Page:Sir Gawain and the Lady of Lys (1907).djvu/121

 28.—Esterlins, besants, &c. The original is Esterlins, porpres, e besans, Deniers de muce e d’aufricains. The correct translation is doubtful. Porpres is a texture, and seems to be out of place among an enumeration of coins. ‘Denier s de muce’ is found in no dictionary or article on coins. Muce may signify a hiding place, hence the treasure-trove of the translation; or, as M. Paul Meyer suggests, muce may be an error for murcie, which would be the equivalent of Spanish, at that period Saracen, money. Du Cange, under the heading of ‘Africanus,’ gives ‘Moneta Saracenorum.’ It is noteworthy that the MSS. of later date omit these lines.

29.—Grails of silver. This is the only instance I know in which the word Grail is used in a general sense, and it is of value as indicating the meaning which the writers of that period attached to the word.

38.—Ider de Lis. The father’s name is more generally given as Norres de Lis. Llys is the Welsh for castle, and the spelling of the word varies in the texts. Brandelis is, as a rule, written in one word, and spelt with an i; when the castle alone is spoken of it is written Lys. I have endeavoured to indicate this peculiarity in the translation. Cf. Gawain’s appeal to his uncle to eat, and Arthur’s refusal, with Arthur and Gorlagon published by Prof. Kittredge; cf. Folk-Lore, March 1904, where a translation of this curious tale, with explanatory comment, is given.

41.—A comrade for Huden. Huden, or Hudenc, is Tristan’s dog. The reference is interesting, as showing a knowledge of the Tristan story on the part of the compiler. That hero, however, plays no part in this group of tales.

48.—There came forth a damosel. The lady’s name is not given here, but later on she is called Guilorete, and in other texts Gloriete.