2. This line is good evidence of the popularity of the tenzone as a poetic form among the troubadours.
3. This meaning of partir, “takes sides in a debate,” is not given by either Raynouard or Levy; but it arises easily from such expressions as partir un joc, partir una tenso.
8. The reading of MR, nien, as against me of Oa, is assured by the measure.
18. Again MR have the correct reading, as the measure shows.
23-24. The rhyme respondretz: escomes indicates that the reduction of ts to s had been accomplished. This reduction, though it took place early in many of the dialects, does not often appear in the poetry of the troubadours. See Grandgent, An Outline of the Phonology and Morphology of Old Provençal, p. 47; Schultz-Gora, Provenzalische Studien, I, 8, 28; and also Elias de Barjols (ed. Stronski), XV, 35. This reduction is frequently found in the MSS ORa, but is generally due to the copyists.
28. essernimen: Raynouard, Lexique roman, III, 28, cites this passage as the sole example of this word. Levy (SW, II, 337) adds one more. The word was evidently rare, though the meaning and derivation are quite evident.
32. I have here preferred the reading a of MR to e of Oa, though the latter would make good sense, because it seems to me that all through this piece Aimeric is thinking of the “No sai que s’es” of Raimbaut of Orange.
44. For se razonar per, “acknowledge oneself to be,” see Bernart of Ventadorn (ed. Appel), 20, 48. This meaning is not given by Raynouard or Levy.
46. entrecimamen. Sole example of this word. Raynouard (Lex. rom., II, 396) gives the meaning “entrelacement” and connects the word with cima. Levy (SW, III, 80) cites also this passage, but declines to define the word. The verb tressimar, entressimar, is used by Gavaudan (ed. Jeanroy, Romania, XXXIV, 497 ff.), VII, 21. Cf. the note of M. Jeanroy. Mistral (Tresor dou Felibrige, II, 1044) has the modern Provençal tressimaci, trafimage, “micmac, chose inextricable, trafic, agissement.” The meaning here is evidently “entanglement, confusing reasoning.” I am inclined to think that the word belongs to the family of OF tresse, tresser, Prov. tressar. The development of meaning is somewhat the same as in Ital. intreccio “i fatti rappresentati o narrati in modo da eccitare vivamente la curiosità del lettore tenendone l’animo fino all’ ultimo attento o sorpreso.”
52. For eissarat, “embarassé, en peine,” see Levy, SW, II, 329-30. This passage adds another example to those cited by him.
53. matracejatz. Apparently the sole example of this word in Old Provençal. Not cited by Levy in the SW, but given (with a sign of interrogation) in the Petit Dictionnaire. Raynouard, IV, 108. The word is evidently derived from matras, “levier, javelot.” Mistral (Tresor, II, 297) gives matrassa, “frapper avec un matras, abîmer, maltraiter, froisser.” Albert uses it here playfully.
57-59. This passage, if regarded seriously, might almost be considered as an anticipation of Einstein and the theory of relativity. Probably the same comparison was used in the schools. At least, a century later, the cardinal Nicolas of Cusa argued that a boat in rapid motion might seem at rest to a person seated in it. See Hobson, The Domain of Natural Science, Cambridge, 1923, p. 183.
62. For the verb issigar, eisegar, cf. “Flamenca,” vs. 1044. P. Meyer translates “exécuter, parfaire,” and this meaning fits well here. See also Levy, SW, II, 333. |
