Page:The Library, volume 5, series 3.djvu/324

 3 io PROBLEMS OF THE ENGLISH where this is not the case. To begin with, both C and x are partly parallel to Y in scene i where W is defective. The fa<5t that nowhere else are they parallel to Y except where W is also parallel makes it almost certain that if the missing leaves of the Towneley manuscript were to be recovered they would be found to contain the first scene of the play in a form parallel to Y. In scene 2, W is not parallel to Y, nor is C parallel to either. Nevertheless, there are a few (actually five) lines or phrases in C which appear reminiscent of Y. 1 I do not think that they can be regarded as con- clusive evidence that the compiler of C had a knowledge of the corresponding scene of Y, but I am willing to consider the possibility. The most interesting is the expression c clargy clere,' which occurs in the second scene both of Y (54) and of C (870), for the latter introduces it again later on in the play, where we have : Y : By clergy yitt to knowe oure lawes. 92 W : By clergy yit to know oure lawes. 68 C : Be clarge clere to kno oure lawis. 905 X : By clergie cleane to know our lawes. 244 The other passage in which W departs from Y is that containing the Commandments. C is again parallel to neither, yet it apparently contains reminiscences of both. These are so curious that I will quote them in full : (i) W : Both wyfe, chyld, seruand and beest. 1 5 1 C : Thy selfe, thi serwande, and thy best. 980 1 The cases not mentioned in the text will be found in Y 49, cf. C 857 ; Y 64, cf. C 858 ; Y 65, Cf. C 876 ; Y 67, cf. C 878.