2926 f. That is the Speculum Hominis and the Vox Clamantis.
2931. pernable. The best MSS. have this, and it is obviously suitable to the sense: ‘Do not pursue when the game cannot be caught.’ From ‘prendre’ Gower uses ‘pernons,’ ‘pernetz,’ &c., in the Mirour.
2938. At this point begins a new hand in F, and for the rest of this leaf (f. 184) the text is written over an erasure (ll. 2938-2966). A note is written opposite l. 2938 for the guidance of the scribe, ‘now haue &c.’ It may be noted that l. 2940 has a coloured initial A as for the beginning of a paragraph, and this apparently belongs to the original writing, whereas in the first recension MSS. the paragraph begins at l. 2941. The next leaf (f. 185) is a substituted one, and the text is written still in the same hand.
The orthography of the new hand, in which ll. 2938-3146 are written, differs in some respects from the standard spelling which we have in the rest of the manuscript. The chief points of difference are as follows:
(1) -id (-yd) termination almost always in the past participle, as enclosid, turnyd, bewhapid, blessid (but sterred), iþ frequently in the 3rd pers. sing. of verbs, belongiþ, seruiþ, causiþ (but secheþ, suieþ), and -in (-yn) in 3rd pers. pl., as takyn, sechin, hierin, schuldyn (also to lokyn). (2) -is (-ys) in the genit. sing, and in the plural of substantives, as londis, mannys, bedis, lawis, wordis (but þinges, myghtes). (3) -ir (-yr) termination, as aftir, ouyr, wondir (but siker). (4)y for i (I) in many cases, especially as the pronoun of the first person (once I), also ys (sometimes), hym, wiþynne. (5) gh for h in such words as sigh, sighte, myghte, knyghthode. (6) ou for o in nought, brought, þoughte, &c. (7) consonants doubled in vppon and vowels in maad (also mad), book, goon. (8) separation of words, as in to, un to, hym self, þer fore, þer vpon, wher of, wiþ outen.
It may be observed that something of the same tendency is observable at this point in the Stafford MS., but the differences appear in a much less marked manner, and chiefly in the terminations -id, -iþ, -is, -ir. S does not give y for I, ys for is, nor myghte, sigh, nought, oughte, vppon, þer fore, &c.
2974 (margin). orat pro statu regni. This marks exactly the stage reached in the second of the three versions which we have of Gower’s account of his own works (p. 480,) ‘vbi pro statu regni compositor deuocius exorat.’ The first completely excuses and the third utterly condemns the king, but the second makes no mention of him either for praise or blame, and that is the line taken in this form of the epilogue.
3012. maintenue, that is, ‘maintenance’ of quarrels by the lords on behalf of their followers: cp. Mirour, 23732 ff., where the same subject is dealt with.
3081. beth: see Introd. p. cxiv: but it is the reading of F only.
3114. curiosite, ‘artful workmanship’: cp. Chaucer, Compleinte of Venus, 81.