• Tous. Qui tuiz furent vestus d'ermine, Cil servirent à la quesine. 2 Esqueles portant, et mes. Ensemble o li, mil damoisealz, 6 Ne vos sai dire quenz ne quanz9 Qui mult ert 10 riche et mult bele, Et de beivre en mainte guise, Ecuelles. • Cuisine, Epais-thickly crouded. • Gentils et beaux. 7 Hanaps-tankards. nor how many. 8 Eut. 6 Cups and pots. 11 Boire. 5 Laïz de vieles, laiz de rotez, Laiz de harpez, laiz de fietealx,7 8 Lires, tempes, 9 et chalemealx, Symphonicz, psalterions," Monacors, 12 des cymbes, 13 chorons. 14 Assez i ot tregetours, 15 Joierresses, et joieors 16 Rhymers ? Songs played on the rote. This is thought to have been the modern vielle, used by the Savoyards in our streets. 3 Voialx sons, sons voyaux, probably mean vocal songs. * Vileors, are probably players on the viele or violin. Lays accompanied by the fiddle. Lays accompanied by the rote or vielle. 7 These seem to have been a sort of flute. Probably some variety of the harp. • Drums. 10 Another sort of drum. Vide Sir J. Hawkins, Hist. Mus. 11. 284, 5. 11 Dulcimers. 12 The monochord. 13 Cymbals. 14 A sort of trumpet. " Jugglers. See Tyrwhitt's note on V.11453. Cant.Tales. 16 Probably the timbesteres or tumbesteres mentioned by Chaucer. See Tyrwhitt's glossary: joicers are apparently also jugglers. Li uns, disoent contes, et fables; C'estoit un gieu de male part. Ou à la mine, au gieu majors 3 Telx i puest soiez vestu, Qui au partir se lieve nu. 1 Aucuns, some. 23 In the Cotton MS. Vitell. A. x. the line stands thus, “A la mine u al greignor." Both readings seem to indicate two games played with tables, and distinguished as the greater and the less; but whether they were species of backgammon or draughts, is uncertain. • Two and two. * 1 have omitted the remainder of this passage, which I thought rather tedious; perhaps, because it is not easily intelligible. The transition from this subject to Arthur's presents, is rather sudden. VOL. I. E 3 Dona livriers, 3 dona brochiers 4 Dona pelliçon, dona henaps, Dona saites barbeléez; 5 Dona coivres, dona escuz, Portoist Bretaigne lors la flor, 1 Probably trinkets. ? Weasel fur. • Liveries? Barbed arrows. 4 Clasps. 6 Lorains are reins; but I do not understand which of the accompaniments of hunting was called a chassoir, Sor tous les regnes d'environ; Et sor tous ceulx que nos savons. Plus erent corteis et vaillanz, N'eis li povres païsanz, Que chevaliers en autre regnes : Ja ne veissiez chevalier, Ne corteise dame à amieé, Li chevalers mielx en valoent, Quand li roi leva del manger Alez sunt tuit esbangier I To amuse themselves. |