[75] Cf. Schipper, Alexiuslegenden, 98/121.
[76] See note to l. 939.
[77] “This elision of a final d in such words as hond, lond, sheld, held, &c., is by no means uncommon in ancient poetry, and arises simply from pronunciation.”—Morris, Specimens of Early English, 320/261.
[78] Cf. Mr. Nicol’s Paper in the Academy of June 23, 1877, vol. xi. p. 564, col. 1, and Seventh Annual Address of the President to the Philol. Soc., p. 2.
[79] See the note.
[80] Although l. 25 says that the story of the Sowdan “is written in Romance,” this cannot induce us to consider our poem as a mere translation. It is, on the contrary, a free reproduction of a French original.
[81] Cf. also Lindsay’s History of Squyer Meldrum, l. 390:
“Like Mars the God Armypotent.”
[82] Cf. Prioress’s Tale, ed. Skeat (Clarendon Press Series), p. xx; and Furnivall’s Trial Forewords, p. 111.
[83] Cf. Chaucer, ed. Morris, i. 205, footnote.