III. PER FAR ESBAUDIR MOS VEZIS (356, 6)

Classification. All the MSS have the same order of stanzas except C and R, in which the order of stanzas III and IV is reversed. In a1 the positions of 21, 22 and 43, 44 are reversed, as well as the order of 43, 44 in DIK and of 56, 57 in A. They all contain the whole poem except for R, in which both tornadas and 31-3 are missing, ABN, in which 43 is missing, and ω, which ends at 22 and is partly illegible.

The main division of the MSS is ABDIKN and CR, as borne out by the order of stanzas and the variants, cf. 9, 11, 18, 20, 24, 25, 26, 28, 39, 42, 43, 44, 47, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54. The MSS of the first group divide into two sub-groups: DIK and ABN. DIK have common readings in 9, 13, 22, 26 (qu’il) (with Ca1), 32, 33, 34, 39, 43, 44, 47, 49, 59, 60. IK are, as usual, almost identical, being further linked in 41, 59 and by the inclusion of the section of 37 and 38 which is missing in D but which appears earlier, in the middle of 9, in all three MSS. ABN all attribute the poem to Giraut de Bornelh. They omit 43, which, as Appel points out, was added later in DIK after 44, and share readings in 26, 41 and in 13, 22, 54, 55. Of the three, AB are particularly close, cf. the last four lines quoted above and 24, 25, 31 (joi) (with a1), 32 (ni·s), 34 (noil o) (with C), 39, 47, 49 (nuill) (with CR), 56, 60 (mas) (with C), 65.

The various sub-groups defined above are confirmed in many of the instances where the two main groups are interrelated. Often where DIK have common readings are ABN and CRa1 joined in opposition (cf. 22, 33 (R lacking), 39, 59, 60). In the same way DIK. and CRa1 are allied in many of the places where ABN share variants, cf. 13 (li), 22, 43, 54 (dans), 55 (tortz). N stands with them, in opposition to AB, in 24, 56, 65. AB and CR join forces to oppose the other MSS in 49 (nulh). Notable examples of links between individual MSS of the two groups are NR (cf. 27 (son), 53 (joi) as well as 13 (with AB)) and CN (cf. 32, 57 (mas)).

a1 and ω were not at Appel’s disposal. a1 has associations with both traditions. It joins all the MSS of the first group in 18, 24, 39, 42, 49, 52, 53, 54, revealing further links with two or more of them in 25, 31, 32, 35, 41, 47, 49, 60 and with N in particular in 28 (tot), 49 (tal). It appears, on the whole, however, to incline to the second group, cf. 9 (see note), 26, 28, 43, 44, and above. Ra1 are further linked in 34, 45, 46, as are Ca1 in 16 (quan), 32 (n¯). It offers the largest number of independent readings, which are fairly insignificant with the exception of 64 (see note to this line).

From the evidence available ω also appears to fluctuate between both groups. It joins CR in 18 in opposition to all the other MSS, while the reverse is true in 9, 20. In 13 it is linked with CDIK against ABNR and stands with CRa1 for all of 22, being joined in turn by ABN and DIK.

 

Metrical scheme. Five coblas unissonans of eleven lines and two tornadas, each of five lines, following the scheme of the last five lines of the stanzas:

a8 b8 b8 c8 c4 d8 e4 e4 d8 f8 f8

(Frank: 731: 3). There are three other examples of this rhyme scheme but none of them has precisely this syllable arrangement.

 

Base and orthography. C.