4 MSS: A (30v) Mareabrans, I (118v) Marchabras, K (104v) Marcabrus, d (305r-v) Marcabrus

Analysis of the manuscripts

On the whole the MSS are uniform, but there is nonetheless a predictable IK affiliation and an opposition between A and IK: see lines 5, 8, 15, 19, 20, 24, 25, 31, 32 and 34. All three MSS require some correction in stanzas II, IV, and V; see particularly the notes to lines 8, 9, 12, 24, 25 and 29–32. All three MSS have isolated errors: see lines 24 and 32 in A (although in 32 IJCare also in error); lines 2, 10, 15, 27 and 35 in I; and lines 1, 8, 14 and 17 in K (in each case these are reproduced in d). IK appear to have common errors in lines 8, 19, 20, 25, 32 and 34. Only in lines 9 and 30, if our emendations are accepted, are there possible ‘archetype’ errors that have survived in all MSS, but it seems likely either that line 32 was unclear in a common source, or that the transmitters of the surviving versions failed to understand it. Of the three medieval MSS, A requires the least intervention, and whereas in lines 5, 8, 15, 19, 20, 25, 26, 31, 32 and 34 A arguably offers better readings than IK (see the notes to these lines), only in line 24 do IK offer a possibly correct reading when A is apparently in error.

Versification

Frank, Repértoire, 376.13: a7’ b7 a7’ b7 c7 c7 d7’. Five coblas singulars with ‘b’ V and ‘d’ constant, ‘a’ variable. The same rhyme scheme is used in XXVIII. This poem contains a high proportion of unusual rhyme sounds while several of the words occurring at the rhyme are unique in the Marcabru corpus.

Previous scholarship

Crescini, ‘Manna’, pp. 825–27; Falk, ‘Le couvre-chef, pp. 60-62; Gaunt, Troubadours, p. 45; Lazzerini, ‘Marcabru’, pp. 63–65; Lewent, ‘Beiträge’, p. 448; Paterson, Troubadours, pp. 36–37.

Previous edition

Dejeanne.

Base: A

I

When the gentle breeze blows and the jay under the branch preens and puffs itself with pride, and the boughs are shady, then one should in truth choose true love, which does not quarrel with its friend.