[314] Criticised by Thurneysen, Revue celtique, 6, 326 sqq., who rejects the theory of interpolation except in the case of stanza 17. So too Stokes and Strachan.
[315] The stanzas which are abnormal, or defective, in metre, assonance, etc., are—2, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15, 17, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33 (for criticisms on their subject-matter see Atkinson, ib. xliii. sqq.). Stanza 16 has a “glossatorial” character (ib. xlviii.). The ejection of 10 on ground of subject-matter may be confirmed by the abnormal endings (nua and tua, cp. Atkinson, xlii.). 18 (rejected by Zimmer and Atkinson) is clearly an imitation of 18, and this is indicated by the repetition of the rhymes. The rejection of 19 and 20 depends on the subject-matter, and 21 repeats 19. The irrelevance of 22 is obvious. I leave the second stanza as doubtful, for though there is a metrical anomaly (daec a disyllable), there is no objection on the ground of the subject-matter; but it could be dispensed with.
[316] Cp. Muirchu, 296₁₂.
[317] See Bury, Guardian, Nov. 27, 1901, p. 1647.
[318] There is no other edition.
[319] I have shown, from misunderstandings in V₄ that its author was ignorant of Irish, while the author of V₂ was an Irishman (op. cit. 197).
[320] Dr. W. Levison of Bonn kindly called my attention to a Vita preserved at St. Omer which proves to be a copy of the Vita Secunda different from that used by Colgan. It is contained in Cod. 716 (Legendarium beatae Mariae de Claromarisco), a book of the thirteenth century, vol. ii. ff. 155-9. For the text of Vita Quarta, the Stowe MS. 105A (Brit. Mus.) is important (see my Tradition, etc., p. 186 note).
[321] Except so far as to show that neither of the two existing MSS. was used by Colgan. The text is based on Rawlinson B. 512, but it is not explained why this was chosen as the basis in preference to Egerton 93 (which—I speak under correction—does not seem inferior).
[322] Ann. Ult. s.a.
[323] Ib.