p. 78, l. [2706]. by my thrifte, the same as “so mote y thryve,” or, “so mote y spede” = “as (verily as) I may thrive,” “in truth.”
p. 78, l. [2707]. see; cf. Zupitza’s note to Guy, 163.
p. 78, l. [2719]. wole : skille. The rhyme shows that wole cannot be due to the author; we must read wille (or welle which occurs l. 2633).
p. 78, l. [2732]. bikure or bykeringe, l. 2559 = “fight, battle, skirmish.” Er durste bikure abide. The subject is wanting, see note to l. 67. Or is there any corruption in this line? Perhaps we ought to read: “Lenger durste [thay] no bikure abyde.” Cf. ll. 3117, 2610, 2947.
p. 79, l. [2748]. love. The rhyme requires leef or leeve. leef, O.E. leof, means “dear, beloved.” For examples of leef being used as a substantive, see Stratmann, p. 359.
p. 80, l. [2793]. eye, “egg.” See Koch, Eng. Gr. II. § 582, and compare the French phrase “valoir un œuf pelé.”
p. 80, l. [2797]. and his meyne. This must be a mistake of the author himself. According to l. 2557, Richard had ventured alone on a mission to Charlemagne. There is no mention whatever made afterwards that he was joined by any one; the other poems likewise state that Richard was without any companion.
p. 80, l. [2805]. lete : gate. The rhyme requires late.
p. 81, l. [2810]. cliffe. Here the author of the Sowdan goes so far in shortening his original as to be wholly unintelligible. Indeed, any reader, not comparing these lines with corresponding passages in the French poem, will be left without any clue to what cliff is here intended to mean. From the French Fierabras we know that the water of the river was very deep and broad, and that the banks were exceedingly steep and almost inaccessible. Cf. Fierabras, ll. 4349:
“Et voit l’augue bruiant, le flot parfont et lé.”