45.
_In that time a man that bore
(Wel fyfty pund, y woth, or more.)_
This insertion receives additional authority from a similar passage in
the Romance of _Guy of Warwick_, where it is mentioned as a proof of the
rigorous system of justice pursued by Earl Sigard,
Though a man bore an hundred pound,
Upon him of gold so round,
There n'as man in all this land
That durst him do shame no schonde.
Ellis, _Metr. Rom._ V. II. p. 9. Ed. 1811.
Many of the traits here attributed to Athelwold appear to be borrowed
from the praises so universally bestowed by our ancient historians on
the character of King Alfred, in whose time, as Otterbourne writes,
p. 52, "armillas aureas in bivio stratas vel suspensas, nemo abripere
est ausus." Cf. _Annal. Eccl. Roffens._ MS. Cott. Nero, D. II. The same
anecdote is related of Rollo, Duke of Normandy, by Guillaume de
Jumieges, and Dudon de Saint Quentin.
91. _Sprong forth so sparke of glede._ Cf. l. 870. It is a very common
metaphor in early English poetry.
He sprong forð an stede,
swa sparc ded of fure,
_La[gh]amon_ v. ii. p. 565.
He sprange als any sparke one glede.
_Sir Isumbras_, st. 39 (Camd. Soc. 1844)
He spronge as sparkle doth of glede,
_K. of Tars_, l. 194.
And lepte out of the arsoun,
As sperk thogh out of glede.
_Ly Beaus Desconus_, l. 623.
Cf. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, l. 13833, and Tyrwhitt's note.