is described as a grim hunter of men, who is "always on the hunt ""á bith on waith." In to, in. 2 Tholit, suffered. First English "tholian," to suffer. 3 But (be-utan)), without; but custom, without charge of custom duty. + "Where" is spelt throughout quhair, and "she" scho. 5 Ark, a large kist.-Kist, chest. 5 Unfute-sair, not footsore. 7 Under the wand Wand, a rod or sceptre; under the wand, in subjection; in her humble state. Wilsome, or wilsum, wild. 9 Till, in the original always quhill, while (First English "hwile"), meaning until. The Scottish quh represented the sound of First English hw, now wh. Thus First English "hwag" (Modern English "whey") was Scottish "quhig," whig, and in that form gave its name to a political party. The First English "hwil," a space of time, made. the adverbial forms "hwile and "hwilum." While, whiles, and whilom were in Old Scottish spelling, "quhile," "quhiles," and "quhilum," which, with the suffix inverted, become "umquhile." In all such words quh is only a way of representing wh well sounded, as of old, and as now according to the Northern fashion. 10 Balk, an unploughed strip between two furrows. First English 'balc." If the plough had been through, it would have destroyed the nest of the "wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beestie." 11 Arin, own. 12 Anis, once. 13 Kind, nature, kindred, born comrades, from "cennan," to beget. So "kindness" means originally the form of goodwill natural between kinsmen, and "kind was our old home word for nature, which is, in fact, simply the corresponding Latin word, derived in like manner, that is to say, from "natus" (participle of "nascor"), born. 14 Kithit, shown. First English "cythan," to show, from "cunnan," to know, "cúth" (couth), known. The phrase "kith and kin " means our home-the ground known to us (see line 190) and our kin. dred. Uncouth ways are ways not generally known. First English "græ'tan," to weep, past "grét;" "grétan," to greet, past "grétte.” 16 Plet, folded. 15 Gret, wept. 17 Fure, went on, fared; from First English "faran," to go. 18 Yude, went. First English "eode," from "gan," to go. 19 Sober wane, frugal dwelling. The Latin "sobrius" is usually derived from "se," negative, and "ebrius," but the same root appears in the Teutonic languages. First English "syfer," Old High German "sûbar," Dutch" sober," with an original sense, as in the text, of poor, simple, and mean, the forced abstinence of those who have not wherewith to be luxurious; derived from it is the sense of moral self-restraint and purity. A modern Dutchman might say of a poor, miserable house, "Het is hier sober gesteld," and in that sense the word is used by Henryson in speaking of the "sober wane," or dwelling (First English "wunian," to dwell), in which the country mouse received her kinswoman. 20 Fog, moss; Danish "fug," mossiness. 21 Fairn, fern. 22 Sillie scheill, simple sheal, or shield, or shed. "Sei" is Icelandic for the summer hut among the mountains, and our "sheal" is the name of the hut sheltering those who looked after the cattle, or of any little shed or place of shelter. 23 The samyn, together. First English "samod," German men.' "Aller 25 Pickers, Old French "picoreurs," marauders, pillagers. à la picorée" was to go marauding, go on a venture. 26 Selie, simple. For years after Henryson's time the word was used only faintly and occasionally in its later sense of contemptible simplicity. From First English "sæ'l," well-being, came the adjective "sælig"-" seelie "-" silly," meaning prosperous temporally and in the highest spiritual sense. That kind of prosperity was the result of living innocent and simple lives; and the word thus came to mean innocent, simple, blessed. When their ignorance of evil made them an easy prey, the word "silly" gradually took the sense that it now shares with the equivalent phrase "blessed innocent." 27 Yeid (First English "eode"), went. 28 I do it on thame besyde, I put it to those who stand by, whether this was good fare. 29 Prompit furth, burst out. Prompit, pronounced as three syllables by well rolling of the r, is from the Latin " prorumpere." A rolled r completes the measure also in lines 64, 90, 128, 204. 30 Aye usit, always accustomed. 31 Or they be bored, ere they be bored, before I bite a hole in them. Of female favour, and bestows himself Like a ripe sister: the woman low And browner than her brother." It may be going too far to suggest that in the preceding stanzas it was chiefly madame the Town Mouse who spoke, and "sister" was pronounced in two syllables, but that the answer of the Country Mouse, perhaps, came into the poet's mind in character, and opened with more of a rustic burr. 2 A gloomy brow, ane glowmand brow. Ande was the old Northern participial form, ende the Midland, and inde (now ing) the Southern. 3 Blyith curage, cheerful heartiness. 4 Than seith till him ane kow, than a cow seethed for him. s Till allow (French "allouer"), to praise, to be approved. Thrawin vult, a cross face. Thrawart, athwart, cross (Icelandic "thrár," obstinate, stubborn); vult (from Latin "vultus"), the countenance. 7 Mais, meat. For all, notwithstanding all. 9 Merie, gentle. 10 Hethin and heydin (Icelandic "hæthinn"), scoffing. 11 Pace, "Pasch," Easter. From Hebrew "pasach," to pass over; "pesach," the Passover. 12 Yeid, went. See Note 18, page 78. 13 Buskis, bushes. 14 Keep, heed. 15 Laverock, lark. See Note 14, page 22. Thus made they merry till they might na mair, Yet after joy ofttimés comis care, Thus as thay sat in all their jollitie, They tarried nocht to wash as I suppose, 16 Fra thyne, from thence. 17 Wane, dwelling. See Note 5, page 36. 130 18 Herberie, place of lodging. First English "here-berga," originally a station where the army rested on its march; then any place of rest and refreshment. German "herberge," shelter, inn; Old French "herberge," "hauberge;" Modern French" auberge." The modern English form of the word is "harbour." 19 Spence, pantry or larder. Old French "despence," from Latin "dispendere," to weigh out, dispense (as in our word "dispensary "). The spencer was the domestic who had charge of the provisions in it. 20 Wesche, washed. First English "wascan," past "wósc." 21 Strikin in tailyeis great, stretched out in great slices (ready for cooking). Tailyeis (see Note 4, page 57). 23 Lest, last. 23 Scho, she. 24 Subcharge, second course, or charging of the table. French, "charger," to load. 25 Thraf cakis, harvest cakes. To thrare was to work at harvesting for pay by the thraire of twenty-four sheaves of corn. 26 Mane, almond-bread, of fine flour with milk, egg, and almond. From French, "pain d'amand." 27 Geill, jelly. French "gelée." From Latin "gelare," to freeze. 23 Stall, stolen. 20 Gust, flavour. French "goût," Latin "gustus," taste. 30 Sin, matter for concern. First English "sinnan," to take thought over, care for. So desolate and will of ane gude reid,' For very dread she fell in swoon near deid. But as God would, it fell a happy case, "How fare ye, sister; cry Peip,' where e'er ye be ?" This rural Mouse lay flatling on the ground, And for the death she was full fair dredánd, For to her heart struck many wofull stound, As in a fever she tremblit foot and hand; And when her sister in sic ply 3 her fand, For very pity she began to greet,1 Syne comfort her with wordis honey sweet. "Why lie ye thus? rise up my sister dear: Come to your meat, this peril is overpast." I had liever these forty dayis fast, With fair tretie 5 yet she gart her uprise, And to the board they went and together sat, And scantlie had they drunken anis or twise, When in come Gib-Hunter our jolie cat, And bade God speed: the burgess up with that, And to the hole she went as fire from flintBawdrons the other by the back has hint. 140 150 160 CAT AND MOUSE. From the Purch of St. Margaret's Church, York. MORALITAS. And up in haste behind a parralling 12 She clam so high, that Gilbert might not get her, Syne by the cluke 13 there craftily can hing, Till he was gane her cheer was all the better; Syne down she lap 14 when there was nane to let her, 180 1 Will of ane gude reid, at loss for a bit of good advice. Will (Icelandic "willa," error) means astray, at a loss, uncertain how to go. 2 How fare ye? pronounced swiftly as two syllables. Lower down, in line 151, "fever" is contracted into a monosyllable "fe'er," as "ever" into "e'er," and in line 156, "overpast" into "o'erpast;" line 163, "together" into "toge'er." See notes in which attention has been drawn to an effect of quick speech upon versification, which has frequently to be recognised in reading our old poetry. 3 Ply, plight. First English "pleo " and "plight," danger, difficulty. 4 Greet, weep. See Note 12, page 36. 5 Tretie, entreaty. 6 Gart, made; to gar" (Icelandic "göra," "gera," or "geyra "), to make. 7 Baudrons, badrans, or bathrons, Scottish pet name for a cat. 8 Hint, seized. See Notes 2, page 13; 9, page 25. 9 Cant, lively. Old Swedish "ganta," to play. 10 Bukhid. Perhaps the child's game known as " Buck, buck, how many horns do I hold up?" Perhaps "Hide and Seek" or "Bo Peep." 11 Crap, crept. First English "creopan;" past, "creap." 12 Paralling, perhaps partition, from 66 parpane" and "parpall wall" (Old French "parpaigne"); or, more probably, hangings, from "paraille," apparel, paraments, hangings of a room. 13 Cluke and cleuck, claw, of which it may be a diminutive. 14 Lap, leapt. 46 Friends ye may find, and 29 ye will tak heid, As fitchis 30 myngit ar with nobill seid, 15 Defy, renounce my faith in. 16 Mangerie, banqueting. 17 Myngit, mingled. 18 Thy guse, &c. "A gude guse indeed, but she has an ill gansell was a Scottish proverb. Dr. David Laing suggests that gansell mast mean sauce; but in Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary gansald and gene is interpreted as a severe rebuke, in the sense of punishing the offender by "giving it him back," the word being from First Enisa agen," again, and "sellan," to give. A gansell, therefore, may man what is given in return for anything, and "a good goose with an i gansell" may answer to Franklin's whistle, that one can pay too for. The country mouse having, in return for the rich dinners, give up a quiet mind, said to her sister, "Thy guse is gude, thy gansell sour as gall." 19 Subcharge, second course. 20 But fair, without fare. There's ill fare at your dessert. 21 Perpall wall, partition wall. See Note to line 176. 22 Kith, home. First English "cyth," home, that which is well known. See Note to line 30. 23 Fain, glad. 24 Merkit, trotted. To merk was to ride, from "mare," a horse. 25 Fure, fared. 26 Benely, bonnily. 27 But and ben, without and within. 28 Yeid (First English "eode "), went. 29 And, if. An, meaning "if," is written and throughout. 30 Fitchis, vetches. With eirthlie joy, swa that na estait is fre, And als troubill, and sum vexatioun ; And namelie thay quhilk climmis up maist hie, That ar nocht content with small possessioun. Blissit be sempill lyfe withoutin dreid; The sweitest lyfe thairfoir in this cuntric, Is sickerness, with small possessioun. O wantoun man! that usis for to feid Thy wambe, and makis it ane god to be, Luik to thy self! I warne thee wele, but dreid,* The Cat cummis, and to the Mous hes ee,5 Quhat vaillis than thy feist and rialtie, With dreidfull hart and tribulacioun ? Thairfoir best thing in eird, I say, for me, Thy awin fyre, my freind, sa it be bot ane gleid,7 210 220 230 In the lifetime of Robert Henryson the art of printing first came into use in England, and among the pleasure books produced by one of the earliest printers, Wynkyn de Worde, was the story of Robin Hood in ballad verse. Wynkyn de Worde, a native of Lorraine, had been assistant to William Caxton, the introducer of the art of printing into England. After Caxton's death, in 1491, he carried on his work, and afterwards removed the business to Fleet Street, where it was continued until his own death in the year 1534. The first printing-press was not set up in Scotland before 1507, when James IV. granted a patent to Walter Chepman, a merchant, and Andrew Millar, a workman, for a press in Edinburgh. "A Lytell Geste of Robin Hode" was printed in London by Wynkyn de Worde, in thirtytwo leaves of black letter, before the reappearance of it as one of the first pieces printed at Edinburgh. It came from the press of Chepman and Millar in 1508. Here, therefore, the story of Robin Hood is to be read as it was actually read in rhyme by our forefathers at the end of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth centuries. As the hero of old popular tales and ballads, Robin Hood is supposed to have been formed by the gathering of later traditions about the memory of Robert Fitzooth, reputed Earl of Huntingdon, who was born at Loxley Chase, near Sheffield in Yorkshire (by the river Loxley), perhaps at the close of the reign of 1 Als, also. 2 Namelic, especially. 3 Evill, pronounced e'ill. 7 Gleid, a glowing coal. Icelandic "glita," to glitter; "glætha," to sparkle or kindle; "glæja," to glow. Henry II., but more probably in the reign of Henry III., towards the year 1230. He was outlawed and lived in war against authority; eating the king's deer, defying the oppressive game laws, and all those of the king's officers who represented the hard hand of power that was used often oppressively against the poor. He scorned bishops and archbishops, who grew fat on the goods of the people. He was generous to the poor, and he was religious in the poor man's fashion, by devotion to the Virgin; for in her the mistaught and oppressed of the Middle Ages -forced to fear power in this world and in the next-found the lost spirit of love within an image of mild, womanly tenderness; and to her, therefore, they prayed for shelter from the wrath of God and man. Robin Hood personified to thousands in England the spirit of liberty in arms against the cruel forest laws, against all tyrannies of the strong in church and state, against all luxury fed on the spoils of labour. From the old days when Hereward the Saxon held the woods in defiance of the Norman kings, there had been stories of bold outlaws who through songs and tales of the country side became heroes to the labouring men with more freedom in their souls than in their lives. They were heroes full of wild energy, with roughness of the times in much of the adventure set down to them; but they represented not an aspiration only, for there was also the vigour of a shrewd practical humour that would in good time refine and raise, and realise all that was best in the ideal of the men who wrote such ballads as that of Robin Hood. And to the burges Mouse loud can she cry, "Farewell, sister, thy feast here I defy! 15 "Thy mangerie 16 is myngit17 all with care, "Were I in to the kith 22 that I come fra, For weill nor wo, should never come again." With that she took her leave and forth can ga, 190 CAT AND MOUSE. From the Purch of St. Margaret's Church, York. MORALITAS. And up in haste behind a parralling 12 She clam so high, that Gilbert might not get her, Syne by the cluke 13 there craftily can hing, Till he was gane her cheer was all the better; Syne down she lap 14 when there was nane to let her, 180 1 Will of ane gude reid, at loss for a bit of good advice. Will (Icelandic "willa," error) means astray, at a loss, uncertain how to go. 2 How fare ye? pronounced swiftly as two syllables. Lower down, in line 151, "fever" is contracted into a monosyllable "fe'er," as "ever" into "e'er," and in line 156, "overpast" into "o'erpast;" line 163, "together" into "toge'er." See notes in which attention has been drawn to an effect of quick speech upon versification, which has frequently to be recognised in reading our old poetry. 3 Ply, plight. First English "pleo " and "plight," danger, difficulty. 4 Greet, weep. See Note 12, page 36. 5 Tretie, entreaty. 6 (rart, made; to "gar" (Icelandic "göra," "gera," or "geyra "), to make. 7 Bardrons, badrans, or bathrons, Scottish pet name for a cat. 8 Hint, seized. See Notes 2, page 13; 9, page 25. 9 Cant, lively. Old Swedish "ganta," to play. 10 Buhhid Perhaps the child's game known as "Buck, buck, how many horns do I hold up?" Perhaps "Hide and Seek or "Bo Peep." 11 Crap, crept. First English "creopan;" past, "creap." 12 Paralling, perhaps partition, from parpane" " and "parpall wall" (Old French "parpaigne "); or, more probably, hangings, from "paraille," apparel, paraments, hangings of a room. 13 Cluke and cleuck, claw, of which it may be a diminutive. 1 Lap, leapt. 44 Friends ye may find, and 29 ye will tak heid, As fitchis 30 myngit ar with nobill seid, 15 Defy, renounce my faith in. 16 Mangerie, banqueting. 17 Myngit, mingled. 18 Thy guse, &c. "A gude guse indeed, but she has an ill g was a Scottish proverb. Dr. David Laing suggests that gan sei mean sauce; but in Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary gansald and is interpreted as a severe rebuke, in the sense of punish offender by "giving it him back," the word being from First agen," again, and "sellan," to give. A gansell, therefore, m what is given in return for anything, and "a good goose wi gansell" may answer to Franklin's whistle, that one can pay for. The country mouse having, in return for the rich die give up a quiet mind, said to her sister, "Thy guse is g gansell sour as gall." |