2. Errors of Addition
Since S is held to be a copy of A there ought not to be many
examples that fall in this category and those that there are have been
carefully checked to make sure they do not constitute contradictory
evidence. That the S-scribe was prepared to supplement what was in his
exemplar is shown by the following three instances. All of them, however,
are easily explained as copying errors.
2.1 Addition of Words
|
A |
|
S |
| 2.1.1 |
on to bettir vse |
(364r/30; 27/3) |
onto þe better vse |
(223/5) |
Here one idiom has simply been substituted for another.
2.1.2 The Latin word capitulum is added to a chapter
heading before the number xii (A 365r/19
(29/10); S
iv/8). What is implied in A is supplied in S.
|
A |
|
S |
| 2.1.3 |
At mydnyth loke e be redy alle in dikys and. .
. |
(366r/33; 32/20) |
at mydnyght | loke ye þer be redy all' in dykis and . .
. |
(119v/18-19) |
Here the construction has been changed so that some subject other
than A's
e is required in S but none is
forthcoming, so the
sense is seriously impaired by the alteration.
There is one instance of straightforward dittography over a line
division in S, possibly induced by the line division in A.
|
A |
S |
| 2.1.4 |
lich as I wil ride | Alle þis (366r/30-31;
32/18) |
liche as I will' ride all' | all' þis
(119v/15-16) |
Here may also be included a similar instance where only the first
letter of a word is repeated over the line division in S.
|
A |
|
S |
| 2.1.5 |
þerfor owt |
(364v/41; 28/20) |
þerfore o | oute |
(ir/11-12) |
In three instances words have been added through retentive
assimilation.
|
A |
|
S |
| 2.1.6 |
Too grete hor|ses þere be and too naked men
standyng be hem |
(365r/20-21; 29/12-13) |
To gre|te horsis þer be and to naked men | and standing' be
hem |
(iv/11-13) |
| 2.1.7 |
Tho hith he hem grete ricchesse and had hem in ful grete
reue|rens |
(365r/37-38; 30/9-10) |
Tho hight he | hem grete richesse and had hem in full' grete
riche|sse and reuerence |
(118r/2-4) |
| 2.1.8 |
distroye a cite man & woman wal and |
hous |
(365v/24-25; 31/4-5) |
di|stroy a cyte a man and woman wall' and
hous |
(118v/11-12) |
In all of these instances the sense is affected adversely.
There is one clear instance of a word being added through
anticipatory assimilation.
|
A |
|
S |
| 2.1.9 |
hath bore a | child |
(364v/22-23; 28/3) |
ha | the a bore a child' |
(224/17-18) |
In another instance only the first letter of a word is anticipated.
|
A |
|
S |
| 2.1.10 |
mor' bounde to do |
(365r/11; 29/4) |
more bounde d to do |
(ir/29) |
Both of these last two errors are easily spotted and the sense thus
recovered.
2.2 Addition to Words
Dittography of groups of letters occurs in two instances, the second
possibly induced by the line division in A.
|
A |
|
S |
| 2.2.1 |
euene a noon |
(364r/39; 27/10) |
euenen anonone |
(223/15) |
| 2.2.2 |
go|uernauns |
(365v/20-21; 31/1) |
goueruernauns |
(118v/7) |
Dittography of a single letter occurs in a further instance over a line
division in S.
|
A |
|
S |
| 2.2.3 |
philisophr' |
(365v/31; 31/11) |
philosop | phir' |
(118v/21-22) |
Dittography of letter-strokes (minims) also occurs.
|
A |
|
S |
| 2.2.4 |
coupled |
(364v/17; 27/28) |
compled |
(224/11) |
| 2.2.5 |
sumtyme |
(366r/8; 31/28) |
sumityme |
(119r/17) |
With the possible exception of 2.2.4, which as it stands makes
nonsense of the text, all these errors are easily spotted and the sense thus
restored.
There is one instance of a word being added through retentive
assimilation.
|
A |
|
S |
| 2.2.6 |
In þe tyme | of tiberius þe
emperour' |
(365r/24-25; 29/15) |
In þe tyme of tyberus oþe emperoure |
(iv/17-18) |
Here there may be an element of syntactic confusion, the scribe
perhaps thinking of a reading such as * þe tyme of þe
emperoure tyberus*. As it stands the text is clearly rendered
nonsensical in S but again the error is easily corrected.
