Here bigynneth theHere by bigynneth theHer bigynneth theAnd here bigynneth theAnd now bigynneth theAnd bigynneth theAnd next folowyng now bigynneth theAnd next biginneth theAnd next folwith theAnd þus bigynneth theBegynneth theTheTheProloge of the tale of the ReeueProloge of the ReeueProloge of the CarpenterProloge of the Reeue et ceteraProloge of the Reeues taleProloge of the Reeues tale Capitulum 3ᵐProloge of the Reeues th taleReeues PrologeReeue his Prologeprolog of þe Carpenters taleReeues tale PrologeCarpenters taleReeues tale
And here bigynneth the9Cx1Cx2Sl2Wy (And here begynneth the), En2 (And here byginneth þe), He (And here begynneyth the), Mg (And here bigynneth the), Nl (And here begynnyth the), Ra3 (And here beginneth the)
Here bigynneth theHere by bigynneth theHer bigynneth theAnd here bigynneth theAnd now bigynneth theAnd bigynneth theAnd next folowyng now bigynneth theAnd next biginneth theAnd next folwith theAnd þus bigynneth theBegynneth theTheTheProloge of the tale of the ReeueProloge of the ReeueProloge of the CarpenterProloge of the Reeue et ceteraProloge of the Reeues taleProloge of the Reeues tale Capitulum 3ᵐProloge of the Reeues th taleReeues PrologeReeue his Prologeprolog of þe Carpenters taleReeues tale PrologeCarpenters taleReeues tale
Prologe of the tale of the Reeue1Edition (Prologe of the tale of the Reeue)
Prologe of the Reeue12Bo1 (Prolog of the Reve), Cn (prologge of the Reve), Dd (ꝓloge of the Reve), Ds1Ra3 (Prolog of the Reue), En1 (ꝓloge of þe Reve), En2 (prologe of the Reue), En3 (ꝓlog͗ of the Reve), Ha4 (ꝓloge of þe Reeue), Ii (prologe of the Reve), Lc (Prologe of the Reue), Ry1 (prolog of the reve)
Prologe of the Carpenter1Fi (Prolog of þᵉ Carpent̉)
Prologe of the Reeue et cetera1Mg (prologe of the Reve ⁊ c̉)
Prologe of the Reeues tale14Ad3 (prolog of the Reues tale), Bo2 (ꝓloge of þe Reues tale), Bw (prolog of þe Reues tale), Dl (ꝓlog͗ of the Revis tale), El (prologe of the Reues tale ~), Gl (prolog͗ of the Reves Tale), Ha3 (Prolog of the Reves Tale), Hg (ꝓloge of the Reues tale), Mm (ꝓloge of þe Reves tale), Py (Prolog of the Reves tale), Ra1 (ꝓlog of the Reues tale), Ry2-mod (ꝓlog͗ of the Reues tale), Sl1 (ꝓlog of the Reues Tale), Sl2 (Prolog of þᵉ Reves tale)
Prologe of the Reeues tale Capitulum 3ᵐ1Pw (ꝓloge of þe Reues tale Cap̄ 3ᵐ)
Prologe of the Reeues th tale1Ry2-orig (ꝓlog͗ of the Reues th tale)
ButAndfor the moore partfor the moorefor the moore partiefor the moste partiefor the moste partfor the partthey lowethey laughedthey laughdenthey laughtethey loudeþe loweloweand pleydeand pleydenand they pleyde
ButAndfor the moore partfor the moorefor the moore partiefor the moste partiefor the moste partfor the partthey lowethey laughedthey laughdenthey laughtethey loudeþe loweloweand pleydeand pleydenand they pleyde
ButAndfor the moore partfor the moorefor the moore partiefor the moste partiefor the moste partfor the partthey lowethey laughedthey laughdenthey laughtethey loudeþe loweloweand pleydeand pleydenand they pleyde
ButAndfor the moore partfor the moorefor the moore partiefor the moste partiefor the moste partfor the partthey lowethey laughedthey laughdenthey laughtethey loudeþe loweloweand pleydeand pleydenand they pleyde
I seigh no man48EditionHg (I seigh no man), Ad1DlEn1IiMaWy (I sawe no man), Bo1En3Sl1To1 (I saw no man), Bo2 (y saugh no man), BwElHa2LcMgMmPsRy2 (I saugh no man), ChCpDs1 (I saugh noman), Cn (I sawe noman̄), Cx1LnNe (y saw noman), Cx2PnTc2 (I sawe noman), DdSeSl2 (I saw noman), En2Ha4 (I sawh no man), Fi (y sawh no man̄), Gl (I sawgh no man), Ha3Ra3 (I saw noman̄), Ha5 (y sagh no man), Hk (I sawe no manne), La (I sauhe no man), Ld2 (I saugh no man̄), Pw (I seghe no man), Py (I sye noman), Ry1 (I Sawe no Man), Tc1 (I saugh noman̄)
So the ikSo the likSo theSythekeSothykSi theSothlySith ikSithSoth theekSoth ysSikirlyquod hequoth heful welwelI ful welkoude I theekoude I hymkoude I yowI wolI wol theeI kuo yowcouþe I theecouþe I yowkoude theeshal theeI koude theeI koude hymI couþe theeI couþe hymI couþe yowI shal theeI koude yowquytea quytewyteI quyte
So the ikSo the likSo theSythekeSothykSi theSothlySith ikSithSoth theekSoth ysSikirlyquod hequoth heful welwelI ful welkoude I theekoude I hymkoude I yowI wolI wol theeI kuo yowcouþe I theecouþe I yowkoude theeshal theeI koude theeI koude hymI couþe theeI couþe hymI couþe yowI shal theeI koude yowquytea quytewyteI quyte
So the ikSo the likSo theSythekeSothykSi theSothlySith ikSithSoth theekSoth ysSikirlyquod hequoth heful welwelI ful welkoude I theekoude I hymkoude I yowI wolI wol theeI kuo yowcouþe I theecouþe I yowkoude theeshal theeI koude theeI koude hymI couþe theeI couþe hymI couþe yowI shal theeI koude yowquytea quytewyteI quyte
So the ikSo the likSo theSythekeSothykSi theSothlySith ikSithSoth theekSoth ysSikirlyquod hequoth heful welwelI ful welkoude I theekoude I hymkoude I yowI wolI wol theeI kuo yowcouþe I theecouþe I yowkoude theeshal theeI koude theeI koude hymI couþe theeI couþe hymI couþe yowI shal theeI koude yowquytea quytewyteI quyte
couþe I thee6Cp (couþe I þe), Dl (cowthe I the), Ht (couthe I þe), Ps (couth I the), Pw (quouþ I þe), Ra3 (couthe I the)
couþe I yow9Bw (couth I ȝow), En2 (couthe I ȝow), Ha2 (couthe I yow), La (couþ I ȝow), Mm (kouothe I ȝowe), Ry2Se (kouthe I yow), Sl1 (kouthe I ȝou), Tc1 (couthe I you)
So the ikSo the likSo theSythekeSothykSi theSothlySith ikSithSoth theekSoth ysSikirlyquod hequoth heful welwelI ful welkoude I theekoude I hymkoude I yowI wolI wol theeI kuo yowcouþe I theecouþe I yowkoude theeshal theeI koude theeI koude hymI couþe theeI couþe hymI couþe yowI shal theeI koude yowquytea quytewyteI quyte
Til we be roten48EditionBo1CpDdDs1ElEn2Ha4Ha5HgLaLcMgPwSeSl1Tc1 (Til we be roten), Bo2Gl (Tyl we be roten), Bw (Tylle we be roten), Ch-mod (Tyl we bee rotyn), CnMm (Till we be roten̄), Cx1Cx2Pn (Tyl we be rotyn), Dl (Till we bee Roten), En1 (Tyll we be roten̄), Fi (Tyll we be roten), Ha2To1 (Till we be rotyn), He (Til wee be rotyn̄), Hk (Tille we bee roten), Ht (Til we be roten̄), IiLd2 (Till we be roten), Ln (Til we ben roten), Ma (Til we be rotyn̄), Mc (Tyll we ben roten), NeRy2 (Til we be rotyn), Nl (Tyl wee be rotyn), Py (Til we bien Roten), Ra1 (Till we ben roten), Ra3 (Til we ben roten̄), Ry1 (Tille we be rotten), Sl2 (Tille we be roten), Wy (Tyll we be rotyn)
Til we roten2Ch-orig (Tyl we rotyn), Ha3 (Til we roten̄)
We hoppe alweyWe hoppen alweyWe hoppen ayWe hoppenWe hoppen al ayWe hoppen al dayWho hoppen alweywhil that thewhil thewhilworld wol pipeworld wold pipeworld doth pipewee may pipehert wol pipewol pipe
We hoppe alweyWe hoppen alweyWe hoppen ayWe hoppenWe hoppen al ayWe hoppen al dayWho hoppen alweywhil that thewhil thewhilworld wol pipeworld wold pipeworld doth pipewee may pipehert wol pipewol pipe
We hoppe alweyWe hoppen alweyWe hoppen ayWe hoppenWe hoppen al ayWe hoppen al dayWho hoppen alweywhil that thewhil thewhilworld wol pipeworld wold pipeworld doth pipewee may pipehert wol pipewol pipe
For in oure wil52EditionHa4Ha5HgLcMgPsPySe (For in oure wil), Ad1Cx1Cx2 (For in our wyl), Bo1BwChCpHkPnSl1Sl2Tc2To1 (For in oure wille), Bo2 (For in oure whil), CnDs1Ha3HtIiLd2MaRa1Ra3Tc1 (For in oure will), DdEl (For in oure wyl), Dl (Fore in owre will), En1Ry2 (For in our͗ wille), En3Ne (For in our wil), Fi (For in oure wylle), Gl (For in our͗ wyl), Ha2Nl (For in our will), He (For in our͗ wil), La (For in owre wille), Ln (For In our͗ wille), Mc (For in oure wyll), Mm (For in our͗ will), Pw (For in our wille), Ry1 (For in ower wylle), Wy (For in our wyll)
Oure wildesirethdesireddeservithfolie euere in oonfolie euere anonfolie alle in oonfolie euery in ooneuere folie in oonefully euere in ooneuere in ooneuere still in oonin oon
Oure wildesirethdesireddeservithfolie euere in oonfolie euere anonfolie alle in oonfolie euery in ooneuere folie in oonefully euere in ooneuere in ooneuere still in oonin oon
Oure wildesirethdesireddeservithfolie euere in oonfolie euere anonfolie alle in oonfolie euery in ooneuere folie in oonefully euere in ooneuere in ooneuere still in oonin oon
folie euere in oon37EditionElHg (folie euere in oon), Bo1Cx2Hk (foly euer in one), Bo2 (foly ever in oon), BwLcMg (folye eủe in oon), Ch (folye eủ in oon), Cn (folye eủe in one), CpTo1 (folie euer in oon), Dd (folye eủe in on̄), Dl (folye evere in oon), Ds1 (folie euer in oon̄), En1 (folye ever͗ in one), En3 (foly eủe in oon), Gl (foly eủe in one), Ha2 (folye euyr in oon), Ha3 (foly euer in oone), Ha4 (folye euer in oon), Ha5Ra1Wy (foly euer in on), Ln (folye euer in on), MaRa3 (foly euer in oon̄), Mm (folye eủ in one), Pn (foly euir in one), Pw (foly euer in oon), Py (folie eủ in oon), Ry2 (folye eủe in on), Se (folye eủe in oon̄), Sl1 (folye euere in oon), Tc1 (foly euere in oon̄)
folie euere anon3Ad1 (foly euer a non), Ii (folye euer anoone), Ps (foly euyr anon)
Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales Peniarth 392 D
El Hg and five other manuscripts have a short form of this incipit, as "The Prologue of the Reeues Tale", without the initial "Here bigynneth" (and variants) present in Ch and most manuscripts. (Peter Robinson, Jun 17, 2024, 08:46)
This is a test commentary.
Check it
And another paragraph (Peter Robinson, Nov 15, 2023, 22:00)
his: The Hg Ch reading his is supported by Bo2 Ad1 En3, while El's this appears in Ha5 Ha4, throughout a and in most of bcd. The strength of that support and the fact that there is no logical antecedent for his makes archetypal this more likely. (Peter Robinson, May 20, 2022, 12:19)
ik .. thee: No witness outside Mc Ra1 uses a pronoun other than ik, but a good many were obviously uncertain about the whole phrase. Every o witness has a different spelling: the ik in Hg, theek in El, thee ik in Ch (before Hand 2's obscure "correction"), theyk in Ha5 Ha4 cd, and (less so) a have similar spellings, making the basic shape of the reading quite clear.
At the end of the line, thee appears in Hg, all of a, Ha4, most of b and several early witnesses (which?) in cd. In contrast, El Ch Bo2 Ha5 and the majority of cd have the more formal yow.
[There is an apparent argument for yow from its presence in four o witnesses versus one supporting thee. But of five o readings in L2, Bo2 contains only 1, Ha5 2: I don't fully trust that analysis.
On the other hand there is the possible aural echo of /θek/ at the beginning of the line with /θe kwɪt/ at its end and the apparently more appropriate use of the familiar form thee to indicate the Reeve's scorn for the Miller.] (Peter Robinson, May 20, 2022, 12:25)
no: The vast majority of witnesses reads not pleye. But the El Hg Sl2 reading, by no means impossible syntactically, can readily be defended. El Hg consistently spell the adverb nat or noght (cf. L3 35). The idea that Scribe B would accidentally have spelled either of those forms as no in two separate copies requires something of a stretch to imagine. Thus no pley can be considered an o reading, a lectio difficilior. (Barbara Bordalejo, Jun 6, 2022, 15:03)
also mowled: El uniquely has is mowled also as, a simple transposition error.
herys: At the end of the line, Ch and b offer a typically Chaucerian rhyme of the plural with the copula in heer is, but such an isolated variant (also dependent on the vagaries of word separation) is unlikely to be archetypal.
(Peter Robinson, May 20, 2022, 12:30)
I: Only Hg reads ik, although Py may be inferred to have had something similar that generated its iche (not a form usual in that witness). As in line 37, it is possible to imagine that the dialect form has been smoothed to the London standard in most witnesses, but that is not a stemmatic argument. (Peter Robinson, May 20, 2022, 12:54)
lenger: El's leng is unsupported elsewhere, although La To1 have longe. The reading in the rest of o a b cd e is archetypal. (Peter Robinson, May 20, 2022, 12:55)
hoppe alwey: Metrical issues are highlighted by the variant pairs hoppe alwey / hoppen ay found in Hg and El, respectively (the variants whil / whil that, considered below add another metrical variable). To begin with what seems most certain, El's ay is poorly supported: alwey in Hg, the rest of o, all of a b and almost all of cd is clearly archetypal.
El finds broader support for hoppen in Ch Ha4 and across b cd; monosyllabic hoppe in Hg Ha5 Bo2, all of a and Py . . .
[Again the status of Bo2 Ha5 matters directly to the stemmatic analysis.]
whil that the: A smoother reading is provided by whil the in most of the genetic groups. But the unanimous evidence of the o witnesses, buttressed by unanimity in a, is strong evidence that whil that the is archetypal.
(Peter Robinson, May 20, 2022, 13:27)
The support for Hg's heer in Bo2 a cdis slightly less imposing than that for heed in El Ch Ha5 Ha4 and and a slight majority of witnesses. Look at earlier "heer" readings. Also check metaphor (All editors heed.) The metaphor might work with either reading. (Peter Robinson, May 11, 2022, 10:50) NO APPROVED COMMENTARY
though that in Ch is unique and scribal. (Peter Robinson, May 11, 2022, 17:04) NO APPROVED COMMENTARY
noght v. nat reference the one with the nothing variant (Peter Robinson, May 11, 2022, 17:04) NO APPROVED COMMENTARY