con- sonants, as sente, sem(i)tam ; ronce, 7-unt.(i)ce7n ; (c) m'n thus arising becomes m, as dame, dom{i)nam ; (d) mW and m'l become mhr, mhl (see § 16, end). Further, (e) original mn becomes mm, as dommage, damnaticum ; and (/) m with a Latin semi-vocalic i following it becomes dental, so that we get the group ncj, as singe, simiam ; changer, cambiare.
IT I. As the last sound of a word m was early lost in Latin itself, and so never came into French; exceptions
5.6; IIISTOIIICAL READER OF EAKLY FRENCH.
are a few monosyllables, which show n for w/, as Hen, rem; mon, meum or vulgar vmm. In Eomance where it has secondarily come to be final, it remains, or is written n, as 7i07n, nomen ; /aim, famcm; on, homo.
§ 18. Latin N.
This usually remains (I.) initially and (II.) internaU'iff as (a) nom., nomen; tournefr, tornare ; epine, spinam ; vent, ventum ; hranche, hrancam ; ange, angelum ; except {h) before s, where it was lost already in Low Latin, as epoibse, spo{n)sam., and (c) before semi -vocalic ?", either original or from classical e before another vowel, in which case the n is mouillS and written gn, as seigneur, seniorem ; ligne, lineam. On French ndr see above,,
§ 16, ii.
III. In secondarily final syllables, (a) n remains after vowels, as sain, sanum ; but (b) is lost after consonants,, as chair, carnem ; jour, diurnu'in ; an, annum.
Like m, n nasalises a preceding vowel both when final and when followed by a consonant.
§ 19. Latin C.
I. Initially. This {a) before o or u remains, as coupe, cuppam; the few cases of g for c, as gond, contum, are already Low Latin ; (&) before a it becomes the spirant ch, as chanter, cantare ; cheval, cahallum ; (c) before e or i it appears as sibilant c, as cite, civitatem ; (d) before r or Z it remains, as craie, cretam ; clef, clavem, appearing only as <7 in a few cases where the change was already Low Latin, as grille for craticulam.
II. Ldernally. (a) Before o or m (i) it remains if preceded by a consonant, as ecu, scutum,; (ii) if preceded by a it becomes g, and usually too turns a into ai, as aigu, acutum ; and (iii) if preceded by any other vowel it disappears, as sur (OFr, seilr), securum.
LATIN AND FRENCH. 57
When (b) before a, if (i) it follows a vowel that is not lost by the phonetic laws of Low Latin and Romance, it becomes semi-vocalic i after a, e, i, and either changes to / or is quite lost after o, u, as payer, pacare ; foyer, foca- rium ; rJiarrue, carrucaiii ; but (ii) after consonants, no matter whether the contact is original to Latin or due to a loss of an unaccented vowel in Eomance times, it becomes cli in Romance finals, as mouche, museum, and elsewhere ch or spirant (j (the latter only where the con- tact is due to Eomance loss of vowel), as seche, siccam ; manche, man{i)cam ; pecliei; piscare ; coucher, coU{o)care ; clerge, cler{i)catum.
Again, (c) when before e, i, (i) if it follows a vowel, it appears as s, and adds i to the preceding vowel, as taisanf, tacentem ; gesir, iacei-e ; (ii) if, when following a vowel, it come before unaccented e,.i, it survives only as i if the e or i were lost before the e could become s, but remains as s and also adds an i to the preceding vowel if the unaccented e or i did not vanish until c had become s — thus dire, dic{e)re ; faire, fac{e)re ; but|:'Za^^ {Qi¥r. pdaist), flacet ; nuit (OFr. nuist), nocet ; and (iii) when c is followed by semi-vocalic i and a vowel it becomes under all circumstances sibilant c, or ss, as ma^on, macionem ; fassions (OFr. fassons), faciamus; where again (iv) the c before e or i is preceded by a consonant it becomes sibilant c or ss, further adding i to the preceding vowel if the preceding consonant be ^'j as irierci, 7)iercedem; vais- seau, vascellum.
When {d) c comes (i) before r it remains if preceded by n, but elsewhere cither becomes g with addition of i to the previous vowel or else remains simply as i — thus vainc.re, vinc{e)re ; aigre, acrem ; luire, luc(e)re ; when (ii) before /, it remains if preceded by n, but vanishes after e, as onde, avunc{u)lum ; meter (OFr. mesler), misc{u)lare ; and it becomes g if before the accent and after a vowel, and i (with the I mouille) if after the accent, as eglise,
58 HISTORICAL EEADEPv OF EARLY FRENCH.
ecdesiuin ; maiZ/e, mac{^H)lam. Lastly, (iii) tlic groups ct and ;/: {i.e., rs) both yicLl an i in French, the s ot x remaining as .s', as, or .c, as fait, factum ; saint, sanctum ; aisselle, axillavi ; so/./;antc, sexaginta.
IIL Finally (i.e., as first consonant in the last syllal)lc, of which tlie following vowel was dropped in Eomance), if («) before original o or u (i) it becomes i after a, e, i, as Gamhrai, Cameracuvi ; ami, amicum. ; (ii) it is quite lost after ?f, as fetu, festucum ; (iii) it remains after n or r, as arc, arcum : (iv) in the Romance group fc it becomes spirant g after vowels and cli after consonants, as sauvage, silva{ti)cum ; porclie, port(i)cum- ; (v) cc be- comes c, as sec, siccum ; (vi) sc becomes s, with ^ added to the preceding vowel, as bois, hoscum.
(b) Before Latin e or i (i) it becomes, after a vowel, s or X, with addition of / to the preceding vowel, as paix, pacem ; (ii) after d it becomes z, as douze, duo- die)cim, and after other consonants sibi'lant c or s, as imnse, pant{i)cem ; puce, pul{i)cem ; and (iii) c followed by Latin semi-vocalic i appears as s, as soulas, ^olacium (in OFr. also sibilant c and z).
[The c absolutely final in classical Latin (a) becomes i after a, e, or i, as OFr. di, die ; OFr. fai, fac ; ni, nee ; but (h) sometimes remains after o, as avec, ah hoc.'\
§ 20. Latin G.
I. Initially the g (a) before o, u, r, or I remains, as gout, gustum ; goiijon, goJnoneni ; gros, grossum ; ghnre, gloriam ; but {h) before a, e, or i becomes the spirant g ox j, as jamhe, gamham ; geant, gigantem.
II. hdernally (a) after a consonant it remains before o or ?/, but becomes spirant before a, e, or ?', as Bourgogne, Burgundiam ; argent, argentum ; (Jj) between two Latin vowels it is (i) changed to semi-vocalic i when the vowels are a, c, or ?", as plaie, plagam (in reine from reginam., &c., this i is absorbed by the following ?") ; but (ii) when one
LATIN AND FKEKCH. 59
or l;oth of the vowels is o or u the g is quite lost, as rue, ru'jam.
(<■) In (i) the group (/r the r/ is either changed to t or wholly lost, as flairer, flagrare ; j^iaindre, 2il(ing{e))-e ; iMerin, ijeregrinum ; in (ii) gl the g becomes ?', as veiller, vig{i)lare, unless n precedes, which keeps g, as ongle, ung(n)Iam ; (iii) g followed in Romance by t or d be- comes *', as froid, frig(i)dnm ; (iv) the Latin gn either is still written (i.e., the g is pronounced as semi-vocalic ?', Avhile the n is mouille before it), as daigncv, dignare ; or the g becomes i, a g sometimes being still Avritten after the n, as etcdn, stagnum ; poing, piignum.
III. Finally — i.e., in Eomance finals — {a) g becomes i after vowels, as roi, regem ; and {h) after consonants is still written, but only pronounced when the next word begins with a vowel, as long, longum.
§ 21. Latin Q.
This (I.) initially remains as guttural c or as q, as '(juel, qualem ; cadre, quadrum. (II.) Internally it either (a) becomes guttural g, sometimes also producing i, as ega.l, aequalem ; Aigues, aqua>< ; or else (b) the q is lost, but traces remain in an i, while the labial semi-vowel u ■accompanying q remains as v, as OFr. ive, equam.
§ 22. Latin T.
I. Initially this sound remains, as trois, tres.
II. Internally (a) after a consonant t generally remains, as jiorte, portani ; matin, mat{it)tinum, ; while after h, after the palatal r or g, and after semi-vocalic i, it becomes d, as ■conde, cul){i)tnm ; aider, ai{u)tare ; (h) between vowels it is lost, as c/umteur, cantatorem ; ai'rnee, armatam ; (r) before r, after vowels it becomes rr or r, and after con- sonants remains, as, frere, fratrem ; huitre, ostream ; before 7, ])alatals, or nasals it is lost, as rnle, rot(u)lum ; porclie, po)i(i)aim ; rone, ret{i)nani. (d) The group t and semi-
60 HISTORICAL KEADER OF EARLY FRENCH.
vocalic / [i.e., Latin / or e before vowels) becomes (i) voiced ts-, with addition of i to the preceding vowel if it comes directly after a vowel and' precedes the accent, as poison, potionem ; but (ii) simply breathed s (written ss or c) if it is directly after a vowel and follows the accent, as i^lace, pjJaieam ; and (iii) it suffers the same change if it follows a consonant, as noces, niipfias.
III. Finally, when beginning syllables which lost their vowel in Eomance, it («) remains after consonants, as sept, se2)tem, but {li) is lost after vowels, as ecu, scutum ; (c) t with semi-vocalic ^' in the same position becomes voiced .<; (unsounded), and adds i to the preceding vowel, as palais, palatium.
The absolutely final t of Latin words remains also after consonants, as tieut, ten(e)t.
§ 23. Latin D.
I. Initially this («) remains, as dire, dicere ; but [h) if with semi-vocalic i, the result isj, as jour, diurnum.
II. Internally (a) if after a consonant, it remains, as also does the group dr, as chaude, cal{i)dam ; perdre, perd{e)re ; (b) between two vowels it vanishes, as nue, nudam ; (c) dr after a vowel changes to r or rr, dl (arising from loss of a vowel) to / or II ; but {d) under all circumstances d vanishes when composition or the loss of a vowel causes it to be directly followed by t, s, n, m, palatal c and v, as rente, rend(^i)tarii ; assez, adsatis ; Rhone, Rod{a)num ; manyer, mand(ii)care ; avenir, ad- venire; (e) d with Latin semi-vocalic i after consonants becomes spirant y, as verger, vir{i)darium, but after n they vanish after making the n mouille (written gn), as Bourgogne, Buryundiam ; whereas (/) after vowels the d vanishes, as ylaievl, yladiolum.
III. Finally (i.e., when made the last sound of the word by Eomance laws) it {a) becomes t or remains as d after
LATIN AND FRENCH. 61
consonants, as ^lert, viridem ; froid, frig{i)dum; but {b) vanishes after vowels, though sometimes still written, as merci, mercedem. (c) D with semi-vocalic i is treated in the same way as when medial, as hai, hadium ; orge, Jwrdeum.
§ 24. Latin P.
I. Initialhj it remains, as pis, peius.
II. Internally (a) after a consonant p or j"' remain, as does pi under all circumstances, as Champagne, Cam- paniam ; peuple, pop[u)lum ; powpre, purp{v.)ram. (b) Between vowels j) becomes v, as cheveu, capillum ; (c) before r it becomes v, as chevre, capram ; (d) before t or d it vanishes, as acheter, accaptare ; and before .s it assimilates, as chdsse and caisse, capsam. (e) The group of p and Latin semi-vocalic i appears (i) as spirant g if before the accent, as pigeoji, pip)i6nem ; and (ii) as spirant ch if after the accent, as sache, sdpiam.
III. Finally (in Romance finals) it (a) remains after consonants, as champ, campwn ; but {IS) becomes / after vowels, as clief, * capum.
§ 25. Latin B.
I. Initially it remains, as bien, bene.
II. Internally (a) b and h' remain after consonants, hi under all circumstances, as jambe, garnbam ; ombre, umh-am ; table, tab(ii,)lam ; (6) between vowels b becomes V, as cheval, cahallum ; (c) 6r after vowels becomes vr, as lim-e, librum ; (d) before t, nasals, and v the b disappears or is assimilated under all circumstances, as dette, deb(i)tam ; douter, dub{i)tare ; before s it phonetically disappeared, but has been largely restored l)y grammarians, as absoudre (OFr. asoldre), absolvere ; (e) the group b and semi-vocalic i becomes spirant g, as rhanger, camhiare.
III. Finally (in Romance finals), it (a) is still written
62 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
after consonants, as plo)nb, phmibum ; but (l^) becomes/ after vowels, as //•(/, Irahp.m
^ 2G. Latin F. .
Both initially and. internally this is preserved in i!>ench, ixsfoi,fJdem; enfer, infernum ; orfraie, ossifragam. la it is included the Greek ph.
§ 27. Latin V.
I. Liitially this usually remains, as voir, videre.
II. hitefrnally (a) after consonants it remains, as mauve,, malvam. (b) Before consonants (i) it disappears before y, t,. or s, as nager, nav(i)gare ; cite, civ(i)tatem ; and similarly (ii) it vanishes after I before r, as ahsoudre (OFr. asoldre),. ahsolv(e)re ; but (iii) after vowels it remains before r, as vivre, viv[e)re. (c) Between vowels v (i) sometimes re- mains, as nouveau, novellum ; and (ii) sometimes vanishes, as paon, pavonem. (d) The group v and Latin semi-vocalic i appear as j or spirant g, as neige, niveam ; Dijon, Divioiiem.
III. Finally (in secondarily final syllables) it becomes /, as ceuf, ovum.
§ 28. Latin S.
I. Liitially (a) this usually remains, as servir, servire ; but (&) Low Latin developed a short vowel before the initial groups,-^, ^ sjj, d, mi, which appears in French as e, while the, c, p, t, or m regularly disappeared, as ecu, scutum ; epee, sp)atam ; etain, stannum ; emeraude, smaragdum.
II. Internally (a) after consonants s is usually kept, as fausse, falsam; (b) between vowels it appears as voiced s (our z), as chose, causam ; (c) before consonants it has disappeared, the Eomance groups sV, ssV, and sc'r de- veloping dentals before the loss of the s — thus hate, hospiteni ; coudre, co(ii)i>(^ue)re ; croitre, cresc{e)re ; (d)
LATIN AND FRENCH. 63
before Latin semi-vocalic i, s becomes voiced (our z) and ss remains, in either case the i being taken up into the preceding vowel, as viaison, ma[n)sionem ; moisson, messionem.
III. Finally (in secondary finality) s is written, but is mute, and S6' appears as s — thus cas, caswn ; <jras, crassum.
§ 29. Lati7i Z.
I. Initially this appears as spirant g (or j), as jaloux, zelosum ; gingemhre, zingiber.
II. Medially it becomes (a) voiced s, as in the ending -iser from -izare, or (h) spirant g oij, as jujube, zizypMim.
§ 30. Latin Semi-vocalic I.
I. Initially the semi -vocalic (or consonantal) i, still vulgarly written _;', becomes spirant g or j, as juge, iudicem ; gesir, iacere.
II. Internally between vowels it generally combines with the preceding vowel, as maire, maior. For its treat- ment elsewhere compare the preceding paragraphs.
§ 31. Latin H.
As in Latin itself, French h has almost ceased to exist. In most cases it is written but mute, as I'heure from horaiu ; and often it is not even written, as orge, hordeum. In a few cases it still is faintly audible, and some of these cases are words wliich in Latin were without the letter, as le liaxd from altum.
§ 32. Declension.
Masculine Suhxtantives and Adjectives. — Owing to the breakdown of the case-system in Low Latin the cases in use came to be almost solely the nominative and accusa- tive. Here the analogy of the masculines of the second
64 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
declension influenced all the others. Firstly the scheme in Latin —
Nom. sing, bonus liber. Nom. j)Iu. boni libri.
Ace. bonum librum. Ace. bonos libros.
• — led to OFr. (eleventh to twelfth century) ^ —
Nom. siiig. bons livre. Nom. plu. bon livre.
Ace. bon livre. Ace. bons livres.
— and even in words of other declensions, as leo, pania, OFr. gave —
Nom. sing, pains, leons. Nom. phi, pain, leon.
Ace. pain, leon. Ace. pains, leons.
Analogy produced as general scheme by the end of the twelfth century —
Nom. sing, bons livres, Nom. plu. bon livre,
pains, leons. pain, leon.
Ace. bon livre, pain, Ace. bons livres,
leon. pains, leons.
The original nominative only survived in a few excep- tional cases, as —
Nom. sing, cuens (Latin Nom. plu. comte. ^
comes). Ace. comte. Ace. comtes.
And these too - ultimately fell in with the scheme which
' Exceptions are the words whose root in Latin ended in s, or a letter or letters giving s, x, or z in OFr. : all such, as mois {mensem), paix (pacem), palais (palatium), temps (tempiis), were always inde- clinable in French.
^ A few exceptions still survive. Some words have kept both the nominative and accusative, as sire (senior), by seigneur (seniorem), on (homo), homme (hominem). Others have the nominative only, as fds (fiU.vs), but OFr. fil (filium) ; traitrc (traditor), but OF. traiteur (traditorem) ; Charles (Carolus) ; Jacques (Jacobus), &c.
LATIN AND FEENCH. 65
gave s throughout in the nominative singular. By the end of the fourteenth century, however, almost all traces of declension had vanished, and the accusative was used throughout as nowadays.
Feminine Substantives and Adjectives. — The scheme in OFr. was —
Nam. sing, rose, main, mort. Num. plu. roses, mains,
morts.
Ace. rose, main, mort. Ace. roses, mains,
morts.
By the twelfth century analogy has caused the following declension : —
Nom. sing. mers. Nom, plu. mers.
Ace. mer. Ace. mers.
§ 33. Gender. — The Latin neuter has wholly vanished. Either (a) neuters became masculine, or (&) the final -a of the plural nominative has led to their confusion with feminines. Hence (a) le toit from tectum, which was confused with the masculine accusative ; and {h) la feuille from folia, which was confused with feminine singular in -a.^
"D"-
§ 34. Article. — The definite article arose from the vulgar use of ille, lience the scheme of OFr. —
Masc%iJi)ic.
Nom. sing, [illc) li. Nom. plu. (illi) li.
Ace. (ilium) le. Ace. (illos) les.
' Traces survive of the Latin law under which certain adjectives of the third declension had the same foi'm for masculine and fem- inine. French of the thirteenth century said " une (jrand femme," Latin f/ranrlis, r/rrmrlem. The modern grande fcrnme is Vjy false analogy. We still find traces in, c.f/., grand'chose, grand'mcre, &c.
E
66
HISTOKICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Feminine.
Nom. sing. (ilJa) la. Ace. (illam) la.
Nom. -phi. (ilJae) les. Ace. {illax) les.
By composition with prepositions arose du (del), au (al), the now lost e7il, des (dels), aux (als), es.
The indefinite article similarly arose from the popular use of the numeral U7ius ; hence OFr. nom. sing, uns ; ace. un. ^t\,;;, > •c\, ;,_
§ 35. Comx>arison of Adjectives has gradually come to he almost purely analytic — e.g., plus chaud for calidiorem. Few traces survive of the synthetic comparison, as in moindre {minor), though they are less rare in OFr., as hellezor (bellatiorem), pesme (j^essimam).
Conjugation. — In passing into French the passive voice of Latin was lost, and deponents became active. A peri- phrasis was used to form the future and conditional tense, hence, e.g., ehanterai, chanterais, from cantare habeo and cantare habebam. The perfect was expressed by the compound cantafum habeo, j'ai chante. Thus generally we find the scheme —
Pres. ind. Imp. ind.
Pret. ind.
Pres. subj. Imp. subj.
Pres. imper,
chante, canto, chantais, can-
tabam. chantai, ean-
iavi. chante, cantem. chantasse, can-
tassem.. chante, canta.
Pres. inf. chanter, cantare.
Gerund cliantant, can- tando.
Pres. part, chantant, cantan- tem,.
Past part, chante, cantatum.
Fut. ind, ehanterai, can- tare habeo.
Gondii chanterais, can- tare habebam.
These, with the conditional past j'aurais chante, the past
LATIN AND FRENCH. 67
anterior feus cliante, and the perfect fai chante, are the French representatives of Latin conjugation.
The persons are partly irregular. (1) The -s of the 1st sing, of so many verbs is due to the analogy of verbs like fais, facio, whose -s is regular ; hence vois, finis, Sic, for older voi, &c. (2) The -s- of the 2nd sing. pret. is for -st, Latin -sti. (3) The -ons of Ist plu. is from -oms, which is due to the ending of OFr. soms {sommes), Latin sumus.
68
EAELY FRENCH.
ILLUSTRATIVE PASSAGES. Strasburg Oaths,
These oaths are, after the Eeichenau Glosses, the earliest monument of the French language we possess. They were taken at Strasburg, in the year 842 a.d., by Ludwig the German to Karl the Bald, and by Karl's army to Ludwig the German, and are preserved by Nithard, grandson of Charlemagne, in his History (book iii. chap. 5). Nithard's work was composed about the year 843, but the only manuscript of it extant dates from the end of the tenth or beginning of the eleventh century.
In this MS. (now in the Bib. Nat. in Paris) the text of the oaths is probably not in its original form. It evidently contains faults of transcription, and is full of Latinisms. This may be owing to the copyist having been accustomed to transcribe Latin only, or it may be that the MS. from which he took his copy was a faulty one. Professor Koschwitz remarks in his Commentary that it is, indeed, possible that the original of Nithard may have contained errors, as, in his time, it was unusual to write in the popular dialects, and thus it might be of uncertain orthography and contain Latinisms. With regard to the Latinisms, Diez conjectures that the oaths may have been originally composed in Latin, and trans-
STEASBURG OATHS.
69
lated into the popular tongue. In this way he explains the absence, in the oaths, of the article, which was already in use in the language, and such constructions as pro deo amur, in quant, in o quid, &c.
To which particular dialect the oaths belong it is difficult to determine. Eaynouard regards them as being in Romance — i.e., for him Provencal — but Diez rejects this view, pointing out the marked French character- istics of the words. Other more recent critics have found that the oaths present the closest resemblance with the later dialects of the south-west of France, as far as our knowledge of these extends.
Oath of Ludwig the German.
Pro ^ Deo amur et pro christian poblo - et nostro commun salvament, d'ist di en avaut, in quant Deus savir et podir me dvniat, si •' salvarai eo * cist meon fradre Karlo et in adjudha et in cadhuna ^ cosa, si cum cm ^ per dreit son fradra salvar dift,^ in o^ quid'* il mi ^'^ altresi fazet ; et ab Ludber nul plaid " nunquam ^^ prin- drai qui meon vol ^^ cist meon fradre " Karle in damno .sit.
For the love of God and for the salvation of the Chi is- tian people and of ourselves, from tliis day forward, in so far as God grants me know- ledge and power, I shall save this my brother Charles, and .shall help him in every- thing, just as one ought, liy right, to save his brother, on condition that he do (save) me likewise ; and with Lothair I shall make no agreement that, by my will, may be injurious to this my brother Charles.
1 Pro may possibly have been por in the original. Pro was at that time a Latinism.
- christian iiohlo, gen. dependent on salvament.
3 St, Lat. sic, emphatic part., much used in Old French.
■• eo, also io (see Oath II.), formed by dropping g of Lat. ego.
5 cadhuna, Gr. Kara [una). Cp. Spanish coda, cadauna.
^ am, Lat. homo, Fr. o?i.
^ di/t, Lat. debet. Another reading is dist. ^ o, Lat. hoc.
' quid = qiic, the d being prob. inserted to avoid the hiatus.
^" mi, ace. (not dat.) after /a,~c^, which here is in place oi salvar.
n 2>l<'id, ] jnt. placilum.
'2 A i.atinism for w«J!77<«. '* Adverbial accus.
'■• cist meon fradre, dat. , the case-particle being left out, as was usu.al at this period.
"70 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Oath of the Soldiers of Karl the Bald.
Si Lodhuwigs i sagrament, If Ludwig keeps the oath
que sou f radre Karlo - jurat,'' which he swore to liis brother
couservat, et Karlus meos Charles, aud if Cliarles uiy
sendra ■* de suo * part non los lord, for his part, do not keep
tanit," si io^ returuar non it, if I cannot turn him from
Tint* pois, ne io, ne neuls" it, neither I, no)' any one
cui 1" eo returuar int pois, in that I can turn from it, shall
nulla adjuil ha contra Lodhu- aid him in any way (lit. I
wig nuu li iv er.'^ shall not be to him there in
any aid) against Ludwig.
St Eulalia.
This poem, which was modelled on a Latin hymn and written in assonanced^^ verse, belongs to the ninth century. The MS. was discovered in 1837 in the Library of Val- enciennes. It had previously belonged to the Abbey of St Amand, where the poem is said to have been com- posed. The subject-matter refers to the sufferings of a maiden, Eulalia, who would not abjure the Christian faith, in spite of threats or promises, and was cast into the fire. The story is apocryphal, and does not appear to be based directly upon the legends of either of the two known Saints Eulalia. It is meant to depict the triumph of Christianity over paganism.
As in the Strasburg Oaths, the number of Latinisms
1 Lodhuivigs, nom. case. ^ j)at. case.
3 jurat, perf. tense. ■• seridra, fr. Lat. senior, Fr. seigneur.
5 Probably copyist's error for sua.
6 The most obscure passage in the oaths. Diaz explains los as lo with enclitic reflex s{e). The MS. has n lostanit. P. Meyer reads fnmit for stanit, wliich word would correspond to the forhrihhit of the German oath of Ludwig's soldiers. See Koschwitz, Commentary, p. 42.
7 io. See note to eo (Oath I.) * int.=en.
8 neuls, Lat. ne uUus. ^'^ cui, direct obj.
11 iv er, according to J)iez—ibi cro. Iv is prob. an old form of y. Others take iv to be a form of io, ego.
12 Assonance consists in the homophony of the last accented vowel, witliout having rr^ard (except in the case of an and e?i) to the con- sonants that may follow.
ST EULALIA.
71
in the text is striking. This may, however, be explained by the Latin hymn upon which the work was modelled ; possibly also by the inexperience of the scribe in writing French words.
The dialect of the poem is generally admitted to be that of the north-east of France.
The versification has been the subject of much discussion by scholars (see Koschwitz, Commentary, p. 101).
Buona pulcella ^ fut Eulalia Bel aui'et^ corps, bellezour^
anima. Voldrent la veintre * li Deo '
inimi, Voldrent la faire diaule^
servir. Elle non ^ eskoltet les mals
conselliers, qu'elle Deo raneiet, chi ^
maent ^ sus en ciel,
Ne por or ned '" argent ne
parameuz
11
por manatee regiel ^^ ne preie-
ment. Niule 1' cose non la pouret ^*
omque pleier ^^
A good maiden was Eulalia. She had a fine body, a soul
more beautiful. The enemies of God wished
to conquer her. They wished to make her
serve the devil. She did not hearken to the
evil counsellors, that she should deny God,
who dwells in Heaven
above, neither for gold nor silver
nor raiment, for royal threat nor entreaty.
Nothing could ever sway her
^ pulcella, *pullicella, dim. oipuella.
' auret, plpf. indie. (Lat. habuerat) with sense of imperf. The plpf. disappeared in Fr. at a very early date. ' hellczour, comparative (Lat. bellatiorem).
* veintre, Lat. vincere. ' Deo is gen. dependent on inimi.
* diaule, dat. after servir.
"> MS. has nont. Some have taken this to be n'out, forming the compound tense n'out eskoltet.
8 chi, variation in orthography of qui, ch being hard.
* maent, for maint, 3 sing. pres. of manoir, to dwelL 1" ned, used before vowel for ne.
11 parameuz, obi. pi. oi parament.
12 regiel, prol). Lat. regalem, royal. Others take regiel as a sub- stanlive=re^«^ in the sense of blandishment.
13 Niule non, double neg. =nulle chose ne.
!• pouret, plpf. with sense of imperf. i'' pleier— ploier.
72
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
^ la polle sempre iion amast lo Deo menestier.^
E poro ^ f ut presentede Maximiien,*
chi rex eret a eels dis some
])aL5iens. II li enortet,^ dont lei nou-
que*^ chielt/
qued^ elle fuiet^ lo nom
chrestiien. Eir enti" adunet" lo suoii
element : ^^ melz sostendreiet les em-
pedementz ^^ Qu'elle perdesse sa virginitet ;
poros ^* f aret ^^ morte a grand
lionestet. Enz 16 enl fou la getterent,
come arde ^^ tost :
elle colpes non auret, poro
nos 1^ coist.i* A czo^*' nos voldret concreidre
li rex pagiens ;
that the maiden should not
love always the service of
God, and therefore she was
brought before Maximi-
anus, wiio was in those days king
ovei' the pagans. He exhorts her, for which
it in no way matters to
her, that she should forsake the
Christian name. She gathers therefrom her
strength : She would rather suffer tor- tures (Than) that she should lose
her vii'ginity ; Therefore she died with great
honour. Into the fire they cast her as
(if) she would quickly
burn : She had no blame, therefore
she did not get burned. In that the pagan king would
not trust ;
1 Supply here que, 2 i^ d^q menestier=le metier de Dieu.
3 poro=pro hoc. ■ * Maximiien, dat.
^ inortet, inhortare, with dat. In mod. French exhorter requires accus.
8 nonque, Lat. nunqiiam, is used in the Oaths in sense of "never." Here the meaning is "not at all."
^ 3 sing. pres. of chaloir, to concern. Cp. adj. nonchalant.
8 q^led, d euphonic. Cp. quid in Strasburg Oaths, I. line 5.
9 fuiet, 3 sing. pres. subj. oifuir. 10 ent, Lat. inde. ^1 adunet, Lat. adunare = OFr. aUner.
12 element. The word prob. siguifies "that in which .she lives"— i.e., her source of strength. In Ducange elementa is given = polus et cibus.
" empedemcntz, lit. hindrances. i* poros=poro se.
15 furet, j)l2)f. for iniperf.
16 J'Jnz, Lat. inttis. enl=en lo.
1^ arde, 3 sing. pres. subj. of ardoir. In intrans. sense.
1^ nos=non se.
19 coist^ sing. perf. of coire (cuirc). Lat. coxit.
■-'" czo {go)=ecce hoc, refur.s to fire.
VIE DE SAINT L^GEE.
73
ad ^ uiie spede li roveret ^
tolir lo chief.^ La domnizelle celle kose iion
contredist, volt'* lo seule^ lazsier, si
ruovet Krist, In figure de colomb volat ^
a ciel. tuit Oram " que por nos deg-
net* preier Qued auuisset ^ de nos Chris-
tus mercit post la mort, et a lui nos laist
venir Par souue dementia.
with a sword be ordered her
head to be taken off. The damsel this thing did
not gainsay, She wished to quit the world,
she prays to Christ, In the shape of a dove she
flew to heaven. Let us all pray that she may
deign to intercede for us that Christ might have
mercy upon us after death, and let us come
to him by his clemency.
Vie de Saint Leger.
This poem, which belongs to the middle of the tenth century, contains forty stanzas of six lines each, written in assonanced verse. It may be regarded as the first real effort at literary work in the language.-'^° The subject- matter is based upon a life of the holy martyr Avritten in Latin by Ursinus.
The MS., which is preserved in the library of Clermont- Ferrand, contains also another poem, entitled " La Passion du Christ " (see G. Paris, Les j)lus anciens monuments).
The present poem appears to be the translation of a text previously written in the Bourguignon dialect. The
1 ad, euphonic d. * roveret, plpf. of rover, Lat. rogare.
' chief, Lat. capxd {ch pronounced hard).
^ volt, 3 sing. perf. of voloir. ^ seule, Lat. secidmn.
' volat, 3 sing. perf. ^ oram, a Lat. form {oramtis).
^ degnet, 3 sing. pres. suhj. of degnier (deignier).
" auuisset, plpf. subj. The plpf. sulij. in Latin formed the imperf. suhj. in French.
1" Lanson says, in his History of French Literatxire (p. 2), " Ce n'est ripn ou c'est peu de chose, que cette vie de St Lrger : un mince filet de narration, naive, limpide, presque plate et presque gracieuse en sa iirocision si'che. Mais c'est le premier essai de cette intense in- vention litti'-raire que dix si('cles u'ont pas sans doute encore e]niisde : et surtout, il n'y a pas h. s'y tromper, c'est quelque chose dejh, de hien fran(;ais."
74 HISTOKICAT. READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
numerous words of Provengal formation may be accounted for by the transcriber having been a Provengal.
Verse 1.
Domine deu i devemps '^ lau- We ought to praise the Lord
der God,
Et a SOS ^sancz honor porter ; And to his saints bring
honour ;
In su' amor cantomps dels In his love let us sing of the
■ sanz saint
Que por lui augrent* granz Who for him had great
aanz ; '' troubles ;
Et or est temps et si est And now 'tis time and indeed
biens 'tis well
Que nos cantumps de sant That we sing of Saint Leger.
Lethgier.
Verses 36-40.
Tuit li omne ^ de ciel pais All the people of that country
Trestuit ^ apresdrent '^ a All set about coming (to
venir ; him) ;
Et sancz Lethgiers lis " pre- And St Leger preached to
diat,!'' them,
Domine-Deu" il les lucrat. He won them to the Lord.
Rendet ciel fruit spiritiel He yielded to Heaven the
spiritual fruits QuaeDeusliavretperdonat.^2 Which God had bestowed on
him.
Et Evvruins,^^ cum il I'audit, And Ebroin, when he heard
it. Credere nel pot ^* an tro^'^ quel Could not believe it before vidji" he saw it.
1 Domine deu, regarded as a compound word.
- devemps, devons. The personal j^ron. is omitted (see Darm., p. 618).
3 sos=ses. * augrent, plpf. ind. of avoir.
5 aanz, obi. pi. of aan, ahan (cp. Span. afan).
* omne=homm.es.
7 Trestuit, trans-*totti. Trans gives augmentative force.
^ Another reading is lai presdrent (iliac prenseriint).
5 lis = les. 1" 3 sing, jjerf. of 2)rcdicr, L. praedicare.
11 Domine-Deu, dat.
12 perdonat, p.p. perdoner {pardonner), signifying "to present with."
13 The Count Ebroin, who had retired to a cloister, because he could not get the crown for Theodoric, brother of Chilijeric.
I'' credere nel p)ot = ne put le croire.
1^ antro rpie (\js.i. intra). Mod. FT.,jusqu'dcegue. i" vid, vit.
VIE DE SAINT LEGEE. 75
Cil 1 biens qu'el fist cil ^ li The good that he did grieved
jjesat, him.
Oocideie lo commandat, He ordered him to be slain,
Quatr'omnes i tramist armez Four men he despatched
there armed Que Ini ^ alessunt decoller. Who should go to behead him.
Li tres vindrent a Sanct The three came to St Leger,
Lethgier, Jus ^ se giterent a sos pez. Down they cast themselves
at his feet. De lor pechietz que avrent For their sins which they
faiz had done
II los absols * et perdonet. He absolved and pardoned
them. Li quarz,'' uns fel, nom auf The fourth, a felon, his name
Vadart, was Vadart,
Ab un espieth ^ lo decollat. With a spear cut off his head.
Et cum il I'aud** toUut And when he had taken off
10 queu,^ his head,
Lo ^° corps estera '^ sobrels The body remained upon its
piez ; feet ;
Cio fud loux 12 dis que non It was a long time that it did
cadit. not fall.
Lai^^ s'aprosmat que ^^ lui He who (had) struck him
firid : approached :
EntroP'talia^^lospezdejus,''' Until he cut away its feet
below, Lo corps (e)stera sempre sus. The body remained still
standing.
1 cil biens . . . cil. The first cil is equivalent to cc, the second to celui.
2 lui. Lui in OFr. was used, not merel)' in an indirect sense, but also, as here, in a direct sense.
3 Jus, Lat. deorsum, Ital. gi^.
* ahsols, 3 sing. perf. of {abs) assoldre.
' quarz. The Lat. forms quartus, quarta, existed in Fr. until the seventeenth century : un quart voleur survient (La Fontaine, i. 13). Cp. unefievre quarte.
s aut = eut.
^ espieth, prob. from Germanic root spit (not !/)&', svord).
* I'aut should be li aut. The elision in the dat. is inadmissible, 8 (/ite?f = chief (Lat. caput). i" Lo for li.
11 estera, plpf. of ester [steterat) witli perf. meaning.
1- lonx dis, lit. lo7i(j days, here signifies a lo7ig time generally.
13 Lai (Lat. iliac), Id, ^* que, here equivalent to celui qui.
1' Kntrol = rvtro li, En/ra (Lat. intra).
1* taliu, 3 sing. perf. of taller (taillier). i^ di^us, cp. Ital. di giU.
76
HISTORICAL HEADER OF EARLY FRENCH,
Del corps asaz I'avez audit,
Et dels flaiels ^ que granz
sustiut. L'anima reciut- Domiiie-
Deus ; Als altres sanz en vai en eel :
Tl nos aind ^ ob ^ ciel senior-'' Por cui sustint tels passions !
You have heard enough of the body (of St L^ger),
And of the great tortures which he suffered.
His soul the Lord God re- ceived ;
It went (lit., goes) away to heaven to the other .saints :
Let him aid us with that lord
For Whom he suffered such tortures !
ELEVENTH CENTURY. Life op St Alexis.
The text is that of M. Constans, Paris, 1890. Extracts in Toynbee, iv. Thi.s poem is in stanzas of five asson- anced lines of ten syllables. It belongs to the second half of the eleventh century, and is based upon a Latin life of St Alexis, composed somewhere to the west of Paris, probably in Normandy. The author was, in all probability, Thibaiit de Vernon, Canon of Eonen.
Alexis, the son of the emperor's standard-bearer, deserts his wife on the eve of their marriage-day, to live the life of a mendicant. After seventeen years he returns to his father's palace, where he lives seventeen years unrecog- nised. He passes for a beggar. He leaves at his death a written statement which none but the Pope can take from him. This statement reveals his secret.
78. Quant ot^ li pedre" 90 que dit
at hi chartre, Ad ambes mains deront sa
blanche barbe : " E ! lilz," dist il, " com dol-
oros message !
When his father hears what
the letter said, With both hands he tears
his white beard : " Alas, ray son ! " cried lie,
" what a sad luessatre !
'^flaiels, 'L&i.Jlagelluin. " rcciut, 3 sing. perf. rccrvoir [regoivre).
3 aiud (Lat. adjtctet), 3 s. pres. subj, •* oh, Lat. apud.
^ senior, seignor, seigneur. ^ ot = {audit), 3 sing. pres. oHr.
'' 2>sdre : the hard medial dental t of patrnti ajipears here as the soft dental d. It does not disappear entirely till the end of tlie eleventh century.
LIFE OF ST ALEXIS.
77
Vis atendeie qued a mei
repaid rasses, Par Deu mercit que turn
reconfortasses."
79. A halte voix prist li pedre
a crider : " Filz Alexis, quels duels
m'est presentez ! Malvaise guarde t'ai fait soz
mon degret. A ! las,^ pecliables, com par^
fui avoglez ! Tant I'ai vedut, si nel poi
aviser !
80. "Filz Alexis, de ta dolente
81.
medr
•e
I 3
Tantes dulors at por tei
endurcdes, E tantes fains e tantes seiz*
passedes, E tantes lairmes por le tuen
cors ploredes ! Cist duels I'avrat encui par
acorede.
" O fdz, cui ierent raes granz
ereditez, Mes larges terres dont jo
aveie assez, Mi grant palais en Rome )a
citet ] Empor tei, filz, m'en esteie''
penez : Puis" mon dec6s en fusses
onorez.
T hoped that you would re- turn alive to me,
By God's grace you would comfort me anew ! "
With voice aloud his sire began to cry:
" Son Alexis, what sorrow is come on me !
I have ill guarded thee be- neath my steps.
Alas, sinner ! how have I been blinded !
So often have I seen hini, and have not been able to recognise him.
*' Son Alexis, O for thy sor- rowing mother !
For thee hath she endured so many woes,
And so much hunger and thirst hath borne.
And so many tears for thee hath she wept ;
This grief will to-day have broken her heart.
"O son, to whom will pass
my great inheritance, My large estates, of which I
had full many, My great palace in the city
of Rome ? For thee, my son, I gave
myself this care : After my death thou hadst
had the lordshij).
1 las, the adjective (wliicli appears as lasse in the feniiiiine), has become invariable in the Mod. Vv. helas.
2 par {per), an intensive particle. Cp. 'perdiscere, \ie,rfectus. It survives in Mod. Fr. in such phra.^es as "par trop fort."
2 de ta dolente medre, an elliptical e.xclamation : the full expression would be something like " 0 the grief of " your mourning motlier. Cp. Gk. usage.
■• sm=Lat. * sites. The singular was sei or soi. The /of sot/" dates only from the fifteenth century : cp. fief = feodum. It probably was inserted on the analogy of such words as cerf, clef, chef, &c.
^ esleie, imperf. from ester (stare).
6 Puis, ijrep.=^os/, *2)ots, *2mcs, pois, and puis. Vide Tonybee, s.v.
78
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
82.
83.
" Blanc fii le chief e la barbe
ai chanude ; Ma grant onor aveie retennde
Empor tei, filz, mais n'en
aveies cure. Si ('rant dolor ui m'est
apareiide ! Filz, la toe dneme seit el ciul
absolnde !
" Tei covenist ' helnie e bronie
a poi'ter, Espede ceindre come toi
altre ^ per. Ta grant niaisni^de dousses
governer, Le gonfanor. ^ I'emperedor
porter Com fist tes pedre e li tuens
parentez.*
84.
grant
" A tei dolor et a si
poverte,^ Filz, t'ies deduiz par ali^nes
terres, E d'icel bien qui toz doiist
tuens estre, Pou en perneies ® en ta povre
herberge ; ^ Se Deu ploust, sire en dousses
estre."
" Wliite is my head and hoary is my beard ;
My lai-ge estates T had des- tined
For thee, my son, but thou didst heed me not.
What great grief hath ap- peared to me to-day !
Son, be thy soul in pai'adise pardoned I
" For thee were it seemly to wear helm and hauberk,
And gird on thy sword like thy other peers.
Thou shouldst have ruled thy great household,
And carry the empert)r's standard
As <]id thy sire and thy kins- folk.
"To such grief and to such great poverty,
Son, hast thou lowered thy- self in foreign lands ;
And from this fortune, which should all be thine,
Little didst thou take in thy poor abode ;
Had it pleased God, thou shouldst be lord of it."
1 convcnir was frequently constructed with a instead of de before an iulin. Several other words were similarly constructed ; such were commander, desirer, oidilier. covenist is 3 sing, imperf. subj.
* alirc, coupled with per, is pleonastic. The plural nom. of the third declension was by analogy assimilated to that of the second ; so thsX pares has been treated as muri, and forms its plural joej- instead of pers. toi \s worn. ■^\. = tes.
* govfanon (O.H.Ger. (/wmZ/awo).
■* parentez : the masculine gender shows that this word comes from parentatum, not irom. parentatem. The word is nom. sing.
5 poverte, formed from a Low Latin word *pauperla ; cp. tempesie = *tempesta. Paupertatem gives the regular form, povrete.
* perneies, 2 sing, imperf. irom prendre.
7 herberge, from the M.H.Ger. herihSrga (army-shelter), whence heberger. This word has a doublet, auberge, OFr. alberge, formed from the O.H.Ger. form of the sanio word, hariberga. Cj). Darms., p. 563.
CHANSON DE KOLAND.
79
85. De la dolor que demenat li
pedre Grant fut la noise, si I'en-
tendit la medre. La vint corant ' com fenime
forsenede Batant ses palnies, cridant,
eschavelede: Veit mort son fil, a terra
chiet pasmede.
86. Qui done la vit son grant
duel demener, Son piz^ debattre et son
cors degeter, Ses crins detraii-e e son vis
maiseler,^ E son ruort fil baisier et
aeoler, N'i out si dur ne I'estoiist
plorer.
87. Trait ses chavels e debat sa
peitrine, A grant duel met la soe charn
medisme : " E, filz," dist ele, " com m'ous
enhadide?^ E jo, dolente, com par fui
avoglide ! Nel conoisseie plus qu'f)nques
nel vedisse."
Of the grief which the father
showed Mighty was the sound ; ay,
the mother heard it. She came running like a
woman distraught, Beating her hands, crying
aloud, dishevelled ; Saw her son dead, to earth
she fainting fell.
Whoever then saw her mani- fest her great grief.
Beat her breast and throw her body back.
Tear forth her hair and bruise her face,
And kiss and embrace her dead son.
None was so hard but that he must needs weep. f
She tears forth her hair and
smites her breast, And puts her own flesh to
torture. "Ah, son," cries she, "how
thou didst hate me ! And I, sorrowing one, how I
was blinded ! I should know thee no more
than had I ne'er seen thee."
Chanson de Roland.
The " Chanson de Roland " in its present form belongs to the latter half of the eleventh century. It was pub- lished for the first time by F. Michel in 1837 from the MS. in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. This MS. was
1 corant { = currencIo), a neuter gerundive. In Mori. Fr. the xisage is to say en courant ; though traces of the old use remain in d(m- nant. dormant, generalement parlani, chemin faisant. Ci>. Darnis. , p. 768.
2 piz=pectus, Mod. Fr. le pis. 2 maiseler=mctcellare,
* com m'ous enfuulide ? How hadst thou come to hate me ?
80 HISTOKICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
the work of an Anglo-Norman copyist, who was, doubt- less, inexperienced and careless in his work, as he often neglected both the rules of grammar and the laws of versification. Moreover, he has left a number of blanks and unfinished lines. The text Avhich he copied be- longed, in all probability, to the Norman dialect, of which a marked characteristic is the employment of e and M, where in standard French o and oi are used. The Oxford MS., which is the earliest and most valuable one, belongs to the twelfth century ; other MS. are found at Paris (thirteenth century), Chateauroux (thirteenth century), Venice (thirteenth century), Lyons (fourteenth century), and Cambridge (fifteenth century, incomplete). These form the so-called "remaniements." ^
The " Chanson de Eoland " is a chanson de geste^ which, although we here possess it in the oldest epic setting, had its origin in a still earlier ballad form. It was the mould- ing together of popular songs, connected with Eoncevaux and Roland, which ultimately resulted in the long poem of the eleventh century. What was the exact nature of these primitive songs is a matter of uncertainty. Some have thought they were epic poems, others cantilenes? The latter supposition is the more likely one. M. G. Paris thinks
1 The " remaniements " are tlie rearrangements of the old text, which took place gradually. First came the modifying of the ver- sification, altering the assonances and replacing them by rhymes. Originally the verses were intended to be recited or snng by the jongleurs to a company who could not read, and to whose ear the assonance would appeal. But later, after the twelfth century, when education became more general, it was necessary to address oneself more to the eye than to the ear. This led to taking liberties with the text— adding lines for the sake of the rhyme, suppressing others which were regarded as needless, and sometimes interpolating portions of the " remanieur's " own composition.
2 The word geste (in Lat. gesta, neut. plur., which became a fem. subst.) has the meaning of history. A chanson de geste is therefore a song having as its subject historical facts. A cycle is a group of epic traditions.
3 The caniilenes were sliort, simple pieces sung by the people. The ejncs were more elaborate, and were recited by the jongleurs.
/
CHANSON DE ROLAND. 81
that they were epic songs of Brittany (of which province Roland was the count — Conite de la Marche de Bretagne), and that the " Chanson," even as we now have it, shows traces of Breton influence (Extraits, Introd., p. x).
It is undoubted that the legendary element has largely entered into the composition of the poem. Taking as the basis of the story the historical account of the massacre at Eoncevaux in August 778 of the rear-guard of Charle- magne's army (related by Eginhard in his V-ita Karoli and in the Annals of Angilhert), we find mixed up with this the invasion of the Saracens and the revolts of the Gas- cons, the invention of a traitor (Ganelon), by whom it was supposed the French had been betrayed, the assignment of the victory to the Saracens, in place of the Gascons, the story of the reprisals of Charlemagne, and, finally, the inter- polation of the characters of GeofFroy of Anjou and Richard of Normandy, who died at the end of the tenth century.
"The Roland," says M. Gautier, "is a trilogy. The treachery of Ganelon is the first act ; the death of Roland the central point ; and the punishment of the traitors is the cUnoument." The style in which it is written is simplicity itself ; it is natural and unadorned, even dull at times in its plainness. But the work is imbued throughout with a lofty Christian and patriotic spirit. The type of the Christian leader is Charlemagne, whose struggles with the infidel it depicts. Love of God and the mother-country is the pervading theme.
The " Chanson de Roland," like other early poems, is written in a.ssonanced verse (see note 12, p. 70), mostly decasyllabic, though lines of eight and sometimes twelve syllables are also employed. The poem is composed of tirades or laisses of unequal length, but having on an average fifteen lines.
82 HISTOEICAL EEADEK OF EARLY FRENCH.
Preliminnries of the Baffle.
Charlemagne is crossing the Pyrenees, and the rear- guard is still in Spain under the leadership of Eoland, Olivier, and ten other peers. The Saracens, upon the advice of the traitor Ganelon, advance with immense forces to attack him in the defiles of Roncevaux. Olivier, from an emmence, has seen their approach, and is alarmed at their numhers.
Dist Oliviers : " Paien ont Olivier says: "The infidels
grant esforz ; have great force ;
De noz Franceis m'i semblet ' Of our Frenchmen there
aveir i)Ou'. seems to nie to be few.
Compaing- Rodlanz, car^ Friend Roland, sound then
sonez vosti-e corn : your horn :
Si Todrat Charles, si retor- Charles will hear it, the army
nerat I'ost." ^ will return."
Eespont Rodlanz : "Jo fereie Roland replies: "T would
que fols : ^ act like a fool :
En dolce France en perdreie In sweet France I should lose
men los." thereby my fame.
Rempres^ ferrai de Durendal ^ Forthwith I shall deal mighty
granz culs : blows with Durendal :
Sanglenz en ierf li branz The blade will be blood-
entresque i" a Tor. stained therefrom up to
(the hilt of) gold.
Felon imienmarii i vindrent The infidel traitors to their
as ^2 porz : woe came to the mountain
passes :
Jo vos plevis,^^ tuit sont I swear to you, all are doomed
jugiet a mort." to death."
1 m'l semblet aveir, in Mod, Fr. me semble y avoir.
■■^ Compaing—co7npagnon. Comjxdng (cji. the familiar word copain) is from companio, cmnpagnon from companion em.
2 car has an expletive force like done (see also line 11). ■* ost, Lat. hostem.
5 Jo fereie que fols— je ferais ce qu'unfonferait, an elliptical usage.
6 los, Lat. laus. 7 semjrres, in sense of forthwith.
8 Durendal. The sword of Rolan.d. That of Cliarlemagne was called .Joiose. The custom of giving a name to a sword was very com- mon in old epic literature. The sword was the distinctive mark of the chevalier, and was regarded as a person, a living being. Cp. Excalibur. ^ iert, 3 sing. fut. of estre. lo e7itres que, in-trans-quod.
11 mar, from Lat. mala liora. Cp. ouer, bona hora. '2 as, als, aux. 13 plevls, of uncertain etymology. Korting gives Goth. jjZasAvan.
CHANSON DE ROLAND.
83
" Compaing Rocllanz, I'oli-
fant 1 car sonez ; Si I'odrat Charles, ferat Tost
retorner, Socorrat iios li reis o^ son
barnet." ^ Respont Rodlaiiz : " Ne
placet^ Dauiedeii Que mi parent por mei seient
l)lasmet, Ne France dolce"' ja" chie-
def en viltet. Ainz* i ferrai de Durendal
assez, Ma bone espede que ai ceinte
al costet : Tot en vedrez lo brant en-
sanglentet. Felon paien mar i sent as-
semblet : Jo vos plevis, tuit sont a
mort livret."
"Friend Roland, sound then the olifant ;
(!harles will hear it, and will make the army return,
The king will help us with his barons."
Roland replies: "God for- bid
That my family should be blamed for me,
Or that sweet France should ever fall into disgrace.
Rather will 1 strike home with Durendal,
My good sword which I have girt to my side :
All the blade of it will you see blood-stained.
The infidel traitors are as- sembled to their sorrow :
T swear to you, all are given over to death."
" Compaing Rodlanz, sonez vostre olifant.
Si I'odrat Charles qui est as jjorz passanz ;
Jo vos plevis, ja retorneront Franc."
"Ne placet Dieu," 90 li re- spont Rodlanz,
" Que 90" seit dit de nul ome vivant
Ja por paiens que jo seie cor- nanz ! ^^
Ja " ii'en avront reproche mi parent.
1 olifant, Lat. elepkantem — i.e., ivory (horn).
'- o (ob), Lat. apiul with sense of avec, which has replaced it in mod. Fr. 3 lanut, Lat. hanmatum,
* placet, 3 slug. pres. subj. of (plaisir) plaire, Lat. placere, •> France dolce. About the place of adjectives, see Darm., chap. viil. " ja, Lat. jayn, u.sed in OFr. with various significations. ^ chiedct, 3 sing. pres. subj. of (chedeir) cheoir. 8 ainz, anteis, pop. Lat. for antea. Cp. Ital. anzi. 8 go introduces the subordinate clause, que jo seie. '" cornanz, pres. part, of corner taken substantively. ^^ Ja . . . ne— jamais.
" Friend Roland, sound your
olifant. Charles who is passing the
detiles will hear it : I swear to you, the French
will return." "God forbid," replies Roland
to him, "That that be said by any
living man That for fear of the infidels
I should ever be sounding
my horn ! My family shall never have
that reproach.
84
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Qviant jo serai en la hataille
grant, Et jo ferrai e mil cols et set
cenz, De Durendal vedrez I'acier
sanglent. Franceis sont bon, si ferront
vassal men t.^ Ja cil d'Espaigne n'avront de
niort gnarant
" 2
Dist Oliviers : "D'i9o ne sai jo
blasme. Jo ai vedut les Sarrazins
d'Espaigne : Covert en sont li val et les
montaignes, E li larriz -^ et trestotes '' les
plaignes. Gi^anz sont les oz ^ de cele
gent estrange : Nos i avoms molt petite
compaigne." Respont Rodlanz : " Mes
talenz" en est graindre/ Ne placet Dieu ne ses
saintisines angeles ^ Que ja jDor mei perdet sa valor
France ! Mielz vueil morir qu'a hon-
tage 3 remaifjne : "* For bien ferir I'emperedre
nos aimet."
When I am in the thick of
battle, And deal a thousand and
seven hundred blows, You shall see the steel of
Durendal blood-stained. The French are brave, they
will strike bravely. These men of Spain will never
escape death."
Said Olivier : " In that I do
not see any disgrace. I have seen the Saracens of
Sjjain : The valleys and mountains
are covered with them, And the landes and all the
plains. Great are the armies of that
foreign people : We have here a very small
company." Roland replies : " My ardour
is the greater for it, God and his most holy angels
forbid That ever through me France
should lose her merit ! Rather would I die than live
with dishonour : For striking well the em- peror loves us."
Quant Rodlanz veit " que When Roland sees that there
bataille serat, will be battle,
Plus se fait tiers que lions ne He becomes prouder than
lieparz ; lion or leopard ;
1 vassalment, worthily of a kniglit, bravely.
" guarant, garant (Germanic warjan), lit., will never have security from . , .
3 larriz, late Lat. larricium (cp. Ger. leer), waste land.
■1 trestotes, Lat. trans totus. s oz, pi. o{ ost (hostem).
* talenz, Lat. talentum, disposition.
'^ graindre, G. Paris reads "Mes talenz en engraignet " (Lat. ingrandiare).
8 angeles, with accent on first syllable. » a hontage=avec honte. ^" reinaigne, snbj. as in Lat. potins quam revianeam. 11 veil, 3 sing. pres. of veoir.
CHANSON DE ROLAND.
85
Franceis escriet, Olivier
apelat " Sire compaing, amis, iiel ^
dire - ja. Li emperedre qui Franceis-^
nos laissat Itels"* vint milie en mist a
une part, Son escientre,** nen i out un
codart. Per son seignor deit cm sofrir
granz mals, Et endurer et forz freiz et
granz chalz, Sin^ deit om perdre del
sane et de la charn. Fier'' de ta lance, et jo de
Durendal, Ma bone espede que li reis
me donat ; Se jo i muir, dire puet qui
I'avrat, Que ele fut a nobilie ^
vassal ! " ^
D'altre part est I'arcevesques
Turpins. Son cheval brochet,!'' et mon-
tet un larriz ; Franceis apelet, un sermon
lor at dit : " Seignor bai'on, Charles nos
laissat ci : ^^ For nostre rei devoms nos
bien morir.
He calls to the French, he
addresses Olivier : " Sir, companion, friend, say
this no more. The emperor who left us
Frenclnnen Set aside these twenty thou- sand of them, As he knows, there was not
a coward amongst them. For one's lord one ought to
suflfer great woes, And endure both severe cold
and great heat. For him one ought to lose
blood and flesh. Strike with thy lance and I
with Durendal, My good sword that the
king gave me ; If I die, the man who gets it
may say That it belonged to a noble
knight ! "
On the other side is the arch- bishop Turpin.
He spurs on his horse, and goes up an open space ;
He addresses the French, he gave them a sermon :
" Lords, barons, Charles left us here :
Our duty is to die for our king.
1 nel—ne lo. ^ dire, inlin. for imper. See Darm., p. 710.
•* Franceis. G. Paris reads here ga enz, here in.
■* Itels—tels, used here demonstratively.
5 Son escienire, ace. absolute. Lat. scienter, confused with the gerundive escient (Lat. sciente), which was used like other gerundives with a determinative. Cp. d mon escient, still used.
® sin, si en. Si is expletive ; en stands for j;cir son seignor.
'' Fier, imper. oiferir.
8 nobilie, a learned word with the accent on the second syllable.
* vassal, late Lat. vassallum, from vassus (dependent), prob. Keltic givas. Cp. Ger. Iv.rsche.
'" brocket, from Keltic stem brace, shaqi-iioiuted. Cp. Ital. brocco, sharp piece of wood.
11
ci=ta.
86
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Crestientet aidiez ji sosteiiir. ]5ataille avrez, vos en estes
tuit fit,i Car a vos uelz vedez les
Sarrazins. ( 'laiuez ^ vos colpes, si preicz
Dieu mercit : ^ Assoldi'ai vos per voz
anemes ^ guaiir ; Se vos morez, vos estrez saint
niartir, Sieges avi'ez el ^ graignor ®
jxiredis."
Franceis descendent, a terie
se sont mis, E I'arcevesques de Dieu '' les
benedist,** Por penitence les comandet
feiir.
Franceis se drecent, si se
metent sour ])iez. Bien sont assolt,'' quite de
lor pecliiez : E I'arcevesques de Dieu les
at seigniez.1"
Puis sont montet sour
coranz destriers. '^ Adobet^^ gont a lei^^
chevaliers E de bataille sont tuit ajiar
eilliet.
lor de
1 Iclp to uphold Christianity. You will have battle, you are
all sure of it, For you see with your eyes
the Saracens. Confess aloud your sins, pi'ay
for pardon to God : I shall absolve you for the
protection of your souls ; If you die, you shall be holy
martyrs. You shall have your place
of sojourn in the gi-eat
paradise." The Frenchmen alight ; they
have knelt down, And the archbishop blesses
them in the name of God, For penance, he orders them
to strike.
The Frenchmen arise, they
get upon their feet. They are absolved, freed
from their sins ; And the archbishop in the
name of God has blessed
them with his hand. Tlien they mounted their
swift chargers. They are equipped in the
manner of knights And are all prepared for
battle.
in-
1 Jit, Lat. Jidjijn, iiom. phir.
- damez, imp. of darner. Cp. Ital. diiamare.
^ mercit, Lat. mercedem.
■* anemes has accent on the a and counts as two syllables only.
^ el— en lo.
" graignor, Lat. grandiorem. The conipar. is here used augmentative sense.
' de Dieu — i.e., de la part de.
8 benedist, 3 sing. pres. of benedir, a word of learned formation.
" assolt. G. Paris and others read assols. . 1" seigniez, Lat, signare.
" destriers, chargers (Lat. dexlrarium, from dextra, because the liorse was led by the riglit hand).
1-' adobet (Anglo-Sax. dubban, to strike). Not from adoptare (Ducauge). is lei^ Lat, legem, law ; here custom.
CHANSON DE ROLAND. 87
Death of Roland.
The battle has been a terrible one ; all the Frenchmen have perished ; but the infidels, hearing the horns of Charlemagne's army, have fled. Of the two last of the valiant troop, Turpin and Koland, the former has already- expired : Koland himself feels that his last hour has come.
Co ^ sent Rodlanz que la Roland feels that death is
mort si ^ I'argudet,^ pressing him hard,
Met sei* sour piez, quan- He gets on his feet, as far
qu'il^ puet s'esvertudet ; ^ as he can he gathers his
strength ;
De son visage la color at He has lost the colour from
perdude. his face.
Tient Durendal, s'espede '' He holds Durendal, his
tote nude ; sword, all bare ;
Dedevant ^ lui at une piedre Before him he has a brown
brune, stone,
Dis cols i fiert par duel ^ et Ten blows he strikes on it
par rancune : from grief and rage :
Croist 1" li aciers, ne fraint ue The steel gi^ates, (but) neither
ne s'esgrumet ; ^^ breaks nor chips ;
Et dist li corns : " Sainte And the count said : " Holy
Marie, aiude '^ Mary, help !
E ! Durendal, bone, si mare O Durendal ! good (sword),
fustes ! how unfortunate you have
been !
Quant jo mei pert, de vos Since I am lost, I can take
nen ^^ ai mais cure. care of you no longer.
1 fo. In OFr. fo was frequently used before que with the verbs croire, suvoir, scntir, voir, kc, to introduce a subordinate proposition.
2 si. G. Paris reads " fort I'argudet."
3 argudet, Lat. argutare, to talk vehemently and, by extension, to hasten, to press.
* met sei. Sei (in north, dialects for soi) could in OFr. be placed after the verb. Cp. Span, sepone, ponese. (See Darm., p. 844.)
5 quanqice, quant que. s s'esvertudet, from Lat. ex virtutem.
7 s'espede. Became after twelfth century son e{s)pe(d)e. (See Darm., p. 302.)
* Dedevant (de-de-abante).
' duel, from dulere ; mod. douleur.
!'> croist, 3 sing. pres. of (croissir) ; Lat, corxiscire {coruscare). 11 s'esgrumet, Lat. *eo:r)rvmare. i^ aiude, imper. of aidier.
13 neti, used before vowels for tie.
88
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Tantes batailles eii cliaiu]j
en 1 ai vencudes, Et tantes terres larges es-
combatudes, Que Charles tient, qui la
barbe at chenude ! ^ A mon vivant^ ne me serez
tolude. Ne vos ait om qui por altie
s'en f uiet ! * Molt bons vassals vos at lone
terns tenude : Ja mais n'iert tels en France
la solude." * Rodlanz ferit en une pierre
bise : ^ Plus en abat que jo ne vos
sai dire ; L'espede croist, ne froisset ne
ne briset/ Contre le ciel a mont^ est
ressortide. Quant veit li corns que ne la
fraindraf mie/" Molt dolcement la plainst a
sei medisme : "E ! Durendal, com ies bele
et saintisme ! En I'orie^^ pont'^ assez i at
reliques,'^ Un dent saint Pierre ^* e del
sane saint Basilie,
So many battles in the field I
have gained with you, And so many broad lands
have I conquered, Which Charles holds, who
has the snowy beard ! Whilst I live you shall not
be taken from me. May no man have you who
flees before another ! A very good knight has long
possessed you : Never shall there be such a
one in France the free." Roland strikes with it a dark
stone ; He knocks with it more than
I can tell you ; The sword grates, it does not
crack nor break, It sprang up towards the
sky. When the count sees that he
will not break it at all. Very softly he pities it to
himself : " O Durendal ! how beauti- ful and holy you are ! In the golden pommel there
are many relics, A tooth of St Peter and some
blood of St Basil,
1 en ai vencudes, en means " with you." (For use of en applied to persons, seeDarm., p. 637.)
* chenude, Lat. emiutam.
' a mon vivant, a equivalent to 2>cndant.
* s'en fuiet, now written one word — s'enfuit. ^ solude. G. Paris reads here i'assolude.
* bise, this epithet is frequent to denote granite or other hard stone, &c. Here it signifies simply hard stone (see line 5, p. 87).
'■ froisset, hriset. The use of active verbs in a neuter sense was formerly more frequent than now.
8 a mont = ad montem. Cj). modern en amont. 8 fraindrat, 3 sing. fut. oi fraindre. 1** mie, neg. part. = mica. " orie, Lat. aureum.
12 2}ont, punt, Lat. 2}omum.
13 reliques. The custom of preserving relics in the pommels of swords was common.
1* dent Saint Pierre, de ondtted in OFr. (See Darni., p. 401.)
CHANSON DE ROLAND.
89
E des chevels luoii saint Denisie,
Del vestement i Marie.
seignor at sainte
II nen^ est dreit
te baillisseut De crestiiens
servide.^ Molt larges terres
que paieu
devez estre
de vos
qui la
And some liair of my lord
St Denis, Some clothing there is of St
Mary. It is not right that infidels
should possess you ; (It is) by Christians you
ought to be used. Very broad lands shall I have
conquered by you, Which Charles holds, Charles
of the flowing beard : And by them the emperor is
both mighty and rich, Let no man have you, who
does deeds of cowardice ! God, do not let France be
dishonoured by it ! "
Roland feels that death over- comes him, It is descending from his head
to his heart. Beneath a pine-tree he went
in haste, Upon the green grass he lay
face downwards. Beneath him he puts his
sword and the olifant. He turned his head towards
the infidel people : He did it because he wishes
truly
1 nen est. See note 13, p. 8Z.
2 haillissent, Lat. bajulare ; Ital. halire. First, to bear a burden, then, to attend to a child, then, to manage^ possess (cp. Eng. bailirt).
2 servide, according to G. Paris, honoured.
* avrai conquises, a not unusual mode of expression. The thought is carried forward to the future.
5 codardie, from caiida (dropping of the tail from fear). " honide. Cp. Ger. hdhnen.
7 devers, Lat. de versus.
8 li descent — i. e. , elle lui descend. 8 dessoz, Lat. de subtus.
1" colchiez=couche.
11 adenz, Lat. ad denies — i.e., on his teeth.
12 s'espede. See note 7, p. 87.
1' olifant, Lat. elephantcm, ivory (horn). 1* Pvr fo que = par ce que. 15 veirem,ent=vraiment.
avrai conquises,* Que Charles tient,
barbe at floiide : Et I'emperedre en est et ber
et riches. Ne vos ait om qui facet
codardie ! ^ Dieus, ne laissier que France
en seit honide ! " ®
Co sent Eodlanz que la mort
I'entreprent, Devers " la teste sour lo cuer
li descent.* Dessoz^ uu pin i est alez
corant, Sour I'erbe vert si est col-
chiez ^^ adenz,ii Dessoz lui met s'espede ^^ et
rolifant.13 Tornat sa teste vers la paiene
gent : Por 90 ^'* I'at fait que il vuelt
veii'ement ^-^
90
HISTOllICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
That Charles and all his
peojjle may say That the noble count died a
conqueroi'. lie confesses aloud his sins
over and over again, For his sins he stretches out
the glove to God.
The Count Roland laid him- self under a pine-tree,
Towards Spain from it he turned his face.
The remembrance of many
things came over hin) lands that
he, con-
Que Charles diet ^ et tres-
tote sa gent, Li gentilz coms, qu'il est
niorz conquerant. Claiinet sa colpe et meniit -
et soveiit, Por ses pechiez Dieu poro
frit ^ lo guant.
Li coms Rodlanz se jut ^
dessoz un pin, Envers Espaigne en at tornet
son vis. De plusors choses a re-
membrer ^ li prist ; " De tantes terres come li ber
a conquis,
De dolce France, des omes de
son lign, De Charlemagne, son seignor,
quil ' nodrit, E des Franceis dont il esteit
si fiz.^ Ne puet muder" ne plort '''
et ne sospirt ; Mais lui medesme " ne vuelt
metre en oblit : ^^ Clairaet sa colpe, si i)i'iiit
Dieu mercit : "Veire*^ paterne,!* qui on-
ques ne mentis,i^
1 diet, Lat. dicat.
2 menut, Lat. minutum. Cp. Span, d menudo.
3 porofrit, j^or {i)ro) and offerire for offerre. ■* jut, 3 sing. perf. gesir.
5 remembrer de, generally used actively, remembrer uiie chose, or se reinenibrer de.
^ li prist, imj^ers. il lui prit,
7 quilz=qui le.
8 esteit sifiz. G. Paris reads est si cheriz. 8 muder, Lat. mutare. Cp. Span, mudar.
'f* ne plort, &c. Note ellipsis of qw before subordinate clause, subj. ol plorer. G. Paris reads sei medesme.
^3 Veirc=vrai. •paterna (see Ducange). Prop, representation of God the Father, a word of learned formation. 1* mentis, 2 sing. perf. of mentir.
Of so many
the valiant one, has
quered, Of sweet France, of the men
of his lineage, Of Charlemagne, his lord,
who brought him up ; And of the Frenchmen, of
whom he was so sure. He cannot help weeping and
sighing ; But he does not wish to make
himself forgotten : He confesses aloud his sins,
prays God for mercy : " O true Father, who never
lied,
Plort, 3 sing. pres.
11 lui medesme.
12 oblit=oubli. !■* 2}aterne, Lat.
CHARLEMAGNE'S PILGRIMAGE.
91
Saint Lazaron de mort res-
surrexis, E Daniel des lions guaresis,^
Guaris de niei I'aneme^ de
toz perilz, Por les pecliiez que en ma
vide fis ! " Son destre guant ^ a Dieu en
porofiit, Et de sa main sainz CTabriels
I'at pris. Dessour * son braz teneit ^
lo chief enclin : Jointes ses mains est alez a
sa fin. Dieus li tramist ^ son angele
cherubin E saint Michiel de la mer del
peril ; '' Ensemble od els sainz Ga- briels i vint : L'aneme del comte portent
en pareis.
Who raised St Lazarus from
the dead, And protected Daniel from
the lions, Keep my soul from all perils,
For the sins I have done in
my life ! " He holds out his right glove
to God, And by his hand St Gabriel
has taken him. Upon his arm he kept his
head bent : With clasped hands is gone
to his end. God sent him his cherub
angel And St Michael from the
sea of peril ; Together with them St
Gabriel came : The soul of the count they
bear to Paradise.
Charlemagne's Pilgrimage.
This poem dates from the eleventh century. Its sub- ject is the pilgrimage of Charlemagne to the East, whence he brought back the sacred relics of the Passion. " Our old heroic poetry," says G. Paris {Poesie du moyen Age, p. 126), "has found no finer means of representing the almost sacred majesty of Charles and his peers than this
1 guaresis, 2 sing. perf. of grmrir.
- de mei l'aneme, inversiou uot unusual hi OFr.
3 guant— offrir son gant signified, according to tlic idea of feudal times, the abandoning oneself entirely, speaking of a vassal to his ■seigneur.
•• Dessour, Lat. de supra.
6 teneit, 3 sing. impf. of tenir.
6 tramist, 3 sing. perf. of tramettre (transmittere).
7 &t Michael de la mer del peril. Reference to the Mont St Michel Ml 2)rriculu maris, which was founded in the eightli century near the borders of Brittany. This is regarded as a reason for the poem being of Breton origin.
92
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
scene in the cliuich at Jerusalem, when they take the place of Jesus and his twelve apostles. IS'othing sym- bolises more grandly and more simply the part assigned by popular admiration to the hero who was later to bear the name of St Charlemagne."
The first part of the poem is wholly serious, but in the second part, which recounts the visit of Charlemagne to Constantinople, the comic element is introduced. The author did not wish to cause laughter at the expense of Charlemagne, but rather to ridicule King Hugo and the Greeks. He has, in fact, taken an Eastern tale and worked it in with the pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The poem was rearranged (remame) in the fourteenth century, and forms part of the poem of Galien (see Koschwitz, Kaiis des grossen Reise nach Jerusalem u. Konstantinoj^el).
The name of the author is not known. The dialect of the poem is that of the Isle de France, and it is written in assonanced verse in lines of twelve syllables, of which it is the earliest known example.
Charlemagne and the Twelve Peers in the Church OF Jerusalem.
Molt est genz ^ Ji presenz que li reis Charles of ret.
Entrat en un mostier' de niarbre peint a volte.^
La eiiz * at'^ un alter de sainte
paternostre ; Deus i chantat la messe, si"
firent li apostle ; Et les doze chaieres i soiit
totes encore ;
Very beautiful is the present which the King Charles offers.
into a church with painted
He entered
of marble
vaults. There within is an altar of
holy devotion ; God had chanted mass there,
as had the apostles ; And the twelve stalls are all
there still ;
1 genz, Lat. gentilem.
" mostier, Lat. monasterium. Here iu general sense oi church.
2 2)eint a voUe=aux voUtcs 2Jeinles.
* enz, Lat. ini'us. 5 at=il y a.
8 &i, Lat, sic. Here simply a connecting particle.
CHARLEMAGNE S PILGRIMAGE.
93
La trezime est en mi ^ bien seelee et close.
Et Charles i enti at ; bien out al cuer grant joie ;
Com il vit la chaiere, icele part ^ s'aprochet.
L'eraperedre s'assist,^ un petit se reposet,^
Li doze per as* altres, en- viron et en coste.
sist nuls om
7
Ainz'' nen " 1
ne onques puis ' encore Molt fut liez * li reis Charles
de eele grant beltet : Vit de cleres colors lo mostier
peinturet, De martirs et de virgenes "
et de granz majestez, Et les corz de la lune et les
festes anvels, Et les levrieres cori'e ^** et les
peissons par mer. Charles out tier lo vis," si
out lo chief '- levet, Uns Judeus i entrat, qui bien
I'out esguardet ; *^ Com il vit lo rei Charle,
comen9at a trembler : Tant out fier lo visage, ne
I'osat esguarder,**
The third is in the middle,
carefully sealed up and
closed. And Charles entered thither ;
he had great joy in his
heart ; When he saw the stall, he
approaches on that side. The emperor sat him down
there, and rests a while. The twelve peers enter the
others, around and at his
side. Before this no man sat there,
nor ever since. Fnll joyful was King Charles
for this great beauty : He 1 leheld the church painted
with bright colours, Of martyrs and virgins and
of great saints ; And the horns of the moon
and the yearly festivals, A lid the greyhounds running,
and the fishes in the sea. Charles had a proud face, he
held his head high, A Jew entered there, who
looked at him fixedly ; As he saw the King Charles,
he began to tremble : He had so terrible a face, he
dared not regard him,
1 en ini=au milieu.
2 icele part, used without prep. Cp. aller quelqtie part.
s assist, perf. ; reposet, pres. The historical pre.sent i.s u.scd con- currently with the simple perf. and the periphrastic perf. ; they are iiii-xed often even in the same sentence.
* as (als), aux. ' ainz, ayiteis, pop. Lat. for antea=ante ea.
8 nen, for ne before the following vowel.
' puis — depiiis. ^ liez, Lat. laelum.
^ virgenes, accent on first syllable. (Cp. dngeles, " Ch. de R.," p. 84.)
•« corre, liat. currere. Used even in eighteenth century ; Voltaire has corre fortune.
11 vis, Lat. visum. '2 chief, Lat. caput (ch hard).
13 out esguardet, plpf. with perf. meaning.
1* esguarder (esgarder), ex-yarder, from O.H.G. warta. Cp. Ital. sg liar dare.
94
HISTORICAT- READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
A pou que il ne cliiedet/ fuiant s'eu est toniez
Et si nioutet d'eslais''^ toz les iiiarbrins ^ degrez,
Et vint al patriarche, pris* li en a parler :
"Alez, sire, al mostier por
les fonz aprester ; Orendieit" nie ferai baptizier
et lever.
Doze comtes vi ore " en eel
mostier entrer, Avuec els lo trezinie, one ne
vi si formet/
Par lo mien escientre,*^ 90 est medesmes Deus ;
11^ et li doze a[)ostle vos vienent visiter."
Quant I'ot li patriarclies, si s'en vait conreer
10
He is near falling, he turns
him in Hight And ascends with a bound
all the marble steps, And came to the ])ati'iarch
and began to sp(>alv to him
of it: " Go, sire, to the church to
prepare the fonts ; Straightway I will have my- self baptised and lield up
(over the font). Twelve counts I saw but now
enter into this church, With them the thirteenth ;
never saw I aught so
shapely. By my conscience, this is
very God ; He and the twelve apostles
come to visit you." Soon as the patriarch hears
this, he goes off to prepare
himself ; And commanded his clerks
(to get them) arrayed iu
albs ; He makes them put on their
vestments and don their
hoods. In full procession went he to
the king. The emperor rose to meet
him, And took off his crown ; he
bowed to him profoundly.
1 chiedet, 3 sing. pres. ind. of cheoir (Lat. eadit).
- d'eslais=d'un elan. 3 marhiins=marmorimim.
^ pris=prist, 3 sing. perf. * orendreit=or-en-droU.
^ ore, Lat. horam, just now.
"^ forinet, p.p. employed here in the neuter.
8 escientre. See note 5, p. 85.
y 7Z=Mod. Fr. lui (see Darm., p. 624).
10 conreer, from *conredare, from Germanic radjnn. Cp. rjudit.
11 areez, from *arredare. 1- encontre, here is prep. 13 chapel, chapeau, any head-covering ; here " crown." !■* parfont=per/undum {profundum). 15 clinet, diner, ]\Iod. Fr. sHnrliner.
Et out mandet albes areez,!^
ses clers en
II les fait revestir afubler.
et chapes
A grant procession en est al
rei alez. Li emperedre s'est encontre ^'^
lui levez Et out trait son chapel ; '"
parfont ^* li at clinet.^'*
RU38.
CHAELEM AGNES PILGRIMAGE.
95
Vont sei entrebaisier, noveles demander,
Et dist li patriarches: " Dont estes, sire, nez '?
Onques nen * osat oni en cest
mostier entrer, Se ne li comaudai o ne li oi
rovet." ^ "Sire, jo ai non^ Charles, si
sui de France nez ; Doze reis ai conquis par force
et par barnet,*
Lo trezime vois querre ^ dont ai oit parler.*
Vin en*' Jerusalem por
I'amistet de Deu, La croiz et le sepulcre sui
venuz aorer." Et dist li patriarches : " Sire,
molt estes ber,'^ Sis as* en la chaiere ou sist
medesmes Deus ; Aies non Charles Maignes sor
toz reis coronez."
They go to embrace each
other, to ask news (each of
the other). And quoth the patriarch :
" Whence are you, sire, by
birth ^ Never dared man enter into
this church Unless I commanded liim or
asked him." " Sire, I am C!harles by name,
in France I was born ; Twelve kings have I con- quered by strength and by
valour, I am going to seek the thix"-
teenth, of whom I have
heard speak. I came to Jerusalem for the
love of God, I came to adore the ci^oss and
the sepulchre." And the patriarch said :
" Sire, right noble are ye ! Thou hast sat on the chair
where God himself sat ; Have as name Charles tlie
Great, crowned over all
1 Tien. See note 13, p. 87.
2 rovet, Lat. rogare. In OFr. it governs dative.
3 non=^no77i.
■• barnet, Lat. haronatum. Here, in abstract sense, quality of a aron.
5 vois querre, vais chercher. 8 en, for d (see Darm., p. 803).
7 her, bar, baro{7i), brave, noble. Cp. Span, varon.
8 as, estes. The poetic language of the middle ages often mixed the use of toi and vous.
* The reference is to Hugo, King of Constantinople. At the com- mencement of the poem Charlemagne is described as having placed his crown on his head, and girded on his sword. lie then asks his consort if she knows of any one under lieaven who knows more gracefully than himself to wear crown or sword. She claims to know one. Charlemagne is angry, and compels her to disclose the name of his rival, threatening to decapitate her if she proves to have spoken untruly. She mentions the name of King Hugo; and thus it comes aljout that ('harleniagne starts for Jerusalem to look for his rival.
96
HISTOKICAI, READER OF EAKT.Y FRENCH.
Extract from the Second Part op the 'Voyage de Charlemagne a Jerusalem et a Constantinople.'
Charlemagne, returning with his harons from Jerusalem, passes by Constantinople, wishing -to see the king (see note, p. 95). Approaching the city, he sees Hugo engaged in ploughing : —
Li reis tint sa cliarrue por
son jorn espleitier,^ E vint i Charlemaignes tot *
un antif ^ sentier ; Vit lo paile* tendut e I'or
reflambeier.'^
Lo rei" Hugon saludet lo
Fort tres volentiers. Li reis reguardet (Jliarle, veit
lo contenant tier, Les braz gros et quadrez,^ lo
cors graisle e delgiet.® " Sire, Dieus vos guarisaet !
De quei me conoiasiez 1 " Respont li emperedre : " lo
sui de France chies.^ lo ai nom Charlemaignes ;
Rodlanz si est mes ni6s.'"
Vieng de Jerusalem, si m'en
vueil repaidrier ; '* Vos et vostre baniage ^" vueil
vedeir volentiers."
The king held his plough to
accomplish his daily task, And there came Charlemagne
along an old yjath ; He saw the silken clolh
stretched and the gold
glitter ; He salutes the King Hugo
the Strong right willingly. The king looks at Charles,
sees his proud countenance, His arms big and broad, his
body slender and fine ; " Sire, God protect you !
How know you me ? " The emperor replied : " I am
of France the head. I have the name of Charle- magne ; Roland is my
nephew. I come from Jerusalem, I
wish to return home ; You and your nobles 1 wish
greatly to see."
I espleitier='La.t. *expHcit{um)iare ; Mod. Fr. exploiter. " tot, here used iu seute of along.
3 antif=\jVii. antiquum.
■* paile — ha.i. paUium.
5 I'or refl. The plough was of gold ; the king was on a raised seat drawn by two mules. This seat was covered by the silken cloth {pallium).
« Lo rei, object, case. " quadrez-carres.
8 graisle=grelc. Delgicl=La.t. delicatus. Cp. Span, delgadn.
" chies= chief {hat. cajjut).
10 mes =Lat. nepos.
II repaidrier =re-patriare.
12 barnage = '[jPit. *haronalicum.
CHARLEMAGNE'S PILGRIMAGE.
97
E dist Hugue li Forz : " Bien at set anz e niielz^
Qu'en ai odit parler estranges
soldeiers '^ Qued^ issi grant barnage nen
ait nuls reis soz del.
Un an vos retendrai, se estre
i voliiez ; Tant vos donrai aveir,* or,
argent e denievs
Tant en porteront Franc com en voldront chargier,
Or desjoindrai mes bnes por la vostre amistiet."
And Hugo the Strong said :
" Full seven years it is and
more That I have heard foreign
soldiers speak of you That not a king under
heaven has so great a
nobility. I shall keep you a year, if
you will stop ; I shall give you so much
riches, gold, silver, and
money So much will the French
carry away as they wish
to take, Now shall I unharness my
oxen out of friendship for
you."
Charlemagne enters the royal palace and views its beauties. In the evening the king offers him supper. Charlemagne sits at table with his barons. Wine and rich viands are served in abundance. Afterwards the Frenchmen betake themselves to rest, and begin to make their gahs (jests) each in turn.
Franceis furent as ^ cambres, s'unt " beut del claret,^
E dist li uns a I'altre " veez
cum grand ^ beltet ! Veez cvim gent palais e cum
fort richetet ! Plolisf* al rei de glorie, de
sainte majestet, Carlemaigne, misire,'^* I'oiiHt
ja racatet "
The French were in the
rooms, they have drunk
of the claret, And the one said to the other
" see what great beauty ! See what a fine palace and
what great riches ! If it pleased the king of
glory, of holy majesty, Charlemagne, ray lord, he
would already have gained
1 e mielz, lit., and better.
2 soldeiers = \jaX. *solidatarius, fron\ solidus.
3 qued=que — the d is euphonic ; nen=ne — n euphonic. •• amir = avoir subst.
5 as — en les. * s'unt=si nnt.
7 claret. This was wine mixed with honey and spices.
* cicin grand = quelle grande.
'■' plodst, 3 sing. imp. subj. of plaire.
10 misire=monseigneur. '' racatet =rache(S.
Q
98
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
U cunquis par ses armes en
batalie campel ! * E lur dist Carlemaignes
"Bien dei avaiit gaber.^
Li reis Hugue li Forz nen^
at nul bacheler De tute sa maisniee,* tant
seit forz e membrez,^ Ait ^ vestut dous halbert^ e
dous helmes fermez,
Si seit sour un destrier corant
et sojornet ; "^ Li reis me prest^ s'espee al
poin ^ d'or adobet,
Si ferrai sour les helmes ou il iereiit ^'^ plus cler,
Trencherai les halbers et les helmes gemmez,
Le feltre " avoec la sele del destrier sojornet.
Le brant ^^ ferrai en terre ;
se jo le lais aler, Ja u'en iert mais retraiz par
nul home charnel '' Tres qu'il seit plune hanste ^^
de terre desterrez." "Par Deu," 90 dist I'escolte,
" forz estes et membrez : Que fols fist ^^ li reis Hugue,
quant vos prestat ostel." ^^
Or conquered it by his arms
in pitched battle ! And Charlemagne said to
them " I must indeed first
joke. The King Hugo the Strong
has not a young warrior In all his household, however
strong and lusty he be, Though he have put on two
hauberks and two closed
helms, And be he seated on a swift
and vigorous steed ; If the king lend me his sword
adorned with the golden
handle, I shall strike on the helms
where tliey are brightest, I shall cleave the hauberks
and the helms studded
with gems, (And) the covering with the
saddle of the powerful
steed. The blade I shall strike into
the earth ; if 1 let it go, It shall never more be with- drawn by any mortal man. Till there be a full lance- length of earth dug out." " By God," said the listener,
" you are strong and lusty : King Hugo has acted like a
madman, when he offered
you hospitality."
1 campel =du champ. ^ gaber, from old Norse gabb, jest.
2 nen, n euphonic before vowel. •» mais7iiee=La,t. manaionatam.
* viembrez='LsX. membr{um)-atum.
6 ait. Supplj' before ait, seit, prest the conj. que ( = suppose que). "> sojornet, rested— i.e., vigorous. Still found in this sense in the dialect of Normandy.
8 prest, 3 sing. pres. Bubj. oi-prester. » ^oift=Lat. pugnum.
10 il ierent=ils seront. ^^ feltre=feutre, saddle-cloth.
12 brant, from Germanic root brand. Cp. Eng. brandish.
13 charnel = La.i. carnalem. " hansie=La,t. hastam, lance-shaft. 15 que fols fist, elliptical, /C ce queferait unfou, see note 5, p. 82.
1" ostel=La.t. hospitale.
MYST^RE d'ADAM. 99
Myst£re d'Adam.^
The oldest form of dramatic poetry in France is the Myste)-y, which was a development of the trope, or rhymed and dialogued hymn, which, from the tenth century, was introduced at religious services at Christmas and Easter. The Adam is the earliest piece of this nature. It was composed in England in the twelfth century, and was performed outside the church — in the porch — as is shown by the details and directions about scenery, &c., which are given in the MS. The dialect is Anglo-Norman.
The play consists really of three pieces — The Eall of Adam and Eve, The Death of Abel, and The Pro- phets who announce the coming of the Saviour.
This piece possesses considerable literary value. The language is simple and full of pathos, the scene of the seduction of Eve by Satan being one of the finest passages in the religious dramatic literature of the middle ages.
Satan entices Eve.
Satan. Tu es feiblete et S. Thou art a weak and
tendre chose tender thing,
Et es plus fresche que n'est And art more fresh than is
rose, a rose,
Tu es plus blanche que Thou art more white than
cristal,2 crystal.
Que neif ' qui chiet sor gkce Than snow which falls on ice
en val. in a valley.
Mai cuple en ^ fist 11 Criatur, The Creator made a bad pair
of ye;
1 Or "Jeu d'Adam." The term "jeu" or "play" comprised both the religious pieces {MysUres and Miracles) and the secular ones {Farces or Sotties).
2 cristal. Here the declension is sacrificed for the sake of the rhyme.
3 neif ='Ls.i, nivem.
•» en. See note 1, p. 88.
100 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Tu es trop tendre et il ' troj) Tliou art too tender and he
dur ; too hard ;
Mais neporqnant - tu es phis But in spite of all thou ai t
sage ; nioi'e wise ;
En grant sens as mis t<m Thou art full of good sense :
corage : ^ Por 90 fait bon* se traire^ a For this reason it is good to
tei. approach thee.
Parler ile vueil. I would fain speak to thee.
Eve. Or ja 90 fai. E. E'en now do so.
Satan. N'en sache mils. S. Let no man know of it !
Eve. Qui deit saveir ? E. Who shouKl know 1
Satan. Nei's " Adam. >S'. Not even Adam.
Eve. Neiiil '' par mei. E. He shall not through
me. Satan. Or te dirai, et tu *S^. Now I will tell thee,
m'escolte. and listen to me.
N'a que nos dons en ceste There are but we two on this
rote,* road,
Et Adam la qui ne nos ot. And Adam there, who hears
us not. Eve. Parlez en halt, n'en E. Speak aloud, he sliall
savrat mot. not know a word !
Satan. Jo vos acoint d'un S. I acquaint you of a
grant engin ^ great deceit
Qui vos est fait en cest jardin, Which is played upon you in
this garden : Li fruiz que Dieus vos a done The fruit which God hath
given you Nen a en sei gaires '" bont^ ; Hath scarce aught of good
in it ; Cil " qu'il vos a tant defendu, That which He hath for- bidden you so much, II a en sei molt grant vertu. It has in itself full great
vii'tue ;
1 il = lui. From the end of the twelfth century the accented form of the obj. began to be used, but it was not till the sixteenth that it was definitely ailopted.
^ neporquant, Lat. non pro quantum,
* corage, Lat. coraticum, the feelings, the heart. Lit. " in great sense hast thou set thy heart."
■4 fait ban, impers. ilfait ban. Cp. tant fait dottf converser (Evang. aux Femmes).
5 se trairc, another reading is atraire a. * nels—ne ipsum,
' nenil (Mod. Fr. nenni)=non il (not 7wn illud, see Darm., p. 383).
8 rote, route. ^ engin, Lat. ingeniuni, (1) skill ; (2) device, trick.
w gaires. Mod. Fr. guere (said to be derived from O.H.Ger. weigaro, luuch).
11 L'll, refers to fruit.
MYSTERE D ADAM.
101
En celui est grace de vie,
De poeste ^ et de seignorie, Ue tot saveir, et bien et mal.
Eve. Quel savor a *? Satan. Celestial.
A ton bel cors, a ta figure,
Bieu covendreit tel aventure Que tu fusses dame del iiiont,
Del soveraiu e del parfont,^
Et seiisses quanque a ^ esti's,'*
Que de tot fusses bozie maistre.
In it there is the grace of
life, Of power and of lordship. Of all knowledge, both good
and bad.
E. What savour hath it ?
,S'. Heavenly !
For thy fair frame and thy
fair face Such chance were right fitting That thou shouldest be lady
of the world ; Of the superior and of the
inferior ; And that thou shouldst know
all that life has. And that of all thou shouldst
be the good mistress.
Dialogue between Cain and Abel.
Cain. Abel, morz es. Ahel. Et jo por quel 1 '"
Cain. Jo m'en voldrai ven-
gier de tei. Abel. Sui jo mesfait '^ '' Cain. Oil, assez :
Tu es traistre, est tot provez.
Ahel. Certes non sui. Cain. Dis tu que non 'I
Abel. Onques n'amai la
traison. Cain. Tu la fesis.'^ Abel. Et jo, comeut ']
Cain. Tost le savras.
Ahel. Jo ne I'entent.
Cain. Jol tei ^ ferai molt tost saveir.
C. Abel, thou'rt dead !
A. I (dead) ; and why 1
C. I would fain avenge
myself on thee. A. Am I guilty 1 C. Ay, all too much !
A traitor art thou — 'tis fully proved.
A. Surely I am not so? C. Say est thou 'tis not so '? A. Never loved I treason.
C. Thou wrought'st it ! A. I ; how so '\
C. Thou sbalt know it
shortly. A. I understand not !
C. I will make thee know
it full speedily.
1 poeste, Lat. *2}otestam. Poeste corresponds to jjolestatem,
2 parfont {perfundum hv profunduiii), deep, lower, inferior.
3 quanque a, as much as —has. •• estre, used substantivally.
5 2)or quci—2)0ur quoi.
6 mesfait, p.p. oi mesfairc (minus facere), to do wrong. ^ fesis, 2 sing. perf. of /aire.
8 Jol tei. In OFr. the dir. obj. in 3rd pers. could precede ol>j. in '2nd pers.
indir.
10:
IIISTOKICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Abel. Ja nel porras prover
par veil'.' Cam. La prueve est pres. Abel. Dieus m'aidera.
Cdiii. Jo t'ocirai. Abel. Dieus le savra.
[Cain se pre'cipite sur Abel
et Uve la main sur lui.'\
Cam. Vez la qui fera la
provance.^ Abel. En Dieu est tote ma
fiance. Cam. Vers^ mei t'avra il
pou mestier. Abel. Bien te puet faire
destoi'bier.* Cai7i. Ne te 2:)orra tie mort
guenchir.^ Abel. Del tot*' me met^
a son plaisir. Cain. Vuelz oTr por quel
t'ocirai ? Abel. Or le me di.^ Cain. Jol tei dirai.
Trop te fais de Dieu le
prive. Por tei m'a il tot refuse,
Por tei refusa il m'ofrende.
Penses tu done que nel te
rende ? Jo t'en rendrai le guerre-
don;» Morz remandras ^^ or el "
sablon.
1 par veir—par vrai {de vrai).
2 2M-ovance=preuve. Cp. dotance^doute.
3 Vers, with regard to. Vers was used with this meaning till the seventeenth century.
* destorbier, subst. ; lit., a hindrance. Cp. Eng. disturb.
5 guenchir, lit. , to turn ofif obliquely. Cp. Ger. wanken.
6 del tot, entirely. Ital. del tutto, Sj^an. del todo. Cp. Montaigne, Ess. III. ch. xi. : " II y associa une fille de village du tout stupide.'
^ Viet, 1 sing, iires. indie, like Lat. jnitto.
8 le me di. In Mod. Fr. dis-le-moi. See Darm., p. 846.
9 gnerrcdon. Mod. Fr. guerdon. From Germanic xvidarlon. 10 remandras, 2 sing. fut. oi remanoir, n el— en el.
A. But thou canst not
prove it by truth. C. The proof is at hand. A. God will aid me.
C. I will kill thee. A. God will know it.
[Cain throivs himaelf on
Abel and lifts his hand
to strike him.'\ C. See there what will give
the proof ! A. In God is all my trust.
C. Against me He will give
thee scanty succour. A. He can bring thee much
affliction. C. He will not avail to let
thee escape death. A. In all I put myself at
His pleasure. C. Wilt thou hear why I
will kill thee 1
A. Tell it me now !
C. I will e'en tell thee —
Thou dost make thyself all too
much the intimate of God.
For thee He hath refused me
everything, For thee He refused my
offering. Thinkest thou then that I will not pay it thee back ? I will pay thee the wage for
it; Dead shalt thou stay now upon the sand.
MYSTfeRE d'ADAM.
103
Abel. Se tu iert 1 a tort Dieus vengera mort.
m ocis.
90
en tei ma
, 2
jo, Dieus le sait
bieu : Vers lui
rien. Ainz te
faiz^ Que fusses dignes de sa pais ;
ne te nieslai ^ de dis fesisses * tels
A lui rendisses ses raisons,
Dimes," primices/ oblacions, Per 90 porraz aveir s'amor.
Tu ne le fais, or as s'iror.*
verais: qui a
ui
Dieus est
sert 9
Tres bieu I'am^jlie, pas nel '° pert. Cain. Trop paroles, '* sem-
pres ^^ morras. Abel. Frere. que
dis-tu ?
me menas.
13
Jo vin 9a " f ors en ta creaiice. I
Cain. Ja ne t'avra mestier fiance, Jo t'ocirai, jo tei desfi.^^ I
Abel. Dieu pri qu'il ait de mei merci.
1 ier(, 3 sing. fut. of esire.
- mesjis. 1 sing. purf. of vies/aire.
' meslai=milai, lit., to mix up (in dispute).
■* dis fesisses. que is understood.
5 faiz=faits, actions.
.1. If thou dost kill me, this will be unjustly ; (jlod will avenge my death on
thee. I did no ill, God knows it
well : Against Him I never set thee
in anytliing as a foe. Rather I told thee thou
shouldst do such deeds That thou shouldst prove
worthy of His peace ; That thou shouldst render
Him His dues, Tithes, first-fruits, offerings. By this may you have His
love. Dost thou it not, (so) now
hast thou His ire. God is true : (him) who serves
Him He exalts full high ; He de- stroys him not.
C. Thou speakest too much, thou shalt die forthwith.
A. Brother, what sayest thou ] thou didst bring me.
came out hither having
trust in thee.
C. Thy trust shall be of no avail to thee,
will kill thee, I disavow
thee.
A. I pray God that He may have mercy on me.
prtmices=premices.
* dimes, Lat. decima {pars).
8 iror, Lat. iy{am)(jrem. " a lui sert ='MoA. Fr. le sert.
1" j!>as nel. Even in seventeenth century we find jms preceding ne. Pas n'y faudrai (La Font.)
n paroles, 2 sing. pres. o{ purler ; accented on the radicaL
12 sempres, frequently used in OFr. in this sense.
13 menas, 2 sing. perf. I'l fr/, ]rtc. Cp. p« et Id. 15 desji, 1 sing. pres. of desjier— to withdraw one's confidence.
104 HISTOKICAL HEADER OF EAKLY FKENCII.
i
i
TWELFTH CENTUEY.
COURONNEMENT LOUIS.
The Couronnement Louis belongs to about the middle of the twelfth century, and forms part of the Geste du Roi. It is written in assonanced verse of ten syllables. The dialect is that of the centre — ITle de France.
The author of the poem is unknown, and it would appear to be formed of several chansons de geste originally distinct, which gradually became woven together and rema7iiees.^
It is based to a large extent on historical facts relating chiefly to the history of Louis le Debonnaire, although others named Louis also figure in the compilation. It is interesting as showing how much the Carlovingian kings had to promise to secure the adhesion and support of the feudal lords.
Charlemagne, overwhelmed by age and feeling incap- able of bearing any longer the heavy burden of his huge empire, has assembled all his court at Aix to propose the election of his son Louis. The crown is laid upon the altar where the Pope has just celebrated mass, and when the assembly has hailed the future king, Charlemagne addresses the young prince : —
" Filz Loo'is, veiz ici la cor- " Son Louis, do you see here
one? the crown ?
Se tu la prenz, emperere ies^ If you take it, you are Em-
de Rome ; peror of Rome ;
Biea puez meuer en ost mil You can lead to war a thou-
et cent^ omes, sand and a hundred men.
Passer par force les eves de Pass by force the waters of
Gironde, the Gironde,
1 See Introd. Chanson de lioland.
2 ies, 2 sing. pres. ind. of estre.
3 mil et cent. In the old language et was usual in compound num- bers. (See Darni., Y}- 407.)
COURONNEMENT LOUIS.
105
Paiene geut craveiiter^ et
confondre, Et la lor 2 terre deis a la
nostre joindre. S'ainsi vuels faire, je te doing
la corone ; O se ce nou,^ ne la baillier *
tu onques. Se tu deis prendre, bels filz,
de fals loiers,^ Ne^ desmesure '' lever ne
esalcier, Faire luxure ne alever
pechie, Ne eir^ enfant retolir le
sien^ fie,'*^ Ne veve fame tolir ^^ quatre
deniers, Ceste corone de Jesu i- la te
vie,^^ Filz Loois, que tu ne la
baillier." i* Ot le li enfes/^ ne mist avant
le pie ; N'osa aler la corone baillier.
Por lui plorerent maint i*"
vaillaut chevalier, Et I'einperere fu molt
To cut to pieces and over- whelm the infidel people,
And their land you must join to ours.
If you will do so, I give you the crown ;
If not, may you never pos- sess it.
If, my good son, you should take unjust reward,
Should raise and exalt violence,
Act wantonly or uphold sin.
Or take from a child heir his land.
Or rob a widow of four farthings,
This crown, by Jesus, I for- bid it you.
Son Louis : may you never possess it."
The child heard him, put not a foot forward ;
He dared not go to take pos- session of the crown.
Many a valiant knight wept for him.
And the emperor was very vexed and angry :
1 craventer, Lat. crepantem-are. Cf. Span, quehrantar.
2 la lor {il-lorum), emphatic form of poss. adj. Until the fourteenth century leur remained invariable. (See Darm., p. 306.)
3 se ce non, elliptical nsage, as in Mod. Fr. sinon.
■* ne la buillier, inf. neg. for iniper. with tu. (See Darm., ji. 710.)
5 loiers, Lat. *locarium. Mod. Fr. loyer.
" me . . . ne, here equivalent to om . . . ou. Ne was often used in sense ol et and on.
^ desmesure ='La.i. dis-mensuram,
8 eir—'La.t. heredem. 9 le sien. (See Darm., p. 307.)
1" ./le, fief, liSit. feudum, 0.ll.GeT.Jihu,/ehu. 11 tolir, take away, Lat. tollere. 1^ de Jesu, i.e., de par. 13 vie, 1 sing. pres. ind. oi veer {vetare).
1'* ne baillier, the inf. neg. is here used la sense of imper. witli conj. que.
1* en/es, accented on first syll., subj. case of en/ant. 16 maint, n. pi. i7 grains, connected willi (ier. gram,
iriez, ii.p. of trier, used as an adj.
grains ^^ et iriez
18
18
106
HISTORICAL READEK OF EARLY FRENCH.
" Ha ! las," dist il, " com or
sui engeigniez ! > Ja en sa vie n'iert de mei
avanciez. Quill 2 fereit rei, ce sereit
graiiz pechiez. Or li fesons toz les chevels
treucliier/ Si le metoiis la enz en eel
mostier : Tirra les cordes et sera mar-
regliers ; * S'avra provende^ qu'il" ne
puist mendiier." Delez'' le rei sist Arneis
d'Orliens Qui molt par * f u et orgoillos
et fiers ; De gianz losenges^ le pi'ist
a araisnier : i" " Dreiz emperere, faites
pais,
11
SI m oiez.
Mes sire est jovenes, n'a que
quinze ans eutiers, Ja sereit mors quin ^^ fereit
chevalier. Ceste besoigne, s'il vos plaist,
m'otreiez, Tresqu'a treis anz que ver-
roiis coment iert. S'il vuelt preuz estre ne ja '^
buens eritiei's, Je li rendrai de gru et
volentiers, Et acreistrai ses terres et ses
fiez."
" Alas ! " he said, " how 1 am
now deceived ! Never in his life shall he be
advanced by me. To make a king of him would
be a great sin. Now let us have all his hair
cut off, Let us put him in there, in
that church : He will pull the (bell) ropes
and will be saci'istan ; He will be pi^ovided for, so
that he need not beg." Beside the king Hernaut
d' Orleans took his place. Who was most haughty and
proud ; He set about addressing him
with great craft : " Righteous emperor, vouch- safe to hear me. My lord is young, is only
fifteen years old in all, He would die were one to
make a knight of him. Grant me this task, if it
please you, During three years, till we
see how he will be. If he will be brave and in- deed a worthy heir, I shall give back to him
gladly and willingly And shall increase his lands
and fiefs."
1 engeigniez. Engignier (Lat. ingenium-are), means (1) to devise anything ; (2) to deceive.
- Quin, i.e., qui en. ^ trenchier, Mod. Fr. trancher.
4 7narregliers =Mod. Fr. marguillier (Lat. matricularium), he who keeps the church books.
5 provende, Lat. prmbendam. Cp. Eng. prebendary {provendier).
6 qiCil. Que here signifies de telle sorte que . . . " delez=de-latus. Sist, 3 sing. perf. oi seoir.
8 jMr, augmentative jiart. Cp. c'est imr trop fort.
' losenges—louanges, false flattery, cajolery. 1" araisnier, Lat. ad-rationem. 11 faites pais, lit., keep peace.
quin. See above, note 2.
1^ neja, and indeed.
COURONNEMENT LOUIS.
107
Et dist li reis : " Ce fait a
otreier." — ^ " Granz merciz, sire," dieut -
li losengier, Qui parent erent a Arneis
d'Orliens. Sempres^ fust reis, quant
Guillelmes i vient ;
D'une forest repaire * de
chacier. Ses nies^ Bertrans li coru^
a I'estrier ; II li demande : " Dont "^
venez vos, bels nids ? " "En nom Dieu, sire, de la
enz del mostier, Ou j'ai oi grant tort et grant
pechie. Arneis vuelt son dreit seignoi'
boisier ; * Sempres iert reis, que "
Franceis I'ont jugie."
" Mar le pensa," i" dist Guil- lelmes li fiers.
And the king said : " This I
grant you." " Many thanks, sire," say the
flatterers. Who were related to Her-
naut d'Orleans. He would forthwith have
become king, when Wil- liam comes up ; He is returning from hunting
in a forest. His nephew Bertrand ran up
to his stirrup ; He asks him : "Whence come
you, my fine nephew ? " "In the name of God, sire,
from inside the church, Where I have heard great
wrong and gi-eat sin. Hernaut wishes to betray
his rightful lord ; Straightway he will be king,
since the Frenchmen have
decided it." " He thought it to his
woe," said William the
Proud. With girded sword, he en- tered the church. Cleaves the crowd (to get)
in front of the knights : He finds Hernaut all pre- pared ; He had a mind to cut off
his head, When he remembers the
glorious one of heaven,
L'espee ceinte est entrez el
mostier, Desront ^^ la presse devant
les chevaliers : Arneis trueve molt bien
apareilliu ; En talent ^- ot qu'il li copast
le chief, Quant li remembre ^^ del
glorios del ciel,
1 ce fait a otreier. Lit., this ought to be granted meaning of should be, deserves to be.
2 dient=disent. •* sempres, forthwith * repaire, 3 sing. pres. of rejmirier, to return.
5 nies (nieps), Lat. nepos.
6 com, 3 sing. pert. o{ corre (Lat. currere). ^ boisier, Germanic bausjan. Cp. Ger. biise. ' 5Me has here the sense oi puisque.
10 mar le 2)ensa. See note 11, p. 82.
11 desront = desrompt.
12 En talent, in his desire, inclination. Also avoir talent de.
13 li remembre, impers. verb.
Fa ire a had
' do7it=dc-unde.
108
HISTORICAL liEADER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Que^ d'ome ocire est trop^
mortels pechiez. 11 prent s'espee,^ el fuere'*
I'embatic ^ Et passe avant ; quant se fu
rebraciez, Le poing seuestre li a mesle "
el chief, Halce "^ le destre, enz el col
li assiet : L'os de la gole'^ li a par mi
brisie ; Mort le tresbiiche '^ a la terre
a ses piez. Quant il I'ot mort/o sePi
prent a chasteier : ^^ "He !" gloz ! 13 dist il, "Dieus
te doint i* encombrier ! '" Per quei voleies ton dreit
seignor boisier ? Tu le deiisses ^^ amer et tenir
chier, Creistre ^^ ses terres et alever
ses fiez. Je te cuidoe^* un petit
For to kill a man is a very
deadly sin. He takes his sword, in the
s-ieath he thrusts it And passes en ; when he had
turned up his sleeve. With his left hand he seized
his head, Raises the right, brings it
down upon his neck : The bone of his mouth he
has broken in the middle ; Hurls him dead to the earth
at his feet. When he has killed him,
he begins to upbraid him : " Ah, glutton ! " he says,
"may God overwhelm you ! For what did you wish to
deceive your rightful lord? You ought to have loved
him and held him dear. Increased his lands and en- larged his fiefs. I meant to punish you a
little,
chasteier,
1 que de. Qiie introducing clause subordinate to li remembre.
2 trop, very. Tro2} was used in this sense even in Rabelais's time.
3 s'espee. The elision was usual in OFr. The use of 7?i.0M, ion, son dates from the fourteenth century.
■1 elfuerc=cn lefourreau.
5 evibatie, 3 sing. perf. of embatre (in-balticere). Cp. Ch. de llol. : "son hon espiet enz el cors li enbat."
6 meslcr le poing el chief d qiuiqic'un, lit., to mix the fist in the head. Se meslcr means to come to blows. Cp. daas la melee.
^ halce=hausse.
8 gole, Ital. gola ; Lat. gula ; Mod. Fr. giieule. 8 treshuche (*transhucare), probably from a Germanic root buk, bauch.
10 mort, trans, verb, mettre d morl.
11 sel=si le.
12 chasteier = Lat. castigare.
13 gloz, glot (Lat. glutum), Mod. Fr. gloulon. 1-1 doint, 3 sing. pres. subj. of doner.
15 encombrier, lit., obstruction.
16 deiisses, 2 sing, iniiierf. subj. of devoir. j
17 creistre, act. yerh = arcroUre.
18 cuidoe, 1 sing, imperf. of cuidier (Lat. cogitare).
COUKONNEMENT LOUIS,
109
Mais tu ies morz, n'en dor- reie ^ un denier."
Veit la corone qui desus
I'altel siet : Li corns la prent seiiz point
de ■•^ Tatargier,'' Vient a I'enfant, si li assiet
el chief : " Tenez, bels sire, el noni del
rei del ciel,
Qui te doint force d'estre bons
justiciers ! " Veit le* li pere, de son en- fant f u liez : " Sire Guillelmes, granz mer-
ciz en aiez. Vostre lignages a le mien ^ esalcie." ° " Filz Loois, a celer ne te
quier,*' Quant Dieus fist rei por
pueples justicier, II nel fist mie por false lei
jugier,7 Faire luxure, ne alever
pechie, Ne eir enfant por retolir son
fi^, Ne veve fame tolir quatre
deniers ; Ainz deit lea torz abatre soz
ses piez,
Encontreval * pleissier.®
et foler et
But you are a dead man : I
would not give a farthing
for you." He sees the crown, which
is lying on the altar : The Count takes it without
any delay, Comes to the child, and
places it on his head : "Take it, good sir, in the
name of the King of
heaven : May He give you strength
to be a good lawgiver ! " The father sees it : he w;ts
pleased with his son : " Sir William, have many
thanks for it. Your house has exalted
mine." "My son Louis, I do not seek
to hide from you, When C4od made a king to
govern the people. He did not make him to
judge by false laws, To live wantonly, nor to
uphold sin. Nor from any child heir to
take his fief, Nor to rob a widow of four
farthings ; But rather he ought to cast
down wrongs beneath his
feet, To trample them to the
ground and destroy them.
1 en dorreie, 1 sing. cond. of doner ; en is here equivalent to de tui. See Darm., p. 637.
* senz point de. Cp. Mod. Fr. je ne veux point de cela (see Darm., p. 828).
* ataryier= Lat. ad-*tardiare.
* Veit le. Here the atonic pronoun follows verli (see Darm., p. 845).
i" esalcie— exhaussi.
8 quier, 1 sing, jn-es. ot querre (Lat. quarere).
7 leijugier, to administer law.
* encontreval, down-wards. Cp. encontrcmont, \\\)-v:ards. " pleissier, (1) to bend {ploye.r) ; (2) to crush, destroy.
110
HISTORICAL HEADER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Ja al povre ome ne te chalt ^ de tender ; ^
Se il se claime, ne t'en deit
enoier,^ Ainceis * le deis entendre et
conseillier, Por I'anior Dieu de son dreit
adrecier.'^ Vers I'orgoillos te deis faire
si fier
gent "
Come liepart qui
vueille mangier ; Et s'il te vuelt de neient^
gnerreier, Mandez en France les nobles
chevaliers, Tant qu'en aiez plus de trente
miliers ; Ou mielz se fie, la le fai ^
asegier,
Tote sa terra guaster^ et
essillier.i" Se le puez prendre ne ^^ a
tes mains baillier, N'en aies onques manaide i-
ne piti^, Ainceis li fai toz les membres
trenchier, Ardeir en feu ne en eve ^^
neier ; Car se Franceis te veient
entrepiez,^*
Never ought you to pick a
quarrel with any poor
man ; If he complains, you need
not be vexed for that, Rather you ought to hear
and advise him, For the love of God, to give
him his due. Towards the haughty you
ought to make yourself
as proud As the leopard that wishes
to eat his prey ; And if he wishes to fight
with you about nothing. Summon to France the noble
knights, Till you have more than
thirty thousand of them ; Where he thinks himself
most secure, there besiege
him, Lay waste and plunder all
his land. If you can take him and
hold him in your hands, Never have mercy or pity
on him, But rather have all his limbs
cut off. Burnt in fire, or drowned
in water ; For if the Frenchmen see you (trodden) under foot,
1 chalt, 3 sing. pres. of chaloir (Lat. calere). Cp. nonchalant.
2 tender— Lat. tenti(um)are, neiit. verb, to dispute. Tender a, to pick a quarrel with.
3 enoier (or anuier), Lat. in-odiare. * ainceis=La.t. antius. 5 adrecier, Lat. ad-*directiare, to put right.
* gent. Here equivalent to un hmnme. '' neient, neant, ItaL niente.
8 la le/ai, lit., there let him be besieged.
9 guaster, cp. Eng. waste.
w essillier, exiler. Here the word has the sense of ravage.
11 ne. See note 6, p. 105.
1* manaide ( Lat. manu-adjutare), generally used together with pitie.
12 eve (I at. acquam, acqvam), eau. 14 entrepiez, lit., between feet.
COURONNEMENT LOUIS.
Ill
Diront Normant en nom de
reprovier : ' De si fait rei ' n'avions nos
mestier.2 Mai dahe^ ait par mi la
croiz •* del chief Qui avuec lui ira mais os-
teier,^ Ne a sa cort ira por corteier !
Del sien meesme nos poons
bien paier.' Et altre chose te vueil, filz,
acointiei'," Que se tu vis il t'avra grant
mestier : Que de vilain^ ne faces con-
seillier, Fil a prevost ne de fil a
veier : *
II boisereient a petit por
loier ; Mais de Guillelme le nobile
guerrier, Fil Aimeri de Narbone le fier,
Frere Bernart de Brabant le
guerrier ; Se ciP te vuelent maintenir
et aidier, En "^ lor service te puez molt
bien filer." Respont li enfes : "Veir
dites, par mon chief." 11 vint al comte, si li che'i "
as piez. Li corns Guillelmes le coru •'•^
redrecier.
The Normans will say by
way of reproach : ' Of such a king we have no
need. Woe upon the head of
him : Who will go with him any
more to fight, Or will go to pay homage at
his court ! We can pay ourselves well
with what is his.' And another thing, my son,
I will tell you of, That, if you see he will be of
great service to you, Do not make a counsellor of
a villein, Of a provost's son, nor of the
son of a highway super- intendent ; They would soon betray you
for money ; But of William the noble
warrior. Son of Aimeri de Narbonne,
the proud. Brother of Bernard of Bra- bant the warrior ; If these will support and
help you. In their service you can very
well trust." The child replies : "You say
true, by my head." He came to the Count and
fell at his feet. The Count William ran to
raise him.
I de si fait rei=de roi ainsifait.
' mestier ='Lz.i. ministerium ; Span, menester. ^ mal dahe=malheur.
* par mi la croiz, lit., in the middle of the top of the head. '^ osteier=aler en ost, go to war.
•• acointier, Lat. ad-cognitare ; Eng. acquaint.
' vilain = OE. villein, peasant.
8 veier or voyer, the superintendent of the road police.
• oil, n. plur. i" sefer en, in Mod. Fr. sefier de.
II ch^i, 3 sing. pf. of cheoir. i* coru, 3 sing. perf. of corre.
112 HISTORICAL READEU OF EARLY FRENCH.
The Waggon of Nimes.
This fine poem, wliich forms part of the Geste de GiiiUaume, belongs to the first part of the twelfth century, and is written in assonancecl verse of ten syllables. The poem is evidently very old in its form, but has been largely amplified and embellished by the frouvhres. It is of Guillaume an Court Nez (here identical with Guillaume d'Orange) ^ that it treats ; the same William who, in the Couronne7ne7it Loui'f, crowns with his own hand the young
Louis.
It begins thus :-
Oiez seignor . . . Bone chanson plest vos a
escoiiter, C'est de G. le marclns au
cort lies C'onme il prist Nymes par le
cbarroi iiiener, Apres conquist Orenge la
cite Et fist Guibor baptizier et
lever Que il toll le roi Tiebaut
I'escler.
Hearken, lords . . . A good song may it please
you to listen to, It is about William, the noble
of the short nose, How he took Nlmes by lead- ing the waggon ; Afterwards he conquered
Orange the city And had Guibor baptised
and raised over the font, Whom he took from King
Thiebaut the heathen (lit.,
the Slavonian).
1 G. Paris (Lit. fr. au M. Age, p. 66) says : "Other Williams had come to be mixed with the hero of the southern songs. Already, in a ' Life [in Latin] of William of Gellone,' who had become Saint William, we see him figuring as William of Orange ami confused with William the Pious, Dulve of Aquitaiue. . . . But a much more important con- tamination took place in the north of Fra.nce, where the songs about William of Orange had early penetrated. There another William had become an epic hero, William of Montreuil, who had carried on a violent struggle against the Normans. . . . The poems which sung of his exploits became embodied with those which celebrated William of Orange. A third personage, whom it is difficult exactly to determine, gave us the name of Ouillaume au Court Nez and the episode of his expedition to Italy. The surname Fierebrace is so frequent that one cannot conclude solely from it that another William who really bore that name had become mixed in the epic poetry of the time ; but it is quite possible that other personages of that name may have been re- garded hy i\ie. jongleu,rs as identical with William of Orange, who had already absorbed those that we liave referred to."
THE WAGGON OF NIMES.
113
The poem owes its title to the ruse employed by William's army to capture Ximes : the French knights hid themselves in barrels, and thus made their way into the town draAvn by oxen which Bertrand, disguised as a carter, and William, disguised as a trader, drove.
AVhile William was returning one day from hunting, his nephew Bertrand runs to meet him and apprises him that the Emperor has divided his fiefs among all his barons, but has passed him over. William, enraged, betakes himself to the palace.
The Count William was very
noble and valiant ; He will not stay till (he
arrive) at the palace. He dismounts under the
spreading olive. And then went up all the
marble steps. With such might did he pass
over the tloor (That) his boots of Cordovan
leather burst ; Nor was there a baron who
was not terrified thereat. The king sees it, and rises to
meet him. And then said to him :
" William, pray sit you." "I will not do so," quoth
William the noble, " But for a little I will fain
parley with you." Says Louis : " Just as you
command ; By my conscience, you shall
be well listened to."
' volt, 3 sing. pres. of voloir.
Li corns Guillelmes fu molt
gentilz et ber, Tresqu'au ^ palais ne se volt -
arester, A pie descent soz I'olivier
rame,^ Puis en monta tot le mar-
brin ■* degre. Par tel vertu a le planchie
pass^ Rompent les hueses ^ del cor-
doan seller " ; N'i ot baron qui n'en fust
esfraez.*" Veit le ^ li reis, encontre s'est
levez ; Puis li a dit : "Guillelmes,
car seez." ^ " Non feral, sire," dit Guil- lelmes li ber, " Mais un petit vorrai a vos
parler." Dist Loois : " Si com vos
comandez ; Mien escient,'" l)ien serez
escoltez."
1 Tresqu'au=jusqu'au. 8 rami, Lat. ramaium.
Cp. Ital. usatto, boot. -Soulier,
* marhrin, Lat. marmorinum. 5 hueses, heuses, O.H.Ger. hoaa.
* soller (Low Lat. sotularem)- ^ esfraez=effraye.
8 Veit le. The atonic prons. were often put after the verb in CFr,
* car seez—asseyez-v!)us done.
J" Alien escient/ Here simply an exclamatiou.
H
114 IIISTORICAI. READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
" Loois sire," dit Guillehiies
li ber, "Ne t'ai servi p;ir nuit de
tas toner/ De veves fames, d'enfaiiz
deseriter, Mais par mes amies t'ai servi
come ber. Si t'ai fonii^ maiiit fort
estor ^ champel * Dont^ je ai "^ mort^ maint
gentil bacheler,* Dont li pechiez m'en est el
cors entrez ; Qui que il fussent,^ si les ot
Dieus formez ; Dieus peiist des anmes, si le
me pardoiiez ! "
*' Sire Guillelmes," dist Loois
li ber, "Par voz merciz un petit
me sofrez '** : Ira ivers, si revendra estez ;
Uu de ces jorz morra uns de
mes pers : Tote la terre vos en vorrai
doner, Et la moiller,!^ se prendre
la volez." Ot le Guillelmes, a pou n'est '^
forsenez : "Dieus!" dis li corns, "qui
en croiz fus penez,i^
''Sire Louis," says William
the noble, " I have not served thee by- rubbing thee at night. Nor by despoiling widow
women and children, But by my arms I have
served thee valiantly. I have fought for thee many
a pitched battle, Wherein I have killed many
a noble youth, Wherefore the sin of it has
entered into my body ; Whoever they were, yet God
had formed them : May God have care of their
souls, yea (God) pardon me
it!" "Sire William," said Louis
the valiant, " By your grace suffer me a
little : The winter will pass, the
summer will return ; One of these days one of my
peers will die : I would fain give you all his
land, And his spouse, if so be you
will to take her." William heai'd it, and became
almost beside himself. " God," quoth the Count,
" who on the cross wast
tortured.
1 tasioner, from taster (tdfer).
^ fond, lit., furnished = undergone.
3 estor, combat (Ger. sturm).
* champel, adj. from chani}:), i.e., of the plain.
5 Do7it, rel. adv. expressing cause (see Darm., p. 666).
6 je ai. The e in je might, in OFr., be elided or not. ^ mort here is trans.
* backeler, Low Lat. baccalarius, a yeoman, jicrhaps from racca. See Skeat, s.v.
" Qui que ilfussent — quels quilsfussent.
10 nn petit vie sofrez, i.e., until I can please you.
11 moiller, Lat. mulierem.
12 a 2)0X1 n'est. Cj). Span, pm- poco que no.
13 peni-z, p.p. of pener (Lat. pumare).
THE WAGGON OF NIMES.
115
Corn longe atente a povre
bacheler Qui n'a que prendre ' ne
autrui que doner ! Mon auferant - ni'estuet ^
aprovender, Encor ne sui ou grain * deie ''
trover ! Dieus ! com grant" val li
covient avaler ^ Et a grant mont il li estuet
raonter, Qui d'autrui ^ mort atent al
richete ! "
What a long suspense for a
poor youth, Wlio hath not what to take,
nor to give to others ! It behoves me to feed my
charger, I know not yet where I may
find him corn. God, what a great valley he
has to descend And what a great mountain
he has to ascend, Who waits for riches from
the death of another ! "
The quarrel between Louis and William waxes fiercer. The latter says that he might have passed into the service of King Gaifier, who offered him liis daughter in marriage and the half of his territory, and that he thus might have opposed the King of France ; the emperor replies haughtily that any man who should dare to make war against him should within a year meet with either death or exile. William hereiipon recalls to his mind all that he has done to serve him : his struggle with the giant Corsout under the walls of Eome ; his victory over Dagobert of Carthage ; the proof of devotion Avliich he gave by setting the crown on his head after having killed Hernaut, and thus prevented him from taking the cowl. Louis gives way beneath these murmurs and threats. He offers William, one after the other, the estate of Count Foulque, that of Aubri of Burgundy, and that of the Marquis Bdranger. William rejects all these offers haughtily, and
1 »'« que pi'endre would be in Mod. Fr. n'a rien d prendre.
- auferant, prob. from Arab, al-faraz. Span, alfaras, a light horse of the Moorish cavalry.
3 estuet, 3 sing. pres. of estevoir, prob. from est opus ; others assiimo a root, *stopere. See Korting, p. G8S.
■• grain =du grain.
5 deie, 1 sing. pres. s^^lbj. of devoir.
" com grant. In Mod. Fr. quel grand.
7 avaler (ad-vallum-are), verb act. and neut. Cp. eji aval.
8 d'aulrui, obj. case of altre (see Darin., ji. 207).
IIG HISTOKICAL READEIl OF EARLY FRENCH,
blushes at the idea of clespoilmg orphans of their heritage. The emperor then offers him the quarter of his king<lom.
" Sir William," quoth Louis,
" hear me. Since it seems not lit to you
to accept this possession, If God aids me, I will now
give you such a lief, That from it, if you be wise,
you will be exalted in
rank : I will give you of France a
full quarter, A fourth of its abbeys, and,
besides, a fourth of its
markets, A fourth of its cities and a
fourth of its archbishoprics, A fourth of its sergeants and
of its knights, A fourth of its petty vassals
and a fourth of its footmen, A fourth of its young girls
and of its women. And the fourth of the priests
and, besides, the fourth of
the chui'ches. Of my stables I give you the
fourth of my chargers ; Of my treasure I give you
the fourth of the money
(lit., farthing) ; The fourth part I grant you
willingly Of all the empire that I have
to administer. Keceive thou this, O noble
knight."
1 onor {honor) was much used in OFr. in the sense of possession, fief.
2 aist, 3 sing. pres. of aidier. ^ dorraiz=donnerai.
4 sorhcmciez=sur-hausse.
5 quarte abe'ie, lit., fourth ahhey.
6 vavassor, from Low Lat. vassalhnn {-arum), the holder of an arrQre fief, dependant on a noble fief.
7 gargon a pie — i.e., villeins, dependants who went on foot.
8 otrei, 1 sing. pres. of otreicr (oliviier). Mod. Fr. uctroyer.
" Sire Guillelmes," dist Loois,
" oiez : Quant ceste onor ^ a prendre
ne vos siet, Se Dieus m'aist,^ or vos
dorrai^ tel fie, Se saiges estes, dont serez
sorhauciez : ^
Je vos dorrai de France un
grant quartier, Quarte abei'e,^ et puis le
quart marchie,
Quarte cite et quart arche-
veschie, Le quart sergent et le quart
chevalier. Quart vavassor" et quart
gar9on a pie," Quarte pucele et la quarte
mollier, Et le quart prestre et puis
le quart mostier.
De mes estables vos doing le
quart destrier ; De mon tresor vos doing le
quart denier ;
La quarte part vos otrei "^
volentiers De tot I'empire que je ai a
baillier. Eecevez le, nobile chevalier."
THE WAGGON OF NIMES.
117
"Nonferai! Sire,"GuilleliiK's
respoudio. "Je nel fereie por tot I'or
desoz ciel ; Que 1 ja direient cil baron
chevalier : 'Vez la Guillelme, le mar-
chis 2 au vis tier,
Come il a ore son dreit seignor
boisie ! Demi son regne li a tot
otreie,
Si ne I'en^ rent vaillaissant*
un denier ; Bien li a ore son vivre re-
taillie ! ' " " Sire Guillelmes," dit Loois
li ber, "Quant ceste onor receivre
ne volez, En ceste terre ne vos sai que
doner, Ne je ne autres ne nren sai
porpenser.' ^ "Eeis,"(lit Guillelmes, "lais-
siez le dont" ester ;^ A ceste feiz^ n'en quier or
phis parler ; Quant vos plaira vos me
dorreiz assez, Chastels et nmrches, donjons
et fermetez.'"-* A ces paroles 1" s'en est li
conis tornez.
"I will not so, siie," replied William ;
" I would not do it for all the gold under heaven,
For, indeed, those knightly barons would say,
' See there William, the mar- quis with the proud coun- tenance.
How hath he now his liege lord duped !
The king hath gx-anted him the whole half of his king- dom,
While he repays him not a farthing's worth ;
Right well hath he nibbled away his sustenance.' "
"Sire William," said Louis the valiant,
" Since you will not receive this domain,
I know not what to give you in this country ;
Neither I nor others can be- think myself of anything."
"King," said William, "let it then be ;
For this time I seek not now to speak more thereon ;
When it will please you, yo\i will give me plenty
(Of) castles and marches, dun- geons and sti'ongholds."
With these words the count turned him away.
1 que—puisque.
2 marchis, marqui.s (lie who is placed over a marche).
3 I'eM — li en.
* vaillaissant, adj., of the value of. Cp. un sou vaillant. ^porpenser, Lat. pro-penNare. Here used reH., se porpenser,
bethink oneself. 6 dont=donc. ^ ester = Lat. stare; cp. Ital. lasciatelo stare.
* /eiz=/ois.
9 fermelez— hut. Jir7)iila(em, .strongliokl. J" a ces paroles =avec ces paroles.
to
118 HISTUKICAL KEADER OF EAIJLY FRENCH.
Aleschans.
This poem, wliicli forms part of the cycle of Guillaume, is supposed to have derived its title from Elijsii campi, a cemetery in the neighbourhood of Aries. G. Paris (^Litt. (hi M. Age) regards it as based upon an earlier poem, Avhich recounted a battle lost near Aries by the Christians against the Saracens, and in which a knight called Vivien had been killed. The poets made this Vivien a nephew of William, whom they also made take part in the battle. These events form the subject of a poem entitled the "Chevalerie Vivien," and it is of this that the "Aleschans" is the sequel.
In the first part of the poem we see William after his defeat by the Saracens, Avhen Vivien had perished, coming to ask for help from King Louis and returning south Avith a large army, and, aided by his brothers and Rainouart, the brother of his Avife Guibourg, he finally drives the Saracens from France.
The poem is written in lines of ten syllables in rhyme, partly assonanced.
Guillauwe and Guiboimj.
Guillaume, after the battle fouglit against the Saracens at Aleschans, Avithdraws from the combat and reaches the gates of Orange, where his wife Guibourg is. The porter does not recognise him in the infidel armour in which he is dressed ; lie refuses to open the gate, and goes to tell the countess.
"Geutilz^ comtesse," fait il, "Noble countess," he says,
"ciirvos hastez.^ "make haste then.
La defors est uns chevaliers Outside is an armed knight, armez.
1 Gentilz. This is one of the adjectives that had in OFr. the same termination for the masc. as for the fern., owing to the iuHuence of the Latin.
- vos hastez=hatez-vous. The pronoun in direct iuiper. is here placed first (see Darni., p. 846).
ALESCHANS:
119
D'armes paienes est mout
bieu adobez.i Estraugemeut est grande sa
fiertez ; Bien resemble ome qui d'estor
soit tornez, Que- j'ai veil ses braz en-
sangleutez ; Mout par ^ est grauz sor sou
clieval armez, Et dist qu'il est Guillauuu s
au cort nes.* Venez i, dame, per Dieu, .si
le verrez." Ot le Guiborc, li sans li est
muez ; ^ Elle descent deu palais seig-
norez, Vient as crestaus'' amontsus
les fossez, Dit a Guillaume : " Vassal,
«iue demandez ? " Li coms resjwnt : " Dauie, la
porte ovrez Isnelement,^ et eel pout
m'avalez,^ Que ci m'enchauce" Baudus
et Desramez, Vint mil paien a vers heames
gemez,
10
Se ci m'ataignent, toz sui a
mort livrez. Gentilz contesse, por Dieu la
porte ovrez Isnelement, et si vos en
hastez." "
He is very well equipped
with intidel arms. Strangely great is his pride ;
He is like a man returned
from the fight, For I have seen his arms
blood-stained ; He is very great, on his
horse, in armoiir. And said that he is Guil- laume of the short nose. Come, lady, for God's sake,
and see him ! " Guibourg hears him ; her
blood is changed ; She comes down from the
lordly palace, Goes to the battlements, up
above the ditches. Says to Guillaume : " Vassal,
what do you want ? " The count replies : " Lady,
open the gate Quickly, and let down that
bridge to me. For here Bau(liis and Des- ramez are at my heels, Twenty thousand infidels,
with green helmets studded
with gems. If they reach me here, I am
()uite given up to death. Noble countess, for God's
sake open the door Quickly, and make haste ! "
I adobez, A.S. dubhan; Eng. dub.
'^ que, here equivalent io ijuisque. ^ pnr. Sco Darm., § 100.
* au cort nes. He is said to have had the end of his nose cut off when fighting.
■'' muez, p.p. oimuer (Lat. mutare).
8 crestaxcs, crestel {crista-ellum), Mod. Fr. crencau.
' isnelement, cp. Ger. schnell.
8 m'avalez, ethical dat. (see Darni. , p. 6.3 j ).
» m'enchauce (Lat. incalciare). A verb liaving several subjects /iiiglit agree with one of them only, as in Latin.
'" f/emez=gemjnes.
II vos en hastez, lUL'ez-vous en. See note 2, p. 118.
120
HISTORICAL HEADER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Et dist Guiborc : " Vassal,
n'i enterrez/ Tote sui sole, n'est o- moi
ome nez^ Fors cest portier et clous
clers ordenez Et uu enfant,* n'a pas qiiinze
ans passez, Et fors les dames qui les
cuers^ out irez Por lor maris que mes sire a
menez En Aleschans sor paiens
desfaez.6 N'i sera porte ne guichez
desfermez Jusque Guillaumes soit
ariere '' tornez, Li gentilz corns qui de moi
est amez : Dieus le garisse qui en crois
f u penez ! " Ot le li coms, vers terre est
enclinez : De pi tie plore li marchis au
cort n^s ; L'eve li cort fil a fil ^ lez ^ le
nes. Guiborc rapele quant fu
amont levez ; " Ce sui je, dame ; molt grant
tort en avez ; Mout me merveil quant no
me ravisez ; ^'^ Je sui Guillaumes, ja mar ''
le mescreez." Et dit Guiborc : " Sarrazins,
vos mentez ;
And Guibourg said: "Vas- sal, you shall not enter,
I am all alone ; there is no man near me
Except this porter and two clerks in orders,
And a child who is not more than fifteen,
And except the ladies whose hearts are vexed
Because of their husbands, whom my lord has led
To Aliscans against the mis- creant infidels.
No gate nor wicket shall be opened
Till Guillaume be come back,
The noble count, who is be- loved by me : God, who was tortured upou
the cross, protect him ! " The count hears it, and bent
to the ground ; The marquis of the short
nose weeps from pity ; The water runs drop by drop
along his nose. When he was risen up, he
calls back Guibourg ; " It is I, lady ; you are wrong
indeed ; I marvel much you know rue
not again ; I am Guillaume ; you are
wrong to disbelieve." And Guibourg said : " Sara-.
cen, you lie ;
1 n'i enterrez. Ne used without 2k(,s, point, was frequent in ojita- tivc aud imperative phrases. 3 0 [inoi)—'La.t. apud.
3 nez, nets (Lat. ne ipsum). Cj). ItaL nessuno. •* enfant, n'a pas... qui is \mdt;rstood. 6 cuers—coMrs. The sentence would be in Mod. Fr. qui ojit le coiur,
6 desfaez, adj. (Lat. dis-fatum), wretched, miscreant.
7 ariere, adv. ; en-arriire would now be used.
** Jil cljil, lit., thread by thread. ^ lez=lattts,
1" ravisez {re-ad-visum), to look again, recognise. 11 mar. See note 11, p. 82.
ALESCHANS.
121
Par Saint Denis qui est mes
avoez.i Ain9ois^ sera vostre chies^
desarmez Qu'il V03 soit porte ne guichez
desfermez."
Xii coins Guillaunies se hasta
de I'entrer : * N'est pas merveille, forinent ^
se doit doter," (^u'apres lui ot le chemin
fresteler ^
By St Denis ! who is my
j)rotector, Your head shall be disarmed
Before gate or wicket be opened to you."
The Count Guillaunie was in
haste to enter : No wonder at it, he must
be greatly afraid When he hears behind him
the road resound
De cele gent qui nel * pueent (Beneath the ste])s) of that
people who cannot love him.
"Noble countess," says the valiant Guillaume,
" You make me wait too long."
" Tiue," says Guibourg, " I well hear by your speech
That you do not much re- semble Guillaume :
I never saw him frightened by any infidel.
But, by that God whom I must adore,
I shall have neither gate nor wicket opened
Until I see your head dis- armed,
For several men are like in speech.
And I am alone ; no one ought to blame me."
The count hears it, and can only be vexed.
amer.
" Franche ^ comtesse," dist
Guillaumes li bers, " Trop longement me faites
demorer." " Voir," dist Guiborc, " bien
oi a vo parler '•* Que mal devez Guillaume
resember : One por paien nel vi es-
paventer.ii Mais par eel Dieu que je doi
aorer Ne ferai porte ne guichet
desfermer Jusque je voie vostre chief
desarmei-. Car plusors omes se semblent
au parler, Et je sni sole, ne me doit om
blasmer." Ot le li corns, n'ot en hii
qu'aiier.
1 avoez, protector, guardian ; Muil. Fr. avoue, solicitor.
2 ainfois =lia.t. anlius.
3 clues (Lat. capuf), noiii. sing. Vhief, Hne 54, is the oljj. case.
* I'entrer, act. verb as in Eug., "to enter it."
* forinent =fortement. 8 doter—\ja.i. dubitare.
'^fresteler, irom frestel (Lat. fistula, a pipe) ; lit., to jilay a tune, hence to ring, resound.
" nel — nele. ^franche, free, noble.
'" parler, inf. used substantivally. 11 espavenler (ex-paventum-are), Mod. Fr. epouvanter.
122 mSTOKICAL HEADER OF EARLY FRENCH.
L'heaume deslace, lait^ la
ventaille ^ aler : " Dame," dist il, " or poez
esgarder." Si com Guiborc le prist a
aviser, Par mi les cliaiis voit cent
paiens aler ; Corsouz d'Averse les fist de
I'ost sevi'er. Par ens fesoit Desramo i)re-
senter Trente chaitis^qui tiiit sout
bacheler.* De granz chaenes les orent^
fait noer ; Paien les batent, que Dieiis
puist craventer ! ° Dame Guiborc les a oi crier
Et hautement Damedieu re-
clamer. Dist a Guillaume : " Or puis
je bien prover Que tu n'ies mie dans "^ Guil-
laumes li ber, La fiere brace ^ qu'ou soloit'-*
tant loei' ;
Ja n'en laissasses paiens nos genz mener."
"Dieus," dist li coms, "com
me vuet esprover ! Mais par celui qui tot a a
sauver,
lie undoes the helmet, lets now you
go the ventil
"Lady," he says
may look." Just as Guibourg began to
recognise him, She sees a hundred infidels
going amid the fields ; Corsont d'Averse had them
separated from the army. By them he was presenting
to Derame Thirty captives, who all are
bacheliers. They had fastened them all
with great chains ; The infidels beat them, may
God destroy them ! The lady Guibourg has heard
them cry And call aloud upon the
Lord, She said to Guillaume :
" Now I can j)rove That you are not Lord Guil- laume the valiant, Of the terrible arm that
one used to praise so
much ; You would never allow
infidels to lead off our
men." " God," says the count, " how
she wishes to try me ! But by him, who has all to
save.
1 lait, 3 sing. pres. of laissier.
2 ventaille (Lat. vent{um)aculum), the part of the hehnet protecting the lower part of the face.
3 chaitis= chaitif {Lat. captivum).
•4 bacheler, a youtli who has not yet received the order of knight- hood.
5 orent=eurent. The use of tlie past anterior for the plpf, was not infrequent in OFr,
6 craventer {*crepantare). Cji. Span, quehrantar. ^ dans, Lat. dominum.
^ fiere brace, Lat. fcra brachia. Like many words in OFr. the termination a of the phiral became e, as the a of rosa, rose. 3 soloit, 3 sing, imperf. of so^iV(Lat. solere).
EAOUL DE CAMERA I.
123
Je lie lairroie ' por ^ la teste
coper Se m'on devoit trestot^ vif
desmembier Que devant lui ne voise * ore
joster : ^ Por soe amor me doi je bien
grever,^ Et la loi Dieu essaucier et
moiiter, Et le mien cors travaillier et
pener." L'heame relace, puis lait
cheval aler, Tant com il puet desoz lui
rand
oner.
Et vait paiens feiir et en- contrer.
I would not fail, were they
to cut off my head Or tear me all limb from
limb alive, Going now to fight before
him : For love of her I must now
take ti'ouble. And exalt and raise the law
of God, And let my body work and
toil." He refastens his helmet, then
lets his horse go And run beneath him as
hard as it can, And goes to meet the infidels
in combat. (Lit., to strike
and meet the infidels.)
Raoul de Cambrai.
This poem is preserved in a remaniement of the end of the twelfth century, the primitive text, which was of the tenth century, being lost. It is rhymed in its first part and assonanced in its second. The dialect is that of the north of France.
It gives a most interesting picture of feudal life, and the struggles that took place among the great nobles of tlic period. The story is based upon historical facts. It is as follows : —
Eaoul, son of the Count of Cambrai, had been, while a child, dispossessed of his paternal heritage.
King Louis
1 lairroie, 1 sing, coiid. of laier (Lat. legare).
' 2wr. In OFr, /)0«r with the iiifin. ofteu gave lliesen.se of diLl-il,. dussent-ils.
3 lrestot = trans-toliis.
* voise, 1 sing. pres. subj. oialler, Mod. Fr. aille.
5 joster, from Lat. jaxta; lit., to come together (with weapons).
•> grever, Lat. r/ravere, to weigh upon ; refl. se grever, to toil.
' randoncr, to rush impetuously. In the dialect of Lower Mor- mandy randir means to gallop.
124 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
had given it to another noljle, but promised to Euoiil another fief, the first that would become vacant. The Count Herbert of Vermandois dying at this time, Raoul asked for his lands, which the king unwillingly agreed to. Raoul then started off to attack the young sons of the Count of Vermandois, accompanied by his ecuyer Bernier, who, although himself a grandson of the Count Herbert, was bound by honour and his feudal oath to follow his lord. Having sacked and burnt the town of Origny with its monastery, Raoul meets in combat Ernaut, Count of Douai, and vassal of Herbert of Vermandois, in which Ernaut takes to flight. Bernier then turns iij^on Raoul and, after a fierce fight, kills him. The following passage relates the combat and flight of the Count of Douai, re- calling (as G. Paris remarks) the flight of Hector before Achilles.
III. III.
Li baiou tencent^ par gi-ant The bai'onsdisijutewith great
demesurance ; ^ violence ;
Les chevaus brochent,^ cha- They si)ur on their horses ;
scuns d'eus s'en avance.* each of them rushes for-
ward. Li plus liardiz ot de la iiiurt The boldest has fear of death.
dotance.^ Granz cous se douent es Mighty blows they deal eaeh
escuz ^ de Plaisance, other on their shields of
Plaisance, Mais li hauberc lor fiient But the hauberks gave them
secorance.^ protection.
Audoi ** s'abateut senz iiule They both fall to the ground
demorance ; in a moment (lit., without
any delay) ;
1 tencent, 3 \>\. pres. of tender {te7ii{uvi)-iare). " demesurance, Lcat. dis-mensuravi. 3 brochent, from root brocc. See note 10, p. 85. ■1 s'en avance, like s'en aller.
5 doiance=doutance, douht, hesitation, fear.
6 escuz, Lat. scutum. Shields in the tenth and eleventh centuries ■were very long and pointed at the bottom. They had a boss or conical raised part which served to divert the weapon of the adversary.
^ secorance—secours.
8 Andoi, noni. laso ; anxious (umbos duos), obj. case.
RAOUL DE CAMBBAI.
125
En pie ressaillent ; ' mout sont de grant puissance ;
As branz d'acier refont tel
acointance. Dont li plus forz en fu en
grant dotance.
IV.
Andoi li conte ont guerpi ^
lor estrier. En Eaol ot ^ merveillos
chevalier, Fort et hardi por ses aimes
baillier. Hors de son fuerre * a trait
le brant d'acier, Et fiert Ernaut sour sou
heaume a or niiei-,^ Que flors et pierres en fist
jus'' trebuchier.
Ne fust la coiffe' hauberc doblier.
de
son
De ci * es denz feist le brant glacier. '-^
L'espee torne el ^'^ coste
senestrier : De son escu li coupa un
quartier Et dous cenz mailles de son
hauberc doblier ; Tot estordi le fist jus
trebuchier : Ernauz le voit, n'i ot que
esmaier
11
They rise again to their feet ;
the}- are of very great
strength ; With the blades of steel they
renew the combat (So fiercely) that the strongest
was in great fear.
IV.
Both the counts have let go their stirrups.
Raoul shows himself a won- derful horseman,
Strong and bold in managing his weapons.
Out of its scabbard he drew the blade of steel,
And strikes Ernaut on his helm of pure gold
(So fiercely) that he made the flowers and stones fall down from it.
Had it not been the head- piece of his double hau- berk,
He would have made the blade slip in right to the teeth.
The sword turns off to the left side ;
Of his shield he cut away a quarter
And two hundred links from his double hauberk ;
Stunned he made him fall down :
Ernaut sees him, and cannot but be dismayed ;
Cp. Moil. Fr. deguerpir.
1 ressaillent, Lat. re salire.
- guerjii, from same root as Ger. werfen.
3 En Raol ot = Il y cut en Raoul.
* fiierre—fourreau, from Germanic/oc^r.
5 Mi,{er=Lat. merum, pure, simple.
*> jus, Lat. deursum. Cp. Ital. f/iii.
^ coijj'e, the upper part, or hood, which protected the neck.
** de ci {dcsi)—jusqvi£.
^ glacier (*glaciem-are)=glisser. '" el = en le, Senestrirr—sinislrum, 11 esmaier, 6.1; + Germanic magan (Eng. inai/). Cp. Eng. dismay.
126
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Dieu reclamn, le venai
justicier : " Sainte Marie, pensez de '
moi aidier ! Je referai d'Origni le
moutier.2 Certes, Raoiis, mout fais a
I'essoignier. Mais, se Dieii plaist, je te
cuit^ vendre cliiei' La mort de ceus dont si ^
m'as fait irier."
V.
Li cons Ernauz fu chevaliers
gentiz Et par ses amies vassus ^ et
de grand pris ; Vers Raoul torne, de mau-
talent •* espris ^ : Grant coup li done, com
chevaliers gentiz, Par mi son heaiime, qui fu
a or floriz * :
Trenche le cercle," qui fu a fiors de liz ;
Ne fust la coiffe de son liau-
berc treliz >" De ci es denz li eiist le brant
mis.
Voit le Raous, mornes fu et " Foi que doi
He invoked God, the
righteous judge : "Holy Mary, think of me
and aid me ! I shall rebuild the chuj-ch of
Origny. Indeed, Raoul, you do much
to be afraid of ; But, please God, I think I
shall sell you dearly The death of those for whom
you have made me so
wrathful."
v.
Count Ernaut was a noble
knight. And redoubtable by his arms
and of great worth ; He turns towards Raoul in- flamed with rage : A mighty blow he deals him,
like a valiant knight, In the middle of his helm,
which was worked with
flowers of gold ; He cleaves the circle which
was (decorated) with fleurs- de-lis ; Had it not been the hood of
his laced hauberk He would have thrust the
blade in him even to the
teeth. Raoul sees it, he was sad and
pensive ; He cries aloud : " Faith that
I owe St Denis,
pensis ; Avois escrie : saint Denis,
1 pensez de, i.e., se preoccuper de.
2 moutier is the jiopular form of mnnastere.
3 cuit, 1 sing. pres. of cuidier (Lat. cogitare). * si, emphatic particle.
^ vassus, here equivalent to brave.
6 mautalent=male talentum.
7 espris, from Lat. ex pvendere.
8 floriz=Jleuri.
^ cercle. The helmet was bordered at its base by a circle incrusted with precious stones.
treliz, woven with mail in the form of a trellis.
RAOUL DE CAMBRAI.
127
Coment qu'il preigne/ vas- saument ni'as reqnis ! -
Veiidre me cuides la mort de tes amis :
Nel di pors ce ^ vers toi ne
m'escondis : Si m'ait Dieus qui en la
crois fu mis, Ont^ tes enfanz ne raal ne
bien ne fis."
Del coup Ernaut f u Raous si
acquis Saiiglent en ot la boche et !e
vis. Qnaut Raous fn jovenceaus a
Paris A escremir ° ot as " enfanz
apris '' : ^Testier li ot contre ses en-
nemis.
VI.
Li cons Raous fu mout de
grant vertu. En sa main tint le bon brant
esmoln,^ Et fiert Ernaut par mi son
heaume agu,"
Que flors et pierres en a jus abatu ;
Devers senestre est le coup descendu ;
1 preigne, 3 sing, jires. subj. o{ j)rcndre, which is here neut.
2 requis, lit., sought me (m combat).
3 2}ors ce. Qiie is omitted, as was frequent in OFr. (see Darm., p. 727).
■I ont=oncques, Lat. tinquam..
'' escremir, Mod. Fr. e.icrimer. From O.TT.Om-. sJdrmjan, to protect, to defend, to fight (N.H.Gcr. schirm).
^ as=a {avec) Irs.
7 apris a. In the oM Language greater use was made of tlie prep, a with the infin.
^ esmolu, p.p. of esmohlre (esmoudre).
<* agu = La.t. acu.tum.
Whatever come of it, you
have attacked me right
valiantly ! You think you will make me
pay (lit., sell me) the death
of your friends : I do not say it so that I may
excuse myself to you ; So help me God, who was
j>ut on the cross, I have never done your
children either harm or
good." By Ernaut's blow Raoul was
so violently struck (That) he has his mouth and
face bloody therefrom. When Raoul was a youth at
Paris He learned fencing with the
children (of the palace) : It is needful to him against
his enemies.
VI.
Count Raoul was of very
great strength. In his hand he held the good
sharpened sword. And strikes Einaut in the
middle of his pointed
helm, (So hard) that he knocked
down from it flowers and
stones ; Towards the left did the
blow descend ;
128
HISTORICAL KEADEK OF EARLY FRENCH.
Par grant engien^ li a
cerchie le bu.^ Del braz senestre li a le
poing tolu, A tot I'escu I'a el champ
abatu. Quand voit Eniauz qu'ensi
est confondu, Que a la terre voit gesir son
escn, Son poing senestre, qui es
enarmes ^ f u, Le sane vermeil a la terre
espandu, De la peor a tot le sane
meii ; ■* Al cheval vint, qui bien I'a
atendu ; Ernauz i monte, qui mout fu
esperdu ; '^ Fuiant s'en torne lez le
brouillet" ramu. Raous I'enchauce,'' qui de
pres I'a seli.^
VII.
Fuit s'en Ernauz et Raous
l'enchau9a. Ernauz li cons durement se
dota, Car ses destriers dessoz lui
estancha,^ Et li baucenz ^"^ durement
I'approcha. Ernauz se pense que merci
criera.
With great skill did he seek
(to strike) his body. With liis left arm did he take
from liim his hand, Along with the shield did he
cast it to the ground. When Ernaut sees that he is
thus overwhelmed, That on the ground he sees
lying his shield, His left hand, which was in
the armlets, The red blood
ground. From fear he has all his
blood excited ; He comes to his horse, which
spilt
on
the
was waiting for
him it, in
great
Ernaut mounts
despair lu flight he turns along the
spreading thicket. Raoul, who has followed him
closely, makes up on him.
VII.
Ernaut has fled and Raoul
presses him closely. Ernaut the Count was in
great fear. For his hoise became tired
beneath him, And the piebald pressed him
hard. Ernaut thinks to himself that
he will cry for mercy.
1 engie?i = ha,t. ingeniuin. - bu, the trunk of the body. Cp. bust.
•' enarmes, leather bands through which the arms were passed. ■' le sane meu. me'd, p.p. of movoir. 5 esperdu, now mostly used of love, eperdu d'amour. 8 brouillet, from Celtic root brog, Irish, bruig, meaning "land." Cp. Allo-brog-es. ^ enchauce = Liit. * incakiare.
8 seu, p.p. of sivre (suivre).
9 estancha, estanchier (Lat. stagnare), (1) to dry up, stanch ; (2) to tire, fatigue. Cp. Ital. stanco.
10 baucenz is a dark horse speckled with wliite. G. Paris derives the word from balteus (girdle). Another derivation is the Arabic haqal, speckled.
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE COXQUEROE.
129
Enz el chemin un petit
s'aresta ; A sa vois clere hauteineiit
s'escria : " Merci, Raous, por Dieu qui
tot cria.^
Se ce vos poise - que feru
vos ai la, Voz om serai ensi com vcs
plaira. Quite vos claim ^ tot Brai-
bant et Hainan : Que ja* mes oirs demi pic
n'en tendra." Et Raous jure que ja nel
pensera ])es qu'a''^ cele ore que il ocis
I'avra.
On his way he stopped a moment ;
With his clear voice he loudly called :
" Mercy, Eaoul, for the sake of God, who created every- thing !
If it vexes you that I have struck you there,
I shall be your man at your good pleasure.
I make over to you all Bra- bant and Hainaut :
Never shall my heir possess half a foot of it."
And Eaoul swears that he will not consider it
Until the hour when he shall have killed him.
Laws of William the Conqueror.
The Conqueror preserved the laws and customs of the Saxons,^ except where inconsistent with any laws and institutions which he introduced. The principal changes he made had reference to the feudal system.
The laws of William are divided into separate parts, the first consisting of fifty sections largely based on the laws of Edward the Confessor."^ These were published in the Xorman dialect, many Anglo-Saxon terms being re- tained, as will be seen in the passages given below.
Different laws and customs prevailed in IMercia, Wessex, and the Danelaw.
1 cria=crea.
- se ce vos poise=si cela vous pesc, lit., if it weighs upon you.
3 quite claim, lit., to call quit, to renounce.
* queja . . . Tie = car jamais . . . ne.
5 Des que — desi {d'ici) que.
8 In 1060 William swore at Berkhamsted that he would observe the ancient laws of the kingdom, particularly those of P]ilward.
7 Ces sunt les leis e les custumes, que li reis Willanis grantad a tut le pnple de Engleterre apres le conquest de la terre ; iceles meismes ipie li reis Edward, seiu cusin, tint devant lui.
130 IIISTOEICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
3. Cost * est la ciistume en Merchen-lahe ^ : se alquena ^ est apeled de larrecin u de roberie, e il seit' plevi^ de venir a justice, e il s'en fuie dedenz sun plege, si averad terme un meis e un jur de querre le"; e s'il le pot truver, dedenz le terme, s'il merra'^ a la justice ; e s'il nel pot truver, si junud sei dudzime main^ que al hure qu'il le plevi, larrun nel sout ^ ne par lui s'ent est fuid ne aveir nel pot. Dune rendrad le chateV dun il est restez, e xx solz ^^ pur la teste et iiii den ^^ al ceper ^^ e une maille ^* pur la besche ^^ e xl solz al rei. E en Westsexene-
3. This is the custom in the Mercia-lagh : if any one is summoned for larceny or robbery, and he be pledged to come up for trial, and if he abscond within the time of his bail (pledge), there will be a period of one month and one day for seeking him ; and if he (the bailer) can find him within the period, he will bring him to justice ; and if he cannot find him, he will swear along with eleven others (lit., his hand the twelfth) that at the time that he bailed him he did not know him to be a robber, nor did he abscond through him, and that he could not get him. Then he will make good the chattel for which he became liable, nnd 20 shillings for the head and 4 pence to the jailer and one farthing for the grave-digger (lit., spade) and 40 shillings to
1 Cost=(o {est), n. demonst. pr.
2 lahe='Lo\y Lat. laga, law. Here refers to the district in which the law was administered.
3 alquens=aucun. Cp. Span, alguien.
* seit. Note change to subj.
" plevi, prob. from Goth, plalhvan. Diez gives praehere (see G. Paris, Rom. xiii., 133).
* querre le. The atonic pron. follows the verb, as was frequent in OFr.
7 merra=mSnera. This contraction was usual in verbs having their radical in n or r. Cp. jurra, dorra, for jurera, donnera.
8 sei dudzime main, Lat. jurare duodecima 77ianu (cp. iertia, cen- tesima inanu, &c.)
* larrun nel sout=ne le sut larron.
10 chatel. Low Lat. catallum, cattle. C-p. pecunia, irompecus.
11 solz='La.t. solidus, Mod. Fr. sou.
12 den=deniers, Lat. denarius. i^ ceper. Low Lat. ceparius. 1-1 maille, Lat. *metallea; petite monnaie de valeur variable (Gode-
froy).
15 besche=Mche. The Anglo-Saxon laws punished robbery by death, and one of the oldest methods of putting a criminal to death consisted in burying him alive.
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
131
lahe cent solz, xx solz al clamif pur la teste/ e iiii lib. al rei.
En Dene -lahe vii lib. le forfeit, les xx solz pur la teste, les viii lib. al rei. E s'il pot dedenz un an e un jur truver le larrun e amener a justice, si li rendra cil les vint solz kis^ avrat oiit,^ e si'n ert* feite la justice del larrun.
4. Cil ki prendra larrun senz siwte^ e senz cri, que cil en leist" a ki il avrad le damage^ fait, e vienge pois apres, si est raisun qu'il duinse ^ x solz de hengwite,'* e si'n face la justise a la primereine >'' devise.^i j] s'il passe la devise senz le cunged^''^ a la justise, si est forfeit de xl solz.
the king. And in Wessex- lagh 100 shillings— 20 shil- lings to the claimant for the head and 4 pounds to the king.
In Dane - lagh 7 pounds forfeit, 20 shillings for the head, 8 pounds to the king. And if he can, within one year and one day, find the thief and bring him to justice, that person will re- store to him the 20 shillings who has had them, and justice will be done with respect to the thief.
4. He who shall take a thief without pursuit and hue and cry, whom the per- son whom he has lobbed lets go, and applies soon after- wards (for a reward), it is but right that he should give 10 shillings for hengwite, and let justice be done at the first court. But if he pass over the court without the leave of justice, the forfeit is 40 shillings.
5. He who recovers cattle, whether horses, or oxen, or cows, or sheep, which in
5 siwte= suite. Bartsch reads en feist.
5. Cil ki aveir" escut'^ u chivalz u buefs u vaches u berbiz ^'' u pores, que est f or-
I clamif pur la teste— i.e., to the plaintiff for not bringing the criminal iu person (teste).
^ cil . . . kis=celui qui les.
3 avrat out = aura eu.
* ert, 3 sing. fut. of estre.
« en leist, 3 sing. pres. of laissier.
7 daviage— Mod. Fr. dommage.
8 duinse, 3 sing.- pres. siibj. oi doner (donner).
9 hengwite, from A.S. hangian and loile (fine). It was the duty of the person robbed to do all be could to get the robber caught, and hangwite was the fine imposed in case he failed to do so.
10 'primerein {primari[um)anum)= premier.
II devise (L. divisum), lit., decision of the court.
12 cunged= conge {Lai. commeatum).
13 amr=property, here used of cattle.
14 escut, 3 sing, jires. ind. of escoudre (escoure, escorre).
15 berMz=t'he older form of brelis.
132 IIISTOrJCAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
feng 1 en engleis ajjeled ; cil kis claimed durrad al provost pur I'escussiun viii den., ja tant ii'i ait, meis qu'il i oiist " cent almaille,^ ne durrad que viii den., e pur un pore 1 den., e pur un berbiz 1 den., e issi tresque a * uit pur chascune 1 den., ne jatant n'i avrad, ne durrad que oit den. E durrad wage e tru- verad plege, que si altre veinged aprof'' dedenz I'an et le jur pur I'aveir de- niander, qu'il ait a dreit en la curt celui ki I'aveit escus. 6. Altresi " de aveir adire,'' e altresi de trixveure ; * seit mustred de treis parz del visned,^ qu'il ait testimonie de la truveure. E si alquens vienged apref pur clamer la chose, duinst wage e truist ^^ plege, qui si alter claimid I'aveir dedenz I'an e un jur, qu'il I'ait a dreit en la curt celui qui I'averat trvived.
English is called forfeng ; he who claims them sliali give to the provost for the re- covery 8 pence, however many there be of them — should there be a hundred head of cattle he shall (still) not give more than 8 pence, and for a hog 1 penny, and for a sheep 1 penny, and so on up to 8 (giving) for each 1 penny ; but however many there be of them, he shall not give more than 8 pence. And he shall give a gage, and shall find a pledge, that if any other peison shall come after- wards, within the year and the day, to claim the cattle, he can proceed in the couit against him who had re- covered them.
6. As it is with lost prop- erty, so also is it with any- thing else that is found ; let it be shown in three parts of the district, that there may be evidence of the find- ing. And if any one come afterwards to claim the prop- erty, let him give a gage and find a pledge that, if any other person claim the prop- erty within the year and a day, he can proceed in the court against him who had found it.
'^ forfeng, A.^. fore a.\v\ feng , fang. " ousi=eut.
3 ahnaille, a collective iioim .signifying cattle. The word conies from the adj. aniinalia, like hetail from hestialis. ■1 issi tresque a=ainsijusqu'd.
5 aprof=apres.
6 altresi, Lat. alterum-sic. See Strasburg Oaths, p. 69.
'' adire, p.p. of adirer. This verb was in nse up to the beginning of the seventeenth century. It still exists in some parts of Brittany and the Cotts du Nord in the form oi adierer.
8 truveure=M.O(\.. Fr. trouvaille.
^ visned (Lat. vicinatum)=voisinage.
10 truist, ?) sing. pres. suTij. of trover.
LAWS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEKOK.
133
7. If a man kill another, and he confess, and have to make amends, he shall give as compensation to the lord for a freeman 10 shillings, and for a serf 20 shillings.
8. The weregild of the thain is 20 pounds in Mer- cia-lagh, 25 pounds in Wes- sex-lagh ; the weregild of the villein 100 shillings in Mercia-lagh, and likewise in Wessex-lagh.
11. If it happens that any one cut off the hand or the foot of another, he will pay him half the weregild, ac- cording to the place where he was born. For the thumb he will pay him the lialf of the hand ; for the linger next to the thumb 15 shillings of English shillings, what is called 4 pence ; for the long linger 15 shillings ; for the other which bears the ring 17 shillings ; for the little finger 5 shillings; for the nail, if he cut it from the flesh, 5 shillings of English shillings ; for the nail of the little linger four pence. 19. Si ahjuens crieve Toil 19. If any one knock out
aaltre par aventure, quePi qe the eye of another by what- seit, siamendrad'- Ixxsolzde ever way it may be, he will
1 ciinnissant , i^res. part, of conoistrc.
- manbote, from A.H. man and hot, compensation for wiiicli a mur- derer was liable. He Lad to pay more to the lord for a serf than for a freeman, because iu the first case the man would be the property of the lord, and the loss he would sustain greater than in the case of a freeman.
3 loere— weregild. This was the fnie that a murderer had to jiay to the parents of the victim.
■* ensemeut, Lat. in-sic-menle.
'' avient — hat. adve7>it. •> 7;«Mi5'=2'M'«g'.
^ pochicr=poucier,2}ouce. ^ meUe=moitiS,
" dei {La.t. difjUi(,7n) = Mo(l. Fr. doiyt. i" quaer—qnatre.
^1 quel, fem. like m., as in grant, &c. (quele is later).
r- amendrad, 3 sing. ful. of o.mender.
7. Si home ocist alter e il soit cunnissant ^ e il deive faire les amendes, durrad de sa manbote^ al seinur ])ur le franc hume x solz e \)\xv le serf XX solz.
8. La were ^ del thein xx lib. in Merchene-lahe, xxv lib. in Westsexene-lahe ; la were del vilain c solz en Merchene-lahe, e ensemeut* en Westsexen-lahe.
11. Si ceo avienf^ que al- quens colpe lepuing ^> a altre u le pied, si li rendrad demi were, suluneceo qu'il est nez. Del pochier '' li i-endrad la meite * de la main ; del dei "■* apres le pochier xv solz de solz eng- leis, que est apeled quaer'** denier ; del lung dei xv solz ; del altre ki ported I'annel xvii solz ; del petit dei v solz ; del ungle, si le colpod de la charn, v solz de solz engleis ; al ungle del petit dei iiii den.
134
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
solz engleis ; e si la purnele ^ y est remis, si ne rendra lui que la nieite.
22. Ki 2 Franceis ocist e les liumes del hundred^ iiel prengent* e meinent a la justice dedenz les viii jurz, pur mustrer'' pur il Fa fet, si renderunt le murdre" xlvii mars.^
26. De quatre chemins, ceo est a saveir, Watlinge- strete,*' Erminge-strete, Fosse, Hykenild : ki en alcun de ees quatre chemins ocist home ki seit errant par le pais u asalt,'' ei enfreint le pais le rei.
])ay as compensation VO shil- lings of English shillings ; and if the eyeball is put back, he will only pay him half.
22. He who kills a French- man and the people of the hundred do not apprehend him and bring him to justice within 8 days to show why he has done it, they will pay as murder money 47 marks.
26. With respect to the four roads, to wit Watling- street, Erminge- street, the Fosse, the Ickenild way : whoever in any of these four ways kills a man who may be travelling throuorh the coun- try or assaults him, he in- fringes the peace of the king.
Roman de Rou.
The Geste des Normands, or the Roma7i de Rou, was written about 1170 by Wace, Canon of Bayeux in I^ormandy, who was also the author of the Geste des Bretons, or Roman de Brut, written at an earlier date. The Roman de Rou consists of two parts, the first part being written in alexandrines and the second in octo- syllabic verse rhyming in couplets. The work, though largely based upon Latin chronicles, contains many details which the author had collected from oral tradition, which possess considerable historical interest.
The work is written in the liorman dialect, and the style is very clear and concise.
1 2mrnele=2)runelle. 2 Ki—celui qui.
^ hundred, A.S., the division of a county. •• prengent, 3 \)\. pres. sul)j. oi prendre. 5 mustrer =inonslrer, Mod. Fr. montrer. ^ murdre, Medieval Lat. murdrum, murder-money. ^ mars for marcs ; wlien the final cons, was a palatal it was dropped before s of the plural (see Darm., p. 257).
8 Watlinge-strete, &c., Roman roads in Britain, s asalt, 3 sing. pres. of asalir [assaillir).
ROMAN DE ROU.
135
Capture of Luna by the Norman Hastings.
By Wage, born in Guernsey, circa 1170 ; see Toynbee, Specimens, p. 72.
Hasteins a la vile esgardee
Hastings perceived the town And deemed that he had
found Rome. Those of Luiia had great fear, When they saw the race of
the pagans : Many masts they saw, many
yards. Many people they saw, many
ships : Into the city all have be- taken themselves. They have all deserted the
flat country. The count assembles his men And the bishop all his own
people. Hasteins fu mout de grant Hastings was of very great
voisdie'' wiliness
Et mout f ut pleins de felonie. And was very full of wicked-
Et cuida i Eome avoir trovee.
Cist deLune orent grant paor, Quantla gent virent paienor : '^
Mout virent maz, mout
virent tres,^ Mout virent gent, mout
virent nes : ^ En la cite se sont tuit mis,
Guerpi '" ont tot le plain pais.
Ses omes assemble li cuens E li evesques toz les suens.
La cite vit mout defensable,
Bien enforciee et bien ten- able, Vit que par force ne I'avroit,
ness. He saw the city easily de- fensible. Well garrisoned, and easily to
be held. Saw that by force he would not get it, Ne par force ne la prendroit ; Nor that by an attack would
he take it : Se par enging '' ne la prenoit. Unless by a luse he should
take it, Ja par force n'i entreroit. Never by force should he
enter theie.
1 ciiidcr, from cuyildre : the formation is similar to that seen in ai(u)tdre-aUleT. Cf. Brachet and Toyubee, p. 108, § 220.
' 2}aienor is the genitive plural : it corresponds with the termination -orum : -ear corresponds with -arum, as in la Chandeleur, festa Can- <;?e/a?'!<?«= Candlemas.
' ires, obj. plur, of tref {ha.i. trabem), a beam — here a sliij/s yard. The/ falls out before the s of the plural.
*• lies, olij. plur. of nef (La.t. juivem), shiji.
■' guerpi. O.H.Ger. weqifan.
* voisrUe, another form of hoisdie, boisicr.
<■ enging (Lat. ingenium), artitice.
13G
IIISTOKICAL REAUEU OF EARLY FKENCII.
De traison se porpensa : A I'evesque, as cler.s manda Que de nuil faire n'a talent ; ^
Trop a mal fait, si s'eu
repent : N'est mie venuz j^oi" i^i'il
faire, Mais tormente ^ out et vent
contraire, Qui a la cite le cha9a ;
Ce peise lui ^ qu'il i torna.
Ne sait ou il est arivez,^
En mer a estc esgarez.
Se sains iert^ et il eiist vent,
N'i seroit mie longement : Mais mal a grant, ne puet
errer : Grant mestier ^ a de sejorner : De tot le lor rieus ne de-
mande Fors le marcliie de la viandc, Pais de venir e pais d'aler, Et pais de viande aclieter. Mout grant paor a de morir ;
Si vuelt crestiiens devenir,
Ne puet par el '' sante avoir,
Co croit il bien et sa,it de
voir.'* Quant mout a fait de mal en
France, S'en vuelt faire sa peni-
tance. . . .
He bethought him then of
treason : He sent a message to the
bishop and to his clerks That to do evil he has no
intent ; He has done but too much ill :
he I'epents hiui thereof : That he is not come to do
any liaim. But has suffered storm and
baffling wind, That to the city has driven
him ; It is vexing to him that he
has put in theie. Nor does he know where he
has got to, He has lost his way at sea. If he were well and if he had
wind. He would not be there long : But he is very ill, he cannot
move about : Great need hath iie of rest : Of all that they have he asks
for nothing But to baigain for 2)rovisions, To come and to go in peace, And in peace to buy food. Very great fear hath he of
dying ; He wishes to become a
Christian, He cannot otherwise get
health, That he indeed believes and
knows truly. As much evil as he hath done
in France, He wishes to do penance for
it. . . .
1 talent (Lat. talentum), inclination.
2 tormente, storm. Cf. Mod. Span, tormenia.
3 ce2)eise lui=ll luijjese, used impersonally.
* arivez here lias its etymological meaning of adtipatus. '' iert, 3 sing. fut. of est re. ^ mestier, Lat. minister iwn.
'' el, Lat. aliiid, which become cdid, then aid and el in French. 8 de voir, Mod. Fr. de wai.
KOMAN L)E KOU.
137
The Bishop of Luna is taken in by the fine words of Hastings : he comes to the camp to baptise the JS^ormau leader, whose godfather is the Count liimself. Hastings manages to get from them the promise to let him be buried, if he die in the town. Shortly afterAvards he pretends to die, and all his camp bursts out in cries of grief.
Es vosi et grant noise ^ et Hearken to the loud noise
granz cnz,
and crying,
Es voz granz plainz, giiinz To the loud lamentations and
ploreiz ; Ja si grant noise ne fei'ssent
Se il de voir^ mort le veis-
sent. La nuit et puis la matinee
Firent 2)aien mout grant criee*
weepnig ; They would indeed not make
so great noise If they saw him really dead.
All night and then all morn- ing
Did the heathen tlu'on.t^ loud- ly wail.
Come se chascuns d'eus «on As if each of them .saw his
father, His son, or his brotlier lying
pere I veist mort o filz o frere.
dead. AVith hauberks under their
broad ct)ats of mail, And under their cloaks their
swords, Did they bring Hastings on
his bier To the gate of the city. Then would you hear the
heathen cry And lament with all tlieir
might. Those within (the city) were
deceived Del duel,'' (ju'il out .si grant By this grief which tliey saw
veli, so great,
Les portes lor firent oviir They let tlie gates be opened
to them
1 ejf vos. Us is tlie L<at. eccc, and vos is here merely an e.\pletive.
2 noise, used in Jlod. Kr. in sense of disjjutc — chercher noise.
' de voir^de vrai. * criee, Mod. Fr. crierie.
5 lees, ]il. of U (let), from L;it. latus.
6 esforcier, Moil. Fr. s'eforr^er. 7 duel=douleur.
Les haubeis soz les cotes
lees,-' E soz les chapes les espees,
Ont Hastein en biere apoiie
A la porte de la cite. Done oissiez paiens crier
Et esforcier <■ de bien ploici-.
Oil dedenz furent deceii
138 HISTORICAL HEADER OF EARLY FRENCH.
A ceus qui voudient euz^ To those who wished to come
venir. - inside.
Por le pueple faire assembler, In order to make the people
assemble, Firent les seins^ |)ar tot They let the bells everywhere
soner ; be rung ;
Encontre-* o* grant jwoces- And to meet them come in
sion full procession
Vienent li clerc e li cler9on:^ The clerks and their assis- tants : Crois portoient et encensiers, They carried crosses and in- cense-burners ; Tuit i coroient volentiers ; All ran forth gladly :
De ceus qui plorent ont For those who weep they , pitiu, have compassion,
Mout nmblement i vont a Most humbly they go on
pie, foot,
Ne sevent mie lor feintie.** (For) they know not their
deceit. Es vos I'evesque et le clergie, Behold the bishop and the
clergy, Es vos le comte et ses barons. Behold the count and his
barons, Come s'il fussent tuit som- As if they had all been sum-
ons ; ^ moned ;
Tuit i corent, nuls n'i re- All run thither, no one re-
maint, mains (in the town).
Come se 90 fust un cors As if that were the body of
saint ; a saint ;
Li un por les autres i corent,*^ They run, each to fetch the
other. Grant pitie ont de ceus qui Creat pity have they on
plorent. those who weep.
Au niostier portei'ent le To the church they bore the
cors : body :
Miens fust qu'il remainsit" Better were it that it had defers ; remained without (the
town) ; Ce fu par grant malei^on ^^ It was by great mischance
1 etiz, Lat. iyilus.
2 scins, scin (sain), from Lat. signum, because the sound of the bell served as an hidication to guide to the church.
3 encontre, adv. ; Mod. Fr. d leur rencontre.
■* o, the Lat. (qnul in the sense of luith. ^ chrr,on=petit clerc.
^ feint ie, lit., feigning, deceit.
"^ somons, p.p. of somondre, from the Lat. summonere, {or sub monere. " corent jior, run for ; Mod. Fr. coiircnt chercher. ^ remainsit, 3 sing. imp. subj. of remaindre. 1" 7/ia?e(fo?i = malediction.
ROMAN DE llOU.
139
Qu'il lie sorent la tniison.
Li maistreclerschaiita 1' office ;
Ce fu coiitre ^ lor grant
malice ; ^ Miens lor venist faire confes,
Car niout estoit la lor mort
pres. Li evesque clianta la messe : Des paieiis fu la torbe ^ es-
pesse. Quant viiit a la biere porter,
Que Ton dut le cors enterrer,
Hasteins de la biere sailli, S'espee * traite, fist un cri :
Au ])remerain coup qu'il
dona A I'evesque le chief-' coupa, A son parrain coupa la teste,
Come se fust une vil beste. Paien, tuit traites lor espees
Et les chapes des cous jetees,
Les portes corureiit fermer, Que nuls n'en peiist eschapei'. Des chaitis " font tel tue'/z ^
Come li leus fait des brebiz,
Quant il puet entrer en lo
toit,» Que li vilaiiis ne I'apei^oit :
Estrantrle moutons et brebiz
That they knew not the
treason. The chief clerk chanted the
service ; It was in honour of their
great wickedness. They would have done better
to confess, For their death was very
near. The bishop chanted the mass : Thick wasthe heathen throng.
When it came to can-ying the bier,
And the body was to be buried,
Hastings rose from the bier
With drawn swui d and gave a shout :
With the first stroke that he gave
He cut off the bishop's head,
(Then) he cut off his god- father's head
As if it were a beast's.
The heathen all with drawn swords
And cloaks thrown fiom their necks.
Ran to shut the gates,
So that no one could escai)e.
Of their captives they make such slaughter
As the wolf makes of the lambs,
When he can get into the pen
Without the shepherd ob- serving him:
He strangles sheep and ewes
' conlre here means/o?', in honour of. Contre had formerly various iiieaiiiugs tliat have not passed into the modern lan<,ntage (see Godefroy).
- lor . . . malice here refers to the treachery of the Normans.
^ torbe, Lat. turba, crowd; also used of things, "La tourhe des menus maux." — Montaigne, Ess. ill. 9.
■• s'espee. See Darin. , j). 303. ^ chief. See Darm., \). 100. ^ tueiZf Mod. Fr. tixrie.
^ chaitis, Lat. captivus. ** toit here means enclosed place.
140
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Et aigiieaus toz graiiz et
petiz. Ensement^ tiieiit li paieii Deii dolent jnu'ple crestiieu :
L'evesque ocistrent et le
comte, Et tant des autres, ii'en fu
conte ; Puis sout ]iar la vile espandu,
D'lui ostel en autre coru.
And hinibs both great and small.
Even so did the heathen
With the unfortunate Chris- tian ])eople :
They killed the bishop, and the count,
And so many others, there was no counting them ;
Then they dispersed through- out the town,
And ran from one house to another.
Le Chevalier au Lion.
Chrestien de Troyes was the most famous of the poets Avlio sang of the Bretou legends (see Lanson, Litt., chap, ii., " Les Eomans bretons "). His principal works were Tristan, Lancelot, Ivain or Le Chevalier au Lion, and Perceval. Tlie Chevalier au Lion was written about 1170; it is regarded as one of Chrestien's finest works, and recounts the adventures of Ivain, Knight of the Round Table. The dialect is that of Champagne, to which province the poet belonged.
The Struggle between Gauvain and Ivain.
Gauvain and Ivain have fought during a Mdiole day Avithout recognising one another ; at nightfall they cease fighting, congratulate one another, and asking their names, recognise one another.
Mes sire Ivains ]mrla ain9ois,2 Qui mout estoit preuz et
cortois. Mais au parler nel recount,
Ses bona amis ; car ce li nut-''
My loi'd Ivain spoke first,
Who was very brave and courteous.
But by speaking he did not know him,
His good friend ; for it hin- dered him
1 enscment, Lat. in-sic-mente. - ain^ais.
' nut, 3 sing. perf. oi nuire, used impersonally.
See Darii)., p. 96.
LE CHEVALIER AU LION.
141
Qu'il avoit la parole basse That he spoke in low tones
Kt la vols roe' et foible et And his voice was rough and
weak and broken ; For all his blood was stirred
up
.2
quasse ; Car toz li sans li fu nieiiz^
Des cons qn'il avoit receiiz.
From the blows he had re- ceived.
"Sir," said he, "the night approaches !
I do not think we shall have blame or reproach
If the night se]iarate us.
But this much I say, for my part, Que mout vos dot^ et mout That much I fear you and
" Sire," fait - il, " la nuiz
aproche ! Je ne cuit ^ blasme ne re-
proche I aions se nuiz nos depart. Mais tant di de la moie jmrt
vos pris,
much I esteem you
N'onques en ma vie n'empris " Never in my life did I under- take Bataille dont tant me dou-
sisse
Ne chevalier cui ^ tant vou
sisse Conoistre ne cuidai veoir.
Bien savez voz cous aseoir
Et bien les savez emploiier.
A combat in which I got so
many blows. Nor did I think I could sec
a knight Whom I should have liked
so much to know. Well you know how to place
your blows, And well you know how to deal them. Ainz ne sot tant de cous Never did any knight whom
paiier I knew
Chevaliers que je coneiisse. Know how to deal so many
blows. Ja mon vuel '■' tant n'en re- Had I wished for it, I would ceiisse not have received so many
Com vos n\'en avez hui ^° As you have given me to-day.
prestd. Tot m'ont vostre coup Your blows have quite
entestu."" stunned me."
"Par foi," fait mes sire "My faith," says my lord Gauvains, Gauvain,
1 roe, fem. of ro, Mod. Ft. rauqiie. 2 quasse=cassee.
^ sans , . . me'dz. See Darm., p. 145. ■' miit, 1 sing. pres. iiuL of cuidier. ^ dot, 1 sing. pres. ind. of doter. •■ n'empris, ] perf. oi em2ii'endre = entreprendre. 7 doiisisse, 1 sing. imp. subj. of dousser (dosser), frapper sur le dos. ** cui, ol)j. case of relative pron. ^ vion vucl, adverbial expression =.sr/ow ma volonte. >" hui, Lat. hodie. : Span. hoy. 'i enleste, Ut., /rapper d la tele.
142 HISTORICAL IJEADEl! OF EABLY FRENCH.
" N'estes si estordiz lie vaiiis ' "You are not so much
stunned nor so weak Que je autant ou plus ne As I am, for I am more so.
soie.""^ Et se je vos reconnossoie, And if I should recognise you,
Espoir-' lie vos greveroif' Perhaps it would not grieve
rien. you.
Se je vos ai preste del mien, If I have shown you some of
my prowess, Bien m'en avez rendu le You have paid me well back
coiite for it,
Et del chatel '' et de la Both in capital and interest ;
monte ; ^ Que larges estiiez del rendre For you were generous in
paying back Plus que je n'estoie del More than I was in taking.
prendre. Mais coment que la chose But, however it may be,
preigne,''' Quant vos plaist que je vos Since it pleases you that I
apreigne inform you
Par quel noii je sui apelez, By what name I am called,
Ja ines nonis ne vos iert Indeed my name shall not be
celez : hid from you :
Gauvains ai non, fiz le roi My name is Gauvain, son of
Lot." King Lot."
Tantost com nies sire Ivains As soon as my lord Ivain
I'ot, hears it.
Si s'esba'ist ^ et espert '•* toz ; He is amazed and quite
dumfoundered ; Par mautalent ^^ et par corroz In bad temper and in rage Flatist " a la terre s'espee He flings to the ground his
sword Qui tote estoit ensenglentee, Which was all covered with
blood, Et son escu tot depecie ; And his shield, which was all
in pieces ; Si descent del cheval a pie : He dismounts from his horse
on foot :
1 vains, weak, without force.
2 ou plus ne soie, lit., queje ne le suis plus.
' espoir, frequently used as an adverb in OFr. =peut-itre.
4 greveroit, impers. verlo.
5 chatel, Lat. capiitale.
^ monte, interest. "Mult emprunta a munte." — Gam., Vie de S. Thorn.
^ pireigne, 1 sing. pres. subj. of prendre.
8 s'esba'ist, Mod. Fr. s'ebahit. ^ s'espert. Mod. Fr. etre Sperdu.
i"* mautalent, Lat. male-talentum. i^ Flatist, 3 sing. perf. of jlatir.
LE CHEVALIEK AU LION.
143
" Ha, las," fait - il, " quel
mescbeance ! Par trop leide ^ mesconois-
sance Ceste bataille faite avomes, Qu'entrecone(\^ ne nos somes ;
Que ^ ja, se je vos coneiisse, A vos combatuz ne me fusse :
" Alas ! " he says, " what a
mischance ! By a most sad misunder- standing We have had this combat, Since we have not recognised
each other ; For I, had I known you, Would not have fought with you ; Ainz me clamasse recreant * On the contrary ; I should
have declared myself beaten Devant le cop, ce-'' vos Before striking a blow,
creant." believe me for it."
" Coment," fait mes sire " What," says my lord
Gauvains, Gauvain,
"Qui estes vos?" "Je sui "Who are you?" "I am
Ivains Ivain
Qui plus vos aim que rien del Who loves you more than
monde anything in the world
Tant com il dure ^ a la As far as it extends around ;
reonde ; Que vos m'avez ame toz jorz For you have always loved
me Et onor6 en totes corz. And honoured me in all the
courts. Mais je vos vuel de cest But I wish for this matter
afaire Tel amende et tel onor faire To make you such amends
and such honour Qu'outreement outrez^ That I declare myself to be
m'otroi." completely beaten."
" Ice f eriiez vos por moi ? " "Would you do this for
me?" Fait mes sire Gauvains, li Says my lord Gauvain, the
douz. gentle.
"Certes, mout feroie or "Certainly, I should be now
estouz'' very haughty
Se je ceste amende en prenoie. If I accepted such amends.
1 leide, f. of lait, Mod. Fr. laid, fatal.
2 Entrecone^, p.p. of s'entreconnoistre. •< Que=2)uisq\ie.
•» rue clamasse recreant, a common expression denoting that one gives in, abandons one's rights.
^ ce=ecce. Vos is merely expletive.
* creant, noun signifying assurance, promise.
^ dure, here in sense of reach.
8 outrement outre, an alliteration frequent in Christian of Troyes.
" estouz, bold, proud, haughty. Cp. Germ, stolz.
144 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Ja certes ceste onors n'iert
moie, Ainz ieit vostre, je Li vos
lais." 1 " Ha, beans sire, iiel dites
mais ! Que ce ne porroit avenir. Je ne me puis mais sostenir.
Si sui atainz et sormenez ! "
"Certes de iieant vos
penez
I"
Fait ses amis et ses compainz.
" Mais je sui couquis et
atainz,^ Ne je ne di rien por losange ; ^
Qu'il n'a el monde si estrange
(hn je autretant n'en deisse
Ain9ois que plus des cous
sofrisse." Ainsi parlant est descenduz ; S'a li uns a I'autre tenduz Ses braz au col, si s'entre-
baisent. Ne de ce * mie ne se taisent Que chascuns outrez ne se
claint.^ La tencons" onques ne re- main t Tant que li rois et li baron Vienent corant tot environ, Ses'' voient entreconjol'r,
Et mout desirent a oir
Indeed this honour will not
be mine, But it will be yours : T let
you have it." " Ah ! fine sir, do not say so.
For it could not happen so.
I cannot any longer hold myself up,
I am so exhausted and worn out ! "
" Of a truth, you trouble yourself about nothing !"
Says his friend and com- panion.
" But I am beaten and ex- hausted,
And I do not say anything in flattery ;
For there is not in the world any one so strange
To whom I would not have said as much
Rather than suffer more of your strokes."
So speaking he came down ;
They each threw their arms
Round the neck of the other, and embrace.
Nor do they cease
Eich declaring himself beaten.
The dispute never stops
Till the king and the barons Come hastening all around. And see them congratulatinjr
each other. And they wish much to hear
Que ce puet estre et qui ^ il What may be happening and
ffiit what they are doing
Que si grant joie s'entrefont. That they are so overjoyed
with each other.
1 lais, 1 sing. pres. ind. of laissier.
2 atainz, p.p. oi ataindre. 3 losange=lnnange.
* ce introduces to the following line, "que chascuns . . ." 5 claint, 3 sing. pres. subj. of darner.
•^ tengons, Lat. tensionem. 7 ses=si les.
* qui, neuter form of interrog. pron.
CRUSADE SONGS, 145
Crusade Songs.
The enthusiasm aroused by the Crusades gave rise to many songs, both in the north of France and in Provence. One of these, composed at the time of the first crusade, was well known as the chanson cCoutree (^Outree ! was the cry of the crusaders), but it has not come down to us. We possess, however, a song relating to the second crusade, composed before 1147 : others have reference to two later crusades.
Among these songs, love, and the yearning of the lady whose lover is beyond the seas, take an important place. The following two songs belong to the twelfth century. The first one is supposed to have been composed at the time of the crusade of Philip Augustus in 1189, and the second is by Conon de Bethune, also of the time of the third crusade.
Chanterai per men corage ^ I shall sing for my heart's
sake Que je vueil reconf orter, Which I wish to be comforted,
Car avec men grant domage For in my great giief Ne quier^ morir n'afoler, I wish neither to die nor to
go demented, Quant de la terre sauvage When from the barbarous
land Ne voi nului ^ retorner, I see no one return,
On cil est qui m'assoage From that land where he is
who soothes Le cuer quant j'en oi parler. My heart when I hear liiiii
speak.
Dieus ! quant crieront : Oa- God ! when they cry, Outrea! tree 1 *
Sire, aidiez au^ pelerin Lord, aid the pilgrim
Per cut sui espoentee," For whom I am afraid.
Car felon sont Sarrazin ! For wicked are the Saracens !
1 corage, Lat. coraticuvi, lieart, feelings,
2 quier, 1 sing, pres. ind. of querir (Lat. quaerere).
3 nidui, Lat. nullo-ei.
■* oulree ! (Lat. ?</<?•«) was the crj' of the crusaders. 5 aidiez au — Moil. Fr. aidez le 2>(:i<'ri7i. " espoenlee, Lat, exixiventare,
K
146
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Je soferrai luou domage Tant que I'an verrai passer. II est en pelerinage Dont Dieus le laist ^ retorner !
Et maugre tot mon lignage
Ne quier ochoisoii - trover
D'autre face ^ mariage ;
Fous est cui j'en oi parler.
Dieus ! quant . . .
De ce sui au cuer dolente Que cil n'est en cest pais Qui si sovent me tormente ; Je n'en ai ne gieu ne ris.
II est beaus et je sui gente :
Sire Dieus, por quel ■* feis ? Quant I'uns a I'autre atalente,
Por quoi nos as departis 1 Dieus ! quant . . .
De ce sui en bone atente,
Que je son omage pris ;
Et quant la douce ore •"' vente
Qui vient de eel douz pais
Ou cil est qui m'atalente,''
Volentiers i tor '' mon vis ;
Adont m'est vis*' que jel
sente Par desoz mon mantel gris.
Dieus I quant . , .
I shall endure my grief
Until I shall see the year out.
He is on a pilgrimage
From which may God let him return !
And notwithstanding all my noble birth
I do not wish to have the opportunity
To become married to an- other ;
Mad is he whom I hear speak of it.
God ! when . . .
I am of sorrowful heart That he is not in this country Who so often torments me ; No longer do I have play nor
laughter. He is handsome and I am
pretty ; Lord God, why do you do it ? "When one is pleasing to the
other, Why hast thou parted us 1
God ! when . . .
For this I can well wait.
For I possess his homage ;
And when the gentle breeze blows
Which comes from that sweet land
Where he is who is my de- light,
Gladly I turn thither my face ;
Then it seemeth to me that I feel him
Under my grey cloak.
God ! when . . .
1 laist, 3 sing, i^res. subj. of laisser.
2 ochoison, c/t hard = occ«sio?i.
^ face. Note the ellipsis of the conj. que. * quel = que le.
^ ore, Lat. aura. ^ atalente, act. verb from talentum.
'' tor, 1 sing. pres. ind. of iorne.r, the n being dropped. 8 itis (Lat. visum), it me semble,
GAME OF ROBIN AND MARION.
147
THIETEENTH CENTURY.
Game of Eobin and IMarion.
By Adam de la Halle.
Dialogue between a knight and a ahepherdenfi.
Le Chevalier. Di nioi, veis Knight. Tell me, hast thou
tu nul oisel not seen any bird
Voler par deseure ces chans ? *- Flying over these fields 1
Marion, Sire, ouil, je ne sai Marion. Yea, sire, I know
not how many.
There still are within these bushes
Both goldfinches and chaf- finches
Who warble right beauti- fully. K. So may God aid me, fair lady of graceful figure.
That is not what I demand.
But hast thou seen about here, in front
Towards this stream, no duck? J/. It is a beast that brays.
I saw yesterday three on this
way All laden, going to the mill. Is this what you ask ?
K. Now I am well in- formed, [^.s'l'rfe. Tell me, didst see no heron ? M. Herrings 1 'Faith, no, sire ! I have not even seen one since Lent,
1 Play upon the word a7ie=duck (Lat. anatem ; Span, anaile), which Marion confuses with asne, dne. Tlie word arte survives in bedane for lee d'dne (also in alhran, young wild duck).
^ recaner=ricaner, probably from O.H.Ger. gahnen : K. thinks that ri- replaced re- under the influence of rire.
3 asener, probably from Oer. sm?i = Ital. senno, OFr. xen, under- standing.
* neis=ne ipsum : the word is used simply as an afTirmative.
pas quans. Encore i a en ces buissons '^
Et chardonereus et pin9ons
Qui mout chantent joliement.
Le C'kev. Si m'ait Dieus, bele au cors gent,'.
Ce n'est point ce que je demant.
Mais veis tu par ci devant
Vers ceste riviere, nul ane 1 ^
M. C'est une beste qui re- cane.2 ^ .J'en vi ier trois seur ce chemin
Tous chargies aler au molin. Est ce ce que vous demandes ? Le Chev. Or sui je mout bien asenes.^ Di moi, veis tu nul hairon ? M. Herens'' Sire, par ma foi, non ! N'en vi neis* un puis quar- esme,
148
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Que j'eu vi mangier cliics
dame Erne,"*"" Ma taieu, eni sont ces hrebis.
Le Chev. Par foi, or sui jo esbaiibis.* 'i N'ains mais je ne f iii si gabds. M. Sire, foi que vous me deves, Quele beste est ce seur vo main 1 V Le Chev. C'est uns faucons. 3L Manjue il pain ?'A'^ Le Chev. Non, mais bone
char. M. Cele beste 1 Esgar, ele a de cuir la teste.-
Et on ales vous ?
IjC Chev. En riviere.>■^ M. Robins n'est pas de tel maniere : '•
En lui a trop phis de deduit.
A no Aale esrauet tout le bruit,
Quant il joue de sa musete. Le Cheo. Or dites, douce bergerete, C. Ameries vous iin chevalier? M. Beaus sire, traiies vous arrier. Je ne sai que chevalier sont. Deseur tons les omes du mont Je n'ameroie que Robin.
Cil vient au soir et au matin A moi, toudis et par usage, r
Et m'aporte de son fourmage.
Encor en ai je en mon sain,' Et une grant piece de pain, Que il m'aporta a prangiere.
1 Ebaubi, exbalhio ; properly, stammering.
2 The falcon was hooded.
When I saw some eaten at
Dame Emma's, My grandmother's, whose are these sheep. K. In good faith I am dumfonndered. [Aside. Never was I so mocked at. M. Sire, by the faith that you owe me, What is that beast upon your hand ? K. It is a falcon. J/. Doth he eat bread ? K. Nay, but good flesh.
M. This beast ? See, it hath its head of
leather. And whither go you ? K. On the river. M. Robin is not of such
kind : In him there is more of
politeness. In our town the noise stirs
all, When he plays his bagpipes. A'. Now tell me, gentle
shepherdess, AVould you love a knight ? M. Fair sire, draw back.
I know not what knights
are ! Above all the men in the
world I could love but
Robin. He comes evenings and morn- ings to me, daily and by
custom, And he brings me of his
cheese. I have some yet in my
bosom, aye, and a great
piece of bread which he
brought me for dinner.
struck dumb, incapable even of
REFLECTIONS OF A HEKBALIST.
140
Eeflections of a Herbalist.
By RuTEBEUF, a trouvere who wrote fubliau.r, uiaiuly in an anti-clerical spiiit.
A Qaacli's Soliloqui/.
This soliloquy, which is made up of jDrose and verse, was jn'obably not composed for the stage.
Bele gent, je ne sui pas de ces povres jnesclieeurs ne de ces povres erbiers qui vont jiar devant ces nioustiers, a ces povres chapes niaucousues, qui portent boistes et saches, et si estendent un tapis; car tens vent poivre et coumiu et autres espices, qui n'a pas autant de saches com il ont. Sachies que de ceus ne sui je pas ; aiiis sui a une dame qui a non madame Trote de Salerne,^ qui fait cuevre chief de ses oreilles, et li sourcis li pendent a chaaines d'argent par desus les espaules ; et sachies que c'est la plus sage dame qui soit es quatre par- lies du monde. Ma dame si nous envoie en diverses terres et en divers pais : en Pouille, en Calabre, en Tosquane, en Terre de Labour, en Ale- maigne, en Soissoigne, en Gascoigne, en Espaigne, en Brie, en Champaigne, en Bourgoigne, en la forest d'Ardane, pour ocire les bestes sauvages et pour traire les oigneniens, jjour doner medecines a ceus qui ont les maladies es cors. Ma dame si me dist et coraanda que,
Fair people ! I am not one of those jjoor pieachers or poor herbalists who walk in front of the churches with poor and ill -stitched copes, who carry about boxes and sacks, and lay down a car- pet ; for some sell pepper and cumin and other spices, who don't own as many sacks as these have. Know ye that of these I am none ; but I be- long to a lady named Madame Ti'ote de Salerne, who makes a night-cap of her ears, and her eyebrows are hung with silver chains (passing) over her shoulders : and know that she is the wisest woman in the four quarters of the globe. My lady, troth, sends us to different lands and to different countries : to Pou- elle, to Calabria, to Tuscany, to Terre de Labour, to Ger- )nany, to Saxony, to Gascony, to .Sj)ain, to Brie, to Cham- ])agne, to Buigundy, to the Forest of Ardenne, to kill wild beasts and extract un- guents, and to give medicines to those who have diseases in their frames. My lady, i' faith, told me and com
1 Ratel)tnif ulhules to a celebrated physician of Salerno in tin; eleventh century, Trottola de Ho^geri.
150
HISTORICAL READEU OF EAKLY FEENCII.
eu quelque lieu que je ven- isse, je deisse :iucune chose si que oil qui fussent entour nioi i preissent bon essemple, et pour ce qu'ele me tist jurer seur sains, quant je me de- parti de li, je vos aprendrai a garir du raal des veis, se vous le vonles oir. Voulcs oil- 1
Aucun me demandent dont li vei' vienent. Je vous fai a savoir qu'il vienent de di- verges viandes reschaufees, et de ces vins enfustes et boutes : si se congi'ient es cors par chaleur et par humeurs ; car, si com dient li philo- sophe, toutes choses en sont criees, et pour ce si vienent li ver es cors, qui montent jusqu'au cuer et si font mourir d'une maladie qu'on apele mort soubitaine. Sei- gniez vous ! Dieus vous en gart tons et toutes !
Pour la maladie des vers garir (a vos ieus la vees, a vos pies la mai'chius !) la meilleur erbe qui soit es quati'e parties deu monde, ce est I'armoise. Les femes s'en ceingnent le soir de la Saint Jehan, et en font cliap- eaus seur leur chies, et dient que goute ne avertins ^ ne les puet prendre n'en chies, n'en bras, n'en pie, n'en main ; mais je me merveil quant les testes ne leur brisent et que li cors ne rompent par mi, tant a I'erbe vertu en
manded me that in every place to which I came I should speak certain things so that those who should be round me should take good example ; and since that she hath made me swear upon saints' relics, when I quitted her, I will teach you to re- cover from the disease of worms if you will hear me. Will you hear me ?
Certain ones ask me Whence come worms ? I would have you know that they come from divers meats warmed up, and from wines vatted and turned sour : these become congested in the body through heat and through humours ; for, as the philosophers say, all things are created thei-efrom (fiom the body) ; and thus 'tis that the worms come into the body, pass upwards to the heart, and cause people to die of an illness called sudden death. Cross yourselves ! God keep you from this, all men and all women !
To cure the disease of worms (with your eyes ye see it, with your feet ye tread it !) the best herb in the four parts of the world is the mugwort. Women gird themselves therewithal on St John's Eve, and make hats thereof to their heads, and say that neither gout nor dizziness can ever catch them either in head, or in arm, or foot, or hand ; but marvel when their heads do not break and their bodies do not break asunder, so much
avertin, probably for la vertin, from vertigu.
REFLECTIONS OF A HERBALIST.
151
soi ! Ell cele Champaigue ou je fui lies I'apele Ton marrebourc, qui vaut autant come la meie des erbes. De cele erbe preiidrus trois ra- cines, cine fueilles de sauge, iiuef fueilles de plantaing. Batez ces choses en un moi- tier de cuivre, a un pestel de fer, desjeiines vous du jus par trois matins ; gari seres de la maladie des vers.
Or ostes les cliaperons,^ tendes les oreilles, regardes mes erbes que ma dame en- voie en cest pais et en ceste terre ; et pour ce qu'ele vuet que li povres i puist aussi bien avenir come li riches, ele me dist que j'en feisse denree ;^ car teus a un denier en sa bourse qui n'i a pas cine livres ; et me dist et comanda que preisse un denier de la monoie qui courroit ou pais et en la contree ou je vendroie : a Paris un parisis, a Orliens un orlenois, a Estampes un estampois, a Bar un barrois, a Viaiie un vianois, a Cler- mont un clermondois, a Dijon un dijonois, a Arras un ar- tisien, a Mans un niansois, a Chartres un chartiaiii, a Loud res en Engleterre un esterlin ; ^ pour du pain, pour du vin a moi, pour du fein, pour de I'aveine a mon roncin ; car teus qui autel sert d'autel doit vivre. Et
virtue hath this herb in it- self ! In this Champagne where I was born they call it " marrebourc," which means as much as the " mother of the herbs." Of this herb you will take three roots, five leaves of sage, nine leaves of plantain. Bruise these things in a copper mortar with an iron pestle, break your fast with the juice thereof for three mornings : ye shall be cured of the malady of worms.
Now off with your caps, strain your ears, examine my herbs that my lady sends to this country and to this land : and, because she wishes that the poor man may attain to them even as the rich man, she told me I should make the price a penny : for such a one has a penny in his purse who has not in it five pounds : and she told and ordeied me that I should t<ake a penny of the coinage which would be cuirent in the country where I should be selling : at Paris a parisis, at Orleans an orleanais, at Etampes an etampois, at Bar a barrois, at Vieiine a viennois, at Cler- mont a clermondois, at Dijon a dijonnois, at Arras an ar- tesian, at Le Mans a man- sais, at Chartres a chartain, at London in England a sterling : for bread and wine for myself, and for hay and oats for my rouncy (cob) ; for he who serves the altar must
1 chcqjerons, cloth caps worn by men and women alike.
2 denree, den{a)ratu, from <lenariu.s.
3 Sterling ; named from the Eadi'diwjs (men of the East), a name for the Hanse merchants in London, leinp. Henry III. (Skeat).
152
HISTOniCAL READER OP EARLY FRENCH.
je di que s'il estoit si povres, ou ons ou feme, qu'il u'eiist que doner, venist avaut je li presteroie I'une de nies mains pour Dieu et I'autre jjour sa mere.
Ces ei'bes vous ne les mangeres pas ; car il n'a si fort buef en cest pais ne si fort destrier que s'il en avoit ausi gros com un pois seur la laugue qu'il ne mourust de male mort, tant sont fors et ameres ; et ce qui est amer a la bouche, si est bon au cuer. Vous les me metres trois jours dormir en bon vin blanc ; se vous n'aves blanc, si prenes vei'meil ; se vous n'avez vermeil, prenes chas- tain ; se vous n'aves chastain, prenes de la bele eaue clere ; car teus a un puis devant son uis, qui n'a pas un tonel de vin en son celier. Si vous en desjelineres par treize matins ; se vous failles a un, prenes autre ; se vous i failles le quart, prenes le quint ; car ce ne sont pas charoies.' Et je vous di par la passion dont Dieus mau- dist Corbitas le juif qui forja les trente pieces d'argent en la tour d'Abilant, a trois lieues de Jherusalem, dont Dieus fu vendus, que vous seres gari de diverses mala- dies et de divers meshains, de toutes fievres sans^ quar- tain, de toutes goutes sans palasine, de I'enfleiire deu cors ; car se mes jieres et ma mere estoient ou peril
live from the altar. And I say that if there were one so poor, either man or woman, that he had nought to give, let him come forward ! I will lend liim one of my hands for God and the other for his mother.
These herbs, ye shall not eat of them ; for in all this country there is not ox nor courser so strong, that if he had (of them) but the size of a pea he would die of an evil death, so strong and so bitter are they : and that which is bitter to the mouth verily is good to the heart. Ye shall set them me for three days to sleep in good white wine : if you have not white, you shall take red ; if you have no red take brown ; if you have not brown, take fair clear water, for some have a well before their door who have not a barrel of wine in their cellar. Yea, ye shall break therewithal your fast for thirteen mornings. If ye miss one, take it the next (day) ; if ye miss it the fourth day, take it the fifth, for tliese are not mere charms. And I tell you by the vengeance wherewith God cursed the Jew Corbitas who forged the thirty pieces of silver in the tower of Abilant, three leagues from Jerusalem for the which God was sold, that ye shall be cured of divers maladies and of divers mis- haps ; of all fevers, even the quartan ; of all gouts, even the palsy ; of swelling of the
1 charoie, camaia, prop. " lle.sli bits," lience bait, allurements.
sans, eveu.
LE MYSTERE DE LA PASSION. 153
de la niort et il me demaiul- body : for if my father and oient la meilleur erbe que je my mother were in peril of leur pelisse doner, je leur death, and should they ask doueroie ceste. En tel meni- me the best herb that I ere vent je mes erbes et mes could give them, I would oignemens ; qui voudra si en give them this. In such preigne, que ne voudra si les wise I sell my herbs and laist. my unguents : let him take
who wishes ; who will not take, let him leave them.
Le jMy«tehe de la Passion. Lucifer et Satan. Chceur des demons.
Lucifer. Saixltez hors des abismes noirs, Des obsciirs infernaulz manoirs, Tous puans de feu et de souffre, Deables, sailliez de vostre gouffre Et des horribles regions ; Par milliers et par legions Venez entendre nion proces.^ Laissiez les chaisnes et croches, Gibes ^ et larronceaux pendans, Fourneaux fournis, serpens niordans, Dragons plus ardans que tenipeste ; Ne vous bruslez plus groing ne teste A faire ces metaulx couller. Faictes moy bondir et crouller Tout le hideux infernal porce,^ De haste de venir a force Oyr nia proposicion.
i proces is used in the sense of "proposition": it refers to the words which end the tirade.
- gibes. In OFr. this word signified a stick ending in .in iron jiike: the word "gibet" is snpjiosed to be connected with it, anil to liave originally signilied a forked stick ; cf. Gcr. Gahcl. Gihier, game, has been connected with the same word, meaning originally what was brought home on cross sticks.
154 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Satan. Qui fait cesto mutacion ? ^ Lucifer, roy des ennemis,- Vous hurlez comme ung lou famis,^ Quand vous voulez chanter ou rire.
L. Ha ! Sathan, Dieu te puist maudire ! Quand ^ est de mes ris et mes chans, Hz sont nialheureux et nieschans ; Ma noblesse et ma grant beaulte Est tournee en difformite, Mon chant en lamentacion, Mon ris en desolacion, Ma kimiere en tenebre umbrage,^ Ma gloire en douloureuse rage, Ma joye en incurable dueil; Ne demeure que mon orgueil Qui ne m'est mue ne chang6 Depuis le jour que fus forg^ Lassus au pardurable empire, Si non que tousjours il empire. Sans soy diminuer en rien.
S. De ce point je vous croy tres bien, James n'y attendez reppos ; Mes cecy n'est point au propos, Sy n'est besoing qu'on le reppete.
L. Astaroth, sonne la trompete Et busine ^ par telz moyens Que tous les deables de ceans Saillent dehors tost et en haste. . . . {All son de la frompette accourent Berlcli, Belzehut et Cerberus.)
1 mutacion : who stirs up this trouble ? - ewweww = clevils. •'* /amis = hungry, *fam.itus.
•* /7Mfmc?= quant ; lit., " as to what is tlie state of my smiles and my songs." 5 umbrage is an adjective = into sombre darkness. ^ husincr (buccina), to sound a blast.
l'aveugle ET LE BOITEUX, 155
S. Avant que plus avant soit fait Ne plus determine par vous, Deables, arrengez vous tretous ^ En tourbe, a grosse quantite Et me chantez un silete ^ En vostre horrible diablerie.
Astaroth. Vous orrez "^ belle chanterie. . . .
Tous les demons. La dure mort eternelle C'est la chanson des dampnes ; Bien nous tient a sa cordelle La dure mort eternelle ; Nous I'avons desservy'* telle Et a luy sommes donnes ; La dure mort eternelle C'est la chanson des dampnes.
L'AVEUGLK ET LE BoiTEUX.
Moralite.
UAvewjle. L'aumosne au povre diseteux ^ Qui jamais nul jour ne vit goucte !
Le Boiteux. Faictes quelque bien au boiteux, Qui bouger ne peut pour la goucte !
L'A. Helas ! je mourray cy sans doubte, Pour la faulte d'un serviteur.''
Le B. Cheminer ne puis : somme toute, Mon Dieu, soyez nioy protecteur !
1 tretous =trestous. The <res= trans, and lias an intensive force. See Darni., p. 284.
2 A " silete " was used to designate those passages which were sung, but were not strictly si)eaking part of the mystery, but merely inter- calated passages expressive of joy or passion. The etymological signi- fication seems to have entirely disappeared : it means nothing more than " passage for singing."
* (»Te3= shall hear. •* rfe.sseri«/e= deserved.
s diseteux, hungry one. Cp. Mod. Fr. disette, from dlseclH (fem. of the past part, of disecdre), something cut off, then "the .state of being cut oft'," " famine."
6 " For want of a servant," Mod. Fr. J'aiU d'un serviieur.
156 HISTOmCAL KEADEK OF EAKLY FJIKNCII.
LA, llt'las! lo inauvais (letraclcur ^ (^u'en ce lieu iii'a laissc aiiisi ! En luy n'avoye bon conductevir ; Robe ^ iii'a, puis m'a plantc cy.
Le B. Ilclas ! je suis en grant soucy Meshuy '' do gaigner ma vie ! Partir ne nie pourroye d'icy, En eussc-je bien grant en vie !
VA. Ma povrete est assouvie,'' S'en brief temps ne treuve nng servant,
Le B. Maleurte ^ m'a si fort suyvie, Qu'a elle je suis asservant.
L'A. Pour bon service desservant ** Trouveray je point nng vallet 1 Ung bon en ens, en mon vivant, Qui jadis s'appeloit Giblet. Seur estoit, combien qu'il fust let.'' J'ay beaucoup perdu en sa mort, Plaisant estoit et nouvellet.^ Manldite celle qui I'a mort ! ^
Le B. N'auray je de nully ^"^ confort? Ayez pitie de nioy, \)0\\x Dieu !
VA. Qui es tu, qui te plains si fort ? Mon amy, tire t'en ce lieu !
Le B. Helas ! je suis cy au milieu
1 delracteiir is used in its primitive sense, "evil guide."
- rohe. Cf. Ital. roha ; from O.H.Ger. *rouha, itself from ruubha,, N.II.Ger. 7-aub.
■^ meshuy, henceforward ; magis hodie.
■* assoiivie, j^erfect, accomjjlislied, absolute ; proLably from (Xs-sOpio,. to lull to slumber, reduce to silence, content, render perfect.
5 malheiirte, ill-fortune ; mxde a(u)giirata.
" desservant, doing good service.
'' He was sure, though he was ugly ; Id, from an old German wonl lailh, loathly. "^
* nouvellet, simple, naif.
^ Cursed be she {i.e., deatli) who killed him ; moitrir in OFr. signified "to kill."
If mdly, in OFr. nidlui, case of the indirect rc'gime, from nul, as autrui from metre: "Shall I have aid from none?"
l'aveugle et le boiteux, 157
Dii chemin, ou je n'ay puissance D'aller avant. Ha ! sainct ]\Iathieii ! Que j'ay de mal !
VA. Viens et t'advance
Par devers moy, pour ta plaisance. Un petit nous esjo'irons.
Le B. De parler tu as bien I'aysance ! ^ Jamais de bien ne jo'irons.
VA. Viens a moy ; grant chiere - ferons, S'il plaist a Dieu de paradis ! A mdly nous ne mefferons,^ Combien que soyons estourdis.
Le B. Mon amy, tu pers bien tes ditz. D'ici bouger je ne scauroye. Que de Dieu soyent ceux maulditz Par qui je suis en telle voye !
VA. S'a toy aller droit je pouvoye, Content seroye de te porter, Au moins se la puissance avoye, Pour ung peu ton mal supporter, Et toy, pour me reconforter. Me conduyroys de lieux en lieux.
Le B. De ce ne noiis fault deporter : "* Possible n'est de dire mieulx.
VA. A toy droit m'en voys, se je peux. Voys ^ je bon chemin %
Le B. Ouy, sans faille.
VA. Pour ce que tomber je ne veulx, A quatre piedz vault mieidx que j'aille. Voys je bien 1
Le B. Droit comme une caille.
Tu seras tantost " devers moy.
1 In Mod. Fr., " Tu en paries bien a ton aise" — "It is very easy talking."
- chiere=*cara, face, expression ; Eng. cheer.
■' vwfferons, will do liarni to.
•• deporter, used in the sense of ecarter, to move.
5 Voys=vais. * tantost, immediately.
158
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCIL
VA. Quant seray pix^s, la main nie bailie.
Le B. Anssi feray je, par ma foy. Tu ne vas pas bien, tourne toy.
VA. Pardegal
Le B. Mais a la main destre.
VA. Ainsyl
Le B. Ouy.
L'A. Je suis hors de moy,
Puisque je te tiens, mon beau maistre. Or 9a, veuille toy sur moy mettre : Je croy que bien te porteray.
Le B. A cela me fault entremettre, Puis apres je te conduyray.
L'A. Es tu bien 'l
Le B. ^"7) tout ponr vray.
Garde bien de me laisser choir.
L'A. Quant en ce point je le feray, Je pri Dieu qu'il me puist mesclioir.-^
The Minstrel of Reims.
Death of King Richard.
Et tant alerent qu'il pris- treiit port a Diepe qui sienne estoit, et vinrent a Rouen que il amoit mout, et pris- trent la ce que mestiers leur fu.' Et fist errer ^ son ost jusqu'a un chastel qui estoit le roi Phelipe,'* que on apele Loche, qui mout estoit fors et bien seans et bien garnis, et qui mout estoit en sa
They went on till they put into harbour at Dieppe, which belonged to the king ; they arrived after this at Rouen, which he loved great- ly, and tliere they got what they needed. Then he made liis army march to a castle which belonged to King Philip, named Loche, very strong, very well situated
1 If in this I shall not do thy bidding I pray God that mischance may befall me.
2 ce que mestiers leurfu, what they wanted ; lit., and what was their service {minister ium).
3 errer, used simjily for "to proceed" (iterare).
4 Which was (that of) King Philip,
THE MINSTREL OF llEIMS,
159
greviince.' Si se traisst cele part et I'assist, ct jura qu il ne sen partiroit devaiit ce <(u'il I'eust pris par force. Et i fist assaillir et jour et nuit ; mais cil dedens se de- feudirent viguereusement, car il estoient asses gent et bien garni. Et avint un jour que li rois Richars aloit remirant le chastel, une targe devant lui ; et fu percelis d'un arbalestrier qui estoit en line tournele d'ainglee, qui sailloit plus avant que les autres tourneles. Si mist un carrel en coche, ^ et trait droit au roi, et le fiert^ a descouvert ou tournant de la destre espaule ; et le navra durenieiit. Quant li i^ois se senti navre, si se traist ar- riere, et vint a son tref.* Et furent li mire apareillie'' qui li traistrent le carrel fors de I'espaule tout entier, et li cerchierent la plaie, et dirent qu'il n'avroit garde se il se vouloit bien garder.^ Mais li rois, qui estoit de grant cuer, ne prisa riens la plaie ne le conseil des mires ; si but et manja quanqu'il li plout. Et sa plaie comen^a a forsener/ et li feus i feri/
and defended, wliich caused Richard great annoyance. He turned towards this castle then, and besieged it, swearing that he would not go away before he had taken the place by force. He de- livered attacks on it day and night : but those who were in the town defended them- selves valiantly, for they were numerous and well pro- tected. It happened one day that Richard was going around scanning the castle, with a buckler in front of him. He was espied by a crossbowman who was in a corner turret which projected in front of the other turrets. The crossbowman puts a bolt in the slot and aims straight at the king, whom he strikes unprotected at the edge of his right shoulder : and he wounded him sore. When the king felt himself wound- ed, he dragged himself back- wards to his tent. And they assembled the doctors, who extracted the bolt from his shoulder intact, and probed his wound : they said he had nothing to fear if he would keep quiet. But the
1 "And which was much to his annoyance" — i.e., which caused Richard much trouble; "lie drew then in this direction."
- (The cros.sbowman) put a carrel in its groove. The carrel was au arrow tipped with .steel ; the coche is the groove on which the arrow lay to be projected.
'' fiert, strikes him (ferin').
* tref, tent (trahem) ; strictly tent-pole.
•'' "And the doctors were assembled." Mire=medicum. Cp, ?w?)iVe = remedium. Cp. Toynbee, s.v.
" And said that he would have no anxiety if he would look alter himself.
^ for sexier, "to grow violent" ; forcme,a. madman (frtris-.imnains).
8 et li feus i feri, and the fire struck there ; /eri is .3 sing. pert. from /erir.
160
HISTORICAL REAPER OF EARLY FRENCH.
et eii pou d'eiue eii fii tons jiourpris li costes et li bras. Et quant li rois vit qu'il ar- doit tous et que mourir le eouvenoit, si comeu^va a com- plaindre lui meesmes et a regreter ; et disoit ainsi : " He ! rois Richars, niourras til done 1 Ha ! mors, come ies hardie quant tu osas as- saillir le roi Richart, le miens entechie ^ chevalier et le jdIus conrtois et le plus large den monde. Ah ! chevalerie, come iras a declin ! He ! jjovres dames, povre cheva- lier, que devendrez vous ? Ha ! Diens, qui retendra mais chevalerie, lai-gesce ne conrtoisie ?"
Ainsi se complaignoit li rois, et quant il vit qu'il le eouvenoit mourir, si com- anda que ses cuers fust en- fouis a Rouen pour I'amour qu'il i avoit, et ses cors fust portes a Londres et enfouis en la mere iglise. Atant trespassa et rendi son esperit, el lors coramencierent sa gens a faire le greigneur'-^ duel que onques gens feis- sent ; et se departi li oa d'enqui, et s'en alerent a Rouen. Et la fu enfouis li cuers le roi Richart, et li cors de lui fu portes h Lon- dres ou on fist le greigneur
king, who was very high- spirited, despised the wound and the advice of the doc- tors : he drank and ate as much as he pleased. And the wound began to spread furiously, the fever struck into it, and in a few hours all the side and arm were attacked. When the king saw that he was burning all over and that he must die, he then began to break out into wailing and lamenta- tions. "Alas! King Rich- ard, are you then to die ? Ah, death, how bold art thou to dare to attack King Richard, the most gifted of knights, the most courteous and the most bountiful in all the world. Ah, Chivalry, what a fall shall be thine ! Woe is me, poor ladies, poor knights, what will become of you ! Ah, God ! who will henceforth be the defender of chivalry, lavishness, and courtesy ? "
Thus did the king lament : and when he saw that he must die, then he commanded that his heart should be buried at Rouen because of the love he had of her, and that his body should be car- ried to London and buried, in the mother church. Then he passed away and gave up the ghost, and then his fol- lowing betjan to make the greatest lamentation that men ever made, and the army departed and went to Rouen. And there the heart of King Richard was buried, and his body was carried to
1 enlechie, remarkable (<ecAe=Mod. Fr. tache).
2 (jreigneur=grandiore»i. We find also graindre, from grandior.
JOINVILLE.
161
duel qui onques fust fais d'ame : et fu enfouis en la grant iglise a grant oneur, et li fu faite tombe bele et riche teus come il aferoit a roi.^
London, where tlie greatest lamentation was made that was ever yet made for a soul : he was buried in the great church in great honour, and his tomb was made fair and rich, in every way be- fitting a king.
THIETEENTH AND FOURTEENTH CENTURIES.
joinville.
Attack on the French Oamp during the Night. The Priest de Voisey puts Eight Saracens to flight.
Quant je fu conchies ^ en nion lit, la ou je eiisse bien mestier de repouser pour les bleceiires que j'avoie eu le jour devant, il ne m'avint pas ainsi ; car, avant que il fust bien joui's, Ton escria en nostre ost : " Aus armes ! aus armes ! " Je fis lever mon chamberlenc qui gisoit devant moi, et li di que il alast veoir que c'estoit. Et il levint tons effrees, et me dist : " Sire, or sus ! or sus ! que vea ci les Sarrazins qui aont venu a pic et a cheval ; et ont deseonfit les sergens le roi qui gardoient les engins, et les ont mis dedans les cordes de nos paveillons."
Je me levai et jetai uii
When I had lain down on my bed, where I should have greatly needed to rest on account of the wounds I had received the day before, it fell not to me ; for before it was day the cry " To arms ! To arms ! " was raised in our aimy. I made my body- servant, who was lying be- fore me, rise, and told him to go and see what it was. He came back all in a fright, and said to me : " Up ! Up ! Here are the Saracens upon us with foot and horse ; they have put to flight the king's squires who were keeping watch over the war-engines, and have driven them back among our tent-stays."
I got up, cast a quilted
1 " As it was suitable for a king " ; aferoit, 3 sing, imperf. of aferir, to ]>elong to.
- conchies = coll ocatus ; probably influenced by culcita {vide Kor- ting, s.v.)
162 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
vest on my back and an iron hauberk on my head, and shouted to our squires, " By St Nicliolas ! they shall not stay there." My knights came to me wounded as they were, and we drove back the squires of the Saracens outside the engines right up to a large squadron of wounded Turks who were all quite close to the engines we had conquered. I re- quested the king to give us help ; for neither I nor my knights had been able to put on our helmets, on account of our wounds ; and tlie king sent us Lord Gaucher de Chatillon, who took up his position between us and the Turks, in front of us.
When the Lord of Chcatil- lon had driven back the squires of the Saracen in- fantry, these fell back upon a large body of mounted Turks, which was drawn up in front of our army to pre- vent our surprising the army of the Saracens which was encamped behind them. Of this body of mounted Turks, eight of the leaders, all very well armed, had dismounted and had made a rampart of hewn stones to avoid being wounded by our crossbow-
1 gamhoison, padded clothes put on under the armour. A Ger. word, wamba, belly. Cp. Eng. womb.
2 res a res de, close to (rasum) : part, used as prep.
3 je is used to the end of the thirteenth century where we should employ inoi in Modern French. Tlie objective form probably was substituted as more emphatic.
* se Iqja (lor/ea), posted himself. Ger. Havlyja (O.H.Ger. louba, a protecting roof). 5 chevefains, chieftains. ^ hourdels, au entrenchment. Cp. hurdle.
gamboison ^ en mon dos et un chapel de fer en ma teste, et esci'iai a nos sergens : " Par saint Nicolas ! ci ne demourront il pas." Mi chevalier me vindrent si bleci^ come il estoient, et reboutames les sergens aus Sarrazins hors des engins, jusques devant une grosse bataille de Turs a cheval, qui estoient tuit res a res des 2 engins que nous avions gaaignies. Je mandai au roi que il nous secourust ; car je^ ne mi chevalier n'avions pouoir de vestir haubers pour les plaies que nous avions eiies ; et li rois nous envoia monseigneur Gauchier de Chasteillon, liqueus se loja* entre nous et les Tui's, devant nous.
Quant li sires de Chasteil- lon eut reboute ariere les sergens aus Sarrazins a pie, il se retraistrent sus une grosse bataille de Turs a cheval, qui estoit rangiee devant notre ost, pour garder que nous ne surpreissions Post aus Sarrazins, qui estoit logiee dariere eus. De celle bataille de Turs a cheval estoient descendu a pie uit de leur chevetains^ mout bien arme, qui avoient fait un hourdeis" de pierres tailliees, pour ce que nostre
JOINVILLE,
163
arbalestrier ne les ble9assent: cist uit Sarrazin traioient a la volee parmi notie o.st, et bleciei'ent pliiseur.s de iios gens et de nos chevaus. Je et mi chevalier nous meismes ensemble et aeeordames, quant il seroit anuitie,^ que nous emporterions les pierres dont il se liourdoient. Uns miens prestres, qui avoit a non monseigneur Jeban de Voissei, fu a ce conseil, et n'atendi pas tant, aingois ^ se parti de nostre ost tous seas, et s'adre^a vers les Sarrazins, son gamboison vestu, son chapel de fer en sa teste, son glaive dessous I'essele pour ce que li Sar- razin ne I'avisassent. Quant il vint pres des Sarrazins qui riens ne le prisoient pour ce que il le veoient tout seul, il langa son glaive de sous s'esselle et leur courut sus. II n'i eut nul des uit qui y meist defense, aingois tour- nerent tuit en fuie. Quant oil a cheval viient que leur seigneur s'en venoient fuiant, il ferirent des esperon.s pour eus rescourre, et il saillireiit bien de nostre ost jusques a cinquante sergens ; et cil a cheval vindrent fei'ant des esperons, et n'oserent asem- bler a nostre gent a pie, aingois guenchirent ^ i)ar devant eus. Quant il eurent ce fait ou dous fois ou trois, uns de nos sergens tint son glaive par le milieu, et le langa a un des Turs a cheval, et li en dona parmi les
men. These eight Saracens tired at random on our army and wounded several of our men and horses. My knights and I took counsel together, and decided that when night iiad fallen we would take away the stones behind which they were intrenched. One of my priests named Lord Jean de Voisey was present at this debate, and did not wait so long, but left our army all alone and made for the Saracens clad in his quilted vest with his iron hauberk on his head and his sword under his armpit, so as not to be noticed by the Saracens. When he came near the Saracens, who did not susj)ect him in the least, as they saw him all alone, he pulled out his sword from under his armpit and ran upon them. Not a single one of the eight stood his ground, but all took to flight. When the men on horseback saw their leaders coming in full flight, they spurred hard to rescue them, and then about fifty squires charged from our army ; and the cavalry came on spurring hard, but did not dare to try conclusions with our un- mounted men, and so turned tail before them. When they had done this two or three times, one of our squires grasped his sword in the middle and hurled it at one of the mounted Turks, letting him have it some-
1 quant il seroit anuitie, when it should be night-time.
2 anfois or aingois— J-iat. antius, rather, but.
3 guenchirent, gave way , turned bridle; OFrank. loenkjan; O.H.Ger, winchoM ; Eng. wince.
164
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH,
costes ; et emporta cil qui frapes estoit le glaive trai- nant dont il avoit le fer panai les costes. Quant li Turc virent ce, il n'i oserent puis aler ne venir, et nostre sergent emporterent les pierres. Des illec en avant fu mes pi'estres bien coneiis en I'ost, et le moustroient li uns a I'autre et disoient : " Ves ci [le prestre monseig- neur de Joinville, qui a les uit Sarrazins desconiis."
where in the ribs ; and the man who was thus struck carried with him in his fall the sword with the blade sticking in his ribs. When the Turks saw this they did not dare either to advance or to retreat, and our squires removed the stones. From that time my j^riest was well known in the army : men pointed him out to one another and said, "There is my Lord de Joinville's priest who put the eight Saracens to flight."
Joinville remonstrates with St Louis.
Ou chastel de Yeres de- scendi li rois de la mer,^ et la roine et sui enfant. Tandis que li rois sejournoit a Yeres pour ])ourchacier- chevaus a venir en France, li abes de Cligni, qui puis fu evesques de I'Olive,^ li pre- sents dous palefrois qui vauroient bien an jour d'ui cine cens livres, un pour li, et I'autre pour la roine. Quant il li eut presentd, si dist au roi : " Sire, je vendrai demain parler a vous de mes besoignes." Quant ce vint Ten demain, li abes revint ; li rois rouf mout diligent- ment et mout longement. Quant li abes s'en fu partis, je vin au roi et li dis : "Je vous vueil demander, se il vous plait, se vous aves oui
The king landed at the castle of Hyferes with the queen and his children. While he was tarrying there in order to pi'ocure the horses necessary for his i-e- turn to France, the Abbd of Cluny, who was afterwards Bishop of Olive, presented him with two palfreys, which at the present day would be worth quite five hundred pounds, one for him and another for the queen. When he had presented them, he said to the king, " Sire, I will come to-morrow to talk to you about my business." When the next the abbe came king listened to and attentively. When the abbe was gone, I
day came, back : the him
loner
1 descendre de la mer=debarquer.
2 pourchacier, to purchase. Chacier comes from *captiare,
3 evesques de I'Olive. The reference is to William of Pontoise, who was in succession Prior of La C'harit('', Abbe' of Cluny, and Bishop of Olive, in the Morea.
JOINVILLE.
165
plus debonnerement I'abc de Cligni, pour ce que il vous dona ier ces dous palefrois." Li rois pensa longement et me dist : " Vraiement ouil." " Sire," fis-je, " saves vous pour quoi je vous ai faite ceste demande?" "Pour quoi?" fist il. " Pour ce, sire," fis je, " que je vous lo et conseil que vous defendes a tout vostre conseil jure, quant vous ven- dres en France, que il ne preigneiit de ceus qui avront a besoignier^ par devant vous ; car soiies certains, se il prenent, il en escouteront plus volentiers et plus dili- gentment ceus qui leur donront, ainsi come vous aves fait I'abe de Cligni." Lors apela li rois tout son conseil, et leur recorda
errant 2 ce que je li dit ; et li dirent que avoie loe-* bon conseil.
avoie je li
went to the king and said to him, " I should like to ask you, if you will allow me, whether you did not listen to the Abbe of Cluny with the greater complaisance be- cause he gave you the pal- freys yesterday." The king thought long and said to me, "Truth to tell, yes." " Sire," said I, " do you know why I asked you that ques- tion?" "Why?" said he. "In order to give you ad- vice and to beg you to forbid your Privy Council, when you return to France, to accept anything from those who will have to transact business before you ; for be certain that if they accept, they will on this account lis- ten with the greater goodwill and attention to those who shall give them presents, just as you have done with the Abbe of Cluny." Then the king assembled all his council, and related at once what I had said to him, and all told him that I had given good advice.
Love of St Louis for the Poor,
Des le tens de s'enfance,^ From his youth uji wards fu li rois piteus des povres the king was full of com- et des soufzeteus ; et acous- passion for the poor and tume estoit que li rois, par- suffering, and the custom
1 That they .should accept nothing from those who will have to treat with you — hesoiynier.
2 errant, part, used as adv., immediately (Lat. ilerundo).
3 loe, part, of loer (Lat. laudare), to praise : it passes through the meanings of to approve, to allow, to offer, as here.
•* s'enfance. In OFr. the vowel of ma was elided (in'). Tlio liabit of substituting the obj. from mon sprang up at the end of the four- teenth eeutury. Cf. Brachet and Toyubee, § 512.
166
HISTORICAL HEADER OF EAKLY FRENCH.
tout ou il aloit, que si.s vins ^ povre fussent tout ades- repeii, en sa maison, de pain, de vin, de char ou de poisson, chascuu jour. En quaresme et es auvens ci'oissoit li nom- bres des povres ; et pluseurs fois avint que li rois les servoit, et leur metoit la viande devant eus, et leur trenchoit la viande devant eus, et leur donoit au de- partir, de sa propre main, des deniers. Meesmement aus hautes vegiies des festes solenij)nieus, il servoit ces povres de toutes ces choses desus dites, avant que il manjast ne ne beiist. Avec toutes ces choses, avoit il chascuu jour au disner et au souper pres de li anciens onies et debrisic's, et leur faisoit doner tel viande come il manjoit ; et quant il avoient mangie, il empor- toient certaine somme d'ar- gent. Par desus toutes ces choses, li rois donoit chascun jour si grans et si larges aumosnes aus povres de religion, aus povres ospitaus, aus povres malades, et aus povres colleges, et aus povres gentis homes et femes et damoiselles, a povres femes veuves et a povres menes- triers qui par vieillesce ou par maladie ne pouoient labourer ne maintenir leur mestier ; que a peine j^our- roit I'on raconter le nombre.
1 "
was that, wherever the king went, a hundred and twenty poor folk were always sup- plied in his house with bread, wine, meat, or fish every day. In Lent and Advent the number of the poor was greater, and it happened several times that the king served them, set their food before them, cut them their meat, and on leaving gave them money with his own hands. In the same way at the high vigils of the solemn holy days he served the poor with all the things men- tioned above befoi^e eating and drinking himself. Be- sides this, he had every day old men and cripples to dine and sup beside him, and he had set before them the dishes he was eating, and when they had eaten they went away with some sum of money. Furthermore, the king gave such large and ample alms to the religious poor, to the poor hospitals, to the sick poor, to the poor colleges, to poor gentlemen, ladies, and girls, and to the poor craftsmen whom old age or illness prevented from working and practising their craft, that the number of them could hardly be counted. And so we may fairly say that he was more happy than the Emperor Titus of Rome, concerning
■ And the custom was that everywhere tlie king went one liundred and twenty poor shouhl always be fed in his house." The construction is irregular : the sentence begins as if it should have run, ' ' and the custom was that the king . . . should feed," &c. For sis vins=six vingts, cp. quatre-viwjls and quinze-vingts.
- ades (Lat. ad ipsuin), at once, and by extension, continually. Cp, Ital. adesso.
FARCE DE MAlSTliE I'lEKKE I'ATHELIN. 167
Dont iiuUa polions bien dire wlioiii the old annals relate ijue il fu plus beneiireus que that he was sad and down- Titus li empei-eres de Eonie, oast through one day not dont les ancienes escrij^tures having done a good action, racontent que trop se doulut et fu desconfortus d'un jour que il n'avoit done nul benefice.
FIFTEENTH CENTURY.
Farce de Maistre Pierre Pathelin.
Scene entre Pathelin et Guillaume Joceaume, drapier, I dans la boutique de celui-ci.
Pathelin. Or ainsi m'aist Dieu que j'avoye^ De vous veoir grant voulente ! iComment se porte la sante? jEstes vous sain et dru,^ Guillaume 1
Le Drapier. Ouy, par Dieu !
P. Qa, ceste paulme.^
Comment vous va ?
Le D. Et bien vrayement,
A vostre bon commandement. JEt vous 1
P. Par sainct Pierre I'apostre,
Comme celuy qui est tout vostre. Ainsi, vous esbatezl*
Le D. Et voire ! ^
Mais marchans, ce devez vous croire, Nc font pas tousjours a leur guise.
1 Lit., "thus may 'lo<l help inc us I had a wish," itc.
2 dru—yi^W nourished, in good condition ; from a Cellit; root, dr&to^ fat. Darra., p. 610.
* So, give me your liand.
•• esbatez, you are iiaii])y ; votis vous ebatle^,
5 voire, even so.
168 HISTORICAL KEADEll OF EARLY FKENCH.
P. Comment se porte marchandiso ] S'en peut on ne soigner ne paistre]^
Le D. Et, se m'aist Dieu, mon duulx maistre, Je ne scay, tousjours hay ! avant ! -
P. Ha ! qu'estoit ung homme sravant (Je requier Dieu qu'il en ait Fame !) ]Je vostre pere, doulce Dame ! II m'est advis tout clerement Que c'est il de vous proprement.^ Qu'estoit ce un bon marchand et saige ! ^ Vous luy ressemblez de visaige, Par Dieu, comme droicte painture. Se Dieu eut one de creature Mercy, ^ Dieu vray pardon lui face A Tame !
Le D. Amen, par sa grace, Et de nous, quand il luy plaira !
P. Par ma foy, il me desclaira,^ Maintefois et bien largement, Le temps qu'on voit presentement. Moult de fois m'en est souvenu, Et puis lors il estoit tenu Ung des bons.
Le D. Seez vous, beau sire :
II est bien temps de le vous dire ; Mais je suis ainsi gracieux.
P. Je suis bien, par Dieu, jJi'ecieux. II avoit . . .
Le D. Vrayement vous seerez.
1 Can oue maintain oneself and feed oneself from it '{
" And so may God help me, my sweet master, I know not : I am always shouting, Ho ! forward — i.e., I am always straining to get on.
3 I am quite of opinion that when I speak of your father it is as if I spoke of you : lit., it is of you strictly.
■* How good and wise a merchant he was !
^ Mercy, pity.
^ dcsclaira, he explained to me.
FARCE DE MAISTRE PIERRE PATHELIN. 169
P. Vouleiitiers. Ha ! que voi;s verrez Qu'il me disoit de grands merveilles ! Ainsi, ni'aist Dieu ! que des oreilles, Du nez, de la bouche, des yeulx, One enfant ne ressembla mieulx A pere. Quel nienton forchc ! ^ Vrayment, c'estes vous tout poche . . . Vous luy ressemblez mieulx que goutte D'eaue, je n'en fais nulle doubte. Quel vaillant bachelier c'estoit, Le bon preudhomme ! et si prestoit Ses denrees - a qui les vouloit. Dieu lui pardoint ! ^ II me souloit Tousjours de si tres bon cuer rire ! Pleust a Jesus Christ que le pire De ce monde luy ressemblast ! ^ On ne tollist pas, ne n'emblast L'ung a I'autre, comnie Ton faict. Que ce drap icy est bien faict ! Qu'est il souef,^ doux et traictis ! "
Le D. Je I'ay faict f aire tout f aictis ^ Ainsi des laines de mes bestes.
P. Hen, hen, quel mesnagier '■* vous estes ! Vous n'en ystriez pas de I'orine
1 f(rrche=fourch\i — i.e., showing a slight furrow in the centre : this was deemed a sign of beauty in the middle ages.
- denrees = denier s. In Mod. Fr. denree is exclusively confined to the meaning " wares," "goods," and denier to the meaning of the coin — denarius.
3 pardoint, old subjunctive oi pardonner,
* souloit, from souloir—salere, he was accustomed.
5 ressemblast, tollist, emhlast. These are imperfect subjunctives em- ployed as present conditionals : Would that men would not take or rob from each other! Tollist, from tollir= toll ere; embhist,. from enMer, to steal. 6 souef—suavis, soft.
'■ traictis, supple. Cf. Chaucer's "tretys " (Prol. 152).
^ f aictis, pretty, elegant. Cf. "fetys" (Chaucer, Prol. 156).
* mesnagier, mansionaticarius, properly householder : then iu witler sense, worker, toiler.
170 HlSTUUll'AI. UEADKi; OF EAHLY FRENCH.
Du pere ; ^ vostre corps ne fine Incessament de besoingnier !
Le D. Que voulez-vous ? II fant soingner Qui ^ veult vivre et soustenir paine.
P. Cestuy-ci est-il taint en laine ] II est fort comme un courdouen.^
Le D. C'est ung tres bon drap de Eouen, Je vous promets, et bien drappe.
P. Or, vrayement, j'en suis attrappe ; ^ Car je n'avoye intention D'avoir drap, par la Passion De Nostre Seigneur ! quand je vins. J'avoy mis a part quatre vingts Escus, pour retraire une rente ; Mais A'ous en aurez vingt ou trente, Je le voy bien ; car la couleur M'en plaist tres tant que c'est douleur.
Pathelin ^ rentre a son logis avec le drap qu'il n'a pas payc et apres avoir invite le drapier k venir chez lui partager une oie que dame Guillemette est, dit-il, en train de faire rotir. Survient Guillaume qui frappe a la porte :
Hau ! maistre Pierre.
Guillemette. Helas ! sire,
1 You would not go out from, quit, desert, the origin of your father — i.e., You are in good truth of your father's stock. Ystriez is con- ditional mood of issir {exire).
" He must take pains who fain would live. Qtd=\^ one ; qui retained this sense down to the seventeenth century. The modern French proverb, " Tout vient h, point h qui sait attendre," was formerly "Tout vient k point qui sait attendre."
3 courdm(eii, oorduba leather ; cordubanus. Cf. Mod. Fr. curdonnier, our "cordwainer."
4 attrax>pe, "taken" with it.
6 Pathelin conies back to his house carrying the cloth which he has procured without paying for. He has previously invited the cloth merchant to come and share a goose whicli dame Guillemette, he says, is just roasting. "William comes up and knocks at the door.
FAROE DE MAISTKE PIERRE I'ATHELIN. l7l
Par Dieu ! se vous voulez ricu ^ dire, Parlez plus bas !
Le D. Dieu vous gard, dauie !
G. Ha ! plus bas !
Le D. Et quoy ?
G. Bon gre, m'anie . . .
Le A Ou est-il ]
G. Las ! ou doit il estre 1
Le D. Le qui 1
G. Ha ! c'est nial dit, nioii maistre :
Ou est-il ! Et Dieu, par sa grace, Le sache ! II garde la place Ou il est, le povre martir, Onze semaines, sans partir . . .
Le D. De qui . . .
G, Pardoniicz uioi, je n'ose
Parlec haut ; je croy qu'il repose ; H est un petit aplomme.^ Helas ! il est si assomm*^ Le povre homme . . .
Le D. Qui 1
G. ]\Iaistre Pierre.
Le D. Ouay ! n'est il pas venu querre 8ix aulnes de drap maintenant ?
G. Qui, luy?
Le D. II en vient tout venant,
N'a pas la moytie d'ung quart d'heure. Delyvrez moy.^ Dea ! je deineure IJeaucoup. ^a, sans plus flageoller,* Mon argent ?
G. 116 ! sans rigoUer !
11 n'est pas temjis que Ton rigolle.
1 rien, anything. - a])lovime, reposing.
3 JJelyvrez moy, " pay me " ; del'ibero, lit., " free me." ■^ JlfMjeoller, to dun; prob. from Tuut. *Jlaihan; O.H.d^r. Jlehdn. Cp. Jlagcyrner, to fawn on.
172 IIISTOKICAL IlEADEK OF EAKLY FKENCH.
Le D. Ca, mon argent 1 Estes vous f olle ! . . , Baillez moy 1
G. Parlez has ! Ferez 1 ^
Le D. Mais vous mesmes I'esveillerez Vous parlez plus hault quatre fois, Par le sang bieu ! que je ne fais. Je vous requier qu'on me delivre.
G. Et qu'est cecy 1 Estes vous y vre Ou hors de sens % Dieu nostre Pere !
Le D. Yvre 1 Maugre en ait sainct Pere ! ^ Voicy une belle demande !
G. Helas 1 plus bas !
Le D. Je vous demande
Pour six aulnes, bon gre saint George, ^ De drap, dame.
G. On le vous forge ! ^
Et a qui I'avez vous bailie 1
Le D. A luy mesme.
G. II est bien taill6
D'avoir drap ! Helas ! il ne hobe ! ^ II n'a nul besoin d'avoir robe : Jamais robe ne vestira Que de blanc, ne ne partira Dond ^ il est que les piedz devant !
Le D. C'est done depuis soleil levant? Cer j'ay a luy parl6 sans faute. . . .
1 /ere2= will you receive it ?
2 maugre en ait sainct Pere! May St Peter have trouble therefrom. Maugre=nuile gratum.
3 hon gre saint Gem-ge, by the goodwill of St George.
* Ironically, Your money is being forged, coined, for you ! Forger, from fdhrlcare.
^ il ne hobe. He does not move. The OFr. word lioher, " to move," is referred by K. to an 0. Norse word hojfa, "to give way."
^ Dond, whence ; de unde.
GEOFFEOY DE VILLEHARDOUIN.
173
GeOFFROY DE ViLLEHARDOUIN.
An episode in the history of the fomtli crusade. Yille- hardouin, born about the middle of the twelfth century, was the Mar^chal de Champagne. His history marks the transition of the epic into history proper : it is the oldest specimen of French historical prose. His history was written in the Burgundian dialect, Avhich has, however, been much modified by the copyist of the MS. from which this version is taken. Cf. Demogeot, p. 193, Toynbee, Specimens, xlv.
Arrival of thk Crusaders in sight of Constantinople.
Or poez savoir que mout esgarderent Coustantinoble oil qui onques mais ne I'avoient veiie : que 11 ne pooient mie cuidier que si riche vile peiist estre en tout le monde, com il virent ces hauz murs et ces riches tours dont ele eret close tout en- tfiur a la reonde, et ces riches ])alais et ces hautes iglises, dont il avoit taut que nuls nel 1 peiist croire, se ne le veist a I'ueii, et le lone et le le de la vile qui de toutes les autres eret souveraiue. Et .sachiez que il n'i eut si liardi cui la chars ne frcmist ; et ce ne fu niie mervcille ; que onques si granz afaires ne fu empris de nule gent puis que 11 niouz fu estorez.^
Lors descendirent a terre li comte et li baron et li dus
Now you may know that they looked long at Constan- tinople, they who had never seen it before ; for tliey were unable to believe that there could be so rich a town in all the world, when they saw those high walls and those sumptuous towers with whicli itwas encompassed all around on every side, and those rich l^alaces and lofty churches of which there were so many that no one could have be- lieved it if he had nc^t seen it with his eyes, and the length and breadth to boot of the town which among all others was paramount. Know further that there was none so bold that his flesh did not quake ; and there was no wonder in this, for never was so mighty a venture undertaken by any- body since the world was created.
Then the counts and barons and the Duke of Venice set
1 nel=ne le.
2 estorez {staurare), to l)nil(l up,
174 HISTORICAL REAPEi; OF EARLY FRENCH.
de Venise ; et fu li parlemenz on mmistier saint Estione. La eut maint conseil pris et done. Toutes les paioles qvii la furent dites ne vous con- tera mie li livres ; inais la some deu conseil si fu teus que li dus de Venise se dre9a en estant et leur dist : " Seigneur, je sai plus deu convinc^ de cest pais que vous ne faites, car autre foiz i ai este. Vous avez le plus grant afaire et le plus peril- leus entrejoris que onques genz entre])re'issent ; jwur ce si convendroit que on ouvrast sagement. Sachiez, se nous alons a la terra ferme, (|ue la terre est granz et large, et nostra gent sont ))ovre et diseteus de la viande.2 Si s'espandront par la terre pour querre la viande ; et il i a mout grant plante de la gent ou pais ; si ne porrions tout garder que nous n'en perdissions. Et nous n'avons mestier de perdre ; que mout avons pou de gent a ce que nous voulons faire. II a isles ci pres, que vous poez veoir de ci, qui sont habitees de genz, et labourees de blez et de viandes et d'autres biens. Alons illuec prendre part et recueillons les blez et les viandes deu pais ; et quant nous aurons les viandes i-ecueillies, alons devant la vile, et faisons ce que Nostre Sire avra pourveli. Car plus seiirement guerroie cil qui a la viande que oil qui
foot to earth, and the Parlia- ment was held at the cliurch (if St Etienne. There many a counsel was taken and given. All the words that were said there the book will not tell you, but the end of the debate was such that the Duke of Venice stood up and said to them : "Lords, I know better than you the manner of this country, for I have been here aforetime : you have undertaken the greatest and most perilous venture that ever men have undertaken ; and for this cause it would be well that we should act with wisdom. Know that if we go to the mainland the land is wide and spacious and our folk are poor and lack victual. And so they will scatter throughout the land to forage there, and there is a great multitude of folk in the country ; and so we should not be al)le to set so good a watch that we should not lose some of our men. And we cannot afford to lose them : for we have right few men for what we have to do. There are islands near here which you can see from here which are inbabi:e(l, and where are produced corn, victuals, and other good things. Let us go and harbour there, and gather in the corn and the victuals of the country ; and when we have gathered in the victuals, let us go before
1 C07ivinc, a verbal substantive from convenir=les convenances, the manners and customs.
' diseteus de la viande, in need of provisions : viande had not yet been specialised into the sense of meat.
GEOFFROY DE VILLEHAEDOUIN.
175
n'en a point." A eel conseil s'acoi'derent li comte et li baron, et s'en ralerent tuit a leur n^s chascuns et a ses valsseaus.
Ainsi repouserent cele nuit. Et au matin, le jour de la feste monseigneur saint Jehan Baptiste, furent dreciees les banieres et li gonfanon es chasteaus des nes, et les houces ostees des escuz, et ])Ourtendui li boit des nes. Chascuns regardoit ses armes teus com a lui convint ; que de fi sevent que par tens en avi'ont niestier.
Li marinier traient Its ancres et laissent les voiles au vent aler ; et Dieus leur done bon vent tel com a eus convint. Si s'en passent tres par devant Constantinoble, si pres des niurs et des tours que a maintes de leur nes traist ^ on. Si i avoit tant de gent seur les niuis et seur les tours que il sembloit que il n'elist se la non.^ Ainsi leur bestourna"* Dieus Nostre Sire le conseil qui fu jjris le soir de tourner es isles, ausi com se chascuns n'en eiist onques oui parlor. Et main- tenant traient^ a la fernie
the town, and do whatsoever our Lord shall have decided. For moi'e surely does he make war who has victuals than he who has none of them." To this counsel the counts and barons gave assent, and they each and all returned to their ships and vessels.
Thus they rested that night. And in the morning, it being the holy day of the blessed saint John the Bap- tist, they hoisted standards and pennants on the turrets of the ships, took off the coverings from the shields, and decked out the sides of the vessels. Each man looked to his arms (to see if they were) even so as he should have them, for they knew of a certainty that soon they would need them.
The sailors weigh anchor, and let the sails go free be- fore the wind ; and God gives them a fair wind, even such an one as was needful to them. So they jmss right before Constantinople so close to the walls and towers that many of their vessels were shot at. And there were so many folk on the walls and the towers that it seemed there were none anywhere but there. So God our Saviour made them change the counsel which had been taken the night before, to du-ect their course to the
1 pourtendu, hung with tapestrj-.
2 traist, 3 sing, from traire, to draw, fires at.
3 que il n'e'dst se {a non. That there were not any except these.
4 bestourna, "confounded," "turned aside"; the prefix bes=rLa,t. bis, has often a pejorative force. Cp. hevue, hes-aigre.
5 traient, 3 sing, indie, from traire.
176 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
terre plus droit que il onques pueent ; et pristrent poi-t devant uu palais I'emjjere- eur Alexi ' dout li lieus es- toit apelez Chalcidoines ; et fu endroit Constantinoble, d'autre jjart deu Braz, devers la Turquie. Cil palais fu uns des plus beaus et des plus delitables que onques ueil peiissent esgarder, de touz les deliz que il convieut a cors d'ome, que en niaisou de prince doit avoir.
Et li comte et li baron descendirent a la terre, et se herbergierent ou palais et en la vile entour ; et li pluseur tendirent leur paveillons. Lors furent li cheval trait fors des uis-iers,''^ et li cheva- lier et li sergent descendirent a la teri'e a toutes leur armes, si que il ne remest es vais- seaus que li marinier. La contree fu bele et plenter- euse de touz biens, et les moies des blez (qui estoient messone) parmi les cliams ; tant que chascuns en vout prendre si en jnist, com cil qui grant mestier en avoient.
Ainsi sejourneront en eel
side of the islands : it was as if no one had ever heard speak of this. And now they go to the mainland as straight as they may and came to anchor before a palace of the Euiperor Alexis of which the region was called Chalcedonia : it was opposite to Constantinople, tlie other side of the Arm, in the direction of Turkey. This palace was one of the most beautiful and the most delightful which eyes could ever have seen, full of all the delights which are proper to man and which should be in a prince's house.
And the counts and barons put foot to ground and took lodging in the palace and the town around it. And the greater part pitched their tents. Then they led the horses out of the great shij)s of burden and the knights and squires set foot to earth with all their arms, so that none remained on the ships but the sailors. The land was fair and bountiful in all good things, and the corn- stacks (which were harvested) were in the middle of the fields ; so each man took as much as he wished to take, like folk who had great need of it.
They tarried thus in this
1 %in palais Vempereeiir Alexi : in OFr. the possessive genitive was marked by the objective case witliout a preposition ; thus we find "la maison le roi," not "la maison du roi." Cf. Brachet and Toynbee, § 677, ii. This usage survives in such exjiressions as " le projet Freycinet," &c.
2 uissier, a big vessel used for the transport of horses and troops, with an opening (ids=huis) in the stern for the purpose of embarking and disembarking them (Toynbee, Spec, p. 194).
GEOFFPtOY DE VILLEHARDOUIN,
177
palace on the morrow, and on the third day God gave them a fair wind ; and the sailors raised anchor and spread their sails before the wind. And thus did they go, high up the Arm, a good league above Constantinople, to a palace which belonged to the Emperor Alexis, and which was called Escutaire. There were anchored two vessels, the ships of burden and all the galleys, and ten knights who had taken lodg- ing in the palace of Chalced- onia went skirting the land. So the army of the French took its station on the Arm of St George, at the Escutaire and above it. When the Emperor Alexis saw it, then he made his host come forth from Constantinople : he took his station on the other bank, on the other side, in front of them : he pitched his tents so that they might not be able to land in his despite. Thus the army of the French tarried for the space of nine days ; and they got them victuals who needed them ; and the needy ones were all those of the army.
1 Vendemain^le lendemain ; the initial I is due to tlie agghitination of the definite article. Cp. la lierre=0¥v. Vierre. - resachent, " draw up." Lat. saccare {sacctis),^ Span, sacar 3 oz—ost (hostem), army.
palais I'endemain,' etau tierz jour leur dona Dieus bon vent ; et cil marinier re- sachent- leur ancres et di^e- cent leur voiles au vent. Ainsi s'en vont contremont le Braz, bien une lieue deseur Costantinoble, a un palais qui eret I'empereeur Alexi, qui eret apelez I'Escutaire. Enqui se ancreerent les nes et li uissier et toutes les galies ; et la chevalerie qui eret herbergiee ou palais de Chalcidoine ala encoste par terre. Ainsi se herbergier- ent seur le Braz Saint Jorge, a I'Escutaire et contremont, I'oz 3 des Francois. Et quant ce vit I'emperere Alexis, si fist la seue ost issir de Con- stantinoble : si se herberja .seur I'autre rive, d'autre part, endroit eus ; si fist tendre ses paveillons, pour ce que cil ne peiissent prendre terre par force seur lui. A insi sejourna I'oz des Fran9ois par nuef jourz, et se pourcha^a de viande cil qui mestier en eut ; et ce furent tuit cil de I'ost.
1 From this comes, without doubt, the familiar exjiression "sack," to dis- miss. In the "Captives" of Plautus, 1. 90, is the following : "ire . . . atl Hacfuni licet."
M
178 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
HisTOKY OF William the Marshal.
An anonymous historical poem composed in England during the first half of the thirteenth century. It relates the life of Guillaume le Marechal, Count of Pembroke,, Eegent of England during the minority of Henry III.
This extract contains a description of the death of Henry II. He has concluded a humiliating treaty with Philip Augustus between Tours and Azai ; he then pro- ceeds to Chinon, where, feeling that he is stricken with a mortal illness, he sends to the King of France, claiming from him the fulfilment of his promise — viz., to divulge the names of those who had taken up hostile arms against himself (Toynbee, Specimens, xl.)
Death of Henry the Second.
Li rois Henris a Chinon King Henry came to Chinon ;;
vint, Mais teus domages i avint but such evil befell him'
there Que puis n'i eut bien ne that thenceforth he had delit, neither welfare nor
pleasure, Ne puis ne leva de son lit. nor thenceforth did he arise
from his bed. Malades jut ^ ou ^ lit mortal : He remained lying sick on
his deathbed. Sin 3 soufrirent enui e mal So they suffered sadness and
pain Et grant douleur cil qui and great sorrow, those who
I'amerent, loved him
Et qui avecques lui i erent. and who were with him. Et nequedent* mout vout However, he desired eagerly
savoir to know
Et mout vout en escrit avoir and greatly longed to have
in writing Ceus qui erent ses contrem- those who had engaged, pris,^ ag3,inst him,
1 jut, 3 sing. perf. from ^esir. 2 ou=en le.
3 sin=si en, ■* nequedent=ne-que*dbnt ; adv. "nevertheless.','
6 contrempris=contre-e))ipris ; allies opgosed (to him)..
HISTORY OF WILLIAM THE MAESHAL, Et qu'en eiist les nons apris.
179
aii<l to learn the names of
them. Master Roger Malchael, who then was tlie bearer of
his seal, he ordered to go without
delay to Tours to the King of
France, to make him put down in
writing, even as he had deigned to
promise him, all those who were his con- federates, even until he thus got to
know their names. Master Roger did it thus : He went to Tours and wrote
down the names of all those who were con-
fedeiate with the King of France and
who had promised him help in his
war against the King of Eng- land. Master Roger acted thus according to the order and
word of the king. He may not stay there
longer : He came back from the King
of Fi'ance, Master Roger, Maistre Rogiers, devant le and presented himself before
roi ; the king,
Et il 11 dist que en secroi who told him that in secret
Li recontast qui cil estoiont he should disclose to him
who were those Qui chartres bailliees avoi- who had given letters
ent^ En leur seeaus au I'oi de with their seals to the King
France of France
Contre lui et en sa nuisance.^ against him, and to work
him harm.
1 (leci=a,s far as.
2 Who had given letters sealed (lit, in their seals). 2 en sa mdsance, to his harm.
A maisti-e Rogier Malchael Qui lores portoit son seel,
Dist qu'il alast sans demour-
ance A Tours deci ^ qu'au roi de
France, Que li feist en escrit metre.
Si come li i)li)ut a prometre,
Tons ceus qui erent ses em-
pris, Tant que leur nons elist
apris. Maistre Rogiers ainsi le fist : A Tours ala et si escrist
Trestous ceus qui empris
estoient Au roi de France et li
avoient Promis a aidier de sa guerre
Encontre le roi d'Engleterre.
Maistre Rogiers ainsi le fist Com li rois comanda et
disfc. Ci ne doit avoir demourance :
Revenus fu deu roi de France
180 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
Et cil en souspirant li dist :
" Sire, si m'aist Jhesu Crist,
Li premiers qui est ci escris
C'est li corns Jehaiis vosti-e
lis." Quant li rois Henris entendi
Que la riens ou plus atendi ^
A bien faire et qu'il plus
amoit ^ Le traissoit, puis ne dist
mot Fors tant : " Asses en aves
dit." Lors s'entourna devers son
lit; Li cors li frit,^ li sans^ le
trouble Si qu'il eut la couleur si
trouble Qu'ele fu noire et perse et
pale. Pour sa douleur qui si fu
male Perdi sa memorie '' trestoute, Si qu'il n'oui ne ne vit goute.
En tel peine et en tel
douleur Fu travaillies tresqu'au tiers
jour." II parloit, mais nus ne savoit Prou " entendre que il disoit.
And Roger said to him,
siffhinir : " Sire, may Jesus Christ
help me ! the lirst whose name is
written here is the Count John, your
son." When King Henry had
heard that the thing which he had
taken all pains to do good to, and which he
loved the most, was traitor to him, he said
nothing more but, "You have told me
enough." Then he turned over towards
his bed : his body burns him, his blood
stirs him, so that his colour was so
uncertain that it turned black, livid,
and pale. By force of his pain, which
was so great, he lost all his memoiy, even so that he did not hear
and did not see at all. By this evil and this pain
he was racked till the third
day. He spoke, but none knew lightly to understand what
he was saving.
1 que la riens on phts atendi =i\\i\t the thing which he desired the most. Rien=rem, received, Hke other substantives which terminated otherwise than in so-called e mute, an s in the nominative singular. Cp. li rois from rege7n (Brachet and Toynbee, § 468).
2 amoit or amout was the old form of aimait, and tliis form survived in the French spoken in England longer than in France.
3 li cors lifrit, his body grows hot.
4 sans=sang.
5 memorie, scanned as of three sjdlables like the English memory. ^ Probably douleur und jour were pronounced dolor, Jor.
"^ pro (or^j'/-ow) = sufiiciently.
HISTORY OF WILLIAM THE MAKSHAL. 181
Li sans li fija seur le ciier, The blood clotted vn his
heart ;
Si I'estout venir a tel fuer ^ he had to come to such a
pitch
Que la mort, sans plus et sans that death did neither more
meins, nor less
Li creva le cuer a ses mains. than break his heart with
her hands.
Mout le tient a cruel escole, She holds him in most cruel
sort,
Et uns brandons de sane li and a jet of blood springs
vole
Fegie deu nes et de la all clotted from his nose and
bouche. mouth.
Mourir estuet'^ cui mors He must die whom death
atouche. touches
Si cruelment come fist lui. as cruelly as death touched
him.
A grant perte et a gi'ant It was a great loss and a
enui great sadness
Tourna a tous ceus qui for all those who loved him
I'amerent
E a tous ceu3 qui o^ lui and for all those who were
erent. with him.
Si vous dirai a peu de some, I will tell you finally
Qu'onques n'avint a si haut that never did there happen
ome to so great a man
Ce qui avint a son mourir ; * what happened at his death ;
Car I'om ne I'eut de quoi for they had nought where-
couvrir, with to cover him ;
Ains remest si povre et he remained so poor and
estrange so deserted
Qu'il n'eut seur lui linge nc that he had on him neither
lanfe.'' cloth nor wool.
1 He liad to come to such a i)a.ss. Si, is merely an expletive par- ticle used before the verb ; estout is 3 sing. perf. of estovoir, an impersonal verb, perhaps from est ?<es=Lat. esi opus. See Toynbee, Spec, Glossary, s.v. fuer— (ornm. The verb passes from the sense of market to that of price, and then comes to mean merely con- dition. The word survives in Mod. Fr. in the phrase, "au fur et a mesure," and in "for intcrieur."
'^ estuet, 3 sing. i)res. from estovoir. See above.
3 o=:apicd, with.
* 7iiourir— mort.
5 lange, woollen covering. Lat. lancus.
18:3 iiisToracAL keadku uf eakly French.
FROISSART (1337-1410),
the great historian of the middle ages, was secretary to Philippa of Hainault, queen of Edward III. of England. He writes in the Picard dialect. See Toynbee, Specimens, Ixv.
Les six Bourgeois de Calais.
Lors se parti des crestiaus messires Jehans de Viane,-^ et vint on marchie, et fist sonner Ic cloche " pour assam- bler toutes manieres de gens en le hale. Au son de le cloche vinrent il tout, hommes et femmes, car nioidt desiroitnit a oir nouvelles, ensi que gens si astrains ^ de famine que plus n'en pooient porter.* Quant il furent tout venu et assamble en le place, hommes et femmes, messires Jehans de Viane leur remoustra ^ moult douce- nient les paroles toutes teles que chi devant sont reci- tees," et leur dist bien que aultrement ne pooit estre, et euissent ' sur ce avis et brief response. Quant il oirent ce raport, il comencierent tout a criier et a plorer telement et si amerement qu'il ne fust nulz si durs coers on monde, se il les veist et oist yaus ^ demener, qui n'en euist pitie, et n'eurent en I'eure pooir de respondre ne de parler. Et mesmement messires Jehans de Viane en avoit tel pite que il en larmioit moult tenrement.
line espasse apries, se leva en pit's li plus riches bour- gois de le ville, que on clamoit sire Ustasse de Saint Piere, et dist devant tous ensi : " Signeur, grans pites et grans meschies seroit de laissier morir un tel peuple que
1 Jeliaiis de Viane (Jean tie Vienne) was tlie governor of Calais. - le cloche. Le was the form used for the feminine article in the dialects of the north of France. 3 astrains (Lat. adstricti), hard-pressed. * 7*orfe;-= supporter.
5 remoustra, remonstravit. 6 reczVees= related.
■^ euissent, 3 pi. imperf. subj. from avoir. 8 yaus—eux. Se would be used in Mod. Fr,
FROISSART. 183
ci a, par famine oil aiitrement, quant on i poet trouver aucuu nioiien. Et si seroit grant auniosne et grant grasce a Nostra Signeur qui ^ de tel meschief les poroit garder. Je, endroit de moy,^ ay si grant esperance d'avoir grasce et pardon envers Nostre Signeur, se je muir ^ pour ce peuple sauver, que je voeil estre li premiers. Et me metterai volontiers en pur ma chemise,'* a nu chief et a nus pies, le hart^ ou col, en le merci dou gentil roy d'Engleterre."
Quant sire Ustasses de Saint Piers eut dit ceste parole, cescuns '' I'ala aourer ^ de pite, et pluiseurs liommes et femmes se jettoient a ses pies tenrement plorant : c'estoit grans pites dou la estre, yaus oir et regarder.
Secondement, uns aultres tres honnestes bourgois et de grant afaire,^ et qui avoit deux belles damoiselles a filles, se leva et dist tout ensi, et qu'il feroit compagnie a son compere sire Ustasse de Saint Piere ; on appelloit cesti, sire Jehan d'Aire.
Apries se leva li tiers, qui s'appelloit sire Jakemes de Wissant, qui estoit riches horns de nieuble et d'iretage, et dist que il feroit a ses deux cousins compagnie. Ensi fist sire Picres de Wissant ses freres,^ et puis li cinquimez et li siximez.^^ Et se desvestirent la oil six bourgeois tout nu, en pur leurs braies et leurs chemises, en le hale de Calais, et misent hars en leurs colz,^^ ensi que orden- ance se portoit. Et prisent les cles de le ville de Calais et dou chastiel ; cescuns des six en tenoit une puignie.^^
1 qui=si Von.
2 endroit de tnoy, as far as concerns me.
3 midr=meurs, die.
■* en pur ma chemise. En pur forms an adverbial expression, "with nothing but my shirt."
5 hart=TO'pe. * cescuns =chacun.
■? aourer — adorare. 8 de grant af aire, of good position.
" sc5/re?-es=Lat. suns/rater, nom. sing. 10 These were Jean de Fiennes and Andre d'Ardres. '1 et misent hars en leurs colz, and put ropes on their uecks. 12 ■puignie=p(ngnee.
18-i HISTOIUCAL READEU UF EAliLY FKENUH.
Quant il se fnrent ensi appiirilliet ^ messires Jelians de Viane, niontes sus une petite haghence,"^ car a grant malaise pooit il aler a piet, se mist devant et prist le chemin de le porte. Qui done veist hommes, les femmes> et enfans de cliiaus '^ plorer et tordre leurs mains et criier a haulte vois tres amerement, il n'est si diirs coers ou monde qui n'en euist pite. Ensi vinrent il jusques a le porte, convoiiet en plains, en cris et en plours.* Messires Jehans de Viane fist ouvrir le porte toute arriere, et se fist enclore dehors avoecques les six bourgois, entre le porte et les barrieres ; et vint a monsigneur Gautier ^ qui la I'attendoit, et li dist : " Messire Gautier,, je vous delivre," comme chapitains " de Calais, par le consente- ment dou povre peuple de celi ville, ces six bourgois. Et vous jur que ce sont au jour d'ui et estoient li plu& honnourable et notable de corps, de chevance^ et d'ancis- serie ^ de le ville de Calais ; et portent avoech, yaus toutes- les cles de le ditte ville et dou chastieL Si vous pri,. gentilz sires, que vous voeiUies priier pour yaus au gentili roy d'Engleterre pour ces bonnes gens qu'il ne soient- mies ^° mort. — Je ne s§ai, respondi li sires de Mauni, que. messires li rois en vorra faire, mais je vous ay en convent ^^ que j'en ferai mon devoir."
1 apparilliet (Lat. ap-pariculare, lit , to match), prepared.
2 haghenee seems to be a loan word from the Eng. hackney, but the derivation is doubtful.
3 chiaus=ceux-ld.
4 Accompanied with lamentations, cries, and tears.
5 Gautier de Manny, one of the English plenipotentiaries, who had treated for peace with the French j^lenipotentiaries before the de- ])arture of Philip of Valois : he had been charged to confer with Jean de Vienne as to the conditions of the cession of the place, and had- obtained from Edward some abatement from his original demands.
6 delivre=livre. ' chapitains, captains. 8 chevance (Ital. civansa), position {chef). Cp. achever.
" ancisserie (antius, cp. angois), antiquity.
10 7mes (Lat. mica), not. The s is adverbial, as in riens, and seems' to have been applied from the analogy of sempres, volonticrs, &c.- See Toynbee, Sjiec, j). 451, D, note.
11 je vous ay en convent { = convent), " I covenant with you."
FROISSAET. 185
Adonc fu la barriere ouverte. Si s'en alerent li six bourgois, en eel estat que je vous di, avoech monsigneur Gautier de Mauni qui les aniena tout bellenient devers le palais dou roy, et messires Jehans de Viane rentra en le ville de (Calais.
Li rois estoit a celle heure en sa cambre, a grant com- pagnie de contes, de barons et de chevaliers. Si entendi que cil de Calais venoient en I'arroy ^ que il avoit deviset et ordonnet ; si se mist hors et s'en vint en le place devant son hostel, et tout cil signeur apres lui et encores grant foison qui y sourvinrent, pour veoir chiaus de Calais comment il fineroient.^ Et meismement la royne d'Engle- terre sievi ^ le roy son signeur. Evous ^ venu monsigneur Gautier de Mauni et les bourgois dales ^ lui qui le sievoient, et descendi en le place, et puis s'en vint devers le roy et li dist : " Monsigneur, veci le representation de la ville de Calais, a vostre ordenance," Li rois se taisi tons quois et regarda moult fellement *" sur chiaus ; car moult haoit ' les habitans de Calais, pour les grans ■domages et oontraires^ que dou temps passet sus mer li avoient fais.
Cil six bourgois se misent tantost ^ en genoulz par •devant le roy, et disent ensi en joindant leurs mains : "Gentilz sires et gentilz rois, ves nous chi six qui avons •este d'ancisserie bourgois de Calais et grans marceans.^*^ Si vous aportons les cles de le ville et dou chastiel de Calais, et les vous rendons a vostre plaisir, et nous mettons en tel point que vous nous vees en vostre pure volenti, pour sauver le demorant dou peuple de Calais ;
1 array, array, equiiiment ; Lat. *arredare. Cp. Ital. arredare, to tit out.
'^ To see those of Calais how they would end — i.e., what would be their end.
•* sievi — suivit, pret. oi sivre. •* Evous— hehold.
5 dales, lit., by his side (Lat. de latus).
" fellement (op. felon), furiously (from a (Jerniau root).
"• lmoit = haissait. ^ io)Uraires=contrarietes.
" lantost=aussit6t' ^^ marceans^marchands.
186 HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
•si voellies avoir ilc nous pi to ct merci par vostre tres haute noblece." Li rois regarda sus yaus tres ireusement, car il avoit le coer si dur et si espris de grant courous que il ne peut parlor ; et quant il parla, il commanda que on leur copast Ics tiestes tantost. Tout li baron et li chevalier qui la estoient, en plorant prioient si acertes ^ que faire le pooient au roy qu'il en vosist avoir pite, merci ; mais il n'i voloit entendre.
Adonc parla niessires Gautiers de Mauni et dist : " Ha ! gentilz sires, voellies rafrener vostre corage. Vous aves le nom et le renommee de souverainne gentillece et noblece. Or ne voeillies done faire cose par quoi elle soit noient ^ amenrie,^ ne que on puist parler sur vous en nulle matiere villainne. Se vous n'aves pite de ces gens, toutes aultres gens diront que ce sera grant cruaultes, se vous faites morir ces honnestes bourgois, qui de lor propre volonte se sont mis en vostre merci pour les aultres sauver." A ce point se grigna "^ li rois et dist : " Messire Gautier, souffres vous,^ il ne sera aultrement, mes on face ^ venir le cope teste. Chil de Calais ont fait morir tant de mes hommes, que il couvient chiaus morir ossi."
Adonc fist la noble royne d'Engleterre grant humilite, et ploroit si tenrement de pite que on ne le pooit sous- tenir. Elle se jetta en jenoulz par devant le roy son signeur et dist ensi : " Ha ! gentilz sires, puis que je apassai" le mer par defa en grant peril, si com vous saves, je ne vous ay riens rouvet^ ne don demandet. Or vous pri jou humlement et requier en propre don que, pour le fil sainte Marie et pour I'amour de mi, vous voeillies avoir de ces six hommes merci."
1 acertes= earnestly.
2 noient, nothing : we should say " in any way." Cp. Ital. riiente.
3 a7nenrie=amomdrie.
4 se grigna=se facha, was angered. A Picard expression for to gnash the teeth. Of Teutonic origin,
5 souffrez vous= cQa.SQ. ® mesonface—maisqiConfasse. ' Tpnis queje apassai=depuis le inoment quefaipassS.
8 rouvet, asked (rover— rogare).
PHILIPPE DE COMINES. 187
Li rois attend! uii potit ^ de pailer et regard a la bonne dame sa fenime, qui moidt estoit encliainte^ et ploroit devant lui en jenoulz moult tenrement. Se li amolia 11 coers, car envis ^ I'euist couroucie ens on point * la ou elle estoit ; si dist : " Ha ! dame, je amaisse mieulz (^ue vous fussiez d'autre part que ci. Vous me priies si acertes que je ne le vous ose escondire ; ^ et comment que ^ je le face envis, tenes, je les vous donne ; si en faites vostre plaisir." La bonne dame dist : " Monseigneur, tres grans mercis."
Lors se leva la royne et fist lever les six bourgois, et leur fist oster les chevestres " d'entours les colz, et les amena avoecques lui en sa cambre, et les fist revestir et donner a disner tout aise ; et puis donna a ^ascun six nobles,^ et les fist conduire liors de I'ost a sauvete.
PHILIPPE DE COMIXES (1445?-1511),
attached to the Court of Louis XL ; a native of Flanders ; author of Memoires sur le Regne de Louis XL
Du Chatiment ues Fautes des Grands et des Princes.
Lps plus grans ]iiaulx viennent volontiers des plus forts ; car les foibles ne cherchent que patience. Ici compren les femmes comme les hommes, quelquefois et en aucuns lieux, quand elles ont autorite ou maistrise, ou pour I'amour de leurs maris, ou pour avoir administration de leurs alFaires, ou que leurs seigneuries viennent de par elles, Et se je vouloie parler des moyens estats de ce mondc et des petits, ce propos continueroit trop, et me
1 un 2ietit — 2in 2>eu. '' encliainle= enceinte.
'■'• envis (Lat. inviLis), iniwillingly.
^ ou 2>oint—en le point. Ens is a common pleonasm in this phrase.
5 escondire (Lat. excoruliccrc), to refuse.
« et comment que=et qnoi (/ue. ' clievestres, halters.
8 A noble, an English coin worth 8s.
188 HISTORICAL KEADEll OF EARLY FRENCH.
suffit allcguer les grans, car c'est par ccux la ou Tun cognoist la puissance de Dieu et sa justice. Car, pour deus mille meschefs advenus a un pauvre homme, on ]ie s'en advise, car on attribue tout a sa pauvrete, ou a avoir este mal penso ; ^ ou s'il s'est noye ou ronipu le col, c'est pour ce qu'il estoit seal : a grant peine en veut on ou'ir parler. Quand il meschet ^ a une grant cite, on ne dit pas ainsi : mais encores n'en parle on point tant que des Princes. II faut donques dire pourquoi la puissance de Dieu se monstre plus grande contre les Princes et les grans que contre les petis : c'est que les petis et les pauvres treuvent assez qui les punissent quand ils font le pourquoi, et encore sont assez souvent punis sans avoir rien fait, soit pour donner exemple aux autres, ou pour avoir leurs biens,^ ou par aventure par la faute du juge ; et aucunes fois I'ont bien desservi,^ et faut bien que justice se face.
]\Iais des grans Princes et des grandes Princesses, de leurs grans Gouverneurs, et des Conseillers des provinces et villes desordonnees et desobeissantes a leur seigneur, et de leurs Gouverneurs, qui s'informera de leur vicel L'information faite, qui I'apportera au jugel Qui sera le juge qui en prendra la cognoissance, et qui en fera la punition 1 . . .
L'information sera la plainte et clameurs ^ du peuple qu'ils foulent et oppressent en tant de manieres, sans en avoir compassion ne pitie, les douloureuses lamentations des veufves et orphelins, dont ils auront fait mourir les maris et 2)eres, dont ont souffert ceux qui demeurent apres eux ; et generalement tous ceux qu'ils auront persecutez tant en leurs personnes qu'en leurs biens. Cecy sera
1 Periphrasis for passive : ellipse of jj«r iui.
2 mescheoir (minus — cadere), to miscarry.
3 The nominative is here "their persecutors," understood. •^ Deserved.
5 In OFr. the article need not be repeated before a second co-ordinate substantive, even if it is of a diiferent number.
PHILIPPE DE COMIXES. 189
rinformation par leurs grands cris et plaintes et piteuses larmes, et les presenteront devant Nostre Seigneur qui sera le vray juge, qui paravanture ne vovidra attendre a les punir en I'autre monde, mais les punira en cestuy-ci. Dont faut entendre qu'ils seront punis, pour n'avoir rien voi;lu croire, et pour ce qu'ils n'auront eu ferme foy et croyance es commandements de Dieu.
Ainsi faut dire qu'il est force que Dieu monstre de tels poincts et de tels signes, qu'eux et tout le monde croiront que les punitions leur adviennent pour leurs mauvaises creances et offenses ; et que Dieu monstre contre eux sa force et sa vertu et justice; car nid autre n'en a le pouvoir en ce monde que luy.
SUR LES DERNIERS MoMENTS DE LOUIS XL
Le diet Seigneur, vers la fin de ses jours, feit clorre tout a I'entour sa maison du Plessis lez Tours de gros barreaulx de fer, en forme de grosses grilles, et aux quatre coins de sa maison, quatre moyneaulx de fer,^ Lons, grans et espois.^ Les dictes grilles estoient contre le mur, du coste de la place, de I'aultre part du fosse, car il estoit a fons de cuve,^ et y fist mettre plusieurs broches de fer, massonn^es dedans le mur, qui avoient chascune trois ou quatre poinctes et les fist mettre fort pres Tune de I'autre. Et d'avantaige ordonna^ dis arbalestriers dedans les dits fossez, pour tirer a ceulx qui en approch- eroient avant quo la porte fust ouverte ; et entendoit qu'ilz couchassent aus ditz fossez et se retirassent aus ditz moyneaulx de fer. Et il entendoit bicn que ceste fortif- ficatiou ne suffisoit point contre grant nombre de gens ne contre une armee ; mais de cela il n'avoit })oint peur, mais craignoit que quelque seigneur, ou pluiseurs, ne feissent une emprise de prendre la place, demy par amour
1 moyneaulx (fe/e?'=dwarf-bastions. 2 Espois=epais.
3 a fons de cuve, flat-bottomed. ^ ordonna, set. Cp. Ger. ordnen.
190 HISTORICAL 1;F,AI)ER of early FRENCH.
et demy par force, avec quelque pen d'intelligence, et que ceulx la prinsseiit I'auctoritc et le feissent vivre comme liomme sans sens et indigne de gouverner.
La porte du Plessis ne s'ouvroit qu'il ne fust huyt heures du matin, et ne baissoit le pont jusques a la dite heure, et lors y entroient les officiers ; et les cappitaines des gardes mettoient les portiers ordinaires, et puis ordon- noient leur guet d'archiers tant a la porte que parmy la court, comme en une place de frontiere estroictement gardee. Et nul n'y entroit que par le guichet et que ce ne fust du sceu du roy, exceptez quelque maistre d'hostel et gens de cette sorte qui n'alloient point devers luy. Est il done possible de tenir un roy, pour le garder plus lionnestement, en plus estroicte prison que luy mesmes se tenoit 1 Les caiges ou il avoit tenu les aultres avoient quelques huyt piez en carre, et luy, qui estoit si grant roy, avoit une bien petite court de chasteau a se pour- mener ; encores n'y venoit il gueres, mais se tenoit en la gallerie, sans partir de la, sinon que par les chambres alloit a la messe sans passer par la dite court. Vouldroit Ton dire que ce roy ne soutfrist pas aussi bien que les autres, qui ainsi s'enfermoit et se faisoit garder, qui estoit ainsi en peur de ses enfans et de tons ses prouchains parens, qui changeoit et muoit de jour en jour ses servi- teurs et nourriz,^ et qui ne tenoient biens ny honneur que de luy, et en nul d'eulx ne se osoit fier, et s'enchainoit ainsi de si estranges chaynes et clostures 1 Si le lieu estoit plus grant que d'une prison commune, aussi estoit il plus grant que prisonniers communs.
On pourroit dire que d'autres ont este plus suspection- neux que luy, mais ce n'a pas este de nostre temps, ne paravanture homme si saige que luy, ny ayant si bons subjectz. Et avoient ceulx la, paravanture, este cruels et tyrans ; mais cestuy ci n'a faict mal a nul qui ne luy eust faict quelque ofiense.
1 nourriz, dependants.
PHILIPPE DE COMINES. 191
Je ii'ay point dit ce que dessus pour seullement parler des suspections de nostre roy, mais pour dire que la patience qu'il a porte en ses passions, semblables a celles qu'il a fait porter aux aultres, je la repute a pugnition que Nostre Seigneur luy a donnee en ce monde pour en avoir moins en I'aultre, tant es choses dout j'ay parlt^ comme en ses malladies, bien grandes et douloureuses pour lui, et qu'il craignoit beaucoup avant qu'elles luy advinssent ; et aussi affin que ceulx qui viendront apres luy soient ung peu plus piteux au peuple et moins aspres a pugnir qu'il n'avoit este, combien que je ne luy vueil donner charge, ne dire avoir veu un meiUeur prince ; ^ car, se il pressoit ses subjectz, toutesfois il n'eust point souffert que ung aultre I'eust faict, ne prive, ny estrange.
(For full information about De Comines, cf. Eves' edition of Louis XI., Tragedie, par Casimir Delavigne, Cambridge University Press, 1894.)
1 Although I would not accuse him of it, and though I declare I have never seen a better prince. Combien que=qiioique.
APPENDIX.
PETRONTUS: 'CENA TRIMALCHIONIS.'
Petronius, if the Arbiter of that name, belongs to the early part of Nero's reign. The Cena Trimalchionis is valuable as giving speci- mens of the Latin spoken by the people of the writer's time. The best edition is Friedlander's Gena Trimalchionis (Leipzig, 1891) : it is accompanied by a translation in German.
42. exce.pitSeleucusfabul-ae partem et " ego " inquit " iioii cotidie lavor ; baliscus enim fuUo est, aqua dentes habet, et cor nostrum cotidie liques- cit. sed cum mulsi pultarium obduxi, frigori laecasin dico. nee sane lavare potui ; fui enim hodie in funus. homo bell us, tam bonus Chrysan- thus animam ebulliit. modo, modo me appellavit. videor mihi cum illo loqui. heu, eheu. litres inflati ambu- lamus. minoris quam mus- cae sumus, muscae tamen aliquam virtutem habent, nos non jjluris svimus quam bullae, et quid si non ab- stinax fuisset. quinque dies aquam in os suum non conie- cit, non micam panis. tamen abiit ad plures. medici ilium perdiderunt, immo magis malus fatus ; medicus enim nihil aliud est quam
§ 42. Hereon Seleucus chimed in : "I don't bathe every day. Your bath-man is a regular fuller ; ^ your water lias sharp teeth ; and my stomach melts daily at the thought. But when I've put in a good jar of mead, I snap my fingers at the cold. Be- sides, I couldn't bathe, for I was off to a funeral to-day. Fine fellow, such a good fellow Chrysanthus, and he has breathed his last : 'twas only just now he accosted me : I seem to be talking with him even now. Dear ! dear ! we're just walking bladders ! We're of less account than flies ! Yet flies have some strength ; we're not worth more than so many bubbles. And if onlyhe hadn't dieted himself! For Ave whole days he never put water into his mouth,
1 I.e., a man who bathes is knocked about as a fuller knocks the cloth he stamps on to clean it.
APPENDIX.
193
auimi cousolatio. tamen bene elatus est, vitali lecto, stragulis bonis, planctiis est optime — manu misit aliquot — etiara si maligna ilium ploravit uxor, quid si nou illam optime accepisset. sed mulierquae mulier milvinum genus, neminem nihil boni facere oportet ; aeque est enim ac si in puteum conicias. sed antiquus amor cancer est."
43. molestus fuit, Phileros- que proclamavit : " vivorum meminerimus. ille habet, quodsibidebebatur : honeste vixit, honeste obiit. quid habet quod queratur ? ab asse crevit et paratus fuit quadrantem de stercore mor- dicus tollere. itaque crevit, quicquid crevit, tauqnam favus. putomehercules ilium reliquisse solida centum, et omnia in nummis liabuit. de re tamen ego verum dicam, qui linguam caniiiam comedi : duiae buccae fuit, linguosus, discordia, non homo, frater eius fortis fuit, amicus amico, manu plena, uncta mensa. et intei' initia
nor a single bread - crumb. Yet he has joined the major- ity. It is the doctors who have ruined him, or rather it was his evil fate. For your doctor is nothing but a solace to your feelings. But his funeral was fine : a mourn- ing bed^ — fine sheets. The mourning was fine — he had freed a lot — though his wife was chary of her tears. And how would it have been if he hadn't treated her so well ? But women, one and all, are heartless cats : ^ better do none of them a kindness : as well pitch it down a well. But an old flame is an eating sore ! "
§ 43. He bored us, and Phileros called out : " Let's remember the living. He has his due : he lived and died respectable. Why should he grumble ? He began with a farthing and he was ready to pick up a copjier from a dung-heap with his teeth. And so he grew, if growing you can call it, like a honeycomb.^ I fancy, sure as my life, he left a clear hundred thou- sand : and he had it all in cash. And I'll speak the truth, and I've eaten a dog's tongue : ^ he had a rough tongue, abusive,^ a terror, not a man. His brother was
1 vitalis is used as a exipliemism for mortualis.
- Lit., " kites " : cats were a later iiiijwrtation from Egypt.
* i.e., by petty ccouomies like those of the bee.
•• This proverb is only known here : cayiis was used for a " flatterer ": vid. Forcellini, s.v. Hence it may mean, "I too have kissed the Blarney Stone " — spoken satirically.
5 The lingua vulgaris was very fond of forms in -osus and -arias. See Olcott, Studies in Word Formation of the Latin TnscriiMons, p. 205.
N
194
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH.
malam parram pilavit, sed recorrexit costas illius prima vindeinia : vendidit enini vinum, quanti ipse vohiit. et quod illius mentura sus- tulit, hereditateni accepit, ex qua plus involavit, quani illi relictum est. et ille stips, dum fratri suo irascitur, nescio cui terrae filio patri- naonium elegavit. longe fugit, quisquis suos fugit. habuit autem oracularios servos, qui ilium pessum dedernnt. nuuquam autem recte faciet, qui cito credit, utique homo negotians. tameu verum quod frunitus est, quam diu vixit * * * cui datum est, non cui des- tinatum. plane Fortunae filius, in manu illius plum- bum aurum fiebat. facile est autem, ubi omnia quad- rata currunt. et quot putas ilium annos secum tulisse ? septuaginta et supra. sed corneolus fuit, aetatem bene ferebat, niger tanquam cor- vus. noveram hominem dim oliorum."
44. haec Phileros dixit, ilia Ganymedes : " narratis quod nee ad caelum nee ad terram pertinet, cum interim nemo curat, quid annona mordet. non mehercules hodie buccam panis invenire potui. et quomodo siccitas perseverat. iam annum esuritio fuit. aediles male eveniat, qui cum j^istoriljus colludunt. ' serva me, servabo te.' itaque popu- lus minutus laborat ; nam isti maiores maxillae semper Saturnalia agunt. o si haber- emus illus leones, quos ego hie inveni, cum primum ex
a tine man, a staunch friend, open-handed, a good trencher- man. True, he began by jjlucking a bad owl : but his first vintage set him on his legs : he sold his wine at his own price. He got a lift too by coming in for a legacy : and he pocketed more than he was left. And the block- head quarrelled with his brother and left his patri- mony to some son of the soil. Blood is thicker than water. He had eavesdropping slaves who brought him to grief. He will never get on who believes too soon, especially in trade. Anyhow, he en- joyed himself while he lived. He was a lucky dog : lead turned to gold in his hand. But it's easy to get on when everything fits. And how many years think you he canied ? Seventy and more. But he was as tough as iron : ^ he wore his years well : and was as black as a crow. I knew the man ages ago ! ''
§ 44. Thus spoke Phileros. Then said Ganymedes : " You're prating of what has no concern with earth or heaven. Meantime no one cares how the price of corn pinches. I vow I haven't been able to find a bite of bread to-day. And how the drought lasts on ! We've had a whole yeai-'s famine ! A plague on our market com- missioners, they're leagued with the bakers. ' Scratch me, I'll scratch you ! ' And so the small - people go to the wall. The big jaws keep
1 Lit., horn.
2 Cp. le menu peuple.
APPENDIX.
195
Asia veni. illud eiat vivere. similia sicilia intei'iores et laiuas sic istos ])ercolopabant, ut illis lupiter iiatus esset. [sed] memini Safinium : tunc habitabat ad arcum vetereni, lae puero, piper, non homo, is quacunque ibat, terram adurebat. sed rectus, sed certus, amicus aniico, cum quo audacter posses in tene- bris micare. in curia autem quomodo singulos [vel] pil- abat [tractabat], nee scbemas loquebatur sed derectum. cum ageret porro in foro, sic illius vox crescebat tanquam tuba. et quam benignus resalutare, noniina omnium reddere, tanquam unus de nobis, itaque illo tempore annoiia pro kito erat. asse panem quern emisses, non potuisses cum altero de- vorare. nunc oculum bub- lum vidi maiorem. lieu heu, quotidie peius. haec colonia retroversus crescit tanquam coda vituli. sed quare nos habemus aedilem trium cauniarum, cpii sibi mavult assetn quam vitam nostram l itaque domi gau- det, pkis in die nummorum aecipit, quam alter patrimon- ium habet. iam scio, unde ac- cepeiit denarios mille aureos. nunc populus est domi leones, foras vulpes. quod ad me attinet, iam pannos meos comedi, et si perseverat haec annona, casulas meas vendam. (|uid enim futurum est, si nee dii nee homiueshuiuscoloniae miserentur ? ita meos frunis- car, ut ego puto omnia ilia a diibus fieri, nemo enim cae- lum caehnn putat, nem<i ieiunium servat, nemo lovem pili facit, sed cranes opertis
the New Year once and for ever. I wish we had those fine beasts that I found here when I first came from Asia ! That was life indeed ! and if the corn was poor, they used to knock about these mon- sters [i.e., the commissioners] so that they cursed their luck. Yes, I remember Safinius : he lived near the old arch, in my youth : he was no man, but pure pepper. As he walked he scorched the ground. But he was straight and true, a good friend : you could fearlessly play morra with him in the dark. And in the council how he'd flout the rest of them, and he spoke no fine phrases, but straight out. And when busi- ness called him to the Forum his voice got as loud as a trumpet. And he was so courteous in returning greet- ings, and gave each his name, quite like one of ourselves. So that year corn was dirt- cheap. You would buy a farthing loaf which you and another couldn't finish off. I've seen a cow's eye bigger than a loaf is to-day. O dear ! Every day 'tis worse ! Our town is ^progressing back- ward, like a cow's tail. But why have we a commissioner worth not a fig, who would give our life for a copper '? So he makes merry at home, and pockets more cash in a day than any one else's for- tune ! I know now from what quarter he got a thou- sand gold pieces. As it is, our jjeople are regular lions at home, poor foxes abroad. As for me, I've eaten the price of my rags, and if the
196
IIISTOEICAL ItEADEK OF EARLY FRENCH.
oculits bona sua computaiit. antea stolatae ibaiit iiudis pedibiis ill clivum, passis ca- ])illis, mentibus puris, et lovem aqnam exorabant. ita- que .statiniurceatini plovebat: aut tune aut nun(|uani : et omnes redil^ant udi tanquani mures. itaque dii pedes lanatos habent, quia nos re- ligiosi noil sunius."
drought holds on I shall sell my hovels. For Avhat will happen if neither gods nor men take pity on this town I So may I rejoice in my kin, I think all this comes about by the gods. Why, no one thinks that heaven is heaven : no one keeps fast- days. No one cares a toss for Jove, no one has an eye but for his ledger. In the good old times the women donned their long robes and went barefoot up the Sacred hill, with flowing hair and pure hearts, and begged water from Jove. And then it would rain pitchers full, then or never, and all would come home like drowned rats. And so the gods have their feet in wool,^ because we have no religion.
1 I.e., probably, "they have the gout, and won't come to help us." It may mean, " they wear their slippers "—i.e., they won't come out to help us, but sit at home.
INDEX.
L A T I N.
Index to principal names and tcords explained in notes.
alote, 41.
A]io]linaris, 30.
Apuleius, ]6.
Ausonius, Decius Magnus, 27.
Avitus, Alcimus Ecdicius, .32.
Lacchic rites, 3.
Crecilius, Cyprianus, 18. Cfecilius, Secimdus, 11. canthichiu.s, 36. Cicero, 5. collocare, 37. coraeiitum, 42.
gasachio, 37. genitive (partitive), 42. gerund (use of), 44. grandis, Co.
Hadrian I., 45. Hezekiah, 44.
imbolat, 42. inde, 42.
mallus, 36. mica, 42.
open syllable, 49.
pasta, 42. Paulus, 38.
scara, 45.
Symmachus, Quintus Aurelius, 24.
thalasciasco, 36. thungine, 37-
FRENCH.
Index to principal word^ and phrases explained in notes.
a (= pendant), 88.
aanz, 74.
accent (on 1st syllable), 84, 93.
accusative absolute, 8."*.
acointier, 111.
adobet, 86, 119. adrecier, 110. agu, 127. ainceis, 110. ainz, 83, 93.
active verbs (used in neuter sensed aiud, 76. 88. ' aiude, 87.
adenz, 89. almaille, 132.
198
INDEX.
autif, 96.
aourer, 183.
araisnier, 106.
areez, 91.
argiidet, 87.
arivez, 136.
asener, 147.
assonance (definition of), 15'^
assouvie, 156.
atargier, 109.
auferant, 115.
augreut, 74.
auret, 71.
avaler, 11.").
avertin, 150.
avoez, 121.
tacheler, 122. baillissent, S9. barnage, 96. barnet, 83, 95. baucenz, 128. bellezour, 71. benedist, 86. ber, 95. besclie, 130. bestourua, 175. bise, 88. boisier, 107. braut, 98. brocher, 85. brouillot, 128. bxisiner, 154.
cadhuna, 69. campel, 98. cantilenes, 80. carrel, 159. cercle, 126. chaitis, 122. chalt, 110. chanijiel. 114. chapel, 94. charnel, 98. charoie, 152. cliasteier, 108. chatel, 130, 142. chenude, 88. chevances, 184. chevestres, 187. chiedet, 83, 94. chief, 93. chii-re, 157. chies, 96, 121. clamez, 86. clinet, 94. 90, 87.
codardie, 89. colchier, 89.
conreer, 94. contre, 139. convenir, 78. corage, 100, 145. corant, 79. cornanz, 83. corre, 93. com, 107. conchies, 161. craventer, 105, 122, crestans, 119. cristal, 99. cuider, 135. cuidoe, 108. cuit, 126.
dales, 185. degnet, 73. delgiet, 96. demesurance, 124. den, 130. deurees, 169. desfaez, 120. dessour, 91. dessoz, 89. destorbier, 102. destriers, 86. devenips, 74. devers, 89. diet, 90. dift, 69. dimes, 103. dotance, 124. doter, 121. double negative, 71. dm, 167. duel, 87. Durendal, 82.
ebaubie, 148. eir, 105. element, 72. elision (use of), 108. en, 88, 99. engien, 128. engignier, 106. engin, 100. enoier, 110. envis, 187- euz, 92. errer, 158. escientre, 85, 94. escondire, 187. escremir, 127. escuz, 124. esguarder, 93. esmaier, 125. espaventer, 121. espieth, 75.
r
I
INDEX.
199
espleitier, 96.
espoentee, 145.
espris, 126.
essillier, 110.
esteie, 77.
ester, 117.
estera, 75.
esterlin, 151.
estouz, 143.
estuet, 115.
ethical dative (use of), 119.
eve, 110.
Evvruins, 74.
faictis, 161. fairs a, 107. fermetez, 117. fie, 105. lit, 86.
flageoller, 171. flaiels, 76. forsener, 159. franche, 121. fresteler, 121. fuiet, 72. fuerre, 125.
gaires, 100. gamboison, 162. geutilz, 118. genz, 92.
gerundive (use of), 79. geste, 80. gibes, 153. glacier, 125. gloz, 108. gole, 108. gonlaiion, 78. graiudre, 84. greigneur, 160. grever, 123. guant, 91. guarant, 84. guaster, 110. guencliir, 102. guenchirent, 163. guerpi, 125. guerredon, 102.
haghent-e, 184.
hart, 183.
hauste, 98.
lieng^vite, 131.
herberge, 78.
historical present (use of), 93.
hober, 172.
honide, 89.
liourdeis, 162.
hueses, 113.
Hugo, 95. hui, 141.
inortet, 72. inversion (use of), 91. isnelement, 119.
ja, 83. jeu, 99. joster, 123. jus, 75, 125. jut, 90.
lahe, 130. lairroie, 123. lange, 181. larriz, 84. las, 77. lei, 86.
lei jugier, 109. leide, 143. lez, 120. liez, 93. loe, 182. loiers, 105. los, 82. losange, 144. losenges, 106. lostanit, 70. lui, 75.
maiseler, 79. maisniee, 98. mal dahe, 111. nialheurte, 156. manaide, 110. manbote, 133. mar, 82, 120. marbrins, 94, 113. niarchis, 117. marregliers, 106. Mauny (Gautier de), 184. mautalent, 126, 142. membrez, 98. menut, 90. mercit, 86. nieschever, 188. niesfaire, 101. meshuy, 156. mestier, 111. niier, 125. mire, 159. moiller, 114. niostier, 92. mourir, 156. muder, 90.
negative, double (use of), 71.
M without pas (use of), 120.
200
INDEX.
iieif, 99. iieis, 100. neiiiel, 100. neporquaut, 100. neuls, 70. Hies, 96, 107. iiourriz, 190.
o( = ob), 83.
olifant, 83, 89.
om, 69.
omne, 74.
ouor, 116.
Oram, 73.
ore, 91.
orie, 88.
est (pi. oz), 82, 177.
ostel, 98.
otrei, 116.
outree, 145.
paienor, 135.
paile, 96.
p.-irentez, 78.
parfout, 94, 101.
pudre, 76.
peuez, 114.
perdonat, 74.
jierneies, 78.
piz, 79.
placet, 83.
plaid, 69.
23leissier, 109.
ploiist, 97.
poeste, 101.
poiii, 98.
pout, 88.
porol'rit, 90.
porpenser, 117.
vossessive genitive (use of), 176.
pourtendu, 175.
jjoverte, 78.
provaiice, 102.
provende, 106.
puis, 77.
quarz, 75. queu, 75. quier, 109.
racatet, 97. rame, 113. raudoner, 133. rarisez, 120. reoaner, 147. rellambeier, 96. regiel, 71.
remaniements, 80. repaidrier, 96. robe, 156. roe, 141. rouvet, 186. roveret, 73. rovet, 95.
se grigner. 186.
seigniez, 86. seins, 136. .seiz, 77. sendra, 70. seuestrier, 125. servide, 89. s'espede, 87. s'esvertudet, 87. seule, 73. si, 69.
sqjoruet, 98. soldeiers, 97. .soller, 113. solz, 130. somons, 138. soulait, 169. St Michael, 91.
talenz, 84. talia, 75. tastoner, 114. tencent, 124. tender, 110. tolir, 105. tormente, 136. traictis, 169. tref, 174. trencliier, 106. tres, 135. trestotes, 84. trestuit, 74.
uissier, 176.
vaillaissant, 117. vassal, 85. vavassor, 116. veier, 111. veiutre, 71. veirenieut, 89. veutaille, 1l2. vers, 102. viande, 174. vilain, 111. vis, 93. voise, 123.
were, 133.
PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS.
LIST OF . . .
EDUCATIONAL WORKS .
• •
PUBLISHED BY
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS
45 GEORGE STREET, EDINBURGH
37 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, E.G.
CONTENTS.
PAGE |
|||||
English |
3 |
||||
Latin and Greek |
6 |
||||
Modern Languages . |
9 |
||||
Mathematics . |
10 |
||||
Geography |
10 |
||||
Popular Science |
11 |
||||
Geology |
11 |
||||
Botany |
12 |
||||
Physical Geography, &c. |
12 |
||||
Zoology and Palaeontology |
12 |
||||
History |
13 |
||||
Agriculture, &c. |
13 |
||||
Physical Education . |
14 |
||||
Elementary Series . |
14 |
EDUCATIONAL WORKS.
ENGLISH.
A HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. For Secondary Schools. By J. I>ogie Robertson, M.A., First English Master, Edin- burgh Ladies' College. With an Introduction by Professor Masson, Edinburgh University. Second Edition, Revised. Crown Svo, 3s.
OUTLINES OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. For Young Scholars. With Illustrative Specimens. By the Same Author. Crown Svo, Is. 6d.
ENGLISH VERSE FOR JUNIOR CLASSES. By the Same Author. In Two Parts. Crown Svo, Is. 6d. net each.
Part I.— Chaucer to Coleridge. Part II. —Nineteenth Century Poets.
ENGLISH PROSE FOR JUNIOR AND SENIOR GLASSES.
By the Same Author. In Two Parts. Crown Svo, 2s. Od, each.
Part I.— Malory to Johnson. Part II.— Nineteenth Century.
ENGLISH DRAMA. For School and College. By the Same Author. Crown Svo, 2s. lid.
PARAPHRASING, ANALYSIS, AND CORRECTION OF SENTENCES. By D. M. J. James, M.A., Gordon Schools, Huntly. Fcap. tivo, Is.
Also in Two Parts: —
PASSAGES FOR PARAPHRASING. Fcap. Svo, cloth limp, 6d.
EXERCISES IN ANALYSIS, PARSING, AND CORRECTION OF SENTENCES. Fca]). Svo, cloth limp, <;d.
ELEMENTARY GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION. Based on the Analysis of Sentences. With a Chapter on Word-Building and Derivation and containing numerous Exercises. New Edition. Fcap. Svo, Is
A WORKING HANDBOOK OF THE ANALYSIS OF SEN- TENCES. With Notes on Pausino, Paraphrasing, Figures of Speech, and Prosody. New Edition, Revised. Crown Svo, Is. 6d.
•Wauiiam J6lack\voo^ aiiD Sons'
A MANUAL OF ENGLISH PROSE LITERATURE, Biogra- phical AND Critical. By William INI into, M. A., Professor of Logieaud English Literature in the University of Aberdeen. Tliird Edition. Crown 8vo, 7s. Od.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ENGLISH POETS, FROM CHAUCER TO SHIRLEY. By the Same Author. Second
Edition. Crown Svo, 7s. iJd.
PLAIN PRINCIPLES OF PROSE COMPOSITION. By the
Same Author, down Svo, Is. (id.
THE LITERATURE OF THE GEORGIAN ERA. By the Same
Author. Edited, with a Biographical Introduction, by Professor Knight, St Andrews. Post Svo, 6s.
A HANDBOOK OF RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION. By
J. H. Lobban, M.A., late Examiner in English in the University of Aber- deen, Editor of ' English Essays.' [In preparation.
ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION: A Practical Manual fob Use in Schools. By James Currie, LIj.D. Fifty-seveuth Thousand. Is. 6d.
STORMONTH'S ENGLISH DICTIONARY: Pronouncing, Ety- mological, and Explanatory.
I. UIBRARY EDITION. New and Cheaper Edition, with Supple-
ment by William Bayne. Imperial Svo, handsomely bound in half-morocco, ISs. net.
II. SCHOOIi AND COLLEGE EDITION. The Fourteenth. Crown Svo, pp. 800. 7s. 6d.
III. HANDY SCHOOL EDITION. New Edition, thoroughly Re- vised by Willia:m Bayne. lOrao, Is.
SHORT STORIES, FABLES, AND PUPIL - TEACHER EXERCISES FOR COMPOSITION. With Instructions in THE Art of Letter and Essay Writing, Paraphrasing, Figures of Speech, &c. Fcap. Svo. 12S pages. Is. 3d.
SHORT STORIES FOR COMPOSITION. Second Series. With Lessons on Vocabulary. Third Edition. 112 pages. Is.
SHORT STORIES FOR COMPOSITION. First Series. With Specimens of Letters, and Subjects for Letters and Essays. Third Edition. 112 pages. Is.
ONE HUNDRED STORIES FOR COMPOSITION. Told in Alternative Version.'*. Is. 3d.
Educational "Morfts.
BLACKWOODS' ENGLISH CLASSICS.
With Frontispieces. In Peap. Svo volumes, clotli. General Editor — J. H. LoBBAN, iM.A., Editor of 'English Essays'; formerly Examiner in English in the University of Aberdeen.
MILTON— PARADISE LOST, BOOKS I. -IV. By J. Logie Robert- son, M.A. is. 6d.
COWPER — THE TASK, and Minor Poems. By Elizabeth
Lee. l's. ijd.
JOHNSON— LIVES OF MILTON AND ADDISON. By Professor J. W. Duff, M.A. Js. fid.
MACAULAY— LIFE OF JOHNSON. By D. Nichol Smith, M.A. Is. M.
GOLDSMITH —TRAVELLER, DESERTED VILLAGE, and other Poems. Bj' .J. H. Lobban, M.A. Is. 6d.
CARLYLE— ESSAY ON BURNS. By J. Downie, M.A. 2s. 6d.
SCOTT— LADY OF THE LAKE. By W. B. W. Collins, M.A. l.s. 6d.
MILTON-LYCIDAS, L'ALLEGRO, IL PENSEROSO, COMUS, ARCADES. By C. J. B.\rTERsBY, M.A. iln the press.
Other Volumes to follow,
BLACKWOODS' LITERATURE READERS.
Edited by JOHN ADAMS, M.A., B.Sc, F.C.P., Rector of the Free Chnrcli Training College, Glasgow.
BOOK I. . Price Is. Od. BOOK III. . Price Is. 6d.
BOOK II. . ir Is. 4d. BOOK IV. . ir Is. 6d.
IN COURSE OF PUBLICATION.
BLACKWOODS' SCHOOL SHAKESPEARE.
Edited by R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON. Each Play complete, with Introduction, Notes, and Glossary. In crown Svo volumes. Paper covers, Is. each ; bound in cloth, Is. 6d.
The following Flays have been selected for early issue : —
THE MERCHANT OF
VENICE. [ncady.
RICHARD II. [Ready.
JULIUS C/ESAR. [Ready.
THE TEMPEST. [Ready.
AS YOU LIKE IT. Ready.
M AC BETH. [lathe press.
TWELFTH NIGHT.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S
DREAM. HENRY V. CORIOLANUS. KING LEAR. HAMLET.
■Oflilliam asiackwooD anJ) Sons'
LATIN AND GREEK.
HIGHER LATIN PROSE. With an Introduction by H. W. Auden, M.A., Assistant-Master, Fettes College, Edinburgh, late Scholar of Clirist's College, Cambridge, and Bell University Scholar. 2s. 6d. *»* Key (for Teachers only), 5s. net.
LOWER LATIN PROSE. By K. P.Wilson, M.A., Assistant-Master, Fettes College, Edinburgh. 2s. 6d.
*»* Key (for Teachers only), 5s. net.
HIGHER LATIN UNSEENS. For the Use of Higher Forms and University Students. Selected, with Introductory Hints on Translation, by H. W'. AuDEX, M.A., Assistant-Master, Fettes College, Edinburgh, late Scholar of Chrisfs College, Cambridge, and Bell University Scholar. 2s. 6d.
LOWER LATIN UNSEENS. Selected, with Introduction, by W. LoBBAN, M.A., Classical Master, Girls' High School, Glasgow. 2s.
LATIN VERSE UNSEENS. By G. Middleton, M.A., Lecturer in
Latin, Aberdeen University, late Scholar of Emmanuel College, Cam- bridge ; Joint-Author of ' Student's Companion to Latin Authors.' Crown Svo, Is. 6d.
FIRST LATIN SENTENCES AND PROSE. With Vocabulary. By K. P. Wilson, M.A., late Scholar of Pembroke College, Cambridge. 2s. 6d.
TALES OF ANCIENT THESSALY. An Elementary Latin Read- ing Book, with Vocabulary and Notes. By J. W. E. Pearce, M.A., Head- master of Merton Court Preparatory School, Sideup ; late Assistant- Master, University College School, London. With a Preface by J. L. Paton, M.A., late Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge; Headmaster of University College School, London. Is,
LATIN HISTORICAL UNSEENS. For Army Classes. By L. C. Valghan Wilkes, M.A. Crown Svo, 2s.
ADITUS FACILIORES. An Easy Latin Construing Book, with Com- plete Vocabulary. By the late A. W. Potts, M.A., LL.D., and the Rev. C. Darnell, M.A. Tenth Edition. Fcap. Svo, 3s, 6d.
PRACTICAL RUDIMENTS OF THE LATIN LANGUAGE;
or, Latin Forms and English Roots. By John Ross, M.A., Rector of the High School of Arbroath. Third Edition. Crown Svo, pp. 164. Is. 6d.
STONYHURST LATIN GRAMMAR. By Rev. John Gerard. Second Edition. Fcap. Svo, pp. 199. 3s.
MANUAL OF GREEK PROSE COMPOSITION. By Gilbert Murray, M.A., Emeritus Professor of Greek in the University of Glasgow. In 1 vol. crown Svo. [In preparation.
BDucational Morhs.
HIGHER GREEK PROSE. With an Introduction by H. W. Auden, M.A., Assistant-Master, Fettes College, Edinburgh, late Scholar of Christ's College, Cambridge, and Bell University Scholar. 2s. (id.
*»* Key {for Teachers only), 5s. net.
LOWER GREEK PROSE. By K. P. Wilson, M.A., Assistant-Master in Fettes College, Edinburgh. '2s. 6d
HIGHER GREEK UNSEENS. For the Use of Higher Forms and University Students. Selected, with Introductory Hints on Translation, by H. W. AuDEN, M.A., Assistant-Master, Fettes College, Edinburgh. 2s. 6d.
LOWER GREEK UNSEENS. With an Introduction by W. Lobb.^n, M.A., Classical Master, Girls' High School, Glasgow. [In preparation.
GREEK VERSE UNSEENS. By T. R. Mills, M.A., late Lecturer in Greek, Aberdeen University, formerly Scholar of Wadham College, Oxford ; Joint-Author of 'Student's Companion to Latin Authors.' Crown 8vo, Is. 6d.
GREEK TEST PAPERS. By James Moir, Litt.D., LL.D., Co-Rector of Aberdeen Grammar School. 2s. 6d.
*»* Key (for Teachers only), bs. net.
GREEK PROSE PHRASE-BOOK. Based on Thucydides, Xenophon, Demosthenes, and Plato. Arranged according to subjects, with Indexes. By H. W. AuDEX, M.A., Editor of ' Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book.' Inter- leaved, 3s. 6d.
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE ROMAN CONQUEST.
By P. Giles, M.A., Fellow and Lecturer of Emmanuel College, Cam- bridge. With Maps and Illustrations. [IniireparatU,)!.
OUTLINES OF GREEK HISTORY. By the Same Author. In 1 vol. crown Svo. [In preparation.
ADITUS FACILIORES GR>ECI. An Easy Greek Construing Book, with Complete Voeabulaiy. By the late A. W. Potts, M.A., LL.D., and the Rev. C. Darnell, M.A. Fifth Edition. Fcap. Svo, 3s.
GREEK TESTAMENT LESSONS FOR COLLEGES, SCHOOLS, AND PRIVATE STUDENTS. Consisting chiefly of the Sermon on tlie Mount, and Parables of our J^ord. With Notes and Essays. By the Rev. J. Hunter Smith, M.A., King Edward's School, Birmingham. Crown Svo, with Maps. 6s.
A MANUAL OF CLASSICAL GEOGRAPHY. By John L. Mvres, M.A., Fellow of JIagdaleu College, I>ecturcr and Tutor, Christ Church, Oxford. [7)1 preparation.
milliam MachwooO anJ) Song'
BLACKWOODS' ILLUSTRATED CLASSICAL TEXTS.
General Editor— H. W. AUDEN, M.A., Assistant-Master at Fettes College, late Scholar of Christ's College, Cambridge, and Bell University Scholar.
The foUoiving Volumes are arranged for:— C/ESAR-GALLIC WAR, BOOKS I. -111. By J. M. Hardwich, M.A. OESAR- GALLIC WAR, BOOKS IV. -V. By St J. B. Wynne
WiLLSox, M.A. With or without Vocabulary, Is. 6d. Vocabulary
separately, 3d. [Ready.
C/ESAR— GALLIC WAR, BOOKS VI., VII. By C. A. A. du
PONTET, ,M.A.
VIRGIL— GEORGIC IV. By J. Sargeaunt, M.A. Is. 6d. [Ready.
VIRGIL— /EN El D, BOOKS V., VI. By St J. B. Wynne Willson,
M.A. OVID— METAMORPHOSES (Selections). By J. H. Vince, M.A.
Is. 6d. [Ready.
OVID— ELEGIAC EXTRACTS. By A. R. F. Hyslop, M.A.
HOMER— ODYSSEY, BOOK VI. By E. E. Sikes, M.A.
[Immediately.
HOMER-ODYSSEY, BOOK VII. By E. E. Sikes, M.A.
DEMOSTHENES— OLYNTHIACS, I. -III. By H. Sharpley, M.A. Is. tid. [Ready.
XENOPHON— ANABASIS, BOOKS I., II. By A. J.\gger, B.A.
Is. 6d. [Ready.
CICERO— IN CATILINAM, I. -IV. By H. W. Auden, M.A. Is. 6d.
[Ready.
CICERO-PRO LEGE MANILIA AND PRO ARCHIA. By K. P.
Wilson, il.A. CICERO— PRO CAECINA. By Rev. J. M. Lupton, M.A. TACITUS— AGRICOLA. By H. F. Morland Simpson, M.A. LIVY— BOOK IX. By J. A. Nicklin, B.A. LIVY— BOOK XXVIII. By G. Middleton, M.A. HORACE-ODES, BOOKS I. -III. By J. Sarge.wnt, M.A. SALLUST— JUGURTHA. By J. F. Smedley, M.A. NEPOS— SELECT LIVES. By Rev. E. J. W. Houghton, M.A.
Other Volumes to follow.
BJ)ucational THHorks.
MODERN LANGUAGES.
HISTORICAL READER OF EARLY FRENCH, Containing Passages Illustrative of the Growth of the French Language from the Earlie'st Times to the end of the 15th Century. By Herbert A. Strong, LL.D., Officier de I'lnstruction Publique ; Professor of Latin, University College, Liverpool; and L. Barnett, M.A., Litt.D. [In the press.
THE TUTORIAL HANDBOOK OF FRENCH COMPOSITION.
By Alfred JIercieb, L.-es-L., Lecturer on French Language and Litera- ture in the University of St Andrews. Fcap. 8vo, 3s. 6d.
THE CHILDREN'S GUIDE TO THE FRENCH LANGUAGE.
An entirely Xew Method for Beginners, based upon the gradual acquisition of French Pronunciation, by means of words naturally associated in a child's mind. By Annie G. Ferrier, Teacher of French in the Ladies' College, Queen Street, Edinburgh. Crown Svo, Is.
FRENCH HISTORICAL UNSEENS. For Ai my Classes. By N. E. ToKE, B.A. Crown Svo, 2s. Od.
A HISTORY OF GERMAN LITERATURE. By John G. Robert- son, Ph.D., Lecturer in the University of Strassburg. [In the press.
OUTLINES OF GERMAN LITERATURE. For the Use of Schools. By the Same Author. [In preparation.
A COMPENDIOUS GERMAN READER. Consisting of Historical Extracts, Specimens of German Literature, Lives of German Authors, an Outline of German History (1640-1890), Biographical and Historical Notes. Especially adapted for the use of Army Classes. By G. B. Beak, M.A. Oxon., Modem Language Master at The King's School, Brut on. 2s. &1.
PROGRESSIVE GERMAN COMPOSITION. With copious Notes and Idioms, and First Introduction to German Philology. By Louis LuBOVius, German Master in the Secondary Schools of the Govan School Board, Glasgow ; German Lecturer in the Free Church Training College, Glasgow. Crown Svo, 3s. 6d.
Also in Two Parts: — PROGRESSIVE GERMAN COMPOSITION. 2s. 6d.
*»* A Key, available for Teachers only. Price 5s. net.
FIRST INTRODUCTION TO GERMAN PHILOLOGY. Is. Od.
LOWER GRADE GERMAN. Reading, Supplementary Grammar with Exercises, and Material for Composition. With Notes and Vocabulary, and Ten Song.s in Sol-Fa Notation. By Louis Lubovius. Second Edition. 2s. 6d.
10 imilliani asiachwooS anJ) Sons'
SPANISH GRAMMAR. With copious Exercises in Translation and Composition ; easy Reading Lessons and Extracts from Spanish Authors ; a List of Idioms ; a Glossary of Commercial Terms (English-Spanish) ; and a copious General Vocabulary (Spanish-English). By William A. Kessen, Teacher of Spanish, Hillhead High School, Glasgow. 3s. 6d.
MATHEMATICS.
ARITHMETIC. With numerous Examples, Revision Tests, and Examin- ation Papers. By A. Veitch Lothian, M.A., B.Sc, F.R.S.E., Mathe- matical and Science Lecturer E.G. Training College, Glasgow. With Answers. 3s. 6d.
PRACTICAL ARITHMETICAL EXERCISES. For Senior Pupils IN Schools. Containing upwards of SOOO Examples, coijsisting in great part of Problems, and 750 Extracts from Examination Papers. Second Edition, Revised. Crown Svo, 304 pages, 3s. With Answers, 3s. 6d.
ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA. The Complete Book, crowi Svo, 288 pp., cloth, 2s. With Ansvcrs. 2s. 6d. Answers sold separately, price 9d. Pt. L, 64 pp., Od. Pt. II., 64 pp., 6d. Pt. IIL, 70 pp., Gd. Pt. IV., 96 pp., 9d. Ansivers to Pts. I., II., III., each 2d. Ansicers to Pt. IV., 3d.
HANDBOOK OF MENTAL ARITHMETIC. With 7200 Examples and Answers. Large crown Svo, 264 pp., 2s. 6d. Also in Six Parts, limp cloth, price 6d. each.
MODERN GEOMETRY OF THE POINT, STRAIGHT LINE, AND CIRCLE. An Elementarj- Treatise. By J. A. Third, M.A., Headmaster of Spier's School, Beith. 3s.
EXERCISES IN GEOMETRY. By J. A. Third, M.A., Headmaster,
Spier's School, Beith. [In pi-eparation.
MENSURATION. 128 pp., cloth, Is. Also in Two Parts. Pt. I., Parallelograms and Triangles. 64 pp. Paper, 4d. ; cloth, 6d. Pt. II., Circles and Solids. 64 pp. Paper, 4d. ; cloth, 6d. Answers may be had separately, price 2d. each Part.
GEOGRAPHY.
ELEMENTS OF MODERN GEOGRAPHY. By the Rev. Alex- ander Mackay, LL.D., F.R.G.S. Revised to the present time. Fifty- fifth Thousand. Crown Svo, pp. 300, 3s.
Eoucational "Wllorhs. n
THE INTERMEDIATE GEOGRAPHY. Intended as an Intermediate Book between the Author's ' Outlines of Geography ' and ' Elements of Geography.' By the Same Author. Revised to the present time. Twentieth Edition. Crown 8vo, pp. 238. 2s.
OUTLINES OF MODERN GEOGRAPHY. By the Same Author. Revised to the present time. One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Thousand. ISmo, pp. 128. Is.
FIRST STEPS IN GEOGRAPHY. By the Same Author. Revised to the present time. One Hundred and Fifth Thousand. 18mo, pp. 56. Sewed, 4d. ; in cloth, 6d.
GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. By the Same Author. 3d.
PHYSICAL MAPS FOR THE USE OF HISTORY STU- DENTS. By Bernhard V. Darbishire, M.A., Trinity College, Oxford.
Two Series — Ancient History and Modern History.
Ready immediately : —
GREECE (Ancient History).
BRITISH ISLES (Modern History).
Others in preparation.
A MANUAL OF CLASSICAL GEOGRAPHY. By John I. MvEES, M.A., Fellow of Magdalen College ; Lecturer and Tutor, Christ Church, Oxford. [In preparation.
POPULAR SCIENCE.
THINGS OF EVERYDAY. A Popular Science Reader on Some Coniuion Things. "Witli Ilhistrations. Crown Svo, 2s.
PROFESSOR JOHNSTON'S CHEMISTRY OF COMMON LIFE. New Edition, Revised and brought down to the present time. By A. H. Church, M.A. Oxon., Author of 'Food, its Sources, Constituents, and Uses,' &c. With Maps and 102 Engravings. Crown Svo, pp. 618. 7s. 6d.
GEOLOGY.
AN INTERMEDIATE TEXT-BOOK OF GEOLOGY. By Pro- fessor Charles I.Ai'woRTn, LL.D., Mason Science College, Binningham. Founded on Dr Page's 'Introductory Text -Book of Geology.' With
Illustrations. Crown Svo, 5s.
DR PAGE'S ADVANCED TEXT -BOOK OF GEOLOGY.
Descrijjtive and Industrial. Revised by Professor Lapworth.
[In preparation.
12 "Ullilliam JSlackwooD aiiD Sons'
BOTANY.
A MANUAL OF BOTANY. Anatomical and Physiological. For the Use of Students. By Kobekt Brown, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.G.S. Crown 8vo. With numerous Illustrations. 12s. 6(1.
A MANUAL OF AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. From the Ger- man of Dr A. B. Frank, Professor in the Royal Agricultural College, Berlin. Translated by John VV. Paterson, B.Sc, Ph.D. With over 100 Illustrations. Crown 8vo, oS. 6d.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, &c.
INTRODUCTORY TEXT - BOOK OF PHYSICAL GEO- GRAPHY. .'With Sketch-Maps and Illustrations. By David Page, LL.D., &c.. Professor of Geology in the Durham University College of Physical Science, Newcastle. Revised by Professor Charles Lapworth. Fourteenth Edition, is. ijd.
ADVANCED TEXT- BOOK OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.
By the Same Author. With Engravings. Third Edition. Revised by Professor Charles Lapworth. 6s.
A FIRST BOOK ON PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. For Use in
Schools. 64 pp. 4d.
INTRODUCTORY TEXT- BOOK OF METEOROLOGY. By
Alexander Buchan, LL.D., F.R.S.B., Secretary of the Scottish IVIeteor- ological Society, &c. New Edition. Crown 8vo, with Coloured Charts and Engravings. [In preparation.
ZOOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY.
A MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. By Henry Alleyne Nicholson, M.D., D.Sc, F.L.S., F.G.S., Regius Professor of Natural History in the University of Aberdeen. Seventh Edition, rewritten and greatly enlarged. Post Svo, with 555 Engravings on Wood. Pp. 956. 18s.
TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. By the Same Author. Fifth Edition, rewritten and enlarged. Crown Svo, with 358 Engravings on Wood. 10s. 6d.
A TEXT-BOOK OF AGRICULTURAL ZOOLOGY. By Fred. V. Theobald, JI.A. (Cantab.), F.E.S., Foreign Member of the Association of Official Economic Entomologists, U.S.A., Zoologist to the S.E. Agri- cultural College, Wye, &c. With numerous Illustrations. Crown Svo, 8s. 6d.
HDucational IClorFis. is
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF BIOLOGY. By Prof. H. Alleyxe Nicholson. Crown 8vo, with numerous Engravings. 5s.
A MANUAL OF PAL/EONTOLOGY, For the Use of Students. With a General Introduotion on the Principles of Palaeontologj-. By Professor H. Alleyne Nicholson, Aberdeen, and Richard Lydekkee, B.A., F.G.S., &c. Third Edition. Entirely re\vritten and greatly en- larged. 2 vols. Svo, with 1419 Engravings. 63s.
THE ANCIENT LIFE-HISTORY OF THE EARTH. An Out- line of the Principles and Leading Facts of Palseontological Science. By Hexry Alleyne Nicholson, M.D., D.Sc, F.L.S., F.G.S., Regius Pro- fessor in the University of Aberdeen. With a Glossarj- and Index. Crown Svo, with 270 Engravings. 10s. 6d.
HISTORY.
COMMENTARIES ON THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
From the Earliest Times to 1SC5. By Montagu Burrows, Chichele Professor of Modern History in the University of Oxford ; Captain R.N. ; F.S.A., &c. ; " Officier de I'Instruction Publique," France. Cro^vn Svo, 7s. Gd.
EPITOME OF ALISON'S HISTORY OF EUROPE. For the
Use of Schools. 30th Thousand. Post Svo, pp. 604. 7s. 6d.
THE EIGHTEEN CHRISTIAN CENTURIES. By the Rev.
James White. Seventh Edition. Post Svo. With Index. 6s.
HISTORY OF INDIA. From the Earliest Period to the Present Time. By John Clark Marshman, C.S.I. New Edition, with Map. Post Svo, pp. 596. Gs.
AGRICULTURE, &c.
MANURES AND THE PRINCIPLES OF MANURING. By
Professor ('. M. Aikman, Jl.A., D.Sc. Crown Svo, Gs. Gd.
FARMYARD MANURE: Its Nature, Composition, and Treatment. By the Same Author. Crown Svo, Is. 6d.
JOHNSTON'S ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, From tlie Editio]i by Sir Charles A. Cameron, M.D., F.K. C.S.I. Revised and bronglit down to date by C. M. Aikman, M.A., D.Sc, &c., Profes.sor of Chemistry, Glasgow Veterinarj- College; E.xaminer in Chemistry, University of Glasgow, &c. 17th Edition. Crown Svo, 6s. 6d.
14 Milliam JSlackwooD anJ) Sons'
JOHNSTON'S CATECHISM OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. Prom the Edition by Sir C. A. Cameron. Revised and enlarged by Professor C. M. Airman. With Engravings. 92nd Thousand. Crown Svo, Is.
STEPHENS' CATECHISM OF PRACTICAL AGRICUL- TURE. Twenty-second Thousand, Revised and largely rewritten by James Macdonald, P.R.S.E., Secretary of the Highland and Agricultural Society ; Editor of the Sixth Edition of ' The Book of the Farm.' With numerous Illustrations. Crown Svo, Is.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
THE ELEMENTS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION. A Teacher's Manual. By David Lennox, JI.D., late R.N., Medical Director ot Dundee Public Gymnasium, and Alexander Sturrock, Superintendent of Dundee Public Gymnasium, Instructor to the University of St Andrews and Dundee High School, Winner of the National Physical Recreation Society's Challenge Shield. With original Musical Accompaniments to the Drill by Harry Everitt Losebv. With 1:30 Illustrations. Crown Svo, 4s.
ELEMENTARY SERIES.
BLACKWOODS' LITERATURE READERS. See p. 5. STANDARD READERS.
(i I. . |
. Sd. |
BOOK III. |
. Is. Od. |
BOOK V. |
. Is. 4d. |
K II. . |
. 9d. |
BOOK IV. |
. Is. 3d. |
BOOK YI. |
. Is. 6d. |
INFANT SERIES.
FIRST ANE SECOND PICTURE PRIMERS, each sewed, 2d. ; cloth 3d.
PICTURE READING SHEETS. First and Second Series. Each con- taining 10 Sheets, unmounted, 3s. 6d. Also mounted on boards or rollers.
THE INFANT PICTURE READER. 6d.
GEOGRAPHICAL READERS. With numerous Maps, Diagrams, and Illustrations. GEOGRAPHICAL PRIMER. 9d. BOOK I., 9d. ; II., Is. ; III., Is. 3d. ; IV., Is. tjd. ; V., Is. 6d. ; VL, Is. 9d.
HISTORICAL, READERS. Witli numerous Portraits, Maps, and other Illustrations. SHORT STORIES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY. Is. BOOK I., Is.; II., Is. 4d. ; IIL, Is. 6d.
lEDucational TMorks. 15
A COMPLETE HISTORY OF ENGLAND. For Junior Classes. Is. 4d.
STANDARD AUTHORS. With Notes and Illustrations. DEFOE'S ROBINSON CRUSOE. Is. 3d. MISS MITFORD'S OUR VILLAGE. Is. -Id. HAWTHORNE'S TANGLEWOOD TALES. Is. 2d. GOLDSMITH'S VICAR OP WAKEFIELD. Is. 2d.
THE COMBINED HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL READER. For Standard III. (Scotch Code). Is.
HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN. With Illustrations and Maps. In
Two Parts, each Is.
SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS. Abridged, with Notes. Price 6d. each. King Kk hard II., King Henry VIII., King John.
AYTOUN'S LAYS OF THE SCOTTISH CAVALIERS. With
Introduction, Notes, and Life of the Author. For .Junior Classes.
EDINBURGH AFTER FLODDEN. 32 pages, 2d. ; cloth, 3Jd. THE EXECUTION OP MONTROSE. 32 pages, 2d. ; cloth, 3Jd. THE BURIAL-MARCH OP DUNDEE. 32 pages, 2d. ; cloth, 3^. THE ISLAND OF THE SCOTS. 32 pages, 2d. ; cloth, 3Jd.
SCHOOL RECITATION BOOKS.
BOOKS I. and II., each 2d. BOOKS III. and IV., each 3d.
BOOKS V. and VI., each 4d.
MRS HEMANS' POEMS. Selected for Use in Schools. 3d.
GRAMMAR AND ANALYSIS.
BOOKS II. and III., each, paper, Ijd. ; cloth, 2id.
BOOK IV., paper, 2d. ; cloth, 3d.
BOOKS v., VI., and VIL, each, paper, 3d.; cloth, 4d.
ARITHMETICAL EXERCISES. Thoroughly revised to suit the New Code, 1897.
BOOKS I. and II., each, paper, l^d. ; cloth, 2id.
BOOKS III., IV., v., and VI., each, paper, 2d. ; cloth, 3d.
BOOK VII., paper, 3d. ; cloth, 4d.
*** ANSWERS inay be had separately, and. are supplied direct to TeacMrs only.
16 Milliam asiacl^wooO c"? Sons' ECucational Mocks.
GRAMMAR AND ANALYSIS. Adapted to the New (Scotch) Code. STANDARDS II. and III., each, paper, lid.; cloth, 2W. STANDARDS IV. and V., each, paper, •2Jd. ; cloth, 3M. STANDARD YI., paper, 3d. ; cloth, 4d.
NEW ARITHMETICAL EXERCISES. New (Scotch) Code, 1S98.
STANDARDS I. and II., each, paper, Ijd. ; cloth, 2id.
STANDARD III., paper, 2d. ; cloth, 3d.
STANDARD IV., paper, 3d. ; cloth, 4d.
STANDARDS V. and VI., each, paper, 4d. ; cloth, 6d.
HIGHER ARITHMETIC for Ex-Standard and Continuation Classes. Paper, (id. ; cloth, 8d.
*^^* ANSWERS may he had separately, and are supplied direct to Teachers only. MERIT CERTIFICATE ARITHMETIC. Paper cover, 6d. ; cloth, 8d.
MENSURATION. 12S pp., cloth. Is. Also in Two Parts, each, Paper, 4d. ; cloth, ijd. Ansu-ers may be had separately, price 2d. each Part.
HANDBOOK OF MENTAL ARITHMETIC. With 7200 Examples and Answers. 2s. 6d. Also in Six Parts, price 6d. each.
ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA. Crown s'vo, 2SS pp., cloth, 2.s. With Answers, 2s. 6d. Answers, sold separately, price 9d.
Also sold in Four Parts — Part I. 64 pp. . . 6d. I Part III. 70 pp. . . . 6d. Part II. 64 pp. . . 6d. I Part IV. 96 pp. . . . 9d. Answers to Parts I., IT., and III., each, 2d. ; Answers to Part IV., 3d.
MANUAL INSTRUCTION— WOODWORK. Designed to meet the Requirements of the Minute of the Science and Art Department ON Manual Instruction. By George St John, Undenominational School, Handsworth, Birmingham. With 100 Illustrations. Fcap. 8vo, Is.
BLACKWOODS' UNIVERSAL WRITING BOOKS. By John T. Pearce, B.A., Leith Academy and Technical College. No. I., For Lower Classes; No. II., For Higher Classes. Price 2d. each.
BLACKWOODS' SIMPLEX CIVIL SERVICE COPY BOOKS.
By the Same. Nos. I.-VIII. Price 2d. each. / . ■ . y''
(}^ ya^^
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS. Edinbokgh and London, 9/00.
-y
\
C3
<-^T *■* I I \ f- .'■
" ^y -'» i." V (<<! 1 '
)r,v .jnT.rvtrnr.v .jr.KutiAriV/",.
6^
05 > |
2: =3 |
|
ii.-\);siV4U- ■ |
||
^<f 0 1. :iv , |
-\-\EUNIVE!?y/55, |
|
s=*^ |
||
"z^ |
- 9 |
^iVt'tiTr
•.ijji-'.; J1.J -Jlj.tni j\j : 'JUJlUI'il .)',»■"
^m
^
-"^v,
L 006 505 441 3
?3 C?
UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY
000 293 051 9
03
^^■
^ ^..
■^o-mm\^ '^omnw'^''
^J:?i30Nvsnv""
CO
T' C.
&,
*^ji
^^:...MM. j^:.^?
■5^ %' J?% ^^-. ,^. ;i^f ^fii-
.- ^S «- -.t)^'', '-.iTi :^'J. J- ;i -jf-. "
4 ,r-t-
M 11 m m £ 1
%^-'f
MM MJiI;l'l;tii^^l
'». .isl^ IM. .Jf( M aI l|i
'iri „%«■'
w
'^?'
il
:>.m
'.Jifi'm
!•■■... |
fW»'_..^y-^
K I"'*
#« wW'
"'^ If; .f m M I
^r
Mti
1 |
■OEiL |
9 |
|
H 1 |
|
■ |
|
r |
^'
•^ -r/l
I