Key to transcription
# 3

London, British Library, Cotton Caligula A ix, The Owl and the Nightingale, language 2

Date: C13b2
Location: 379 267

{=NW Worcs=}
{=Sample tagged: fols. 239v line 14-240r line 5; 241v line 16-246r, i.e. all of language 2. The other sections of The Owl and the Nightingale are in the same hand but in somewhat different language which is placed (as text no 2) also in Worcs but a little to the south-east. Other texts in this MS (tagged as nos. 238-244), also in the same hand, are somewhat different again (though see Cartlidge (1997) for orthographical groupings). These other texts have not been given localisations=}
{=Script - skilled, professional book hand - Textura semiquadrata=}
{=Status - MS punctuation done; tagging notes and textual notes up to date=}
{=The scribe has the same somewhat variable shape for thorn, wynn and (rarely) Y. The variability is manifested in a cline of shapes, clearly thorn-shaped and wynn-shaped at each end but often either interchanged or indeterminate. Wynn and Y are almost always dotted, thorn only very occasionally. I have noted when it is dotted. The letters are transcribed as far as possible according to scribal intention judged by context. Note that the abbrevation for yer "there" and y~ "that" (not used in language 1) are identical in this hand. See John Scahill, 'Abbreviations in the Orthographies of The Owl and the Nightingale and their Textual Implications', Notes and Queries 240 (1995), 426-8. Since the abbreviation mark not only does not go through the ascender of thorn as y~ would normally imply, but does not even touch it, I have realised the forms for both "that" and "there" as yer. Note that a similar abbreviation in hand A of Royal 17.A.xxvii does touch the ascender (though does not bisect it) and does not appear to be used for "there". In Royal the line indicating d rather than D similarly attaches to the right of the ascender rather than bisecting it. In that MS I therefore use y~ to indicate the abbrevated form of "that" although it might be argued that the shape is hardly different from the C scribe's form transcribed as yer. (Cf. a similar situation in hand B of Layamon A.) Compare also the abbreviation for "through" found here, as thorn with a line through the descender. This abbreviation is found also in the work of the Worcester Tremulous Hand, and in BL Royal 17 A xxvii, hands A, B and C and in BL Cotton Nero A. xiv both hands=}
{~f239va line14~}
{=line 901=} Ne ƿened na-man for þi pipinge . {=Punctus almost covered by capital thorn in the second column=} {\}
þ(er){+}eni preost in chirge {=The C scribe originally wrote CHIRCE. Before writing the next word he changed CE to G by allowing C and the back of E to serve as the body of G and adding the second element (descender) of G below. The stroke that links the head of G to the next letter is then drawn across the top of original E, further to disguise its existence, and a second E added to make CHIRGE. It is quite clear that this is the order of events not that G has been corrected to C because the pen angles observable in the body of G are those used for the formation of C not of G in this hand. G for more usual CH seems to be a minor SWML variant. Note also HEOUERIGE "kingdom of heaven" in the C scribe's copy of Doomsday (text no. 241) and forms with G rather than CH in "each" and "I" (Cambridge Trinity College 323 hand A, text no. 246) and in "ditch", "each" and "such" (hand D, text no. 249). Cf. a number of G spellings for CH as well as GCH for C(H)CH in BL Royal 2.F.viii, fol. 1v (text no. 263) and CHERGE and CHURGE for "church" recorded in LALME in Somerset and Oxon respectively=} singe . {\}
Ȝet i þe ƿulle an-oder segge . {\}
Ȝif þu hit const ariht bilegge . {\}
Ƿi nultu singe an oder þeode . {\}
Þar hit is muchele more neode {\}
Þu neau(er) ne singst in irlonde . {\}
Ne þu ne cumest noȝt in scotlo(n)de . {\}
Hƿi nultu fare to noreƿeie . {\}
A~ {=Capital A with a stroke above it. The stroke is identical to that used to form edh from D and to that used for <er>=} singin men of galeƿeie . {\}
Þar beoð men þ(er) lutel kunne . {\}
Of songe þ(er){+}is bineoðe þe su(n)ne . {\}
Ƿi nultu þare preoste singe . {\}
An teche of þire ƿritelinge . {\}
An ƿisi hom mid þire steuene . {\}
Hu engeles singeð ine heouene . {\}
Þu farest so doð an ydel ƿel . {\}
Þar {=sic - probably a misexpansion of abbreviated y~=} springeþ bi burne þar {=sic - see above=} is snel . {\}
A~ lat for-drue þe dune . {\}
⁊ floh {=sic=} on idel þar adune . {\}
Ac ich fare boþe norþ ⁊ soþ . {\}
{~f239vb~} In eau(er)-euch londe ich am cuuþ . {\}
East ⁊ ƿest . feor ⁊ neor . {\}
I{+}do ƿel faire mi meoster . {\}
An ƿarni men mid mine bere . {\}
Þ(er) þi {=thorn is wynn-shaped but undotted=} dƿeole {=wynn is undotted=} song heo ne forlere . {\}
Ich ƿisse men mid min>e> songe . {\}
Þ(er) hi{+}ne sunegi noƿiht longe . {\}
I bidde hom þ(er) heo isƿike . {\}
Þ(er) heom-seolue ne bi-sƿike . {\}
For bet(er)e is þ(er) heo ƿepen here . {\}
þan elles-hƿar to beon deoulene {=First E clumsily corrected from O. The scribe is used to writing O in words with <eo> in Old English. He has yet to adapt fully his copying to the conventions in language 2=} fere . {\}
Þe {=Enlarged capital thorn of two lines' depth overlapping in the left margin one line above and one further line below. No guide letter is visible=} niȝtingale ƿas{+}igremet . {\}
An ek heo ƿas sumdel of-chamed . {\}
For þe hule hire atƿiten hadde . {\}
In hƿucche stude he sat an g>r>adde . {\}
Bihinde þe bure among þe wede . {\}
Þar men goð to here neode . {\}
An sat sum-del ⁊ heo biþohte . {\}
An ƿiste ƿel on hire þohte {\}
Þe ƿraþþe binimeþ monnes red . {\}
For hit seide þe king alfred . {\}
Sele {=sic=} endeð {=Error for ERENDEd "intercedes"? See Stanley (1960:126, note to line 943 and refs there cited. J also has ENDEy so the error is likely to have been in the exemplar probably a missing abbreviation for <re>=} ƿel þe loþe . {\}
An selde plaideð ƿel þe ƿroþe . {\}
For ƿraþþe meinþ þe horte blod {\}
Þat hit floƿeþ so ƿilde flod . {\}
An al þe heorte ouergeþ . {\}
Þ(er) heo naueþ no-þing bute breþ . {\}
An so for-leost al hire liht . {\}
þat heo ne siþ soð ne{+}riht . {\}
Þe niȝtingale hi understod . {\}
An ouer-gan lette hire mod . {\}
He mihte bet speken a{+}sele . {\}
Þan mid ƿraþþe ƿordes deale . {\}
Þule {=Enlarged capital thorn of two lines' depth overlapping in the left margin one line above. The second line's depth in fact takes the letter into the bottom margin and there is no descender, just a horizontal 'foot' under the lobe. No guide letter is visible=} heo seide lust nu hider . {\}
{~f240ra~} Þu schalt falle . þe ƿei is slider . {\}
Þu seist ich fleo bihinde bure . {\}
Hit is riht þe bur is ure . {\}
Þar lauerd liggeþ ⁊ lauedi . {\}
{=line 960=} Ich schal heom singe ⁊ sitte bi . {\}
{=End of language B1. Language A2 takes over until fol. 241va line 16=} {=Beginning of language B2=} {~f241va line 16~} {=line 1174=} Þe {=Enlarged capital thorn of two lines' depth overlapping in the left margin one line above and two further lines below. A guide letter thorn is partially visible at the top left of the lobe of the large letter=} hule ne abot noȝt sƿiþ longe . {\}
Ah ȝef ondsƿare starke ⁊ stronge . {\}
Ƿat quaþ ho hartu ihoded . {\}
Oþer þu kursest al un-ihoded . {\}
For prestes ƿike ich ƿat þu dest . {\}
Ich not ȝef þu ƿere {*sj context*} ȝaure {="wandering". That this word is problematic is highlighted by the fact that the J scribe omits it altogether. See Cartlidge (2001:128) for a discussion of the various possibilities canvassed by editors and commentators, and for this new reading of the gyrovague or wandering priest, see Laing 2007=} prest . {\}
Ich not ȝef þu canst masse singe . {\}
Inoh þu canst of mansinge . {\}
Ah hit is for þine alde niþe {=y seems to have been corrected from some other letter=} . {\}
Þ(er) {=Letter erased before yU=} þu me akursedest oðer siðe . {\}
Ah þarto is lihtlich ondsƿare . {\}
Drah to þe cƿað þe cartare . {\}
Ƿi attƿitestu me mine i(n)sihte . {\}
An min iƿit ⁊ mine miȝte . {\}
For ich am ƿiti ful iƿis . {\}
An ƿod al þ(er) to kumen {=K corrected from H=} is . {\}
Ich ƿot of hunger of hergonge . {\}
Ich ƿot ȝef men schule libbe longe . {\}
Ich ƿat ȝef ƿif luste hire make {\}
{~f241vb~} {=For the next eight lines the text is rather rubbed but still legible=} Ich ƿat þar schal beo niþ ⁊ ƿrake . {\}
Ich ƿot hƿo schal beon ⁊-honge . {\}
Oþer elles fulne deþ a-fonge {\}
. Ȝef men habbeþ bataile inume . {\}
Ich ƿat hƿaþer schal beo(n) ou(er)kume . {\}
Ich ƿat ȝif cƿalm scal com(en) on orfe . {\}
{=line 1200=} An ȝif dor schul ligge ⁊-storue . {\}
Ich ƿot ȝef treon schule bloƿe . {\}
Ich ƿat ȝef cornes schule groƿe {=MS GROUE with U altered to wynn by the main scribe by addition of dot above and descender below=} . {\}
Ich ƿot ȝef huses schule berne . {\}
Ich ƿot ȝef men schule eorne oþ(er) erne . {\}
Ich ƿot ȝef sea schal schipes drenche . {\}
Ich ƿot ȝef smiþes schal uuele clenche . {\}
An ȝet ich con muchel more . {\}
Ich con inoh in bokes lore . {\}
An eke ich can of þe goddspelle . {\}
More þan ich uule {=Or NULE with pleonastic negative, but the first letter is shaped like U not like N=} þe telle . {\}
For ich at chirche come ilome . {\}
An muche leorni of ƿisdome . {\}
Ich ƿat al of þe tacninge . {\}
An of oþer feole þinge . {\}
Ȝef eni-mon schal rem abide . {\}
Al ich hit ƿot ear hit itide . {\}
Ofte for mine muchele iƿitte . {\}
Ƿel sorimod ⁊ ƿorþ ich sitte . {\}
Ƿan ich iseo þ(er) sum ƿrechede . {\}
Is manne neh innoh ich grede . {\}
Ich bidde þ(er) men beon iƿarte {=This may have been IwARRE in the exemplar whose R and T must have been similar judging by the C scribe's occasional difficulty in distinguishing them. In that case it was presumably intended as a form of the adj. "(a)ware" (cf. the J version's WARRE. But the C scribe presumably read and wrote the word as a past participle and that is why it is tagged as such here=} . {\}
An habbe gode reades ȝarte {=This may have been zARRE in the exemplar - cf. IWARTE/IWARRE above. In that case it was presumably intended as a form of the adj. gearu "ready" (cf. the J version's YARE) but again I assume that the C scribe saw the word as a past partciple=} . {\}
For alfred seide a ƿis ƿord . {\}
Euch mon hit schulde legge on hord . {\}
Ȝef þu isihst {=Blank space in MS of about 8 letters' width. The J scribe here has written HER with a punctus on either side suggesting that he too had difficulty with what was in the exemplar. The suggested emendation fits partially with J's HER if that is taken as a form of "ere"=} {[him ere?[} he beo icume . {\}
His strncþe is hi(m) ƿel-neh binume . {\}
An grete du(n)tes beoþ þe{+}lasse . {\}
{~f242ra~} Ȝef me ikepþ mid iƿarnesse . {\}
An fleo schal toƿard misȝenge {="And an approaching arrow will go astray". See Cartlidge (2001:129) for discussion of the syntax=} . {\}
Ȝef þu isihst hu {[it[} {=Either the pronoun is missing or HU is an error for HEO "it"=} fleo of strenge . {\}
For þu miȝt blenche wel ⁊ fleo . {\}
Ȝif þu isihst heo to þe teo . {\}
Þat eniman beo falle in odƿite . {\}
Ƿi schal he me his sor atƿite . {\}
Þah {=H altered from T by overwriting=} ich iseo {*sj context*} his harm biuore . {\}
Ne comeþ hit noȝt of me þaruare {=sic=} . {\}
Þah þu iseo þ(er) sum blind mon . {\}
þ(er) nanne rihtne ƿei ne con . {\}
To þare diche his dƿeole fulied . {\}
An falleþ and þar-one sulied . {\}
Ƿenest þu þah ich al iseo {*sj context*} . {\}
Þ(er) hit for me þe raþere beo . {\}
Alsƿo hit fareþ bi mine ƿitte . {\}
Hƿanne ich on mine boƿe {=Wynn not dotted and thorn-shaped=} sitte {\}
Ich ƿot ⁊ iseo sƿiþe brihte . {\}
An su(m)me men kumed {=K corrected from H=} harm þar-rihte . {\}
Schal he þat þ(er)-of noþing not . {\}
Hit ƿite me for ich hit ƿot . {\}
Schal he his mis-hap ƿite me . {\}
For ich am ƿisure þane he . {\}
Hƿanne ich iseo þ(er) sum ƿrechede . {\}
Is manne neh {=E rather clumsily corrected from O by adding a line through and extending the first bow below the baseline=} inoh ich grede . {\}
An bidde inoh þ(er) hi heom schilde . {\}
For toƿard heom is {[harm unmild[} {=Text missing with space left. Sense supplied from the J version=} {\}
Ah þah ich grede {*sj context*} lude an stille . {\}
Al{+}hit{+}itid þurþ godes ƿille . {\}
Hƿi ƿulleþ men of me himene {=Text somewhat rubbed - no punctus visible=} {\}
Þah ich mid soþe heo aƿene . {\}
Þah ich hi ƿarni {*sj context*} al þ(er) ȝer . {\}
Nis heom þ(er)-fore harem no þe ner . {\}
{~f242rb~} Ah ich heom singe for ich ƿolde . {\}
þ(er) hi ƿel understonde schulde . {\}
þ(er) su(m) unselþe heom is ihende . {\}
Hƿan ich min huing {="shouting", "hooting". There has been an attempt by a later corrector to alter HUING to SONG. H has been subpuncted and U rounded to O and S interlined above H. The I before N has not been deleted however so the result is SOING=} to heo(m) sende . {\}
Naueþ no-man none sikerhede . {\}
Þ(er) he ne mai ƿene ⁊ adrede . {\}
Þ(er) sum unhƿate neþ him beo . {\}
Þah he ne co(n)ne hit iseo . {\}
For-þi seide alfred sƿiþe ƿel . {\}
And his ƿorde ƿas goddspel . {\}
þ(er) eu(er)euch man þe bet him beo . {\}
Eauer þe bet he hine beseo . {\}
Ne truste no-mon to his ƿeole . {\}
To sƿiþe þah he habbe ueole . {\}
Nis non {=A later hand adds T to form NOUT=} so hot . þ(er) hit n{+}a-coleþ . {\}
Ne noȝt so hƿit . þ(er) hit ne soleþ . {\}
Ne noȝt so leof . þ(er) hit ne aloþeþ . {\}
Ne noȝt so glad . þ(er) hit ne a-ƿroþeþ . {\}
Ah eau(er)e-euh þing þ(er) eche nis . {\}
Agon schal ⁊ al þis ƿorldes{+}blis {\}
Nu þu miȝt ƿite readliche . {\}
þ(er) eau(er)e þu spekest gideliche . {\}
For al þ(er) þu me seist for schame . {\}
Eu(er) þe-seolue hit turneþ to grome . {\}
Go so hit go at eche fenge . {\}
þu fallest mid þine ahene sƿe(n)ge . {\}
Al þ(er) þu seist for me to schende . {\}
Hit is mi ƿurschipe at þan ende . {\}
Bute þu ƿille bet aginne . {\}
Ne schaltu bute schame iƿinne . {\}
Þe {=Enlarged capital thorn taking up two lines depth and overlapping in the left margin the final line of the column and going a further line's depth into the bottom margin. The ascender, however, does not rise further above the level of the line the body of letter is on. No guide letter is visible=} niȝtingale {=TI altered from H=} sat ⁊ siȝte . {\}
⁊ hohful ƿas ⁊ ful ƿel miȝte . {\}
For þe hule sƿo ispeke hadde . {\}
{~f242va~} An hire speche sƿo iladde . {\}
Heo ƿas hoþful ⁊ erede . {\}
Hƿat heo þar-after hire sede {*sj context*} . {\}
Ah neoþeles heo hire understod . {\}
Ƿat heo seide hule artu ƿod . {\}
Þu ȝeolpest of seolliche ƿisdome . {\}
{=line 1300=} Þu nustest {=Altered from MIzTEST by overwriting=} ƿanene he þe come . {\}
Bute hit of ƿicchecrefte ƿere . {\}
Þarof þu ƿrecche moste þe skere . {\}
Ȝif þu ƿult among manne boe . {\}
oþer {=S erased before yU=} þu most of londe fleo . {\}
For alle þeo-þ(er) þer-of cuþe . {\}
Heo uere {=A later hand corrects to WERE by subpuncting U and adding W in the left hand margin=} ifurn of prestes muþe . {\}
Amanset sƿuch þu art ȝette {\}
Þu ƿiecchecrafte neau(er) ne lete . {\}
Ich þe seide nu lutel ere . {\}
An þu askedest ȝef ich ƿere . {\}
A bisemere to preost ihoded . {\}
Ah þe mansing is so ibroded . {\}
Þah no preost a{+}londe nere . {\}
A ƿrecche neoþeles þu ƿere {*sj context*} . {\}
For eau(er)euch chil {=D interlined by a later hand=} þe cleopeþ fule {=F corrected from H by erasure of the lower part of the limb of H and addition of the headstroke of F=} . {\}
An eu(er)euch man a ƿrecche hule . {\}
Ich habbe iherd ⁊ soþ hit is . {\}
þe mon mot beo ƿel storre-ƿis . {\}
An ƿite innoþ of ƿucche þi(n)ge ku(m)e {=Subpuncted and cancelled and KUME added in left margin by a later hand=} . {\}
So þu seist þ(er) {=So also the J version. Editors emend to yE "with you"=} is iƿune {\}
Hƿat {=Wynn corrected the beginnings of some other letter=} canstu ƿrecche þi(n)g of storre . {\}
Bute-þ(er) þu bi-haitest {="enjoy". This is a new reading. For discussion of previous readings and argumentation for this one, see Laing 2007=} hi feorre . {\}
Alsƿo deþ mani dor ⁊ man . {\}
Þeo of hsƿucche {=sic=} naƿiht ne con . {\}
On ape mai a{+}bo>c> {=MS BOE with E subpuncted and C interlined above=} bi-halde . {\}
An leues ƿende(n) ⁊ eft folde . {\}
Ah he ne con þe bet þar-uore . {\}
{~f242vb~} Of clerkes lore top ne more . {\}
Þah þu iseo þe steorre alsƿa {\}
Nartu þe ƿisure neau(er)-þe-mo {\}
Ah ȝet þu fule þing me chist . {\}
An ƿel grimliche me atƿist . {\}
þ(er) ich singe bi manne huse . {\}
An teache ƿif {=MS wIFT with T subpuncted=} breke spuse . {\}
Þu liest iƿis þu fule þing {\}
þ {=The context and the J version's reading confirm that "through" is intended. But the abbrevation marks which this scribe uses three times below - a hook on the ascender and a line through the descender are here omitted=}{+}me nas neau(er) ischend spusing . {\}
Ah soþ hit is ich singe ⁊ grede . {\}
þar lauedies beoþ ⁊ faire maide . {\}
⁊ soþ hit is of luue ich singe . {\}
For god ƿif mai i{+}spusing . {\}
Bet luuien {=An oblique hairline stroke appears erroneously on the third minim=} hi>r>e {=MS HITE with T subpuncted and R interlined above=} oȝene ƿere . {\}
Þane aƿet {="perceives, acknowledges". I think this is an example of wynn/yogh substitution in X that has thrown both the C scribe and the J scribe (who substitutes a different construction and sense altogether). For argumentation see Laing 2007=} hire copenere . {\}
An maide mai luue cheose . {\}
Þ(er) hire{+}ƿurþ-schipe ne forleose . {\}
An luuie mid rihte luue . {\}
Þane-þe schal beon hire buue . {\}
Sƿiche luue ich itache ⁊ lere . {\}
Þ(er)-of beoþ al mine ibere . {\}
Þah su(m) ƿif beo of nesche mode . {\}
For ƿu(m)mon beoþ of softe blode . {\}
Þ(er) heo p(ar) {=MS has P with a line through the descender. Par has been subpuncted and FOR inserted in the left margin by a later hand. P with a line through the descender is the usual abbreviation for "par" with the sense "by, for", confined in Middle English to phrases from French or Latin (see MED s.v. par prep.) In the LAEME corpus the only examples of its use are in the phrase "par (seint) charite". It seems likely therefore that the C scribe's use of this preposition here is a textual error, whether transmitted from the exemplar or not. The J version has FOR. The simplest explanation is that this is a temporary lapse into Latin or French either by the C scribe or by the exemplar scribe whose lapse was corrected by the J scribe. See Cartlidge (2001:132) and the reference there cited for the different explanation that Par is a misreading of the exemplar's abbreviation for "through". Both Wells (1907) and Atkins (1922) read yurh with no further comment, but the P is quite clear. I think exemplar abbreviated "through" is unlikely given the J scribe's FOR and the fact that the J scribe elsewhere deciphers exemplar "through" correctly. Whether or not the exemplar reading was intended to be "through" the C scribe has here written Par which he presumably meant to have the sense "by, for"=} sume sottes {=Second S corrected from (probably) yogh by overwriting=} lore . {\}
Þe ȝeorne bit ⁊ sikeþ sore . {\}
Mistemþe {=TEMyE expuncted by a later hand and STEPPE added in right margin. J version has MISNYME=} ⁊ mis-do sumne stunde . {\}
Schal ich þaruore beon ibunde {\}
Ȝif ƿi(m)men luuieþ unrede . {\}
Hƿitistu me hore misdede . {\}
Ȝef ƿi(m)mon {=perhaps corrected from wUmMON O looks like OO linked in MS=} þencheþ luuie derne . {\}
Ne{+}ne mai ich mine songes ƿerne . {\}
Ƿu(m)mon mai pleie under cloþe . {\}
Ƿeþe>r> {MS wEyET with T subpuncted and R interlined above=} heo ƿile ƿel þe ƿroþe . {\}
⁊ heo mai do bi mine songe . {\}
{~f243ra~} Hƿaþer heo ƿule ƿel þe ƿronge . {\}
For nis a ƿorlde þing so god . {\}
Þ(er) ne mai do sum un-god . {\}
Ȝif me hit ƿule turne amis . {\}
For {=The scribe began writing capital *E but the present letter is much slimmer than his normal very rounded capital *E. It seems to me he may have tried to pull the letter into a capital *F by the addition of a vertical stroke through the body of the letter. *FOR is clearly intended. A later corrector has subpuncted the word and added EUerE in the left hand margin=} gold ⁊ seoluer god hit is . {\}
An noþeles þar-mid þu miȝt . {\}
Spusbruche {=First minim of U corrected from E by overwriting=} buggen ⁊ unriȝt . {\}
Ƿepne beoþ gode g(r)iþ to halde {\}
Ah neoþeles þar-mide beoþ men acƿalde {=MS MENACwALDE separated by two vertical hairline strokes above and below=} . {\}
A-ȝeines riht ⁊ fale londe {\}
Þar þeoues hi bereð {=B corrected from H=} an honde . {\}
Alsƿa hit is bi mine songe . {\}
þah heo beo god me hine mai misfon>g>>e> . {=GE and the punctus are taken to the end of the line above for lack of space=} {\}
An drahe hine to sothede . {\}
An to oþre uuele dede . {\}
Ah sch-altu ƿrecch luue tele . {\}
Bo ƿuch ho{+}bo vich luue is fele . {=A hairline cross is inserted by a later hand in the right hand margin=} {\}
Bitƿeone ƿepmon ⁊ ƿimmane . {\}
Ah ȝef heo {=i.e. the woman=} is at-broide{"snatched away, carried off, abducted"} þenne . {\}
He {=i.e. the man=} {=See Cartlidge (2001:132) for an explanation of this reading=} is unfele ⁊ for-brode{"corrupt"} {=MS FOR-BRORDE, perhaps with an attempt to change second R to an I then subpuncted=} {\}
Ƿroþ ƿurþe heom þe holi{+}rode . {\}
Þe rihte ikunde sƿo for-breideþ . {\}
Ƿinder {=sic - a minim is missed out=} hit is þ(er) heo n{+}aƿedeþ . {\}
An sƿo heo doþ for heo beoþ ƿode . {\}
{=A cross is inserted by a later hand in the left hand margin=} Þe bute nest goþ to brode . {\}
Ƿummon is of nesche flesche . {\}
An flesches lustes {=Impersonal construction - "it" understood=} is strong to cƿesse {\}
His {=N in the left hand margin subsituted for *H by a later hand=} ƿunder nan þah he abide . {\}
For flesches lustes hi makeþ slide . {\}
Ne beoþ heo noþt alle for-lore . {\}
Þ(er) stumpeþ at þe flesches more . {\}
For moni ƿummon haueþ misdo . {\}
Þ(er) aris op of þe slo . {\}
Ne beoþ noþt ones alle sunne . {\}
{~f243rb~} For-þan hi beoþ tƿeire kunne . {\}
Sun {=sic=} arist of þe flesches luste . {\}
An sum of þe gostes custe {=Erasure of a letter or part of a letter before C=} {\}
Þar flesch draheþ men to drunnesse . {\}
{=line 1400=} An to ƿrouehede {=This compound is unique in ME and has proved a problem for editors and for the J scribe who wrote WLONK-HEDE. Editors take the word to be from a conjectured OE *wra:g related to later wraw(e) with the sense "peevishness, irritablility", cf. MED s.v. wrau adj and wrauhe:de n. See notes to line 1400 in Atkins (1922), Stanley (1960) and Cartlidge (2001)=} ⁊ to golnesse . {\}
Þe gost mis-deþ þurch niþe an onde . {\}
⁊ seoþþe mid murhþe of mo(n)nes ho(n)de {=Error for MONNE SCHOnDE? J version also has MOnNES HOnDE so the error must be carried over from the exemplar=} . {\}
An ȝeoneþ after more ⁊ more . {\}
An lutel rehþ of milce ⁊ ore . {\}
An stiȝþ on heþ þurþ modinesse . {\}
An ou(er)-hoheð þanne lasse . {\}
Sei me{+}soþ {=MS looks like MESSOy, with the second S a clumsy correction from what was probably D to a long version of 8-shaped S. There is no ascender of original D visible but its lobe shows biting with the following O. I think what happened was this: the scribe first wrote ME DOy, recognized his mistake, tried to alter the D to S by overwriting, was dissatisfied and added a normal long-S in the space between ME and the botched correction. It might be argued that the C scribe does not normally leave so much of a gap between words and it is true that the long-S shows no sign of being squashed into a space too small. But occasionally there are larger gaps between words, one clear example is four lines up from here in the left hand column between GODE and Gr^Iy. The accident of having a larger gap than usual available could have contributed to the scribe's decision to make the double correction as he did=} ȝef þu hit ƿost . {\}
Hƿeþ(er) deþ wurse : flesch þe gost . {\}
Þu miȝt segge ȝef þu ƿult . {\}
Þ(er) lasse is þe flesches gult . {\}
Moni-man is of his flesche clene . {\}
Þ(er) is mid mode deouel imene . {\}
Ne schal no(n)-mo(n) wimma(n) bi-grede {\}
An flesches lustes hire up-breide . {\}
Sƿuch he may {=Y corrected from ?R by overwriting=} tellen {=First L corrected from some other letter. The J version has MAHTE BEO here=} of golnesse . {\}
Þ(er) sunegeþ ƿurse i{+}modinesse . {\}
Bet ȝif ich schulde a luue bringe . {\}
ƿif oþer maide hƿanne ich singe . {\}
Ich ƿolde ƿiþ þe maide holde . {\}
Ȝif þu hit const ariht atholde {MS ATHLOLDE with first L subpuncted=} . {\}
Lust{+}nu {=NU written as UN=} ich segge þe hƿaruore . {\}
Vp to þe toppe from þe more . {\}
Ȝef maide luueþ dernliche . {\}
Heo stumpeþ ⁊ falþ icundeliche . {\}
For þah heo sum-hƿile pleie . {\}
Heo nis nout feor ut-of þe ƿeie . {\}
Heo mai hire guld atƿende . {\}
A rihte ƿeie þurþ chirche bende . {\}
An mai eft habbe to make . {\}
{~f243va~} Hire leofmon ƿiþ-ute{+}sake . {\}
An go to him bi daies lihte . {\}
Þ(er) er stal to bi þeostre nihte . {\}
An ȝu(n)ling not hƿat sƿuch þing is . {\}
His {=Example of grammatical gender rather than natural gender. The "youngling" is female but the word "youngling" is masculine. The form is "his" but the sense is "her"=} ȝunge blod hit {=Here the neuter form goes against both natural and grammatical gender=} draȝeþ amis . {\}
An sum sot mon hit tihþ þarto . {\}
Mid alle þan-þ(er) he mai do . {\}
He comeþ ⁊ fareþ ⁊ beod ⁊ bid . {\}
An heo bistant ⁊ ouer-sid . {\}
An bi-sehþ ilome ⁊ longe . {\}
Hƿat mai þ(er) chil þah hit {=The form, HIT et passim, follows the grammatically neuter "child"=} mis-fonge . {\}
Hit nuste neau(er) hƿat hit {=i.e. "love"=} ƿas . {\}
For-þi hit þohte fondi þas {=Thorn is wynn-shaped and dotted=} . {\}
An ƿite iƿis hƿuch {=Wynn corrected from U by overwriting=} beo þe gome . {\}
Þ(er) of so ƿilde makeþ tome . {\}
Ne mai ich {=The scribe appears to have begun to write T for I but the crossbar has been fudged perhaps in an attempt to immitate an approach stroke for intended I=} for reoþe lete . {\}
Ƿanne ich iseo þe tohte ilete . {\}
Þe luue bring {=Error for BRINGy?=} on þe ȝunglinge . {\}
Þ(er) ich of murȝþe him {=Grammatical gender agreeing with masculine "youngling" but with the sense "it", as with "child" above=} ne singe . {\}
Ich reache {=Presumably in the sense "say, tell, expound" - see MED reccan v. (1). Before REACHE is T changed to D by overwriting and subpuncted. REACHE then appears to have been written as a separate word. The J version has THECHE and the word "teach" would appear to be what is required for the sense of the clause following. There was perhaps a problem in the exemplar here which the J scribe solved correctly although the C version does also work in the sense given=} heom bi mine songe . {\}
Þ(er) sƿucch {=First C altered from ?S=} luue ne lest noȝt longe . {\}
For mi song lutle hƿile ilest . {\}
An luue ne deþ noȝt bute rest . {\}
On sƿuch childre ⁊ sone ageþ . {\}
An falþ a-dun þe hote breþ . {\}
Ich singe mid heom one þroȝe . {\}
Biginne on heh ⁊ endi laȝe . {\}
An lete mines {=First minim of MINES altered from long S=} songes falle . {\}
An lutle ƿile adun mid-alle . {\}
Þ(er) maide ƿot hƿanne ich sƿike {\}
Þ(er) luue is mine songes iliche {=Initial I altered from ?C=} . {\}
For hit nis bute a lutel breþ . {\}
Þ(er) sone kumeþ ⁊ sone geþ . {\}
Þ(er) child bi{"by means of"} me hit under-stond . {\}
{~f243vb~} An his unred to red wend . {\}
An seȝþ ƿel bi mine songe . {\}
Þ(er) dusi luue ne last noȝt longe . {\}
Ah ƿel ich ƿule þ(er) þu hit ƿite . {\}
Loþ me beoþ ƿiues utschute . {\}
Ah ȝif {=sic - it is likely that the exemplar's writing system allowed for the interchange of yogh, wynn and thorn=} mai of of {=Dittography=} me nime ȝeme . {\}
Ich ne singe naƿt hƿan ich teme . {\}
An ƿif ah lete sortes {=sic - error for SOTTES?=} lore . {\}
Þah spusing bendes þuncheþ sore . {\}
Ƿund(er)e me þungþ ƿel starc ⁊ stor . {\}
Hu eni-mon so eauar {=sic=} for . {\}
Þ(er) e his heorte miȝte driue . {\}
An-o {=sic for "to". Capital T must have been read as a tironian sign and then expanded to *AN=} do hit to oþers mannes ƿiue . {\}
For oþer hit is of tƿam þinge . {\}
Ne mai þ(er) þridde noman bringe . {\}
Oþar {y wynn-shaped and dotted} þe lau(er)d is ƿel aht . {\}
oþer asƿunde ⁊ nis naht . {\}
Ȝef he is þurþful ⁊ aht man . {\}
Nele noman þ(er) ƿisdon can . {\}
Hure of is ƿiue do him schame . {\}
For he mai him a-drede grame . {\}
An þ(er) he forleose þ(er) þer hongeþ . {\}
Þ(er) him eft þarto noȝt ne longeþ {\}
An þah he þ(er) noȝt ne a-drede {=A altered from D=} . {\}
Hit is unriȝt ⁊ gret sot-hede . {\}
An-o {=sic - capital *T misread as tironian sign and then expanded as *AN=} mis-don one gode manne . {\}
An his ibedde from him spanne . {\}
Ȝef hire lau(er)d is for-ƿurde . {\}
An un-orne at bedde ⁊ at borde . {\}
Hu miȝte þar beo eni luue . {\}
Ƿanne a sƿuch cheorles buc hire ley {=Y is thorn-shaped and undotted=}{>} {=ins, interlined above for lack of room=} buue .{>} {\}
Hu mai þar eni luue beo . {\}
Ƿar sƿuch man gropeþ hire þeo . {\}
Her-bi þu miȝt ƿel understonde {\}
{~f244ra~} Þ(er)-on his aren {=This reading combines loss of initial <h> (not common but paralleled in scribe C's usage, see ATTEST fol. 234vb in language A); paragogic <e> (cf. HAREM fol. 242ra line 1260) and final N for M (cf. *SUN "some" fol. 243rb; wISDON "wisdom" fol. 243vb, *FRON "from" fol. 244vb). The combination itself is not paralleled elsewhere but is formally possible within the writing system and gives the required sense perfectly. This spelling (presumably that of the exemplar) seems, however, to have thrown the J scribe who paraphrases here=} þ(er)-oþer schonde {=This line in the exemplar caused problems for the J scribe who emends to yAT-ON IS AT yEN OyRES SCHONDE. The paraphrase loses the required balance of the alternatives in the phrase. For fuller explanation see the notes to line 1498 in Stanley (1960) and Cartlidge (2001)=} . {\}
To stele to oþres mannes bedde . {\}
{=line 1500=} For {=R corrected from yogh=} ȝif aht man is hire bedde {\}
Þu miȝt ƿene þ(er) þe mistide . {\}
Ƿanne þu list bi hire side . {\}
An ȝef þe lau(er)d is a ƿercche . {\}
Hƿuch este miȝtistu þar uecche . {\}
Ȝif þu bi-þenchest hƿo hire of-ligge . {\}
Þu miȝt mid ƿlate þe este bugge . {\}
Ich not hu mai eni freoman . {\}
For hire sechen after-þan . {\}
Ȝef he bi-þeneþ {=sic - Cartlidge glosses this correctly as "thinks about", but reads BI-wENEy although the letter after B is undotted and more thorn-like than wynn-like. He takes the word to be from OE bewenian which in fact means "entertain, be host to" and is not the sense required here. The correct meaning might be supplied by bi- we:nan but this seems not to be attested elsewhere. In view of the J version's BI-yENKy, which gives exactly the sense required in a commonly used word, it seems most likely that the C scribe has omitted CH by mistake or that the second E is an error for C=} bi hƿan he lai . {\}
Al mai þe luue gan {=G corrected from some other letter by overwriting=} aƿai . {\}
Þe {=Enlarged capital thorn taking up two lines' depth. There is no descender - the lobe sits on a flat base level with the bottom of the second line. The ascender overlaps one further line above in the left margin. No guide letter is visible=} hule ƿas glad of sƿuche tale . {\}
Heo þoȝte þ(er) te nihtegale {\}
Þah heo ƿel speke at{+}te frume . {\}
Hadde at þen ende mis-nume . {\}
An seide nu {=Shaped as UN=} ich habbe ifunde . {\}
Þ(er) maidenes beoþ of þine imunde . {\}
Mid heo(m) þu holdest ⁊ heo(m) bi-ƿerest {\}
An ou(er)sƿiþe þu hi herest . {\}
Þe lauedies beoþ to me iƿend . {\}
To{+}me heo hire mode send . {\}
For hit itit ofte ⁊ ilome . {\}
Þ(er) ƿif ⁊ ƿere beoþ unisome . {\}
⁊ þ(er)fore þe ƿere gulte {*sj context*} . {\}
Þ(er) leof is over{"on top of"} ƿu(m)mon to pulte{"thrust, i.e. "have sex with"} . {\}
An speneþ on þare al þ(er) he haueþ . {\}
An suieþ {=sic. All editors read SIUEy with no comment. The C scribe only occasionally uses an oblique hairline stroke to differentiate I from other minims. Here there is a clear example of such an indication on the third minim. SUIEy is a plausible development in Middle English from AF suer. The J scribe's version SYWEy derives presumably from the variant form sivre=} þare þ(er) noȝiht {=This is a new reading. For discussion of previous readings} {and argumentation for this one, see Laing 2007=} naueþ{"And pursues that (female) one who has nothing (to recommend her)"} . {\}
An haueþ at-tom his riȝte spuse . {\}
ƿoƿes ƿeste l~ {=& is omitted and L with the usual abbreviation for <er> written instead. Cartlidge (2001: 136) conjectures that the C scribe began to right LERE with the abbreviation - Ler - and then copied the full word without erasing the previous attempt. This, however, does not account for missing "and". L with a hook or line through is the usual abbreviation for Latin "vel". The Tironian sign is common to both Latin and vernacular scripts standing for "et" in Latin and French and "and" in English. I think L' here is the accidental substitution of the C scribe of one common Latin abbreviation for another. Cf. Par for "for" above=} lere huse . {\}
Ƿel þu(n)ne ischud {=Missing R is perhaps as a result of an exemplar spelling in ISCHRID, see MED s.v. shri:den v. Cartlidge (2001:136) suggests the form is for "shod" but U for O is not a usual substitution in this scribe's system and in light of the J version's ISRUD and the following line, "clothed" seems more likely=} ⁊ iued ƿroþe . {\}
An let heo bute mete ⁊ cloþe . {\}
Ƿan he comeþ ha(m) eft to his ƿiue . {\}
{~f244rb~} Ne dar heo noȝt a ƿord ischire . {\}
He chid ⁊ gred sƿuch he beo ƿod . {\}
An ne bringþ heom no(n) oþer god . {\}
Al þ(er) heo deþ him is un-ƿille . {\}
Al þ(er) heo spekeþ hit is him ille . {\}
An oft hƿan heo noȝt ne mis-deþ {\}
Heo haueþ þe fust in hire teþ . {\}
Þ{+}is {=sic - probably error for *NIS - cf. J version=} nan-mon þ(er) ne mai ibringe . {\}
His ƿif amis mid sƿucche þinge . {\}
Me hire mai so ofte mis-beode . {\}
þ(er) heo do ƿule hire ahene neode . {\}
La godd hit ƿot heo nah iƿeld{"is not responsible"} . {\}
Þa heo hine makie kukeƿeld {\}
For hit itit lome ⁊ ofte . {\}
Þ(er) his ƿif is ƿel nesche ⁊ softe . {\}
Of faire bleo ⁊ ƿel idiht . {\}
Þi hit is þe more unriht {\}
Þ(er) he his luue spene on þare . {\}
Þ(er) nis ƿurþ one of hire heare . {\}
An sƿucche men beoþ ƿel manifolde . {\}
Þ(er) ƿif ne kunne noƿt ariȝt holde . {\}
Ne mot non-mon ƿiþ hire speke . {\}
He ueneð heo ƿule a-non to-breke . {\}
Hire spusing ȝef heo lokeþ . {\}
Oþer ƿiþ manne faire spekeþ . {\}
He hire biluþ mid keie ⁊ loke . {\}
Þar-þurh is spusing ofte to-broke . {\}
For ȝef heo is þarto ibroht . {\}
He deþ þ(er) heo nadde ear iþoht . {\}
Dahet þ(er) to sƿuþe hit bi-speke . {\}
Þah sƿucche ƿiues hire {=apparently a switch to singular reflexive form perhaps an error for HI or HEOM=} aƿreke . {\}
Her-of þe lauedies to me meneþ . {\}
An ƿel sore me ahƿeneþ . {\}
ƿel-neh min heorte ƿule to-chine . {\}
{~f244va~} Hƿon ich bi-holde hire pine . {\}
Mid heom ich ƿepe sƿise {=sic=} sore . {\}
An for heom bidde cristis ore . {\}
Þ(er) {<lea<} {=del, subpuncted=} þe lauedi sone a-redde . {\}
An hire sende betere ibedde . {\}
An-oþer þing ich mai þe telle . {\}
Þ(er) þu ne schald for þine felle . {\}
Ondsƿere none þarto finde . {\}
Al þi{+}sputing schal asƿinde . {\}
Moni{+}chapmon ⁊ moni ciuht {=Three minims here not joined at the top but at the bottom and second the third ones have slight spurs at top right which the scribe sometimes employs to differentiate U the word looks like CIUHT=} . {\}
Luueþ ⁊ hlad {=sic=} hif {=sic=} ƿif ariht . {\}
An sƿa deþ moni bonde-man . {\}
Þ(er) gode ƿif deþ after-þan . {\}
An serueþ him to bedde ⁊ to borde . {\}
Mid faire dede ⁊ faire ƿorde . {\}
An ȝeorne fondeþ hu heo muhe . {\}
Do þing þ(er) him beo iduȝe . {\}
Þe lauerd in-to þare þeode . {\}
Fareþ ut on þare beire nede . {\}
An is þ(er) gode ƿif unbliþe . {\}
For hire lau(er)des houdsiþe {=See Cartlidge (2001:137) for parallels to this sort of spelling=} . {\}
An sit ⁊ sihð ƿel sore oflonged . {\}
An hire sore an horte ongred . {\}
Al for hire louerdes sake . {\}
Haueþ daies kare ⁊ niȝtes ƿake . {\}
An sƿuþe longe hire is þe hƿile . {\}
An ek steape hire þunþ a mile . {\}
Hƿanne oþre slepeþ hire abute . {\}
Ich one lust þar-ƿið-þute . {\}
An ƿot of hire sore mode . {\}
An singe a-niȝt for hire gode . {\}
An mine gode song for hire þinge . {\}
Ich turne sundel to murnige . {\}
Of hure seorhe ich bere sume . {\}
{~f244vb~} {=line 1600=} For-þan ich am hire ƿel ƿelcume {\}
Ich hire helpe hƿat i{+}mai . {\}
For {[she[} hoȝeþ{"is mindful of"} þane rihte {=I altered from E by overwriting=} ƿai . {\}
Ah þu me hauest sore igramed . {\}
Þ(er) min heorte is ƿel-neh alamed . {\}
Þ(er) ich mai unneaþe speke . {\}
Ah ȝet ich ƿule for-þure reke . {\}
Þu seist þ(er) ich am manne loð {=MS wRAd altered to LOd by overwriting of RA, but wynn is left uncancelled. A cross in the right margin draws attention to the problem=} . {\}
An euer-euch man is ƿið me ƿroð . {\}
An me mid stone ⁊ lugge{"sticks"} þreteþ . {\}
An me to-busteþ ⁊ to-beteþ . {\}
An hƿanne heo habeþ me ofslahe . {\}
Heo hongeþ me on heore hahe . {\}
Þar ich ascheƿele pie ⁊ croƿe . {\}
Fron þan-þe þar is isoƿe . {\}
Þah hit beo soþ ich do heom god . {\}
An for heom ich chadde mi blod . {\}
Ich do heom god mid mine deaþe . {\}
ƿaruore þe is ƿel inmeaþe {=The first minim is clearly marked as I with an oblique stroke. This is a difficult reading but partly confirmed by J's UNMEyE. Perhaps a corruption of a form of "unneathe". See Cartlidge (2001:137-8) for a summary of editorial views=} {\}
For þah þu ligge dead ⁊ clinge . {\}
Þi deþ nis naƿt to none þinge . {\}
Ich not neauer to hƿan þu miȝt . {\}
For þu nart bute a ƿrecche ƿiȝt . {\}
Ah þah mi lif me beo atschote . {\}
þeȝet ich mai do gode note . {\}
Me mai up one smale sticke . {\}
Me sette a{+}ƿude ine þe þicke {=First letter originally dotted but dot erased=} . {\}
An sƿa mai mon tolli him to . {\}
Lutle briddes ⁊ iuo . {\}
An sƿa me mai mid me biȝete . {\}
ƿel gode brede to his mete . {\}
Ah þu neure mon to gode . {\}
Liues ne deaþes stal ne stode{"were of no use"} . {\}
Ich not to hƿa(n) þu breist {=Perhaps a copying error from BRETST, or from bregdan as is likely in the J version=} þi brod . {\}
{~f245ra~} Liues ne deaþes ne deþ hit god . {\}
Þe {=Enlarged capital thorn taking up two lines' depth. There is no descender - the lobe sits on a flat base level with the bottom of the second line. The ascender overlaps one further line above in the left margin. No guide letter is visible=} nihtegale ihrde þis . {\}
An hupte uppon on bloƿe ris . {\}
An herre sat þan heo dude ear . {\}
Hule heo seide beo nu ƿear . {\}
Nulle ich ƿiþ þe plaidi namore . {\}
For her þu mist þi{+}rihte lore . {\}
Þu ȝulpest {=MS zEILPEST with lobe of first E filled to make first minim of U=} þ(er) þu art manne loþ . {\}
An euer-euch ƿiht is ƿið þe ƿorþ {=sic=} . {\}
An mid ȝulinge ⁊ mid igrede . {\}
Þu ƿanst{+}ƿel þ(er) þu art unlede . {\}
Þu seist þ(er) gromes þe ifoð . {\}
An {<} {=del, subpuncted - dittography=} þe {<} heie on rodde þe an-hoð . {\}
An þe to-tƿichet ⁊ to-schakeð . {\}
An summe of þe schaƿles makeð . {\}
Me þunch þ(er) þir {=sic - error for yU=}{+}forleost þ(er) game {\}
Þu ȝulpest of þire oȝe schame . {\}
Me þunch þ(er) þu me gest an honde . {\}
Þu ȝulpest of þire oȝene scho(m)me {=Error for SCHONDE cf. J version. Should rhyme with HONDE=} . {\}
Þo heo hadde þeos ƿord icƿede . {\}
Heo sat in one faire stude . {\}
An þar-after hire steuene dihte . {\}
An song so schille {=S corrected from C by overwriting, presumably before writing the rest of the word. Exemplar may have had CHILLE=} ⁊ so brihte . {\}
Þ(er) feor {=E corrected from O=} ⁊ ner me hit iherde . {\}
Þaruore anan to hire cherde . {\}
þrusche . ⁊ þrostle . ⁊ ƿudeƿale . {\}
An fuheles boþe grete ⁊ smale . {\}
For-þan heom þuhte þ(er) heo hadde . {\}
Þe houle ouercome uor-þan heo g(r)adde . {\}
An sunge(n) alsƿa uale {=U written over an erasure=} ƿise . {\}
An blisse ƿas among þe rise . {\}
Riȝt sƿa {=wynn altered from O=} me{+}gred þe manne a{+}schame . {\}
Þ(er) taueleþ ⁊ for-leost þ(er) gome . {\}
Þeos {=Enlarged capital thorn taking up two lines' depth. There is no descender - the lobe sits on a flat base a line's depth into the bottom margin. The ascender overlaps one further line above in the left margin. No guide letter is visible=} hule þo heo þis iherde . {\}
{~f245rb~} Hauestu heo seide {=The scribe began to write thorn for the third letter and then changed his mind but left the first stroke to serve as I=} ibanned ferde . {\}
An ƿultu ƿreche ƿið me fiȝte . {\}
Na>i> nai nauestu no>ne> miȝte . {\}
Hƿat gredeþ þeo-þ(er) hider come . {\}
Me þuncþ {=Altered from yUNCH by erasure of ascender and overwriting=} þu ledest ferde to{+}me . {\}
Ȝe{+}schule ƿite ar ȝe fleo heonne . {\}
Hƿuch is þe strenþe of mine kunne {=K corrected from H=} . {\}
For þeo-þe haueþ bile ihoked . {\}
An cliures charpe ⁊ ƿel icroked . {\}
Alle heo beoþ of mine kunrede . {\}
An ƿalde come ȝif ich bede . {\}
Þe seolfe coc þ(er) ƿel can fiȝte . {\}
He mot mid me holde mid riȝte . {\}
For bo-þe ƿe {=wynn is thorn-shaped and undotted=} habbeþ {=MS reading looks like HABLEy. In some hands BB is written to look like LB but not as far as I have seen as BL. Certainly the C scribe rights BB forming each B fully elsewhere. He does, however often leave the lobe unclosed and this is simply a more exagerrated example than usual, exascerbated by biting with the following E which obscures the fact that there is a lobe at all=} steuene briȝte . {\}
An sitteþ under þeo-line {=The J version here has VNDER WELKNE which clearly preserves the correct sense. The C scribe's version is presumably misread from exemplar wEOLCNE but as it stands it is hard to see what the scribe thought he was writing other than nonsense. yEO is his form for "those" and could conceivably be stretched to stand for singular "the". There is a stock phrase: under li:n "under linen" meaning "clothed in linen", i.e "all men" (see MED li(:)n n. sense 3 (b)). It is just conceivable that this is what the C scribe was thinking of but it clearly makes no sense here=} bi niȝte . {\}
Schille {="shrilly"? This is probably an error for SCHULE, cf. J's version, *SCHULLE where the verb is present first singular subjunctive in form: "If I were to raise a hue and cry upon you". This gives better sense than "Shrilly I raise a hue and cry upon you" and is almost certainly what was intended. But forms of "shall" with medial -I- are otherwise unattested in early ME and are very rare in late ME. I think it likely that the C scribe miscopied SCHULE from the exemplar. Note that in Language 1 plural and subjunctive forms of "shall" are spelled SHULLE, but here in language 2 plural forms are spelled SCHULE. If, as seems likely, the exemplar had SCHULE here, C's reading would only require that he mistake the second minim of U for L. I assume he took the word to be an adverbial form of "shrill" from OE scill, which appears with this spelling, three times as an adjective and once adverbially, elsewhere in his copy. This reading is favoured by Wells (1907:181), though he does suggest it may be a slip for SCHULLE. Other editors accept the -I- spelling for a form of "shall" without question. It is perhaps a possible spelling in early Middle English although apparently not elsewhere attested at this date. OE forms with umlaut, scyle, seem to have given rise (see OED) to sciele and scile, though only one example of the latter is cited from Aelfric. In the SWML one would expect 'u' spellings and judging from the other forms in the C's scribe's usage I think SCHILLE an implausible spelling within his system; so I tentatively tag the word here as a form of OE scill=} ich an utest uppen oƿ grede . {\}
Ich schal sƿo stronge ferde lede . {\}
Þ(er) oƿer proude schal aualle . {\}
A tort ne ȝiue ich for oƿ alle . {\}
Ne schal . ar hit beo fulliche eue . {\}
A ƿreche feþer on oƿ bi-leaue . {\}
Ah hit ƿas unker uoreƿard . {\}
Þo ƿe come hider-ƿard . {\}
Þ(er) ƿe þarto holde scholde . {\}
Þar riht dom us ȝiue ƿolde . {\}
Ƿultu nu breke foreƿard . {\}
Ich ƿene dom þe þing to hard . {\}
For þu ne darst domes abide . {\}
Þu ƿult nu ƿreche fiȝte ⁊ chide . {\}
Ȝot ich oƿ alle ƿolde rede . {\}
Ariht {=Error for "ere I". Cf. J's *AR ICH=} ut-heste uppon oƿ grede . {\}
Þ(er) oƿer fihtlac leteþ beo . {\}
{=line 1700=} An ginneþ raþe aƿei fleo . {\}
For bi þe cliures þ(er) ich bere . {\}
{~f245va~} Ȝef ȝe abideþ mine here . {\}
Ȝe schule on-oþer ƿise singe . {\}
An acursi alle fiȝtinge . {\}
Vor nis of oƿ non so kene . {\}
þ(er) durre abide mine on-sene . {\}
þeos hule spac ƿel baldeliche . {\}
For þah heo nadde {*sj context*} sƿo hƿatliche . {\}
I-fare after hire here . {\}
Heo ƿalde neoþeles ȝefe ansƿere . {\}
Þe {=Enlarged capital thorn of two lines' depth overlapping in the left margin one line above and one further line below. No guide letter is visible=} niȝtegale mid sƿucche ƿorde . {\}
For moni-man mid speres orde . {\}
Haueþ lutle strencþe ⁊ mid his chelde . {\}
Ah neoþeles in one felde . {\}
Þ(erurh) {=This is thorn with <er> abbreviation and a line through the descender (see Scahill (1994). For identical forms see BL, Cotton Nero A xiv, hand B. For similar forms with line through descender but not including the <er> abbreviation, see both hands of BL, Cotton Nero A xiv, the 3 hands of BL, Royal 17.A.xxvii and the Worcester Tremulous Hand=} belde ƿorde an mid ilete . {\}
Deþ is iuo for arehþe sƿete . {\}
Þe ƿranne for heo cuþe singe . {\}
Þar com in þare more-ȝeunge {=This spelling would presuppose a form in the exemplar like MOREzENINGE (cf. J MOREWENINGE) with a misreading of the significance and number of the minims or an attempt to write MORE-zENUNGE with -UNGE for -INGE and leaving out a bar to indicate missing nasal. Editors read MORE-zENNGE as though an I is missing between the two Ns, but the first two minims don't look like N while the second two do. It could just be MORE-zEIINGE - two hairline strokes seem visible in the facsimile, but are very faint=} . {\}
To helpe þare niȝtegale . {\}
For þah heo hadde {*sj context*} steuene smale . {\}
Heo hadde gode þorte ⁊ schille {=S corrected from I=} . {\}
An fale manne song a ƿille . {\}
þe ƿranne ƿas ƿel ƿis iholde . {\}
{>} {=This line is displaced to the bottom of the column. No indication is given as to its correct placement=} Vor þeg heo uere {=Or read NERE=} ibred a ƿolde{>} . {\}
Ho ƿas itoȝen among mann-e(n)ne {=The J version has MANKUNNE=} {\}
An hire ƿisdom brohte þenne . {\}
Heo miȝte speke hƿar heo ƿalde . {\}
To-uore þe king þah heo scholde . {\}
Lusteþ heo cƿaþ lateþ me speke . {\}
Hƿat ƿulle ȝe þis pes to-breke . {\}
An do þanne sƿuch schame . {\}
Ȝe nis he nouþer ded ne lame . {\}
Hunke {=Error for zUNKE? "you two"?=} schal itide harm ⁊ scho(n)de . {\}
Ȝef ȝe{+}doþ griþ-bruche on his londe . {\}
Lateþ beo ⁊ beoþ isome . {\}
{=Line 1724 written here - see above=} {~f245vb~} An fareþ riht to oƿer dome . {\}
An lateþ dom þis plaid to-breke . {\}
Alsƿo hit ƿas erur bispeke . {\}
ICH {=Enlarged capital *I taking up seven lines' depth in the left margin=} an ƿel cƿað þe niȝtegale . {\}
Ah ƿranne naƿt for þire tale . {\}
Ah do for mire lahfulnesse . {\}
Ich nolde þ(er) unriht-fulnesse . {\}
Me at þen ende me ouer-kome . {\}
Ich nam of-drad of none dome . {\}
Bi-hote ich habbe soþ hit is . {\}
þat maister nichole þ(er) is ƿis . {\}
Bi-tuxen vs deme schulde . {\}
An ȝef {=Error for zET=} ich ƿene þ(er) he ƿule . {\}
Ah þar mihte ƿe hine finde . {\}
þe ƿranne sat in ore linde . {\}
Hƿat nuȝte {=Or could read MIzTE, cf. the J version *MIHTE. Perhaps an error for NUSTE or reverse spelling cf. ST for OE -ht in MIST for 2nd sg indicative of "may" in Language 1=} ȝe cƿaþ heo his hom . {\}
He ƿuneþ at portes-hom . {\}
At one tune ine dorsete . {\}
Bi þar(er) {=yAR with the normal abbreviation for <er>=} see in ore utlete {=This is most likely an editorial 'emendation' by the scribe of the exemplar or a precursor, carried over by both the C and the J scribe. Watts (1997) convincingly argues that the original would have had ULETE "fleet". There is a long inlet near Portisham, which is still called Fleet=} {\}
Þar he demeþ manie riȝte dom . {\}
An diht ⁊ ƿrit mani ƿisdom . {\}
An þ(erurh) his muþe ⁊ þ(erurh) {=The abbreviation for <er> is not Scribe C's usual hook but has an extra element making it look like a superscript S. It is however a shape for the <er> abbreviation used by other hands=} his honde . {\}
Hit is þe betere in-to scot-londe . {\}
To seche hine is lihtlich þing . {\}
He naueþ bute one ƿoning . {\}
Þ(er) his bischopen muchel schame . {\}
An alle þan-þ(er) of his nome . {\}
Habbeþ ihert . ⁊ of his dede . {\}
Hƿi nulleþ hi nimen heo(m) to rede . {\}
Þ(er) he ƿere mid heom ilome . {\}
For teche {=MS THECHE with first H subpuncted=} heom of his ƿisdome . {\}
An ȝiue him rente a{+}uale stude . {\}
Þ(er) he miȝte heom ilome be mide . {\}
CErtes {=Enlarged capital *C but only taking up one line's depth=} cƿaþ þe hule þ(er) is soð . {\}
{~f246ra~} Þeos riche men muche mis-doð {=The word runs into the margin of the next column. The final edh is badly formed though it is hard to see what has gone wrong=} {\}
Þ(er) leteþ þane gode mon . {\}
Þ(er) of so feole þinge con . {\}
An ȝiueþ rente ƿel misliche . {\}
An of him leteþ ƿel lihtliche . {\}
Ƿið heore cunne heo beoþ mildre . {\}
An ȝeueþ rente litle childre . {\}
Sƿo heore ƿit hi demþ a{+}dƿole{"condemns them as in error"} . {\}
Þ(er) euer abid maistre nichole {\}
Ah ute ƿe þah to him fare . {\}
For þar is unker dom al ȝare . {\}
Do {=Enlarged capital *D but only taking up one line's depth=} ƿe þe niȝtegale seide . {\}
Ah ƿa schal unker speche rede . {\}
An telle to-uore unker deme . {\}
Þar-of {=Enlarged capital thorn of two lines' depth overlapping in the left margin one line above and one further line below. No guide letter is visible=} ich schal þe ƿel icƿeme . {\}
Cƿaþ þe houle for al ende of orde . {\}
Telle ich con ƿord after ƿorde . {\}
An ȝef þe þincþ þ(er) ich mis-rempe . {\}
Þu stond aȝei(n) ⁊ do me crempe{"stop, restrain?"} . {\}
Mid þisse ƿorde forþ hi ferden . {\}
Al bute here ⁊ bute uerde . {\}
To portes-ham þ(er) {=Or "until"=} heo bicome . {\}
Ah hu heo spedde of heore dome . {\}
Ne chan ich eu namore telle . {\}
{=line 1794=} Her nis na-more of þis spelle . {\\}