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A Study of the Metrical Use of the Inflectional E in Middle English, with Particular Reference to Chaucer and Lydgate
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2020
Extract
The object of this investigation is to make a study of the metrical use of the inflectional e in Middle English, and to ascertain, as far as possible, the relation between metrical apocopation and grammatical decay. Although a few pre-Chaucerian texts will be examined to indicate dialectical variations, the chief emphasis will be placed upon the works of Chaucer and of Lydgate. These works will be treated chronologically, with a view to explaining the linguistic conditions existing in the transitional period during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
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- Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 1914
References
1 § 75.
2 In Memoirs of the American Academy, 1863.
3 Intro. to Engl. and Scotch Popular Ballads, Vol. i, p. xxvi.
4 Cf. also J. M. Manly, Observations on the Language of the Legend of Good Women, 1893; and H. C. Ford, Observations on the Language of the House of Fame, 1899.
5 R. Steele, Secrees of Old Philisoffres, p. xx.
6 Temple of Glos, p. lxxiii.
7 Cf. Prof. Kittredge's Troilus, § 180.
8 If the word with syllabic consonant is followed by a word beginning with a vowel, the final e is silent, and the consonant is pronounced with the following syllable; if, however, the next word begins with a consonant, the extra syllable is inevitable.
9 In es, ed, en (except in cases where en is interchangeable with e, as in verb inflection and a few adverbs. In such cases ën retained is merely a variant of ë).
10 Troilus, § 133; ten Brink, § 135.
11 Cf. t. B., § 133; Troilus, § 135.
12 In case of some words in Chaucer, inorganic e occurs so regularly that it has been included with nominative e; cf. hewe, pryme, suffix -hede, etc.
13 Cf. French also, R. R. 1: Maintes gens dient que en songes.
14 Schick, T. of G., p. lviii.
15 Troy Book I, p. xiii.
16 Hist of Engl. Prose, Lond., 1906, § 224.
17 This is disregarded as ambiguous. In such words e is regularly syllabic before a consonant, but not before a vowel.
18 Disregarded as ambiguous. C. has double forms—wey—weye.
19 Riden, syncope; so not noted.
20 The apocopation of the whole Prologue is 28.1%.
21 Indeed the slurring of vowels in unaccented syllables in late A. S. mss. suggests possibility of syncope or apocope as early as the 10th century.
22 In longer poems, the first 1000 11. have been examined.
23 Cf. supra, p. 59.
24 Cf. Holthausen's edit., p. x.
25 L. 1006 refers to Parliament. Often held to be the first Parliament, of 1301.
26 Skeat (edition Oxf., Clar. Press, 1902, § 13, p. xxvi) considers the reference to parliament a late interpolation.
27 After the death of the Duchess; cf. Kittr., Date of Troilus, Ch. Soc., second series, No. 42.
28 Koch's Chronol. of Chaucer's Writings, Ibid., No. 27, p. 37, § 120.
29 Pull. M. L. A., xx, pp. 823-833.
30 Date of Troilus.
31 Lowes, Publ. M. L. A., xix, pp. 595-7, shows influence of Machault, Froissart, Deschamps.
32 M. Ph., 1910, pp. 165-187; 1911, pp. 23-30: influence of Deschamps' Miroir de Mariage, which could not have reached Chaucer before 1393.
33 Chaucer, A Bibliogr. Manual, pp. 250 ff.
34 Lowes, in Publ. M. L. A., xix, sees reference to Tempest of Dec. 1381. Emerson, in Studies in Honor of J. M. Hart, N. Y., 1910, pp. 203 ff., finding reference to Richard's parliament and the alliance of England and Bohemia, suggests 1381-2, giving evidence corroborative to Lowes.
35 Devel. and Chron., pp. 155-6.
36 and 37Lowes, M.. Ph., 1910, p. 165-187; and 1911, pp. 23-30.
38 Troilus, § 135, 4.
39 I have restricted this to nominative e; for in verbs and inflected adjectives the e indicates not origin but Germanic inflection.
40 Works, vi, p. lxv.
41 Publ. M.L.A., xxiii .