II. TAN NO PLOU NI VENTA (356, 8)

Classification. All the MSS have the same order of stanzas except for D, in which the third stanza appears at the end of the poem.

CN are the only MSS which contain the whole poem. The others have the following omissions. Rω: sixth stanza; M: seventh stanza; D: both tornadas; AIKM: second tornada.

ω is, to some extent, illegible and fragmentary.

The MSS may be divided into three groups: DIK, AN, CMRω. The MSS of the first two groups follow a more consistent pattern than those of the third group.

DIK share readings in 3, 5, 15 (part), 41, 46, 47, 49, 51, 53 (contra), 58 (nis). IK form a sub-group, cf. 26, 30, 35 (qui), 64 (in opposition to all the other MSS) and 9, 21, 22, 49.

AN are in agreement in 19, 40, 58, and their relationship is confirmed by the fact that they both attribute the poem to Giraut de Bornelh although, as Appel points out, they contain the first tornada with the reference to Peire Rogier. They are allied with the first group in 4 (chantar), 50 (quant), 52 (cuich—cug).

The relationship of CMR with each other and with the other MSS is far more intricate, as indicated below:

CMR: 21

MR: 7 (qem), 9 (alre), 15 (order of words), 37 (qe)

CM: 50 (quen—qe), 51, 52

CR: 35 (navia)

 

M and R have strong independent tendencies and, as Appel indicates, they often differ in the same lines both from each other and from the other MSS, while C remains with the majority, cf. 4, 7, 11, 13, 22, 24, 40 (seluy), 43 (que), 44 (en (I)).

Support for Appel’s view that the fourth stanza, which appears at the end of the poem in D, was added in that MS according to a MS closely related to M may be found in the majority of lines in the stanza (29, 30, 32, 34, 35, 36). Appel goes on to assume that, in view of its link with CM (creaz qes) in l. 52 in opposition to AIKN, the same MS was also corrected here at a later stage. It should be noted, however, that this is not the only other instance where D is linked with M, cf. 37 (with MR), 54.

ω was not at Appel’s disposal. Its precise classification is difficult in view of its association with all three groups and, to a lesser extent, its fragmentary nature. It would appear, however, to tend more to the CMR group and to R in particular than to either of the other two groups. The sixth stanza is missing in both R and ω. It is also significant that, immediately following this stanza, lines 55, 56 appear to be missing in ω and have very independent readings in R. ω is linked with CNR by the inclusion of the second tornada all three lines of which it contains, in common with C. It is further allied with C in 60 (plaiz—platz) but joins NR to oppose it in 69 (lui). Its association, on the other hand, with MSS of the first and second groups is seen in 14 (ACDIK: len), 19 (CDIKR: guirenta), 29 (DM), 35 (IKNR: sel), 36 (D), 64 (IK).

 

Metrical scheme. Seven coblas unissonans of nine lines and two tornadas, each of three lines following the scheme of the last three lines of the stanzas.

a5’ b6’ a5’ b6’ c7 d8 c7 d8 e6’

(Frank: 411: 2). There is one other example of this rhyme scheme but it has a different syllable arrangement. (Gavaudan: Pillet and Carstens, 174, 11.)

 

Base and orthography. C.