[14] Sir Eger and Sir Grine in the Percy Folio. The passage quoted is from Ellis.
[15] I think he tried one now and then, like “eyen columbine.”
[16] Commonly printed hath.
[17] Froissart’s description of the book of traités amoureux et de moralité, which he had had engrossed for presentation to Richard II. in 1394, is enough to bring tears to the eyes of a modern author. “Et lui plut très grandement; et plaire bien lui devoit car il é’tait enluminé, écrit et historié et couvert de vermeil velours à dis cloux d’argent dorés d’or, et roses d’or au milieu, et à deux grands fremaulx dorés et richement ouvrés au milieu de rosiers d’or.” How lovingly he lingers over it, hooking it together with et after et! But two centuries earlier, while the jongleurs were still in full song, poems were also read aloud.
“Pur remembrer des ancessours
Les faits et les dits et les mours,
Deit l’en les livres et les gestes
Et les estoires lire a festes.”—Roman du Rou.
t Chaucer wrote for the private reading of the closet.
[18] One of the very worst, be it said in passing.
[19] Whence came, pray, the Elizabethan commandëment, chapëlain, surëly, and a score of others? Whence the Scottish bonny, and so many English words of Romance derivation ending in y?
[20] Poésies de Marie de France, Tome I. p. 168.
[21] Le Roman de la Rose, Tome II. p. 890.