Le Bone Florence of Rome

A Critical Edition and Facing Translation of a Middle English Romance Analogous to Chaucer's Man of Law's Tale

Jonathan Stavsky

• Publisher: University of Wales Press
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781786830654
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Medieval & Early Modern Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

Le Bone Florence of Rome is a Middle English tail-rhyme romance whose unique copy dates to the late fifteenth century. An analogue of Chaucer's Man of Law's Tale, it follows the adventures of a heroine who survives multiple exiles, sexual harassments and false accusations. At the same time, it explores such issues as the abuse of power, the stakes of global conflict, women's place in society and their control over their destiny, all of which are treated in significantly different ways from the Constance story and other medieval tales of calumniated women. This fresh edition is accompanied by a complete line-by-line translation, which makes this text accessible to readers at all levels. Its introduction offers a comprehensive analysis of the themes, ideologies and literary relationships of the romance, together with new insights into its local connections and a detailed description of its manuscript context.

APPENDIX 1: MARGINALIA

241c, above text: The; G; [undeciphered]; [undeciphered] // haue

241c, left margin: Welbelouyd

241c–d, between columns: ffer; a series of minims ending with j // ffull // g; go // good

241d, above text: a series of r’s; renoun // ffernd (?); ffernde (?); ffer // haue; e e e

241d, below text: ffull // ffull grette othys (boxed catchwords)

242a–b, above text and between columns: four illegible Latin (?) words. Robinson (xvii) suggests animay mei domyne; the fourth one remains undeciphered.

242b, bottom: gi (sixteenth-century foliation)

243b, bottom: gij (sixteenth-century foliation)

244b, bottom: giij (sixteenth-century foliation)

245b, bottom: giiij (sixteenth-century foliation)

246b, bottom: gv (sixteenth-century foliation)

247b, bottom: gvj (sixteenth-century foliation)

248b, bottom: gvij (sixteenth-century foliation)

249b, bottom: gviij (sixteenth-century foliation)

250b, bottom: gix (sixteenth-century foliation)

251b, bottom: gx (sixteenth-century foliation)

APPENDIX 2: MIDDLE ENGLISH WORDS AND IDIOMS DISCUSSED IN THE EXPLANATORY AND TEXTUAL NOTES

Individual words are listed in the form in which they appear in this edition; some idioms have been slightly modified. The line number that follows indicates their first occurrence, where they are clarified.

Alablaste n. (861)

Blake v. (579)

Drye adj. (1886)

Feryd v. (709)

Feyre n. (317)

Flyre v. (1767)

Foys v. (548)

Garson n. (118)

Godhede n. (1680)

Goys v. (548)

Halles and bowrys idiom (295)

Harnes n. (104)

Hedd n. (475)

Hundurd moo, a idiom (572)

Lye v. (1512)

Mode and mayne, in idiom (291)

Nowmberde v. (571)

Romans n. (82)

Ryde or go idiom (1)

Spare nodur rygge nor forows idiom (746)

Spredd n. (1841)

Stere v. (654)

Sware n. (90)

Towres and townes idiom (650)

Vnwelde adj. (95)

Welde v. (354)

Weleasaye interj. (1428)

Weryd v. (605)

Wynne v. (354)

Wynnyng of schone idiom (655)

Wythowten mone adv. phrase (467)

Yvar n. (598)

APPENDIX 3: NAMES AND PLACES

Fictional names with more than one spelling are listed in the form used for the translation or, when differing from the Modern English text, in two versions. Place names and names of historical or legendary personages are written as they are in the original. The line number that follows each item notes its first occurrence.

Acurye: Garcy’s Italian emissary (118)

Alayne: One of Emere’s knights (983)

Antenowre: Antenor of Troy (10)

Anteoche: Antioch in Asia Minor (8)

Awdegon: Florence’s governess (820)

Awdromoche: Andromache of Troy (7)

Awfryke: Africa (15)

Awtrement: Otranto in Italy (140)

Barnarde of Mownt Devyse (Barnard of Mount Devyse): One of Emere’s allies (986)

Betres (Beatrice): Tyrry and Eglantyne’s daughter (1562)

Beuerfayre (Beverfayre): A convent ‘by the waters of Botayre’ (1882)

Bondynere: Otes’s horse, later Emere’s (586)

Botayre: A river or stream close to Beverfayre (1883)

Bresebon: One of Garcy’s henchmen (626)

Chawmpayn: Campania in Italy (148)

Clamadore: One of Emere’s knights (983)

Clarebalde: A thief (1780)

Costantyne þe Nobull: Constantinople, now Istanbul (22)

Cryste: Christ (297)

Eglantyne: Tyrry’s wife and Beatrice’s mother (1651)

Egravayne: One of Emere’s knights and Sampson’s brother (490)

Emere: Son of King Philip of Hungary and brother to Mylys; later, Florence’s husband and Roman emperor (408)

Eneas: Aeneas of Troy, legendary father of the Roman people (16)

Florawnce: Florence in Italy (2137)

Florence: Otes’s daughter; later, Emere’s wife (37).

Garcy: Emperor of Constantinople (19)

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