Some German scholars have discovered that the short lines in which Thorpe’s translation is couched are imitative of the Old English measure. I am unable to agree with them. Probably any short-line translation would ipso facto assume a choppiness not dissimilar to the Old English, and probably plenty of lines could be discovered which correspond well enough to the ‘five types,’ but the agreement seems purely fortuitous. It is quite unlikely that Thorpe intended any imitation.

Influence of Thorpe’s Edition.

The influence of this edition has been considerable. It was the principal authority used by Grein[4] and Heyne[5] in constructing their texts. Thus its influence was felt in all texts down to the publication of the Zupitza Autotypes (1882). Thomas Arnold[6] copied the text almost word for word.

[1.] See supra, [p. 33].

[2.] The numbers in parentheses are those of Wyatt’s text.

[3.] Line 3995 in Kemble; 4004 in Thorpe.

[4.] See infra, [p. 55].

[5.] See infra, [p. 63].

[6.] See infra, [p. 71].