Middle English humorous tales in verse

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SECTION II
MIDDLE ENGLISH LITERATURE

GENERAL EDITOR

EWALD FLUGEL, PH. D.

PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH PHILOLOGY IN
LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY

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MIDDLE ENGLISH

HUMOROUS TALES IN

VERSE

EDITED BY

GEORGE H. MCKNIGHT, PH. D.

PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH, OHIO
STATE UNIVERSITY

BOSTON, U. S. A., AND LONDON
D. C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS

There have already been published in Section II

The Owl and the Nightingale — Edited by Professor
John Edwin Wells, Hiram College, Ohio.

The Pearl— Edited by Professor Charles G. Osgood,
Princeton University.

Early Sixteenth Century Lyrics — Edited by Professor
Frederick M. Padelford, University of Washing-
ton.

COPYRIGHT, 1913,
BY D. C. HEATH & Co.

f/*

Ml

I WISH to offer due apology for the elaborate critical
setting provided for three simple tales. It cannot be as-
sumed that introduction, notes, and glossary will add to
the entertainment afforded by these stories. The justifica-
tion for the editor's work lies in the fact that these humor-
ous tales have a serious interest. They are interesting not
merely as affording specimens of the language of an ear-
lier period, but as illustrating what may be called the
comedy-relief element in the literature of an age that pro-
duced the Cursor Mundi and the Ayenbite of In<vait) and
as affording an idea of the mode of diffusion of popular
tales and the use made of them by literature.

I wish it were possible more fully to share the pleasures
of the chase enjoyed in tracing the courses followed by
these three stories. The hunt for sources and parallels has
led, now into arid compilations like those by John of
Bromyard and Vincent of Beauvais, again into the midst
of the luxuriant oriental fictions of Nachshebi and Soma-
deva, again among the fresh folk-tales of Saxon, Breton,
Finn, Berber, and American Negro. I realize that the
pleasures of the hunt are not easily communicable, but it is
my hope that some of the trophies of the hunt, mounted
and arranged in the introduction to this volume, may have
a scientific value.

In the texts of the present volume the capitalization and
the punctuation are modem, except in the case of proper
names, in which the manuscript form has been reproduced.
Abbreviations also have been expanded. In other respects
it has been my aim to reproduce the manuscript texts

093

vi preface

exactly. With this in view I have collated the proofs with
rotographic copies of the manuscripts. The glossary aims
to be exhaustive, including all the words and forms of
words in the three texts. In the introduction the discussion
of the language in each text has been made brief because
of the full lists of forms collected in the glossary.

It is my pleasure to acknowledge courtesies shown me
at the Harvard University Library, the Cornell University
Library, and the British Museum Library, while I was
making preliminary studies in the preparation of this book.
I also wish to acknowledge suggestions for notes received
from Professors J. M. Hart and W. Strunk, Jr., of Cor-
nell University, and from Professor F. Tupper, Jr., of
the University of Vermont, and helpful suggestions in the
preparation of the manuscript as well as assistance in re-
vising the proofs, from Professor Fliigel, general editor of
the series.

G. H. McK.

COLUMBUS, O., June,

contents

INTRODUCTION ix

DAME SIRIZ I

THE Fox AND WOLF IN THE WELL . . 25

SIR CLEGES 38

NOTES 6 1

BIBLIOGRAPHY 8 1

GLOSSARY 93

3|ttttotm:rtfott

Or me convient tel chose dire
Dont je vos puisse fere rire.
Quar je sai bien, ce est la pure,
Que de sarmun n'aves vos cure
Ne de cors seint oir la vie.
De ce ne vos prent nule envie,
Mes de tel chose qui vose plese.

Roman de Renard, Prol. to Branch IV.

THE HUMOROUS ELEMENT IN MIDDLE ENGLISH
NARRATIVE LITERATURE

NARRATIVE literature in English before the Norman
Conquest expresses the ideals of an aristocratic form of
society. It is rich in tales of heroic valor and saintly
fortitude, which are uniformly dignified in manner and
elevated in tone. There has recently been brought to
light evidence l of a taste less severe, in the form of
comic stories preserved from oblivion because they served
as material for experiments in Latin versification. But
there is no evidence that these more trivial tales formed
a part of the repertory of the dignified scop.

In the centuries immediately following the Norman
Conquest, literature in the English language can hardly
be said to have had an independent development. In the
main it reflects the fashions prevailing in the contempo-

I W. P. Kcr, On the Historj oftht Ballads, IIOO-IJOO, pp. IJ, 14, and
footnote. (Repr. from Proc. of Brit. Acad. vol. iv.) London, 1910.

x ^Introduction

rary writings in French. Hence it is that one wishing
to find the source of literary tendencies in English during
this period, must look in French literature.

The literature in French in the period following the
Norman Conquest was much more broadly representative
of the different sides of human life than that in Anglo-
Saxon had been. If we narrow our attention to narra-
tive, we find, corresponding to the dignified English epic
tales and legendary narratives, similarly dignified French
Chansons de geste, courtly romances, and saintly legends.
But along with the Chanson de Roland 'and its class and
the romances of Chretien de Troyes and of his school,
there flourished tales less conventional in form and re-
flecting the gay and the humorous side of humanity.

These less serious tales seem to have owed their origin
in great part to a spirit of revolt z against the rigidity of the
ideals of chivalry and of religion and against the stiffness
and formality of prevailing literary conventions. This spirit
of revolt, which in lyric poetry produced the Goliardic
songs and in connection with the liturgical drama pro-
duced the Feast of Fools and the Prose of the Ass,
made itself distinctly felt in narrative literature. Already
in the Pelerinage de Charlemagne, of the last half of
the eleventh century, there is a spirit of burlesque, and
in the course of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries there
came into being a series of literary productions quite an-
tagonistic to the contemporary chivalrous productions.
The gallantry that informs the lyrics of the troubadours
and the romances of the Round Table has its counter-
part in the keen, often savage, ridicule of women that

I Cf. W. Pater, The Renaissance, pp. I, 26.

31ntrotmctt0n xi

forms the subject matter of an important body of French
satirical writings. In a similar manner the reaction from
the solemn piety of the saintly legends and devout tales
leads to a series l of burlesque writings such as the Mar-
tyre de saint Bacchus, the Miracles de saint Tartu et
de saint Hareng, or the Fabliaus de Coquaigne.

This gayer spirit manifests itself in another way in
the attention paid to the more popular elements of con-
temporary story. The trouvere, no longer interested ex-
clusively in the themes of court life or of the church,
turned his attention also to situations in every day life
and to the stories of contemporary folk-lore. The result
was the production of two highly interesting sets of
tales, the fabliaux and the branches of the Roman de
Renard. The material of the fabliaux is derived in part
from literary collections of stories used for conveying
moral instruction, but much more often from tales in
popular oral circulation, whether literary or oral in ulti-
mate origin. The beast-epic tales also are derived some-
times, directly or indirectly, from the literary fable col-
lections, but much more often from the animal tales of
popular lore. The two sets of stories are alike, not only
in a similar popular source of material, but in a similar
manner of handling. Both in beast-tale and in fabliau
there is manifest the inclination to emphasize the human
or individual interest rather than the spiritual content, to
tell the story for the story's sake. In the branches of
the Roman de Renard, instead of the earlier literary
type, the fable, which is little more than the concrete
expression of an abstract idea, an animated proverb, we

I Cf. J. Bedier, Let Fabliaux, p. 363.

xii 3|ntrotmction

have a new literary genre with distinctly individual char-
acters; in the fabliaux, instead of stories like those of
the Disciplina Clericalis, or the exempla of Jacques de
Vitry or Etienne de Bourbon, used in literature princi-
pally to convey moral instruction, we have stories told
for their own intrinsic interest, edged with satire, and
embellished with much realistic and humorous detail.
The two extremes in the literary tendencies of the period,
so well represented in the two parts of the Roman de la
Rose, the idealism of Guillaume de Lorris contrasting
with the cynicism of Jean de Meun, finds further illus-
tration in the similar contrast between the excessive
idealism of the Round Table romances on the one hand
and, on the other, the realism combined with burlesque
in the Roman de Renard and the realism combined with
satire in the fabliaux.

If the tendencies of courtly French literature are re-
flected in English writings, it is to be expected that the
literature of reaction and revolt also should have its re-
presentatives in English. The number of such produc-
tions in English is not great but is fairly representative
of the several classes in French. Burlesque is represented
in English by The Order of Fair -Ease, an account of
an order of monks exhibiting all the characteristic monk-
ish vices, and by the Land of Cokaygney a description of a
moral topsy-turvy land, or mock paradise, x in which —

Al is dai nis \>er no nijte
tyr nis baret noj^r strif
Nis per no dej) ac eu^r lif

I A similar theme is later handled in the seventeenth century in u An
Invitation to Lubberland, with an account of the great Plenty of that
fruitful country," repr. from the Roxburghe Ballads by John Ashton, /Tu-
mour, Wit, and Satire of the Seventeenth Century, p. 34.

3flntro8uction xiii

Nis \er flei, fle, no lowsc

In clop, in toune, bed no house

J?«r be]? riuers grate znd fine,
Of oile, melk, honi, and wine.
Water s^mip $er to no ping
Bot to si^t and to waussing.

Of the beast-epic tales English literature before
Chaucer can offer but one representative. England, if
we may believe Mr. Jacobs,1 was the ''home of the
Fable during the early Middle Age, and the centre of
dispersion whence the Mediaeval -^Esop spread through
Europe." The contributions of the Englishmen, Odo
of Sherington and John of Sheppey, to medieval fable
literature are well known. It is equally well known that
Marie de France, in her famous collection of fables, and
Nicole Bozon, in the beast tales of his Contes Moralises,
drew largely from English sources. Throughout the Eng-
lish literature of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries,
for example in the Ayenbite oflnwyt, in Piers Plowman, \
and in the Gesta Romanorum, fables appear not infre-
quently. Further, Lydgate is the author of a collection
of seven fables, and the Scotchman, Robert Henryson,
composed a collection consisting of a prologue and
thirteen fables, which in interest vie with the tales of
the beast-epic. In the light of these facts it seems strange
that we should have from the Middle English period,
before the Noune Preestes Tale, but the solitary speci-
men of the beast-epic tale in the story of Vox and Wolf
included in the present volume, and that the other
captivating tales of the French Roman de Renard should

I J. W. Jacobs, The Fablts <>//£«/>, i. pp, xvii., 181.

xiv KlntroOuctton

not appear in English until the end of the fifteenth
century, when Caxton translated them from the Flem-
ish.

That tales of the kind forming the subject-matter
of the fabliaux circulated among the English population
we have evidence in contemporary allusions. Oxford
University in 1292 issued a warning against the "can-
tilenas sive fabulas de omasiis vel luxoriosis aut ad libidi-
nem sonantibus." J In Piers Plowman and elsewhere
there are frequent, usually disapproving, allusions 2 to tales
of the kind. And have we not the evidence afforded by
Chaucer in the kind of tales assigned by him to his
characters of lower station? That many of the stories
of French fabliaux not extant in English in fabliau
form were well known among the English population,
is further shown by the existence of English ballad ver-
sions of the French tales. For example,3 the English
ballad of Queen Eleanor* s Confession tells the story of
the French fablia u, Du Chevalier qui fist safemme con-
fesse (Montaiglon-Raynaud, i. 16); and the ballad,
The Boy and the Mantle, handles the theme of the fa-
bliau, Le Mantel mautaille (m. 55). Many of the
fabliau themes also appear in literature in various col-
lections of stories in English. Within the framework of

1 Cited by Brandl, Paul's Grundriss, II. p. 649.

2 Piers Plowman (ed. Skeat), A 1. 48-50, B IV. 115, V. 413, XIII. 228
ff., 304 ff., 352 ff.,CVII. 185-186, 194, CVII1. 22,90-96, CIX. 49-50. Cf.
also the allusions in Cursor Mundi, etc., quoted below, p. xviii.

3 Other English ballads with themes of the fabliau sort are : Our Good-
man (Child, 274) ; Get up and bar the Door (275) ; The Friar in the Well
(276), cf. the later English fabliau, The Wright's Chaste Wife; The
Wife wrapped in Wether's Skin (277), cf. the later English fabliau, The
Wife in Morel's Skin ; The Farmer's Curst Wife (278) ; and The Craftj
Farmer (283). The ruses employed in The Lochmaben Harper (192) and
Dick o' the Cow (185) remind one of fabliaux.

3!ntroDuction xv

the Seven Sages are included several such tales in verse,
and in the Middle English Disciplina Clericalis, the
philosopher makes use of several in the instruction of
his son. The concrete methods of conveying moral in-
struction in use during the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries supplied a use for humorous tales, and the
Gesta Romanorum, that compendium of tales ingen-
iously, often naively, applied to the conveyance * of
moral doctrine, contains tales that serve as the subject
matter for fabliaux. The narrationes that formed so con-
spicuous a feature of the sermons of the period were
not always grave in tone, and books for moral instruc-
tion, such as Robert Mannyng's work of forbidding title,
the Handling Synne, contain tales that are decidedly
diverting in character.

To the superiority in vitality, then, of story collec-
tions over isolated stories and to the concrete methods /
of the medieval preacher we owe a number of Mid-
dle English humorous tales in verse. But of the single
narrative interludes, if we may speak ofthefa&Iiaux as
such, the comedy numbers in the minstrel repertory,
we have few surviving specimens before Chaucer. Such
productions were probably ephemeral, only occasionally
regarded as worthy the parchment and the labor of writ-
ing. In fact the name fabliau seems to have stood for the
transitory in literature. Henri d' Andeli,2 in writing a se-
rious tale, remarks, " Ce poeme n'etait pas un fabliau —
il Pecrit sur du parchemin, et non sur des tablettes de
cire." At all events, corresponding to about one hun-

i For example the theme of the Sir Cleget appears in a tale of the
Gesta Romanorum.
z Bedier, of. cit. p. 38.

I

xvi jflntrofiuction

dred and fifty x French fabliaux of the period between
1 1 5 9 and 1 3 20, English2 literature has but little to show.
Besides the Dame Siriz, included in the present vol-
ume, the only humorous tale in verse before the time
of Chaucer dealing exclusively with human beings is
the Pennyworth of Wit. Even this story, although it
handles a well known fabliau 3 motive, handles it in
such a way as to make classification uncertain. The em-
phasis is thrown on the lesson rather than on the inci-
dents. The characters are not distinctly portrayed; they
are not even distinguished by personal names. Except
in somewhat greater fullness of detail there is little to
distinguish this story commonly classed as a fabliau from
a dry exemplum or a barren apologue.

Somewhat later in English literature, stories of the kind
that formed the subject matter of \hefabliaux are more
frequent. A great deal of emphasis has been laid of late-*
upon Chaucer's contribution to the development of the
fabliau in English and on the other hand to Chaucer's
indebtedness in narrative art to the earlier writers of
fabliaux. Besides producing his fabliau masterpieces,

1 Bedier, op. eft., in his treatment of the subject includes 147.

2 Several of the French fabliaux were composed in England. Cf. Bedier,
of. cit. pp. 436-440.

3 It forms the subject of the French fabliau, De la Bourse Pleine de Sent
and of the German metrical tale of Ehefrau und Bulerin (Gesammtaben-
teur, no. xxxv.). In Middle English the story appears in two versions :
a longer version, A Pennyworth of Wit (printed by Kolbing, Engliicht
Studien, vn. in, and elsewhere), and a shorter version, How a Mer-
chaunde djd tys wyfe betray (printed by Kolbing, /oc. cit. and elsewhere).
The story was also popular in a later, chap-book version, of which numer-
ous editions are to be found in the chap-book collections of the Harvard
University library and the British Museum library. The latest edition that
I have seen was in an Edinburgh bookstore. It was published by T. John-
son, Falkirk, 1815.

4 See the articles by H. S. Canby and W. M. Hart refcired to in the
Bibliography.

31nttoDuctton

Chaucer seems to have stimulated the production of Eng-
lish fabliaux by others. To Chaucer's influence must
probably be referred Adam Cobsam's The Wright1 s
Chaste Wife, The Lady Prioress and her Suitors, for-
merly attributed to Lydgate, the tale of The Pardoner and
the Tapster, which served as an introduction to the
pseudo- Chaucerian Tale of Beryn, and the Freiris of
Bcrwik, attributed to Dunbar. Besides these tales with
some degree of literary pretension, the fifteenth century
was also familiar with certain more popular stories re-
lated in subject matter at least to the fabliaux. This
class of < bourdes/ as they were commonly called, in-
cludes the tale of Sir Corneus, or the Cokewold* s Dance,
the st god borde" of The King and the Barker, and
the Tale of the Basin* Later on, also, the early printers,
Wynkyn de Worde, William Copland, and others,
catered to the taste of their time by publishing editions of
humorous metrical tales in the form of booklets or tracts.
To this means of preservation we owe the survival of
a number of later tales of the fabliau order. These
" Mery lestes," as they were called, include the tales
of Dane Hewe of Leicestre, the Frere and the Boy, the
Miller of Abyngton, the Vnluckie Fir men tie, the Wyfe in
Mor relies Skin, and How the Plowman lerned his Pater
Noster. In imitation of these stories the youthful Sir
Thomas More composed his Mery lest how a Sergeaunt
wold lerne to be a Frere.

Besides the beast-epic tale, the Vox and the Wolf,
and the fabliau, the Dame Siriz, the present volume
contains a third humorous tale in verse, the Sir Cleges.
This story is not easy to classify, consisting, as it does,

xviii ^Introduction

of a humorous incident combined with a devout tale to
make a Round Table romance. The story of the 'blows
shared ' is of the kind that form the themes of 'fabliaux,
but the form of the story as a whole and the spirit in
which it is told are not those of fabliaux. The story
is a unique specimen in English, a humorous metrical
romance.

A partial explanation of the smallness in the number
of Middle English humorous tales is to be found no doubt
in the opposition due to English puritanism. The evi-

\ dence of Chaucer in this connection is well known.

i Chaucer* s " gentils " object to tales of "ribaudye,"
and Chaucer himself apologizes for the " cherles tale"
of the Miller and promises in compensation —

. . . ynowe, grete and smale,

Of storial thyng that toucheth gentilessc,

And eek moralitee and hoolynesse.

s The author of Piers Plowman also repeatedly1 con-
Idemns "harlotries," as he calls the low stories, at-
tributing them to the "deueles disours." Allusions of
a condemnatory nature are not infrequent elsewhere.
The author of Cursor Mundi says : 2 —

As ^eddyngis, japis, and folies
And alle harlotries and ribaudies,
Bot to here of Cristis Passioun
To many a man it is ful laytsom.

In one of the lyrical s poems appears the reference: —

J>ah told beon tales vntoun in toune.

1 See footnote to p. xiv above. For a description of the professional
purveyors of such tales, see Piers Plowman (ed. Skeat) B XIII. 226, 237.

2 MS. Ashmole 60, f. 4, 5. Quoted by Halliwell, Thornton Romances^
p. 261.

3 Harl. MS. 2253 (ed. Boddeker), W. L. iv. 37 (p. 153).

31ntroDuttion xix

At the opening of the romance OctQvian x appear the
two following significant stanzas : —

Bot fele men be of swyche manere,
Goodnesse when hy scholden here,
Hy nylled naght lesste with her ere,

To lerny wyt,
But as a swyn with lowryng cher

All gronne he sytte.

And fele of hem casted a cry

Of thyng pat fallyd to rybaudy,

That noon of hem, that sytte hym by,

May haue no lest.
God schylde all thys company

Fram swych a gest.

Evidently the purveyor of reputable tales felt the com-
petition. Ribald tales were plentiful enough, but they
seem not to have appealed strongly to the class of people
for whom literary versions were produced in English,
v The gayety of /' esprit gaulois in the French fa bliaux,
and the tragic quality imparted to the Italian descend-
ants of these tales, have often been commented upon.
From the small number of examples it is hardly safe to
draw any broad generalizations concerning the English
fabliaux, lit seems possible, however, to discover the
influence of English puritanism affecting the quality as
well as the number of English stories. • M. Bedier 2 cites
one of the French fabliaux which was composed by an
Englishman. In thisfabtiau of English origin, the broad
story of the French Eourgeoise dj Orleans is provided

I Octavian (ed. Sarazzin), South, version, stanzas 2, 3.
z Of. cit. p. 300.

xx ^Introduction

with chivalrous setting and moral tone. We cannot say
of the English of the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth
centuries what Tacitus said of the early Teutons, that
no one laughed at vice. But we can say that it was very
unusual for them to laugh with vice. In all but one of
the humorous stories mentioned above, before Chaucer
and after Chaucer, the fun is at the expense of vice.
The one exception is the Dame Siriz. In several of the
other tales the fun is coarser, but in no other do we see
a representation of vice triumphant. One of the greatest
of Chaucer's literary contemporaries, in a masterpiece,
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, read morality into
Arthurian romance. The same preoccupation with moral
content did not work out as happily in some cases. In the
Sir Cleges, a comic incident loses in humorous effect on
account of the serious setting provided. In the Pennyworth
of Wit, a tale which in French and particularly in
German is enlivened by boisterous scenes and diverting
details is quite stripped of these lighter elements. The
tone is more that of Wulfstan than of Chaucer. The
puritan spirit is obvious. The homelier ideals of the
middle -class English-speaking element would not tolerate
some of the liberties permitted in the more highly cul-
tured French-speaking circles. Perhaps the inferior cul-
ture of the English-speaking class helps to explain why
in these tales the moral is made so baldly prominent, why
finer weapons were not used.

The three stories in the present volume will serve to

illustrate the humorous element in Middle English narra-

l-tive literature. The first two will illustrate what may be

I called the anti-chivalrous element in medieval literature,

^Introduction xxi

the kind of material to which Chaucer turned with profit
in his later years when he was emancipated from the
formal conventions of contemporary chivalry. A real
appreciation of the work of Chaucer demands a know-
ledge of the cruder beginnings in a kind of writing at
which he excelled.

DAME SIRIZ *

The story of Dame Siriz is perhaps one such as the
world would very willingly let die. In fact the modern
world has not found the story a congenial one. A story
which, besides being known in several Latin versions,
appeared also in the vernacular literatures of England,
France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Iceland, to say no-
thing of the oriental versions in Greek, Hebrew, Syriac,
Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit, a story which had a place
in the stock of stories drawn upon by medieval preach-
ers, and in the repertoire of medieval secular story
tellers or minstrels, which was to be found in the fable
collections of Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain
and England, and which supplied the story for dramatic
productions in Denmark, Germany, France and Eng-
land, is hardly known at the present day except to anti-
quarians. ?The theme of the story is in some respects ]
repellent tolKe modern mind. Yet a tale once so widely
known has an historic interest, and the history of the
tale in its migrations is entertaining and instructive.
Moreover, in the history of English literature the story

I The form Siriz 'is preferred, because that is the form used in the title
in the manuscript. That the pronunciation, however, was Sirith is proved
by the rimes. %

\i

^Introduction

of Dame Siriz has a claim to attention because it is the
earliest representative of its class, the fabliau, in fact
the only English composition designated in the original
title as a fabliau, and because its story is that of the
earliest play with secular theme in English literature, —
according to Creizenach,1 *' one of the best products of
the medieval comic muse." Such considerations may
serve as the apology for the appearance of the story in
the present book.

There has been much controversy in recent years
concerning the provenience of popular stories. In par-
ticular the theory of Benfey and his school that India
was the great repository of popular stories, and that
from India stories were distributed into other coun-
tries, has been sharply attacked.2 In this connection the
story of Dame Siriz is of interest and seems to be one
instance in support of the theory of Indian, or at least
oriental, origin.

It has long been recognized that this story is essen-
tially oriental in character. Reduced to its more general
terms, the story runs as follows: — A young man loves
a lady. A procuress wins his suit for him by exhibiting
to the lady a bitch, usually a weeping bitch. This bitch,
the procuress asserts, was once a lady, but she has been
thus transformed 3 because under circumstances similar to

X W. Creizenach, Geschichte des neueren Dramas, I. 454.

a Cf. J. Bedier, Les Fabliaux.

3 A transformation of a woman into a bitch appears in an Arabic ver-
sion of the story of the1 Three Wishes.' ( Freytag, Arabum proverbia, I,
687, quoted by Liebrecht, Orient and Occidental. 378.) A similar story is
cited by R. Bassett ( Rev. des trad. fop. xv. 150). In a Turkish story ( Plai-
tir apres la Peine, trad. J. A. Decourdemanche, Paris, 1896, pp. 113 ff.),
a woman is converted into a mule by a man with the power of sorcery, be-
cause she rejected his love overtures.

^Introduction xxiii

those in which the lady addressed is placed, she refused
to yield to overtures of love.* The idea of transformar
tion l seems to be rooted in the oriental idea of me-
tempsychosis.

A priori evidence, then, seems to point to an orien-
al origin for this tale. Corroborative evidence is to be
found in an examination of the facts in the history of
the story. In Indian literature the story appears in two
versions. In the Katba Sarit Sagara,* or " Ocean of
the Streams of Story," composed by Somadeva Bhatta
in the early part of the twelfth century A. D., the story
appears as a subordinate element in another story, which
itself appears in various versions in oriental and in occi-
dental literature, the story of the man who has a talis-
man — in this particular case, a red lotus given by the
god, Siva — by which he may recognize any unfaith-
fulness on the part of his wife. In the story of Somadeva,
four merchants undertake to test the faithfulness of the
wife and have recourse to a female ascetic who makes
use of the ruse of the weeping bitch. In this case the
ruse is unsuccessful, and the suitors are subjected to indig-
nities. The fact must not be lost sight of that the weep-
ing bitch incident here is a minor one in an independ-
ent story, and that relatively this version is not early. !

Another Indian version 3 of the story is the one in

I Transformations of human beings into beasts are, however, by no
means unknown to occidental literature. For instance, think of the story
of Circe, of the werwolves, of the Golden Ass of Apuleius, of the unfriendly
stepmothers of medieval story.

z English translation by C. H. Tawney, Calcutta, 1880, vol. I. pp. 85-
91. i

I (Jukasaptatij Textus Simplicior, transl. into German by R. Schmidt,
Kiel, 1894 ; Textus Ornatior, transl. into German by R. Schmidt, Stutt-
gart, 1899.

the $ukasaptati,or "Seventy Tales of a Parrot." It is
the second tale of the collection, and here appears inde-
pendently. In this version of the story, a young man,
Vira by name, loves the princess £a9iprabha. His
mother, Ya9odevi, exhibits to (^iprabha a dog which,
she asserts, in a former existence was a sister to herself
and to 9a9ipnibha, but has been born as a dog in the
present existence on account of her chastity. Moved
by her fears, the princess is induced to grant her love to
Vira.

From the (jukasaptati l this tale seems to have found
its way into the Book of Sindibad,2 the oriental version
of the Seven Sages. In the Book of Sindibad the second
tale of the fourth vizier has affinity with two tales of
the Qukasaptati. It seems to be the result of a fusion
of the first and second tales of the Indian collection. In
the first of these tales a go-between has persuaded a
lady to accept the love of a suitor, but, unable to find
her client, by mistake she brings the lady's husband in-
stead. The lady, with ready wit, lays the blame on her
husband and says she has tested him and proved him
unfaithful. Only after protracted supplication is the hus-
band restored to grace. It will be noted that the first
part of this tale is like the second tale in the use of a go-
between, and it is not difficult to see how in this case
fusion might be the result of confusion.

Thus combined, the story of* The Go-between and
the dog* and that of ' The Libertine Husband,' itself

1 Cf. D. Comparetti, Researches respecting the Book of Si n dibad, transl.
by Coote, Folk Lore Society, London, 1882.

2 For a table showing the contents of the different versions of the Book
of Sindibad, see Bedier, Les fabliaux, pp. 136, 137.

3|ntroUuction

well known in occidental as well as in% oriental literature,
appear in all the oriental versions of the Seven Sages
except the late I Persian Sindibad Ndrna, in which the
two tales are dibtinct. The various versions of the tale
in the different oriental versions of the Seven Sages
differ among themselves in details, but as a group tell a
tale distinct from either Indian version. Perhaps the
most striking point of difference between the Indian
versions and those of the Book of Sindibad is in the cause
of the transformation from woman to bitch. In both In-
dian versions a woman in one existence has been re -born
as a bitch because she did not satisfy the elements of her
nature. In all the versions of the Book of Sindibad the
woman has been transformed within the present exist-
ence because : * — ( Syriac version ) the young man < ' cried
unto God concerning her, and she was transformed";
(Greek version) the young man "cursed her and she
was changed to a dog on the spot"; (Spanish version)
the young man " cursed her, and straightway she be-
came a she-dog"; (Hebrew version) the young man
" called to his God concerning her, and she was turned
into a bitch "; (Arabic version translated by Scott)
the lover, a Jewish sorcerer, enraged, " by magic
transformed her into a she-dog"; (Persian Sindibad
Nama, of the 1 4th century) the lady2 had been
changed into that form as a punishment for rejecting a
lover's suit.

The tale of ' Go-between and Weeping-Bitch ' which
occurs in all the versions of the oriental Seven Sages,

I Cf. Eisner, p. 7. See Bibliography.

z An analysis of the Sjndibad Nama by Prof. Forbes Falconer is in-
cluded by W. A. Clouston in his Book of Sindibad , pp. 5 ff.

3|ntro5uctton

the Book of Sindibady seems to have been lost J in the
migration of that collection of stories from orient to
Occident ; it does not appear in any of the extant oc-
cidental versions of the Seven Sages.2 The oldest west-
ern version of the story is contained in the famous
story collection by the converted Spanish Jew, Petrus
Alphonsus, the Disciplina Clericalis, and it was usu-
ally by means of this well-known collection that the
' Weeping-Bitch ' story became known to the countries
of Western Europe. Petrus himself says that he made
use of Arabic writers (Elsner,3 op. cit. p. 24) and his
version shows a striking similarity to the original Arabic
version, notably in the fact that in both the lover falls ill
and the procuress comes to him instead of his seeking
her out. The most important change made by Petrus
in his handling of the tale seems to be due to his aim to
adapt the story to a Christian public. For that reason
he emphasizes the illness of the lover and represents
the go-between as saying that the lady of her fictitious
story sinned in that she caused the illness of a fellow man
and that for this fault God punished her (Elsner,3 op.
cit. p. 26).

In the Disciplina Clericalist besides the significant
modification in the cause of the transformation, there are

I Comparetti assumes that the loss occurred in the course of oral trans-
mission. There seems, however, to be evidence that versions of the Seven
Sages containing the weeping-bitch story were not unknown in the West.
Cf. the versions of the tale by Herolt,by J. de Vitry, also the Dame Sirix
and the Italian version discussed below.

2. For a table showing the contents of the different versions of the occi-
dental Seven Sages, see Bedier, of. cit. p. 136.

3 See Bibliography.

4 Two modern editions of the Latin version : (i) Soc. des Bibliophiles ,
Paris, 1825; (z) F. W. Val. Schmidt, Berlin, 1827. In these two editions,
the content is the same, though there is difference in phraseology.

^Introduction

some minor modifications. To the invention of Petrus
are to be attributed peculiarities, which are summarized
by Eisner as follows : — ( I ) The husband, on his depart-
ure, trusts implicitly in the fidelity of his wife; (2) The
lover, although ill, goes out, by which means he meets
the go-between; (3) The lover is at first reluctant to
reveal the cause of his trouble, and when he does so,
does not ask for assistance; (4) The go-bet ween keeps her
bitch without food to make it ready to eat the mustard
preparation; (5) The go-between, after giving the lady
advice, craftily adds, " If I had known the love of the
young man for my daughter, she should not have been
transformed." Through these modifications the action
of the story gains in verisimilitude and the characters in
distinctness.

Upon this version by Petrus Alphonsus seem to be
dependent, to some x extent at least, all the other occi-
dental versions of the story. Eisner, in his dissertation,
has compared the details in the different versions and
has attempted to show the interrelations. His conclu-
sions are not always convincing because he has laid too
much stress upon differences in minor details, which are
subject to change at the caprice of the individual writer
and to modification to suit the purpose for which the
story is used.

In the history of the occidental versions of this story
it has seemed to the present writer more interesting and
profitable to consider the different uses to which the
story has been put and the various literary tendencies

i Direct influence of an oriental version is apparent in some cases. See
below.

31ntroBuction

illustrated, than to make the attempt, necessarily vain,
to show the exact interrelations between the score and
more of different versions.

In addition to the Latin version, or versions,1 of the
Disciplina there are prose translations extant in the ver-
nacular languages of France, of Spain, of Iceland, and
of England. These translations are, in general, close,
but with minor variations in detail. For example, the
procuress is honorably received by the lady; in the Latin
version, pro magnae religionis specie; in the French prose
version, pour sa simple conversation. In the Spanish ver-
sion the bitch is penned up during its foodless period,
a feature that persists in the later Spanish fable version.
In the Latin, French, Spanish, and Icelandic ver-
sions, the bitch is given to eat bread combined with
mustard; in the English version the "old wif" gave
to the "fastyng hound" " brode inowogh with anoy-
noun froted." Such modifications in the story, how-
ever, are exceptional.

More significant in the history of the story are the
modifications in the French metrical versions of the Dis-
ciplina, entitled Le Cbastoiement djun Pere a son Fils.
One of these versions is included in the Barbazan-
Meon collection of Fabliaux et Contes. The 'Weeping-
Bitch ' story in this collection occupies 148 verses, and
in general follows closely the Latin version. The most
striking departure is the fact that the young man in the
story of the go-between not only fell ill, but died from
grief. The other French metrical version shows more

I The two versions extant differ in phraseology, but do not differ in the
details of the story.

^Introduction

striking features of difference. In this version,1 which
is nearly twice as long as the one just mentioned, the
young man at first, not content with messages, tries a
personal interview. As in the other metrical version the
period of the dog' s fast is three days, instead of two
as in the Latin version. But more important than
minor differences in detail is the difference in tone. In
this longer metrical version the young man in love is
made an exponent of V amour cortois, and the extended
soliloquies of the young lover (vv. 57-1 19, 146-190)
as well as other details, are quite in the manner of the
school of Chretien de Troyes.

The tales of the Disciplina Ckricalis purport to be for
the purpose of conveying instruction to a young man.
This practical side to these stories led to their inclusion
in most of the medieval collections of exempla intended
for use in sermons. In consequence the tale of the
' weeping-bitch ' found a place in several versions 2 of
the Gesta Romanorum. Of the version in this collection a
most interesting feature is the ingenious, not to say naive,
way in which the author, from unpromising material,
has drawn a moralization. According to the allegorical
interpretation the chaste wife is the soul purified by bap-
tism. The soldier husband is Christ. The lover is worldly
vanity. The go-between is the devil. The bitch is the

1 Two modern editions : (i) Soc. des Bibliophiles, Paris, 1825; (2) Ed. by
M. Roesle, Munich, 1899. In edition (i) there are 388 verses in the c weep-
ing-bitch ' story; in (2), a critical edition, there are 368.

2 This story does not appear in the Middle English Gesta Romanorum.
It appears, however, in the following continental versions : (i) Edition
publ. by Keller, Stuttgart, 1842; (2) Edition publ. by Oesterley, Berlin,
1871 ; (3) MS. Colmar Issenheim, 10, fol. 32. These references are from
Eisner, of. cit. p. 26. (4) Lt Violier det Histoires Romaines, ed. by M. G.
Brunei, Paris, 1858.

xxx 3|ntroDuction

hope of long life and too much presuming on the mercy
of God, because, just as that bitch was weeping from
mustard, so hope frequently afflicts the soul.

Other exempla versions of this story are to be found
in the Preceptorium nouum et perutile by Gotscaldus
Hollen and the Destructorium vitiorum by Alexander
de Hales. Both these somewhat condensed versions
profess to be from Petrus,1 and though containing some
variant2 details are probably drawn directly from the
Disciplina. Still other versions used as exempla are the
condensed ones in the Sea la Cell by Johannes Gobii, in
the Promptuarium exemplorum by Johannes Herolt, and
in the Speculum Morale attributed to Vincentius Bello-
vacenses. These three versions Eisner concludes to be
derived from the tale in the Gesta Romanorum, mainly
on the ground that in the Gesta Romanorum the young
man in the fictitious story of the go-between not only is
ill but dies on account of love denied. The first and
third, however, of these versions profess to be derived
from Petrus Alphonsus, and the version by Herolt 3
agrees almost word for word with that of Vincentius,
and there seems good reason for accepting the state-
ments of the authors. The fact that the lover is repre-
sented as dying may be explained by the fact that these
three authors of exempla drew not directly from the
Latin Disciplina but from one of the doubtless more
popularly known French metrical versions, in both of
which the feature of the lover's death appears. These

1 " Alphigus " in the Destructorium.

2 See the end of the Destructorium.

3 The story of the1 weeping dog ' in Herolt's Promptuarium is credited
to the Seven Wise Masters. Cf. T. F. Crane, Exemfla of Jacques de Vi-
try, p. Ixxvii.

3Intro5uction

three much condensed versions in their minor details
correspond more closely to the metrical versions than to
the one in the Gesta Romanorum, notably in the bitch's
three days fast in the Sea la Celt and in the personal woo-
ing by the lover in Herolt and in the Speculum Mo-
rale.

In addition to the exempla versions thus far men-
tioned, all of which are related more or less directly to
the version in the D is dp Una Cleric alls, there remain to
be considered two others, in which the relationship is
less close. The first one, by Jacques de Vitry (no. CCL. ),
is important because early.1 The most striking peculiar-
ities of this version, which is also included in Wright's
A Selection of Latin Stories (no. xiii.), are as fol-
lows:— ( I ) The go-between at first fails in her attempts;
(2) She bids the young man feign illness; ( 3 ) The bitch
was once " a certain woman," not ft daughter "; (4)
The young man, when ill, by certain spells changed the
woman into a bitch. This God permitted for her sin in
letting a man die whom she might have saved. As Eis-
ner has pointed out, here is a mingling of oriental and
occidental characteristics. Oriental2 are the repeated
attempt of the go-between, the relationship of go-be-
tween to bitch, and the use of spells by the young man.
Like the western versions based on the Disciplina, on
the other hand, are the death of the lover in the story

1 " The first to regularly employ in sermons exempla, or narratives to
instruct the people, as well as to keep up their attention when it was likely
to flag, was Jacques de Vitry, who died at Rome in the year 1240." — W.
A. Clouston, Popular Tales and Fictions, p. 1 1.

2 That the oriental version of this tale was known in western Europe
seems to be indicated by the fact that in Herolt's Promptuarium the tale is
attributed to the Seven Wiie Matters.

2flntrotmction

of the go-between, the use of bread and mustard, and
the fact that God permitted the transformation on ac-
count of the woman's sin. Peculiar to this version is
the advice of the go-between to the young man to feign
illness.

The other variant exemplum version is the one in the
Contes Moralises of Nicole Bozon (No. 138). The
striking features of this version are as follows : — ( i )
The lady wooed is a demoiselle; r (2) The go-be-
tween is a deablesse ; 2 ( 3 ) The lover is a clerk
who had long wooed the demoiselle and who paid the
go-between for her assistance; (4) In the story of
the go-between, the lover, also a clerk, died of grief;

(5) The bitch had been a daughter of the go-between;

(6) God was angry and transformed the daughter into
a bitch; (7) The go-between at the end remarks that
death takes but one life, but "par baudestrote" are
killed three at one time, " sa alme e deus autres." It
will be noted that this version contains some 3 of the
distinctive traits of the versions based upon the Disci-
plina version. It will be noted also that in several
respects the version is independent. The distinctive
peculiarities of this version, however, do not seem to be
due to the influence of the oriental versions. Most in-
teresting for the purpose of the present volume is the
fact that the lover's part is played by a clerk who has

I In this respect like the English Interludium.

1 In the play of Hansen, the go-between, before making use of the
weeping-bitch device, has sent a devil to the lady in vain. At the end of
the version in the Destructorium, allusion is made to the fact that the lady
has successfully resisted a devil. In the " Metrical Tales of Adolfus," the
go-between is referred to as tl Daemonis adjutrix."

3 The death of the lover, and the transformation by God.

31ntroDuctton

wooed the lady in vain, a feature which appears else-
where only in the Dame Siriz and the related Inter-
Indium* and in the late Latin2 version. It is well
known that Nicole Bozon in his collection of stories
drew freely from English popular sources, and it seems
not improbable that this feature of this eclectic version
may be related directly or indirectly to the English
fabliau version or to the English dramatic version upon
which \htfabliau is based.

About the time of the invention of printing the sto-
ries of the Disciplina Clericalis were introduced into
the European book of ^Esop. About 1480 Heinrich
Stainhowel made a fable collection in German and
Latin including, besides fables proper collected from
various sources, also "fabulae collectae" comprising
the stories of the Disciplina Clericalis and the Facetiae
of Poggio. Versions of this fable collection appeared in
Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch, and English. In this
way the tale of the ' weeping-bitch * found a place in
European fable collections, and the version of the story
in Caxton's 'Fables of jEsop' is the earliest printed
version in English. The form of the story in the dif-
ferent fable versions does not differ save in minor de-
tails. It seems to have been derived from Petrus Al-
phonsus, but indirectly. In minor details it resembles
more the story as told in the expanded French metri-
cal version, which no doubt was more popularly
known. For example, the young man makes direct suit

I Bozon's version agrees with that of the Interludium in that the lover
is a clerk, the lady a maiden. Is it not probable that Bozon's tale offers
a condensed form of the tale of which the fragmentary Interludium gives
the first part?

z Published by Tobler. See Bibliography.

xxxiv 3]ttttODUCttOtt

to the lady, the period of the dog's fast is three days,
the young man in the story of the go-between dies.
In still another respect it resembles the roman cortois *
rather than the moral tale, in that instead of God it is
the gods that, from pity for the lover, turn the daugh-
ter of the go-between into a bitch. An interesting feat-
ure of Caxton's version is that the woman is converted
into a cat, probably due to one of Caxton's character-
istic blunders in translation, the Latin catella being
mistaken for ' cat. '

This tale, which was included by Caxton in his
^Esop, did not find a permanent place in English fable
collections. It does not appear in the Wynkyn de
Worde collection of 1503. Nor does it appear in the
later collection by Bullokar in 1585, nor in the later
collections by Ogilby, by L* Estrange, and by Croxall.

The story of the ' weeping-bitch ' appears in an
interesting guise in the Metrical Tales of Adolfus
(Fabula V.). Here again is evident the influence of
contemporary literary fashions. The story, in Latin
verse, though condensed, is told in an elaborate and
artificial style and is filled with classical allusions and
comparisons. In this version it is Venus,2 " a Ima Cy-
pris," the protector of the true lover, that transforms
the daughter of the go-between.

That our story was in popular oral circulation seems
to be proved by a late Latin version recently published
by Tobler.3 This Latin version,* according to Tobler,

I Cf. p. xxix.

z Similarly in the Fastnachtipiel of Hans Sachs it is the goddess Venus
that punishes the hard-hearted lady by transformation.
J Zt. f. rom. Phil. x. 476-480.
4 This version in the manuscript follows a translation of the 4 elegiac

3|ntrotmctton

seems to have been taken down from oral transmission,
and the language seems to indicate a Venetian origin.
This version has a number of interesting variations
from the common forms of the story, variations such
as one might expect in a popular tale. The bitch in
this story is a " ki$o!a," which the go-between takes
from her bosom and puts in her lap. No mention is
made of the dog's tears. The lady asks the old woman
where she got so fine a dog. The old woman bids her
not to ask because it grieves her, but at length she is
prevailed upon and weepingly tells that the ki$ola was
her daughter, transformed by a young man because she
had spurned his love. In this story the lover is a clerk
as in the Dame Siriz and the exemplum of Nicole Bozon.

Further proof, if further proof were needed, of the
universal diffusion of this tale is afforded by the num-
ber of dramatic I handlings of the theme. In Den-
mark2 a farce was made from this story; in France
Gringoire used it in Les Fantaisies de Mere Sotte; 3 in
Germany Hans Sachs used it as the theme of one of
his Fastnacbtspiele ; finally in England it supplies the
story for the fragmentary Interludium de Clerico et
Puella.

This Middle English interlude is so closely related

comedy ' Pamphilus, and itself resembles another * elegiac comedy ' by
one Jacobus. Perhaps it retells the story of an Italian-Latin comedy.

1 Tales of lovers and go-betweens are handled in the Latin elegiac
comedies of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. In one of these the lover
is a priest and the lady a married woman. (C. F. Gayley, Repr. Engl.
Comedies, N. Y., 1903, p. xvii.) But in none of these does the weeping-
bitch appear. (Cf. W. Creizenach, Gesch. des neueren Dramas^ I. 26-42. )

2 See Bibliography, Christiern Hansen's Komedier.

3 This version, which is cited by Eisner from a manuscript in the Biblio-
theque Nationals, does not appear in the Elzevir edition of the works of
Gringoire, and has not been seen by the present writer.

3|ntroDuction

to the English fabliau that the two cannot conven-
iently be treated apart. Hence we proceed directly
to the English fabliau of Dame Siriz. In one or
two instances it has already been pointed out that
there is evidence that the Book of Sindibad version of
the weeping-bitch story was not entirely unknown in
Western Europe. Very conclusive evidence to that
effect is afforded by the English Dame Siriz. This
story in its general outline follows the oriental versions
of the Book of Sindiblid. In the first place is to be
noted the absence of all five traits mentioned above as
distinctive of the version in the Disciplina Clericalis.
So well known a tale as the one in the Disciplina can
hardly have been unknown to the author of the < Dame
Siriz, and in certain minor details, for instance the use
of mustard, the influence of the Disciplina version is
evident. But the essential details of the Dame Siriz
are like those of the oriental versions. A more close
examination of the oriental versions shows that the ver-
sion of the Book of Sindibad to which the Da me Siriz
is most closely related is the Greek Syntipas. Eisner
has shown the following points of agreement between
the English tale and the one in the Greek Syntipas : —
(i) The lover woos personally; (2) The rejected
lover does not become ill; (3) The lover calls on the
go-between for assistance; (4) The go-between pro-
ceeds to work without delay; (5) The go-between
gives the bitch pepper (in Dame Siriz both pepper
and mustard); (6) The bitch is said to be the daugh-
ter of the go-between; (7) This daughter has been
willing to love only her husband; (8) The rejected

3|ntroimction

lover has revenged himself. To these features, common
to the English and the Greek versions, may be added
the fact that in the English version the husband is a
merchant, a feature that appears in the Hebrew and
other oriental versions, though not explicitly mentioned
in the Syntipas.

The English Dame Siriz, then, differs from most
/ other western versions of the tale in that it is based
/ directly on an oriental version of the story. Other pe-
! culiarities of this version are due to the literary genre to
which it belongs. If in the expanded French metrical
version the story is colored by the sentiment of courtly
love, and if in the Metrical Tales of Adolf us the con-
ventional and artificial form of Ovid's tales is given to
the story, in this English version the story, as the title
informs us, is told as a fabliau, characterized by humor
and satire. The relation of this English tale to its ex-
empla congeners is much that of a beast-epic tale to a
fable version of the same story. Emphasis is laid on the
living elements of the story. The dramatis personae
are no longer merely a young man, a chaste wife and
an old woman, but Wilekin, Margeri, and Dame Siriz,
whose characters are revealed by means of realistic dia-
logue. In the longer French metrical version stress is
laid on the love sensations of the young man; in the
fabliau, stress is laid on the ruse by which the go-between
accomplishes her purpose, and upon her dissembling,
hypocritical character. Characteristic of ti& fabliau is the
fact that the lover is a clerk, whom the medieval satirical
writers of fabliaux are fond of introducing into such situ-
ations. The central figure in the English story is not the

3Introtmetion

lover, but Dame Siriz herself, and the gradual disclos-
ure of her character, from the dissimulation of her
first words to the hilarity of her language at the end,
is cleverly brought about. The character of the wife
Margeri is but dimly revealed. It may be remarked in
passing that in her character the author offers an enigma
not unlike that which Chaucer has left in the character
of Criseyde.

A feature of the Dame Siriz that cannot fail to at-
tract attention is the amount of dialogue. More than one
fourth of the whole poem is taken up with the dialogue
between the clerk, Wilekin, and the wife, Margeri,
an amount of space quite out of proportion to the im-
portance of this preliminary dialogue to the action of the
story. Furthermore it has been pointed out1 that in the
whole poem, apart from a narrative introduction of 24
verses, there are but 33 narrative verses to 403 verses in
dialogue. Within the individual scenes there are but 3
narrative lines. The transitions in the dialogue from one
speaker to another are not usually marked. For instance,
no explanation is given when Dame Siriz from speaking
to Wilekin turns to address the bitch. It is to be noted
further that the last six lines of the poem, spoken by
Dame Siriz, sound like an epilogue. From reasons such
as these, W. Heuser has concluded, correctly it seems,
that the fabliau is based upon an original interlude, to
which have been added a short introduction and a few
narrative interpolations scarcely more than stage di-
rections. *

This brings up the question concerning the relation-

I W. Heuser, Anglia, xxx.' 306-319.

31ntroDuction

ship of the Dame Siriz to the fragmentary Inter Indium
De Clerico et Puella. It has long been recognized from
similarity in phraseology amounting to identity between
many verses,1 that these two works are related, and it
has usually been assumed that the interlude was based
on the/4£&f«. Heuser comes to a quite contrary con-
clusion, which is doubtless correct. The fabliau is
obviously based on a dramatic version. This original
can hardly have been the extant interlude, because not
only are the proper names different, but there is differ-
ence in certain important details. For example, the lady
loved in the interlude, as in the version by Nicole Bozon,
is a "damishel" and "may den." The only conclu-
sion left to be drawn is that these two works are related
to a common original.

The unique manuscript in which the Dame Siriz is
preserved, fiigby MS. 86, the same one to which we
owe the preservation of the unique text of the Vox and
Wolf, is one of those displayed in the exhibition case
of manuscripts in the Bodleian library. This manuscript,
we are told, was probably written "at the priory at
Worcester between 1272 and 1283." The Dame Siriz
begins on folio 165 with the following heading in red
ink, Ci comece le fable I & le caintise de dame siriz.

On the subject of the dialect of the Dame Siriz dif-
ferent opinions have been expressed. Ten Brink assigns
the original work to the Southeast, to Kent or Sussex.
Brandl, on the other hand, assigns it to the Southwest

I Vv. 82,83 in Dame Sirix = v. 5 in the Interludium. Similarly 102 =
9, I 12- j 14 = 25, 1 34 = Ia» 135 = 30, 161 = 37, 167 = 38, 174 = 42,
175-177 = 43-47, 187, 188 = 53, 54, 191 = 62, 193 =63, 196-199 = 65-
6#, 205 = 84, 207-209'= 69-71, 221, 222 = 57 ; cf. Heuser, loc. cit. 313.

xi 31ntrotmetion

Midland (in which dialect the MS. itself doubtless was
written). A close examination of the existing form of
the text reveals a mixture of forms from different dia-
lects. The infinitive ends, now with, now without,
final -#. The first personal pronoun appears as icb, the,
and /. Other varying forms are: jeue, geue ; mucbele,
michele, mike I ; senne, sunne.

The most striking peculiarities, however, are those
of Southern character. Very noticeable is the dropping
or wrong application of initial b-, and the use of initial
w- for older bw-, and the frequent use of the prefix /'-
before the verbal forms. Other Southern peculiarities
are: wes for was, cunnes (O. E. cynnes}, icb, boe for
sbe, bye for pel, the forms of the verb be, such spell-
ings as same 'shame,' srud ' shroud,' jles 'flesh,'
and the forms bauef> and ledep in the plural of the
present indicative.

Along with these Southern forms appear a number
of non-Southern features. The rimes oe (infin.), me ;
eten, mete ; fare, kare, indicate that in the original the
final -n of the infinitive was dropped at least sometimes.
The rimes inne, wenne (O. E. wynn) ; inne, senne
(O.E. synn), indicate a non-Southern pronunciation
of O.E. y. The rime woldi, vilani indicates the use
of the form / for the pronoun of the first person. Heuser
cites the rime come, blome as a sign of the East Mid-
land dialect, and iboen, noen as specifically Lincolnshire.
Besides these rimes we may cite the following non-
Southern words or word-forms, some of them already
cited by Heuser: selk, ferli, mike I, til (for 'to'),
allegate, witerli, gange (infin.) garden}, godlec.

^Introduction xii

From such dialectal peculiarities and the fact that the
related interlude De Clerico et Puella is composed in the
dialect of North Lincoln or South York, and from the
allusion to the fair at Botolfston in Lincolnshire, Heu-
ser concludes that the home of the interlude underlying
the fabliau of Dame Siriz was Lincolnshire.

The Dame Siriz, then, in its present form is based
on an East Midland original, and retains forms peculiar
to that dialect. It was probably composed, however,
by a resident of the South, and the manuscript, written
at Worcester, was probably written by a scribe belong-
ing to the Southwest.

The early date of the Dame Siriz is shown by the
date of the manuscript, written between 1272 and 1283.

The versification is not uniform. The first 132 verses
are in the tail-rime stanza with the rime scheme a a b
c c b. Then follow 16 verses in couplets. During the
remainder of the poem the tail-rime stanza and the
couplet alternate irregularly, the change in the character
of the verse seeming to correspond in no respect to the
subject matter. Heuser supposes that the composer of
the fabliau undertook to transform an original interlude
in couplets, possibly from memory, into a poem with
tail-rime stanzas, and that he was unequal to the task.

This tale, careless in its versification, is not more
finished in other respects. It lacks in proportion, a char-
acteristic which it shares with other Middle English
tales. A more serious fault is a want of fitness of man-
ner to matter, the stiffness of the tail-rime stanza ill suit-
ing the trivial character of the story, unless indeed the
effect of burlesque was consciously aimed at as in Chau-

xlii ^Introduction

cer's Sir Tbopas. The situations, however, are pre-
sented with remarkable concreteness, and the charac-
ters, especially that of Dame Siriz, presented with a
considerable degree of distinctness. The whole poem,
too, is pervaded with sly irony, which only near the end
breaks out in open hilarity.

The interlude De Clerico et Puella * is preserved in
a unique manuscript, now Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 23986,
of the first part of the fourteenth century. The inter-
lude, which is in riming couplets, is incomplete, leav-
ing off in the course of the dialogue between the lover
and the go-between, so that the weeping-bitch does not
appear. The theme 2 in this interlude is the same as
that in the fabliau, as is proved conclusively by the ver-
bal resemblances mentioned above, amounting even to
identity between lines in the two works. There are,
however, striking points of difference. The object of
the clerk's love in the interlude is a " may den " names
Malkyn, and the go-between is named Mome Elwis.
The dialogue, owing in part to the use of the couplet
throughout, is more lively and natural than in fatfabliau.

This interesting dramatic fragment is the sole 3 repre-
sentative of a kind of composition once popular in Eng-
land. According to Ward, interludes " from the
Plantagenet times onwards seems to have not infre-
quently been produced to diversify or fill up the paused
of the banquet ensuing in great houses upon the more

I " England hat nach dem Spiel von der Dame Siriz das ganze Mittel-
alter hindurch kein weiteres komiscbes Drama aufzuweisen.1' — W.
Creizenach, of. cit. I. p. 454.

Z Cf. p. ij, note 4.

5 A second possible example is the Dux Maraud^ cf. W. Heuser, An-
glia, XXX. iSoff.

substantial part of the repast. ' ' Evidence of the popu-
larity of such productions is afforded by the Wycliffite
protest x against clergy for taking part in representations
of interludes. This piece, according to Creizenach,
"seems to have been used by clerks." The marginal
notes in the manuscript are in Latin, and the subject
matter deals with a priest. This English interlude is
possibly related to a Latin dramatic composition, " per-
haps Italian," referred to by Gayley,2 "by one Jaco-
bus," and dealing with the "intrigue, so dear to medi-
eval satirists, between priest and labourer's wife."

THE Vox AND WOLF

To the same interesting manuscript which has pre-
served the unique copy of the Dame Siriz we owe also
the preservation of the entertaining tale of the Vox and
Wolf. This tale, aside from its own intrinsic interest,
has an importance in English literature, since it is the
sole representative in English before the time of Chau-
cer of the tales of the Roman de Renard. The medi-
eval pseudo-natural history dealing with the habits and
qualities of beasts is well represented in English by the
early Middle English Bestiary, and, as has already been
pointed out above, England contributed its full share
toward the medieval culture of fables. It is somewhat
surprising, then, to find in Middle English but this sol-
itary representative of the beast-epic tales so popular in
French.

I Reliquiae Antiquae, Z, 4Z ff. j MJtzner, Lesebuch, I, a, ZZ4 ff.} c£
Creizenach, of. cit. i. 179, 180.
Z Of. cit. p. xvii.

xiiv 31ntrotiuctton

n-— •*

No exact original of the English Vox and Wolfis
known, but the story in its main outline corresponds to
Branch iv. of the French Roman de Renard. The story
of Branch iv. in the ordinary version runs as fol-
lows:1— Renard arrives hungry one night before a
monastery and finds an open gate. He devours two
chickens and is about to proceed to a third when he is
overcome with thirst. He finds a well in the courtyard,
and at the bottom of this well he sees his own reflection,
which he takes to be the face of his wife Hermeline.
Renard calls down the well, " What are you doing?"
An echo answers him. He calls a second time, and then,
impatient, jumps into a bucket and descends, so rapidly
that he nearly drowns. He is in despair of ever get-
ting out, when Isengrim, the wolf, comes along. Isen-
grim sees his own reflection in the well beside Renard
and thinks it to be his wife Hersent. For a time he
heaps abuse upon the supposed Hersent. Renard allows
him to proceed for a time; then he calms him by per-
suading him that he below is dead and in paradise. Isen-
grim wishes to go down. Renard points out the way,
but advises him first to confess his sins. While Isengrim,
with his face to the west, prays God to pardon his sins,
Renard gets into a bucket. Isengrim, his prayer finished,
gets into the other bucket, and descends, lifting the
bucket with Renard. As the buckets pass, Isengrim asks
Renard why he is going up. Renard replies, " I am
going to paradise above; you are going to hell below.
When one goes, the other comes . . ." Isengrim re-
mains in the well all night. Next morning he is dis-

i The summary here follows that by Sudre. See Bibliography.

3!ntrotmction xiv

covered by servants of the monks, and is beaten with
clubs and left for dead.

Besides this ordinary version of Branch iv. of the
French Roman, there is preserved in a single manu-
script * another distinct French version which is more
simple in outline. In this unique version no mention is
made of Renard mistaking his own reflection in the
water for the face of Hermeline nor of the wolf's illu-
sion concerning Hersent.2 Isengrim's confession, which
plays a conspicuous part in the ordinary version, in this
simpler version is disposed of in a single sentence, and
the paradise in this version is an earthly paradise. In
minor details at the beginning and the end this version
differs from the ordinary one, but the main outline of
the story is the same. In both versions the story is told
in a spirited manner, and it is not easy to say which
affords the better entertainment.

Neither of these French versions corresponds exactly
with the English tale; in the introductory part of the
story the English version resembles more closely the sim-
pler French story; in the latter part there is greater
parallelism with the ordinary French version. It is clear,
however, that the English tale, with its individual
names, Sigrim and Reneuard, its lively narrative and
realistic dialogue, and its human satire, is closely related
to the versions in the Roman de Renard.*

1 Bill, de V Arsenal, 3334. Published by Chabaille in a supplement to
the edition of Meon.

2 In the allusions to the well-story in branches vi. and ix. of the sim
pier version, Isengrim is represented as attracted solely by the opportu
nity offered to gourmandize.

3 The tales of the Roman de Renard are probably based on popular sto-
ries. These popular stories differ from the fables in that the didactic ele-
ment is eliminated. To the popular tales the tales of the Roman dt Renard
add an anthropomorphic element.

xivi 3fIntroDuetton

To trace the exact relationship of this English tale
of fox and wolf to the scores of other versions, written
and oral, in the different countries of Europe, would
be an impossible task. The inter-influences between
written and oral versions are too complex ever to
be exactly determined. There are, however, several
related groups of versions which it is possible to distin-
guish.

In the first place the history of the version in the
Roman de Renard deserves attention. This form of the
story is retold, with minor modifications and with espe-
cial animus against the black monks, in the French Re-
nart le Contrefait. It is not included in the Latin Tsen-
grimus composed at Ghent in 1148 by the scholar
Nivard, nor in the Reinardus Vulpes, a later expanded
version of the TTsengrimus. It does appear, however, in
the German version of the Roman de Renard, the Rein-
hart Fuchs composed by Heinrich der Glichezare
about 1 1 80. In this version appear the illusions caused
by the reflections in the well in the case both of Rein-
hart and of Isengrim. The paradise in the well is allur-
ingly described. Isengrim, seeing the eyes of Reinhart
gleaming in the dark, asks what they are, and is told
they are carbuncles. There is, however, no mention of
the confession and absolution of Isengrim.

Derived from this early German version seems to be
the one printed by J. von Lassberg in his Lie der SaaL1
This story has two parts : — ( I ) The fox sees his own
reflection in a well and mistakes it for his wife. Through
love of her, he leaps in. (2) The wolf comes along and

I Vol. ii. no. 93. Reprinted by Grimm, Reinhart Fuch}, pp. 356-8.

3|ntroDuction

is led by the prospect of " manger siissen spise " to
leap into the bucket. Corresponding with the two parts
are two morals: — ( I ) One must not be made foolish
by love; (2) One must not trust false friends.

Possibly remotely connected with the Roman de Renard
version are two other tales : — ( I ) A fifteenth-century
German version, printed by J. Baechtold ( Germania,
xxxm. 257 ff.) in a collection of twenty-one tales
which in the manuscript formed an appendix to Boner's
Fables. No mention is made of a paradise in the well.
The fox entices the wolf by saying, " dz mir all min
tag nie so wol wz "; (2) The Italian fable in the No-
vellette Esempi Morali e Apologbi di San Bernardino da
Siena , Racconto vi., in which the wolf is led to descend
into the well by the prospect of a hen. Neither of
these versions mentions the moon reflection.

The well story does not appear in the first part of the
Flemish Reynaert, composed by a poet named William
about 1250, but it appears in a somewhat modified
form in a later anonymous second part, more than a
century later. Here the she-wolf Hersinde, in bringing
charges against Reynaert, brings up against him the well
adventure. It is Hersinde that has heard Reynaert' s
cries in the well, and moved by his account of the fish
below has entered the bucket, has suffered hunger and
cold, and has escaped alive only after many blows. This
Flemish version of the story is reproduced in the Low
German Reineke de Fos and ultimately in Goethe's
Reinecke Fuchs, in which Gieremund, the wife of Ise-
grim, complains concerning her adventure in the well. *

I Reinecke Fuchs, XI. vv. 97-131.

xlviii Introduction

Caxton's Renard the Fox r is a translation from the
Flemish, and in Caxton's book it is Erswynde, the
wife of Ysengrim, who tells how, attracted by the pro-
spect offish, she is beguiled by Renard.

Another version of the well-story which seems to be
related 2 to the version in the Flemish Reynaert is the
interesting fourteenth-century Italian 3 fable. In this
version, in terza rima, which has been attributed to Boc-
caccio, but in the opinion of McKenzie is more likely
by Antonio Pucci, the wolf is led, by the prospect of
fish in the well, to leap into the bucket. Interesting
is the distinctively Italian tragic ending, in which a dog
avenges the wolf by killing the escaping fox.

M. Sudre believes that the well story is derived from
popular tradition. In support of his belief he cites the
fable version of the story by Odo of Sherington, who
lived in the first half of the thirteenth century, and was
the author of a number of fables which were before
unknown to fable collections and which Odo is likely to
have derived from popular sources. The simple version
of the story as told by Odo agrees in its outline with
the Flemish version just considered, and is not unlikely
derived from a common popular source. The fox falls
into a well by accident. The wolf is allured by the ac-
count of many fish and large ones. In the morning rus-
tics club the wolf, Ysengrimus, nearly to death. It seems
not at all improbable that this simple version may repre-
sent fairly closely the English form of the original popular

1 Cf. Caxton's Reynart, ed. Arber, p. 96. The adventure in the well is
not included in the English eighteenth-century chap-book version, which
seems to be an abridgment of Caxton.

2 Possibly derived from Odo of Sherington.

3 Printed by K. McKenzie. Publ. M. L. A. of Amer. xxi. zz6 ff.

3|ntroDuction

story, which was expanded in the French Roman by the
anthropomorphic details of the illusions produced by the
reflections in the water and of the paradise in the well,
and by the burlesque account of the shriving of Isen-
grim. The fables of Odo were well known in different
countries. It is quite probable that Odo's fable supplied
the matter for the first part of the Italian fable mentioned
above, and Fable no. 14 in the Spanish Libro de los
Gatos is a close translation from Odo. Practically the
same story is told in no. 59 of the Latin fables by John
of Sheppey, who lived in the fourteenth century.

A second family of versions of the story of the fox in
the well seems to have a common parentage in the tale
as told by Petrus Alphonsus in his Disciplina Clericalis.
The tale by Petrus runs as follows: — A peasant vexed
at his oxen exclaims, " May the wolves eat you!"
A wolf hears, and at the end of the day claims the
oxen. The peasant demurs. They set out to seek a
judge and meet a fox, who undertakes to settle the case
out of court. To the peasant he promises to award the
oxen if he is given a chicken for himself and one for his
wife; to the wolf he promises that the peasant will give
a cheese the size of the moon if the wolf will quit his
claim on the oxen. The fox then conducts the wolf to
a well in which the moon is shining. He points out the
moon's reflection in the well, and tells the wolf this is
his cheese. The wolf asks the fox to bring up the
cheese. The fox descends in a bucket, but pretends
the cheese is too heavy for him alone. The wolf descends
to help. The two pass on the way, and the wolf is left to
his own devices at the bottom of the well.

1 ^Introduction

In this version there will be recognized two new and
quite independent elements : — ( I ) The introduction
concerning the peasant, the oxen, and the wolf; ( 2 ) The
moon mistaken for cheese. Of these elements the first
forms the material for Branch ix. of the French Roman
de Renart, with a different conclusion, however, and
with Bruin the bear playing the part taken by the wolf
in the Disciplina story. It also forms the first part of a
genuinely Indo-European popular tale known in Fin-
land, Lapland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany,
France, Spain, Lithuania, Russia, Greece, Syria and
India. K. Krohn,1 who has made an exhaustive study
of the various forms of this tale, refers to the version in
the Disciplina as "die unvollstandige und corrumpirte
form des Petrus Alfonsi." The moon element in the
tale also is the subject of a widely known popular story.
According to Krohn (p. 41), "it enters not only the
beast-epic but fable literature in general through the
translation of the story in the Disciplina Clericalis and
thus has spread here and there among the folk."

The exact source of this combination of the story of
the fox in the well with that of the moon reflection it is
impossible to determine. It is interesting, however, to
note that practically the same story as told by Petrus,
though with a different introduction, was told by the
Jewish Rabbi Raschi in the preceding century. Since
Petrus derived his tales from Hebrew and oriental
sources, one is at first inclined to attribute this story
combination to Hebrew origin. The fact, however,
that the story does not appear elsewhere 2 in Hebrew

I See Bibliography.

^ It is not told by Hai Gaon (969-1038), who professes to tell the same

3|ntroDuction li

fable collections, and that Raschi was born about 1 040
in Troyes, in the part of France where beast tales at
that particular time were being actively propagated,
leads one to conclude that Raschi made use of a current
popular tale which through some channel, Hebrew or
other, later supplied Petrus with his version of the
story.

The tale as told by Petrus Alphonsus appeared in the
various vernacular versions of his story collection. Of
these the most interesting is the expanded courtly French
metrical version of the C(^b^astoiement. Here the in-
fluence of the Roman de Renard is apparent. The
Fox and Wolf bear the names respectively of Regnart
and Ysengrims, and the burlesque element is prominent,
particularly in the passage where Regnart proposing
himself as judge says,

" Car j'ai este a bone escole
Et a Boloigne et a Paris
Ou j'ai des lois asses apris
Que loial jugement ferai
De vos contes, quant jes orrai."

ed. Roesle, vv. 81-85.

The tale by Petrus, like the Dame Siriz, found its
way into the fable collection of Stainhowel and thence
into the fable collections of the Netherlands, Spain,
France, and England, besides that of Germany. In Cax-
ton's edition it stands as number ix. of ts The Fables
of Alfonce." It is cited by N. S. Guillon as appearing

tale from Rabbi Meir as is told by Raschi. (See Publ. M. L. A. Amer.
xxiii. pp. 497 ff.) Further, his not included in the Syriac Fables ofSophos
(J. Landsberger, Die Fabeln des Sophos, Posen, 1859), nor ln tne Hebrew
Parabolae Vulpium of Barachia Nikdan, which contains several kindred
tales, notably the story of the wolf fishing with his tail through the ice.

Hi 3lntroHuction

in the Fables of Marie de France from the MS. de la
EibL de Saint-Germain-des-Pres, no. 1830. It is not
included, however, in the Warnke edition of the Fables
by Marie.

An interesting version of this form of the story is the
one included in the Contes Moralises of Nicole Bozon,
no. 128, under the moralization, De Mala societate fu-
* gjenda^ and in the Latin translation from Bozon (Her-
vieux, Fabulistes Latins , in. no. 10). In this version
it is a sheep that is led by the fox to mistake the reflec-
tion of the moon in the well for a cheese and to descend
in the bucket. That Bozon in this fable was drawing
from English popular tradition seems certain from the
fact that the sheep lamenting his condition at the bottom
of the well is made to say, in English t " For was hyt
never myn kynd chese in welle to fynd." It is possible
that the English popular story corresponding to the pop-
ular stories used by Petrus and by Raschi had the sheep
as a principal character. r In this connection it is worthy
of note that in another fable in the collection by Bozon
(no. 46) the fox and the wolf see the reflection of the
moon in the water, and the wolf is led to fish with his
tail for the supposed cheese, a quite different combina-
tion of the moon reflection incident with a story even
more widely known than that of the fox in the well.

The Disciplina version of the story is admirably
handled by Robert Henryson in his collection of fables.
This Scotch fable in seven-line stanzas, on account of

I Perhaps the substitution of sheep for wolf is due to Bozon's desire to
differentiate this story from the story of the fox and the wolf fishing with
his tail, which, as told by Bozon, is also associated with the moon reflec-
tion story.

3IntroDuction liii

its concreteness of detail and liveliness of manner and
interesting Scotch phrases, deserves to be classed among
the very best versions of the story. The Disciplina form
of the story is also used by Hans Sachs in his "Fabel
mit dem Pauer, Fuchs und Wolff*' and, with another
story replacing that of the peasant and his oxen, in the
sixteenth-century German fable collection by Burkhard
Waldis (Book 4, Fable 8). It is also the form used
by La Fontaine, who elaborates in details, notably in the
appearance of the moon reflection, which is ecbancr'e in
appearance like cheese, and in Renard's enticing descrip-
tion of the quality of the cheese. Moland, in his edition
of La Fontaine, cites as a source for La Fontaine's fable,
the Apologii Phcedrii, \ oo fables by Jacques Regnier,
Pars i, p. 24, published in 1643, which the present
writer has been unable to examine. Another version
possibly belonging to the Disciplina family is the Italian
fable della Volpe e Y Lupo, one of a collection of one
hundred fables by Verdizotti, published at Venice in
1570. The La Fontaine version, in turn, seems to be
the source of a later Latin version in the Fabulae Aesopiac,
Book 8, Fable 24, by F. J. Desbillons, 5th ed. Paris,
1769. In later English versions the fable in the Dis-
ciplina version is not frequent. * It does appear, however,
in a very much condensed form, as number 3 in a
collection of fables in The Principles of Grammar, or
Toutb's English Directory, by G. Wright, London,
1794.

I It does not appear in Bullokar's collection, 1585, nor among Gay's
Fables, nor in the Aesop at Tunbridge, London, 1628, nor in Fables for
Ladies by E. Moore, about 1750, nor in Fables of Flora by Langhorne,
nor in the large collection, Fables and Satires, by Sir G. Boothby, Edinb.,
1809, nor in Aesofs Fables, by T. James, Philadelphia, 1851.

in which a hare conducts a lion to a deep well where
the lion sees his own reflection, and led by the hare to
take the reflection for an enemy, leaps in and loses his
life. A modern Indian form of this tale with jackals
taking the place of the hare, is recorded in Old Deccan
Days by M. Frere, in a tale entitled " Singh Rajah
and the Cunning Little Jackals." This tale, in its main
outline and in certain details reminds of the incident in
the fox and the wolf story where Isengrim mistakes his
reflection in the well for his wife Hersent. Another tale,
in which the elephant is conducted by a hare to the edge
of a lake, where he mistakes the shadow of the moon for
the king of the hares, is also recorded in the Pantcbatan-
tra.1 These analogues, however, are not remarkably
close, and we must conclude that if the story of fox and
wolf in the well came from the East, it did not, as Sudre
has pointed out, follow the literary route followed by
other fables. If it came from the East by an oral route,
the buckets element seems to be a western 2 addition.

There remains to be mentioned an Arabic tale Le
renard et la byene (Meidani, Proverbes (6), t. n. p.
7, and Ecb cbericbi ap. cheikbo, Madjanf I adab (7),
t. i. p. 89) cited by R. Basset (Rev. des trad. pop.
xxi., 300). A parallel to the conception of the earthly
paradise in the well is to be found in the Arabic tale 3
of <* Le Paradis Souterrain," in which a man goes to

1 Translation by Lancereau, p. 216.

2 In an elegiac poem composed by Riparius in the fourteenth century
(cited by Creizenach,!. 28) a trick like that played by the fox on the wolf
is played by a peasant on a clerk. Can the beast tale have been an adapta-
tion of a tale originally dealing with human beings f

3 Contts et Legendt* Arabes,\>y R. Basset, no. 481 (Rev, des trad,
fof. xv. p. 667).

^Introduction Mi

a well to draw water. The bucket falls to the bottom.
The man descends to get the bucket and finds a door
opening into a paradise.

It seems probable that the tale of fox and wolf as told
in Branch iv. of the Roman de Renard is derived for
the most part from popular tradition. This view is con-
firmed by the fact that the tale is a familiar one in mod-
ern folk story. It persists in popular story in Spain l and
in Portugal.2 A Breton popular version is cited by L.
F. Sauve.3 A fox on the point of being eaten by a wolf
points out the reflection of the moon in the water, say-
ing that it is a young girl bathing. The wolf leaps in
to devour her and is drowned. A similar tale, in which,
however, the fox pushes the wolf into the well, appears
in a cycle of beast tales of La Bresse.4

Another popular tale told in Southern France is effec-
tively reproduced by P. Redonnel.s A fox is in a tree
eating cheese. A wolf asks what he is eating. The fox
replies, ts The moon. ' ' The fox as he eats drops a crumb
to the wolf from time to time. Both are thirsty, and
they set out for a drink. On the way the fox explains
that he found the moon trembling at the bottom of a
well and carried it off. The two come to a well with
two buckets. The fox descends first and drinks ; then
signals for the wolf to get into the other bucket. The
wolf is left in the well. It will be noted that this enter-
tainingly told story has its inconsistencies. The fox in

I Antonio de Trueba, Narraciones populares, Leipzig, 1875, pp. 91 ff.
Z Coelho, Cantos popular es portuguexes^ Lisbon, 1879, pp. 13-15,

3 Rev. des trad. pop. I. 363-4.

4 Sebillot, Contes des Provinces de France. Le Renard de Bassieu et la
loup d'Hotonnes.

5 Rev. del trad. pop. II. 611-12.

3|ntrotmction

the tree is not easy to conceive of, and the relation of the
moon story to the trick on the wolf is not made clear.

In Northern France the tale is one of an epic cycle
of tales concerning the relations of fox and wolf. In
this collection the wolf, angry at the fox for a trick
played on him, pursues him. The fox, about to be
caught, comes to a well, leaps into a bucket and goes
to the bottom. He cries for assistance. The wolf, still
in angry pursuit, gets into the other bucket and is mocked
by the fox as the two buckets pass.

In this connection it is worthy of note that the notion
of another world at the bottom of a deep well is not
unknown to modern folk-lore. In France, we are told,1
certain wells are so deep that they are supposed to reach
a subterranean world.

Other cycles of popular beast tales are told in parts
of Germany and are recorded by J. Haltrich.2 One
group of tales deals with the wolf alone, another with
the fox alone, a third, a cycle of ten stories, with the
relations of fox and wolf. In this cycle the well story
follows the tale in which the fox, by feigning death,
gets fish from a peasant. The wolf eats the fish and
then, thirsty, is conducted by the fox to a well, where
the buckets adventure occurs.

What is the relation of these popular tales to the lit-
erary versions ? In some cases probably we have to do
with popular survivals of the oral sources of the beast-
epic tales. In other cases the modern popular tales are
probably derived from a literary source. It is probable

1 P. Sebillot, Le Folk-lore de Franct, n. 313.

2 J. Haltrich, Zur rolktkunde der Siebenburger.

31nerotmctton li*

that in modern popular story oral and literary streams
of tradition meet. In the case of the German cycles of
popular tales mentioned above, Wolf, the later editor of
the collection by Haltrich, concludes that the tales are
probably not derived from the earlier beast-epic, be-
cause: ( I ) the central incident of the beast-epic, the ill-
ness and healing of the lion and the trial of the fox, is
absent, and the lion does not appear at all; (2) the
beasts do not have proper names. Wolf concludes that
these German popular tales probably have their source in
the well-known German fable collections of the six-
teenth century, by Burkhard Waldis in I 548 and by
Erasmus Alberus in 1580.

The well adventure has not been recorded among
the popular beast tales collected in Africa. l Among the
American negroes,2 however, a similar tale is told in
which it is the rabbit that outwits the fox, an oriental
characteristic, since in oriental beast tales the jackal and
hare, and occasionally the tortoise, divide the honors
in the tales of trickery.

The English tale of The Vox and the PTo/fhas been
much admired and praised. It, perhaps more than any
other English humorous poem before Chaucer, shows
the buoyancy of spirit and lightness of touch that char-
acterize some of the contemporary productions in
French. Yet the English poem offers little that is new.
It is probably based on a French original, and in cer-
tain cases it has not reproduced its original very dis-

1 Cf. A. Seidel, Geschichten der Afrikaner, Berlin, 1896; Callaway, Nur-
sery rales of the Zulus, London, 1868} W. H. I. Bleek, Reineke Fucht
in Afrika, Weimar, 1870.

2 J. C. Harris, Uncle Remus : his songs and sayings, no. 16.

ix 3|ntroUuction

tinctly. This is evident particularly in the relation
of the incident of the henyard with the well story.
From references here and there (vv. 34, 40, 54, 55,
98) throughout the tale, one must infer that Reneuard
has devoured some, possibly three, of the hens, yet no
mention is made of this fact. The most distinctive ad-
dition in subject matter in the English version is the
dialogue between cock and fox near the beginning. In
the emphasis that he has given to this preliminary in-
cident, the English writer resembles the author of the
Dame Siriz and Chaucer in his Nonne Preestes Tale.
The episode has little organic connection with the main
incident and in a way mars the proportion of the nar-
rative, yet it does contribute to the verisimilitude and
the living interest of the story. In manner the English
version lacks some of the very effective descriptive
touches which make the movements and attitudes of fox
and wolf, particularly in the simpler version of the
French Roman de Renard, so lifelike. Perhaps the most
distinctive quality of the English version is not wit, but
the humorous realization of the naivete in the characters
of the beasts, shown where it is said of the fox,

Him were leuere meten one hen
Than half an oundred wimmen.

and when the author remarks concerning the fox caught
in the well,

Hit mi^te han iben his wille
To lete pat boket hongi stille.

and in the cringing manner of the hungry wolf, when

\he says,
' ' Ich wende, al so opre dop
J?at ich Iseie were sop."

^Introduction ixi

The poem is composed throughout in tetrameter
couplets. The style is simple and in keeping with the
subject matter, more so than in the Dame Siriz. The
dialogue, particularly, is simple and natural. An inter-
esting feature of the style is the use here and there of
popular proverbial expressions, such as : 'pat ne can
mep to his mete,' 97; ' Him is wo in euche londe, pat is
pef mid his honde,' 101, 102.

The date of composition was not far from 1275, as
is shown by the age of the manuscript as well as by the
character of the language.

The dialect is Southern, as is evident by the spelling
of the very title. Other indications are the frequent
dropping or misplacing of initial b-, the use of initial
w- for earlier hw-y the forms awecche, reccbe, the plural
forms hennen, etc., the ending -cf> in the third plural
of the present indicative, the preservation of the prefix
/- in verb forms. The West- Southern scribe betrays
himself by the representation of O.E. y by u. The real
pronunciation of this sound it is difficult to determine,
since the rimes are not consistent. A Southeastern pro-
nunciation seems to be indicated by such rimes as ;
aquenche, druncbe, 13, 14, and sugge, abugge ; putte,
mette. On the other hand such rimes as : kun, him ;
sitte, putte, indicate a Midland pronunciation.

•»

SIR CLEGES

The third story of the present collection, that of Sir
Cleges, is somewhat more than a century younger than
the other two. The time of composition was not far

ixii ^Introduction

from that of the Canterbury Tales. If there had been a
minstrel in the famous company of pilgrims, this tale
might with fitness have been attributed to him. Not
only is the tail-rime stanza employed in the tale the fav-
orite one in later minstrel stories, but the hero is par-
ticularly a minstrel hero. The generosity of Sir Cleges is
displayed particularly toward minstrels. At the Christ-
mas feasts provided by Sir Cleges, the minstrels figure
conspicuously, and the gifts of

Hors and robys and rych thynges,
Gold and syluer and oper thynges

make it easy to believe in the sincerity of the words of
the minstrel in the Edinburgh manuscript,
" We mynstrellys mysse hym sekyrly,

Seth he went out of cuntre." (w. 496, 497.)

The animus1 against porters and their kind is appropri-
ate to minstrels and appears not infrequently in minstrel
tales. Furthermore in the Edinburgh text the minstrel
is actually represented as singing before King Uther a
"gest" concerning the virtues of Cleges. The tale,
then, may be regarded as a minstrel tale, exemplifying
many of the qualities of style that Chaucer so gleefully
burlesqued in his tale of Sir Thopas.

The story of Sir Cleges seems to have been a min-
strel's Christmas story, for it will be noticed that the
idea of Christmas is everywhere prominent. The lavish
hospitality of Cleges was particularly displayed in the
annual Christmas feasts, the loss of his property is par-
ticularly due to Christmas generosity, and the miracle
through which he was restored to prosperity was a

I Cf. King Horn, Sir Tristrem, and the ballad of Hind Etin.

jflntroimction ixiii

Christmas miracle. Doubtless the story was one which
the minstrel loved to tell to encourage liberality at Yule-
tide feasts, and we can readily understand why to the
listeners at Christmas entertainments this tale might be
a favorite one in the minstrel repertory.

The story is one with an evident moral. This moral
is enforced by a narrative of dual character. Probably
what was intended to be the main theme, was the gen-
erosity of Cleges rewarded in this life by divine inter-
position; what was possibly not intended as the prin-
cipal element, but which nevertheless most catches the
attention and clings longest to the memory, is the re-
verse of this, the greed of the king's servants punished
with logical justice. The unity in the story is to be found
only in the presentation of the opposite rewards of
generosity and of greed. If we look at the story in this
way, we see a logical appropriateness in the inclusion
of the humorous anecdote of the strokes shared within
the pious tale of generosity divinely rewarded.

The man who has spent all his goods in generosity is
by no means a unique character in romantic story. The
close resemblance between the beginning of Sir Cleges
and that of Sir Amadace x has often been remarked.
In the fifteenth-century tale of The Knygbt and bis
Wyfe 2 also, the knight

. . . eche ^ere was wont to mak

A gret fest for oure lady sake.

But he spendyt so largely

That in poverte he fel in hye.

I Three Early English Metrical Romances (ed. Robson), Camden So-
ciety, London, 1842.

z Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England, by W. C. Hazlitt,
London, 1866, vol. n.

ixiv Introduction

In the late ballad, A True Tale of Robin Hood (Child,
no. 154), we learn how Robin Hood, Earl of Hunt-
ington, consumed his wealth in ' wine and costly
cheere.' In the versions of the Launfal story also, in
the Launfal1 by Thomas Chestre and the later version,
Sir Lamb ewe II f we meet a similar character. In the
Launfal we read how,

He gaf gyftys largelyche,
Gold, and sylver, and clodes ryche,
To squyer and to knyght.

The manner, however, in which the knight is re-
stored to prosperity is widely different in these different
tales. In the Sir Am a dace, the account of the gener-
ous knight serves as an introduction to an interesting
version of the well known folk tale of the ( grateful
dead.' In The Knygbt and bis Wyfe, it introduces a
story of the direct interposition of the Virgin Mary,
one of the Mary legends which were so popular in
contemporary French literature. In the True Tale of
Robin Hood, it introduces the well known ballad story
of outlawry. In the Launfal stories, it introduces a tale
of aid through the fairy mistress Trieamour. The tale of
Sir C leges is unlike any of these others. If classified ac-
cording to its first element, it would be classed as a dit
or conte devot, or perhaps better, as a legend, if Sir
Cleges may be regarded as one of Saint Julian's devotees,
a martyr to hospitality.

The means of relief in the case of Sir Cleges, the
miracle of the cherries at Christmas time, is as pleasing

I Launfal (ed. Ritson), reprinted, Edinburgh, 1891.
^ Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript (ed. Hales and Furnivall), London,
1867, vol. i.

3|ntroimctton ixv

as in any of the similar stories mentioned. Similar mira-
cles figure not infrequently in romantic and legendary
story. In the legend of St. Dorothy « we read how in
response to the prayer of the chaste maiden, a fair child
appears with a basket of roses and apples, which Doro-
thy sends to Theophilus. In the Decameron^- Ansaldo,
the lover of Dianara, successfully accomplishes the sup-
posedly impossible task imposed upon him, and on the
first of January made to spring up a beautiful garden
from which he picked the fairest fruits and flowers and
sent as an unwelcome gift to the surprised lady. In the
Ludus Coventriae* (xv), in the play on "The Birth
of Christ," when Joseph and Mary are on the way to
Bethlehem in the winter time, a cherry-tree, at first
bare, successively blooms, bears ripe cherries, and finally
bends down to Joseph whom Mary wishes to pluck
cherries for her.-* Ability to exhibit fruit out of season
was also one of the accomplishments of the popular he-
roes of magic, Friar Bacon and Doctor Faustus.5 None

I Caxton, Golden Legend, Life of St. Dorothj.

^ Tenth day, Novella 5.

I Ed. Halliwell, Shakspeare Soc. London, 1841. Halliwell points out
that" this fable of the cherry tree is the subject of a well known Christmas
carol,which has been printed by Hone, Ancient Mysteries Described ," p.QO,

4 That similar stories circulate in modern folk-tales is shown by H. Finck
in the New York Evening Post (quoted by the Literary Digest, Jan. 7,
1911). He cites a French folk-tale of the Department of Ille-et-Vilaine, of
an apple-tree. Mary wished to taste the fruit, and Joseph refused to gather
the apples for her, saying it was a shame to touch the apple-tree at Christ-
mas time. Whereupon the branches, of their own accord, bent down, and
Mary plucked the fruit. Joseph then tried to pick some of the apples for
himself, but the branches suddenly returned on high.

5 W. C. Hazlitt, National Tales and Legends, London, 1899, p. 75.
Hazlitt cites other parallels, among them " Another story of this kind in
Painter's 4Palace of Pleasure.' " E. K. Chambers (The Mediaeval Stage,
I. 252, 253) cites the thirteenth-century Vita of St. Hadwigis, in which
appears the story of trees in bloom in mid-winter, and gives reference to a
number of parallel stories. The miracle of the Glastonbury thorn might
also be cited in this connection.

3f|ntroDucttott

of these stories, however, is more pleasing than that of
Sir Cleges, who after kneeling in prayer ft underneth a
chery-trc," in rising takes a branch in his hand, and —

Gren leuys J>er-on he fond

And ronde beryes in fere.

The cherries have an appropriateness in English story.
They have always been a favorite fruit among the Eng-
lish. In Piers Plowman (A 7,281) poor people are
represented as eating "ripe chiries monye," x and one
of the English popular institutions was the cherry fair*
held in cherry orchards. But the presentation of a gift
to the king seems not so appropriate to English story.
It is hazardous to form a judgment concerning the origin
of a winged tale like the present one, but the presenta-
tion of gifts to a king, although not infrequent in Eu-
ropean folk-tales, seems like an oriental feature and
is especially frequent in oriental story. According to
Clouston,3 « All great men in the East expect a present
from a visitor, and look upon themselves as affronted,
and even defrauded, when the compliment is omitted.
See I Samuel, ix, 7, and Isaiah, Ivii, 9." The same cus-
tom persists to-day among African tribes, one is told.

Combined with the tale of generosity divinely re-
compensed is another story, of greed requited. As has
been said, it is not easy to determine whether the au-
thor of Sir Cleges intended this second story as an epi-
sode in the story of the generous knight or if he intended
the first part of the story to serve as a setting for the
widely known story of the blows shared. If we judge
by the structure of such a story as Chaucer's Nonne

I Version C. " chiries sam-rede."

Z Brand, Popular Antiquities, II. 457.

3 Popular Tales and Fictions, Edinburgh, 1887, u. 467.

31ntroDuctton

Preestes Tale we may conclude that the second part
was intended as the piece de resistance. In any case the
author has devoted nearly half of his narrative to the
second element, and it is this part of the story which
provides the greater amount of entertainment whether to
the modern reader or to the medieval listener.

The story of the man who is made to promise a share
of an expected reward to one or more greedy servants
and who, therefore, chooses blows for his reward, is
one of the most wide-spread of tales. The universality
of its theme makes it appropriate to any nation and to
any time, and for that reason it is not possible to assign
it to any nationality. The nature of the tale is such that
it would be vain to attempt to discover the exact inter-
relations between the score and more of different extant
versions.

The defmiteness of the underlying idea in this story
rendered it especially suitable for oral transmission.
Hence it is not surprising to find it circulating widely as
a folk-tale. Among the Arabs it was well known. M.
Rene Basset x cites the following version. A eunuch
promises El Mo'tadhib, the Prince of the Faithful, to
bring him a man to make him laugh. He introduces a
street story-teller named Ibn el Maghazik, but exacts
from him a promise of half the expected reward. Ibn
fails, and is ordered to be given ten strokes. He asks
that the ten be made twenty. When he has received
ten, he explains that the other half of the reward is to
go to the eunuch. The king laughs.

I Ren6 Basset, Contes et Legendes Arabes, no. 57, Rev. des trad. pop.
xii. 675-7 M. Basset cites several other Arabic versions of this story,
besides two Italian folk-tales.

2flntroimction

Another * Arabic version passed over among the
Berbers. A chief bids his servant find a man to make
him laugh. If the chief is made to laugh, he will pay a
hundred r'eaux ; if not, a hundred blows. The servant
brings El* Askolani, but demands half of the r'eaux in
case of success. El* Askolani fails, and the chief orders
that one hundred strokes be given. When the story-
teller has received fifty, he bids give the remaining fifty
to the servant, at the same time explaining the servant's
stipulation. The chief doubles up with laughter and
gives El' Askolani one hundred reaux.

An Italian popular tale, in which a stupid boy pre-
sents a fine fish to the king, but is made to promise
shares of the expected reward to three servants, is told
by Marc. Monnier.2 A Greek popular story with a sim-
ilar beginning but with the conclusion rendered ineffec-
tive, is told by E. Legrand.3 From Italy John G. Saxe
supposedly derived the version that he tells under the
title, " The Nobleman, the Fisherman, and the Porter,
An Italian Legend." In Italy the story is also told by
Sacchetti* and by Straparola.5 In Spain it appears in
the Cuentos de Juan Ar agones,6 no. 3. In Sweden it
is -produced by Backstrom in his Svenske Voksbocker(2t

I R. Basset, Nouveaux Contes Bcrbercs, Paris, 1897, no. 119," Part a
deux." In this volume M. Basset discusses numerous other versions, in
Arabic, Italian, German, and French.

^ Let Contes Populaires en Italie, pp. fcj6, 237. An Italian version, Ne-
rucci, Sessanta Novelle Populari Montalesi, Florence, 1880, Nov 2,7, La
Novella di Sonno, pp. 233-7.

3 Recueil de Contes Populaires Grecs, Paris, l88l, pp. 53-55.

4 Novelle, Milano, 1815, vol. in. p. 169.

5 Notti Piacevoli, Notta 7, Favola 3.

6 Another Spanish version cited by Oesterley (in his edition of Schimpf
und Ernst) is that in the Margerita Facetiarum^ Alfonsi Aragon, Reg.
Vafredicti, etc., Argent. 1508, p. 4b.

3!ntroDuction

p. 78, n. 30). In Germany it appears in Pauli's
Scbimpf und Ernst (no. 614), in Grimm's Kinder
und Hausmarcben (no. 7), and in a poem by C. F.
G. Hahn,1 organist at Dargun, entitled " Wallenstein
und der kiihne Pferdehirte aus der Umgegend von Gust-
row."

In the world's noodle literature the story is one fre-
quently occurring. The adventure is attributed to the
famous Turkish court-fool, Nasureddin Chodscha,2 who
presented early cucumbers to Tamburlane. In German
jest-books it was one of the best-known adventures of
the celebrated Pfarrer von Kalenberg.3 In England a
similar story appears in " The Pleasant Conceites of
Old Hobson the Merry Londoner." 4

The same story appears in the form of anecdotes
connected with various persons. The anecdote is told
of the Italian actor Mezzetin 5 (fl. 1688-97). Mezze-
tin had dedicated a piece to the Duke of Saint Aignan,
who paid liberally for dedications. He called on the
Duke. The Swiss guard, suspecting the purpose of his
visit, was unwilling to admit him. Mezzetin offered
him a third of the expected gift. On the stairway he
was obliged to make the same promise to the first
lackey, and in the ante-chamber a like one to the valet
de chambre. When he came into the presence of the

I Mecklenburg's Volks-Sagcn, col. & ed. by A. Niederhoffer, Leipzig,
1859, HI. 196-199.

^ Flogel, Geschichte der Hofnarren, 176-178.

3 F. W. Ebeling, Die Kahlenberger, Berlin, 1890; F. Bobertag, Narren*
buch, Berlin, 1885, pp. 7-86; F. H. von der Hagen, Narrenbuch, Halle,
1811, pp. 271-351; Ljrum Larum Lyrissimum, 1700, no. 184; Henrici Be-
belii, Facetiarum, TUbingen, 1544, Lib. II. (The last two reference* are
from Liebrecht-Dunlop, History of Fiction, II. 153 note.)

4 W. C. Hazlitt, Snakes? earths Jest Books, p. 40, no. 14.

5 L. Moland, Moliirt et la Comidie Italienne, pp. 375-6.

ixx 3|ntroBuctton

Duke, Mezzetin said, " Here is a theatrical piece
which I take the liberty of presenting to you and for
which I ask that you give me a hundred coups de baton."
On hearing Mezzetin' s explanation, the Duke gave the
servants a severe reprimand and sent I oo louis to Mez-
zetin's wife, who had promised nothing to the servants.
Tallemantdes Reaux l tells the same anecdote concerning
the actor Jodelet. In this case the actor asked his pa-
tron, the Chancellor Sequier, to distribute a hundred
coups de baton among four valets de cbambre who had
successively exacted promises.

This story, appearing so frequently in folk-tale, in
jest-book, and in biographical anecdote, has a very
obvious moral. This moral element made the story a
useful one to the medieval preacher, and it appears in
books otexempla. In the Summa Praedicantium of John 2
of Bromyard it appears (fol. C xiii. b) under the
heading Invidia. This exemplum, which is reprinted
in Wright's "Latin Stories," 3 runs as follows : ( A cer-
tain man coming to the Emperor Frederick with fruits
of which the Emperor was very fond, was unable to
gain admittance unless he should pay to the door keeper
half his gain. The emperor, delighted with the fruits,
bade the bearer ask for something in return. The man
asked that the emperor command that a hundred blows
be given him. When the emperor learned the cause, he
ordered the blows of the bearer of the fruits, to be paid
lightly, those of the door keeper, heavily.' Another in-
teresting exemplum version of the story is that in the

I Tallemant des Reaux, Memoir* of Chancellor Sequier.

a See Bibliography.

3 Percy Society Publications, vm. ill.

Slntrotwction ixxi

English Gesta Romanorum,1 no, xc. This version,
like the one in the Sir Cleges, has an elaborate intro-
duction. In certain essential details also it closely resem-
bles the Sir Cleges version. A king had two sons. To
one he gave his kingdom; to the other, a prodigal, he
gave the choice between two caskets. The chosen
casket contained twenty shillings; to these the king
added a penny. Thus provided, the prince met a man
with a pannier containing a wonderful fish with gold
head, silver body and green tail. He bought the fish
for twenty shillings and paid the remaining penny for
the pannier. He bore the pannier with the fish to the
manor house of a great lord. The porter demanded the
head of the fish, and instead of it the prince promised
him half the expected reward. The usher of the hall
demanded the body and was promised half of the re-
maining reward. The chamberlain, who demanded the
tail, was promised half the remaining part. The noble
lord, upon receipt of the gift, bade the prince ask a boon.
The servants advised various requests, but the prince
asked twelve buffets. The lord granted the request re-
garding the buffets to be divided, but threw in for good
measure his daughter and his kingdom for the prince
alone.

The great variety * in the forms of this popular tale
will have been noticed. The one who asks for the blows

I E. E. T. S. Extra series, xxxiu. 413-416, no. xc.

^ There are in circulation many similar tales, such as the Tale of the
Three Wishes (cf. Bedier, pp. zzo, Z2,i), the Dit du Buffet (cf. Montaig-
lon et Raynaud, Notes) the Envious and the Avaricious (cf. J. W. Jacobs,
of. d/., Notes), besides scattering folk-tales and adventures like those of
Til Eulenspiegel. Most like of all, and closely associated with the story of
the blows shared, is the one called " Luckily they are not Peaches " (Cf,
W. A. Clouston, Pop. Tales & Fictions, n. 467 ff.)

ixxii Introduction

is in one story a groom, in another a prince; in one a
stupid peasant boy, in another a witty actor. The num-
ber of greedy servants varies from one to four, of the
blows, from two to five hundred. The variety of gifts
offered in the different versions includes cucumbers, ap-
ples, berries, cherries, a falcon, and a fish, or the offer-
ing is a good story or a good play. The tale is told merely
to excite a laugh, or to point a moral. The people who
tell it are Berbers in Africa, Arabs in Asia, Germans,
Swedes, Spaniards, Greeks, Italians, and English in
Europe. But in all its migrations and with all the vari-
ation in detail, the essential idea remains constant.

None of the versions of this protean tale known to
the present writer could have served as the exact original
for the English Sir Cleges. Nor is it known who was
the author or whether the English story is a translation
from the French or an original English composition. But
though singularly neglected x by earlier literary historians,
it is a highly interesting composition. Its faults are evi-
dent. It is a mongrel composition consisting of 'a fabliau
tale forming an episode in a conte devot and the whole
provided with an Arthurian setting. The scenes of the
story in general lack the distinctness which usually char-
acterizes the scenes in Chaucer's works. The characters
lack the many-sidedness of reality; they are little more
than types. For instance there is little attempt to dis-
tinguish between the porter, the usher, and the steward.
Each represents the same type, that of the greedy ser-
vant. The description of Sir Cleges is like that burlesqued

I The story of Sir Cleges is not mentioned by Korting, nor by Ten
Brink ; Jusserand mentions it only in a footnote.

3|ntroDu(tton

in Sir Tbopas. The manner too is stiff; the humorous
anecdote is not presented in correspondingly humorous
style. But with all these faults, the story is a pleasing one.
Besides the interest it aifords as a narrative, the story,
while not offering clear pictures, does give interesting
details of minstrel customs, of life in the hall, of domes-
tic relations and of Christmas cheer. There is a sweet
domesticity in the scene where, after Cleges has been
comforted by his loyal wife, ' they wash and go to meat '
and then ' drive the time away with mirth ' in playing
with their children, and a prettiness of detail in the scene
where Cleges, kneeling in prayer under the tree, finds
the branch in his hand covered with green leaves and
' beryes ' in clusters. The last part of the story makes
up in comedy of situation what it lacks in appropriateness
to the main theme. It is this part of the story which is
told with greatest gusto. The truculent manners of the
king's attendants are brought out with great distinctness
by the minstrel who doubtless had himself experienced
treatment similar to that experienced by Sir Cleges and
been obliged to sit in the « beggars row. ' The minstrel
lingers with evident satisfaction over the details of the
blows paid to the servants.

The fyrst stroke he leyd hym onne,
He brake a-two hys schulder bone,
And hys ryjht arme also.

There are no fine shades of humor here, but doubtless
the details were relished by a gleeman's audience, and
they are not entirely unpalatable to the modern reader,
it must be confessed.

The Sir Cleges is preserved in two paper manuscripts,

^Introduction

both belonging to the end of the fifteenth century ; one
MS. Jac. v. 7, 27, in the Advocates' Library at Edin-
burgh, the other, Ashmole MS. 61, in the Bodleian
Library at Oxford. The text of the Edinburgh manu
script was printed by Henry Weber, in his Metrical
Romances, Edinburgh, 1810, i. 329 ff. The two texts
have been printed in parallel columns by A. Treichel,
Englische Studien, xxn. 374 ff. The Oxford text is
printed in the present volume.

Between the texts in these two manuscripts there are
many points of difference * in detail. As has been said,
the story is a minstrel story, and it has evidently been
written down twice independently, from oral recitation
or from memory. The differences are such as one would
expect to originate in oral transmission. Neither manu-
script is derived from the other; both texts go back to a
common original, and in each appear variations originat-
ing in the independent line of transmission. The two
manuscripts complement each other admirably. When
single lines, or more frequently, three lines, of a stanza,
are missing in one, they can be supplied from the other.
In some important details the Edinburgh text is the
better one, but in the present volume the Oxford text
has been printed because the Edinburgh lacks some stan-
zas at the end. The Edinburgh text has, however, been
used to supply lines missing in the Oxford text. The
most important variations are indicated in the notes.

The verse form used in theS/r C leges is the twelve-line

I Treichel, op. cit. pp. 359 ff., gives a careful discussion of the differences
between the two manuscripts. The Edinburgh MS. has $31 verses, the Ox-
ford 570. Only 180 lines, about one third, are exactly alike. Of the remain-
der, 108 differ in one word, so that nearly half th« verses are unlike in sev-
eral words, or entirely unlike.

^Introduction

tail-rime stanza. The regular rime scheme is a a b c c b
d d b e e b. Variations from this scheme are found in the
Oxford manuscript only in stanzas 16, 17, 19, 33, 41,
46 and 47. Assonance appears in a few instances. There
are also a few instances of impure rime, but several of
the apparent instances are due to the scribe. Alliteration
is not an organic feature of the verse, but occurs occa-
sionally, either through the survival of old formulae or
through the use of two words with the same root. For
a detailed discussion of the metrical features, see Treichel,
op. cit. 364 ff.

The dialect of the original work is somewhat disguised
on account of scribal peculiarities. In the Oxford man-
uscript appear frequent Scottish features. From the ev-
idence, however, of the rimes common to the two ver-
sions and of the inflectional forms, Treichel (op. cit.
371 ff. ) concludes that the original work was composed
in the northern part of the Midland of England. In the
present volume the different inflectional forms will be
found registered in the glossary.

From the evidence of the rimes /j/, yte and ee, y,
Treichel (op. cit. 374) sets the date of composition at
not earlier than the beginning of the fifteenth century.

x

> t)\5 •

C\ come»ce le fablel rt la cointise dc dame siriz. cT> . ^f^t^a

As I com bi an waie,
Hof o_n ich herde sale,

Ful modi mon and proud;
Wis he wes of lore, <
And gouj^lich vnder^gQre^

And closed in feir sroud.

~~ /^''^C

To louien he bigon
On wedded wimmon,

per-of he heuede wrong ;
His herte hire wes ajon,
]>at reste neuede he non,

pe loue wes so strong.

Wei $erne he him bij?oute
Hou he hire gete moute
In ani cunne&jvise.

In the variant readings, W. = Wright, M. = Matzner. Besides
the variants indicated W. & M. have regularly tk for p and v for
consonantal u. In the text of the present volume the punctuation
is supplied by the editor.

Title. MS. comece, W. fables, MS. fablel. —7 W. & M. be-
gon. — 9 W. & M. Therof. — . 13 W. & M. bi-thoute.

2 2E>ame

pat befel on an day
pe louerd wend away

Hon his marchaundise.

He wente him^to )>en inne
per hoe wonede inne,

pat wes riche won ;
And com in to }>en halle,

"ber hoe wes srud wib palle,
TT , , iT^i •
And )?us he bigon : —

44 f^^\ od almiatten be her-inne! "

u Welcome, so ich euer bide wenne,"

« His hit YI wille, com and site,
And wat is }?i wille let me wite,

Mi leuelif. » 30

j f&*u£tj ^^u-4--

Bi houre louerd, heuene-king,
If I mai don ani j?ing

pat ]?e is lef,

pou mi^tt finden me ful fre.

Fol ble^eli willi don for J?e, 35

gref."

22 W. & M. into, M. them. — 25 MS. her inne. — 27 W. &
M. Quod.— 28 W. & M. comme. — 30 W. & M. leve lif.— 36
. Wi> houten, W. & M. Withhouten.

SDame

" Dame, god )?e forjelde,

Bote on ]?at J>ou me nout bimelde,

Ne make J?e wro]?,

Min hernde willi to J?e bede ; 40

Bote wraj?J;en ]?e for ani dede

Were me loj>."

"Nai I-wjs, wilekin,

For no-);ing J?at euer is min,

pau ]?ou hit ^irne, 45

Houncurteis ne willi be; ^ r>

Ne con I nout qr^vilte, ^«^-^ ^

Ne nout I nelle lerne.

pou mait saien al ]>ine wille,

And I shal herknen and sitten stille. co

* £ ft JW

-Htc pat J?ou haue told.

And if J;at )?ou me tellest skij^
I shal don after ]?i wil,
~ pat be^J?ou bold.

And J;au )?ou saie me ani same, 55

Ne shal I J?e noui^t blame

For YI sawe."

a Nou ich haue wonne leue,
3if ]?at I me shulde greue,

Hit were hounlawe.

37 W. & M. for-jelde. — 38 W. & M. bi melde. -43 W. &
M. i-wis. — 44 MS. no >ing. —49 M. alle. — 60 W. & M.
hounlaw.

ffi>ame j&irtj

Certes, dame, j?ou seist asjiende
And I shal setten spel on ende,

And tellen J;e al,
Wat ich wolde, and wi ich com;
Ne con ich saien non falsdom,

Ne non I ne shal.

Ich habbe I-loued J?e moni $er,
pau ich nabbe nout ben her

Mi loue to schowe.

Wile J?i louerd is in toune, 70

Ne mai no mon wi)? )?e holden roune

WiJ? no J?ewe.

u. Jufstemhy ich herde saie,
As ich wende bi )?e waie,

Of oure sire ; 75

Me tolde me )?at he was gon
To )?e feire of botolfston
In Imcolne-schire.

And for ich weste j?at he ves houte,
parfore ich am I-gon aboute <- 80

To speken wiJ? )?e.
Him bur)?jp liken wel his lif,
pat mhtte welde secc a vif

T • '

In pnuite.

64 W. &M. What.— 67 W. &M.i-loved. — 73 W.&M.
jursten-dai. — 78 W. & M. Lincolneschire, MS. lincolne schire.
— 80 W. & M. i-gon. — 83 W. sett, M. selc.

'

ffl>ame

Dame, if hit is J?i wille, 85

Bo]> dernelike and stille,

Ich wille J?e loue."
"pat woldi don for non J?in[g],
Bi houre louerd, heuene-king,

Pat ous is bouef 90

Ich habe mi louerd J?at is mi spouse,

pat maiden broute me to house J

Midmeriskel-nou; -&*~*« [/Un/^u
He louej? me and ich him wel,
Oure loue is also trewe as stel, 95

WiJ?-houten wou.

pau he be from horn on his hernde,
Ich were ounseli, if ich lernede

To ben on hore.
pat ne shal neuere be,
pat I shal don selk falsete,

On bedde ne on flore.

Neuer more his

Thau he were on hondred mile

Bi-^ende rome,
For no J^ing ne shuldi take
Mon on erj?e to ben mi make,

Ar his horn-come."

88 MS. J>in. — 92 M. meiden. — 93 W. &M. i-nou. MS. I
nou. — 96 W. & M. With houten, MS. Wip houten. — 101 W.
& M. falsete. — 105 MS. Bi jende rome. — 106 W. & M. shuld I.

2>ame

« "I "Vaine, dame, torn j?i mod;

J J pi curteisi was euer god, no

•^-"^ And $et shal be ;
For |?e louerd ]?at ous haue)? wrout,
Amend ]?i mod, and torn J?i J?out,
And rew on me."

"We, we! oldest J?ou me a fol ? 115

So ich euer mote biden 30!, /t*if, X'**

pou art ounwis.

Mi ]?out ne shalt J?ou newer wende;
Mi louerd is curteis mon and hende,

And mon of pxis ; unfMU • 120

And ich am wif bo]?e god and trewe ;
Trewer womon ne mai no mon cnowe

pen ich am.

pilke time ne shal neuer bitide
**\ pat mon for wouing; ne J?oru prude 1*5

Shal do me scham."

" Swete leumon, merci !
Same ne vilani _#^
Ne tjgj^eljTejion ;

As mon |?at wolde of loue spede,
And fi[n]de won."

124 W. & M. bi-tide. — 127 W. & M. lemmon, MS.
or leumon (?). — 132 MS. & W. fide.

H>ame fetrtj 7

" So bide Ich euere me£e o]?er drjflke,
Her J?ou lesest al j?i swinke ;
pou mi^t gon horn, leue broker, 135

For [ne] wille ich }?e loue, ne non oj?er,
Bote mi wedde_houssebonde ; U&id&skL
To tellen hit J?e ne wille ich wonde."

44 Certes, dame, J?at me for)?inke)?; >• /
An[d] wo is J?e mon )?a [t] muchel swinke]?, 140
And at ]?e laste lesej? his sped !
To maken menis his him ned.
Bi me I saie ful I-wis, c^^ /j ^

pat loue )?e loue ]>at I shal mis. (\UCMS°**\ *
An[d], dame, haue nou godnedai !
And }?ilke louerd, J?at al welde mai,
Leue ]?at ]?i J?out so tourne,
pat ihc for J;e no lengjie mourne.'i-^

Dreri-mod he wente awai,

And J?oute bo]?e ni^t and dai 150

Hire al for to wende.
A frend him radde for to fare,
And leuen al his muchele kare,

To dame siriz J?e hende.

133 W. & M. ich. — 136 MS. om. « ne.' — 139 W. & M.

for-thinketh. — 140 MS. An, W. & M. And, MS. J?a 143

W. & M. i-wis. MS. I. wis. — 145 MS. An. W. & M. godne dai. —
149 M. Dreri-mod. — 154 MS. siriz, as usually.

SDame

pider he wente him anon,
So suibe so he mhtte eon,

No mon he ni mette.
Ful he wes of tene and treie ;
Mid wordes mildeHmti-^sleie

Faire he hire grette.

" God J>e I-blessi, dame siriz !
Ich am I-com to speken J?e wiz,

Fo.r ful muchele nede-
And jch mai haue help of J?e
au' pou shalt haue, )?at J?ou shalt se, . ,6s

Ful riche mede."

" Welcomen art )?ou, leue sone ;

And if ich mai o]?er cone ^P

In eni wise for )?e do,

I shal streng]7en me j?er-to.

For-)?i, leue sone, tel J?ou me

Wat )?ou woldest I dude for ]?e."
u Bote, leue nelde, ful euele I fare ;

I lede mi lif wij? tene and kare;

WiJ? muchel hounsele ich lede mi lif,
And ]?at is for on suete wif
pat hei^tte margeri.

161 W. & M. i-blessi. MS. I. blessi. — 162 W. & M. i-com.
MS. I-com. — 170 W. & M. ther-to. — 171 W. & M. For-thi.
— 173 W. & M. Nelde.

HDame

Ich haue I-loued hire moni dai, ^
And of hire loue hoe seiz me nai ;

Hider ich com for-]?i. £fci 180

ote if hoe wende hire mod, r***

or serewe mon ich wakese wod, £*PH

Oj?er mi selue quelle.
Ich heuede I-J?out miself to slo ;
For-J;en radde a frend me go 185

To ]?e mi sereue telle.

He saide me, wij?-houten faille,
pat ]?ou me cou)?est helpe and

And bringen me of wo
foru )nne crafftes and )?ine dedes ;
ich wiYe'jeue )?e
}?at hit be so."

" Benedicite_bejieriniie !

Her hauest )?ou, sone, mikel senn

Louerd, for his suete nome, i95

Lete ]>e )?erfore hauen no shome!

pou <M»nipQf afftpr^orlpc grome

Wen J?ou seist on me silk blame.

For ich am old, and sek and lame ;

Seknesse haue]? maked me ful tame.

178 W. & M. i-loved. MS. I. loued.— 179 W. & M. seith.
— 1 80 W. & M. for-thi. — 183 W. & M. miselve. — 184 W.
& M. i-thout. — 187 W. & M. withhouten. — 188 W. & M. vaile.

i

Bl£S$eJ?e, blesse J;e, leue knaue !

Leste ]?ou mes-auenter haue,

For J?is lesing j?at is founden

Opp-on me, J?at am harde I-bonden.

Ich am on holi wimon, 205

On wicchecrafft nout I ne con, Q*s^

Bote wi)? goclernen almesdede. .

Iljce dai mi lif I fede, ^uotou>

And bidde mi patar noster and mi crede,

Q\J L lr^ Pat goej^hem helpe at hore nede, al°

H & pat helpen me mi lif to lede,

And leue J>at hem mote wel spede.

His lif and his soule wor]?e I-shend, '

pat j;e to me J?is hernde haue]? send ;

And leue me to ben I-wreken 215

On him )?is shome me hauej? spek<?#."

T" cue nelde, bilef al )?is ;
I Me )?inke)? ]?a[t] ];ou art onwis
-* — pe mon )?at me to ]?e taute,
He weste }>at ]?ou hous cou^est sa
" Ip, dame sirij?, if j^^ "
o make me wi)? ]?e sueting

201 W. & M. bless. — 202 W. & M. mesaventer, MS. mes
auenter. — 204 W. & M. Oppon, i-bonden, MS. I bonden. —
207 W. & M. witchecrafft. — 209 W. & M. pater-noster. —
213 W. & M. i-shend. — 215 W. & M. i-wreken. — 216 W.
& M. speken. — 217 W. & M. Nelde. bi-lef. — 218 MS. pa ;
W. & M. that. — 220 W. touhest, MS. coupest or toupest(?).

H>ame

II

;,/^*

^ ** Ji<-s
/

-

And ich wille geue J>e gift ful stark,
Moni a pound and moni a marke,
Warme pilche and warme shon,
WiJ? |?at min hernde be wel don.
Of muchel godlec mi^t ]?ou $elpe,
If hit be so j?at |?ou me helpe."

Lh me nout, wilekin, bi In leute

/
Is hit J?in hernest J?ou tekest me ? o-

Louest ]?ou wel dame margeri ? "
Je, nelde, witerli ;
Ich hire loue, hit mot me spille,
Bote ich gete hire to mi wille."
" Wat, god wilekin, me rewe]? J?i scaj?e
Houre louerd .sende ]?e help ra}?e !

Weste hid hit mi^tte ben forhol^n,
Me wolde }?unche wel solen

pi wille for to fullen.
Make me siker wiJ? word on honde,
pat ]?ou wolt helen, and I wile fonde

If ich mai hire tellen.

240

For al J?e world ne woldi nout
pat ich were to chapitre I-brout
For none selke werkes.

224 MS. apound, amarke. — 230 W. tehest, M. techest. —
232 W. & M. Nelde. —235 MS. wilekin.— 236 MS. louerd.
— 237 W. & M. for-holen. — 244 W. & M. i-brout.

12 SDame

Mi iugement were sone I-giuen
To ben wij; shome spmer driuen^
Wi}? prestes and with clarkes.'>x

CO^\V^Ar-^^--A

" I-wis, nelde, ne woldi »S°

pat J?ou heuedest uilani r Al

Ne shame for mi goed.
Her I J?e mi troupe pli^tte,
Ich shal helen bi mi mi^tte,
Bi J?e holi roed ! "

u Welcome, wilekin, hiderward ;
Her hauest I-maked a foreward

pat ]?e mai ful wel like,
pou mai^t blesse )?ilke si}?,

]?ou mai^t make }?e Jd^li}?^ ^ 26°

ar J?ou namore sike.

euer come j?ou hider, y*&* <
or sone willi gange J>ider,
And maken hire hounderstonde. .fr^r\\
I shal kenne hire sulke a lore^ 265

pat hoe shal louien ]?e mikel more
pen ani mon In londe."

246 W. & M. jugement, i-given. — 249 W. & M. I-wis, Nelde.
— 250 W. & M. vilani. — 255 MS. wilekin. 256 W. & M.
i-maked. — 261 W. To geder hele, M. To goder hele. W. & M.
hide[r]. — 264 MS. alore. — 266 W. & M. in.

u Al so haul godes grij?,
Wel hauest ]?ou said, dame siri]?,

And gode&Jiele shal ben J?in.
Haue her tjventi shiling,

: to meding,
£*»y J^buggen }?e sep and swin."

1 So ich euere brouke hbus o)?er flet,
Neren neuer penes beter biset

pen j?es shulen ben.
For I shal don a iiipirti,
And a ferH maistrf, r

pat )?ou shalt ful wel sen.

280

Pepir aoiL shalt ]?ou eten,
pis mustart shal ben ]?i mete,

And gar Jnn eien to rene ; '*
I shal make a lesing
Of ]?in heie-renning,

Ich wot wel wer and wenne.

" Wat ! nou const ]?ou no god ?

Me JnnkeJ; ]?at )?ou art wod :

^euest ]?o J?e welpe mustard ?
" Be stille, boinard ! o " j

270 W. Have, M. Hawe. — 276 W. & M. juperti, MS.
aiup^rti. — 279 MS. Pepis. — 282 MS. alesing. — 287 W. tho,
M. thou.

/xx

14 SDame ^irt? # (c*

I shal mit j?is like gin f

Gar hire loue to ben al J?in. 490

Ne shal ich neuer haue reste ne ro

Til ich haue told hou J?ou shalt do.

Abid me her til min horn-come."
" ^ us, bi ]?e somer blome,

HeJ?en nulli ben binomen, •*#•» * 295

Til ]>ou be a^ein comen "

Dame sirij? bigon to go,

As a wreeche J?at is wo,

pat hoe come hire to J?en inne

per J>is gode wif wes inne. . 300

po hoe to )?e dore com,

Swtye reuliche hoe bigori :
cc Louerd," hoe seij?, " wo is holde wiues,

pat in pouerte ledej? ay Hues ; ^ ' ftl{

Not no mon so muchel of pine S10V& ^305

As poure wif ]?at fallej; in an sine. #S .

pat mai ilke mon bi me wite <nc-*-'~

For mai I noup>er gange ne site.

Ded woldi ben ful fain.

Houng^r and Jmr^t me hauej? nei slain; 310

Ich ne mai mine limes on-wold,

For mikel hounger and Jmrst and cold.

War-to liueth selke a wreeche ?

Wi nul goed mi soule fecche ? "

291 MS. nero. — 293 MS. horn come. — 294 W. & M. bi-
nomen. — 310 W. & M. Hounger. — 311 W. & MS. on wold.
— 313 W. & M. War-to. MS. a wreeche.

15

"Seli wif, god J?e hounbinde ! ifj 315

To dai wille I )?e mete firide %^

For loue of goed.
Ich haue reuj?e of )?i wo,
For euele I-cloj?ed I se J?e go,

And euele I-shoed. / 320

#

Com her-in, ich wile J?e fede,"
u Goed almi^tten do }?e mede,

And j?e louerd )?at wes on rode I-don,

And faste fourti dau£ to nqn,
\ Andheuene and erj?e hauej? to welde.

Haue her fles and eke bred,
And make )?e glad, hit is mi red ;
And haue her J?e coppe wij? )?e dr
"Goed do J;e mede for }?i swinke."
i* ^t Xpenne spac )?at holde wif,

Crist awarie hire lif!
I ?" Alas ! Alas ! pat euer I Hue !
Al ]?e sunne ich wolde forgiue
pe mon J?at smite of min heued !
/Teh wolde mi lif me were bireued ! "

319 W. & M. i-clothed, MS. I. closed- — 3^0 W. & M.
i-shoed, MS. I shoed. — 321 W. & M. herin. — 323 W. & M.
loverd, i-don. — 326 W. & M. for-jelde. — 329 W. & M. drinke.
— 330 W. & M. Goed mede the for. — 331 W. & M. olde.—
334 W. & M. for-give. — 335 W. & M. off. — 336 W. & M.
bi-reved.

1 6 Dame

« Seli wif, what eille); J?e ? "

u Bote ej?e mai I- sori be :
Ich heuede'a douter feir and fre,
Feiror ne mi^tte no mon se. 34°

Hoe heuede a curteis hossebonde ;
Freour mon mi^tte no mon fqnde.
Mi dout^r louede him al to wel;

T? 1 ' 1 • -11

fP — Por-Jn maki son del. j.*/v*r

Oppon a dai- he was out wend,
And J?ar-];oru wes mi dout^r she
He hede on ernde out of toune ;
And com a modi clarc wij?
To mi dout^r his loue beed,
And hoe nolde nout folewe his red. 35°

He ne mi^tte his wille haue,
A^ . For no J?ing he mijtte craue.

penne bigon j?e clerc to wiche,

And shop mi dout^r til a biche.

pis is mi dout*r )?at ich of speke; 355

For del of hire min herte breke.

Loke hou hire heien greten,

On hire cheken )?e teres meten.

339 W. & M. douter. MS. adout^r. — 340 W. & M. Feirer.

— 342 MS. nomon. — 343 W. & M. douter. — 344 W. & M.
For-thi mak I. — 345 MS. adai, W. & M. oute. — 346 Wr &
M. thar- forn, douter. — 348 MS. amodi. — 349 W. & M. douter.

— 3 5 2 W. & M. nothing. — 353 W. & M. bi-gon. — 3 54 MS.
abiche. 355 W. & M. douter.

17

For Jn, dame, were hit no wowd^r,
pau min herte burste assund^r. 360

A[nd] wose euer is $ong houssewif,
Ha loue]? ful luitel hire lif,
And eni clerc of loue hire bede,
Bote hoe grante and lete him spede."
" A ! louerd crist, wat rriaLfrenne do ! "^11^65
pis enderdai com a clarc me to,
And bed me loue on his manere,
And ich him nolde nout I-here.
Ich trouue he wolle me foi^ape
Hbu Itroustu, nelde, ich moue ascap
God almi^tten be }?in help
pat )?ou ne be nou)?er bicche ne welp !
Leue^dame, if eni clerc
BedeJ? );e )?at loue-werc,

Ich rede )?at |?ou gr^nte his bone, 375

And bicom his lefmon sone.
And if J?at J?ou so ne dost,
A worse r,ed bou ounderfost."

Louerd crist, J?at me is wo,
pat |?e clarc me hede fro, PlS. -^W- 38°
-5>Ar he me heuade^biwonne.^ ^

359 W. & M. For-thi, wonder. — 360 W. & M. thah. —
361 MS. A, W. & M. hever. — 362 M. Hoe. — 363 W. &
M. An. — 364 W. & M. graunte. — 365 M. inserts *I* after mai.
— 368 W. & M. i-here. — 369 W. & M. for-sape. — 370 W. &
M. Nelde. — 375 W. & M. graunte. — 376 W. & M. bi-com.

1 8

Me were leuere ];en ani fe
That he heuede enes leien bi me,
And efft-sones bigunne.

M«« ,/ „*«+* UgS?

Euer-more, nelde, ich wille be J?in, 385

WiJ? ]?at )?ou feche me willekin,

pe clarc of warn I telle,
Giftes willi geue ]?e
pat ]?ou mai^t euer ]?e betere be*

Bi godes houne belle ! " . ^

" So)?liclie, mi swete dame,
And if I mai wi]?-houte blame^,

Fain ich wille fFondej e^xTl^
And if ich mai wij? him metei, ,
Bi eni wei o|?er bi strete, & 395

Nout ne willi wonde. v**>

Haue goddai, dame ! for]? willi go."
gAj v^x " Allegate loke )?at J?ou do so

As ich ]?e bad ;

Bote )?at J?ou me wilekin bringe,
Ne mai neuer lawe^ne singe,

Ne be glad."

384 MS. efft sones, W. & M. bi-gunne. — 385 W. & M. A~ fi
Evermore, Nelde. — 388 W. & M. give. — 392 W. & M. "
withhoute. — 393 W. & M. fonde. — 397 W. & M. god dai. //j,
— 401 M. inserts *I* after mai. HAJL

E>ame ^irij 19

u I wis, dame, if I mai,
Ich wille bringen him $et to-dai,

Bi mine mi^tte." 405

Hoe wente hire to hire inne,
Her hoe founde wilekinne,

Bi houre dri^tte ! LO*I>

" Swete wilekin, be J?ou nout dred,
&«*~ For of }?in her[n]ae ich haue wel sped. 410

Swtye^ com for ]?ider wi)? me,

For hoe haue)? send affter j?e. <>fj^r^^
'" I-wis nou mai^t J?ou ben aboue, v:"

For ]?ou hauest gnmtise of hire loue."
u God )?e for-^elde, leue nelde, r*& ' 415

pat heuene and erj?e hauej? to welde ! "

x^^x)A4rT^"' u^i^

pis modi mon bigon to gon
WiJ? Sfriz to his leuemon

In ]?ilke stounde.

Dame Siriz bigon to telle, 420

And swor^bi godes ouene belle,

Hoe heuede him founde. 'jtfve&r&v

u Dame, so haue ich wilekin sout,

For nou haue ich him I-brout."
"Welcome, wilekin, swete )?ing, 4*5

pou art ^welcomore }?en ]?e king.

403 W. & M. I-wis. —410 MS. herde. — 411 M. for*th*
thider. — 412 W. & M. affter. — 413 W. & M. I-wis.—
414 W. & M. graundse. —415 MS. for $elde. W. & M. Nelde.
— 424 W. & M. i-brout.

20 SDame

Wilekin j?e swete, ^pv^
Mi loue I J?e bihete, ("

To don al }?ine wille.
Turnd ich haue mi Jjout, 430

For I ne wolde nout

pat J?ou J?e shuldest spille." tefrvi*A en

<, TA • l_ I- U^i*

" Dame, so ich euere bide noen, ^^ ^
And ich am redi and I-boen ^*

To don al |?at )?ou saie. 435

Nelde, par ma fai !
pou most gange awai,

Wile ich and hoe shulen plaie."

" Goddot so I wille :

And loke }?at ]?ou hire tille, 440

And strek out hire }?es. 'sf/IW/G-w

God ^eue ]?e muchel kare,

^eif J?at J?ou hire spare,

pe wile bou mid hire bes. ***

"

And wose is onwis,

And for non pr/V (^U /

Ne con geten his leuempn,
I slal for mi

Garen_him to spede, Yi I C -kL

For ful wel I con." "Z/0*^ 3f2

428 W. & M. bi-hete. —434 W. & M. i-boen. -f^44 M.
here. — 446 W. & M. pris.

SDante ^irij 21

Appendix to Dame Siriz

Hie Incip1 Interludlum de clerico et puella.

Clericus ait,

u Damishel, reste wel ! " Clericus

" Sir, welcuw, by saynt michel ! " Paella

" Wer esty sire, wer esty dame ? " cimc^y
u By gode, es noyer her at hame." Puella 5

"Wel wor suilc a man to -life deri™

Yat suilc a may mithe haue to wyfe."
u Do way, by cr/st and leonard, Puel/a

No wily lufe na clerc fayllard,

Na kepi herbherg, clerc, in huse, no y flore 10

Bot his hers ly wit uten dore.

Go forth yi way, god sire,

ffor her hastu losye al yi wile."
u Nu, nu, by cr/st and by sant ihon ; Ckrk«*

In al yis land ne wis hi none, 15

Mayden, yat hi luf mor yan ye,

Hif me micht euer ye bether be.

ffor ye hy sory nicht and day,

Y may say, hay wayleuay ! "

Y luf ye mar yan mi lif, 20

Yu hates me mar yan yayt dos chnief.

Yat es nouct for mys-gilt,

Certhes, for yi luf ham hi spilt.

A, suythe mayden, reu of me,

Yat es ty luf hand ay salbe, 25

22

fFor ye luf of y [e] mod [er] of efne,

Yu mend yi mode and her my steuene ! "
" By cr/st of heu^we and sant ione, Puell*

Clerc of scole ne kepi non,

fFor many god wymman haf yai don scam — 30

By cr/st, yu michtis haf ben at hame ! "
" Synt it noyir gat may be, ciencus

Ihesu cr/st by-te[c]hy ye,

And send neulic bot yar inwe,

Yat yi be lesit of al my pyne." 35

" Go nu, trwan, go nu, go, Puell*

fFor mikel yu cawstu of sory and wo ! "

u God te blis, mome helwis ! " Cltncus

" Son, welcu/w, by san dinis ! " Mome-Elwis

u Hie am comin to ye, mome, Clericut 40

Yu hel me noth, yu say me sone.

Hie am a clerc yat hauwtes scole,

Y lydy my lif wyt mikel dole.

Me wor leu^r to be dedh,

Yan led ye lif yat hyc ledh 45

fFor ay mayden with and schen,

fFayrer ho lond hawy non syen.

Yo hat mayden malkyn, y wene.

Nu yu wost quam y mene. /*/*w *< m^

Yo wonys at the tounes ende, 50

Yat suyt lif so fayr and hende.

Bot if yo wil hir mod amende,

SDame fyiti? 23

Neuly crist my ded me send !
Men send me hyder, vyt-vterc fayle,
To haf yi help anty cuwsayle; 55

Yar for amy cummen here,
Yat yu salt be my herand-bere,
To mac me and yat mayden sayct,
And hi sal gef ye of my nayct,
So yat heu^r al yy lyf 60

Saltu be ye better wyf.
So help me cr/st, and hy may spede,
Riche saltu haf yi mede."
u A, son, vat saystu ? Benedicite ! Mome Ellwis
Lift hup yi hand and blis ye ! 65

ffor it es boyt syn and scam, *#**£
Yat yu on me hafs layt thys blam.
ffor hie am anald quyne and a lam,
Y led my lyf wit godis loue,
Wit my roc y me fede, 70

Cani do non oyir dede,
Bot my pater noster and my crede,
To say cr/st for missedede,
And myn auy mary —

ffor my scynnes hie am sory — 75

And my depn?fund/V
ffor al yat jr sin lys;
ffor cani me non oyir yink —
Yat wot cr/st, of hew^ne kync.
Ih^su cr/st of hea^ne hey, 80

24 20ame

Gef yat hay may heng hey,

And gef yat hy may se,

Yat yay be heng' on a tre,

Yat yis ley as leyit onne me.

ffbr aly wymam ami on." 85

attD 3£olf fn t^e

and of ]?e wolf

vox gon out of J?e wode go,
Afingret so, J?at him wes wo;
He nes neuere in none wise
Afingret erour half so swi]?e.
He ne hoeld nou}?er wey ne strete,
. For him wes loj? men to mete ;
\'J ^OK |^^m were leuere meten one hen,
Adru'l lpen na^f anoundred wimmen.
He strok swibe ouer-al,

it»-»uii»- •— — Y m '

S° l7^ ne ofsei ane wal;
cMtM WiJ;inne )?e walle wes on
k " The wox wes J?ider swij?e

For he )?ohute his hounger aqw^nche,
Oj?er mid mete, oj;er mid drunche.
Abouten he biheld wel ^erne ;
po eroust bigon }?e vox to erne,
Al fort he come to one walTeJl
And SOIA J?er-of wes afalle,

W. = Wright and Halliwell, Reliquiae Antiquae ; M. =
Matzner, Altenglhche sprachproben. In W. and in H. throughout
p appears as th and consonantal u as *v.

8 W. & M. Than half an oundred. — 9 W. & M. all. — 1 3 W.
& M. aquenche. — 1 8 W. & M. therof wes a-falle.

26 Qfyt $w ana flRHolf in tfce Wltll

And wes J>e wal ouer-al to-broke,
And on ^at J?er wes I-loke;
UA. <&UAfl- At be furmeste bruche bat he fond.

A *.*-*'*' —. j — ~ — '

lep in, and ouer he wond.
po he wes inne, smere he lou,
And j?er-of he hadde gome I-nou ;
For he com in wij?-outen leue
Bo]?en of haiward and of reue.

On hous J?er wes, )?e dore wes ope,
Hennen weren J?erinne I-crope,

Fiue, )?at make)? anne flok,

And mid hem sat on kok.

pe kok him wes flowen on hey,

And two hennen him seten ney.
" Wox," quod )?e kok, " wat dest ]?ou J?are ?
^Go horn, crist )?e ^eue kare !

Houre hennen J?ou dest ofte shome."
u Be stille, ich hote, a godes nome ! "

Qua)? J?e wox, " sire chauntecler,

pou fle adoun, and com me ner.

I nabbe don her nout bote goed,

I have leten J>ine hennen blod ;

Hy weren seke ounder )?e ribe,

pat hy ne mi^tte non lengour libcj

35

19 MS. to breke. — 20 W. & M. i-loke. — 24 W. & M.
i-nou. — 28 W. & M. i-crope, MS. I crope. — 36 MS. agodes.

Wolf m fyt WglL 27

Bote here heddca were I-take ;
I- pat I do for almes sake.

Ich haue hem letten eddre blod, 45

And ]?e, chauntecler, hit wolde don goed.
a i pou hauest ]?at ilke ounder )?e splen,
Pou n^stes^neuere dales ten ;
For Jrine lif-dayes bej? al ago,
Bote |?ou bi mine rede do ; 50

<&>?! do J>c lete bVcfd ounder eest,

O)?er sone axe after j?e presf.
tc Go wei," quod )?e kok, u wo ]?e bi-go !
pou hauest don oure kunne wo.
Go mid |?an |?at )?ou hauest nou}?e ; 55

Acoursed be )?ou of godes mou]7e ! f
For were I adoun bi godes nome ! , ,

Ich mijte ben siker of o}?re shome
Ac w^te hit houre cellerer,
pat J?ou were I-comen her. 60

He wolde sone after J;e $onge,
Mid pikes and stones and staues stronge ;
Alle J?ine bones he wolde to-breke;
pene we weren wel awreke."

H

E wes stille, ne spak namore, 65

Ac he wcrb a)?urst wel sore ;
~

.

43 W. & M. i-take, MS. I take. — 49 W. & M. a^go. — 58
W. & M. owre. — 59 M. wiste. — 60 W. & M. i-comen, MS.
I comen. — 63 MS. to brekc,

28 Wyt 5Fop ana WMf in tlje Wltll

pe }?urst him dede more wo,
pen heuede raj^er his hounger do.
Ouer-al he ede and sojiyte ;
On auenture his wiit him brohute,
To one putte wes water inne jj
pat wes I-maked mid grete ginne.,
Tuo boketes |?er he founde, fi^ Ounb

pat oj;er wende to );e grounde, 1

pat wen me shulde };at on opwinde, 75

pat o]?er wolde adoun winde.
f He ne hounderstod nout of J?e ginne,
He nom ]?at boket, and lep J;erinne ;
ne h°ede I-nou to drinke.

is boket biginne}? to sinke; 80

To late J?e vox wes bij?out,
po he wes in J;e ginne I-brout.
I-nou he gon him bi-J;enche, /

Ac hit ne halp mid none wrenchc -d^ncz.
Adoun he moste, he wes }?erinne ; 85

I-kaut he wes mid swikele ginne.
Hit mi^te han iben wel his wille ,
To lete )?at boket hongi stille. f
serewe and mid drede,

72 W. & M. i-maked, MS. I maked. — 75 W. & M. op-
winde, M. omits on. — 76 W. & M. a-doun. — 79 W. & M.
i-nou, MS. Inou. — 80 W. & M. beginneth. — 81 W. & M.
bi-pout. — 8a W. & M. i-brout, MS. I brout. — 83 MS. bi
penche. — 85 W. & M. A-doun. —86 W. & M. i-kaut. —
87 W. & M. i-ben, MS. hani ben,

3H)e JFo? anD fflttolf in tlje Witil 29

Al his jmrst him ouer-hede.
Al J?us he com to j?e grounde,

And water I-nou ]?er he founde. / ' J

po he fond water, ^erne he dronk, ~*
Him ]?oute J?at water ]?ere stonk,
For(hit wes to-^eines his wille.
u. Wo wtfrj?e," t\ua\ )?e vox, " lust and wille>

ne can me]; to his mete !
^ef ich neuede to muchel I-ete,
pis ilke shome neddi nou]?e;
Nedde lust I-ben of mine mou]?e. 100

Him is wo in euche londe,
pat is ]?ef mid his honde.
Ich am I-kaut mid swikele ginne, ,
O}?er soum deuel me broute her-inne. ^
I was woned to ben wiis, . , 105

Ac nou of jne I-don hit

PE vox wep, and reuliche bigan.
per com a wolf gon after j?an
Out of J?e depe wode bliue,
For he wes afingret swij?e. no

Noting he ne founde in al J?e ni^te,
Wer-mide his honger aquewche mi^tte.

90 W. & M. over-hede, MS. ouer hede. — 91 W. & M. come.
— 92 W. & M. i-nou. — 95 MS. to ^eines. — 96 W. & M.
quath. — 97 M. con. — 98 W. & M. i-ete, MS. I etc. — 100
W. & M. i-ben, MS. I ben. — 103 W. & M. i-kaut, MS. I kaut.
- 106 W. & M. i-don, MS. I don. — 112 W., MS. Wer mide,
W. & M. aquenche, M. Wer-mid e.

30 &ty 3F0F ana OTolf in tlje WLtll

He com to J?e putte, }?ene vox I-herde ;

He him kneu wel bi his rerde,

For hit wes his nei^ebore,

And his gossi^ctf children bore.

A-doun bi J?e putte he sat.

Quod J?e wolf, "Wat may ben J?at

pat ich in J?e putte I-here ?
^sHertou cristine, oj?er mi fere ?
jBay me so}?, ne gabbe }?ou me nout,

Wo hauej? J?e in )?e putte, I-brout ? "

pe vox hine I-kneu wel for his kiin, -
/And J?o eroust kom wiit to him ;
^For he J?oute mid soumme ginne, 12

Him-self houpbringe, ]?ene wolf }?erinne.

Quod }?e vox, " Wo is nou }?ere ?

Ich wene hit is sigr/m J?at ich here."
" pat is so}?," )?e wolf sede,
u Ac wat art ]?ou, so god J?e rede ? " '3

7 quod J?e vox, " ich wille }?e telle ;
~ On alpj_ word ich lie nelle.
Ich am reneuard, ]>i frend,
And ^if ich J?ine come heuede I-wend,
Ich hedde so I-bede for }?e, ,3

pat }?ou sholdest comen to me."

113 W. & M. i-herde. — 1 14 W. & M. by. — 1 1 8 M. What.
— 119 W. & M. i-here. — 122 W. & M. i-brout. — 123 W.
& M. i-kneu, MS. I kneu. — 128 W. & M. Sigrim. — 134 W.
& M. i-wend. — 135 W. & M. i-bade.

anti Molf in ttyt Well 31

" Mid ]?e ? " quod }?e wolf, " War to ?
Wat shulde ich ine }?e putte do ? "
Quod }?e vox, u pou art ounwiis, -
Her is ]?e blisse of paradiis ; 140

Her ich mai euere wel fare,
WiJ?-outen pine, wi]?outen kare; I
Her is mete, her is drinke,
Her is blisse wi]?outen swinke ;
Her nis hounger neuermo, 145

Ne non o]?er kunnes wo ;
Of alle gode her is I-nou."
Mid ]>ilke wordes J?e volf lou.

" /% rt )?ou ded, so god ]?e rede,

jLJL O]?er of ]?e worlde?" )?e wolf sede. I50
Quod J?e wolf, " Wenne storue }?ou,
And wat dest ]?ou )?ere nou ?
Ne be]? nout }et J?re daies ago,
pat ]?ou and ]?i wif also,

And ]?ine children, smale and grete, I55

Alle to-gedere mid me hete."

" pat is so]?," quod ]?e vox,

" Gode ]?onk, nou hit is ]?us,
pat ihc am to criste vend. I
Not hit non of mine frend." !60

I nolde, for al ]?e worldes goed, \ ^^g^lQiA'
Ben ine be worlde, ber ich hem fond. V^^Vv)

/WHI/I*I^' ^

137 W. & M. war-to. — 147 W. & M. i-nou. — 153 W. & I
M. a-go.

32 W$t 5Fop ana UKoif in tlje Well

Wat shuldich ine J?e worlde go,

per nis bote kare and wo,

And liuie in fulj?e and in sunne ? 165

Ac her be)? ioies fele cunne ; , ^ _^ /J^

Her be)? bo)?e shep and ^"ctW^

pe wolf haue)? hounger swipe gret,

For he nedde }are I-ete ;

And J?o he herde speken of mete, 170

He wolde blepeliche ben J?are. J
" A ! " quod )?e wolf, " gode I-fere,

Moni goed mel J?ou hauest me binon

Let me adoun to J?e kome.

And al ich wole j?e for-^eue." 175

u ^e," quod j?e vox, " were J?ou I-sriue,

And sunnen heuedest al forsake,

And to klene lif I-take,

Ich wolde so bidde for J?e,

pat )?ou sholdest comen to me." 180

^ I ^O worn shuldich," J?e wolfe seide,
i^7" J. Beji^knowe of mine misdede ?
Her nis noting aliue,
pat me kou)?e her nou sriue.

156 MS. to gedere. — 166 W. & M. joies. — 169 W. & M.
i-ete, MS. I etc. — 171 W. & M. i-fere, MS. I fere.— 174 W.
& M. a-doun. — 175 MS. for ^eue. — 176 W. & M. i-srive,
MS. I sriue. — 178 W. & M. i take, MS. I take. — 182 W. &
M. i-knowe, MS. I knowe.

tEije jfop ana OTtolf in tlje Well 33

pou hauest ben ofte min I-fere, 185

Woltou nou mi srift I-here,

And al mi liif I shal pe telle ? "

Nay," quod pe vox, « I nelle."

Neltou," quod pe wolf, "Jgn ore,

Ich am afingret swipe sore-p

Ich wot to nijt ich wor]?e ded,

Bote pou do me somne reed. wA

For cristes loUe be mi prest." /uJ^ * ^

Pe wolf be^Ladoun his brest,

^nc^ Son to si^en harde and stronge. 195

Woltou," quod J?e vox, " srift ounderfowge,

Tel pine sunnen on and on,

pat per bileue neuer on."

"Qone," quod pe wolf, « wel l

O Ich habbe ben qued al mi lifdaie ;
Ich habbe wide^ne kors, ^S.
perfore ich fare pe wors.
A pousent shep ich habbe abiten,
And mo, ^ef hy weren 1-writen.
Ac hit me of-pinkep sore. 205

Maister, shal I tellen more ? "

185 W. & M. i-fere, MS. I fere. — 186 W. & M. i-here,
WS. I here. — 191 W. & M. to-nijt. — 194 W. & H. a-doun.
— 196 W. & M. ounderfonge. — 199 W. &M. quad, MS. I fare,
W. & M. i-faie. — 200 W. & M. lif-daie. — 204 W. & M.
i-writen, MS. I writen. — 205 MS. of J?inkeJ>.

34 tER&e JFoF ana OTolf in ti)t Meli

]?e vox, u al J?ou most suggeJ
" Gossip," quod J?e wolf, cc foqef hit me,

Oj>er elles-wer )?ou most abugge."

Ich habbe ofte sehid qued bi )?e,

Men seide J?at ]?ou on ]?ine Hue

Misferdest mid mine wiue ;

Ich )?e ap^rseiuede one stounde,
jAnd in bedde togedere ou founde.
I Ich wes ofte ou ful ney, 215

I And in bedde to-gedere ou sey.
5 Ich wende, al-so o)?re do)?,
| pat ich I-seie were soj>,

And J?erfore ]?ou were me loj; ;

Gode gossip, ne be j?ou nohut wroj?." aao

T-T
V

," quod J>e vox him )?o,
Al )?at J;ou hauest her bifore I-do,

In ]>ohut, in speche, and in dede,

In euche oj?eres kunnes quede,

Ich ]?e forjeue at ]?isse nede." 225

" Crist )?e foqelde ! " J?e wolf seide.
" Nou ich am in clene liue,

Ne recche ich of childe ne of wiue.

Ac sei me wat I shal do,

And ou ich may comen J?e to." 230

207 W. & M. quad. — 208 MS. elles wer. — 213 W. & M.
aperseivede. — 214 W. & M. to-gedere. — 216 MS. to gedere ou
ley, M. sey. — 218 W. & M. i-sele, MS. I seie. — 221 W. &
M. quad. — 222 W. & M. i-do, MS. I do.

Wyt JFop anO ®Kolf in ti)t Witll 35

u Do ? " quod ]?e vox. " Ich wille J?e lere.

I-siist }?ou a boket hongi J;ere ?

pere is a bruche of heuene blisse,

Lep J?erinne, mid I-wisse,

And J?ou shalt comen to me sone." 235

Quod the wolf, " }?at is li^t to done."

He lep in, and way sumdel ;

pat weste J?e vox ful wel.

pe wolf gon sinke, J?e vox arise ;

po gon J?e wolf sore agr/se. 24°

po he com amidde j?e putte,

pe wolfe ]?ene vox opward mette.
" Gossip," quod }?e wolf, u Wat nou ?

Wat hauest j?ou I-munt ? weder wolt J?ou ? "
u Wedeij^Ich wille($" )?e vox sede.
" Ich wille oup, so god noe redej

And nou go doun, wij? )?i meel,

pi bi^ete wor|? wel smal.

Ac ich am J;erof glad and bli}?e,

pat ]?ou art nomen in clene Hue. • 250

pi soule-cnul ich wille 3o ririge,

And masse for J?ine soule singe."

pe wrecche bine]?e noting ne vind,

Bote cold water, and hounger him bind ;

To colde gistninge he wes I-bede, 255

Wroggen hauej? his dou I-knede.

232 MS. I siist. — 234 W. & M. i-wisse, MS. I wisse. —
240 W. & M. agrise. — 244 W. & M. i-munt, MS. I munt.

— 251 W. & M. soul-cnul. — 255 W. & M. i-bede, MS. I bede.

— 256 W. & M. i-knede, MS. I knede.

36 Wyt jfojt: ana Wolf in tlje

e wolf in J?e putte stod,
Afingret so ]?at he ves wod.
Inou he cursede ]?at )?ider him broute ;

pe put him wes J?e house ney,

per freren woneden swij?e sley.

po J?at hit com to J?e time,

pat hoe shulden arisen Ine,,

For to suggen here houssorig,

O frere ]?ere wes among,

Of here slep hem shulde awecche,

Wen hoe shulden J?idere recche.

He seide, " Arise]? on and on,

And kome}? to houssong heuereuchon."

pis ilke frere heyte ailmer ;

He wes hoere maister curtiler.

He wes hofyurst swij>e stronge ;

Ri^t amidward here houssonge

Al-hone to ]?e putte he hede;

For he wende bete his nede.

He com to ]?etputte, and drou,

And ]?e wolf wes heui I-nou.

pe frere mid al his maine tey

So longe ]?at he J?ene wolf I-sey !

For he sei J?ene wolf ]?er sitte,

He gradde, " pe deuel is in J?e putte ! "

259 MS. I nou. — 264 W. & M. ime. — 270 M. hevere uchon.
— 275 W. & M. Alhone, MS. Al hone. — 278 W. & M. i-nou,
MS. I nou.— 280 W. & M. i-sey, MS. I sey.

27*

age

3tf)e jfop ana Wolf in tfce Well 37

To J?e putte hy gounnen gon,
Alle mid pikes and staues and ston,
Euch mon mid J?at he hedde ; 285

Wo wes him J?at wepne nedde.
Hy comen to J?e putt^ bene wolf opdrowe ;
po hede J;e wreche fomefi I-nowe,
pat weren egre him to slete^ ^CUA ^OM^^A^
Mid grete houndes, and to bete. 190

Wei and wro]?e he wes I-swonge,
Mid staues and speres he wes I-stouwge.
pe wox bicharde him, mid Iwisse,
For he ne fond nones kunnes blisse,
Ne hof duntes for^euenesse. explicit. 295

287 W. & M. op-drowe. — 288 W. & M. i-nowe, MS. I nowe.
— 291 W. & M. i-swonge, MS. I swonge. — 292 W. & M.
i-stounge, MS. I sto«ngc. — 293 W. & M. i-wisse, MS. I wisse.

[L] ystyns, lordyng^, and }e schall here Ashmole
Off ansytowrres, \a\. be-fore vs were, MS' 6l'

Bothe herdy and wyght,
Yn tyme of vter and pewdragonn,
Kyng artowr fad^r of grete renou«e, 5

A sembly man of syght.
He had a kny^ht, hy^t sir clegys ;
A dou^tyer man was now at nedys

Of J;e ronde-tabull ry^ht.

He was man of hy statour 1

And tyer-to feyre of all fetowr,

A man of mekyll my^ht.

Mour curtas kny^ht J?aw he was one
Yn all f?/s werld was \er non.

He was so gentyll and fre,
To squyres ]>at tr<7ueyled in lond of werre
And wer fallyn in pou^rte, bare,

He gaff J?e;7/ gold and fe.
Hys tenants feyr he wold rehete;
No man he wold buske_ ne bete ;

Meke as meyd was he.
Hys mete was redy to eu^ry man
That wold com and vyset hyw than ;

He was full of plente..

g>tr Cleges 39

The knyght had a gentyll wyffr, 25

A better my^ht now be of lyfe,

Ne non semblyer in syght.
Dame clarys hyght fyat lady ;
OfF all godnes sche had treuly

Glad chere boj;e dey and ny^ht. 30

Crete almaj-folke boj?e J^i were
Both to pore man and to frere ;

They cheryd many a wy^ht.
ffor ]>em had no man ou^ht lore
Whe^r \e\ wer ryche or pore, 35

Of hym ]>ei schuld haue ry^ht.

Euery $ere sir clegys wold
In crystyn-mes a fest hold

Yn ]?e worschype of ]>at dey,
[As Ryall in all thynge 40

As he hade ben A kynge,

For-soth as I you saye.]
Ryche and pore in \a\. centre
At ]>at fest \e\ schuld be ;

Ther wold no man sey nay. ? 45

Mynstrellus wold not be be-hynd,
Myrthys wer \e\ may fFynd,

That is most to ]>er pay.

Mynstrellz/j when ]?e fest was don, f
Schuld not wit^-outyn gyft^j gon
That wer both rych and gode,

Verses 40-42 are supplied from the Edinburgh MS.

40 §>ir Cieges

Hors and robys and rych thyng^j,
Gold and sylu^r and ofyer thyng^j,

To mend with \er mode

X $ere our xii sych fester \e\ held 55

Yn worschype of hy#z, Ipat all weld

And for vs dy^ed vpon ]?e rode.
Be than his gode be-gan to schake,
Sych fester he gan make,

The knyght of jentyll blode. 60

To hold hys feste he wold not lete;
Hys rych manors to wede he sete :

He thou^t hyw-selue oute to quyte.
Thus he festyd many a $ere
Both gentyll men and comener )

Yn }?e name of god all-my^ht.
So at J?e last, soth to sey,
All hys gode was spendyd a-way ;

Than he had bot a lyte.

Thoff hys god were ne-hond leste, 70

Yn j?e wyrschyp he made a feste ;

He hopyd god wold hy/fl quyte.

ryalty he ford^ryd ay,
To hys manors wer sold a-wey,

That hym was left bot one; 75

And Ipat was of lytell valew,
That he and hys wyfe so trew

Oneth my^ht lyfe Jw-one.

&ir Cleges 41

Hys men, \a\. wer so mych of pr/de,

Wente a-wey o«ne eu^ry syde ; 80

With hym \er left not one.
To duell with hym \er left no mo
Bot hys wyfe and his chyld^r two ;

Than made he mekyll mone.

Yt fell on a crystewmes cue; 85

Syr clegys and his wyfe,

They duellyd by cardyff syde.
When it drew to-werd J?e none,
Syr clegys fell in swownywg sone ;

Wo be-thought hym ]>at tyde, 9°

What myrth he was wonte to hold,
And he, he had hys manors solde,

Tenandrys and landes wyde.
Mekyll sorow made he ]>er;
He wrong hys hond^r and wepyd sore, 95

ffor fallyd was hys pr/de.

And as he walkyd vppe and done,
Sore sy^eng, he herd a sowne

Off dyu^rse my«stralsy, pJiau|*/v'1
Off truwpers, pypers, and nakerner^ 100

Off herp^rs, notys and gytherners.

Off sytall and of sautrey.
Many carrals and grete dansyng
Yn eu^ry syde herd he syng,

In eu^ry place, treuly. 105

42 £>tr Clegea

He wrong hys hondes and wepyd sore ;
Mekyll mon he made \er,
Sy^eng full pytewysly.

/ x
u A Ih^u, heuerc-kyng,

Off nought Ipou madyst all thyng ;

Y thanke )>e of thy sonde.
The myrth \a\. I was won to make
Yn J?/s tyme for J?/ sake.

Y fede both fre and bond,
And all Ipat euer com in )?/ name,
They wantyd no]>er wylde ne tame,

That was in any lond,
Off rych metys and drynk^j- gode
That longes for any man^j fode,

Off cost I wold not wonde."

Als he stode in mournyng so,
And hys wyfe com hym to,

Yn armys sche hym hente.
Sche kyssed hym with glad chere,
And seyd : " My trew wedyd fere,

Y herd wele what }e ment.
^e se wele, s/r, it helpys nought,
To take sorow in jour thought;

Ther-for I rede $e stynte.
[Let yourc sorowe A-waye gon
And thanke God of hys lone

Of all \a\. he hath sent.]

ir Cleges 43

Be crystes sake, I rede $e lyne
Of all \e sorow J?#t }e be Ine

A-^ene J?/s holy dey. i35

Now eu^ry man schuld be mery and glad
With sych god^ as J?^i had;

Be }e so, I }ou pray.
Go we to ouer mete be-lyue
And make vs both m^rry and blythe, H°

his wele as eu^r we may.
I hold it for J?e best, trewly ;
Y haue made owre mete treuly,

Y hope, vnto $our pay."

a Now I assent," q«0J? cleg^j tho. '45

Yn with hyr he gan go

Som-what with better chere.
When he fell in thou^t and care, '
Sche comforth hym euer mo«r,

Hys sorow for-to stere. 150

After he gan to wex blytljfe)
And wyped hys terys blyue,

That hang on hys lyre.
Than ]>e'i wesch and went to mete,
With sych god as \e\ my^ht gete, J55

And made m^ry chere.

Verses 130-132 are supplied from the Edinburgh MS.
145 MS. the.

44 &tr Clegea

When \e\ had etc, J?e soth to sey,

With myrth ]>ei drofe }?e dey a-wey,

The best wey ]>at they my^ht.

With Iper chyld^r pley ]>ei dyde 160

And after euensong went to bede

At serteyn of ]?e nyght. ^

The sclepyd, to it rong at J>e chyrcheA Stf^**^
God^r s^ruys forto wyrche, O

As it was sky 11 and ryght. 165

Vp \e\ ros and went ]?e}^r,
They and \er chyld^r toge)?/?r,

When \e\ were redy dy^ht.

Syr cleg^r knelyd on hys kne,

3 Ih[es]u cryst pr^yd he 170

Bechegyn of hys wyfe :
u Grasyos lord," he seyd tho,
u My wyfe and my chyld^r two,

Kepe vs out of stryffe."
The lady pr^yd hym ageyn ;
Sche seyd : u god kepe my lord fro peyn

Yn-to eu^r-lastyng lyffe." 175

Seruys was don and horn ]^y wente ;
The thankyd god omnipotent

They went home so ryfe.

When he to hys palys com, X8o

He thou^t his sorow was ou^r-gon ;

Cleges 45

Hys sorow he gan stynt.
He made hys wyfe be-for hym gon
And hy [s] chylcUr eu^rychon ;

Hyw-selue a-lone he wente
Yn-to a garthyn \er be-syde. 185

He knelyd a-don in J?#t tyde

And prayd to god v^rament.
He thankyd god with all hys hert
Of all desesyd in pou^rte

That euer to hym he sente. 190

Si* c* —

As he knelyd onne hys kne
Vnd^r-neth a chery tre,

Makying hys praere,

He raw^ht a bow^e in hys hond, 195

To ryse Iper-by and vp-stond ;

No leng^-r knelyd he ]>er.
When )?e bow^he was in hys hond,
Grengleuys Iper-on he fond

And ronde beryes in fere. 200

He seyd : <c Dere god in tr/nyte,
What man^r beryes may J?/s be,

That grow ]?/s tyme of ^ere ? "

" Y haue not se J?/s tyme of
That treys any fruyt schuld bere, 205

Als ferre as I haue sought."
He thou3t to tayst it, yff he couthe ;

46

One of ]>em he put in hys mouthe ;

Spare wold he nought. toJi ai°

AfV^a chery it relesyd clene, <n^/**^^
Tnebest ]>at euer he had sene,

Seth he was man wrought.
A lytell bow he gan of-slyfe ;
And thought he wold schew it hys wyfe ; 215

Yn hys hond he it brought.

" Lo, dame, here is a nowylte ;
In ou^r garthyn vpon a tre

Y found it, sykerly. 220

Y ame a-ferd, it is tokenywg
Be-cause of ou^r grete pleny«g,
That moar greuans is ny."
His wyfe seyd : " It is tokenywg
Off mour godnes \a\. is comywg ; >n,$

We shall haue mour plente.
Haue we les our haue we mo«r,
All-wey thanke we god ]?^r-fore;
Yt is J?e best treulye."

The lady seyd with gode cher: 230

" Late vs fyll a panyer

Off J?e frute ]>at god hath sente.
To-morow, when ]?e dey do spryng,
^e schall to cardyff to J?e kyng,

fFull feyre hym to pr^jente.

*&ir Cleges 47

Sych a gyft $e may hafe J?<?r, 235

That a [11] we schall ye beter fare;

I tell 3011, veramewt."
Sir clegys grantyd sone ]>er-to :
To-morow to cardyff I wyll go

After pur entent." 140

The morne, when it was dey-lyght,
The lady had j;e pawnyer dyght ;
To hyr eldyst son seyd sche :
Take vp JMS pawnyer gladly
And here it at thy bake esyly *45

After J?i fad^r so fre."
Syr clegys J?aw a staff he toke ;
He had no hors, so seyth J?e boke,
To ryde hys jorneye,
sted ne

(V

Bot a staff was his hakney,
As man^r in pou^rte.

Syr cleges and hys son gent
The ryght wey to cardyfe went

On cryste^mes dey. 255

To J?e castell-^ate \e\ com full ry^ht,
As \e\ wer to mete dyght,

At none, J?e soth to sey.
As sir cleges wold in go,
Yn pore clothyng was he tho, 260

In

48

The porter seyd full spytously :
u Thow schall w/t/>-draw J?e smertly,
Y rede, w/t^-oute deley.

Els, be god and seynt mary, 265

Y schall breke }n hede smertly,

To stond in begers route.
Yff J?0u draw any mour in-werd,
Thow schall rew it aftmverd;

Y schall J?e so cloute." 270

" Gode s/>," seyd sir cleges tho,
" Y pray }ou, late me in go ;

Thys is w/t^-outen doute.
The kyng I haue a present brow^t
fFro hyw, )>at made all thinge of nou^t ; 275

Be-hold and loke a-boute ! "

The powrter to }?e pawnyer wente;
Sone )?e lyde vp he hente ;

The cherys he gan be-hold.
Wele he wyst, for his co/wmywg, 280

ffor hys present to J?e kyng,

Crete gyft^ haue he schuld.
He seyd : cc Be hym ]?#t me dere bought,
Yn at J?is ^ate commys ]?<?u nought,

Be hym ]?^t made ]?/s mold, 285

The thyrd p#rte bot J>ou gr^unte me
Off ]>at the kyng wyll gyff }?e,

Whe];^r it be sylu^r our gold."

£>tr Cleges 49

Syr cleges seyd : " ]>er-to I sente."

He }aue hym leue, and in he wente ^90

W/t/>-outen mowr lettyng.
Yn he went a grete pas ;
The offycers at }?e dore was

With a staff standyng.

Yn com sir cleges so wyght; *95

He seyd : u Go, chorle, out of my syght,

W/t£-out any mour lettyng.
Y schall ]?e bete eu^ry lythe,
Hede and body, w/t^-outyn grythe,

And ]>ou make mour pr^syng." 300

cc Code s/V," seyd sir cleges than,
" For hys loue, \a\. made man,

Sese jour angry mode !
ffor I haue a pr^sante brou^t
ffro hy/w J?#t made all thyng of now^ht 3°S

And dyed vpon }?e rode.
Thys nyght J?/'s fruyt grew ;
Be-hold, whe}?^r I be fals our trew;

They be gentyll and gode."
The vsscher lyfte vp )?e lyde smertly ; 3i0
The fey rest cherys ]>at euer he sey ; [£££•)
He m^ruyllyd in his mode."

The vsscher seyd : " Be mary suete,
Thou comyst not in ]?/s halle on fete,

Y tell J;e, sykerly, 315

so

Bot ]>ou grauwte me, w/t^-out wernyng,
The thyrd p#rte of ]?i wyneng,

When Ipou comyst a-geyn to me."
Syr cleges sey now o]?er wone,
Bot \er he gr^ntyd \\yrn a-non ; 320

Yt wold now o)?er-weys be.
Than sir cleges with heuy chere
Toke his son and his pawnyer ;

In-to j?e hall went he.

The stewerd stert fast in )?e hall, 325

Among J?e lord^ in ]?e halle,

That weryd ryche wede.
He went to sir cleges boldly
And seyd : u Who made J?e so herdy,

To come hejw, our J?0u were bede ? 330
Cherle," he seyd, u ]>ou arte to bolde.
W/'t£-draw )?e with J?e clothes olde,

Smertly, I J?e rede."
He seyd : " S/V, I haue a pr^sant brou^t
fFro ]>at lord ]?tft vs dere bought 335

And on J?e rode gan bled."

The stewerd stert forth wele sone
And plukyd vp j?e lyde a-non,

Als smertly as he mou^ht.
The stewerd seyd : u Be mary dere, 340

Thys saw I neu^r J?/s tyme of }ere,

Seth I was man I-wrou^ht.

Thow schall cum no jiere^e kyng,
Bot if J?0u gnmte me myn askyng,

Be hym \a\. me dere bought. 345

The thyrd parte of ]?e kyng^j gyfte
Y wyll haue, be my thryfte,

Or els go truse be oute ! "

*

Syr cleges stode and be-thou^t hym fan :
And I schuld p^rte be-twyx thre men, 350

My-selue schuld haue no-thyng.
fFor my traueyll schall I not gete,
Bot if it be a melys mete."

Thus thought hym sore sy^eng.
He seyd: u Herlot, has ]>ou no tong ? 355

Speke to me and tary not long

And gnznte me myn askyng,
Or with a staff I schall J;e twake
And bete j?i ragg^j to ]?i bake

And schofe )>e out hedl^ ! '

Syr cleges saw now oper bote,
Hys askyng gr^nte hym he mote,

And seyd with sy^hyng sore :
What fyat euer ]?e kyng rewerd,
^e schall haue |>e thyrd p^rte, 36S

Whe|?^r it be lesse our more."
When s/r cleges had seyd ]>at word,
The stewerd and he wer a-corde

And seyd to hym no more.

52 §>ir Clegetf

Vp to )?e kyng sone he went ; 37o

fFull feyn he pr0ferd hys pn?sente,
Knelyng onwe hys kne hym be-fore.

Syr cleges vn-cou^ryd ]?e pawnyer
And schewyd J?e kyng |?e cherys clere,

Vpon ]?e ground knelyng. 375

He seyd : u Ih^u, ouer sauyoure,
Sente }ou J?is fruyt with grete honoar

Thys dey onwe erth growyng."
The kyng saw J?e cherys fressch and new,
And seyd : u I thanke {?e, swete Ih*m, 380

Here is a feyre newyng. -nrv -

clees to mete, I ( f-^ '

He comandyd sir cleges to mete, I
A word aft^-r with hym to speke,
W/t^>[out] any feylyng

The kyng Iper-for made a pmente
And send vn-to a lady fiente,

Was born in come-weyle.
Sche was a lady bryght and schen ;
Aft^r sche was hys awne quen,

W/t^-outen any feyle. 390

The cherys wer s^rued throu^he J?e hall.
Than seyd j;e kyng, a lord ryall :

- " Be m^ry, be my conseyle !
And he ]?at brou^t me J?/s present,
Y schall make hyra so content, 395

It schall hym wele a-vayle."

£>ir Ciege* 53

When all men wer merye and glad,
Anon ]?e kyng a squyre bade :

" Bryng \\yrn me be-forne,
The pore man J?#t ]?e cherys brou^t." 4°°
Anon he went and taryd nought,

W/t^-outen any scorne.
He brought cleges be-for ]?e kyng ;
Anon he fell in knelyng,
He wend hys gyft had be lorn. 4<>S

He spake to }?e kyng with word^j felle.
He seyd : " Lege lord, what is jour wylle ?

Y ame jour man fre-borne."

« T thanke ]?e hertely," seyd J?e kyng,

i u Off J?i grete pmentyng. 410

That ]>ou hast to me do.
Thow hast hono«ryd all my feste
With YI deynter, moste and leste,

And worschyped me ail-so.
What ]>at euer thou wyll haue, 15

Y wyll j?e grante, so god me saue,

That J?in hert stond^j to,
Whe]?<?r it be lond our lede,
Or ofyer gode, so god me spede,

How-]?tft- euer it go." 4*°

He seyd : u Garem^rsy, lege Kyng !
Thys is to me a hye thing.
ffor sych one as I be.

54 £>tr Cleges

fforto grante me lond our lede

Or any gode, so god me spede, 425

Thys is to myche for me.
Bot seth ]>at I schall ches my-selue,
I aske no-thyng bot stroke xn

ffrely now grante ye me,

With my staff to pay 'pern all, 430

Myn adu*r.rarys in }?/s hall,

ffor seynt charyte."

Than ansuerd vt^r, ]?e kyng ;
He seyd : " I repent my grantyng,
The couenand J?#t I made." 435

He seyd : " Be hyw J;at made me and the,
Thou had be better take gold our fe ;

Mo«r nede )>er-to ]>ou hade."
Syr cleges seyd witb-outen warryng :
a Lord, it is your awne gr^nte[yng] ; 44°

Yt may not be deleyd."
The kyng was angary and greuyd sore ;
Neu*r-J?e-les he gr^nte \\yrn thore,
The dynttt schuld be payd.

Syr cleges went in-to }?e hall 445

Among |?e grete lord^j all,

W/t^-outen any mour.
He sought aft^r J?e stewerd ;
He thou^t, to pay hym his rewerd,

ffor he had greuyd \\yrn sore. 45°

55

He gafe J>e steward sych a stroke,
That he fell doune lyke a bloke

Among all ]>at ther were.
And after he gaff hym stroke thre, —
He seyd : US/V, for }?i c«rtasse, 455

Stryke j?0u me no mo#r ! "

Out of ]?e hall sir cleges wente ;
To pay mo stroke he had mente,

W/t^-owtyn any lette.

To )?e vsscher he gan go ; 46°

Sore stroke ^affe he tho,

When \e\ to-ged^r mette,
That after-werd many a dey
He wold wern no man ]?e wey ;

So grymly he hym grete. 465

Syr [cleges] seyd : " Be my thryfte,
Thou hast the thyrd p#rte of my gyfte,

Ryght euyn as I J?e hy^ht."

To j?e porter com he $are ;

ffoure stroke payd he thare ; 470

His parte had he tho.
Aftyr-werd many a dey
He wold wern no man j;e wey,

Ne]?*r to ryde ne go.

The fyrst stroke he leyd hym owne, 475

He brake a-two hys schuld^r bone

And hys ry^ht arme also.

56

Syr cleges seyd : " Be my thryfte,
Thow hast |?e thyrd parte of my gyfte j
Couenant made we so." 480

The kyng was sett in hys p^rlere,
Myrth and reuell forto here ;

Syr cleges thed^r wente.
An harper had a geyst I-seyd,
That made J?e kyng full wele apayd, 485

As to hys entente.
Than seyd }?e kyng to JMS herper ;
" Mykyll ]>ou may ofte-tyme here,

fFor thou hast ferre wente.
Tell me trew, if ]>ou can ; 49°

Knowyst ]>ou thys pore man

That ]?/s dey me p/vsente ? "

He seyd : u My lege, w/t^-oute« les,
Som-tyme men callyd hym cleges ;

He was a knyght of }oure. 495

Y may thinke, when \a\. he was
ffull of fortone and of grace,

A man of hye stature."
The kyng seyd : " p/'s is not he iw-dede ;
Yt is long gon ]>at he was dede^ 500

That I louyd paramour. 4(w^\
Wold god ]?<3t he wer wyth me ;
Y had hym leu^r than knyght^ thre,

That knyght was styff in stoure."

ir Cleges 57

Syr cleges knelyd be-for J?e kyng ; s°5

ffor he had gnzntyd hym hys askyng,

He thankyd hym cartasly.
Spesyally J?e kyng hym pnzyd,
The thre men, Ipat he stroke payd,
Where-for it was and why. 5 10

He seyd : " I myght not com in-werd,
To I gnmtyd Iche of ]>em ]>e thyrd parte

Off Ipat $e wold gyff me.
Be tyat I schuld haue no^ht my-selue ;
To dele among theym strokys xii 5*5

Me thou^t it best, trewly."

The lord^j lew^e, both old and }enge,
And all ]>at ther w*r wyth J?e kyng,

They made solas I-now^e.
They lew^e, so J?^i my^t not sytte; 52°

They seyd : u It was a nobull wytte,

Be cryst we make a vow."
The kyng send after hys stewerd
And seyd : "And he grante }?e any rewerd,

Askyth it be J?e law." 5»S

The stewerd seyd and lukyd grym ;
u Y thynke neuur to haue a-do with hym ;

Y wold I had neu^r hym knaw."

The kyng seyd : " W/t^-outen blame,
Tell me, gode man, what is ]?i name, 530
Befor me anon-ryght ! "

58 £>ir Clege*

u My lege," he seyd, "p/s man 3011 telly s,
Som-tyme men callyd me sir cleges ;

Y was jour awne knyght."
u Arte}?0u my knyght, \a\. seruyd me, 535

That was so gentyll and so fre,

Both strong, herdy and wyght ? "
"£e, lord," he seyd, "so mote I the,
Tyll god all-my^ht hath vyset me;

Thus pou^rte hath me dy^ht." 54°

The kyng gaffe hym anow-ry^ht
All }?tft longer to a knyght,

To a-ray hys body with.
The castell of cardyff also
With all J?e po#rtena«s ^r-to, 545

To hold with pes and grythe.
Than he made hym hys stuerd
Of all hys londys after-werd,

Off water, lond, and fry the,
A cowpe of gold he gafe hym blythe, 550

To here to dam clarys, hyj wyfe,

Tokenywg of loy and myrthe.

The kyng made hys son squyre
And gafe hym a coler forte were

With a huwdryth pownd of rente. 555

When Jm com home in }?is maner,
Dame clarys, ]>at lady clere,

Sche thankyd god veramewt.

V

£>ir Clege0 59

Sche thanked god of all man^r,

For sche had both knyght and squyre 560

Som-what to tyer entente.

Vpon J?e dettys Ipat they hyght,

They payd als fast as \e\ myght,

To eu^ry man wer content.

A gentyll stewerd he was hold; 565

All men hym knew, $ong and hold,

Yn lond wer \a\. he wente.
Ther fell to hym so grete ryches,
He vansyd hys kynne, mour and les,

The knyght c«rtas and hend. 5?o

Hys lady and he lyued many ^ere
With Toy and m^ry chere,

Tyll god dyde for them send,
ffor ^er godnes J?#t \e\ dyd here,
TKer saulys went to heuew clere, 575

Ther is loy w/t^-outen ende.
Amen.

DAME SIRIZ

I . As I com by an waie. The opening lines are significant.
In the first place, there is no direct address to the audience such
as is usual in metrical romance. In the second place, the reference
to source is not to a written source but to a wayside tale. Several
of the popular ballads open in a similar way; cf. nos. 26, 38, 108,
180, 188, etc., in Child's collection.

5. vnder gore. Cf. < glad under gore,' Boddeker, Altenglische
Dichtungcn, W. L. I, 16 j ' geynest vnder gore,' ib. W. L. 2, 37.
'And slepe under my gore,' Chaucer's Sir Thopas, 78. For other
references, see Bradley-Stratmann, M. E. Diet, and N. E. D.
The idea of the line is the same as that expressed at greater length
by Host Bailly in speaking of the monk and of the Nun's Priest in
the prologue and epilogue, respectively, to the Nonne Precstes Tale.

IO. alon. The rime seems to demand alone, a M. E. com-
pound from O. E. eall -f- ana. The line would then read, * to her
alone belonged»his heart.' Against this interpretation (favored by
Professor Fliigel) may be cited the unusual use of hire with dative
force and the early use of alone as a single word, not elsewhere cited
as early as this. See N. E. D. A second possible interpretation
of alon would be ' all on, ' since the manuscript does not make it
clear whether one word is intended or two. This explanation has
to assume imperfect rime. Cf. ' On hir was al my love leyd,' Boke
of the Duchesse, 1 146. A third explanation, advanced by Matzner, is
that offered in the glossary to the present volume. This explanation
involves imperfect rime, and lacks the support of perfect parallels,
along, in this sense, being usually accompanied by the preposition on,
as in ' Mi lif is al on J?e ylong,' Boddeker, op. cit. G. L. viu, 154.
For other instances, cf. Boddeker, glossary.

13. }erne he him bi-J>OUte, 'earnestly he reflected.'
Cf. ' Godess peoww himm jeorne birrp bipennkenn,' Orm. 2916
(Matzner).

62

14. moute. Matzner explains this form as an analogical one
influenced by the infinitive form mugan, and cites from Rich. R. of
Hampole the form mught.

19. wente him. The verb preserves its earlier meaning 'turn*
and hence takes an object. Cf. v. 155, etc.

J?en. O. E. p<em, dat. Cf. 22, 299. Cf. also Lay am on, 14289,

* to pan inne ' (cited by Matzner).

22. ]?en halle. The old gender distinction has been lost, since
O. E. heal(l} was feminine.

23. palle. Cf. Sir Launfal (ed. Ritson), 944, ' The lady was
clad yn purpere palle.' Matzner cites also Orm. 8171, Layamon, I,
55, L. Minot, p. 30, Toiuneley Plays, p. 186.

25. Notice the form of greeting in keeping with clerkly dignity.

26. SO ich euer bide wenne. A frequent form of assevera-
tion, * as sure as I expect happiness.' Cf. vv. 113, 116, 273, 433.
Cf. also Chaucer's Nonne Preestes Tale, 246, * SJo haue I loye or
blis.' Matzner compares, * swa ich abide are,' Lay. i, 1 29, * Swa ich
aeuere ibiden are,' Lay. i, 141.

wenne. The spelling is Kentish, but the rime k Midland.
34» fre> ' ready to give and act for you.' Cf. Chaucer' sfredom,
also the similar development of meaning in * liberal.'

37. Notice how the clerk maintains the sanctimonious manner
shown in v. 25. Cf. also 112, 146, 161.

38. Bote On J>at, * only provided that.'

43* ^Afilekin. This diminutive form was probably not uncom-
mon, since it has survived in the surname Wilkin. It is a Low
German diminutive form. In the German tale Rittertreue (Ge-
sammtabenteucr, i, 6) appears the character * grave Willekin von
Muntaburc.'

47. vilte'. The context seems to indicate a meaning like that of
houncurtcis in the preceding line. It looks as if the word has been
influenced in meaning by the independent word of the same root
form, 'vilani, and meant something like * boorishness ' or ' churlish-
ness.' The French word whet means, according to Godefroy,

* bassesse,' * etat miserable,' * chose miserable,' * meprisable,' and in
the Chanson de Roland it is coupled with hunte, ' hunte e a viltet,'
437. The word wi/ani, on the other hand, in lines 128 and 250,
is coupled with * shame ' and has a meaning more properly belong-
ing to vilte.

63

Con. This word, like the modern French savoirt expresses the
two meanings of ' know ' and * be able. ' Here it means * know.'

54. J?at be j?OU bolde, * of that be assured.' Cf. Twain and
Gaivain (ed. Schleich), 169, 'patbe^e balde,' 1285, 'pat be pou
balde,' 2781, pat be $e balde.* Cf. also Town/. Myst. (ed. Surt.
Soc.)t p. 78 (Matzner).

56. noui}t, * not at all.' O. E. na -f- iviht.

62. SCtten Spel on ende, 'say my speech to the end*
(Matzner). According to N. E. D. the phrase in M. E. means
' begin a discourse.'

75» OUre sire, *your husband.' The oure probably means
1 your,' though, as Matzner has pointed out, the singular forms of
the second person are used. But cf. ou < you ' in Vox and Wolf,
214, 215, 216.

77. feire of botolfston. Boston takes its name from St.
Botolph, the patron saint of sailors. According to the Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle (Parker MS. 654), Botulf ongon mynster timbran at
Icanho. Around this monastery, which was destroyed by the Danes
in 870, grew up a town. After the Norman Conquest Boston, or
Botolfston, was a port of importance. In 1204, when the quin-
xieme tax was imposed on the ports of England, that of Boston was
second in amount only to that of London. At this period a great an-
nual fair was held at Boston, a great market held by special license
from the king, a place that would naturally be visited by the mer-
chant husband of dame Margeri. (Cf. Thorn, of Walsingham, Hist.
Angl. p. 54.) For reference to fairs and some of the customs con-
nected with them, see P. Plowman, A iv, 43, v, 119, 171, and
Brand's Popular Antiquities (ed. Ellis), n, 453-470. The etymol-
ogy of ' fair,' Lat. feriae, later feria, suggests that these yearly
markets were held at times of church festivals (Matzner).

In Chaucer's Shipman^t Tale the deceived husband is absent at
a fair in Bruges (v. 325).

8 1, 82. Cf. Interludium, 5, 6.

83. Cf. Sir Eg/amour (ed. Halliwell), 1088, « Wele were hym
that hur myght welde.' Cf. also Florisand Blauncheflur, 251-4^

Wei were pat ilke mon
J?at mi^te winne wip pat on j
Ne porte he neure, ful iwis,
Wilne more of paradis.

64

S6CC. Matzner's emendation to tele seems right. Cf. 101, 198,

*45» 264> S^-

102. On flore. Cf. Interludium, 9.

1 1 6. So ich euer bid en 30!. Similar expressions occur in
lines 26, 133, 273. The modern equivalent is * assure as Christ-
mas.' See 26 note.

Up. CUrteis mon and hende. A frequently occurring
formula in metrical romance. Cf. Sir humbras^ (Naples MS.) 15.
* Curteis and hynde he was.' (Quoted by Halliwell, Thornton Ro-
mances, p. 269, etc.)

140. J>a, scribal error for pat.

143. Bi me I sale, * concerning myself I am speaking.*
1 That is my situation. '

146. Cf. 25 note, 37 note. Cf. also 112, 161.

149-160. The quickness of the transition from the first dialogue
to the second is noteworthy as indicating that the underlying form
of the story is a dramatic version. It is also worthy of note that
Wilekin is not merely a love-sick character needing to be coaxed
by the go-between, but is active in every way in prosecuting his suit.
He is not a hero of courtly romance.

152. A frend him radde. That the advice of the friend and
the method of wooing subsequently adopted, were not strange to
English life of the fourteenth century must be inferred from Piers
Plowman (C vn. 185, 186) where Luxuria confesses that he —

. . . sende out olde baudes
For to wynne to my wil * wommen with gyle ;
By sorcerye som tyme • and some tyme by maistrye.

154. Siriz. This name does not appear in English outside the
present poem. The variant spelling Strip indicates the true pronun-
ciation, as is proved by the rimes (161-2, 267-8), the % replacing
py as in mix 1 62 (for ivip), seiz 1 79. The name cannot be French,
as is indicated by the non-French ending -p. It is more likely from
the Norse Sigridr, a name which is not surprising if, as Heuser
{Anglia^ xxx, 318) believes, the work was originally composed in
the Danish East of England. The name may, however, be derived
from the O. E. Sigehred, analogous with the O. E. Sigcbryht.

156. SlliJ>e, ' quickly.' The development in meaning is the
same as in the German getchioind9 which comes from the same root,
meaning * strong,'

65

159. Wordes milde. A frequent expression in metrical ro-
mance. Cf. Sir Eg/amour (ed. Halliwell), 85, 607.

161,162. Siriz, wiz. The rime indicates the pronunciation
as Sir it A.

173. nelde. This word is usually printed as a proper noun.
The word, which is always used vocatively, probably means * old
lady' and is, as Heuser has pointed out (o/>. cit. p. 319) parallel
with mome in the Inter ludium. The initial n certainly comes from
a preceding indefinite article, and is the result of wrong division be-
tween words. Such wrong division is frequent. For instance, in A
Pennyworth of Wit appear anice for a nice 34, a neld for an eld
79, no noper for nonoper 194, pinold for pin old 341, peldman 157.

I73 ff- Some of the phrases in this love complaint are similar to
those in contemporary love lyrics. For example, with line 182 com-
pare * On molde y waxe mad,' Boddeker, Altengl. Dichtungcn,
W. L. m, 2, or with line 189, *broht icham in wo,' op. cit. 13.
On the whole, however, the language, in spite of the stiffness of the
versification, is appropriately prosaic.

179. seiz, for seip. Cf. mix forwip 162, Siriz for Strip.

194. senne, see note to v. 26.

2O I. Blessefe. The earliest use of this phrase in exclamation
cited in N. E. D. is 1590.

204. harde I-bonden. Cf. Ludus Coventriae (ed. Halli-
well, p. 345) where Anima Christi says of the devil, " fful harde
I xal hym bynde."

212. hem mote wel spede, 'for them [things] may speed
well' (or * prosper').

2l6. On him f is. Elliptical expression. « That ' must be sup-
plied in translation.

233. Cf. Intcrludium, 22.

240. word on honde. Matzner conjectures that on is for an,
which appears not infrequently for and. It would be less arbitrary, in
my opinion, to assume here a reference to the raising of the right
hand in taking oath. Cf. —

King Arthur then held up his hand
According there as was the law.
The Marriage of Sir Gawain, stanza 55 Child, Ballads, no. 3 1.

Cf. also the discussion of an analogous O.E. phrase, hand ofer heafod^
by F. Tupper, Jr., Journ. of Engl. and Germ. Phil. xi. 97 ft.

66

247* SOmer driuen. Matzner assumes either sumer-driucn,
1 sumpter-driven,' (O. E. seamerc}, or [OH] sumer, * in summer,'
or a corrupt line. The first assumption seems most plausible. For an
account of the custom of punishing women by making them ride
on an ass, see Grimm, Rechtsalt, 4th ed. n, p. 31 8. In the Chan-
son de Roland, Ganelon, in announcing to Marsilies the punishment
in store for him, says, —

" Getez serez sur un malvais sumier

par jugement iloec perdrez le chief: " [481—2].
Cf. also 701, 1828. In these instances sumier means 'mule' or
1 ass. ' This same word in England had a developed meaning, and in
the dialects sum(m)er is used as the name of supporting beams of
various kinds. It seems possible, then, that the custom alluded to in
the text is that of charivari. Cf. Wright, Dialect Dictionary under
summer.

26l. Togoder hele. Matzner's reading To goder hele is
right. The phrase ' goder hele ' is not infrequent. Matzner cites Lay.
i. 153, Rob. of Gl. 368, Toivnl. Myst. p. 89. Cf. also goder hile,
268 below. PProper-hele is not infrequent. Cf. P. Plowman, B
xiv, 1 20, Boddeker, op. cit. p. 451.

273. So ich euere. See 26 note.

277. maistri, * artifice,' 'trick.' Perhaps influenced in its
meaning by the independent word mystery.

279. The transition from addressing Wilekin to addressing the
dog is very abrupt and is good evidence in support of Heuser's con-
tention that the Dame Siri>z is based upon a dramatic original.

Pepis. Matzner reads Pepir and seems certainly to be right in
his emendation. The use of pepper is one of the oriental traits in
the Dame Sirix. Cf. Introduction.

315. Seli wif, * good woman.' Cf. 337.

hounbinde. Cf. harde I-bonden, 204.

324. daus = the more frequent 'dawes.' O. E. dagas.

to non. This expression remains a crux. Matzner suggests ' at
noon,' and it is worth remembering that anchorites and hermits took
but one meal a day, and that meal came at 12 instead of 9 on fast-
days. Cf. P. Plowman (ed. Skeat), B vi, 146 note. Can the au-
thor's conception have been that Christ merely kept forty successive
fast days ? Cf. Sir Cleges, 324 note.

67

340. Feiror, etc. : A stereotyped form of expression. Cf.
Sir Lumbras (ed. Halliwell), 25, 26.

Als fayre a lady to wyefe had he
Als any erthly mane thurte see.

353- Clerc to wiche. The medieval idea of the command
of clerks over the powers of magic is illustrated in the popular stories
that grew up about Roger Bacon. Upon this command depends the
well known medieval popular tale, appearing in various forms as
Le Pauvre Clerc, Der arme Schuler, The Freiris of Berivik, etc.
Threats of transformation were used by others besides clerks. Ralph
Roister Doister (iv, 3), wooing Christian Custance, threatens

" Yes, in faith, Kitte, I shall thee and thine so charme
That all women incarnate by thee may beware. ' '

390, 421. belle. Matzner translates as * belly' and cites the
analogy of other oaths referring to parts of God's body, blood, bones,
etc. It must be noted, however, that the M. E. word for * belly '
without exception elsewhere has a final -/' or -y or -u or -iv to
correspond with the final -g of O. E. belg, balg. Another possible
interpretation, cited by Matzner from Wright's Prov. Dictionary t
is * mantle.' Bradley-Stratmann cites belle, meaning * tunic,' and
the allusion in the oath may be to a garment familiar through
representations of God in liturgical plays or mystery plays. A more
likely interpretation, however, is * bell,' referring to the bell used in
the mass. * By bell and book,' or 'book and bell,' was a frequent
form of asseveration in the Middle Ages (cf. N. E. £>.). Cf. also
" by seint Poules belle," one of the oaths of Host Bailly (Pro/, to
Nonnes Preestes Talc, 14). Cf. also : ' by buke and by belle '
(Aivntyn of Arthur e, 30); f Than he hym cursyd with boke and
belle ' (Harleian Morte Arthur , 3018).

(t But pat ich wille, pat pou swere
On auter and on messegere,
On pe belles pat men ringes,
On messeboke J?e prest on singes."
Havelok. (Emerson, M. E. Reader, p. 76, vv. 23-26.)

406. wente hire, cf. 19 note.

411. for Jrider, forforp pider.

68

THE VOX AND WOLF

I. VOX) a characteristic Southern form. The corresponding
feminine form persists in modern English, as * vixen.'

9. strok. One would like to take this as the preterit of
strecchen, suggesting the stretching involved in peering. Matzner's
interpretation, however, is probably the correct one j * went,*

* passed,' O. E. strican. The furtive movements of the fox are well
expressed by this word. Notice the opposite developments in mean-
ing in mod. Engl. strike and swing.

12. WOUS. The w- replaces v- as it does in ivox 12, 33 (for
•vox). Vous would be the Southern M. E. form for O. E. fust

* ready,' * prepared. '

21. bruche. Matzner explains as ' opportunity ' from O. E.
brycey 'use,' 'profit.' Is it not more probably from O. E. brcce,
bricey * breaking, ' ' breach ? ' The Southern character of the text is
sufficient to explain the u for the O. E. /. Cf. the rime, ' kun,
Aim, 123—4; sugge, a^uSSey 2°7~8 ; sitte, putte, 281—2.

22. wond, 'got,' 'passed' (Matzner). Perhaps the original
meaning of the word was still felt, and it may be translated by
' twisted ' or ' wriggled.'

26. haiward, ' hedge-ward,' an officer whose duty it was to
protect the growing crops in the enclosed fields. Cf. Piers Plowman,
C vi, 1 6, and C xiv, 45, and the notes by Skeat, who cites from
the romance of Alisandcr (ed. Weber, 1. 5754) :

In tyme of heruest mery it is ynough,
Peres and apples hongeth on bough j
The hayward bloweth mery his home,
In eueryche felde ripe is corne.
The second passage cited reads as follows :

Thauh the messager make hus wey • a-mydde the whete,
Wole nowys man wroth be • ne hus wed take ;
Ys non haiwarde yhote • hus wed for to take ;

Necessitas non habet leg em.

Ac yf the marchaunt make hus way • ouere menne corne,
And the haywarde happe • with hym for to mete,
Other hus hatt other hus hode • othere elles hus gloues
The marchaunt mot for-go • other moneye of hus porse.

69

That the hay ward's police duties were somewhat more general in
character than the etymology of his name would indicate, is shown
by the following passages cited by Matzner.

" The hay ward heteth us harm to habben of his ;
The bailif bockneth us bale."

Wright, Political Songs, p. 149. j

and * ' Canstow . . . have an home and be hay-warde,

And liggen out a nyghtes,
And kepe my corn in my croft
From pykers and theeves."

Cf. the hay wart's part in the poem on the * Man in the Moon*
(Harl. MS. 2253, ed. Boddeker, 177). The reeve was the overseer
of a farm or manor.

31. There seem to have been some lines omitted between lines
30 and 31. The fox seems to have devoured some of the hens, per-
haps two of the four. Cf. 40, 54, 55, opre 58, 68, 98. Cf. 129
note, 151 note.

43. heddre. Matzner suggests the insertion of blod after hed-
dre. He also cites, * Hwon heo beo^ ileten blod on one erm
eddre,' Ancr. Riw. p. 258. ' Wiftuten eddren capitalen pet bled-
den,' ib.

78. nom fat boket. Cf. the modern uses of the word * take *
in * take a high note ' in singing, or * take a fence ' in the sense of
4 vault. '

87, 88. The litotes in these lines is effective. The lines have
Chaucerian quality.

93. The sense seems to require a negative statement. If so the
negative ne is carelessly omitted through confusion with the ending
-ne in %erne. Cf. Aquenche, 112. Or is the line to be understood
as meaning, (in general) when he found water, he drank eagerly,
but . . ?

96—7, IOI— 2. Notice the gnomic expressions, which are char-
acteristic of popular lore, from which the present poem has obviously
been derived.

1 06. hiis. The initial h- is dialectal ; the vowel length is
"poetic license." Cf. Bedier's comment on the carelessness con-
cerning rimes in the French fabliaux. (Les Fabliaux, pp. 342 ff. )

70

123-4. T^e "me seems to indicate Midland dialect, but the rime
is obviously imperfect. Cf. 263—4.

128. Sigrim. The distinctively English form of this proper
name shows that the story circulated in English popular lore. The
same remark applies to Reneuard, 133.

135. hedde, Southern form.

140. paradiis. Cf. Intro d. p. xii.

140-7. This description of the joys of paradise is less concrete
than other descriptions in this story. It is expressed in terms ap-
propriate to the listening wolf, but is distinctly reminiscent of the
contemporary humorous poem, The Land of Cokaygne. For a dis-
cussion of the burlesque element in descriptions of an Earthly Para-
dise, cf. Schofield, Publ. M. L. ^.txix. 187 ff.

151. There seems to be something omitted at this point, —
further evidence (cf. 31 note and 129 note) that this English version
is abridged in places.

I59« vend for wend. See note to vv. 12 and 33.

162. fond. Plainly the rime fond, goed, is "poetic license.'*
Cf. Bedier, op. cit. 342.

167. bej>, 3 pi. Southern form, cf. 295 217, etc.

get, a survival of the O. E. mutated plural.

178. to . . . I-take. Cf. Mod. Engl. « take to drink, 'etc.

199. I-faie. The rime shows the manuscript reading to be
wrong.

199 ff. The enforced confession of Sigrim finds parallels in the
devil's confession in Cynewulf's Juliana and in that of Faux-
Semblaunt in the Roman de la Rose. Analogous literary compositions
are the confession of Chaucer's Pardoner and such later satirical
compositions as Colyn Bloiubor s Testament.

207-8. SUgge, abugge. A Kentish rime. O. E. secgan,
abycgan. Cf. 241—2.

224. oferes kunnes. Cf. nones kunnes, 294.

233. bruche. Cf. 21 note.

246. Ich wille OUp. Cf. Modern dialect, ' I want out,' etc.

256. Wroggen, 'frogs.' Cf. 12 note, 33, 159 note.

264. Ine, for inne (Matzner), another instance of a word dis-
torted by the scribe for the sake of the rime. Cf. 106, 162. The
author of the original was not averse to assonance. Cf. 123-4,
249-50.

?i

265. houssong. Cf. 270, 274. The origin of this interest- l\
ing word is thus traced by Prof. F. Tupper, Jr. : houssong < (h)out- \\
song < utsong < uhtsong, l matins.'

272. CUftiler, * gardener in a monastery.' Cf. the " Curtal
Friar " in the Robin Hood ballad.

SIR CLEGES

Since the difference between the two texts is so great that it is
impossible to print the variant readings at the bottom of the pages,
it seems desirable to illustrate the difference by printing the first
stanza of the E. text in full in the notes : —

TILL ye lystyn, and ye schyll here
Of Eldyrs that before vs were

Bothe hardy and wy^t.
In the tyme of kynge Vter*
That was Fadyr of kynge A[r]thyrf

A semely man in si^t.
He hade A kny^t pat hight sir Cleges,
A dowtyar was non of dedis

Of the Rovnd tabull Right.
He was A man of hight stature,
And therto full fayr of ffeture

And Also of Gret rny^t.

I, 2. Lystyns, lordynges ... A conventional minstrel
address to his audience. Cf. Sir Eg/amour, 4, 5, Sir Isumbras, 4, 5,
Octavian (South, vers. 20), etc. The variant forms of this manner
of opening a story are illustrated in an interesting manner by Halli-
well (Thornton Romances, 267—9), w^° c*tes the varying opening
lines from six texts of Sir Isumbras.

3. herdy andwyght. Stereotyped expression. Cf. the Syuyr
ofLoive Degre (ed. Mead), 9, and the parallel passages cited by the
editor from Kyng Alisaunder, 4892; Arthour and Merlin, 4532;
Eglamour, 8 ; Guy of Warwick, B 1434 ; Lancelot, 2592 ; Eger
and Grime, 2573 j Isumbras, 8. Further instances are not hard to
find: e.g. Sir Degrevant (ed. Halliwell), 10, 102, and the present
poem, 537.

72

4. Vter and Pendragoiin. In the romances of Merlin
Vther is represented as being the younger brother of Pendragon.
The E. text obviously offers the correct reading here.

6. A sembly man of syght. Cf. 'semely on to see,'
Erl of To/ous, 12175 'semly were to see,' Sir humbras, 15.
Cf. present poem, 27.

7. Sir Clegys, The name is not a common one. It is used
a few times in Malory's Morte & Arthur. The name Syr Clegius
(Schir Clegis) also appears in the Aiunturs of Arthur , 96.

9. ronde-tabllll. The connection of this story with the Ar-
thurian cycle, it will be noticed, is the slightest. The story of Sir
Cleges, like that of another generous Arthurian knight, Sir Launfal,
was originally quite independent.

10—12. For similar conventional descriptions of strength see Sir
humbras, 13-15, etc., The Grene Knight, 41, etc.

13. curtas, 15. gentyll and fre. Cf. Chaucer's Knight,

1 8. gold and fe. A phrase of frequent occurrence. Cf. Sir
Isumbras, 270, 292, Sir Amadacey 849, Syuyr of Lowe Degret
481. Cf. present text, 437.

2O. bliske. Prof. J. M. Hart suggests that the word buskehere
js used transitively in the sense ' hasten ' (cf. N. E. D. buske, 6) and
that its use here is like the modern colloquial transitive use of * hustle,'
an interpretation quite in keeping with the amiable character of the
knight. Cf. E. text :

The pore pepull he wold Releve
And no man wold he Greve.

25. wyff. Cf. description of a noble wife in Sir Isumbras,
25-30.

38. Crystynmes. For a contemporary account of Christmas
festivities, see Sir Gaivaync and the Grene Knight, Sir Perceval)
1803, stanzas in, xx, xxi, Berners-Froissart, vol. IV, p. 150, Book
II, Cap. 28. For contemporary account of entertainment for the
poor, see Clannesse, 77 ff.

46, 49. MynstrelluS. See note by Halliwell, Thornton Ro-
mances, p. 270, Sir Degrevant, 8iff., 1157, 1861, Sir Eglamour,
1327, Torrent of Party ngale, 941— 3, Sir Isumbras, 19-21, Libeaus
Disconus, 21 1 6, Octavian (South, vers.), 67-72, Sir Thopat, 134.

73

Sec also Piers Plowman (ed. Skeat), Bxm, 225 ff., 437 ff., C vm,
97 ff., C x, 127-136 and notes.

57. dy*ed vpon J?e rode. Cf. Sir Isumbras, 247, 286.

66. all-my^ht. Note the riming words, quyte, lyte, showing
that the %h was not pronounced.

73. Hys ryalty he forderyd ay. 'His munificence,
he continued ever.' In N. E. D. the earliest citation of * royalty '
with this meaning is 1548. £. reads, This rialte he made than
Aye.

79 ff. At this point this story differs from Sir Amadace, of which
the beginning is strikingly similar. Sir Amadace is advised to " putte
away fulle mony of ^our men, ' ' but prefers to conceal his straitened
circumstances, and keeps up appearances by being more liberal than
ever, 37-60.

85. 86. Notice the rimes cue, ivyfe (O. E. ? : O. E. £) which
indicate a pronunciation of the sound from O. E. T tending toward
the modern pronunciation. Cf. Note to 219, 222, 225, 228.

86. E. has: The kynge be-thoutf hym full E*vyn.

87. Cardyff. Caerleon, near Cardiff, is the more usual center
in Arthurian story.

89. SWO wny ng. Not unusual for heroes of medieval romance.
See Floris and Blauncheflur, 246, etc.

92. And he, he had . . . E. offers the better reading, And
ho<we he hade his maners sold.

94. Mekyll. Northern dialect. Cf. also 107. In each of these
cases E. has the Southern form mech.

96. pride, wyde, tyde, syde. These rimes, which arc
the same in E. , are sufficient to indicate a non-Southern dialect.

99. dyuerse mynstralsy. Similar lists of musical instru-
ments are frequent. Cf. Sir Launfal, 669, Pearl, 91, Squyr of
Lowe Degre (ed. Mead), 1069 ff, with citations, in the notes, of
similar passages, Rich. Coer de L. (ed. Weber), 3429, 3430,
4615-4619, Emare, 388-390, 867, Kyng Alisaun der (ed. Weber),
1041-1046, Thomas of Erceld. (Thornton), vv. 257-260, Libeaus
Disconus (ed. Kaluza), vv. 148-150, Buke of the Houlate (ed.
Diebler), 755-767. Cf. also Sir Dcgrevant (ed. Halliwell), 35 ff,
and note by the editor (p. 289) in which is quoted the following
from Lydgate : —

74

For they koude the practyke
Of al maner mynstralcye,
That any mane kane specifye 5
For ther wer rotys of Almanye
And eke of Arragone and Spayne :
Songes, stampes, and eke daunces,
Dyvers plente of pleasaunces,
And many unkouth notys newe
Of swich folkys as lovde trewe ;
And instrumentys that dyde excelle,
Many moo thane I kane telle.
Harpys, fythels, and eke rotys,
Wei accordyng with her notys,
Lutys, rubibis, and geterns,
More for estatys than taverns :
Orguys, cytolys, monacordys;
And ther wer founde noo discordys

Nor variaunce in ther souns,

Nor lak of noo proporsiouns.

1 01. notys, luttys in E.

IO6, 107. sore, J?er. E. sore, there. The apparently imper-
fect rime seems to be due to scribal writing of per for original pore.
Cf. the rimes of the sounds concerned, 148, 149, 195, 198, 201,
*°4, 363» 366, 369, 372, 442, 443, 469, 470, 447-454- For
another possible explanation, see 148, 149 note.

112. won to. Cf. ivonte to, E.

1 13 ff. Cf. 1 6 ff., 37 ff. For similar instances of generosity, see
Sir Amadacc (ed. Robson), stanzas iv, v, and xin, xiv.

119. longes. Northern conjugation.

122 ff. The passage that follows is probably as fine a domestic
scene as any in Middle English metrical romance. Dame Clarys chal-
lenges comparison with Le Freine, Constance, the faithful wife in
The Pennyworth of Wit^ or even with Griselda. She is the most
human of them all. The only scene rivaling the present one, that
occurs to me, is the one at the end of Amh and Amiloun (ed.
Kolbing), 2413—24.

129. Stynte. This rime, which occurs in both texts, indicates

75

that in the dialect of the author O. £. y sometimes at least appears
as e. Cf. Morsbach, Mittelenglitche Grammatik, §§ izyff.

148, 149. care, mour. This rime shows the Northern, or
Scotch, dialect of this version. The E. version in these lines
seems better to preserve the original, * But neuer-pe-les hys hart was
sore.' Cf. 106, 107, note. * And sche hym Comforttyd more and
more. '

151, 152. blyth, blyue. E. has the better reading, blyth,
twyth.

154. wesche and went to mete. Equivalent expressions
are frequent. Cf. Sir Degree ant (ed. Halliwell), 662, 1392, and the
editor's references to Emare, 218, Sir Gawayne (ed. Madden), p.
34. Cf. also P. Plowman, B xm, 28, C xvi, 32. 'Thei wesshen
and wypeden and wenten to the dyner. *

Z6l. euensong. Vesper services that marked the close of the
day (E. soper). Cf. P. Plowman, C vn, 396, where Gloton and
his companions sit in the ale-house l til euesong rang.*

1 60, z6z. dyde, bede (E. ded, bede). Cf. 129 note.

162. serteyn. Cf. sertayne, Ludus Coventriae (ed. Halliwell)
p. 53. I have been unable to make a satisfactory explanation of this
word. The reading in E. is clear, Whan yt wat tyme of ny$t.

z63. rong at }>e chyrche. Reference to the bell summon-
ing to matins. In Piers Plowman, C x, 227 ff., we read that both
lewede and lordcs ought —

Vp-on Sonedayes to cesse (daily occupations) . godes scruyce to

huyre.

Bothe matyns and messe . and after mete, in churches
To huyre here euesong . euery man ouhte.
Thus it by-longeth for lorde, . for lered, and lewede,
Eche halyday to huyre . hollyche the seruice.

See also Sir Degre-vant (ed. Halliwell) : —

Tylle the day wex clere,

Undurne and mare j
Whyle that hurde thei a bell

Ryng in a chapell j
To chyrche the gay dammisel

Buskede hyr jare. (11.619-624.)

76

With an orrelegge one hyjth
To rynge the ours at ny^th
To waken Myldore the bry^th

With bellus to knylle. (11. 1452-1456.)

1 66-8. Not in E.

1 80. E. has And put Away fend.

l8l— 2. Assonance. E. has cam, than,

183. stynt, wente. Cf. 129 note, 160 note.

Ipl. pouerte, hert (E. pouertt, hartt). The accentuation
of pouerte varies. That the accentuation indicated by the present
rime is not exceptional is shown by the identical rime in Sir Laun-
fal, herte, poverty scherte, smertc, ed. Ritson, 195 ff. But see in
the present text, pouerte, 252, riming with jorneye, fre, sche.

194. chery-tre, see Introduction, p. Ixvi.

210. Spare wold he nought. Similar verse tags are fre-
quent. Cf. 'for no cost wolde he spare,' Chaucer's Prologue, 192.
* For nothyng wolde he spare,' Sir Eg/amour (ed. Halliwell), 552.

223-5. These lines, so well in keeping with the character of
Dame Clarys, are not in E.

219, 222, 225, 228. The rimes, O. E. -foe, O. E. neat,
O. F. -te, seem to indicate a fifteenth-century origin for the poem.
The rimes in E. are similar : sekerly, me, treivly.

226, 227. mour, J>er-fore. (Not in E.) The rimes here
indicate a pronunciation different from that indicated in 148, 149.
See also 106, 107 note.

232. dey do spryng. Cf. Chaucer's Prologue, 822, Torrent
of Portugal (ed. Halliwell), 362, etc.

241. dey-lyght. The reference to early rising is not unusual.
See King Horn (E. E. T. S.), 527, Sir Eg/amour (ed. Halli-
well), 359-

248. SO seyth f e boke. A frequent verse tag. Not neces-
sarily a reference to a literary original.

252. E. has the better reading, As A man in pouerte.

25S« CrystenmeS dey. The chronology in this story offers
difficulty. The incidents of Christmas eve, 85—162, and of Christ-
mas day, 163—240, have already been narrated. The day of the
journey to Cardiff should be the day after Christmas.

258. At none. Since E. has Anon, too much weight must

77

not be laid on the evidence of this passage regarding meal-times.
Whether none had its earlier reference to 3 p. M., or its later one
to 12 M., it can hardly be assumed to have been a time for the
principal meal. The fact that this was Christmas day may have
some bearing on the subject. Cf. Piers Ploivman (ed. Skeat),
vol. n, p. 112. Cf. Dame Siriz, 324 note.

262. portere. There seems to be personal animus in the way
the porter is represented. The minstrel was well accustomed to ill
treatment from the porters, and the surly porter appears frequently
in minstrel story. Cf. King Horn, H55ff. See note by Creek,
jf. G. Phil, x, 436, and references to John de Reeue, 719 ff.,
Home Childe, 958 ff., etc. For instances where the porter loses his
life, see Child, Engl. and Scot. Pop. Ballads, no. 119, note in,
Part i, p. 95 note.

263. Thow. The distinction between the contemptuous singu-
lar and the respectful plural is well illustrated in the language of the
servants to Cleges and in his replies.

265. be God. Notice the number of oaths used by the porter
and the other servants. Cf. 283, 285, 313, 340, 345.

267. begers route. Cf. King Horn, 1159 ff., Piers Plow-
man, B xii, 198 ff, C xv, 138 ff.

* * Ich haue mete more than ynough • acnou^t so moche worship
As tho that seten atte syde-table • or with the souereignes of the

halle
But sitte as a begger bordelees • bi my-self on the grounde."

286. thyrd parte. The artificiality of this feature of the pres-
ent version is apparent. The same applies to v. 317 and v. 346.

293. officers. The French word here has the French nom-
inative ending. E. vsschere. Cf. 310.

3IO, 311. The rimes -fy (O. E. lice), sey (O. E. scati), in-
dicate the beginning of the opening in the pronunciation ofO.E. T.
Cf. 315, 318, and 219-28 note.

319. wone (E. von). Apparently from O. N. van. Cf. The
Erl of Tolous, 1134. Cited by Emerson, M. E. Reader, p. 113,

1. 12.

348. Ollte. E. reads, Ar forthere gost pu nott, which affords
better rime.

78

352, 353- gete, mete. The rime, with long vowel, is his-
torically correct. O. E. mete, O. N. geta.

363 if. sore, more, be-for. Cf. 106, 107 note, 148, 149
note.

364, 365. rewerd, parte (E. Reward, part). Imperfect
rime? Cf. 511, 512.

367-9. Not in E.

370. E. has, Vpe to the Jesse (dais) sir Cleges went, affording a
better idea of the situation in the hall.

376 ff. The pious tone here and elsewhere is hardly in keeping
with the nature of the anecdote.

382, 383. Assonance. So in E.

386 ff. The author shows familiarity with the story of the love
between Vther and Ygerne, wife of the Duke of Tintagel in Corn-
wall.

399. hym. E. has the better reading, no*we.

406. E. reads, To the kyng he spake full styllt which affords bet-
ter rime and better meaning.

418-20. Not in E.

418, 424. lond our lede. The stanzas are frequently linked
together by a form of echo, or of incremental repetition. Cf. 46-
49, 59-61, 68-74, i*9-!33, 188-193, 204-205, 324-325,
333-339, 464-473, etc.

432. Charyte. Charity is personified as a saint. See Sir
Isumbras, 152, and note by Halliwell in which are cited instances of
similar use in Spenser and in Shakespeare (Hamlet, iv. 5).

437. had be better : E. haddyst be better.

461. SOre Strokes. Cf. Sir Eg/amour (ed. Halliwell), 47,
' So sore strokes he them gaue. '

474. ryde ne go, 'ride or walk/ Cf. Sir Immbras (ed.
Halliwell), 56, * I maye bothe ryde and goo.'

479. The minstrel's limited range of expression is evident.

481. parlere. The author of Piers Ploivman (B x, 93-99)
deplores the desertion of the hall for private rooms : —

Elyng is the halle • vche daye in the wyke,
There the lord ne the lady • liketh nou^te to sytte
Now hath vche riche a reule • to eten bi hym-selue

79

In a pryue parloure • for pore mennes sake,

Or in a chambre with a chymneye • and leue the chief halle,

That was made for meles • men to eten inne j

484 ff. The E. text at this point differs in certain important
details and seems to preserve better the original story.

An harpor sange A gest he mowth
Of a knyght there be sowth j

Hym-selffe werament.
Than seyd the kynge to J?e harpor :
" Were ys knyjt Cleges, tell me herr*

For J?u hast wyde I-went.
Tell me Trewth yf pu Can,
Knowyste pu of ptf t man ? ' '

The harpor seyd, " Yee, I-wysse."

" Sum tyme for soth I hym knewe ;
He was A kny^t of youris full trewe.

And Comly of Gesture.
We mynstrellys mysse hym sekyrly,
Seth he went out of Cunta? :

He was fayre of stature."
The kynge seyd, " be myn<? hede !
I trowe Jwt s/r Cleges be dede,

That I lovyd peramore :
Wold god he were A-lyfe!
I hade hym lever* than othyr v.

For he was stronge in stowre."

503. had hym leuer. Had is used in the sense < hold,'
* regard.'

524-6. E. reads:

" Hast Jm," he seyd, " thy Reward ? "
" Be Cryst, he ys to lowe! "
The styward seyd w/t>4 lok Grym.

527) S^S. E. is imperfect here. The deivle hym born on A
hive, and the lines of the present text seem like awkward im-
promptu.

8o

544. E. ends with this line, and Weber, not knowing of the
existence of the O. manuscript, supplies the following not unsuitable
conclusion :

With many other yeftes moo,

Miri to lyue and blyth.
The knyght rode to dame Clarys his wyue,
Faire[r] ladie was non olyue j

He schewyd his yeftes swyth.
Now to Mari that hende may,
For all your sowlys Y her pray
That to my talys lythe.

554. coler. "The investiture by a collar and a pair of spurs
was the creation of an esquire in the middle ages : " — Fairholt, Cos-
tume in England (ed. Dillon), n, 127, thus quoted by W. E. Mead
in his edition of The Squyr of Lowe Degre, p. 47. Cf. Way's exc.
note to Prompt. Par-vu/. s. v. Coller, p. 87.

I. DISCUSSION OF FABLIAUX

J. BEDIER, Les Fabliaux, 2« ed. Paris, 1895.

J. BEDIER, article in the Petit de Julleville Histoirc de la Langue

et dt la Litter ature franqaise, vol. u.

J. V. LE CLERC, Histoire litteraire de la France, vol. xxiu.
F. BRUNETIERE, Revue des Deux Mondes, Sept., 1893.
O. PILZ, Die Bedeutung des Wortes Fable/. Stettin, 1889.

B. TEN BRINK, Geschichte der englischen Litter atur, i, 221, 224,
234, 318, 323, n, 130, 136, 153, 159, 167, 170, 179, 621.

J. J. JUSSERAND, A Literary History of the English People, I, 1 1 8,

152, 183, 184, 225, 325, 442, 447, 496, 498.
H. MORLEY, English Writers, in, 336, 378.
W. H. SCHOFIELD, English Literature from the Norman Conquest to

Chaucer, 118, 323-316, 338, 348, 479.
WARD and WALLER, Cambridge History of English Literature, vol.

i, ch. xvii.
W. M. HART, The Reeve's Tale. Pub/. M. L. A. America,

xxin, 1-44.
W. M. HART, The Fabliau and Popular Literature. Pub/.

M. L. A. America, xxin, 329-374.
H. S. CANBY, The English Fabliau. Pub/. M. L. A. America, xxi,

pp. 200-214.

C. FROMENTIN, Essai sur les Fabliaux Fran$ais du XII' et du
XI He Siecle. Saint-£tienne, 1877.

F. HERRMANN, Schilderung und Beurtheilung der Gesellschaftlichen
Verh&ltnhse Frankreichs in der Fabliaudichtung des XII und
XIII yahrhunderts, diss. Coburg, 1900.

II. COLLECTIONS OF FABLIAUX AND OF STORIES
USED IN FABLIAUX

BARBAZAN, Fabliaux et Contes . . . des XII*, XIII', XIV*

et XV* Siecles ... 3 vols. Paris, 1756.
LEGRAND, Fabliaux ou Contes du XII* et du XIII* Siecle ... 4

vols. Paris, 1779.

82

BARBAZAN-MEON, Fabliaux et Contcs franqais des XI* , XII*t

XIII', XIV* et XV' Siecles, nouvelle edition ... 4 vols.

Paris, 1808.
M. MEON, Nouveau Recueil de Fabliaux et Contes ... a vols.

Paris, 1823.
JUBINAL, Nouveau Recueil de Contes, Ditst Fabliaux ... 2 vols.

Paris, 1839-42.
A. DEMoNTAiGLON and G. RAYNAUD, Recueil general et complet des

Fabliaux des XIII' et XIV' Siecles, 6 vols. Paris, 1872-1890.
F. H. VON DER HAGEN, Gesammtabenteuer. 1850.

{. PAULI, Schimpfund Ernst, hrgb. v. H. Osterley. 1 8 66.
. ULRICH, Proben der lateinischen No'vellistik des Mittelalters.

Leipzig, 1906.

T. WRIGHT, Latin Stories (Percy Soc.). London, 1842.
NICOLE BOZON, Les Contes Moralises, ed. by L. T. Smith and P.

Meyer. Paris, 1889.

JACQUES DE VITRY, Exempla, ed. by T. F. Crane. London, 1890.
£TIENNE DE BOURBON, Anecdotes historiques, Legendes et Apologues
tires . . . par A. Lecoy de La Marche (Soc. de /' Histoire de
France). 1877.

PETRUS ALPHONSUS, Disciplina Clericalis (Soc. des Biblioph.franf.
Melanges). Paris, 1825.

Another ed. by F. W. Val Schmidt. Berlin, 1827.
Cf. V. Chauvin, Bibliographic des Outrages arabes, ix, pp.
1—44. Liege and Leipzig, 1905.

Le Chastoiement d'un Pere a son Fits, publ. by Soc. des Bibliophilest
Paris, 1825, and by M. Roesle, Munich, 1899.

Another shorter French metrical version is published in the
Barbazan-Meon collection.

Gesta Romanorum, ed. Keller. Stuttgart, 1 8425 ed. Osterley. Ber-
lin, 1871.

(English), ed. Heritage (E. E. T. S.). London, 1879.
Le Violier des Histoires Romaines, ed. M. G. Brunet. Paris, 1858.
K. CAMPBELL, The Seven Sages (English). Boston, 1907.

For bibliography of The Seven Sages see L. Chauvin, Biblio-
graphic des Ou-vrages arabes, vol. vm, entire volume. Liege and
Leipzig, 1897.

Cf. also Catalogue of Romances in British Museum, vol. HI,
byj. A. Herbert. London, 1910.

83

III. DAME SIRIZ

I. Edition: of Dame Sirix

I. WRIGHT, Anecdota Literaria, pp. 1—13. London, 1844.
E. MATZNER, Altenglische Sprachproben, i, pp. 105—13, with
an excellent introduction, pp. 103—4. Berlin, 1867.

1. Besides the 'works containing a general discussion of fabliaux there
remain to be mentioned the following 'works dealing especially
'with the "Dame Siriz."
. ELSNER, Untersuchungen zudem mittclenglischcn Fabliau tfDame

s. Berlin, 1887.
VtAjo W. HEUSER, Das Interludium (De Clerico et PuellaJ Anglia, xxx,

306-19.
j * 3. Versions of the Weeping Bitch Story

Kathd Sarit Sagara, transl. by C. H. Tawney, vol. I, pp. 85-

91. Calcutta, 1880.
(jukasaptati (textus simplicior), transl. into German by R. Schmidt,

pp. 9, 10. Kiel, 1894.
fukasaptati (textus ornatior), transl. into German by R. Schmidt.

Stuttgart, 1899.
The Book of Sindibad (Oriental form of the Seven Sages}.

Syriac version. Sindban and the Seven Wite Masters, transl.
by H. Gollancz, Folk- Lore, vm, 113 ff.

Greek version. Syntipas, critical ed. by Eberhard, Fabulae ro-
manenses graece conscriptae,it 39. Leipzig, 1879. Summarized
by Loiseleur-Deslongchamps, Sur les Fables indiennes, pp. 106-9.
Paris, 1838.

Persian version. Syndibad Nama, analysis by Prof. F. Falconer
in Clouston's Book of Sindibad, p. 61. London, 1884.

Hebrew version. Mischle Sindbad, transl. by P. Cassel, pp.
268-71. Berlin, 1888.

Arabic version. The Seven Vatiirs, transl. by J. Scott in
Clouston's Book of Sindibad, pp. 162 ff.

For reference to other Arabic versions see Eisner, op. cit., p. 8.
Spanish version. Coote's translation of comparative text of the
Libra de hi Enganos.

84

Discipline! Clericalis, cf. references to editions above, no. xi.

French prose translation (i 5th cent. ) of the Disciplina Cleri-
calis (Soc. des Bibliophiles). Paris, 1825.

Spanish translation from the Disciplina Clerically El libra de
los Enxemplos (Bibl. autores espanoles, LI, p. 505).

Icelandic translation from the Disciplina Clericalis, ed. by H.
Gering, Idendzk aeventyri, i, 181. Halle, 1882.

English translation of the Disciplina Clericalis in an unpub-
lished manuscript of the Worcester cathedral library. A rotogra-
phic copy of this manuscript is in the library of the Western Re-
serve University.

French metrical versions of the Disciplina, see references above
to versions of Le Chastoiement dyun Pere a son Fils.
STEINHOWEL, Asop, ed. Osterly (Bibl. d. lit. Ver. Stuttg. 1843),
section Ex Adelfonio, no. 1 1 .

The story is also included in the Italian fable collection by
Tuppo, 1485, the French collection by Machaut, circa 1483,
the Spanish Tsopo, 1496, the Dutch Esopus, 1486, and the Eng-
lish edition by Caxton, 1484 (ed. Jacobs, 1889).
Gesta Romanorum, see references above. The Dame Siri* story

does not appear in the English version.

ALEXANDER DE HALES, Destructorium vitiorum, in, X c. Colon,
1485. Ref. from Eisner.

Another edition. Pars tertia, capitulum 10, fol. ci, b. Lutetiae,
1516.
GOTSCALDUS HOLLEN, Prectptorium novum et perutih, etc., fol.

cxcv, c. Colon, 1484.
NICOLAS DE TROYS, Le Grand Parangon des Noirvelles Nou-velles,

n, fol. xxix, b. Ref. from Eisner.
P. GRINGOIRE, Les Fantaisies de Mere Sotte. (Ms. in Bibl. Nat. at

Paris. ) Ref. from Eisner.
H. SACHS, Das ivainent Huentlein. (Elf Fastnachtspiele aus den

Jahren 1553-1554, hrgb. v. E. Goetze. Halle, 1884.)
IOANNES GOBII, Scala celt, 1480.

VINCENTIUS BELLOVACENSIS, Bibliotheca Mundi, Section in, Spe-
culum Morale, Lib. m, Dist. vi, Pars ix, p. 1325, edition of
1624 (Brit. Mus. Libr.).

Late Latin version publ. by A. Tobler, Zf. f. rom. Phil, x,
476-80.

85

JOH. HEROLT, Discipulus redi'vi-vus seu Sermones discipuli, Section iv,
Promptuarium Exemplorum, no. 599. Augustae Vindelicorum,
1728.

NICOLE BOZON, Les Contes moralises, ed. by L. T. Smith and P.
Meyer (Soc. des anc. Textes fran$C), 1889, no. 138.

L. DESMOULINS, Catholicon des mal advise* (ed. J. Petit et M. Le
Noir, 1513, fol. Diiij). Ref. from ed. of N. Bozon.

JACOJJES DE VITRY, Exempla, CCL. See ref. above.

The same version is included in Wright's^ Selection of Latin
Stories from Manuscripts of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Cent-
uries (Percy Soc. 8). London, 1842.

Metrical Tales of Adolfus, ed. T. Wright (Percy Soc. 8), Fabula
v. London, 1842. (Reprinted from Leyser, Historia Poetarum
Medii Ae'vi 1721, p. 2015 ff. , cf. Matzner, loc. «'/.)

CHRISTIERN HANSEN, Komedier, ed. S. Birket Smith, p. 60. Ref.
from Eisner. Kjobenhavn, 1874.

Prose paraphrase in Le Grand d'Aussy's Fabliaux ou Contes,
iv, 50-3. Paris, 1829.

IV. THE VOX AND THE WOLF

I. Discussion of beast tales

J. GRIMM, Reinhart Fuchs. Berlin, 1834.

W. J. THOMS, The History of Reynard the Fox, reprint of Caxton }

edition with discussion of the history of the story collection/

(Percy Soc. 12). London, 1844.
PAULIN PARIS, Les Adventures de Maitre Renard et d* Tsengrin, son

compere , suivies de nouvelles recherches sur le Roman de Renart.

Paris, 1 86 1.

K. KROHN, Bar (Wolf) und Fuchs. Helsingfors, 1888.
K. KROHN, Mann und Fuchs : drei vergleichende Marchenstudien.

Helsingfors, 1891.

FAURIEL, Roman de Renard, Hi stoire litter air e de la France, vol. 22.
POTVIN, Le Roman du Renard, mis en •vers, precede d'une intro-
duction et d'une bibliographic. Paris and Brussels, 1861.
C. VORETZSCH, Der Reinhart Fuchs Heinrichs des Glichezaren und

der Roman de Renart, Zt. f. rom. Phil., xv, 124-182, 344-

374, xvi, 1-39. See especially p. 361.

86

H. BUTTNER, Studien xu dem Roman de Renart und dem Reinhart

Fucks. Strasburg, 1891.
ROTHE, Les Romans du Renard examines, analyses et compares.

Paris, 1845.

JONCKBLOET, fctude sur le Roman du Renart. Groningen, 1863.
LEONARD WILLEMS, Etude sur FYsengrinus. Ghent, 1895.
G. PARIS, Le Roman de Renard. Paris, 1895.
REISSENBERGER, Reinhart Fuchs. Halle, 1886.
M. DE GUBERNATIS, La Mythologic Koologiquc, vol. II.
J. JACOBS, The Fables of Aesop. Vol. i, History of the Aesopic

Fable. Vol. n, Text and Glossary. London, 1889.

For additional bibliographical references see V. Chauvin, op. c\t. ,

n, pp. 1 64 ff.

2. Editions of collections of beast stories

MEON, Le Roman du Renard public d^apres les Manuscrits de la Biblio-
theque du Rot des xiiif, xiw, et x<v' Siecles, 4 vols. Paris, 1825.
CHABAILLE, Supplements, Variantes et Corrections. Paris, 1835.

E. MARTIN, Le Roman de Renart, 3 vols. Paris, 1882—87.

F. WOLF, Renart le Contrefait, nach der Handschrift der K. K. Hof-
bibliothek. Vienna, 1861.

HOUDOY, Renart-le-Nou'vel. Lille, 1874.

Ecbasis cujusdam captivi, Lat. poem of nth cent. ed. by W. J.
Thorns (Percy Soc. 12), 18445 et*- ^" Voigt, S^uellen und
Forschungcn,no.\iu. Strassburg, 1875.

Ysengrimus, ed. by E. Voigt, 1884.

H. DER GLICHEZARE, Reinhart Fuchs, ed. Grimm. Berlin, 1834.

Reinaert, transl. from Flemish into French by O. Delapierre.
Brussels, 1857.

Reineke der Fuchs (Volksbuch). Leipzig, i84o(?).

GOETHE, Reinecke Fuchs, xi, vv. 97-131.

English versions of Renard the Fox : i) ed. Thorns (Percy Soc. 12),
18445 2) ed. Arber, 1878 j 3) ed. Goldsmid, 1884; 4) mod-
ernized version by H. Morley (Carisbrooke Library, iv), 1889.

J.JACOBS, see above.

L. HERVIEUX, Les Fabulistes Latins depuis le Sieclc d* Augusts
jusqu'a la Fin du Moyen Age. 1st ed. Paris, 1884 ; 2d ed. 1893.

87

3. Editions of Vox and Wolf

I. WRIGHT AND HALLIWELL, Re/. Antiyuaet n, aya.
a. Percy Soc. vm, 1843.

3. W. C. HAZLITT, Early Popular Poetry , i, 58 f. 1864.

4. MATZNER, Altengl. Sprachpr.yi, 130.

4. Analogues
a. Oriental

I. Arabic, u Le renard et la hyene," MEIDANI, Proverbes (6) ,
t. n, p. 7. V. CHAUVIN, !?/'£/. </« Ouvrages arabes, in, p. 78,
cites Maidani, Arabum proverbiat u, p. 335, no. 64, ed. Freytag.
Bonn, 1837.

a. Hebrew, A. BLUMENTHAL, Rabbi Meiry p. 100, also 101 ff.
Frankfurt, 1888.

3. Hebrew, J. LANDSBERGER, Die Fabeln des SopAos, no. 10.
Posen, 1859.

4. Indian, Pantchatantra^ i, 8} Hitapodesa, n, 11} Kirchhof't
Wendunmuth, 7, 26.

5. Indian, Panic hatantra, n, aa6.

6. Mod. Indian, M. FRERE, Old Deccan Days. London, 1 868.

b. Versions related directly or indirectly to the "Roman de Renard *'
Reinecke der Fuchsy Volksbuch. Leipzig, 1840.
J. LASSBERG, Lieder Saal, n, no. 93. Eppishausen, i8ao.
GRIMM, Reinhart Fuchs, pp. 356-8. Berlin, 1834.
^JOHN OF SHEPPEY, see Hervieux, op. «V., in, 441.
^ODO OF SHERINGTON, see Hervieux, op. cit. , in, 327.

Italian fable, publ. by K. McKenzie, Publ. M. L. A. Amer.,
xxi, 226 ff.

Libra de los Gatos, no. 14 (Bibl. autores espaftoles, LI.).
N. BOZON, Contes Moralises, no. 128.

^For bibliography of the Disciplina Clericalis and its transla-
tions, see references above.

c. Versions related to that in the * * Disciplina Clericalis ' '
G. WRIGHT, The Principles of Grammar. London, 1794.
B. WALDIS, Esopust ed. by H. Kurz. Leipzig, 1862.

88 liBtbitograpIji?

HANS SACHS, Fabeln, ed. Goetze. Frankfort, 1888.

R. HENRYSON, Poems and Fables, ed. by D. Laing, pp. 193—202.

Edinburgh, 1865. And Anglia, ix, p. 470.
LA FONTAINE, Book xi, Fable 6.
.. MARIE DE FRANCE, Le Grand d'Aussy, Fabliaux ou Contes, iv,

P- 396-

F. J. DESBILLONS, Fabulae Aesopiae, 5th ed., Book 8, Fable 24.
Paris, 1769.

GELBHAUS, Ueber Stojfe altdeutscher Poesie, p. 39. Berlin, 1886.
El libra de los Exemplos, no. cccvu. Bibl, autores espanoles, LI.

p. 520.

For editions of this story in fable collections see Steinhowel in

bibliography of Dame Siriz.

d. Other versions

VERDIZOTTI, Cento Favole. Venetia, 1570.
SAN BERNARDINO DA SIENA, Nouvelette Esempi Morali e Apolo-

ghi, p. 15, Racconto vi. Bologna, 1868.
Fable Collection, publ. by J. Baechtold, Germania, xxxm, 257.

G. K. PFEFFEL, Fabeln, 4, 88.

JACOJJES REGNIER, Apologi Phaedrii^ Pars i, Fab. 48.

Other fables 'with beasts, usually fox and wolf, in a well
L. ABSTEMIUS, Hecatomythion secundum, no. 15.
L. ABSTEMIUS, Hecatomythion, no. 41.
G. FAERNO, Centum Fabulae, p. 49. London, 1672.
R. L'ESTRANGE, Fables of Aesop . . . Fab. 410. London, 1692.
S. CROXALL, Fables of Aesop and others, no. 1 66. Boston,

1863.
Fables Turques, transl. into French by J.-A. Decourdemanche,

no. 31.

T. BEWICK, Fables, 1818.
LENOBLE, CEu>vres,yii\, 515.

CARL MOUTON, Esope-Esopus, no. 95. Hamburg, 1750.
Fables of Aesop , no. 8. New York, 1862.

e. Folk-tale versions

French (Bas-Languedoc). P. REDONNEL, Rev . des trad. pop. in,
611, 612.

89

French (Breton). L. F. SAUVE, Rev. des trad. pop. i, 363, 364.
German (Saxon). J. HALTRICH, Deutsche Volksmarchen, no. loo.

Vienna, 1877.
French (Walloon). A. GITTEE et J. LEMOINE, Contes du Pays

Wallon,^. 159-69. Paris, 1891.

French (La Bresse). P. SEBILLOT, Contes du Provinces de France.
Spanish. ANTONIO DE TRUEBA, Narraciones populares, pp. 91 ff.

Leipzig, 1875.
Portuguese. COELHO, Cantos populares Portugueses, pp. 13—5.

Lisbon, 1879.

American Negro. J. C. HARRIS, Uncle Remus : his Songs and Say-
ings, no. 1 6.

Additional bibliographical references may be found in Chau-

vin's Bibliographic des Outrages arabes, in, pp. 78, 79, ix, pp.

30, 31-

V. SIR CLEGES
I. Editions

H. WEBER, Metrical Romances, i, 329 ff. Edinburgh, 1810.
A. TREICHEL, Englische Studien, xxn, 374 ff.
J. L. WESTON, Modern English rendering in volume ivith Libeaus
Disconus. London, 19 — .

2. Other versions of the story of ( the blows shared '
I. English :

J. G. SAXE, The Nobleman, the Fisherman, and the Porter.
An Italian legend.

Gesta Romanorum (E. E. T. S.), no. 90.
a. French :

TALLEMANT DES REAUX, Les Historiettes. . . .
L. Mo LAND, Moliere et la Comedie Italienne, pp. 375, 376,
Nouveaux Contes a Rirc, p. 1 86. Cologne, 1702.
VOLTAIRE, (Euvres Completes, t. x, Preface de Catherine
Vadi, p. 781. Ref. from M. Rene Basset.
3. German :

GRAESSE, Sagenkreise, p. 251. Ref. from Liebrecht-Dunlop.

90

GRIMM, KindertnSrchen, in, p. 20, no. 7.

PAULI, Schimpf und Ernst (ed. Osterley), no. 614.

F. BOBERTAG, Narrcnbuch, pp. 7—86. Berlin, 1885,

F. H. VON DER HAGEN, Narrcnbuch, pp. 271—352. Halle,
1811.

F. W. EBELING, Die Kalenberger. Berlin, 1890.

A. NIEDERHOFFER, Mecklenburg* s Folks-Sagcn, m, 196-9.
Leipzig, 1859.

Lyrum Larum Lyrissimum, no. 184. 1700.

4. Latin :

J. DE BROMYARD, Summa Praedicantium, fol. clxiu, b.
The same story is told in T. Wright's Latin Stones (Percy
Soc.), no. 127.

Facetiarum Henrici Bebelii . . . Libri tret. Tubingen, 1542.

5. Greek:

E. LEGRAND, Recueil de Contes Populaires Greet. Paris, 1 88 1.
(This story in its conclusion is unlike that in the Sir C/eges.)

6. Spanish :

Cuentos de Juan Aragones, no. 3 in Tunoncda, El Sobremetat
etc. Ref. from Liebrecht-Dunlop.

Margerita Facetiarum Alfonsi Aragon, p. 4 b. Argent.
1508.

7. Swedish :

BACKSTROM, Svenske Volhbvcker , 2. Oefvers., p. 78, n. 30.

8. Italian :

STRAPAROLA, Piacevole Notte, n. 7, Fav. 3.

MARC. MONNIER, Les Contes Populaires en Italic, La Nouvelle
du Sommeilj pp. 236, 237.

Nerucci, Sessanta no-vellc popular! montalesij n. 27, La novella
di sonno, pp. 233—7. Florence, 1880.

9. Turkish:

FLOGEL, Geschichte der Hofnarreny 176—8.

10. Arabic:

R. BASSET. Contes et Legendes arabes, no. 57. Rev. des
trad, pop., xm, 675-7.

R. BASSET, Nouveaux Contes berberes, Paris, 1897. Other
Arabic versions cited by M. Basset are :

Kitab NozAat el Djallas, p. 23.

91

MAS'OUDI, Prairies for, t. vm, ch. cvxni, p. 163. Re-
produced by Ben Sedira, Cours de Litterature arabe, 348, p. 32 ff.
Found also in Les Mille et une Nutts, ed. Beyrout, t. in, p. 176 ;
ed. Quaire, t. n, p. 206.

3. Related stones

Les S^uatre Souhaits Saint-Martin. The different versions are
discussed by Bedier, op. cit.t pp. 112-28.

Lucky they are not Peaches. W . A. Clouston, Popular Tales and
Fictions , vol. u, 467 ff. This tale is closely associated with the
one in Sir Cleges.

Fable of Avaricious and Envious. See notes by Jacobs in his
edition of Aesop's Fables.

Du Vilain au Bufet, Montaiglon-Reynaud, in, Fab. 80.

4. Other stories having points of resemblance to that in " Sir Clegts "

The ballad of Hind Etin. Child, Ballads.

N. BOZON, Contes Moralises, no. 112.

Adventures of Otvleglass, no. 39.

P. SEBILLOT, Contes des Provinces de France. Les Jacqueut a
la Cour.

Del Convoiteus et de r Envieus (Montaiglon-Raynaud, T,
au-4).

Latin Gesta Romanorum, ed. Osterley, cap. 73.

ABBREVIATIONS

S = Dame Siriz. C = Sir Cleges. V = Vox and Wolf.
N. E. D. = New English Dictionary.

A, interj. : S 365, V 172,

C 109. O.E. a.
a, prep., in: V 36. O.E.

an, on.
abide, v. tr., wait for: im-

per. 2 sg., abid, S 293.

O.E. abidan.
abite, v. tr. , to bite : pret.

part. , abiten : bitten, tast-
ed, V 203. O.E. abltan.
aboue, adv., above: S 413.

O.E. abufan on bufan.
about e, adv., about : S 80,

C 277 ; abouten, V 15.

O.E. a-butan.
abugge, v. tr., atone for:

inf., V 208. O.E. abyc-

gan.
ac, conj., but : V 59, 84,

106. O.E. ac.
acorde, v., to agree with :

pret. part., a-corde, C

368. O.F. acorder.
accursed, pret. part., ac-

cursed: V 55. O.E. cur-
sian + prefix a.

a-do, n. , to do, affair, busi-
ness: C 527. M.E. at do,
a Northern form.

adoun, adv., down: V 38,
57, etc., C 1 88 j doun,
V 247 ; done, C 975
doune, €452. O.E. of
dune.

aduersarys, n. pi., adver-
saries : C 431. O. F.
aversaire (aversier, adver-
sier).

afalle, v., to fall down:
pret. part., afalle, V 18.
O.E. afeallan.

a-ferd, adj., afraid: C 220.
O.E. af^red.

afingret (see hoffurst),
pret. part., ahungered: V
2, 4, no, 190, 258, etc.
O. E. ofhyngrod, of hin-
grod, p. p.

94

after, prep., after ', for:
V 61, C 161, 246, 448,
5235 affter, S 197, 412$
concerning, V 5 2 j accord-
ing to, S 53, C 240. O.E.
aefter.

after, adv. , afterward : C
151,211, 383, 389,454.
O.E. jefter.

after-werd, adv. : €270,
463, 5485 aftyr-werd, C
472. O.E. sefterweard.

ageyn, adv., again, back:
C 175, 3185 ajein, S 296.
O.E. ongean.

a-^ene, prep., against, on
account of:C. 135. O.E.
ongean.

ago,pret. part.,£0»*: ¥49;
ag°> v J53- O. E. agan.

agrise, v. intr., infin., be
alarmed, frightened : V
240. O.E. agrisan.

Ailmer, pr. n. : V 271.

al, adj., all: S 49, 134,
153, etc., V in, 200,
etc.; all, C n, 14, 29,
no, 276, 430, etc.jalle,
V 63, 147, 156. O.E.
call.

al, adv.: S 151, V 17; all,
C 6 8, etc.

al, pron. : S 63, 146; all,
C 56, etc.

alas, interj. : S 333. O.F.
a las, ha las.

al-hone, adv., cf. a-lone.

aliue, adj., alive: V 183.
O.E. on life.

allegate, adv., in every
'way. S 398. Cf. O. N.
allagotu. Not cited earlier
than 1200. See N. E.D.

all-thyng, n., everything:
C 305. O.E. ealle Hng
(pi),

all-wey, adv., in any case:
C 228.

almes, n., alms, charity :
gen. sg. almes, V 44.
O.E. aelmysse.

almes-dede, n., almsdeed9
almsgiving: S 207.

almi^tten, adj., Almighty:
n. sg., S 25, 322, 371;
all-my^ht, C 66 ; all-
myjht, C 539. O.E. ael-
miht, adj. j aslmeahtig,
adj.

almus-folke, n., almsgiv-
ers: C 31. Earliest in-
stance of this sense cited
by N.E.D. is 1709.

alon, adv., belonging^): S
10. O.E. [andlang] ge-

a-lone, adv., alone: C i86j
al-hone, V 275.

alpi, adj., single: V 132.
O. E. anlipig, aenlipig,
etc.

als, also, al so: see as.

also, conj., also : C 477 j
ail-so, C 414. O.E. eal-
swa.

amend, v. tr., amend: im-
per. 2 sg., 8113. O.F.
amender.

amidde, prep., 'in middle
of,' 'half way down':
V 241. O.E. on middan.

amidward, adv., in the
middle of: V 274.

among, adv. , among : V
266. O.E. onmang.

among, prep. : C 326, 446,
515. O.E. onmang.

and, conj., and: S 3, 5,
etc., V 1 8, 19, etc., C i,
3, etc.} //, S 164, 363,
C 3°°> 35°> 524i and
if == if, S 1 68, 392,
394} a, scribal error for
and, S 361 } an, S 140,
i45}on= 'and,' S 240,
see Notes} and='by'
in the phrase, on and on,
V 197, 269. O.E. and,
ond. In conditional sense,
possibly fromO.N. enda.
See N.E.D.

angry, adj., angry: C 303}

95

angary, C 44*;fr. anger,
n. [O.N. angr]-p-y, adj.
ending.

ani, adj., any: S 15, 41,
etc.} eni, S 363, 373,
etc. } any, C 1 1 7, 119,
205, etc. O.E. aenig.

anon, adv., at once: S 155,
C 320, 401, 404} pres-
ently, C398. O.E. on an.

anon-ryght, adv., right
a*way: C 531, 541.

anou;, see I nou.

anoundred (an + hun-
dred), V 8.

ansine, n., longing, desire,
*want: S 306. O.E. sin,
syn, f. sight + prefix an-,
see N.E.D.

ansuerd, v., pret. 3 sg.,
ansfwered: C 433. O.E.
andswarian.

ansytourres, n., ancestors:
C a. O.F. ancestre.

any, see ani.

apayd, pret. part., pleased:
C 485. O. F. a payer,
apaier.

aperseiuede, v., pret. i sg.,
perceived, observed : V
213. O.F. aperceveir.

aquenche, v., inf. transf.,
appease : V 13, 112.
O.E. acwencan.

ar, prep., ere, before: S

io8;conj., before, S 381.

See er.
aray, n., array, dress: C

261. O.F. aret, arroi, ar-

roy, etc.
a-ray, v., infin., array,

dress-. C 543. O. F. ar-

(r)eier, areer, arreer, ar-

(r)oier, etc.

arise, arisen, v., arise-, in-
fin., V 239, 2,645 imper.

3 pi., arise>, V 269. O.E.

arisan.
arme, n., arm-. C 477 ; pi.,

armys, C 123. O.E.earm.
(Kyng) Artour, pr. n., gen.

sg., C 5.
as, conj. : S i, C 21, 97,

137, etc.; al so, S 267;

al-so, ¥217; als, C 1 2 1 j

als . . . as, C 141, 206,

339 5 also ... as, S 95.

O.E. ealswa.
ascape, v., infin., escape:

S 370. O.F. escaper.
aske, v., pres. i sg., ask,

request: C 428. O.E. ac-

sian. See axe.
askyng, n., asking, request,

boon: C 344, 357, 362,

506. O.E. acsung.
assent, v., pres. i sg.,

agree, consent -. C 145,

sente, C 289. O.F. as-

(s) enter.
assunder, adv., asunder:

S 360. O.E. on sundran.
at, prep.: S 141, etc., V

21, etc., C 8, etc. j by,

C 284. O.E. aet.
ajmrst, adj., thirsty: V 66 j

hof>urst, V 274. O. E.

of>yrst, p. p. of ' of>yr-

stan.' Cf. afingret, p. p.
a-two, adv.,/w t<wo: €476.

O.E. on tu, on twa.
a-vayle, v., infin., avail,

help: C 396. Not in O.

Fr. ; first quoted from

Cursor Mundi.
auenture, n., adventure \

V 70. O.F. aventure.
awai, adv., away: S 149,

4375 wei, V 53 j away,

S 1 7 j a- way, C 6 8 j a- wey,

€74, 80, 150, etc. O.E.

onweg.
awarie,v.,subj.3 sg.,curse:

S 332. O.E. awergian.
awecche, v., infin., awak-
en: V 267. O.E. awec-

c(e)an.
awne, adj., own: €389,

440, 534. O.E. agen.
awreke, pret. part.,

avenged: V €4. O. E.

awrecan.

axe, v., pres. i sg., ask:

V 52. See aske.
ay, adv., e<ver: S 304, C

73. O.N. ei, ey.

bad, bade, v., pret. 3 sg.,
bade, see bidde.

bake, n., back-. C 245, 359.
O.E. bcec.

bare,adj.: €17. O.E.baer.

be, ben, v., infm., be, S
46, C26, 44, 136, 202,
etc.; ben, 899, 247,295,
V 105, 118, 162, etc. j
pres. i sg., am, S 162,
etc., V 103; ame, C 220,
408 j be, C 423; pres. 2
sg., art, S 117, 167, V
130, etc.; arte, €535;
hertou (art -}- thou), V
1 20 ; bes. art, S 444;
pres. 3 sg., is, S 33,
etc., V 127, etc., €217;
his, S 28, 142; hiis,
V 1 06; pres. 3 pi., be)>,
V 49, 153, 1 66, etc.;
be, C 309 ; is, C 48 ;
pres. subj., i sg., be, C
308; 2 sg., be, 8296; 3
sg., be, S 25, 226, C
288 ; 2 pi., be, C 134;
pret. i sg. , was, C 1 1 2 ;
2 sg., were, V 60, 219,
C 330; 3 sg., wes (usual

97

in S & V) ; was, S 76,
C49, 68, etc.} ves, S 79,
V 258 ; wes him (reflex-
ive), V 31, 261 ; pret.
i pi., weren, V 64, 3 pi.,
weren, V 28, 40, 289;
were, C 2, 31, 168,453 5
wer, C 17, 35, 51, etc.;
pret. subj., 3 sg., were, S
246, 336, V 43, 218 j
wer, C 502$ i pi., weren,
V 64; 3 p]., weren, V 2 04;
were, C 70 ; pret. part.,
ben, S 68, V 185, 200,
etc. ; iben, V 87, I-ben,
V 100; be, €437. O.E.
beon, wesan.

be, prep., by. C 58, 133,
171, 265, etc.; according
to, C 525. See bi, by.

be-cause, conj., C 221.
M.E. hybrid compound.
O.E. be+ O.F. cause.

bedde, n., bed: S 102, V
214, 216, etc. ; bedey C
1 6 1. O.E. bedd.

bede, v. tr., offer, announce'.
infm. , bede, S 40 ; pres. i
sg., bede, S 129, 130; 3
sg., bede>, S 374; pres.
subj. 3 sg.,bede, S 363;
pret. 3 sg., beed, S 349;
bed, S 367. O.E. beo-
dan.

98

befel, v., pret. 3 sg., be-
fell, happened-. S 16.
O.E. befeallan.

be-for, prep.: C 183, 403;
be-fore, C a, 3725 be-
forne, 6399. O.E. befor-
an, bifora, befora (hind),
etc.

began, see biginne.

begers, n., beggars-, poss.
pl.,C 267. O.F. begard.

be-hold, v., see, behold: in-
fin., C 279; pres. imper.
2 sg., C 276; biheld,
pret. 3 sg., V 15. O.E.
bihaldan; W. S. beheal-
dan.

be-hynd, adv., behind: C
46. O.E. behindan.

belle, n., belly (in oath =
O.F. ventre bleu (dieu)
quoted by Matzner)
scarcely as in Wright =
tunic or = bell (?): 8390,
421.

be-lyue, adv., quickly, at
once: C 1395 blyue, C
1525 bliue, V 109. M.E.
comp. bi-life, etc. See
bliue.

benedicite, n., blessing :
benedicite be herinne =
«God save us,' S 193.
Lat. benedicite.

bere, v., bear: infin., C

55ijimper. 2sg.,C245;

bore, p. p., V 116} born,

p. p., C 387. O. E.

beran.
beryes, n., berries : pi., C

201, 203. O.E. berie.
bes, v., pres. 2 sg. = O.E.

bis, bist (Orrm. best,

etc.) : thou art, S 444.

See be, ben.
best, adj.: C 142, 159,212.

O.E. bet(e)st.
be-syde, adv., beside: C

187 j by. . .syde, C 87.

O.E. be sidan.
bete, v., remedy : infin., V

276. O.E. betan.
bete, v., beat : infin., V

290, C 20, 298. O.E.

beatan.
beter, adj., better : S 274,

C 236} betere, S 389;

better, C 26, 147. O.E.

betera, bet.
be-thought, v., reflex.,

seemed : pret. 3 sg., C 90;

reflected, pret. 3 sg., C

349. O.E. bij>encan.
bey, v., pret. 3 sg., bo<wed:

V 194. O. E. bugan,

beah, bugon, bogen.
bi, prep., along: S i, 74; in

oaths, S 31,895 concern-

ing, S 143, V no} ac-
cording to, S 253, 405,
V 5o} beside, S 383. O.
E. bi. See be.

bicharde, v., pret. 3 sg. ,
deceived, beguiled ^293.
O.E. becerran.

biche, n., bitch: S 354}
bicche, S 372. O. E.
bicce.

bicom, v., become: S 376.
O.E. becuman.

bidde, v., pray, bid, com-
mand, invite: infin., V
179} pres. i sg., bidde,
S 209} pret. i sg., bad,

s 3995 3 sg-> bade» c
398} pret. part. , I-bede, V
i35> *55> bede, C 330.
Results from confusion of
two distinct words, O.E.
biddan, ' pray/ and beo-
dan, 'offer,1 'com-
mand.*

biden, v., bide, live to : S
116} pres. i sg., bide, S
26, 133, 433. O.E. bi-
dan. See abide.

biginne, v., begin: pres. 3
sg., biginnej>, V 80; pret.
3 sg., bigon, S 7, 24,
302, 353}bigan, V 107}
bigon to = 'did' (?), S
*97> 4*7, 4*o; pret. 3

99

pi., be-gan, C 58; pret.
part., bigunne, S 384. O.
E. beginnan.

bi-go, v., pres. subj. 3 sg.,
encompass, take possession
of: V53. O.E. began.

bi-^ende, prep., beyond: S
105. O.E. begeondan.

bi^ete, n., getting, earn-
ings, spoil (Matzner): V
248. Not cited in O.E.
Formed from O.E. verb,
begitan. See N.E.D.

biheld, pret., see be-hold.

bihete, v., promise: pres. i
sg.,S428. O.E.behatan.

bileue, v., leave, remain:
pres. subj. 3 sg., bileue, V
198} imper. 2 sg., bilef,
leave, S 217. O.E. be-
Isefan.

bimelde, v., pres. subj. 2
sg., betray: S 38. M.E.
compound from O. E.
bi, prep. -J- meldian. ,

bind, v., bind: pres. 3 ptf V
2 545 pret. part, (harde), I-
bonden = ' hard pressed/
S 204. O.E. bindan. See
hounbinde.

binefe, adv., beneath: V
253. O.E. binij^an, be-
neo^an.

binomen, binome, pret.

100

part., taken away. S
295> V 173. O.E. beni-
man.

bireued, v. tr., pret. part.,
taken from-. 8336. O.E.
bereafian.

biset, v., invested-, pret.
part., 8274. O.E. beset-
tan.

bi-fenche, v. reflex., be-
think oneself, reflect: in-
fin., V 83; pret. 3 sg.,
bi)?oute, 8135 pret. part. ,
bi>out, V 8 1. O. E. bi-
>encan.

bitide, v., happen, betide :
infin., S 124. M.E. com-
pound, bi, prep. -{- O. E.
tidan.

bi-wonne, pret. part. , <won :
8381. M.E. compound,
bi, prep, -f- O. E. win-
nan.

blame, n., charge, blame \
8198,393,0529. O.F.
blame.

blame, v., blame \ infin., S
56. O. F. blamer, blas-
mer.

bled, v., bleed: infin., C
336. O.E. bledan.

blesse, v., bless-, infin., S
2585 opt. 2 sg., blesse
(be), ' God bless you, S

2015 opt. 3 sg., I-blessi,
S 161. O.E. bletsian.

blefeli, adv., gladly. S 35;
ble}>eliche, V 171. De-
rived from O. N. bleab,
<weak,' < gentle,' 'kind,'
but influenced in meaning
byO.E.blibe. SeeN.E.D.

blisse, n., bliss: V 140,
144, 294. O.E. bllSs.

blij?, adj., glad: S 259;
blfte, V 2495 blythe, C
1405 blyth, €151. O.E.

bliue, cf. be-lyue, adv.
blod, n., blood: V 40, 515

dat., blode, C 60. O.E.

blod.
bloke, n., block: C 452.

O.F. bloc.
blome, n., bloom: S 294.

O.N. blom.
body, n., body: C 299. O.

E. bodig.
boinard, n., fool, knave:

S 288. O.F. buinard.
boke, n., book: C 248. O.

E. boc.
boket, n., bucket: V 78,

80, 88, 232; boketes, V

73. O.F. buket (?).
bold, adj., assured, certain:

S 545 bolde, C 331. O.

E. beald.

101

boldly, adv., €328. O.E.

bealdlice.
bond, adj., bond, enslaved:

C 114. O.E. bonda, n.
bone, n., request, boon: S

375. O. N. bon, corr. to

O.E. ben.
bone, n., bone: C 476 ;

pi. bones, V 63. O.E.

ban.

bore, p. p., see bere,"v.
bote, prep., but, besides: S

137, v 39, l64> *54i
bot, C 69, 75, 83, 428.
O.E. butan.

bote, conj., but: S 38, 415
bot, 0251, 320; bote,
unless, S 234, V 43, 1935
bot, C 286, 3165 bote if,
unless, S 181; bot if, C

S 400. O.E. butan.

bote, n., remedy: C 361.
O.E. bot.

both, adv., C 32, 51, 65,
114, 1405 bothe, C 3,
31; boj>e, S 121, 150, V
167; boj?, S 86} boben,
V 26. O.N. ba«ar.

bofe, pron., both: C 31.
O.N. baftar, m., baftir,
f., bsefli, baiSi, n.

Botolfston, pr. n., Boston:
877.

boue, prep., above: S 90.
O.E. bufan.

bowje, n., bough: €196,
1993 bow, C 214. O.E.
bog.

bred, n., bread: S 327. O.
E. bread.

breke, v., break: infin., C
266; pret. 3 sg., breke,
S 356 } brake, C 476.
O.E. brecan.

brest, n., breast: V 194.
O.E. breost.

bringen, v., bring: infin.,
S 189, 404; bringe, V
1265 pres. subj., 2 sg.,
bringe, S 400; pres. im-
per. 2Sg.,bryng, C 399;
pret. 3 sg., broute, S 92,
V 104, 259; brohute, V
7 o j brow^t, €274; broujt,

C 3°4, 334, 4oo, 4035
brought, C 2 1 6 5 pret. part. ,
I-brout, S 244, 424, V 82,
122. O.E. bringan.

broker, n., brother: S 135.
O.E. broker.

brouke, v., use, enjoy: pres.
i sg., S 273. O.E. bru-
can.

bryght, adj., bright: C 388.
O.E. beorht.

b ruche, n., breach, opening:
V2i, 233. O.E. bryce.

102

buggen, v., buy. S 272,-

pret. part., bought, C 283,

335. O.E. bycgan.
burste, v., burst-, pret. subj.

3 sg-> S 360. O.E. ber-

stan.
burf, v. impers., behooves:

pres. 3 sg., S 82. O.E.

byrian.
buske,v. ,to thrash, hustle(?)

boxQ): infin., C 20. Du.

boxen j L. G. baksen,

baaksen.
by, see bi, prep.

callyd, v., called : pret. 3

pi., C 494, 533. O.E.

ceallian.
can, see con.
cardyff, pr. n. : C 87, 233,

*39> 544 j cardyfe, C

*54-
care, n., care, anxiety. C

148. O.E. cearu.
carrals, n., carols-, pi., C

103. O.F. carole.
castell, n., castle: C 544.

Late O.E. castel, fr. O. N.

F. castel.
castell-jjate, n., castle gate-.

C 256.
cellerer, n., cellarer: V 59.

Anglo-Fr. celererj O.F.

celerier.

certes, adv., certainly. S
6 1, 139. O.F. certes.

chapitre, n., chapter, ec-
clesiastical court: S 244.
O.F. chapitre.

charyte, n., charity : C
432. O.F. charitet.

chauntecler, pr. n. : V 37,
46.

cheken, n., cheeks: pi., S
358. O.E. ceace.

chere, n., cheer, look, ex-
pression: 030, 124, 147,
156, etc. O.F. chere.

cherle, n., churl: C 331;
chorle, C 296. O. E.
ceorl.

chery, n., cherry. C 21 ij
pi., cherys, C 279, 311,
374, etc. O.N.F. cherise.

cheryd, v., cheered: pret. 3
pi., C 33. From chere,
n. 5 O.F. chere, chiere.

chery-tre, n., cherry tree:
C 194. M.E. compound,
but cf. O.E. cyrstreow.
Cf. N.E.D.

ches, v., choose: infin., C
427. O.E. ceosan.

chesyn, n., cause: be che-
syn of = because of,Ciji.
O.F. acheson, acheisonj
Lat. occasionem.

childe, n., child: dat., V

228 ; pi., children, V
116, i55;chylder, C 83,
1 60, 167, 173, etc. O.E.
cild.

chorle, see cherle.

chyrche, n., church \ dat.,
€163. O.E. cyrice.

clarc, n., clerk-. S 348, 366,
380, 3875 clerc, S 353,
363, 3735 P1-, clarkes, S
248. O.F. clerc.

(dame) Clarys, pr. n. : C
*8, 551, 557-

(sir) Clegys, pr. n. : €7,
37 ; sir cleges, C 259,
271,295, 301, 322, 328,
382, 439, 533 ; cleges,
C 145, 403, 494 5 syr
clegys, C 238, 2475 syr
cleges, C 86, 89, 169,
253, *89, 3*9, 349, 361,
373,445,478,483, 505}
syr , C 466.

clene, adj., pure-. V 227,
250, C 211 ; klene, V
178. O.E. clSne.

clere, adj., clear, bright-. C
374, 557, 575- O.F.
cler.

closed, v., clothed-, pret.
part., S 6 ; I-clo>ed, S
319. O.E. claiSian.

clothes, n., clothes-. €332.
O.E. claiSas.

io3

clothyng, v. n., clothing:
C 260.

cloute, v., : clout, beat: in-
fin., C 270. O.E.* clu-
tian, of which only the
pret. part., geclutod, sur-
vives.

cnowe, v., know, infin., S
122. O.E. cnawan.

cnul, n. , knell -. V 25 1 . See
soule-cnul.

cold, r\.,cold: S 3 1 2} adj., V
254}colde, V 255. O.E.
ceald, adj.

coler, n., collar: €554.
O.F. colier.

comandyd, v., command-
ed: pret. 3 sg., C 382.
O.E. comander.

come, n., coming: S 108,
V 134. O.E. cyme.

comen, v., comt: infin., co-
men, V 136, 180, 230,
235, etc.} kome, V 174;
com, 023, 5115 come, C
3305 cum, C 3435 pres.
2 sg., commys, C 284;
comyst, €314, 3185 pres.
imper. 2 sg., com, S 22,
28, V 37} 3 pi. , komej?, V
2705 pres. part., comyng,
C 224 } pret. i sg., com,
S 1,64, 1805 2sg., come,
S 2625 3 sg., com, S

104

22, etc., C 122, 1 8 1,
295; come, V 17 j come
hire, S 299 5 pret. 3 pi.,
comen, V 2875 com, C
115, 2565 pret. part., I-
com, S 1625 I-comen, V
59 ; comen, S 296. O.E.
cuman.

comener, n., commoner-. C
65. M.E. formation from
O.F. comun.

comforth, v., comfort: pres.
3 sg., C 149. O.F. cun-
fort, confort.

commyng, v. n., coming:
C 280.

con, v., knoiJOy kno^w hofwt
can : pres. i sg., con, S
47, 65, 206, 450 ; cone,
S 1 68 ; 2 sg., const, S
2855 can, C 490; 3 sg.,
can, V 97 ; pret. 2 sg.,
couj>est, S 1 8 8, 220; pret.
3 sg., coube, C 208 j
pret. subj. 3 sg., kou>e,
V 184. O.E. can, con,
cufte.

conseyle, n., advice : C
393. O.F. conseil.

content, adj., contented,
satisfied, glad : C 395,
564. O.F. content.

contre, n., country: C 43.
O.F. contree.

coppe, n., cup : S 329 $

cowpe, C 550. O.E.

cuppe.
Corne-weyle, pr. n. : C

387.
cost, n., cost: C 120. O.F.

cost,
couenant, n., covenant-. C

480 ; couenand, €435.

O.F. co(n)venant.
coufe, coufest, see con.
crafftes, n., crafts : pi.,

S 190. O.E. craeft.
craue, v., ask: infin. , S

352. O.E. crafian.
crede, n., creed: S 209.

O.E. creda.
Crist, pr. n., Qhrist: S 332,

etc. 5 cryst, C 522; gen.,

crystes, €133.
Cristine, adj., Christian:

V 120. Anglo-Fr. Cris-

tien.
croune, n., tonsure: S 348.

Anglo-Fr. coroune.
Crystenmes, pr. n. : C

85* a55> crystyn-mes,

C 38. Late O.E. crystes

maesse.
cunne, n., kind: nom. sg.,

kun, V 123; kunne, V

545 kynne, C 569 } gen.

sg., kunnes, V 146, 224,

2945 cunnes, 815; nom.

pl.(?), cunne, V 166. O.
E. cynn.

cursede, v., pret. 3 sg.,
cursed : V 259. O. E.
cursian.

curtasly, adv., courteously.
C5o7.

curteis, adj., 'well-man-
ner edt courteous: S 119,
341 ; curtas, C 13, 570.
O. F. corteis.

curteisi, n., courtesy , man-
ners: S noj curtasse, C
455. O.F. cortesie.

curtiler, n., gardener: V
272. O.F. cortiller.

dai, n., day. S. 150, 208,
345 ; day, S 16 j dey, C

30, 39, 135, 158, »3* J

pi., dales, V 48, 152 ;

dayes, V49jdaus, 8324;

lif-daie, V 200. O. E.

daeg, dagas.
dame, n., lady. S 37, 61,

etc. , C 2 1 7 j dame clarys,

C 28, 557 ; dam clarys,

551. O.F. dame,
dansyng, v. n., dancing:

C 104.
dar, v., = >ar, etc., pres.

2 sg., needest: S 260.

O.E. J>earf.
ded, adj., dead: S 309, V

105

149, 191 5 dede, C 500.

O.E. dead.
dede, n., deed, thing: S 41,

V 223. O.E. dseU
dede, v., see do.
del, n., lament , grief: S

344, 356. O.F. doel.
dele, v. , divide, give : in-

fin., €515. O.E. dselan.
deley, n., delay : C 264.

O.F. delei.
deleyd, v., delayed: pret.

part., €441. O.F. de-
layer.
depe, adj., deep: V 109.

O.E. deop.
dere, adj., dear: C 202.

O.E. deore.
dere, adv., dearly. €283,

335. O.E. deore.
derne, adj., secret: S 130.

O.E. derne, dierne.
dernelike, adv., secretly:

S 86.

desesyd, v., troubled, af-
flicted: pret. part, 0191.

O.F. desaaisier.
dettys, n., debts: pi., C

562. O.F. dette.
deuel, n., devil: V 104,

282. O.E. deofol.
dey, see dai.
dey-lyght, n., daylight: C

241.

io6

deyntes, n., dainties: pi.,
C 413. O.F. deyntee.

do, don, done, v., do, cause
to, give, put: infin., do,
cause, S 126, cause to,
V 2515 don, do, S 32, 35,
53 ; done, do, V 2365
pres. i sg., do, cause to,
V 515 2 sg., dest, dost,
v 33> 35> J52 > dost, s
377 j 3 sg., do, C 232 }
3 pi., do>, do, V 217 5
pres. subj. 2 sg., do, give,
V 192 } 3 sg., do, grant,
S 322, 330; pret. 3 sg.,
dede, caused, V 67 j
dyde, did, C 573 j pret.
3 pl-> dyd, <&/, C 5745
dyde, ^/W, C 160 5 pret.
subj. i sg., dude, S 172 5
pret. part., I-don, V 106,
put, S 323 j don, done,
S 226, V 39, C 49, com-
pleted, C 1785 do, done,
V 68, made, 0411; I-do,
done, V 222. O.E. don.

done, adv., down: C 97.
See adown.

dore, n., door: S 301, V 27,
C 293. O.E. duru.

dou, n., dough-, ¥.256.
O.E. dah.

dou^tyer, adj. , more dough-
ty: compar., C 8. Late

O.E. dohtig, for earlier,

dyhtig, dihtig.
doun, n., do<vun: V 247 5

doune, €452. Seeadoun.
doute, n., doubt, fear: C

273. O.F. doute.
douter, n., daughter : S

339, etc. O.E. dohtor.
draw, v., draw. pres. subj.

2 sg., draw, C 268 ; pret.

3 sg., drew, C 88 } drou,
V 277. O.E. dragan.

dred, adj., afraid: S 409.
Aphetic Jorm from M.E.
adrad, O.E. ofdrsed(d).

drede, n., dread, fear:
dat., V 89. M.E. noun
from O.E. verb drsedan.

dreri-mod, adj., sad in
heart: S 149. M.E. com-
pound, O. E. dreorig +
m5d.

dri3tte, n., Lord: S 408.
O.E. dryhten.

drinke, v., drink: infin.,
V 795 pret. 3 sg., dronk,
V 93. O.E. drincan.

drinke, n., drink: S 133,
V 143 5 drunche, V 14 ;
pl.,drynkes,Cn8. O.E.
drinc, str. m. , drinca, w. m.

driuen, pret. part., driven:
S 247. O.E. drifan.

drou, see draw.

drunche, see drinke.

drofe, v., drove: pret. 3
pi., C 158. O.E. drifan.

dude, see do.

duell, v., dwell: infin., C
82 ; pret. 3 pi., duellyd,
C 87. O.E. dwellan.

duntes, n., blows, strokes:
pi., V 295 -, dyntes, C
444. O.E. dynt.

dyde, v., see do.

dyght, pret. part., made
ready : C 242, 2575
dyjht, C 1 6 8, 540. O.E.
dihtan.

dy^ed, dyed, v., died: pret.
3 sg., C 57, 306. Early
M. E. dejen. O. N. deyja.

dyntes, see duntes.

dyuerse, adj., divers, dif-
ferent kinds of: C 99.
O.F. divers(e).

eddre, n., vein : V 45,
heddre,V4ji O.E. sedre.

ede, v., went: pret. 3 sg.,
V69; hede, 8347, 380,
V 2 7 5. O.E. code, see go,
gon.

efft-sones, adv., again: S
384. O.E. eft sona.

egre, adj., eager: V 289.
O.F. egre, aigre.

eien, n., eyes: pi., S 2815

107

heien, S 3575 heie-ren-

ning, S 283. O.E. cage,
eillej?, v., aileth: pres. 3 sg.,

S 337. O.E. eglan.
eke, conj., also: S 159,327.

O.E. eac.
eldyst, adj., eldest \ superl.,

C 243. O.E. ieldest.
elles-wer, adv., elsewhere:

V2o8. O.E.elleshwaer.
els, conj., else: €265, 348.

O.E. elles.
ende, n., end: 862, €576.

O.E. ende.

enderdai, n., a day re-
cently past (N. E. D.)t

other day: S 366. M.E.

compound, O. N. endr-f-

O.E. daeg.
enes, adv., once: S 383.

Early M.E. aenes; O.E.

sene.

eni, see ani.
entente, n., intent, plan,

purpose: C 240,486,^561.

O.F. entente,
ernde, n., errand, business:

S 347 j hernde, 840, 97,

214, 226, 410. O. E.

ierende.
erne, v., run: infin., V 16.

O.E. iernan.
erour, adv., before: V 4.

O.E. aeror.

io8

croust, adv., first-. V 16,
124. O.E. aerest.

erfe, n., earth: S 107, 325,
416; erth, C 378. O.E.
eorfte,

esyly, adv., easily. C 245.
O. F. aisie, p. p.

eten, v., eat: infm.,S 2795
pret. 3 pi., hete, V 1565
pret. part., I-ete, V 98,
1695 etc, C 157. O.E.
ctan.

ej>e, adv. , easily : S 3 3 8. O.
E. ea>e.

euch, euche, adj., each,
every: V 101, 224, 285.
O.E. «lc.

cue, n., eve: C 85. O.E.
afen.

euele, adv., ev il, ill: S 1 73,
etc. O.E. yfel.

euensong, n., vespers: C
z6z. O.E. aefen-sang.

euer, euere, adv. , ever : S 26
etc., V 141, C 115, 141,
149, 190, etc. O.E. zEfre.

euer-lastyng, adj., ever-
lasting: C 177, etc.

euer-more, adv., ever-
more: S 385.

euery, adj., every: €22,
37, 80, 104, 105, etc.
O.E. aefrc, selc.

euery chon, pron., every

one:C 185; heuereuchon,
V 270.

euyn, adv., even: C 468.
O.E. efne.

fader, father: C 5, 246.
O.E. feder.

faille, n.,/*;7: S 187. O.F.
faillir.

fain, adv., gladly: S 309,
393. O.E. fsegen, adj.

fair, adj., fair: S 6; feir, S
3395 feyr, C 19, 371$
feyre, C n, 3815 corn-
par., feiror, S 3405 su-
perl., feyrest, C 311.
O.E. fseger.

faire, adv., fair: S i6oj
feyre, C 234, 371. O.E.
faegre.

fallen, v.yfall: pres. 3 sg.,
failed, S 3065 pret. 3 sg.,
fell, C 89, 148, befell,
happened, C 855 pret.
part. , fallyn, C 1 7 j fallyd,
€96. O.E. feallan.

fals, adj. ,/«//*: C 308. O.
F. fals.

falsdom, n., falsehood: S
65. M. E. compound.
Earliest citation in N.E.
£>., 1297.

falsete, n., falseness: S loz.
O.F. falsete.

109

fare, v., fare, go: infin.,
S 152, V 141, C z36}
pres. i sg., fare, S 173,
V 202. O.E. faran.

fast, adv., quickly. €325,
563. O.E. faeste, adv.

faste, v., pret. 3 sg., fasted:
S 324. O.E. fsesten.

fe, n., money, property: S
382, C 18, 437. O.E.
feoh.

fecche, v., fetch: infin., S
314; pret. subj. 2 sg.,
feche, S 386. O.E. fec-
can*

fede, v.,feed, nourish, sus-
tain: pres. i sg., S 208,
32 1 j pret. i sg., fedej C
114. O.E. fedan.

fcire, n.,fair: S 77. O.F.
feire.

fele, adj., many: V i66j
felle, C 4o6(?). O.E.
fela.

fere, n., companion, friend:
V 120, C 125$ I-fere, V
172, 185. O.E. gefera,
m.

fere, n., companionship: in
the phrase, in fere, to-
gether^ C aoi. O.E.
geter, n.

ferli, adj., wonderful: S
277. O.E. fserllc.

ferre, adv., far: €207,489.
O.E. feor.

fest, n., feast: C 38, 44,
495 feste, C 71, 4125 ac.
pi., festes,C 55, 595 feste,
C6i. O.F. feste.

festyd, v., feasted: pret.
3 sg., C 64. O. F. fes-
ter.

fete, n., feet: pi., C 314.
O.E. fet.

fetour, n., feature: C n.
O.F. failure.

feyle, n., fail, doubt: C
390. O.F. faile, faille.

feylyng, v. a., fail: C 384.

fey re, adj., adv. j see
fair(e).

finden, \.,Jind: infin., S 34 j
finde, S 3165 fonde, S
3425 pret. i sg., foud
(scribal error?), V 162$
pret. 3 sg., fond, V 21,
93, 294, C 200 j founde,
S 407, V 73, 92 j found,
C 2 1 9 5 pret. part. , founde,
84225 founden, invented
(Matzner), S 203. O.E.
findan.

fiue, num.,^1/^: V 29. O.
E. fif.

fle, v.,fly: imper. 2 sg., V
385 pret. part., flowen, V
3^. O.E. fleogan.

no

fles, n.,meat: S 327. O.E.

flaesc.
flet, K., floor: S 273. O.E.

flet(t).
flok, n., flock-. V 29. O.E.

flocc.
flore,n.,/o<?r: S 102. O.E.

flor.

flowen, see fle.
fode, n., food: C 119. O.

E. foda.

fol,n.,/oo/:Sii5. O.F.fol.
fol, adv., see ful.
folewe, v., follow, infin.,

S 350. O.E. folgian.
fomen, n.,foes: pi., V 288.

O.E. fahman.
fond, fonde, v., see finden.
fonde, v., try: infin., S 241,

393. O.E. fandian.
for, prep., for: 835, etc.,

057, 113,119, 455,etc.j

because of, C 34. O.E.

for, fore.
for, conj., for: S 79, €96,

304, 450, 506.
forderen, v., to promote,

advance: pret. 3 sg., for-

deryd, €73. O.E. fyrS-

r(i)an.
foreward, n., agreement,

covenant, S 256. O.E.

foreweard.
for3elde, v., prcs. subj.

3Sg., pay, requite: S 37,
326, 415, V 226. O.E.
for^i(e)ldan.

for-jeue, v., forgive: infin.,
V 1755 forgiue, S 334;
pres. i sg., for^eue,V 225 5
imper. 2 sg., forjef, V
209. O.E. forgi(e)fan.

for^euenesse, n., relenting:
V 295. O.E. forgifnes,
forgyfenes, etc.

forhelen, v., conceal: p.p.
forholen, S 237. O.E.
forhelan.

forsake, v., forsake: pret.
part, forsake, V 1 7 7. O. E.
forsacan.

forsape, v., transform: in-
fin., S 369. O.E. for-
sceppan.

fort, conj., until: V 17 (for
-j- to), see for to.

forf, adv., forth: S 397;
forth, C 337. O.E. for>.

for-fi, conj., therefore: S
171, 1 80, 344, etc. 5 for-
J>en, S 185. O.E. for \>y.

for fider, S 4115 = forth
-f- Hder.

forj?inken, v., repent: pres.
3 sg., for>mke>, S 139.
O.E. forftencan.

for to, introducing an infini-
tive: S 151, 152, 2395

in

forto, C 164, 424, 4825

for-to, C 150. Earliest

citation inN.E.D., 1200.
fortone, n., fortune: C

497. O.F. fortune,
foud, found, founden, see

finden.
foure, num., four: C 470.

O.E. feower.
fourti, num., forty: S 324.

O.E. feowertig.
fre, adj., free, noble: S 34,

339, C 114, 246, 536}

compar., freour, S 342.

O.E. freo.
fre-borne, adj. , free born :

€408.
frely, adv., freely: C 429.

O.E. freolice.
frend, n., friend-. S 152,

185, V 1335 pi., frend,

Vi6o. O.E. freond.
frere,n.,yH#r: V 266, 271,

279, C 32; pl.,freren, V

262. O.F. frere.
fressch, adj.,/r^: C 379.

O.E. fersc.
fro, prep. , from : S 380, C

176, 3°5> 335- O.N. fra.
frute, n., fruit: C 2315

fniyt, C 206, 307. O.F.

fniit.
frythe, n., 'wood: C 549.

O.E. fyr«, fyrhfl.

ful, adj., full: S 1585 full,

€24. O.E. ful.
ful, adv., full, entirely,

quite, 'very: S 3, 34, V

21 5 j fol, S 35, etc.} full,

C 108, 234, 256, etc.;

fulwel, S 257, 278,450,

V 238; fullwele, C 485.

O.E. ful.
fallen, v., fulfil: infin., S

239; fyll, ///, C 230.

O.E. fyllan.
fulj>e,n.,///^: Vi65. O.E.

fyl«.
furmeste, adj., first: V 21.

O.E. fyrmest.
fyll, see fullen.
fynd, v., find: infin., C 47.

O.E. findan.

gabbe, v., jest, lie: imper.

2 sg.,V 121. O.F. gab-
(b)er, O.N. gabba.

gan, v., did: pret. 3 sg., C
59, 146, ±14, etc.; gon,
V i, 83, 195, 240; pret.

3 pi., gounnen, V 283.
Aphetic form of began.
In this sense from 1200.

gange, v.,go,ivalk: S 262,
308, 437. O.E. gangan.

gar, garen, v.,make, cause:
infin., S 281, 290, 449.
O.N. ger(o)a.

112

gare-mersy, n., great
thanks, gramercy : 0421.
O.F. grand merci.

garthyn, n., garden : C
187, 218. O.N.F. gar-
din.

gent, gente, adj., gentle,
noble-. C 253, 386. O.F.
gent.

gentyll, adj., gentle, noble:
Ci5, 25, 309, 536, etc.,
O.F. gentil.

gentyll-men, n., gentle-
men: pi., C 65. M. E.
compound. N. E. D.
1275.

get, n., goats: pi., V 167.
O.E. gat, get.

gete, v.,get: infin., S 14,
Ci55>352>geten, 84475
subj. i sg., gete, 8234;
O.E. gietan, gitan; O.N.
geta.

geue, v., give: infin., S
223, 3885 ?eue, S 191;
gyfF, C 287,5135 pres. 2
sg., jeuest, S 287; pres.
subj. 3 sg., $eue, S 442,
V 34; pret. 3 sg., ?aue, C
2905 ^affe, 04615 gafe, C
451* 55°, 5545 gaff, C
l8> 454; gaffe, C 5415
pret. part., I-giuen. O.E.
gifan.

geyst, n., geste, tale: C
484. O.F. geste.

gift, n.,gift: S 2235 gyft,
c 4° 55 gyfte> c 346>
467, 4795 pl-> giftes> s
3885 gyftes, C 50, 282.
O.E. gift.

gin, ginne, n., trick, clev-
erness, contrivance, trap :
S 289, V 72, 77, 82, 86,
103, 125. O.F. engin.

gistninge, n., dat., feast,
banquet (Matzner) : V
255. Scand. Cf. O. Sw.
gastning.

glad, adj.: S 328, 402, V

*49> C 3°> I24, J36>
397, etc. O.E. glaed.

gladly, adv.: €244. O.E.
glasdlice.

go, gon, v., go, walk: in-
fin., go, S 185, 297, 319,
Vi,etc.,C 146,239,259,
272, etc. j go = walk, C
474J gon, S 135, 156,
417, Vio8, 283, C 50,
1845 pres. subj. 3 sg.,
go, €4205 i p]., go, C
1395 pres. imper. 2 sg. ,go,
C 2965 pret. 3 sg., went,
C 292, 324, etc. 5 wente,
C 1 86, 277, 2905 pret.
3 pi., went, C 154, 161,
167, etc.; wente, €1785

pret. part., gon, S 76 j
gon = ago, C 5005 I-
gon, S 80, etc. See also
ede, hede. O.E. gan,
wendan.

God, pr. n., God-. S 25,
315, etc., C 176, 179,
etc.; goed, S 210, 314,
3J7, 3^2, 3305 gen. sg.,
godes, S 197, V 56, 57,
C 164; dat. Code, V
158. O.E. God.

gode, adj., good: S 300, V

172, C 51, 118, 229,
etc. j god, 82855 goed, V

173. O.E. god.

gode, n., goods, wealth: V
147, €58, 68, 419, 425$
goed, V i6ijgod, C 70,
*55> godes, C 137. O.E.
god.

Goder-hele, in phr. to
goder hele, to (your) good
fortune: 8261; used like
a nom. sg., goder-hele,
S 269. La$. to godere
Hre haele = O. E. to godre
fe&Je.

gode sir, n., like A. F.
beau sir, dear sir: €271.

godlec, n., goodness, bene-
fit: S 227. O. N. go$-
leik-r.

godnedai, phr., good day:

accus. sg.,S 145; goddai,
S 397.

godnes, n., goodness: €29;
good, C 5745 good for-
tune, C 224. O.E. god-
nes.

goed, n.,good: S 252, V 39,
46} god, 8285. O.E.god.

gold, n., gold: C 18, 53,
288. O.E. gold.

gome, n., sport: V 24. O.
E. gam en.

gon, v. , pret. 3 sg. , see gan.

gore, n., front section of a
skirt, wider at bottom than
at top, by synecdoche,
skirt, petticoat, gown :
under gore = under one' s
clothes (N.E.D.): S 5.
O.E. gara.

gossip, n., sponsor in bap-
tism: V 1 1 6, 208, etc.
O.E. godsibb.

gounnen, see gan.

gouflich, adj. , goodly of ap-
pearance, handsome: S 5.
O.E. godlic.

grace, n., grace: C 497.
O.F. grace.

gradde, v., cried out: pret.
3 sg., V 282.

grante, v., grant: infin.,
C 362; pres. subj. 2 sg.,
grante, S 375, C 344}

graunte,C286,3i6;3Sg.,
grante, 83625 pres. imper.
2sg.,grante, C357;pret.
3 sg., grantyd, C 3205
pret. part., grantyd, C
238, 506. O.F. graunter.

grantise, n., grant, con-
cession: S 414. O. F.
grantise.

grantyng, n., granting,
boon: C 43 4 j granteyng,
€440.

grasyos, adj., gracious:
C 172. O.F. gracious.

gref, n., reluctance: 836.
O.F. grief, gref.

gren, adj., green: C 200.
O.E. grene.

gret, adj., great: sing.,
V 1 68 j pi., grete, V 155,
290; sg. andpl., grete, C
5, 31, 104, 221, 282,
292, etc. O.E. great.

grete, v. , greeted : pret. 3 sg. ,
C 465$ grette, S 160.
O.E. gretan.

greten, v., pres. 3 pi.,
<weep: S 357. O.E. gras-
tan.

grette, v., see grete.

greuans, n., ill fortune: C
222. O.F. grevance.

greue, v., grieve: infin., S
59 j pret. 3 sg., greuyd,

C 442 5 pret. part. , greuyd,

refl.,C45o. O.F. grever.
grew, v., see grow,
grif, n., peace: S 267 j

grythe, C 299, 546. O.

E. grift, O.N. grift.
grome, n., anger, wrath:

S 197. O.E. grama.
ground, n., ground: C375;

dat., grounde = bottom,

V 74, 91. O.E. grund.
grow, v^grow. pres. 3 pi.,

C 204 5 pres. part. , grow-

yng, €3785 pret. 3 sg.,

grew, C 307. O.E.

growan.
grym, adv., grimly: €526.

O.E. grim,
grymly, adv., grimly: C

465. O.E. grimllce.
grythe, n., see grif.
gyft, n., see gift,
gytherners, n., player on

the gittern: C 101. O.F.

guitern.

}are, adv., /or « long time:
V 169. O.E. geara.

^are, adv., readily, quickly:
C 469. O.E. gearo.

}at, n., gate: V 20; $ate, C
284. O.E. geat.

je, pers. pron.,ye,you: C i,

ou, V 215; jou, C 377,
etc.; accus., ou, V 214,
21 6 j 3011, C 272, etc. j
gen., jour, C 303, 407,
408, etc. j of $oure, of
yours, C 495. O.E. $e,
eower, eow.

36, affirm, part. , yea : 8232,
V 176, 207, C 538. O.
E. gea.

3ef, }if, conj., //: jif, S
595 ^f, V 98, 204; if,
S 32, 52, etc., C 49oj
yff, C 208, 268; if >at,
S 525 ?if >at, S 59; $eif
>at, S 443. O. E. gif.
See if.

jelpe, v., boast-, infin., S
227. O.E,, gielpan.

jenge, adj., see $ong.

}er, n.,year: pi. jer, S 675
sing. & pi. jere, €37,
55, 64, 204, 205, 571.
O.E. gear.

^erne, ^v. y earnestly 9eager-
/y:Si3,Vi5,93. O.E.
georne, adv.

}et, adv., yet: S in, 404,
V 153. O.E. giet.

}eue, v., see geue.

3if, conj., see }ef.

^irne, v., desire: pres. subj.
2 sg., ^irne, S 45. O.E.
giernan.

30!, n., Tule, Christmas: S

1 1 6. O.E. geol, geohol.
, adj., young: sing.,

S 361,- pi., png, C 566;

pi., ^enge, C 517. O.E.

geong.

, v., go: infin., V 61.

See gonge.
^urstendai, n., yesterday:

S 73. O.E. geostran -f-

daeg.
^us, adv., yes: S 294. O.E.

gise, gese.

ha, pers. pron, see hoe.
haiward, n., hedge war-
den, hay ward: V 26. M.

E. compound. O.E. hege

+ O.E. weard.
hakney, n., hackney: C

251. O.F. haquenee.
half so, adv., half so: V 4.

O.E. healf swa.
halle, n., hall : S 22, C

314, 3265 hall, C 324,

325. O.E. heall.
halp, see helpe.
han, see haue.
hang, v., hung: pret. 3

pi., C 153. O.E. hon,

heng.
harde, adv., hard, strongly:

S 204, V 195. O. E.

hearde.

n6

harper, n., harper-. C 4845
herper, C 4875 pi., her-
pers, C 1 01. O.E. hear-
pere.

haue, v., haw. mfin., haue,
S 164, C 36, 225, 2825
hauen, S 1965 ban, V 875
hafe, C 2355 pres. i sg.,
haue, 858, 424, C 143,
205, 207, etc.} habbe,
S 67, V 200, 201, 203,
210$ habe, S 91; have,
V 40 j pres. 2 sg. , hauest,
S 194, 256, 268, V 47,
54, 173, l85» *445 hast,
C 411, 4125 has >ou?, C
355; pres. 3 sg., haue>,
S 112, 214, 2 1 6, etc., V
122, 1685 hath, C 231;
pres. 3 pi., haueb, S 3105
pres. subj. 2 sg., haue,
851, 1455 pres. subj. i
pi., haue, C 226; im-
per. 2 sg., haue, S 270$
pret. i sg., heuede, S
339, v 1345 3 sg.,
heuede, S 9, 422, V 68,
etc. j hedde, ¥2855 hede,
V 288; had, C 7, 25,
2 9, etc. ; held, regard-
ed, C 5035 pret. 3 pi.,
had, C 137, 157; pret.
subj. i sg., hedde, V
1 35 J 2 sg«, hade, *wouldst

have, 0438; heuedest, S
250, V 1 77. O.E.habban,
hsefde.

haui, haue + I.

he, pers. pron. : nom., he, S
4, 7, etc., V 3, 5, etc.,
C 7, 10, etc. 5 dat., him,
S 142, V 2, etc. j hym,
C 36, 56, 75, etc.j ac-
cus., him, 813, 94, V
114, 259, etc.j hym, C
23, 123, 124, etc. j hine,
V 123. O.E. he, his,
him, hine.

heddre, see eddre.

hede, v., see ede.

hede, n., see heued.

hedlyng, adv., headlong:
€360. M.E. formation
from O.E. heafod + O.E.
-ling. Cf. O.E. biding.

heie, heien, see eien.

heie-renning, n., running
at the eyes: S 283. Not
cited in N.E.D.

hei^tte, v., is named: pret.
3 sg., S 177; heyte, V
271; pret. 3 sg., hyght,
C 28} pret. part., hy^t,
C 7. O.E. hatan, het.

held, see holden.

hele, see goder-hele.

helen, v., conceal: infin., S
241, 253. O.E. helan.

help, n., help: S 164, 236,
371. O.E. help.

helpe, v., help: infin., S
188,210, 228} pres.3 sg.,
helpys, C 127$ pres. 3
pi., helpen, S 2115 im-
per. 2 sg., help, S 22 ij
pret. 3 sg., halp, V 84.
O.E. helpan.

hem, pers. pron., see hy.

hen, n., hen: accus. sg., V
7j nom. pi., hennen, V
*8> 32» SSigen-P1-* hen-
nen, V 40. O.E. henn,
hen.

hende, adj., gracious, cour-
teous: S 119, 154; hend,
C 570. O.E. gehende.

hende, adv., graciously: S
6 1. O.E. gehende.

hente, v. , took : pret. 3 sg. ,
C 123, 278. O.E. hen-
tan.

her, adv., here: S 68, 194,
252, etc., V 1405 here, C
217, 488, etc. O.E. her.

her-bifore,adv., heretofore:
¥222. O.E.her-f-befor-
an.

herdy, adj., hardy, bra<ve:
C 3, 3*9, 537- O. F.
hardi.

here, pers. pron., see hy.

here, v., hear: infin., C i,

117

482, 488, etc.; pres. i

sg., here, V 128; pret.

i sg., herde, 82, 73;

herd, €1265 pret. 3 sg.,

herde, V 1705 herd, C

98, 1 045 inf., I-here, S

368, V 1 86; pres. i sg.,

I-here, V 119; pret. 3

sg.,I-herde,Vu3. O.E.

(ge)hieran.
her-inne, adv., herein : S 25,

V 104; her-in, S 321. O.

E. herinne.
herknen, v., listen: infin.,

S 50. O.E. hercnian.
herlot, n., rascal: €355.

O. F. herlot, (h)arlot,

vagabond.

hernde, n., see ernde.
hernest, n., real meaning:

S 230. O.E. eornust.
herpers, see harper,
herte, n., heart: S 10, 356,

360; hert, C 190. O.E.

heorte.
hertely, adv., heartily: C

409. In N.E.D. first qu.

fr. Cursor Mundi.
Hertou, art thou, see be,

ben.

hete, see eten.
hefen, adv., hence: S 295.

O.N. heSan.
hefer, see hider.

n8

heiied, n., head-. S 335$

hede, C 266, 299. O.E.

heafod.

heuede, v., see haue.
heuene, n., heaven: S 325,

4165 heuen, C 575. O.

E. heofon.
heuene-blisse, n., bliss of

Heaven-. V 233.
heuene-king,n., Heaven's

King: S 31, 895 heuen-

kyng, C 109. O.E. heo-

foncyning.
heuereuchon, pron., see

euerychon.

heui, adj., heavy, sad, de-
pressed: V 2785 heuy, C

322. O.E. hefig.
hey, adv. phrase, on hey,

on high, to a height: V

31. O.E. heah, see hy.
hie, see I.
hider, adv., hither: S 180,

261; heber, €330. O.E.

hider.
hiderward, adv., here: S

255. O.E. hiderweard.
hile, see goder-hele.
hine, pers. pron., see he.
hire, pers. pron., see hoe.
hire, poss. pron., her: S

412, etc. 5 hyr, C 243.

O.E. hiere, hire. See

hoe.

his, hiis, v., see be.

his, poss. pron., his: S 10,
etc., C 58, 3125 hys
(sing. & pi.), C 61, 62,
74, 152, etc. O.E. his.

hit, pron., it: S 28, 45,
60, etc., V 46, 60, etc. j
it, C 88, 165 j yt, C
321, 441, etc. O.E. hit.

hoe, pers. pron. , she: nom.,
hoe, 820, 23, 179, etc.;
ha, S 362; dat., hire, S
ioj hyr, C 146; accus.,
hire, S 14, 151, etc. O.
E. heo, hire, hire, hie.
See sche.

hoe, pi., see hy.

hoeld, v., see held.

hof, prep., see of.

hofjmrst, adj., (of-f>urst),
thirsty: V 274. See a-
Jmrst, V 66 j see afmgret,
p. p. O. E. of>yrsted, of-
>yrst, p. p.

holde, adj., see olde.

holden, v., hold: infin., S
71; hold, C 38, 61, 91,
546} pres. i sg., hold,
regard, consider, €14252
sg. , oldest, S 1 1 5 j pret.
3 sg., hoeld, V 5; 3 pi. ,
held, C 55 j p.p., hold,
regarded, considered, C
565. O.E. heal dan.

119

holi,adj., holy. § 205, 2545

holy, C 1 35. O.E. halig.
horn, n., home: S 97, etc.,

V 34, C 1785 home, C

180, 556. O.E. ham.
horn-come, n., homecoming:

S 293. O.E. hamcyme.
hon, prep., see on.
bond, n. , hand : dat. ,€196,

1985 honde, S 240, V

102} pi., hondes, C 95,

1 06. O.E. hand, hond.
hondred, num., hundred:

S 1045 hundryth, 0555.

O. E. hundred, North.

hundraft, hundred, n.
hongi, v. intr., hang: infin.,

V 88, 232; pret. 3 pi.,

hang, C 1 5 3 . O.E. han-

gianj hon, heng.
honour, n., honor: C 377.

O.F. honur.
honouren, v., honor: p. p.

honouryd, 0412. O.F.

(h)onorer.
hope, v., hope: pres. i sg.,

C 1 445 pret. 3sg.,hopyd,

C 72$ hopede, V79. O.

E. hopian.
hore, poss. pron., their: S

210. O.E. hiera} hiora,

heora. See hy.
hore, n., whore: 899. O.

N. hora. O.H.G. huora.

hors, n., horse: C 248} pi.,

€52. O.E. hors.
hote, v., command: pres.

i sg., V 36. O.E. ha-

tan.
hou, conj., how. S 14, 292,

etc.} ou, V 230. O.E.

hu.
hounbinde, v., unbind:

pres. subj. 3 sg., S 315.

O.E. un+ bindan.
houncurteis, adj., uncour-

teous: S 46. O.E. un +

O.F. corteis.
houndes, n., dogs: V 290,

O.E. hund.

hounderstonde, v., under-
stand: infin., 82635 pret.

3 sg., hounderstod, V 77.

O.E. understandan.
houne, adj., see ouene.
houngeryn.9 hunger: S 310,

312} V 13, 68, i68,etc.;

honger,Vii2. O.E. hun-

gor.
hounlawe, n., wrong: S

60. M.E. word, O.E.

un -j- O.E. lagu.
hounsele, n., unhappi-

ness: S 175. O.E. unssel,

m.

houp, adv., see oup.
houre, poss. pron., our: S

31, 89, 236, 408, etc.,

120

V 35, 59. See cure. O.E.
ure.

hous, n. j house 18273, V 1 1 ,
27; house, S 92, V 261.
O.E. hus.

hous, i pers. pron., see ous.

houssebonde, hosse-
bande, n., husband-. S
1375 hossebande, S 341.
1. O. E. husbonda. O.N.
husbondi.

houssewif, n., housewife-.
8361. M.E. compound :
first qu. fr. Ancren
Riwle.

houssong, n., matins-. V
265, 2705 houssonge, V
274. O.E. uhtsong.

houte, adv., see oute.

how-fat-euer, adv., how-
ever : C 420. Not cited in
N.E.D.

hundryth, see hondred.

hy, pers. pron., 3 pi., they.
¥41, 42, 204, 2 83; hoe,
V 264, 2685 gen., here,
V 43, 265, 267, 274;
hoere, V 272; hore, S
210 j dat., hem, S 210,
212, V 45; accus., hem,
V 162, 267; Ime (?), V
264. O. E. hie (hy),
hiera (hiora, heora), him.
See J?ei, and J>er.

hy, hye, adj., high-. C 10,

422, 498. O.E. heah.

See hey.

hye, pers. pron., see hoe.
hy^ht, v., promised: pret.

3 sg., €468; pret. 3 pi.,

hyght, owed, C 562. O. E.

hatan, he(h)t.
hyght, hy^t, <was named,

see hei3tte.
hym-selue, pron., himself }

he-, nom., C 63.

I, pron., i pers., I: S 32,
47, 50, etc., C 112,
142, etc.} ich, S 2, 26,
etc., V 36, 103, 119,
128, 132, 133, 162; ihc,
S 148, V 159; hie, S
237; Y, C in, 114,
219, 220, ^298, 315,
etc.; dat. sing., me, S
42, V38, C 286; accus.
sing., me, S 29, C 272,
etc. O.E. ic, mm, me,
me(c).

I-bede, p. p., see bidde.

I-ben, p. p., see be.

I-blessi, see blesse.

I-boen, part, adj., ready. S
434. Prefix i -j- O. Dan.
boin.

I-bonden, part, adj., bound:
harde ibonden, < hard

121

pressed,* <in straits/ S
204. See bind.

I-brout, see bringen.

ich, see I.

iche, see like.

I-clo]?ed, see closed.

I-crope, v., crept-, pret.
part.,V28. O.E. creopan.

I -do, i-don, p. p., see do.

I-ete, see eten.

if, see jef.

I-faie, adv., gladly. V 199.
O.E. gefaegen.

I-fere, see fere.

I-gon, see go(n).

i-here, see here.

I-kaut, v., caught: p. p.,
V86, 103. O.F. cachier.

I-knede, p. p., kneaded: V
256. O.E. cnedan.

I-kneu, see knowen.

I-knowe, p. p., confessed:
V 182. M.E. cnawenn,
qu. fr. Orm. etc. in the
sense of acknowledge,
confess ; cf. M. E. a-
knowe, O.E. oncnawan.

ilke, adj., each, every: S
208, 3075 same, very,
S 289, V 47, 99, 271,
etc.; Iche, each, C 512.
O.E. selc.

I-loke, p. p., locked: V 20.
O.E. lucan.

I-loued, see loue.

I-maked, see make.

I me (?), V 264, refl. pron.
accus. constr. after arisen.
Cf. hy ; or = inne (Maetz-
ner), prep., in.

I-munt, p. p., meant, in-
tended: V 244. O. E.
myntan.

in, prep., in: S 6, 15, etc.,
V 25, 82, etc., C 105,
etc.; yn, C 4, 14, 104,
etc.; ine, V 138, 162,
163, C 134; ime (?), V
264. O.E. in.

in, inne, adv., in, inside:

S 20, 300, V 22, 23, 25,

etc. O.E. in.
in-dede, adv., indeed: C

499.
inne, n., house: 819, 299,

406. O.E. inn, in.
I-nou, adj., enough: S 93,

¥24, 147; I-nowe,V288.

O.E. genoh.
I-nou, adv., enough'. V 79,

83* *59> *?8; I-nowje,

0519. O.E. genoh.
in-to, prep. : S 22, C 324;

yn-to, C 177, 187. O.E.

into,
in-werd, adv., inward: C

268, 511. O.E. inweard.
ioies, pi. see loy.

122

I-seie,I-sey,I-siist,see se.

I-shend, see shend.
I-shoed, part, adj., shod:

S 320.

I-sriue, see sriue.
I-stounge,v.,p.p.,//mtt/,

thrust : V 292. O. E.

stingan

beaten: V 291.

it, pers. pron., see hit.

I-take, see take.

I-wend, see wene.

I-wis, adv., certainly. S 43,
1435 mid I-wisse, V234,
293. O.E. gewis.

S 215. O.E. wrecan.

I-writen, v., p. p., writ-

ten: V 204. O.E. writan.

jentyll, adj., gentle, noble:

C 60. O.F. gentil.
Ihesu, pr. n. : C 109, 376,

380$ Ihesu cryst, C 170.
jorneye, n.., journey. C 249.

O.F. jornee.
loy, n., joy. C 552, 572,

576} pi., ioies, V 1 66.

O.F. ioye.
iugement, n., judgment:

S 246. F. jugement.
iuperti, n., venture: S 276.

O.F. iu parti.

kare,n., care: S 153, 442,
¥34, 142,164, etc. O.E.
cearu, caru.

kenne, v., teach: infin., S
264. O.E. cennan.

kepe, v. , keep : subj. 2 sg. , C
1745 3 sg., C 176. O.E.
cepan.

king, n., king: S 31, 89,
426} kyng, C 274, 281,
^87, 343, etc.; gen.,
kynges, C 346. O. E.
cyning.

klene, see clene.

knaue, n., young man: S
201. l.O.E. cnafa, O.E.
cnapa.

kne, n., knee: C 169, 191.
O.E. cneo.

kne i en, v., kneel: pret. 3 sg.,
knelyd, C 169, 188, 191;
pres. part., knelyng, C
3 7 2, 3 7 5 . 0. E. cneowlian.

kny^ht, n., knight \ C 7,
13; knyght, C 25, 60;
pi, knyghtes, C 503.
O.E. cniht.

knowen, v., know. pres.
2 sg., knowyst, €491;
pret. 3 sg., kneu, V ii4j
I-kneu, ¥123; pret- 3 pi- >
knew, C 5 6 6 ; p. p. , knaw,
0528. O.E. cnawanjsee
also I-knowe, p.p.

kok, n., cock: V 30, 31,

etc. O.E. cocc.
kors, n., curse: V 201.

O.E. curs.

kun, kunne, see cunne.
kyssen, v., kiss: pret. 3

sg., kyssed, C 124. O.E.

cyssan.

lady, n., lady: C 28, 175,

229. O.E. hlaefdige.
lame, adj., lame: S 199.

O.E. lama.
landes, see lond.
(at )>e) last , n. , a t last : C 6 7 j

laste, S 141. O.E. latest.
late, v., see let.
late, adv., late: V8i. O.E.

tet.
law, n., la<w\ C 525. O.E.

lagu.
lawe, v. , laugh : infin. , lawe,

840 1,- pret. 3sg.,lou,V.

C 517, 520. O.E. hleh-
han, &c.

lede, v.,lead: infin., lede, S
2115 pres. i sg., lede, S

i74> i75i 3 P1-* led«K s
304. O.E. laedan.

lede, n., people: C 418,
424. O.E. leode.

lef, adj., see leue.

lefmon, n., see leuemon.

123

left, v. intr., remained:

pret. 3 sg., C 81, 82.

O.E. Isefde.
left, v. tr., left: p. p., €75.

O.E. laefan.
lege, adj., liege: C. 407,

421,493, etc. O.F. lige,

Jiege.
leien, v. lay, place: pret. 3

sg., leyd, C 475. O.E.

lecgan.

leng, lengour, adj., corn-
par., longer: S 148, V 42;

lenger,C 196. O.E. leng.
lepen, v. , leap : imper. 2 sg. ,

lep, V 2345 pret. 3 sg.,

lep, ¥22, 78, etc. O.E.

hleapan.
lere, v., teach: infin., V

231. O.E. Iseran.
lerne, v., learn: infin.,

848; pret. i sg.,lernede,

898. O.E. leornian.
les, adj., less, smaller: C

226, 569. O.E. Isessa.
les, n. , falsehood: C 493.

O.E. leas,
lese, v., lose: pres. 2 sg.,

lesest, 81345 3sg.,lese>,

S 141,- p. p., leste, C 70;

lore, C 34 ; lorn, C 405.

O.E. leosan.
lesing, n., falsehood: S

203,283. O.E. leasung.

124

leste, con]., that — not: S
202. O.E. py laspe.

leste, adj., least, smallest:
pi., C 413. O.E. laest.

leste, v., see lese.

lete, v.,let, permit: infin.,
let bloody V 515 pres. i
pi., late, C 2305 pres.
subj. 3 sg., lete, S 196,
364; imper. a sg., let,
S 29jlate, C 2725 p. p.,
leten, V 40, 45. O.E.
laetan.

lete, v., leave off, cease ;
infin., C6i. O.E. lettan.

lette, n., hindrance : C
459. M.E. first qu. from
1175.

lettyng, v. n., hindering:
€291, 297. O.E. lettan.
O.E. letting.

leue, n., leave, permission :
858, ¥25,0290. O.E.
leaf.

leue, adj., dear, beloved: S
135, i7i}lef, 8335 corn-
par, leuere, liefer, prefer-
able, S 382, V 75 leuer,
C 5035 cf. compounds:
leuelif, leuemon. O. E.
leof.

leue, v., grant: pres. subj.
3 sg., S 147, 212, 215.
O.E. llfan, lyfan.

leuelif, n., sweetheart: S

3°-

leuemon, n«, sweetheart,
leman: S 418, 4475 leu-
mon, S 127; lefmon, S
376. O.E. leof+mann.
Early M.E. compound.

leuen, v., leave, abandon:
infin., S 153. O. E.
Ijefan.

leute, n., loyalty, fidelity:
S 229. O.F. leute, lewte.

leuys, n., pi. leaves \ C
200. O.E. leaf.

lew^e, see lawe.

leyd, see leien.

libe, v., live: infin., V 42;
lyfe, C 785 liuie, V 165;
pres. i sg., liue, S 333;
pret. 3 pi., lyued, €571.
O.E. lifian, libban.

lie, v., lie, prevaricate: in-
fin., V 132, imper. 2sg.,
li}, S 229. O.E. leogan.

lif, n., life: S 82, V 178,
etc.} lyfe, C 26, lyfFe, C
1775 liifj V 188} dat.,
liue,V2ii,227, 250} pi.,
Hues, S 304. O.E. lif.

lif-dayes, n. pi., life days-,
V 495 lif-daie, V 200.
O.E. lifdagas.

li}t, adj., easy: V 236.
O.E. liht.

liken, v., please: infin., S
82; like, S 257. O. E.
llcian.

lim, n., limb: pi. limes, S
311. O.E. lim.

Lincolne-shire, pr. n. : S
78.

liuie, see libe.

lo, interj., C 117. O.E.
la.

loke, v., look, see to it that:
pres. imper. 2sg.,S 357,
398, 440, C 21765 pret.
3 sg., lukyd, looked, ap-
peared, C 526. O.E.
locian.

lond, n., land: C 16, 117,
418, 424, 549; londe
(dat.), S 266, V 1015
pi., landes, C 94$ lon-
dys, C 548. O.E. land,
lond.

longe, adv., (time), long:
V 280; long, C 356.
O.E. lang.

longen, v., belong: pres. 3
sg., longes, C 119, 542.
M.E. longen (first certain
qu. fr. Cursor Mundi).
cf. O.E. gelang, adj.

lord, n., lord: €172, 176,
etc., louerd, S 17, 31,
etc. 5 pi., lordes, C 326,
446, etc. O.E. hlaford.

125

lordynges, n. , sirs : pi. , C i .
M. E. first qu. fr. Orrm
(laferrdinngess, pi.), etc.

lore, v., see lese.

lore, n., lore, learning, les-
son: S 4, 264. O.E. lar.

lorn, see lese.

lof, adj., loath, unpleasant,
hateful: S 42, V 6, 219.
O.E. lab.

lou, lou$, see lawe.

loue, n., love: S 12, etc.,
C 302. O.E. lufu.

loue, v., love: infin., 887,
1445 louien, S 7, 265;
pres. i sg., loue, 82335 *
sg., louest, 82315 3 sg.,
loueb, S 94, 3625 pret. i
sg., louyd, C 501 5 pret. 3
sg., louede, S 3435 p. p.,
I-loued, S 67, 178. O.E.
lufian.

louerd, n., see lord.

loue-uerc, n.,
S 374.

luitel,adv., little: S 362, V
260. O.E. lytel.

lukyd, see loke.

lust, n., desire:V 96, 100.
O.E. lust.

lyde, n., lid: C 278, 310.
O.E. hlid.

lyfe, v., see libe.

lyfe, lyffe, n., see lif.

126

lyften, v., lift: pret. 3 sg.,

lyfte, 0310. Icel. lypta.
lyke, conj., like: C 452.

O.E. ge-lic.
lyne, v., cease: infin., C

133. O.E. linnan.
lyre, n., cheek: C 153.

O.E. hleor.
lysten, v., listen: imper. 2

pi., lystyns, C i. O.E.

hlystan.
lyte, n., little: C 69. O.E.

lyt.
lytell, adj., little: C 76.

O.E. lytel.
lythe, n., limb : C 298.

O.E. HK
lyued, see libe.

mai, v., can, may: pres. i
sg., mai, S 32, etc., V
1415 may, V 230, C 141,
49 6 j 2 sg., mait, S 495
mijt, S 135, 227; mijtt,
S 345 maijt, S 258, 259,
389, etc.; maut, S 221;
may, C 488; mai, S 122;
may, €.203, etc.; 2 pi.,
may, C 235; 3 pi., may,
C 47; pres. subj. i sg.,
moue, S 3 70; pret. i sg.,
myght, €511; pret. 3
sg., mijtte, S 83, 237, V
ii2jmi}te, V87; myjht,

C 26, 78;mou9ht, C 339;

3 pl.,my^ht, €155,159;

my^t, €520; pret. subj.

3 sg., moute, S 14.

O.E. mugan, maeg.
maiden, n., maiden: S 92.

O.E. msegden.
main, n., strength: dat.,

maine, V 279. O.E. mae-

gen.
maister, n., master: V.

206, 272. O.F. maistre.
maistri, n., artifice, trick:

8277. O.F. maistrie.
make, v., mate: S 107.

O.E. gemaca.
make, v., make: infin., S

39, 222, C 59, 112;

maken, S 142, 263; pres.

3 pi., make}?, V 29; pres.

subj. 2 sg., make, €300;

i pi., make, C 140; pres.

imper. 2 sg., make, S 240,

328; pres. part., makyng,

C 195; pret. 2 sg., mad-

yst, C no; 3 sg., made,

€71, 84, 94, etc.; i pi.,

made, C 480; 3 pi., made,

C 156; p. p., maked, S

200, 256;I-maked, ¥72.

O.E. macian.
maki, make + I: S 344.
man, n., man: C 6, 8, etc.;

mon, S 3, 71, 122, 219,

127

etc., V 285; gen. manus,
C 1195 pi., men, V 6, C
79> 35°i gen- pL, men,
S 207. O.E. mann.

rnaner, n., mansion: pi.,
maners, C 62, 74, 92.
O.F. manoir.

manere, n. , manner, <way,
kind of-. S 367; maner, C

*Q3> *5*> 556> pl- (0>
maner, C 559. O. F.
manere.

many, adj., many. C 103,
571, etc.} many a, C 33,
64, 463, 4725 moni, S
67, 178, V 173; moni
a, S 224. O.E. manig,
monig.

marchaundise, n., mer-
chandise. O.F. marchan-
dise.

Margeri, pr. n. : S 177,
231.

marke, n., mark: S 224.
O.E. mearc.

Mary, pr. n. : C 313, 3405
seynt Mary, €265.

masse, n., mass: V 252.

may, see mai.

me, indef. pron., one: 876,
V 75. See mon.

me, pers. pron. See I.

mede, n., reward: S 166,
191 etc. O.E. med.

meding,n., reward: 8271.
O.E. med.

meke, adj., meek: C 21.
M.E. meoc, mec, first
qu. fr. Orrm.

mekyll, adj., see muchel.

mel, n., meal: V 1735 wib
H meel, « toward thy
meal,* V247;gen.,melys,
C 353. O.E. msel.

mend, v., mend, improve:
infin., C 54. O.F.
amender.

menen, v., I. complain,
lament : pret. 3 sg.,
ment, C 126. II. mean,
intend: p. p., mente, C
458. O.E. maenan.

menis, n., laments: S 142.
O.E. mene.

menske, n., honor : 893.
O.N. menniska, human.

merci, n., mercy!: S 127;
mersy, thanks, C 421.
O.F. mercit, merci.

merueilen, v., marvel:
pret. 3 sg., meruylled, C
312. O.F. merveillier.

mery, adj., merry: C 136;
merry, C 140, etc. j merye,
C 397. O.E. myrige.

mes-auenter, n., misfor-
tune: S. 202. O.F. mes-
aventure.

128

mete, n., food-. S 133, 280,
3i6,Vi4,i7o, etc., C 22,
i39>I43>etc.,-pl.,metys,
C 1 1 8. O.E. mete.

mete, v., meet, encounter:
infin., S 394, V 6 j meten,
V 75 pres. 3 pi., meten, S
3585 pret. 3 sg., mette,
S 1 5 7, V 242; 3 pi., mette,
C 462. O.E. metan.

mej?, n., moderation: V 97.
O.E. mEeK

meyd, n., maid-. €21. O.
E. maege>.

mi, poss. pron., my. S 30,
91, etc., V 187, 193,
etc.; my, C 125, i73j
mine, S 311, 405, V 100,
1 60, 182; before vowels
or h-, min, S 40, 293,
etc.,Vi85jmyn, C344,
357, 431. O.E. mm.

mid, prep., <with: S 93,

i59> v i4> 3°> 55> 62>

72; mit, S 289. O.E.

mid.
mi^t, n. , might : dat. , mi^tte,

8253, 405; myjht, Ci2.

O.E. miht.
mikel, adj. & adv., see

muchel.
milde, adj., mild: S. 159.

O.E. milde.
mile, n., mile: pi., an hon-

dred mile, S 104. O.E.
mil.

mis, v., miss, lose: infin.,
S 144. O.E. missan.

misdede, n., misdeeds: pi.,
V 182. O.E. misd^d.

mi-selue, reflex, pron., my-
self: S 1835 miself, S
184; my-selue, /, myself,
C 351, 427. Originally
me-self.

misferen, v., to go astray,
transgress, do wrong:
pret. a sg., misferdest,
V 212. O.E. misferan.

mo, adj. & adv., more,
greater: V 145, 204, C
82, 458; more, S 103,
265, V 206, C 366, 369;
mour, C 13, 149, 222,
224, 225, 226, etc. O.
E. ma, mara.

mod, n., mood, heart, frame
of 'mind: S 109, 113, 181,
etc. j mode, C 54, 303,
312. O.E. mod.

modi, adj., proud: S 3, 348,
417. O.E. modig.

mold, n., earth: C 285.
O.E. molde.

mon, indef. pron., one: S
131. O.E. man. See me.

mon, n., see man.

mon, v., must : pres. i sg.,

5 182. O.N. monn, ist

6 3rd sing., mon, mun.
mon, n., moan: ace., mon,

C 107 5 ace., mone, C
84. Cf. O.E. maenan, v.

moni, see many.

more, adv., see mo.

morne, n., morn, morning'.
C 241. O.E. morgen.

most, adj. & adv., most,
greatest: €48$ moste, C
413. O.E. msest.

mote, v., may, must: pres.
isg.,mote, C 538; a sg.,
most, S 437, V 207, 208 j
3 sg., mot, S 233; mote,
€362; pres. subj. i sg.,
mote, S 1 1 6 ; 3 sg. , mote,
S 212. O.E. mot.

moue, v., see mai.

mou^ht, see mai.

mour, see mo.

mourne, v., care, worry,
mourn: infin., S 148. O.
E. murnan.

mournyng, v. n., mourn-
ing: C 121.

moute, see mai.

motive, n., mouth: V 1005
mouthe, C 209. O.E»
muK

much, adv., see mikel.

muchel, adj. & adv., much,
great: S 140, 175, 227,

129

3°5>443> V98;muchele,
S 153, 1635 mikel, S
194, 265, 3125 mych, C
795 myche, C 426;
mekyll, C 12, 84, 94,
107, etc.} mykyll, C
488. O.E. mycel, micel.

mustart, n., mustard: S
2805 mustard, S 287. O.
F. mostarde.

myche, see muchel.

myjht, v., see mai.

myght, n., see mijtte.

mykyll, see muchel.

mynstralsy, n., minstrelsy:
C 99, O.F. menestral-
sie.

mynstrellus, n. pi., min-
strels : C 46, 49. O. F.
menestrel.

myrth, n., mirth, pleasure,
joy: €91, 112, 158, etc.;
myrthe, C 5525 pi. myr-
thys, €47. O.E. myrg'S,
mirh'S.

my-selue, see mi-selue.

nabbe (ne + habbe), v.,

S 68, V 390
nai, adv., nay: S 43, 179;

nay, V 188, C 45. O.N.

nei.
nakerner, n., kettle-drum

player: pi. nakerners, C

I30

ioo. O. F. nacre, na-
quere, etc. + -er, ending.

name, n.,name: C66, 115,
530; nome, S 195, V 36,
57. O.E. nama.

namore (na -j- more), adv.,
no more: S 260, V 65.
O.E. na more.

nay, see nai.

ne, adv., not: S 46, etc.,
¥42, etc. j ni, S 157. O.
E. ne.

ne, conj., nor: S 39, 48,
etc., V 5, 146, etc., C
20, 27, etc. O.E. ne.

nedde (ne+hadde): V ioo,
169, 2865 neddi (ne +
hadde -f- I), V 99.

nede, n., need: S 163, 210,
V 225, 276, C 438; at
nedys, C 8. O.E. med.

ne-hond, adv., almost,
nearly. C 70. M.E. neih
bond, Ancr. Riwle, etc. ;
nerehond, nerhond, Cur-
sor Mundi, etc.

nei, ney, adv., nigh: 8310,
V 32, etc.; ny, C 222.
O.E. neah.

nei^ebore, n., neighbor: V
115. O.E. neahgebur.

nelde, n., old woman: S
173, 217,232, 249, 371,
385,415,436 See Notes.

nelle (ne -f- wille): 848, V
i88j neltou (ne + wilt
+ boii), V 189; mil (ne
+ wil), S 314; nulli
(ne -f- will + I), S 295;
nolde (ne -f- wolde), V
161.

ner, adv., near: V 38. O.
E. near.

nere, adv., nearer: C 343.
O.E. nearra.

neren (ne + weren), S 274.

nes (ne -f- wes), V 2.

nesten, v., build a nest:
pres. 2 sg., nestes, V 48.
O.E. nist(i)an.

nej?er . . . ne, conj., neither
. . . nor: C 250, 474.

neuede (ne + heuede), v. :
S ii, V 98.

neuere, adv., never: S ioo,
V 3, 48; neuer, C 341,
V 145, 198; newer, S
1 1 8. O.E. nsefre.

neuer-fe-les, conj., never-
theless: C 443.

new, adj., new. pi., C 379.
O.E. niwe.

newyng, n., novelty: C
>38i.

ni}t, n., night: S 150; ni^te,
V in; ny^ht, C 30;
nyght, C 162, 307. O.
E. niht.

13*

nimen, v., take: pret. 3
sg., nom, V 785 p. p.,
nomen, V 250. O. E.
niman.

nis (ne + is), V 145, 164.

nist (ne -f- wist), see wot.

no, adj. & adv., no: S 71,
122, 148, 196, 305, C
20, 34, 45, 82, etc.; non,
S 65, 136, V 42, 146, C
319, 321, 3615 none, S
245> v 3> 84 $ nones, V
294. O.E. nan.

nobull, adj., noble: C 521.
O.F. noble.

noen, see none.

nolde, v., see nelle.

nom, see nimen.

nome, see name.

nomon (no + man), n. : S
342. O.E. nan mon.

non, pron., none: S u, 66,
129, 324 (?), V 1 60, C
8, 14, 26, 27, etc, O.E.
nan.

none, n., noon: C 88, 258;
noen, S 433 ; to non, S
324 = 'until noon/
O.E. non.

nones-kunnes, adj., no
kind of: V 294.

not (ne + wot), v», knows
not: pres. 3 sg., S 305,
V 1 60. O.E. ne + wat.

not, adv., not: C 46, 50,

etc., see nout, nouijt.
nofer . . . ne, conj., neither

. . o nor : C 116, see

nej>er . . « ne, noufer

. . . ne.
no-J>ing, n., nothing: S 44,

352, V 183, 2535 no-

thyng, C 428.
notys, n., (?): C 101. See

Notes.
noil, adv,, now. S 145,

*79> ^85, 424, V 106,

152; now, C 136, 145.

O.E. nu.
nou, conj., nocwthat: S 58.

O.E. nu.
nouijt, not at all: S 56;

nought, C 127, 21 o, 284,

401. O.E. na -f-wiht. See

nout.
nout, advs, not: S 38, 68,

229, 2435 nohut, V 220.

O0 E. na-wiht See

nout, indef., naughty no-
thing: S 47, 48, 206, V
39, 775 nought, C noj
nou^t, C 2755 now^ht,
C 305; no^ht, C 514.
O. E. na + wiht.

nouj?e, advo, now. V 55,
99. O.E. nu + Hi.

nouj?er . . . ne, conj., net-

I32

ther . . . nor: S 308, 372,
V 5; noj>er . . . ne, C
1 1 6. See nej>er . . . ne.
O.E. ne + aegber. See
nefer, no Jen

now, see nou,

nowylte, n. ,novelty : C 2 1 7.
O.F. novelte.

nu, see nou.

mil, nulli, see nelle.

ny, see nei.

nyght, see nijt.

of, prep., of, from: S 4,
77, etc., V 26, etc., C
4, 9, 56, 60, 66, 102,
etc.; hof, S 2, V 295;
off, C2, 29, 99,100,101,
102, no, etc.; from, S
189, V 56, 267, C 134;
for, Cm, 191, 410;
of me I-don hit hiis ='it
is all up with me/ V 1 06.
O.E. of.

Of, adv., off: S 335. O.E.
of.

offycers, n., officer: sing.,
C 293. O.F. officier.

ofseen, v., see, observe:
pret. 3 sg., ofsei, V 10.
O.E. .ofseon.

of-slyfe, v., slice off, slive
(see Jos. Wright): infin.,
C 214. O.E. (to) slifan.

ofte,adv.,0/fc»: V35, 185,
210, etc. O.E. oft.

ofte-tyme, adv., often: C
488.

of-J?inken,v. impers., cause
regret, repent : pres. 3 sg. ,
of->inke>, V 205. O.E.
ofbyncan.

old, adj.,0/</:S 199, C 517;
olde, C 332; holde, S
302, 331; hold, C 566.
O.E. eald.

oldest, v., see holden.

omnipotent, adj.: C 179.
O. Fc omnipotent.

on, prep., on: S 16, 47,
102, etc., C 85, 153,
169, etc.; onne, C 80,
J93> 372, 378;hon, S i8j
on J>at, on condition that,
S 38; on ende, to an end,
S 362; on hey, above, V
310 O.E. on.

on, indef. art., see a.

on, pron., one: S 2; one,
C 13, 423. O.E. an.

one, num., one: V 7, C 75,
8 1, 209, etc.; on, ¥198
O.E. an.

oneth, adv., not easily: C
78. OoE. unease.

onwis, adj., unwise: 8218,
445; xmnwis, S 117.
O.E. unwis.

on-wold, v., wield, con-
trol: infin., S 311. O.E.
anweald, anwald, n.

opdrowe, v., draw up:
pret. 3 pi., V 287. O.E.
dragan, drog, droh, dro-
gon, dragen.

ope, adv., open: V 27. O.E.
open.

oppon, prep., upon: S 204,
345. O.E. uppon.

opward, adv., on the way
up : V 242. O.E. up-
weard.

opwinde, v., wind up: in-
fin., V 75. O.E. windan.

or, conj., or: €35, 348,
358, etc.; our (most fre-
quent form in C), 55,
226, etc. See oj?er.

ore, n. , grace, favor : V 1 8 9 .
O.E. ar.

ofer, conj., or: Si 33, 183,
395> v 5*> 1*0, *o8,
etc. ; o}>er . . . o}>er, either
... or, V 14. O.E. ah-
W3e}>er, awj>er. See or.

ofer, adj., other, second:
S 136, V 76, C 53, 319,
321; pi., o>re, V 217.
O.E. 6J>er.

oj>er-weys, adv., other-
wise: C 321.

ou, pron., see }e.

133

ou, adv.,^oou: V 230. See

hou.
ouene, adj., own: S 421;

houne, S 390. O.E. agen.
ouer, prep., over: V 22.

O.E. ofer.
ouer, poss, pron., our: C

218, 221, 376. O.E.

ure. See oure.
ouer-al, adv., everywhere:

V 9, 19, 69, etc. OoE.

ofer call. Cf. Mod.

Germ. uberalL
ouer-gon, v., pass: p. p.,

ouer-gon, C 182; pret.

3 sg., ouer-hede, V 90.

O.E. ofergan, ofereode.
ouer-hede, see ouer-gon.
ou^ht, n., aught, anything:

€34. O.E. aht, awiht.
ounder, prep., under: V4i,

47, 51. O.E. under.
ounderfonge, v., receive:

infin., V 196; pres. 2 sg.,

ounderfost, S 378. O»E.

underfon.
ounseli, adj., unhappy^

miserable, wicked: S 98.

O.E. unsselig.
ounwis, see onwis.
oup, adv. , up : V 246 j houp,

V 126. O.E. up, upp.
our, conj., see or.
oure, poss. pron., our:

134

S 75, etc., V 54; houre,

8 3*> 89, 236, 408,

V35> 59- O.E- ure. See

ouer.
ous, pers. pron., us: S 905

vs, C 1405 hous, S 220.

(XE. us. See we.
out, adv,, out\ S 345, 441,

C 3605 oute, C 3485

houte, S 79. O.E. ut.
oute, v*, ought (?): pret,

3 sg., C63. O.E. ante.
Out of, prep», out of: S 347,

V i, 109, C 174, 295,

457. O.E, ut of.

palfercy, n., palfrey: C
250. O.F. palefrei,

palle, n., a costly cloth: S
23. O.E. paell.

palys, n., palace: C 181.
F. palais.

pannyer, n. , pannier , bread
basket: C 242, 244, 323,
3735 panyer, C 230. F.
panier.

paradiis, n., paradise: V
140. OcF. paradis.

paramour, adv. , fervently :
C 501. OoE. paramour.

parlere, n., room for con-
versation^ parlor: €481.
O.F. parloir.

par ma fai, French form of

asseveration, by my faith:

S 436.
parte, n. , part : C 2 8 6, 3 1 7.

F. part,
parte, v., divide: infin., C

350. F. partir.
pas, n., step, gait: C 292.

O.F. pas,
pater-noster, n., Lord's

Prayer: S 209. Lat.
pay, n., pleasure -, taste 9

satisfaction: C 48, 144.

O.F. paie.
pay, v., pay: infin., C 430,

4495 pret. 3 sg., payd,

€5095 pret. 3 pi., payd,

C 563. O.F. paier.
Pendragoun, pr. n. : €4.
penes, n. pi., pence: S 274.

O.E. penning, pening.
pepir, n., pepper: S 279.

O.E. pipor.
pes, n., peace: €546. O.F.

pais.
peyn, n., pain: C 176.

O.F. peine.
pikes, n., pikes: pi., V 62,

284. O.E. pic.
pilche, n., fur garments: S

225. O.E. pilece, pylce.
pine, n., pain, trouble: S.

305, V 142. O.E. pin.
place, n., place: C 105. F.

place.

plaie, v., play: infin., S

438; pley, C 1 60. O.E.

plegian.
plente, n., plenty: C 24,

225. O.F. plente.
plenyng, v. n. , lamentation :

C. 221. O.F. plaign-.
pley, see play,
pli^tte, v., plight: S 252.

O.E. pliht, pledge. O.E.

plihtan.
plukken, v., plucky pull-.

pret. 3 sg., plukyd, C

338. O.E. pluccian.
pore, adj., poor: C 32, 35,

260, etc. O.F. povre.
porter, n., doorkeeper: C

262; pointer, C 277.

O.F. portier.
pouerte, n., poverty : S

304, C 17, 191, 252,

540. O.F. poverte.
pound, n., pound: S 224;

pi., pownd, C 555. O.E.

pund, pi., pund.
pourtenans, n., appurte-
nances: n. pi., C 545.

O. F. apartenance, etc. ;

aphetic, partenance, see

Godefroy.
praere, n., prayer: C 195.

O.F. preiere.
pray, v., pray: pres. i sg.,

C 138, 2725 pret, 3 sg.,

'35

prayd, C 170, 175, 189$

asked , inquired, C 508.

O.F. preier.
present,n.,£7/hC 274,281,

3945presante,C3o4j pre-

sant, C 334; presente, C

37J> 385- O.F. present.
presente, v., present, offer:

infin., C 2345 pret. 3 sg.,

presente, €492. O. F.

presenter-
presentyng, v. n., present

making: C 410.
prest, n., priest: V 52,

I93> pl« prestes, S 248.

O.E. preost.
presyng, v. n., pressing,

urging: C 300. M.E. ver-
bal noun. In N.E.D.

from 1400 on.
pride, n., see prude,
pris, n. , high esteem, worthy

price, 'value: S 120, 446.

O.F. pris.
priuite, n., privacy: S 84.

O.F. privite.
prefer (en), v.,profer: pret.

3 sg., proferd, €371.

A.F. profre.
proud, adj., proud : S 3.

O.E. prut.
prude, n., pride: S 1255

pride, C 79, 96. O.E.

pryte.

i36

putte, n., pit, well: V 71,
113, 117, 119, 241,
etc.; put, V 261. O.E.
pyt.

pypers, n., pipers: C 100.
O.E. pipere.

pytewysly, adv. , piteously :
C 1 08. O.F. pitos, pi-
teus.

qued, n., evil: V 210;
quede, V 224. Early
M.E. cwead, cwed,cwad.

qued, adj., evil: V 200.

quelle, v., infin., kill: S
183. O.E. cwellan.

quen, n., queen: C 389.
O.E. cwen.

quod, v., quoth, said: pret.
3sg.,S27,V33, 53, 118,
127, 199, 207, 221, etc.;
quaj>, V 37, 96; quoK
C 145. O.E. cwseK

quyte, v., free, release:
infin., C 72; refl., to
acquit oneself well, do
one's part, C 63. O.F.
quiter.

radde, v., see rede,
ragges, n. pi., rags: C

359. Cf. O.E. raggig,

adj., shaggy.
raj>e, adv., soon: S 226;

compar. raj>er, sooner,

before, V 68. O.E. hra^e.
raw^ht, see recche.
recche, v. , reck, care : pres.

i sg., recche, V 2285

pret. 3 sg., route, V 260.

O.E. recan.
recche, v., reach, come:

infin., V 268 ; pret.

3 sg., raw^ht, reached,

caught, C 196. O.E. r§e-

can.
recche, v. , expound, preach :

infin., V 268. O.E. rec-

can.
red, n., counsel, advice: S

3*8> 350, 378; rede, V

50; reed, V 192. O.E.

raed.
rede, v., counsel, advise:

pres. i sg., rede, S 375,

C 129, 133, etc.; pres.

subj. 3 sg., rede, V 130,

149, 246; pret. 3 sg.,

radde, S 152, 185. O.E.

nidan.
redi, adj., ready: S 434;

redy, C 22, 168. Cf.

O.E. riede, or gersede.
rehete, v., cheer, comfort:

infin., €19. O.F. re-

heter.
relesen, v., relish: pret.

3 sg., relesyd, C 211.

'37

See reles, n., haste,

aftertaste, impression, in

N.E.D.
rene, v., run: infin., S 281.

O.E. rinnan.

Reneuard, pr. n. : V 133.
renning, n., running: S

283. O.E. aerninge.
renoune, n., renown: C 5.

O.F. renon.
rente, n., rent, income: C

555. O.F. rente.
repent, v., repent: pres.

i sg., 0434. F. repentir.
rerde, n., speech: V 114.

O.E. reord.
reste, n., rest: S n, 291.

O.E. rest.
reue, n., reeve: V 26.

O.E. gerefa.
reuell, n., revel: C 482.

O.F. revel,
reuliche, adv., sadly, pite-

ously: S 302, V 107. O.

E. hreowlic.
reuj?e, n., pity: S 318. O.

E. hreow, adj.
rew, v., rue, pity: infin.,

C 269; imper. 2 sg., rew,

S 1 145 impers. reflex. pres.

3 sg., rewej?, S 235. O.E.

hreowan.
rewerd, v., reward: pres.

subj. 3 sg., C 364. O.N.

F. rewarder. O.F. re-

guarder, regarder.
rewerd, j\., reward: €449,

524. O. N. F. reward.

O.F. reguard, regard,
ribe, n., rib: V 41. O.E.

ribb.
riche, adj., rich: 821, etc. ;

ryche, C 35, 43, 327;

rych, C 51, 52, 61, 118.

O.E. rice,
rijt, adv., right, straight,

exactly: V 2745 ry^ht, C

9> 36, 477jryght, €165,

254, 468. O.E. riht.
ringe, v., ring: infin., V

251. O.E. hringan.
ro, n., rest, quiet: S 291.

O.E. row.
robys, n., robes: pi., C 52.

O.F. robe,
rode, n., rood, cross: 8323;

C 57, 3°6, 336} roed, S

254. O.E. rod.
Rome, pr. n. : S 105.
ronde, adj., round: C 9,

201. O.F. roonde.
rong, v., rung: pret. 3 sg.,

C 163. O.E. hringan.
ros, v., see ryse.
roime, n., colloquy, counsel:

871. O.E. run.
route, n., throng, company :

C 267. O.F. route.

route, v., see recche.
ryall, adj., royal: C 392.

O.F. real, rolal.
ryalty, n., royalty, munifi-

cencg'.Cj^. O.F. realte.
rych, ryche, see riche.
ryches, n., riches-. C 568.

F. richesse.
ryde, v., ride: infin., C 249,

474. O.E. ridan.
ryfe, adj., speedily, quickly

(See N.E.D., B. 4) : C

1 80. O.E. rif.
ryght, ry^ht, see ri^t.
ryse, v., arise: infin., C

197$ pret. 3 pi., ros, C

167. O.E. risan.

sale, v., say. infin., S 2, 55;
saien, S 49; sugge, V
2o7;suggen,V265j sey,
C 45, 67, etc. 5 pres. i
sg., saie, S 1435 pres.
2 sg., seist, S 6ij pres. 3
sg., seij, S 1795 sei)>, S
3035 seyth, C 248$ pres.
subj. 2 sg.,saie, S 435;
imper. 2 sg., sei, V 229$
say, V 1215 pret. 3 sg.,
saide, S 1875 sede, V
129, 150; seide, V 226,
269; seyd, C 125, 176,
etc.} pret. 3 pi., seide,
V 2 1 1 f seyd, C 5215

p. p., said, S 26 8 j sehid,

V 2ioj I-seyd, C 484}

pres. 2 sg., seist on,

attributes^ S 198. O.E.

secgan.
sake, n., sake: V 44, C

416. O.E. sacu.
same, n., shame, dishonor:

S 55, 1285 scham, S 126}

shame, S 2515 shorn e, S

196,216, 2475 V 35, 58,

99. O.E. sceamu.
saue, v., save: pres. subj.

3 sg., C 416. O.F. sau-

ver.

saulys, see soule.
saute, v., reconcile, bring

to terms: infin., S 220;

p. p. (as adjective), saut,

S 222. O.E. sahtlian.
sautrey, n., psaltery: C

102. O.F. psalterie.
sauyoure, n., Savior: C

376. O.F. sauveour.
sawe, n., saying, words:

S 57. O.E. sagu.
scape, n. , harm : S 2 3 5. O.

E. sceafta.
schake, v., slip away;

infin., C 58. O.E. scacan.
schall, schuld, etc., see

that.

scham, see same.
sche, pers. pron., she: €2.9,

123, 124, 149, etc.;
dat., hyr, C 146; gen.
(poss.), hyr, C 243. See
hoe.

schen, adj., bright: C 388.
O.E. sclr.

schewe, see schowe.

schofe, v., sho<ve: infin., C
360. O.E. scufan.

schowe, v., shocwt reveal:
infin., S 69 $ schew, C
215; pret. 3 sg. , schewyd,
C 374. O.E. sceawian.

schulder, n., shoulder: C
476. O.E. sculdor.

sclepen, v., sleep: pret. 3
pi., sclepyd, €163. O.
E. slsepan.

scorne, n., scorn: C 402.
O.F. escorne.

36, v., see: infin., se, S 165,
3405 sen, S 278; pres. i
sg.,se, S 319; 2 sg., I-
siist, V 232; 2 pi., se, C
127; pret. i sg., I-seie,
V 218; sey (MS. ley), V
216; 3sg., I-sey, V 280;
saw, C 341, 361, 3795
sei, V 28 1 j sey, C 311,
3195 p. p., se, C 205;
sene, C 212. O.E. seon,
geseon.

secc, adj., see selk.

sechen, v., seek: pret. 3

'39

sg., sought, €448; p.p.,
sought, C 206; sout, S
423. O.E. secean.

sehid, v., see saie.

seke, adj., sick: V 41 $ sek,
S 199. O.E. seoc.

seknesse, n., sickness: S
200. O.E. seocnes.

seli(wif), adj., good wo-
man: S 315, 337. O.E.
(ge) sielig.

selk, adj., such: S 101;
secca, S 83; silk, S 198;
sulke a, S 264; selke
a, S 313; sych, C 55,
59, etc., sych a, C 235;
451. O.E. swilc, swelc.

sellen, v., sell: p. p. sold(e),
C 74, 93. O.E. sellan.

sembly, adj., seemly: C 6;
compar. sembly er, 27.
O.N. soemiligr.

send, v., send: infin., C
573; pres. subj. 3 sg.,
sende, 8236; pret. 3 sg.,
send, C 386, 523; sente,
C *9*> 3775 P- P-> send,
S 214, 412; sente, C
231. O.E. sendan.

senne, see sunne.

sente, v., assent: pres. i
sg. , sente, €289. Cf . as-
sent.

sep, see shep.

140

serewe, n., sorrow , care,
grief: S 182$ sereue, S
1865 sorrow, C 94, 128,
etc. O.E. sorh, sorg,
dat., sorge.

serteyn (?): C 162.

seme, v . , serve : pres. 2 sg. ,
seruest (afFter), earnest, S
197,- pret. 3 sg., siruyd,
C 5355 P- P-> serued, C
391. O.F. servir.

seruys, n., service: C 164,
178. O.F. service.

sese, v., cease: imper. 2
sg., C 303. O.F. cesser.

seth, conj., since: C 213,
342; seth J>at, C 427.
O.E. siftSan.

sctten, v., sett put: infin.,
S 62; pret. 3 sg., sete, C
62 j p. p., sett, seated:
€481. O.E. settan.

sey, see sale.

seynt, n., saint: C 265,
432. O.F. seint.

shal, v., shall t ought: pres.
1 sg-» S 50, etc.} schall,
C 266, 270, etc.} 2 sg.,
shalt, S 1 1 8, 165, etc.,
V 2 3 5 ; schall, G 263,269,
etc.j 3 sg., shal, S in,
etc. ; i pi., schall, 0225,
236; 2 pi., schall, C i,
a33» 3 pl-» shulen, S 275,

4385 pret. i sg., schuld,
C 35°> 35!> etc.} 3 sg.,
schuld, C 136,282} 3 pi. ,
shulden, V 264, 268 }
schuld, C 36, 44, etc.}
pret. subj. i sg., schulde,

s 59> v J38> * sg-> snul-
dest, S 432} scholdest, V
136, 180} shuldich (shul-
de + ich), V 163, 181}
shuldi (shuld+I) S 106.
O.E. sceal, scealt, sculon,
sceolde, etc.

shame, see shome.

shenden, v., disgrace, con-
found :ip. p.,shend, 8346}
I-shend, S 213. O.E.
scendan.

shep, n., sheep: pi., V 167,
203} sep, S 272. O.E.
sceap, seep.

sheppen, v., rrazte:pret. 3
sg., shop, S 354. O.E.
scieppan, scippan.

shiling, n., shillings: pi.,
S 270. O.E. sailing.

shome, see same.

shon, n., shoes: S 225.
O.E. sceo, scoh; pi.,
sceos, scos.

shop, see sheppen.

shuldi, see shal.

Sigrim, pr. n. : V 128.

sike, v., sight groan: infin.,

141

8260$ siken, V 1 95 j pres.

part., syjeng, C 98, 108,

354. O.E. sican.
siker, adj., certain, secure:

S 240, V 585 sykerly,

adv., C 219, 315. O.E.

sicor.

silk, see such.
singe, v., sing: infin., S

401, V^52;syng, €104.

O.E. singan.
sinke, v., sink: infin., V

80, 239. O.E. sincan.
sire, n., lord, husband, sir:

S 75> Y 37} sir, C 127.

O.F. sires, sire.
Siriz, pr. n. : S 154, 161,

418, 420 j SiriJ>, S 221,

268, 297.
si}>, i\.,time: S 258. O.E.

siK
sitten, v., sit: infin., S 50 j

site, 83085 sitte, V 2815

sytte, C 520; imper. 2

sg., site,S28jpret. 3sg.,

sat, V 30, ii7}pret. 3 pi.,

seten, V 32. O.E. sittan.
skil, n., right: S 52; sky 11,

C 165. Icel. skil.
sleie, adj., sly, shre<wd: S

159; sley, V 262. O.N.

slsegr.
slep, n., sleep: V 267.

O.E. sl£p.

slete, v., slit, bait: infin.,

V 289. O.E. slltan.
slo, v., slay, kill: infin.,

slo, S 1845 P- P-> slain,

S 310. O.E. slean.
smal, adj., small: V 248}

pi., smale, V 155. O.E.

smael.

Cf. Bradl.-Stratm. Diet.
smertly, adv., quickly: C

263, 266, 310. O.E.

smeart, adj.
smite, v., smite: pret. subj.

3 sg-> s 335- °-E. smi-

tan.
so, adv., so : S 12, etc.,

V 2, etc., C 15, 77, etc.

O.E. swa.
so, conj., so that, until: C

6j,V 10} in asseverations,

826, 116,133, 273,433,

V 149, €416, 419, 425;

correlative, as . . . as, S

156. O.E. swa.
sohute, see sought, sechen.
solas, n., solace: C 519.

O.F. solaz.
sold, see sellen.
solen, adj., (?) alone (?) (so

expl. by Maetzn.): 8238.

O.F. solain.
som, adj., some, some kind

of: V i8j soum, V 1045

142

somme, V 192; soumme,

V 125. O.E. sum.
somer, n., summer'. S 294.

O.E. sumor.
somer, adv., sumpter

horse (f): 8247. See Notes.
som-tyme, adv., a certain

time, once: C 494, 533.
som- what, adv., somewhat:

C 147, 561. O.E. sum-f

hwaet.
sonde, n., message-. Cm.

O.E. sand, sond.
sone, adv., at once: S 246,

262, 376, V 52, 61, 235,

C 89, 238, 278, 337.

O.E. sona.
sone, n., son: S 167, 194,

V 199; son, 0243, 253,

323. O.E. sunne.
sore, adv., much, very,

greatly: V 66, 190, 205,

240, C 95, 98, 1 06, etc.

O.E. sar.
sori, adj., sorrowful: S

338, 344. O.E. sarig.
sorow, see serewe.
sof, n., truth: V 121, 129,

157, etc. 5 soth, C 67,

*57» a58- O.E. s5>.
sofliche, adv., truly: S

391. O.E. s5J>lice.
sou3ht, see sechen.
soule, n., soul: 8213, 314,

V 252; gen., soul, ¥2525
pi., saulys, C 575. O.E.
sawel, etc.

soule-cnul, n., soul-knell: V
251.

sout, see sechen.

sowne, n., sound-. €98.
F. son.

spare, v., spare: infin., C
21 oj pres. subj. 2 sg.,
spare, S 443. O.E. spar-
ian.

speche, n., speech: V 223.
O.E. spaec, spraec.

sped, n., success: S 141.
O.E. sped.

spede, v., prosper, succeed:
infin., S 131, 212, 4495
pres. subj. 3 sg., spede,
C4i9, 4255 p. p., sped,
S 410. O.E. spedan.

speken, v., speak: infin.,
S 8 1, etc., V 170$ speke,
€383$ pres. i sg., speke,
S 3555 ?«*. 3 sg., spac,
S 331 j spake, C 406}
spak, V6sip. p., speken,
S 216. O.E. sprecan.

spel, n., story: S 62. O.E.
spel.

spendyd, v., spent: p. p.,
C 68. O.E. spendan.

speres, n., spears: pi., V
292. O.E. spere.

spesyally, adv., especially:

€508. O.F. especial,
spille, v., ruin-. S 233,

432. O.E. spillan.
splen, n., spleen-. V 47.

Lat. splen.
spouse, n., spouse, wife:

891. O.F. espouse,
spryng, v., spring: infin.,

0232. O.E. springan.
spytously, adv., angrily.

C 262. O.F. despit.
squyre, n., squire-. €398,

553, 56°J P1-, squyres,

C 1 6. O.F. esquire.
srift,n.,j^r///: V 1 86, 196.

O.E. scrift.
sriue, v., shri<ve\ infin.,

V 1845 ?• P-> I-sriue,

V 176. O.E. scrifan.
sroud, n., dress: S 6. O.E.

scrud.
srud, v., clad-, p. p., S 23,

O.E. scrydan.
staff, n., staff: C 247,

251, 2945 pi., staues, V

62, 284, 292. O.E. stagf.
standyng, see stond.
stark, adj., strong, large:

S 223. O.E. stearc.
statour, n., stature: C

10} stature, C 498. F.

stature,
staues, see staff.

sted, n., steed, horse-. C
250. O.E. steda.

stel, n., steel: S 95. O.E.
style.

stere, v., control, steer: in-
fin., C 150. O.E. steo-
ran.

sterten, v., start: pret. 3
sg., sterte, C 325, 337.
O.N. sterta.

steruen, v., die: pret. 2sg.,
storue, ¥151. O.E. steor-
fan.

stewerd, n., steward: C
3*5>337, 367,448, 45i,
523, etc.} stuerd, €547.
O.E. stlward.

stinken, v., stink: pret. 3
sg., stank, V 94. O.E.
stincan.

stond, v., stand: infin., C
2675 Pres. 3 sg., stondes
to, inclines toward, C
4175 pres. part., stand-
yng, C 294} pret. 3 sg.,
stode, C 121, 349} stod,
V 257. O.E. standan,
stod.

stones, n., stones: pl.,V 62}
ston, V 284. O.E. stan.

stonk, see stinken.

storue, see steruen.

stounde, n., time: S 419.
V 213. O.E. stund.

144

stoure, n., conflict-. C 504.
O.F. estour.

strek, v., stretch-, infin., S
441. O.E. streccean.

strengfen, v. refl., try (to
do something): infin., S
170. O.E. strengftu, n.

strete, n., street-. S 395, V
5. O.E. street.

strok, see stryke.

stroke, n., stroke: €4515
pi., strokes, C 45 4 j
strokys, C 515. O.E.
strican.

strong, adj., strong: 812,
C 537; pi., stronge, V
62 j stronge, adv., strong-
ly: V 195, 273. O. E.
strong.

stryffe, n., strife: C 174.
O.F. estrif.

stryke, v., strike, go: pres.
imper. a sg., C 4565
pret. 3 sg., strok, V 9.
O.E. strican, go, move,
run.

sugge,suggen,v.,seesaie.

sulke, see selke.

sumdel, adv., somewhat:
V 237. O.E. sum +

del.

stynt, v., restrain: infin.,
C 1835 stynte, C 129.
O.E. styntan.

suete, see swete.
sueting, n., darling: S

222. O.E. swete + M.E.

-ing.
sunne, n., sin: S 334, V

1655 senne, S 1945 pi.,

sunnen, V 177, 197. O.

E. synn.
sweren, v., swear : pret.

3 sg., S 421. O.E.

swerian.
swete, adj., sweet: S 127,

etc.; suete, S 176, 195,

C 313. O.E. swete. .
swiche, see selke.
swikele, adj., deceiving:

V 86, 103. O.E. swicol.
swin, n., swine: S 272. O.

E. swin.
swinke, n., labor: S 134,

330, V 144. O.E. ge-

swinc.
swinken, v., labor, work:

pres. 3 sg., swinke}>, S

140. O.E. swincan.
swij?e, adv., soon: S 4115

sui>e, S 156; <very, S

302, V 12, 168, 190,

262, 273$ much, V 4,

1 10. O.E. swij>e.
swor, v., see sweren.
swownyng, n., swoon: C

89. Cf. O.E. swogan, ge-

swogung, geswowung.

sych, syche, see selk.
syde, n., side: C 80, 104.

O.E. side,
syght, n., sight: C 6, 27,

296. O.E. gesiht.
sy^eng, see sike.
sy^hyng, n., sighing: C.

363. O.E. slcan.
sykerly, see siker.
syluer, n., silver: C 53,

288. O.E. seolfor.
symple, adj., simple, plain:

C 261. F. simple.
syng, see singe,
syre, see Cleges.
sytall, n., citole: C 102.

O.F, citole.
sytte, see sitten.

tabull, n., table: €9. O.
F. table.

take, v., take: infin., S
106, C 128, 4375 pres.
imper. 2 sg., take, C
244 j pret. 3 sg., toke,
C 247, 3235 p. p., I-
take, V 43, taken to, V
178. O.N. taka.

tame, adj. , tame: 8200, C
1 1 6. O.E. tarn.

tary, v., tarry, delay: pres.
imper. 2 sg., C 356;
pret. 3 sg., taryd, C
401. O.E. tergan, influ-

enced in meaning by O.
F. targer.

taute, see teken.

tayst, v., taste: infin., C
208. O.F. taster.

teken, v., teach, show, di-
rect: pres. 2 sg., tekest,
S 2305 pret. 3 sg., taute,
S 219. O.E. tsecan.

telle,v.,te//:inrm.,Si86,V
131, 187; tellen, S 242,
V 2065 pres. i sg., telle,
S 387$ tell, €237, 3i5j

2 sg., tellest, S 52; 3
sg., tellys, €5325 pres.
imper. 2 sg., tel, S 171,
V 197; tell, C 530;
pret. 3 sg., tolde, S 76$
p. p., told, S 51. O.E.
tellan.

ten, v., draw, tug: pret.

3 sg., tey, V 279. O.E.
teon.

tenandrys, n., tenancies:
pi., C 93. O.F. tenance,
tenanche.

tenant, n., tenant: pi., ten-
antes, C 19. O.F. te-
nant.

tene, n., vexation: S 158,
174. O.E. teona.

tere, n., tear: pi., teres, S
3585 terys, C 152. O.E.
tear.

146

tey, see ten.

fa, scribal error for >at (?):

S 140, 218.

fan, dem. pron., see fat.
thanke, v., thank', pres.

i sg., C nij pres. subj.

i pi., thanke, C 227;

pret. 3 sg., thankyd, C

*9°> 5°7i 3 pl-» than-
kyd, C 179. O.E. J>an-
cian.

farfore, see f er-fore.

far-foru, conj., thereby.
S 346.

fat, dem. pron., that: S
139, etc., V 1 1 8, etc.,
C 28, 39, 43, 335, etc.;
dat., >an, V 55, 108}
instr., J>e, S 389, V 202;
j>at = of that, S 51. O.
E. >aet.

fat, conj., that : S 1 1, 147,
etc., V 42, 136, etc.,
C 206, etc.; that a, C
236; until that, S 51,
299; so that, V 42, 75,
C 75> 77 > >a> scribal
error (?), S 218. O.E.
tet.

fat, rel. pron., that, fwho:
S 21, etc., V 119, etc.,
C 2, 1 6, 23, 48, etc.;
that which, S 1 65, V 2 8 5,
C 287, 513; )?a, scribal

error (?), S 140; warn,
whom, 8387. O.E. >aet,
hwam.

fat, def. art., see fe.

fau, conj., though: S 45,
55> 97> 104> etc-j thoff,
€70. O.E. >eah.

fe, pers. pron., see foil.

fe, def. art., the\ nom., |>e,
S 12, etc., V 1 6, 19, 31,
etc., C 49, 157, etc.;
the, C 25, 60, 112, 175,
etc.j bat, S 331, V 74,
76, 94; dat., >e, S 74,
141, V i, u, 41, 74,
etc., C 9, 39, etc.; ac-
cus. or dat. (?), J>en, 819,
22, 299; accus. , J>ene, V
113, 126, 242, 280, 281,
287; )>at, V 75, 78. O.E.
se, seo, baet, etc.

the, v., prosper: infin., C
538. O.E. >eon.

theder, see f ider.

fef, n., thief: V 102. O.E.

fei, pers. pron., they: nom.,
C 31* 35» 36, etc.; they,
33» 87, 1 1 6, etc.; the,
C 163, 179; dat., >em,
C 209, 563; J?eym, C
515; accus., >em, C 430.
See hy.

fen, conj., than: S 123,

266,275, 426, V 8. O.E.
J>onne.

fene, adv. & conj., then:
¥64; benne, S 331, 365,
etc.; than, C 23. O.E.
bonne. See fo.

fer, adv., there: V 92, 262,
etc., C 82, 94, 107, 1875
ber, V73}bere,V94, 127,
152, 232, 233; bare, V
33, i7ij thore, C 4435
thare, C 470 j ther, C
453, 568, 576, etc. O.
E. bser.

J>er, conj., where: S 21, 23,
etc., V 162. O.E. baer.

fer, poss. pron. , their: C
48, 54, 167, etc. 5 ther,
C 575. O.N. beirra. See
her.

J?er-by, adv., thereby : C
197.

fer-fore, adv. + conj.,
therefore: S 196, V 202,
C 2275 barfore, C 580;
therfor, C 129; ber-for,

C385-
J?erinne, adv., therein: V

28, 78, 85, 126, 234.

O.E. baerinne.
fer-of, adv., thereof: S 9,

V 1 8, 24, 249.
J>er-on, adv., thereon: C

2005 ber-one, €78.

j>er-to, adv. + conj., there-
to: C u, 238, 289, 438.

J?es, n., thighs: pi., S 441.
O.E. beoh.

}>e]?er, see J?ider.

}>ewe, n., propriety: dat.,
S 72. O.E. beaw.

J?i, poss. pron., //^: S 29,
147, V 247, C 113, 115,
2465 bine, S 49, 190,
429, V 40, 134, 155,
21 1 j bin, S 283, V 189,
C 417; thy, Cm, etc.
O.E. bin.

fider, adv., thither: S 155,
262, V 13, 259; bidere,
V 268 5 beber, C 166;
theder, C 483. O. E.
bider.

J?ilke (be + ilke) : S 124,
258, 326, 419, V 148.
O.E. bile.

}?ing, n., thing: 8325 swete
bing, darling, S 4255 pi.,
thinge, C 2755 thyng,
C iii} thynges, €52,
53. O.E. bing.

thinke, v., think, intend,
remember: infin., C 496}
pres. i sg., thynke, C
527} pret. 3 sg., thou^t,
€63, 182, 208} boute, V
125} bohute, Vi3. O.E.
bencan.

148

Jnnkef, see Jnmche.
}>is, dem. pron. & adj.,
this : S 27, 217, 289,

C !4> JI3, ^S, etc->
thys, C 273, 307, 341,
4225 pL, bes, S 2755 bis,
C 203. O.E. "Ses, Seos,
«is.

J?o, conj., <vuhen, then: S
301, V 16, 23, 82, 170,
290, etc. O.E. ba. Sec
fen.

thoff, see J?au.

fohut, n., see J>out.

}>onk, n., thanks: V 158.
O.E. >anc, bone.

thore, see }>er.

foru, prep. , through : S 125,
190; bar boru, 346}
throu^he, C 391. O.E.
burn.

foil, pers. pron. , thou : nom. ,
S 34, 38, etc., V 35, 38,
etc., C no, 268, 284,
4115 bo, 82875 thow, C
263,269, 412, 436; dat.,
KS33, 34, 37,40, 130,
etc. ,€2875 accus. , be, S
39, V 51, 122, C iii,
263, 270, 348; the, C
436. O.E. bu, be. Seefi
and 36.

thoujt, v., see thinke.

thou^t, n., see )>out.

fousent, n., thousand: V

203. O.E. busend.
fout, n., thought: S 118,

147, 4305 thou^t, C 128,

1485 bohut, ¥223. O.E.

>6ht.
J?re, num., three: V 1535

thre, C 350. O.E. breo.
throujhe, see J>oru.
thryfte, n., thrift: C 347,

466, 478. O.N. brift.
Jnmche, v. impers., seem:

infin., S 2385 pres. 3

sg., bmkeb, S 218, 2865

pret. 3 sg., boute, V 94;

thoujt, €516. O.E.

byncan.
]?urst, n. , thirst : S 3 1 o, 3 1 2,

V 67. O.E. burst.
Jms, adv., thus: 824, V 1 58}

thus, C 64, 354. O.E.

bus.

thy, see J?i.
thyng, see fing.
fynke, see thinke.
thyrd, num., third: €286,

etc. O.E. bridda.
thys, see }?is.
til, prep., until: 8292, 293;

tyll, C 573; to, S 354.

O.N. til.
tille, v., /*'//: pres. subj.

2 sg., S 440. O.E. ti-

lian.

149

time, n. , time : Si 24, ¥2635
tyme,C4, 113, etc. O.E.
tima.

to, prep., to-. S 40, etc., V
1 7, etc., C 1 6, etc. 5 until,
C 74, 163, 512, 564$
sign of the infin., S 7,
etc., V 6, etc., C 54, etc.
O.E. to.

to, adv., too: S 343, V 81,
98, etc., C 331, 426.
O.E. to.

to-breke, v., break down,
break to pieces : infin.,
V 63 ; pret. part., to-
broke, V 19. O.E. tobre-
can.

to-dai, n., to-day: S 316,
404.

togedere, adv., together: V
156, 214, 2 1 6 j togej?er,
C 167; to-geder, C 462.
O.E. to-gaedere.

to-^eines, prep., against:
V 95. O.E. to-geanes.

tokenyng, token, sign: C
220, 223, 552. O.E. tac-
nung.

to-morow,adv. yto-morroiv :
C 232 jto-morowe, 0239.

tong, n., tongue : €355.
O.E. tunge.

to ni}t, adv., io-night: V
191.

torn, see tourne.

toune, n., town: S 70, 347.

O.E. tun.
tourne, v., tar»:pres. subj.

3Sg.,Si47} imper. z sg.

torn, S 109, 1135 pret.

part., turnd, 8430. O.E.

tyrnan, turnian.
to-werd, prep., toward: C

88. O.E. toweard.
traueyled, v., travelled:

pret. 3 sg., C 16. O.F.

travailer.
traueyll, n., labor, jour-

ney: C 352. O.F. travail.
tre, n., tree: €218, pi.,

treys, C 206. O.E. treow.
treie, n., affliction, grief:

S 158. O.E. trega.
treuly, adv., truly: €29,

105, i43itrewly, €1425

treulye, C 2285 trew, C

490. O.E. treowlice.
trewe, adj., true: S 95,

1215 trew, C 77, 125,

3085 compar., trewer, S

122. O.E. treowe, try we.
trinyte, n., Trinity. €202.

O.F. trinite.
troupe, n., truth: S 252.

O.E. treowfl.
trouue, v., believe: pres. i

sg. , S 3695 2 sg., troustu,

S 370. O.E. truwian.

150

trumper, n*, trumpeter :pl.,

trumpers, C 100. O.F.

trompeor, trompere, &c.
truse, v., pack: C 348.

O.F. trosser, trouser.
twake, v., thwack: infin.,

€358. O.N. >jokka.
twenti, num., twenty: S

270. O.E. twentig.
two, num. , t<uuo : V 3 2, C 8 3,

i73J tuo, V 73. O.E.

twa.
tyde, n., time: €90, 188.

O.E. tld.
tyll, see til.
tyne, see time.

uaile, v., avail, assist-, in-
fin., Si88. O.F.valoir.

valew, n., value: C 76.
O.F. value.

vansyd, v., advanced: pret.
3 sg., C 569. O.E. avan-
cer.

vend, v., see wende.

verament, adv., verily,
truly: C 189, 237. O.F.
verablement.

vif, n., ivoman: 883. O.E.
wif.

vilani, n., baseness, shame,
the opposite to curteisi:
Si28;uilani, 8250. O.F.
vilainie.

vilte, n., meanness, shame:
S 47. O.F. vilte.

vind, v.,find: pres. 3 sg.,
V 253. O.E. findan.

vn-couered, v., uncovered:
pret. 3sg., C373. O.F.
cuvrir, covrir.

vnder, prep., under: S 5.
O.E. under.

vnderneth, prep., under-
neath: C 194.

vnto, prep., unto: C 144,
386.

volf, vuolf, see wolf.

vow, n.,vo<w : C 522. O.F.
veu, vou.

vox, n.,fox: V i, 1 6, 8 1,
96, 107, 113, 123, 127,
I31* ^9* J57, 176, 188,
196, 221, 231, 238, 239,
242, 245, 2605 wox, V
12, 33, 37, 293. O.E.
fox.

vp, adv., up: C 166, 244,
278, 3105 vppe, C 97.
O.E. up, upp.

vpon, prep., upon: C 57,
218, etc. O.E. uppon.

vpstond, v., stand up: in-
fin., C 197.

vs, see we.

vsscher, n., door-keeper: C
310, 313, 460. O.F. us-
sier.

Vter, pr. n. : C 4.
vy set, v., *;/.«/: infin., 023.
O.F. visiter.

waie, n., way: S i;wei, S

3955 wey, V 5, C 159,

254. O.K. weg.
wakese, v., grow, wax:

infin!, S i8aj wex, C

151. O.E. weaxan.
wal, n., wall : V 10,

19 ; walle, V n. O.E.

weall.
walken, v., walk: pret. 3

sg. walkyd, C 97. O.E.

wealcan.
wane, see fat.
wanten, v., want, lack:

pret. 3 pi. , wantyd, C 1 1 6.

O.N. vanta.
war, inter, adv., where-. V

137. O.E. hwser.
warm, adj., warm\ pi.,

warme, S 225. O.E.

wearm.
warryng, n., denying-. C

439-
war-to, inter, adv., why:

s 313-

waschen, v., wash: pret. 3
pi., wesch, C 154. O.E.
waescan, waxsan, etc.

wat, inter, pron., what: S
29, 64, etc., ¥33, 152,

etc.; what, S 172,091.

O.E. hwaet.
wat, rel. pron., that which:

C 126. O.E. hwset.
wat, indef. pron., what:

V 89. O.E. hwset.
wat, adv., why : V 163.

O.E. hwaet.
•wat, interj. : S 235, 285.

O.E. hwaet.
water, n., water: V 92,

93, 94. O.E. waster,
way, see weien.
we, interj., alas: S 115.

O.E. wa, O.N. vei.
we, pers. pron., we-. C 139,

141, etc.; ouer, C 139,

218, 221; owre, C 143;

vs, €57, 140, 174, etc.

O.E. we, ure, us.
wedded, part, adj., wed-
ded-. S 8; wedde, S 137;

wedyd, C 125. O.E.

weddian.
wede, n., garments: pi., C

327. O.E. wsed.
wede, n., pledge, mortgage:

C 62. O.E. wedd.
weder, adv., whither: V

244, 245. O.E. hwider,

hwaeder.
weien, v., 'weigh: pret. 3

sg-, way, V 237. O.E.

wegan.

152

wel, adv., very much : S 1 3,
82, 94j wry, V 16, 66,
*48, C337; w*//, 8212,
226, C 126, 127, 141,
280. O.E. wel.

welcome, adj., welcome:
S 26, 255, 425 ; wel-
comen, S 167; compar.,
welcomore, S 426. O.E.
wilcuma, n.

welde, v., wield, rule: in-
fm., S 83, 146, 3255
pres. 3 sg., weld, C 56.
O.E. wealdan.

welpe, n., whelp: S 2875
welp, S 372. O.E. hwelp.

wen, conj., when: S 198,
V 75, 268;wenne, inter-
rog., S 284, V 1515 when,
C 49, 88, etc.; whenj?at,
C 496. O.E. hwaenne,
hwonne.

wende, v. tr., turn: S 118,
151,181. O.E. wendan.

wende, v. inter. & reflex.,
turn, wend, go : pret. 3
sg. , wend, 817; wente, S
149; wente him, S 19,
155; wente hire, S 406;
pret. 3 pi., wente, C 8oj
pret. part., wend, 8345;
wende, gone, V 74; vend,
come, V 159. O.E.
wendan.

wene, v., ween, believe:
pres. i sg. , V 1285 pret.
i sg., wende, V 217-,
pret. 3 sg. , wende, V 2 7 5 }
wend, €405; pret. part.,
I-wend, V 134. O.E.
wenan.

wenne, n.,joy, bliss: S 26.
O.E. wynn.

wepen, n., weep: pret. 3
sg., wep, V 107; wepyd,
C 95, 1 06. O.E. wepan,
weop.

wepne, n., weapon: V
286. O.E. wsepen.

wer, conj., ivhere: S 284,
C 47; wer >at, C 567.
O.E. hw§er.

were, v., wear: infin., C
554i p^t. 3 pi., weryd,
C 327. O.E. werian.

werk, n.,otw£:pl.,werkes,
S 245. O.E. weorc.

werld, see world.

wer-mide, adv., where-
with: V 1 12.

wern, v. deny, refuse : inf. ,
€464,473. O.E.wiernan.

wernyng, v. n., refusal:
C 316.

werre, n.,war : C 1 6- O. F.
werre.

wes, was, ves, were,
weren, v., see be.

153

werf, v., see worj>e.

wesch, see waschen.

weste, v., see wite.

wex, v., see wakese.

wey, see waie.

what, see wat.

what J?at euer, pron.,

whatever: C 364, 415.
when, see wen.
where-for, conj. : C 510.
whej>er, conj., whether-. C

35, 288, 308. O.E.

hwaefter.
who, inter, pron., who :

€329. O.E. hwa.
wi, conj., why: S 64, 3155

why, €510. O.E. hwy.
wicchecrafft, n., witch-
craft: S 206. O.E. wicce-

craeft.
wiche, v., use witchcraft:

infin., S 353. O.E.

wiccian.
widewene, n., widow.

gen. pi., widewene, V

201. O.E. widwe, wid-

uwe.
wif, n., woman, wife: S

«7> I2I> 3*5, v 1545
wiue, V 212, 228; wyfe,
• C 77, 83, 122, etc.;
wyflf, C 25; pi., wiues,
S 303. O.E. wif.
wiis, see wis.

wiit, n., *wit, intelligence:
V 70, 124. O.E. wit[t].

wile, conj., while: S 70,
438. O.E. hwllum.

wile, n., time: S 103, 444.
O.E. hwil.

Wilekin, pr. n. : S 43, 229,
*36> *55» 386»4oo, 409,
423, 425, 427; Wile-
kinne, S 407.

wille, v., will: pres. i sg.,
S 87, etc., V 131, 146,
231; wile, S 191, 241;
wote, V 175$ wyll, C
^39> 3975 * sg., wolt,
S 2415 woltoce, V 1965
wyll, C 415; 3 sg.,
wolle, S 369; wyll, C
287; pret. i sg., wolde,
S334»43I>Vl79i wold,
C 120, 528; 3 sg., wolde,
S 238, V 46, 171; wold,
C 19, 20, 23, etc. ; 2 pi.,
wold, C 513; 3 pi.,
wold, C 465 pret. subj.

1 sg. , wolde, S 64, V 1 7 9 ;

2 sg., woldest, S 172;

3 sg., wolde, S 131, 238.
O.E. willan.

wille, n., will : S 29, etc.,

41,

€407. O.E. willa.
willi (wille + I), S 35,
etc.

154

wimmon, n., woman : S
8; womon, S 122; wi-
mon, S 2055 p4. , wim-
men, V 85 O.E. wlfman.

winde, v. intr., wind,
turn, go : infin., V 765
pret. 3 sg., wond, V 22.
O.E. windan.

winne, n., see wenne.

wis, adj., wise : S 45 wiis,
V 105. O.E. wis.

wise, n., wise, manner: S

J5> v 3- °-E- wlse-

wite, v., know, infin., S
29> 3°75 Pres- l sg., wot,
S 284, V 191 j pret. i sg.,
weste, S 79, 237; pret.
3sg.,weste, 8220, V59,
238 ; wyst, C28o. O.E.
witan.

witerli, adv., certainly: S
232. O.N. vitrliga.

wi)>, prep., with : 823,
174, etc.} wiz, S 162;
with, C 54, 8 1, 82;
wyth, C 502, 5785 by
means of, S 2075 wil> J?at,
provided that, S 192,
226, 386; toward, V
247. O.E. wiK

with-draw, v. : infin., C
263;imper. 2sg.,C 332.

wif-houten, prep., with-
out : S 36, 96 j wij>-

houte, S 392 j wftouten,

V 25, 142; with-outen,

C 273, 3905 with-oute,

C 264 } with-outyn, C

50, 299; with-out, C 297,

316; with-owtyn, C 459.

O.E. wibutan.
wijrinne, adv., within:

V n. O.E. wiHnnan.
wiz, prep., see wij>.
wo, inter, pron., who: V

122, 127. O.E. hwa.
wo, n., woe : S 303, V 2,

53, ete., C 90. O.E. wa.
wo, adj., cwoeful: S 298,

379. >at me is wo = ' I am

sorry/ S 379. O.E. wa.
wod, adj., mad : S 182,

286, V 258. O.E. wod.
wode, n., wood, forest: V

i, 109. O.E. wudu.
wold, v., see wille.
woldi(wold-t-i), S 88,243,

etc.
•wolf, n., wolf: V 1 08,

118, 129, 137, 150, etc.;

volf, V 148 ; vuolf, V

221; wolfe, V 181. O.E.

wulf.
woltou (wolt -\- )>ou), V

186, 196.
won, n., dwelling : S 21.

Cf. O.E. (ge)wuna, wu-

nian, wunung.

155

won, n., quantity, store: S
132.

won, adj., see wonte.

wond, v., see winde.

wonde, v., turn aside, hesi-
tate : S 138, C 120. O.
E. wandian.

wonder, n., wonder-. S
359. O.E. wundor.

wone, n., hope, thought: C
319. O.N. van.

wone, n. v., dwell : pret.
3 sg., wonede, S 20 j
pret. 3 pi., woneden, V
262$ pret. part., woned,
accustomed, used, wont,
V 105. O.E. wunian.
See wonte.

wonne, v. , won : pret. part. ,
858. O.E. winnan.

wonte, adj., wont: €915
won, C 112. O.E. wu-
nod.

word, n., word: S 240, V
132, C 367 j pi., word,
S 1595 wordes, V 148,
€406. O.E. word.

world, n., world: S 2435
worlde, V 162, 1635
werld, C 145 gen. sg.,
worldes, V 161. O.E.
weorold.

worschype, n., worship,
honor: C 39, 56 j wyr-

schyp, €79. O.E. weor)>-

scipe.
worschypped, p. p. a., hon-

ored : C 414.
worse, wors, adj., worse,

S 378, V 202. O.E.

wyrs.
worfe, v., become: pres. i

sg., worbe, V 1915 pres.

3 sg., worf>, V 2985 pres.

subj. 3 sg., worj>e, 8213,

V 96 j pret. 3 sg., werj>,

V 66. O.E. weorban.
wose, pron., whoso : S 4455

wose-euer, S 361. Cf.

O.E. swahwaswa.
wot, v., see wite.
wou, n., ^wrong: 896. O.

E. woh.
wouing, v., plying: n.,

wooing: S 125. O.E.

wogian.
wous, adj., ready: V 12.

O.E. fus.
wox, see vox.
wraJ?J?en, v., make angry:

infin., S 41. O.E. (ge)-

wraHan.
wrecche, n., wretch: S

V 288. O.E. wrecca.
wrenche, n., trick, artifice:

dat., V 84. O.E. wrenc.
wringen, v., wing: pret. 3

I56

106.

sg., wrong, C 95,

O.E. wringan.
wrogge, n., frog-, pi.,

wroggen, V 256. O.E.

frogga.

wroj?, adj., angry. V 220.
wro)?e, adv., angrily. V

291. O.E. wraft.
wrong, n., wrong: S 10.

O.E. wrang.
wroug, see wringen.
wrout, p.p., see wyV'che.
wyde, adj., <wide\ 093.

O.E. wid.

wyfe, wyfe, see wif.
wyght, adj., nimble ', strong:

C 3, 295, 537; wy?ht,

C 33. O.N. vlgr, m.,

vigt, n.
wylde, adj., wild: pi., C

1 1 6. O.E. wilde.
wylle, n., see will,
wyneng, v. n., winning,

gain: C 317.

wyped, v., wiped, pret. 3
sg., C 152. O. E. wlpian.

wyrche, v., work, perform :
inf., C 1645 p- ?•> wrout,
S 1 1 2 j wrought, C 2 1 3 } i-
wrought, C 342. O.E.
wycran.

wyst, see wite.

wytte, n., wight, man: C
521. O.E. wiht.

Y, see wite.

ybe, yboujt, ydi}t, ydon,

etc., see be, bie, dijt,

don, etc.
ye, demonstr. pron., instru-

mental case: C 236.

O.E. >e, by.
y^oue, v., pret. part., see

y-nou^, see nou.
y-slawe, v., pret. part., sec

slo.
ywis, adv., seewis.

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