P.S.--Since writing the foregoing I have obtained, through the kindness
of Mr. Thoms, the several readings of the lines commented upon in six
different MSS. in the British Museum. And I have great satisfaction in
finding that five out of the six confirm my hypothesis, at least with
respect to the uncertain spelling of "alway." The readings in respect of
the two words are these:
I meene alweye.
In mena alway.
I mene allweye.
In mene allwey.
I mene alweie.
I mene alwaye.
I acknowledge that, from the first, if I could have discovered a
probable interpretation of "mene" as an independent word, I should have
preferred it rather than that of making it a part of the Arabic name,
because I think that the star is sufficiently identified by the latter
portion of its name "Al auwâ," and because the preservation of "mene" in
its proper place in the line would afford a reading much less forced
than that I was obliged to have recourse to. Now it very singularly
happens that in "NOTES AND QUERIES" of this day (page 388.) I find, upon
the authority of A. C. M., that there is an Armorican word "menex" or
"mene," signifying a summit or boundary. Here is an accidental, though
most probable, original of the Chaucerian "mene," because the moon's
place in longitude at the time specified was precisely on the verge or
boundary of Libra: or even in the sense "summit" the word would be by no
means inappropriate to the point of a sign in the ecliptic which first
emerges from the horizon; with such a reading the lines would stand
thus, which is a very slight change from _their present form_:
"Then, with the mone's exaltacioun
In menez Libra, ALWAI gan ascende,
As we were entrying at a towne's end."
Perhaps A. C. M. would be good enough to cite his authorities for the
word "mene," "menez"--in the signification of "summit" or "margin"--with
examples, if possible, of its use in these or kindred senses.
And perhaps some Arabic scholar will explain the name "Min al auwâ," and
show in what way the absence of the prefix "Min" would affect it?