VI. GES NON PUESC EN BON VERS FALLIR (356, 4)

Classification. From the stanza order three main groups are apparent. Further subdivisions may be made on the basis of the number of stanzas.

 

1.	A	1 – 3 5 4 6 7 torn.
	DIK	1 – 3 5 4 6 7 –
2.	CS	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 torn.
	O	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 –
	T	1 2 3 4 5 – – –
3.	M	1 2 5 – 3 6 7 –
	R	1 2 3 6 – 7 4 –
	c	1 2 5 – 6 7 3 –

 

 The MS variants bear out the relationships indicated by the stanza analysis. The opposition between the first and second groups is particularly marked by the omission in the first group of stanza II and by the fourth stanza (cf. 26, 27, 28, 29). The grouping of ADIK is also confirmed in 1, 2, 6, 9, 18, 19, 21, 24, 33, 34, 37, 40, 41, 46 (sofre), 47 (non-nō), 49 (nai), 52, 55. The close relationship of DIK can be seen in 25, 28, 32, 40, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48. IK form as usual a further sub-group (3, 7, 18, 21, 54).

The relationship of COST is confirmed by 2, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25 (mal), 30, 31, 33, 34, 40. Within this group CS are in agreement, particularly in 8, 23, 27, 60, and are the only MSS containing the whole poem. They are joined by A in the inclusion of the tornada. O is fairly close to CS. It contains the entire poem apart from the tornada and is linked with them in 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 27, 32, 37, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 55. It is occasionally associated, however, with ADIK (1, 2, 8, 23, 41). T, although a member of group two, is more distantly related to it than O. It joins CS in 1, 2 (quieu), 23, CO in 19 (quel), and O again in 6, 27 (cor), 34. Like O it has occasional agreements with the first group (27, 37). The interrelationship of the MSS of the second group is generally well illustrated in stanza II, missing in ADIK: for ll. 11, 12, 13, 15 COS are grouped together, with T showing slight differences but being obviously related to them.

MRc form a far less stable group. All three, particularly c, are strongly individualistic, and their relationship both with each other and with the other MSS is extremely complex. They share variants in 8, 13. Their interrelationship elsewhere can be summarised as follows. MR: 15, 41 (plains-plans), 52 (crei); Mc: 13, 41, 43 (with O), 48 (fas), omission of stanza IV; Rc: 24 (vay), 42, 48 (si) (with S).

The accompanying table attempts to set out the relationship of the three MSS with those from each of the first two groups. Notable links with individual MSS of both groups include RT (5, 13 (qe), 26), RS (43 (qieu)), Dc (54 (sit), 55).

Stanza IV is missing in M and c and is placed at the end of the poem in R. Appel’s theory seems to be quite acceptable, namely that, since R is in obvious agreement with ADIK in this stanza, the stanza had originally been missing in R and was added later according to a MS of the ADIK tradition. The instances where R agrees with ADIK (26, 28, 29 (autre)) are ones in which the opposition between the groups COST and ADIK are very pronounced. It is evident, however, from 25, 27, 29 (bels), 30 and 32 that R was not added according to any of the four MSS which are now at our disposal.

 

Appel also suggests that the third stanza had originally been missing in MRc, pointing out that it appears at the end of the poem in c. It should also be noted that it follows the fifth stanza in M. It seems fairly clear that in M the stanza was added according to a MS of the ADIK tradition (cf. 18, 23, 24), as Appel supposes. Appel quotes l. 19 (del mon) as evidence that the model for M was not one of the four surviving MSS of this tradition. Lines 18 (traire) and 19 (qel) could also be mentioned in this respect. There is little evidence to support Appel’s theory that the third stanza was added in R and c according to a MS related to the COST group. The two MSS are fairly independent in this stanza. Although they both join COST in most of 18 and are linked individually with them in 19, 24, they also join (with M) the first group in 21 (ben leu) and 24.

It is interesting to note that in stanza II, which is missing in ADIK, the link between M and the COST group is fairly pronounced (cf. 11, 12, 15), while R and c both offer a number of independent readings. Similarly, in stanza V, which is lacking in R, c is plainly independent (cf. 35, 36, 37, 40), whereas in these first three lines and, to a certain extent, in 40, M follows all the other MSS. It therefore appears, on the whole, that M is the least individualistic of the three and, although obviously related to R and c, is more dependent than they are upon the two main MS traditions.

Although the MSS of the Breviari d’Amor have links with groups two and three, particularly in stanzas VI and VII, they are to be identified on the whole with the first group. (A), (B) and (F) are very closely related throughout.

 

Metrical scheme. Seven coblas unissonans of eight lines and a tornada of five lines, following the scheme of the last five lines of the stanzas:

a8 b8 a8 c8 d8 e8 e8 f8

(Frank: 464: 1). According to Frank, the poem is the only example of this rhyme scheme.

 

Base and orthography. C.