the which brook46EditionElEn3HgNeRa3Sl1Sl2 (the which brook), Bo1CnEn1IiSe (the which broke), Bo2HtPw (þe which broke), Bw (þe wiche broke), ChCx1MgPs (the whiche brook), CpHa4 (þe whiche brook), Cx2 (þᵉ which brook), DdLa (þe whiche broke), Ds1Nl (the wich brook), Fi (the which Broke), Gg (þᵉ which brok), Ha2Ld2PnTc2To1 (the whiche broke), Ha3 (the wiche broke), Ha5 (the which brok), He (the wich broke), Hk (the which brooke), LcMa-mod (þe which brook), Mc (þᵉ whych brook), MmRy2 (þe whiche brooke), Py (the whiche brooke), Wy (þᵉ whiche broke)
And torneAnd turnentornecoppesand wel wrastleand wel wratleand wel coude wrastleand wrastlewel wrastlehe couth wel wrastlewrastlewrastle welandasheetelepeeke sheeteeke lepe
And torneAnd turnentornecoppesand wel wrastleand wel wratleand wel coude wrastleand wrastlewel wrastlehe couth wel wrastlewrastlewrastle welandasheetelepeeke sheeteeke lepe
And torneAnd turnentornecoppesand wel wrastleand wel wratleand wel coude wrastleand wrastlewel wrastlehe couth wel wrastlewrastlewrastle welandasheetelepeeke sheeteeke lepe
And torneAnd turnentornecoppesand wel wrastleand wel wratleand wel coude wrastleand wrastlewel wrastlehe couth wel wrastlewrastlewrastle welandasheetelepeeke sheeteeke lepe
And torneAnd turnentornecoppesand wel wrastleand wel wratleand wel coude wrastleand wrastlewel wrastlehe couth wel wrastlewrastlewrastle welandasheetelepeeke sheeteeke lepe
TherThewas no man for peril dorstewas no man for peril that dorstewas no man that dorstedurst no man for perilnas no man that for peril dorstenas no man for peril dorstenas man for peril that dorstehymhemtouche
TherThewas no man for peril dorstewas no man for peril that dorstewas no man that dorstedurst no man for perilnas no man that for peril dorstenas no man for peril dorstenas man for peril that dorstehymhemtouche
was no man for peril dorste45Edition (was no man for peril dorste), Ad1En3 (was no man for pereil durst), Bo2Bw (was no man for ꝑil durst), Ch (was noman for paril durst), Cn (was no man̄ for ꝑell durst), CpCx1Cx2LnNe (was noman for peril durste), DdPyTc2 (was noman for peril durst), Ds1 (was noman for perill durst), ElHg (was no man for ꝑil dorste), En1Ht (was no man for ꝑill durst), Gg (was no man for peryl durste), GlHa4 (was no man for perel durst), Ha2Hk (was no man for ꝑill durste), Ha3 (was noman for parayle dourste), Ha5 (was no man for ꝑil derste), He (was no man̄ for ꝑel durst), La (was no man for ꝑile dorst), Lc (was no man for ꝑile dorste), Ld2 (was no man̄ for parell durst), Ma (was no man̄ for parell durste), Mc (was no man for perell durste), Mg (was no man for ꝑile durste), Mm (was no man̄ for p̉ill durste), Pn (was no man for perylle durst), Ps (was no man for ꝑel durst), Ra1 (was no man for perell durst), Ra3 (was noman̄ for perill dorst), Ry1 (was no Man For parrell durste), Ry2Se (was no man for ꝑil durste), Sl1 (was no man for perel durste), Sl2 (was noman̄ for perell durst), Wy (was noman for peryll durste)
was no man for peril that dorste1Dl (was no man for ꝑell that durste)
TherThewas no man for peril dorstewas no man for peril that dorstewas no man that dorstedurst no man for perilnas no man that for peril dorstenas no man for peril dorstenas man for peril that dorstehymhemtouche
TherThewas no man for peril dorstewas no man for peril that dorstewas no man that dorstedurst no man for perilnas no man that for peril dorstenas no man for peril dorstenas man for peril that dorstehymhemtouche
TherTher nasTher wasHedorste no wight hand vp on hymdorste noman handes vp on hymdorste no wight hand on hymdorste no man hand vpon hymdorste not with hand vpon hymdorste no wygh hand vp on hymdorste no wight hong vpon hymshuld no wight hand vpon hymno wight þat dorste hand on hymno wight þat on hym hand dorsteno man þat dorste hand on hymleggelaggeleyeliggeleyle
TherTher nasTher wasHedorste no wight hand vp on hymdorste noman handes vp on hymdorste no wight hand on hymdorste no man hand vpon hymdorste not with hand vpon hymdorste no wygh hand vp on hymdorste no wight hong vpon hymshuld no wight hand vpon hymno wight þat dorste hand on hymno wight þat on hym hand dorsteno man þat dorste hand on hymleggelaggeleyeliggeleyle
dorste no wight hand vp on hym26EditionElHg (dorste no wight hand vp on hym), Ad3 (dorste no wyght hand vpon him), Bo1 (durst no wight hand upon̄ him), Bo2Pn (durst no wight hand vpon him), Ch (durst no wight hande vpon hym), Cx1 (durste no wight hond vp on hym), Cx2 (durste no wyht hond vp on hym), Dd (durst no wyght hand vp on hī), Dl (durste no wyght hond vppon hym), En1 (durst no wight honde vp on̄ hī), Ha4 (durste no wight hand vpon him), Ha5 (dorst no wight hand vp on him), He-mod (durst no white hond oppon̄ him), Hk (durste no wight honde vpon him), Ii (durste no wight hande vppon hym), Mc (durst no wyth honde vpon hym), Ne (durste no wyȝt hond vpon him), Ps (durst no wight hand vppon hym), Ra3 (dorst no wiȝt hand vpon him), Tc1 (durst no wiȝt hand vpon̄ him), Tc2 (durst no wight hond vppon hym), To1 (durst no wight hand upon hym), Wy (durste no wyght honde vp on hym)
dorste noman handes vp on hym1Ln (dorste noman handes vp on him)
dorste no wight hand on hym7Ad1 (durst no wyht hond on him), Cn (durst no wight hande on̄ hym̄), Ds1 (durst no wiȝt honde on him), En3 (durste no wiht hond on hym), Ht (durst no wight hande on hī), Ma (durst no wight hand on hym), Nl (durst no white hond on hym)
dorste no man hand vpon hym1Ph2 (durst no man̄ hand upon him)
dorste not with hand vpon hym1Ra1 (durst not wᵗ hond vpon hym)
dorste no wygh hand vp on hym1Gg (durste no wygh hand vp on hȳ)
dorste no wight hong vpon hym1He-orig (dust no white hong oppon̄ him)
shuld no wight hand vpon hym1Py (shuld no wight hand vpon hym)
no wight þat dorste hand on hym16Bw (no wight þat dorst hond on hym), Cp (no wight þat dorst hand on him), Fi (no wyght þᵗ durst hond on hȳ), Ha2 (no wight that durste honde on hym), Ha3 (no wight þat dovrste hande on̄ him), La (no whihte þat dorst honde on̄him), Lc (no wight þᵗ durste hand on hym), Ld2 (no wight that durst hand on hȳ), Mg (no wight that durst hande on hym), Mm (no wyȝht þat dorste hande on hym), Pw (no wight þat durst hond on hȳ), Ry1 (no wyghte þᵗ durste hande on hym), Ry2-mod (no wight þat dorst hand on hī), SeSl1 (no wight that durst hand on him), Sl2 (no wight þᵗ durst hond on hym)
no wight þat on hym hand dorste1Gl (no wight þat on hym hande durst)
no man þat dorste hand on hym1Ry2-orig (no man þat dorst hand on hī)
TherTher nasTher wasHedorste no wight hand vp on hymdorste noman handes vp on hymdorste no wight hand on hymdorste no man hand vpon hymdorste not with hand vpon hymdorste no wygh hand vp on hymdorste no wight hong vpon hymshuld no wight hand vpon hymno wight þat dorste hand on hymno wight þat on hym hand dorsteno man þat dorste hand on hymleggelaggeleyeliggeleyle
ThatBut ifButBut yeteFor ifhe ne swoor he sholde anonhe ne swoor anon he sholdehe ne swoor that he sholde anonhe ne swoor but that he sholdehe d swoor anon he sholdehe he swoor he sholde anonhe were sure a noon he sholdeþer did he swoor he sholdehe swoor he sholde anonhe swoor anon he sholdeabeggeabiggeabeyobeyea by
ThatBut ifButBut yeteFor ifhe ne swoor he sholde anonhe ne swoor anon he sholdehe ne swoor that he sholde anonhe ne swoor but that he sholdehe d swoor anon he sholdehe he swoor he sholde anonhe were sure a noon he sholdeþer did he swoor he sholdehe swoor he sholde anonhe swoor anon he sholdeabeggeabiggeabeyobeyea by
he ne swoor he sholde anon17EditionAd3ElHg (he ne swoor he sholde anon), Ad1 (he ne swoor he sholde a non), ChEn3 (he ne swoor he sholde a noon), Dd (he ne swor he shulde a non), Dl (hee ne swoore hee schulde anon), Ds1 (he ne swore he shuld anon), En1 (he ne swore he shold anone), Ha5 (he ne swor he shold a non), Hk (he ne swore he shulde anone), Ht (he ne sware he shuld a none), Ln (he ne swor he shuld anon̄), Ra3 (he ne swore he shuld anon̄), Tc1 (he ne swoor he shuld anon̄)
he ne swoor anon he sholde17Bo1Ph2Tc2 (he ne swore anone he shuld), Cn (he ne swore anon̄ he shulde), Cx1Ne (he ne swoor anon he sholde), Cx2 (he ne swoor anon he shold), Ha4 (he ne swor anon he schuld), He (he ne swore a non̄ he shuld), Ii (he ne swore anoone he shulde), McWy (he ne swore anon he sholde), Nl (he ne swore a noon he shuld), Pn (he ne swore anone he sholde), Ps (he ne swor a non he shuld), Ra1 (he ne swere a non he shulde), To1 (he ne swore a none he schulde)
he ne swoor that he sholde anon2Bo2 (he ne swore þat he shuld a non), Gg (he ne swor þᵗ he schulde anon)
he ne swoor but that he sholde1Py (he ne swore but that he shuld)
he d swoor anon he sholde1Ma-orig (he d swore anon he sholde)
he he swoor he sholde anon1Sl1 (he he swor͗ he shulde anoon)
he were sure a noon he sholde1Sl2 (he were sure a noon̄ he shuld)
þer did he swoor he sholde1Ha3 (þer did he swore he showlde)
he swoor he sholde anon12Bw (he swor he shuld a noon), Cp (he swor he scholde anon), Gl (he swore he shuld a none), Ha2 (he swore he scholde a noon), La (he swore he schole a none), Lc (he swoor he shulde anon), Ld2 (he swore he shuld anoone), Mg (he swoor he shulde anoon̄), Mm (he swor͗ he schuld onon̄), Pw (he swore he shuld anon̄), Ry1 (he swore he schulde Anon), Ry2 (he swore he sholde anoon)
he swoor anon he sholde3Fi (he swor͗ anon̄e he schuld), Ma-mod (he swore anon he sholde), Se (he swore anoon he sholde)
ThatBut ifButBut yeteFor ifhe ne swoor he sholde anonhe ne swoor anon he sholdehe ne swoor that he sholde anonhe ne swoor but that he sholdehe d swoor anon he sholdehe he swoor he sholde anonhe were sure a noon he sholdeþer did he swoor he sholdehe swoor he sholde anonhe swoor anon he sholdeabeggeabiggeabeyobeyea by
for sothe of corn49EditionCx1Cx2GgHa2HgLcPnRa1 (for sothe of corn), Ad1Ad3Ld2To1 (for sothe of corne), Bo1Cn (forsoth of corn̄), BwLa (for soþe of corne), ChMgNlSe (for soth of corn), Cp (forsoþe of corn), Dd (for sothe of corn̄), Dl (fore sothe of corn), En3NeSl1Tc1Wy (forsothe of corn), FiGlIiMmSl2 (forsothe of corne), Ha3 (For sooþe of corne), Ha4 (for soþ of corn), Ha5 (for sooth of corne), He (for soth of corn̄), HkTc2 (forsoth of corne), Ht (for soth of corne), Ln (forsoþe of corn̄), Ma (for soth of Corn), McRy2 (for soþe of corn), Ph2Ra3 (forsothe of corn̄), Pw (forsoþ of corn), Ry1 (forsoþe of corne)
forsoth both of corn3Ds1 (forsothe bothe of corn̄), En1 (forsoth both of corn̄), Py (forsoth both of corn)
With hirAnd with hirhe yaf ful manyhe yaf manyhe yafhe yaf booþe yron̄ andhe yaf ful mayhe yaf well manyyaf ful manya panne of brasa panne a brasa pound of brasa peny of braspanne of brasbras
With hirAnd with hirhe yaf ful manyhe yaf manyhe yafhe yaf booþe yron̄ andhe yaf ful mayhe yaf well manyyaf ful manya panne of brasa panne a brasa pound of brasa peny of braspanne of brasbras
With hirAnd with hirhe yaf ful manyhe yaf manyhe yafhe yaf booþe yron̄ andhe yaf ful mayhe yaf well manyyaf ful manya panne of brasa panne a brasa pound of brasa peny of braspanne of brasbras
sholde in his blood52EditionAd3ChCx1ElHa5HgLcMaMgNeSl2Wy (sholde in his blood), Ad1Ry2SeSl1 (shulde in his blood), Bo1Ds1GlNlPh2PsPwTc1 (shuld in his blood), Bo2Hk-origPn (shulde in his blode), BwLn (shuld in his blod), Cn (shulde yn his blode), Cp (scholde in his blood), Cx2 (sholde in hys blood), Dd (shulde in his blod), Dl (scholde in his blod), En1 (shold in his blode), En3 (shold in his blood), FiMm (schuld in his blode), Gg (schulde in hese blod), Ha2 (schulde in his blood), Ha3 (shoulde in his blode), Ha4 (schuld in his blood), HeRa3Tc2 (shuld in his blode), Ii (sholde in his blode), La (schold in his blode), Ld2Py (shuld in his bloode), Ry1 (schulde in his blode), To1 (scholde in his blode)
was yfostred30EditionAd3ElHgLcMgPw (was yfostred), Bo1Cx2 (was y fostrid), Bo2Ld2 (was yfostered), Bw (was i Fostred), ChCpGlHa5MmPn (was y fostred), DdRa3Sl2To1 (was i fostred), Fi (was y fosterd), Ha4 (was i fostryd), La (was yfostrede), Ph2 (was y fostirde), Ry1 (was y fostrede), Ry2Se (was i fostered), Tc1 (was i fosterid)
were wel ynorissed32EditionElHg (were wel ynorissed), Bo2Ry2 (were wel y norsshed), Bw (were wel I norsshid), ChPn (were wele y norysshed), Cp (were wel ynorissched), Cx1Ne (were wel y norisshid), Cx2 (were wel y norisshyd), Gg (were wel I noryschid), Gl (were weel y norysshed), Ha3 (were wel enorished), Ha4 (were wel I norissched), Ha5 (were wel ynorysshed), He (were wele I norisshid), La (were wele ynorissched), LcMg (were wel ynorsshed), Ld2 (were wele y norysshede), Mm (were wele y nurrysshed), Pw (were wel ynorshed), Ra3 (were wel I norisshed), Ry1 (were well ynorysschede), Se (were wel I norsshed), Sl2 (were wele I norisshed), Tc1 (were well I norisshed), Tc2 (were welle y noryshede), To1 (wer wel I norisshid), Wy (were well y nourysshed)
were wel norisshed18Ad1 (wer wel norshed), Ad3DdDs1 (were wel norisshed), CnLn (were well norisshed), Dl (were well nvrschid), En1Ma (were wele norisshed), En3 (were wel norshed), Fi (wer͗ well noryssched), Ha2 (were well norisched), Hk (were welle norisshed), Ii (were wele norysshed), Mc (were well norysshed), Ps (were wel norisshid), Ra1 (were wel norysshed), Sl1 (were wel norishid)
That with hire dorsteThat with hire ones dorsteThat with dorsteThat dorste with hireWith hire dorsterageones rageor ones rageor onesoror ellesotherother onespleye
That with hire dorste47EditionEn2HgLc (That with hire dorste), Ad1En1Ph2Sl2 (That wᵗ hir durst), Ad3 (That wyth hir durst), Bo1Ds1Ld2Ps-modPySl1Tc1 (That with hir durst), Bo2 (Þat with hir durst), ChDdGl (That with hire durst), Cn (That with hure durst), Cp (That wiþ hire dorste), Cx1En3HkIiMgNeSeTc2 (That with hir durste), Cx2 (That wyth hyr durste), Dl (That wᵗ here durste), ElHa4Mm (That with hir͗ dorste), Ha2 (That with hire durste), Ha3 (Þat wᵗ hir durste), Ha5 (That with here dorste), Ln (That with hir dorste), Ma (Þat with here durst), Mc (Þat wᵗ here durste), Pn (That with her durst), Pw (Þat wiþ hir͗ dorst), Ra1 (That wᵗ hur͗ durst), Ra3 (That wᵗ her dorst), Ry2 (Þat with hir͗ dorste), Wy (That wyth her durst)
That with hire ones dorste2He (That with her͗ onys durst), To1 (That with hir ones durst)
That dorste with hire5Bw (Þat dorst with hir), Fi (That durst with hur), Gg (That durste wᵗ here), La (That dorste with hire), Ry1 (That durste with her)
That with hire dorsteThat with hire ones dorsteThat with dorsteThat dorste with hireWith hire dorsterageones rageor ones rageor onesoror ellesotherother onespleye
That with hire dorsteThat with hire ones dorsteThat with dorsteThat dorste with hireWith hire dorsterageones rageor ones rageor onesoror ellesotherother onespleye
That with hire dorsteThat with hire ones dorsteThat with dorsteThat dorste with hireWith hire dorsterageones rageor ones rageor onesoror ellesotherother onespleye
Withpanade or with knyfpanade or knyfpanade with knyfpanade knyfpanade othir with knyfpanade and with knyfpanade his knyfpauade or with knyfpauade knyfpauade with knyfpande or with knyfspauade or with knyfswerde or with knyfknif or with panadeoror withothirboydekyn
Withpanade or with knyfpanade or knyfpanade with knyfpanade knyfpanade othir with knyfpanade and with knyfpanade his knyfpauade or with knyfpauade knyfpauade with knyfpande or with knyfspauade or with knyfswerde or with knyfknif or with panadeoror withothirboydekyn
Withpanade or with knyfpanade or knyfpanade with knyfpanade knyfpanade othir with knyfpanade and with knyfpanade his knyfpauade or with knyfpauade knyfpauade with knyfpande or with knyfspauade or with knyfswerde or with knyfknif or with panadeoror withothirboydekyn
Withpanade or with knyfpanade or knyfpanade with knyfpanade knyfpanade othir with knyfpanade and with knyfpanade his knyfpauade or with knyfpauade knyfpauade with knyfpande or with knyfspauade or with knyfswerde or with knyfknif or with panadeoror withothirboydekyn
Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales Peniarth 392 D
fostering collation
The reading this tale is supported by the vast majority of witnesses, including El. However, his tale, although present in fewer witnesses, is attested by both Ch and Hg. Given the fundamental importance of these two manuscripts, their agreement against El suggests that they preserve the archetypal reading. (Barbara Bordalejo, Mar 31, 2025, 13:39)
Ch is the only o witness that does not agree with Hg El (Ad3 is OUT); most of a and all of cd join the majority, making it almost certainly archetypal. The variants show that the scribes struggled with the sense of that reading; En1 Ds1 provide a good example. Ch Py also seem to be seeking an easier reading, although made of makes minimal sense. (Peter Robinson, May 12, 2022, 09:00)
El produces a rather different but still metrical version of this line by omitting for sothe and adding "eke of" to "and" to fill out the meter. Bo2 and Ps join El in omitting "for sothe," but neither fills the meter, Ps adding only "of" and Bo2 adding nothing. Given the unanimity about the archetypal reading in a b cd e and the rest of o it appears that El's exemplar lacked "for sothe" and the scribe filled out the line as best he could. (Peter Robinson, May 12, 2022, 09:29) NO APPROVED COMMENTARY
The vast majority of the witnesses, including Ch and Hg, support the reading alwey. El, in unusual agreement with Ps and the corrected version of To1, reads ay, a derivative reading. Ii reads al day while the original text of To1 was al ay. The reading is not present in Tc1. (Barbara Bordalejo, Mar 31, 2025, 14:02)