Roxburghe Club ed. renders it, nor does this translation make any
sense here at all; «baye» signifies “a wide, open room or space in a
building.” See Mätzner’s «Wörterbuch», p. 164. Morris, in the Glossary
to the «Alliterative Poems», has “bay = recess. The original meaning
seems to be «opening of any kind». Cf. bay, space in a building between
two main beams.” Halliwell, «s. v.» bay, has: “A principal compartment
or division in the architectural arrangement of a building.” It appears
to be etymologically the same word as Ital. «baja», French «baie»,
“bay, gulf, harbour,” the French «baie» being equally used for “opening
of any kind.” The Catalan form for «baie» is «badia», which corresponds
to the verb «badar», meaning “to open.” See Diez, «Etym. Wörterb.» I.
46. «Bay» is retained in the Mod. E. compound “«bay-window».” Cf. also
the French “«la bée d’une fenestre»,” cited by Carpentier-Ducange, «s.
v.» beare. With regard to the signification of «trende», the editor of
the Roxb. Club ed. wrongly guessed again in explaining it as “drawn” or
“trenchant, cutting.” «Trende» means “turned, bent, vaulted in the form
of an arch.” See «Halliwell», p. 887, and «Stratmann», p. 572, «s. v.»
trenden (= “volvere”). But I am at a loss how to explain why Mars is
said to have put up his throne in an arched recess, or compartment, of
a building.
p. 28, l. 957. «some», a clerical error for «sone».
p. 28, l. 965. «prymsauns of grene vere» = “the earliest days of green
spring” (Glossary to the Roxb. Club ed.). This may be the sense; but
what is the literal meaning of «prymsauns»? If we had «prymtauns»,
or «prymtaunce», we might be inclined to take it for a corruption of
French «printemps», as we find «pastaunce» or «pastance» corrupted
from «passe-temps». (See Skeat, «Spec. of Eng. Literature», 460/149
and 427/1096.) Cf. also the «Romaunt of the Rose», ll. 3373–74: “«At
prime temps», Love to manace, Ful ofte I have been in this caas.” Or
is «prymtauns» perhaps a clerical error for «entrauns» or «entraunce»?
This would then make us think of such passages as the following one:
“Che fu ou mois de mai, à l’«entree» d’esté,
Que florissent cil bos et verdissent cil pré.”
«Fierabras», ll. 5094–5.
p. 28, l. 966. «spryngyn», the only instance of the 3rd person present
plural ending in «-yn» (for the common «-en»). This perhaps is due to
[p113] the scribe thinking already of the following «yn» in beg«ynne».
But it must be stated that the whole passage is rather obscure. Neither
the meaning of «springyn and begynne» nor the connection of l. 966 with
the following lines is very clear. «Floures» occurring twice looks also
somewhat suspicious. Moreover, these two stanzas do not well suit the
context and might easily be done without; they are evidently borrowed
from some other poem. Observe besides the alliteration in «f»loures,
«f»rithe, «f»reshly.
p. 28, l. 973. «lithe», “to hear.” O.Icel. «hlŷða», “auscultare.”
«Stratmann», s. v. «hlîþen», p. 315.
p. 29, l. 993. «lese» miswritten for «lefe», which sense and rhyme
require, and which occurs in ll. 832, 1526.
p. 29, l. 995. «bassatours» (?) = “vavassours, vavasors.”
p. 29, l. 999. «Inde Major.» The meaning of «Major» is not clear. Cf.
besides «Chanson de Roland», ed. Gautier, «Glossarial Index», s. v.
«Major». Compare also «Destr.» l. 690: «terre Majour».
p. 29, l. 1000. The great number of geographical names contained in
these two lines is probably due to the favourite habit of mediæval
romance writers, who thought that they showed their geographical
knowledge by introducing long strings of names. Thus we find in «Web.
Rom.» II. l. 632 «et seq.», the names of sixteen towns mentioned in
fourteen lines, all of which are said to have been visited by Richard
the Lion-hearted. Again in the same poem, ll. 3679, «et seq.», we find
the names of thirteen countries occurring in ten lines. Cf. also «King
Alis.», «Web. Rom.» I. ll. 1440 and 1692. Often, too, geographical
names seem to be inserted on account of the rhyme, as «Chaunder» in l.
123, and «Europe» in l. 1001.
p. 29, l. 1008. «Camalyon», “meaning, probably, the camelopardalis. The
blood of a cameleon would go a very little way towards satisfying a
thirsty Saracen” (Ellis, «Metr. R.» 387). Perhaps also the poet did not
know much of either of these two kinds of animals, and all he wished
was to cite an animal with some outlandish name.
p. 30, l. 1025. «southe» : «wrothe». The spelling «sothe» occurs in ll.
2014, 2024, 2246, 2719. There must be a lacuna of one or more lines
here. The rhyme-word to «dute» (l. 1024) is wanting; the context also
evidently shows that ll. 1025 and 1026, as they stand together, make no
sense. It is worth while to add that the next five lines, contrary to
the common usage of our poem, are all rhymed together.
p. 30, l. 1040. Observe «Paens», i. e. “pagans,” used as a proper name
here; cf. the «Destr.» l. 98, and «Fierabras», l. 5673.
p. 31, l. 1051. For a description of Ferumbras, compare «Fierabras»,
ll. 578 «et seq.», and ll. 611 «et seq.», and «Syr Ferumbras», l. 550.
p. 31, l. 1060. «trwes» = trues, truce.
p. 31, l. 1067. «sex.» So in the French «Fierabras», l. 84:
“Ja n’en refuserai, par Mahom, jusqu’à vi.”
[p114]
In the English «Ferumbras», l. 102, we read:
“And þoȝ þer come «twelue», þe beste of þy fered,
I will kuþe on hem my miȝt, & dyngen hem al to douste.”
p. 31, l. 1071. «in fere» = “together.” «fere», literally “one who
fares with one,” means “a travelling companion, a comrade, a mate; a
company.” O.E. «(ge-)fera».
p. 31, l. 1074. «man» = “bondman, subject, vassal.” So in ll. 1354 1466.
p. 31, l. 1077. «childe», “young knight, young man.” See Skeat’s note
to Sir Thopas (Clarendon Press), 162/2020.
p. 31, l. 1084. Cf. the French text:
“Sire, ce dist Rollans, chertes, tort en aves,
Car, par icel seigneur Ki Dix est appelés,
Je vauroie moult miex que fuissiés desmenbrés
Ke jou en baillasse armes ne ne fuisse adobés.
Hier quant paien nous vindrent à l’issue des gués
L. mile furent, à vers helmes jesmés,
Grans caus en soustenimes sur les escus bandés;
Oliviers mes compaigns i fu le jour navrés.
Tout fuissons desconfit, c’est fines verités,
Quant vous nous secourustes e vos riches barnés,
Et paien s’en tournerent les frains abandonnés.
Quant fumes repairié as loges et as trés,
Puis te vantas le soir, quant tu fus enivrés,
Que li viel chevalier c’avoies amené
L’avoient moult miex fait que li joule d’assés,
Assés en fui le soir laidement ramponés.”
(ll. 144–161.)
Compare also «Syr Ferumbras», ll. 144–163
p. 32, l. 1088. «of» = “on account of.”
p. 32, l. 1092. According to most of the old romances Roland was
invulnerable. He never lost any blood by a wound but on the occasion
when he was beaten by Charlemagne
“For trois goutes sans plus, quant Charles par irour
Le feri de son gant que le virent plousour.”
See «Histoire Poétique», p. 264.
The French text (ll. 166–170) runs as follows:
“Karles trait son gant destre, qui fu à or parés
Fiert le comte Rollant en travers sur le nés;
Après le caup en est li sans vermaus volés.
Rollans jete le main au branc qui est letrés;
Ja en ferist son oncle se il n’en fust ostés.”
p. 32, l. 1094. «abye», “to pay for, suffer for.” In Mod. Eng. «abye»
is corrupted into «abide». See Morris, Gloss. to «Chaucer» (Clarend.
Press), «s. v.» aboughte.
p. 32, l. 1096. Double negatives like «never none» are pretty common
in mediæval writers. Cf. in the «Sowdan», ll. 1876, 2181, 2199, 2279,
2305. [p115]
p. 32, l. 1103. «at one», “of one mind, agreement.” Cf. «King Horn»,
ed. Lumby, l. 925:
“At on he was wiþ þe king.”
Hence Mod. Eng. «atone», “to set at one, to reconcile.” See Zupitza’s
note to «Guy», l. 5308.
p. 32, l. 1106. «to make voydaunce», the same as to «voide», l. 1768 =
“to quit, to depart from, to get rid of.”
p. 32, l. 1110. «withoute more» = “without delay, immediately.” «more»
is O.E. «mâra», comparative to «micel»; it is not the Latin «more». See
Zupitza’s note to «Guy», l. 719.
p. 33, l. 1126. «renewed», “tied.” Fr. «renouer», from «nœud» = Lat.
«nodius». It is to be distinguished from «renewed» = “renovated,” which
occurs in l. 2200.
p. 32, l. 1128. «hidur» is spelt «hider» in ll. 810, 833, etc.
p. 32, l. 1135. «Generyse.» In the other versions Olyver calls himself
«Garin». See «Introduction» on p. xxxiii.
p. 32, l. 1141. «lerne», “to teach.” See Zupitza’s note to «Guy», l.
6352. «scole», O.E. «scôl», Mod. Eng. «school», means here “style, or
manner of fighting.” It must not be confounded with «schole», O.E.
«scolu», “troop, band,” Mod. Eng. «shoal». Cf. also «The Song of
Roland», 129/786.
p. 33, l. 1145. «myghty men of honde.» So in l. 3029. The same phrase
occurs in M.H.G. “ein helt «ze sînen handen»,” which is explained as
meaning, “a hero [or one who becomes a hero] by the strength of his
hands or arms.” See Jänicke’s note to «Biterolf», 5078, and Grimm’s
«Grammatik», IV. 727 note. The expression seems to be originally
French; cf. Méon, «Fabliaux», III. 478: “chevaliers «de sa main»”;
«Renard», ed. Martin, l. 21409: “proedom «de sa main».” Cf. also «Roman
des Eles», ed. Scheler, l. 433, where «main» is wrongly explained by
the editor.
p. 33, l. 1151. «plete», “plead.” The rhyme leads us to suppose that
the author pronounced «ple»d«e», which indeed is the more common form.
p. 33, l. 1154. «and» makes no sense here. «thenkes» must also be
incorrect, the 3rd person present singular always terminating in «-eth»
in this poem, and not in «-es». Read «as thenketh me»; «thenketh me»
occurs in l. 465.
p. 34, l. 1158. «pight», “pitched, fixed.” The infinitive mood is
«picchen»; cf. O.Dutch «picken», O.Icel. «pikka», “pungere, pangere.”
p. 34, l. 1159. In the French «Fierabras», l. 606 «et seq.», Oliver
also assists the Saracen to put on his gear. This point is not
mentioned in the Ashmolean version, see «Introduction», p. xxviii.
p. 34, l. 1163. «worthed up», “became up, got up, mounted.” It is the
past tense of the verb «worthen», O.E. «weorðan», “to become.” Another
past tense of this verb is «worth», l. 1204.
p. 34, l. 1164. «areest», or «arest» = “a rest, or support for the
spear when [p116] couched for the attack” (Morris). Originally =
“stoppage, waiting, readiness.” Cf. Mätzner’s «Wörterbuch», p. 107.
p. 34, l. 1167. «as fire of thonder», cf. «dinte of thondir» in l. 1207.
p. 34, l. 1168. «to-braste», “burst in pieces.” The prefix «to-»,
answering to Germ. «zer-», has the force of “in twain, asunder.”
p. 34, l. 1170. «threste», O.E. «þr[^æ]stan», “premere, trudere.” The
author probably pronounced «thraste», which will improve the rhyme.
p. 34, ll. 1179–80. «upon the hede» (blank in MS) «the hede». This is
evidently a mistake of the scribe; «sore», l. 1180, too, which does not
rhyme with «crowne», is probably miswritten for «sone». The rhyme as
well as the context shows that the true reading is:
“Olyver him hitte again
Upon the hede than fulle sone
He carfe awaye with myght and mayne
The cercle that sate uppon his crowne.”
p. 34, l. 1182. About the «cercle», see Demay, «Le Costume de guerre»,
p. 132. “Non seulement le cône du heaume (helme) est bordé par ce
cercle, mais il est parfois renforcé dans toute sa hauteur par deux
arêtes placées l’une devant, l’autre derrière, ou par quatre bandes de
métal ornementées (de verroteries), venant aboutir et se croiser à son
sommet.”—«crowne» means the “tonsure of the head,” then topically “the
skull or head.”
p. 34, l. 1185. «the botteles of bawme» are not mentioned anywhere else
in the «Sowdan»; the other versions tell us that the balm contained in
those vessels was the same as that with which Christ was anointed. Cf.
«Syr Ferumbras», ll. 510–517; and see «Introduction», p. vi and xxix.
p. 34, l. 1191. «the river.» According to the oldest version of the
poem the whole combat took place on the shore of the Tiber, near Rome.
See «Introduction», pp. xi and xxxii. Cf. «Fierabras», l. 1049:
“Pres fu du far de Rome, ses a dedes jetés,”
and «Philippe Mousket», I. 4705–6:
“Les .ii. barius qu’à Rome prist,
Si les gieta enmi le Toivre.”
In the «Sowdan» as well as in the «Ashmole» MS. there is no mention
of Oliver’s drinking of the balm before throwing it into the water,
which both the Provençal and the French versions tell us he did. Cf.
«Fierabras», ll. 1031–1048, and the Provençal version, ll. 1335, «et
seq.»
p. 35, l. 1210. «fille», “fel.”
p. 35, ll. 1221. «dere» spoils the rhyme. Read “«free».”
p. 36, l. 1250. «Cousyn to King Charles», cf. l. 1117. In ll. 1499
and 1671 Oliver is said to be nephew to Charlemagne. He was the son
of Renier de Gennes, who according to «Sir Ferumbras», l. 652: “Y am
Charlis emys sone”—was the uncle of Charlemagne. In the poem «Girar
de Viane» we find Oliver among the enemies of the [p117] Emperor
and fighting with Roland in close combat; they are at length stopped
by divine interposition. Then began a close friendship which lasted
till their death at Roncesvaux. Oliver’s sister Aude was betrothed to
Roland. See, besides, «Syr Ferumbras», ll. 422, 1297, 1305, 1354.
p. 36, l. 1258. «harde grace», “misfortune,” cf. l. 2790.
p. 36, l. 1259. «Persagyn.» This name does not occur in any other
version again, except in the «Destruction», where one Persagon appears
in the list of the Saracen barons. But it is not stated there that he
is uncle to Ferumbras; cf. besides «Fierabras», ll. 2614, 2784.
p. 37, l. 1263. Observe the four consecutive feminine rhymes.
p. 37, l. 1277. The scene as related here widely differs from that
described in the Ashmolean version. In the «Sowdone», Oliver gets hold
of the sword which is “trussed on Ferumbras’s stede.” In the Ashmolean
poem it is not Oliver who is disarmed, but Ferumbras, and Oliver
allows him to pick up his weapon again. This in itself furnishes us
an argument for conjecturing that the author of the «Sowdon» did not
follow, or even know of, the Ashmolean version. In the French poem,
as well as in the Provençal, it is likewise Oliver who is disarmed.
If in those poems we find mentioned besides that Ferumbras offered
his enemy to take up his sword again—an incident not related in the
«Sowdan»—we do not consider this to disprove our supposition that the
French version was the source of the «Sowdan», as we may consider our
author in this case simply to have adhered to his favourite practice
of shortening his original as much as possible, so far as no essential
point is concerned. Cf. the French «Fierabras», ll. 1289–1346.
p. 37, l. 1286. «saught» is a misprint for «raught».
p. 37, l. 1289. «He thought he quyte.» «quyte» may be explained as
standing for «quyted», or else «he» must be changed into «to»: «He
thought to quyte», the latter reading is perhaps preferable. We find in
l. 3110 a passage agreeing almost exactly with this.
p. 38, l. 1298. «Qwyntyn.» The name of this Saint does not occur in any
other version of our romance.
p. 38, l. 1308. There is no mention made of this prayer in the
Ashmolean version, the «Sowdan» here (ll. 1308–1340) agrees again with
the French «Fierabras», ll. 1164–1244 (and with the Provençal poem,
l. 1493, «et seq.»), with the only difference, that the prayer which
Charlemagne addressed to God, in order to bestow the victory upon the
Christian hero, is much longer in «F»; and is stuffed with so many
details of the Scripture, that in some way it may be regarded as a
succinct account of the whole life of the Lord.
p. 38, l. 1320. «skomfited» = «discomfited», l. 1464. It is formed by
the same analogy as stroyeth = destroyeth. See note to l. 780. The
substantive «discumfiture», O.Fr. «desconfiture», occurs in l. 336; the
same [p118] word, without prefix, is found in M.H.G., cf. «Kudrun»,
ed. Martin, 646, 2:
“dô si hêten gerne die porten zuo getân
dô muosten si daz lernen durch «schumphentiuren» verlân.”
The Italian noun is «sconfitta», and the verb «sconfiggere».
p. 38, l. 1327. «God aboue» does not rhyme with «lord almighty». The
rhyme is easily restored if we read «of might» (cf. l. 2059) for
«aboue», and if we change «almighty» into «almighte», so that we have:
l. 1327. “Tho Charles thanked God of myghte.”
l. 1329. “And saide, ‘blessed be thou, lord almyghte.’”
The adjective «almiȝt» is of frequent occurrence in Mid. Eng. writers.
So in «Allit. Poems», I. 497: “in sothful gospel of god almyȝt;” «Syr
Ferumbras», l. 3580, “God almyȝte: siȝte;” «ibid.» l. 3815, “god
almyȝt: wyȝt.”
p. 39, l. 1349. «cas» is an erratum for «ras».—“Ras, shave.” “Rees
1693, evening.” These explanations given by the editor of the Roxb.
Club ed. are wrong. «Ras» and «rees» being both derived from O.E.
«r[^æ]s», “impetus cursus,” are indiscriminately used in three
meanings: (1) “onset, assault;” (2) “course, run, rush, haste, hurry;”
(3) “space, time, occasion.” The last signification is well shewn by
the following passages:
“Hit lasteþ but a lutel rees.”
(«Cl. Maydenhod», l. 26.)
“Þat ys to seye upon a rees,
Stynkyng Saxone, be on pees.”
(«Arthur», ed. Furnivall, l. 525.)
In the «Sowdan» «ras» or «rees» means (1) “time, instant, occasion,”
ll. 1349, 1693; (2) “rush, hurry, haste,” ll. 645, 489. «rase», l.
774 = “current in the sea,” the same word as the preceding «ras» and
«rees», meaning properly, “a narrow rush, or violent current of water.”
See Morris, «Chaucer’s Prologue» (Clarendon Press), s. v. «reyse». Cf.
the French expressions, “raz de mer,” “raz de courent,” “raz de marée.”
p. 39, l. 1361. «sene» : «be». Read «se» as in ll. 1124, 658, 1826.
p. 40, l. 1372. «ryden», which does not rhyme with «foghten», is
evidently a clerical error. I suppose «soghten» to be the true
reading. For examples of «soght» = “came, went, moved,” see Zupitza’s
note to «Guy», l. 7151, and Skeat’s Glossary to «Specimens», s.
v. «socht».—There is still another corruption in this passage, as
«assembled» does not rhyme with «ordeyned».
p. 40, l. 1380. Note the transition from the indirect to the direct
speech.
p. 40, l. 1381. As it stands, the line is too long and spoils the
rhythm. The words “if ye cast me downe” can be dispensed with.
p. 40, l. 1383. «thare» : «were» (O.E. werian). The rhyme is easily
restored by reading «there» instead of «thare», cf. ll. 2604, 2404,
2245, etc. and see «Introduction», p. xxxv. [p119]
p. 41, ll. 1419–22. Observe the weak rhymes alternating with the strong
ones.
p. 41, l. 1420. «brother» means “brother-in-law.” Oliver’s sister Aude
was Roland’s intended bride. Perhaps also «brother» may be taken here
in sense of “brother in arms,” as in most romances we find Roland and
Oliver mentioned as a couple of true friends united by the most tender
ties of comradeship. Besides, Oliver was highly indebted to Roland, who
had rescued him when he had been made a prisoner after his duel with
Ferragus.
p. 41, l. 1423. «cowthe» miswritten for «caughte», which we read in ll.
1411, 1603.
p. 41, l. 1424. «Ascopartes» is the correct form. See note on l. 495.
p. 51, l. 1427. «foolde» cannot be “earth” here, for which the editor
of the Roxburghe Club ed. takes it. «Foolde» is the participle past of
«fealden», “to fold, plicare.” It means, “folded, bent down, fallen.”
This seems also to be the sense of «folde» in the following passages:
«Laȝamon», 23983–4:
“Þa feol Frolle
folde to grunde.”
«Ibid.» ll. 27054–6:
“Romanisce veollen
fiftene hundred
folden to grunden.”
«Ibid.» ll. 20057–60:
“he þohte to quellen
Þe king on his þeode
& his folc valden
volden to grunde.”
Cf. «Stratmann», p. 194.
p. 41, l. 1433. Roland and Olyver are taken prisoners. This incident is
differently related in the other poems. There Roland is not taken at
all, but sent afterwards among the messengers to the Soudan’s court.
Together with Oliver four knights are taken, viz. Gwylmer, Berard,
Geoffrey and Aubry, who all are carried away by the flying Saracens in
spite of the efforts of Roland and Ogier.
p. 42, l. 1451. «what» = “who.” See Koch, «Eng. Gr.» II. § 339, and
Skeat’s note to «Piers the Plowman» (Clarendon Press), 113/19. So in
ll. 1133, 1623.
p. 42, l. 1456. «astyte» has nothing to do with the Latin «astutus»
with which the editor of the Roxb. Club ed. apparently confounds it
in explaining it as “cunningly devised.” «Astyte» means “at once,
immediately, suddenly”; see Morris, Glossary to «Allit. Poems». It is a
compound of the simple word «tyte», “soon, quickly,” which see above,
l. 181.
p. 43, l. 1475. «Turpyn.» The name of the archbishop is not mentioned
in the Ashmolean version. The French text, ll. 1836–40, runs as
follows: [p120]
“Karles, nostre empereres, en est en piés levés,
Il apela Milon et Turpin l’alosés,
Deus rices arcevesques de moult grant sainteté:
Faites moi tost uns fons beneir et sacrer;
Je woel que cis rois soit bauptiziés et levés.”
Cf. also the Provençal poem, l. 1899, «et seq.»
p. 43, l. 1483. «nought for thane» = “nevertheless,” cf. Koch, «Eng.
Gr.» II. p. 473.
p. 43, l. 1486. «Rome» is a corruption of «Roye», as follows from the
French «Fierabras», l. 1851:
“C’est sains Florans de Roie, ce dist l’auctorités.”
Cf. the Ashmole «Ferumbras», l. 1087, and Grœber, «Zeitschrift für
romanische Philologie», IV. p. 167.
p. 43, l. 1495. «affrayned», which must not be confounded with
«affrayed», as the editor of the Roxburghe Club ed. does, means
“asked, inquired.” It is the compound of «freynen» or «fraynen», O.E.
«frignan», “to ask.” Goth. «fraihnan». Germ. «fragen».
p. 43, l. 1497. «allayned», “concealed.” The simple verb «layne» (from
Icel. «leyna», cf. Zupitza’s note to «Guy», l. 2994) is still retained
in the Scottish dialect, with the sense of “to hide.” Cf. also Morris,
«Allit. Poems», Gloss. s. v. «layned».
p. 43, l. 1498. In the other poems the prisoners do not tell their true
names; see «Introduction», pp. xxvii and xxix; and cf. «Syr Ferumbras»,
l. 1167.
p. 43, l. 1499. Roland is nephew to Charlemagne on his mother’s side.
See note to l. 1888, and cf. the Ashmole «Ferumbras», l. 2066. For
Oliver, see above, note to l. 1250.
p. 44, l. 1515. In the «Sowdan» Floripas herself advises Laban not to
slay his captives, but to imprison them. In the other versions it is
one of the barons who gives the same advice. See «Introduction», p.
xxviii.
p. 44, l. 1539. «depe» : «myrke». The rhyme will be restored by reading
«dirke» or «derke» instead of «depe». «derke» occurs in l. 2541.
p. 45, l. 1604. «maute.» “In Old French «mauté» is malice.” Gloss.
to Roxburghe Club ed. I do not know whether «mauté» exists in O.Fr.,
but even if it did, it would make no sense here. I feel sure «maute»
is a corruption of «mynte» or «mente» (cf. l. 1784), the preterite of
«minten» or «menten» = “to aim a blow, to strike,” from O.E. «myntan»,
“to intend, to purpose.” See Zupitza’s note to «Guy», l. 6579, and
Morris, «Allit. Poems», s. v. «mynte». Cf. also «Syr Ferumbras», l.
5587:
“Þan Charlis a strok till hym gan mynte;
Ac hym faylede of ys dynte,
for þat swerd hym glente. . .”
p. 47, l. 1615. «trew» instead of «free» will restore the rhyme. The
same rhyme «trewe» : «newe» occurs in ll. 67, 588.
p. 47, l. 1619. «fele sithe», “many a time, often.” So in ll. 2740,
2815. Cf. «ofte sithe», l. 916. [p121]
p. 47, l. 1624. «ruly», O.E. hrêowlîc = “rueful, sorrowful, mournful,
piteous.”
p. 47, l. 1645. «harme skathe» makes no sense. Read «harme & skathe»,
which occurs in «Gen. and Exod.» l. 2314:
“ðis sonde hem overtakeð raðe
And bicalleð of harme and scaðe.”
p. 48, l. 1665. In the French «Fierabras» (as well as in the Ashmolean
version) it is Roland whom Charlemagne addresses first (see above,
note to l. 1433); he tells him that he must go on a mission to demand
the surrender of Oliver and his companions. Upon which Naymes and the
other twelve peers remonstrate, but are all sent to Laban one after the
other, just as in the «Sowdan». In the Provençal poem it is only Guy
who protests. Cf. ll. 2263–2282 of the French «Fierabras»:
“Rollant regarda tost, si l’a araisonné:
Biaus nés, ce dist li rois, trop sui por vous irés;
Vous movrés le matin, à Aigremore irés;
Si dirés l’amirant, gardés ne li celés,
Rende moi la courone dont Dix fu couronés
Et les autres reliques dont je sui moult penés;
Et en après demant mes chevalier menbrés;
Et se il ne le fait si que deviserés,
Dites jel ferai pendre par la goule à un trefs,
En destre le menrai com .i. larron prové,
Ne troverai putel où il ne soit passé.” etc.
p. 48, l. 1668. Cf. «Fierabras», ll. 2309–2321, and «Syr Ferumbras», l.
1486–1493.
p. 49, l. 1683. «lese», “lose.” So in l. 2655 and 1696, where it rhymes
with «chese», which occurs again in ll. 2748, 2934.
p. 49, l. 1687. French text gives (ll. 2297, «et seq.»):
“Ogiers li boins Danois s’en est levés en piés:
Sire drois emperere, pour amour Dieu, oiés:
Bien sai se il i vont ja n’en revenra piés.
Avoec irés, dist Karles, par les ex de mon cief:
Or i serés vous .v. qui porterés mes briés.”