Page:The Library, volume 5, series 3.djvu/320

 306 PROBLEMS OF THE ENGLISH of the form c slo' for c sle' (i.e. slay), which is however more likely due to a common dialeft. In Y the Commandments occupy two stanzas, 24 lines. Of these the first four and the last two lines reappear in W, the last seven commandments only being different. The 1 8 lines peculiar to Y are replaced by 34 in W. Since there is no apparent reason for the change this looks like the filling in of an accidental lacuna. Let us now consider the relation of the Coventry play to the preceding. When we examine the text closely we find that it has points of agreement both with Y and W. I will quote three instances of each ; first those in which C supports Y : (i) Y: And of ther mouthes, he w ate full wele ...115 W : Of thare mowthes, sayth Dauid wele ... 91 C : Of chyldurs mothis, ye kno right well ... 933 (ii) Y : Ah wyde in world als we haue wente ... 133 W : In warld as wyde as we haue went ... 109 C : Ase wyde in worlde asse eyuer I went ... 953 (^ : As wyde in world as I haue went . . . 267) (iii) Y : They will take rewarde to you all way ... 235 W : Thay will take hede to you alway ... 227 C : The haue reygardid you alwey. . . 1043 next, those cases in which C supports W : (i) Y : Mysese had neuere man more ... 213 W : Sorow had neuer man mare. . . 203 C : In sorro wasse there neyuer man more. . .1021 (ii) Y: Because of elde, this wate ye wele. 236 W : Because of eld, this wote I weyll. 228 C : Because of age, this won /well. IO 44 (iii) Y: Wherto shulde ye seke me soo? 257 W : Wherto shuld ye, moder, seke me so ? 249 C : Modur y why did you seke me soo? 1065