DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61385#0131
Chapter XI.—Metrical Structure of the Speculum, cxxv
13 art Eft
CHAPTER XI.
OX THE METRICAL STRUCTURE OF THE SPECULUM.
The Speculum Gydonis may receive investigation on basis of laws
governing the lyric verse of Chaucer. The Speculum, representing
the pre-conquest rather than the modern side of the mediaeval
period, marks itself as a distinct type in the growth of language.
On authority of Chaucerian study noteworthy questions of mechanical
form may be classified. The poem is to be studied with reference
to the development of the riming vowel, its phonology, its quality
and quantity, and the method of its introduction in the riming
system used by the poet. Attention will be directed to the poet’s
use of open and closed e- and o- sounds in rime combination, to his
representation of the development of O.E. -y (-$), umlaut of -u (-u),
and to his arrangement of rimes in the relationship of -y : -ye, and
cons : cons + e.
§ 1. The Strophe.
Two lines joined by final rime form the strophe. Compared
with the Poema Morale, in septenar, and with On God Ureisun
of Ure Lefdi in mixed verse, where the completion of the strophe
marks also the limit of the sentence, the verse may be regarded as
presaging the “ run-on ” line of the Elizabethan drama. Sentence
structure is in no way impeded by mechanical verse form. At times
the riming characteristic of the strophe is continued through two
consecutive couplets, developing the scheme aaaa. This illustrates
no unusual phenomenon in M.E. versification : Sir Beues 633—6,
749—52, 893—6, etc., see Kolbing, p. xi. ; Havelok 17—20, 37—
40, etc.; Sir Fyrumhras, see Zupitza, Ubungsbuch, p. 107, 1138—
41, 1144—47, and also in the caesural rime 1138—41, etc. ; Poema
Morale, 3—6, 75—80, 233—36, etc. The Speculum contains illus-
tration through the following instances : (-ay) 249—52, (-ere) 353—
56, (-e) 389—92, (-e) 401—4 (ney : say 403—4 in HJ, (-e) 533—-
36, (-er(e)) 779—82, (-Hit) 855—58, (-ede) 1025—28, as well as in
(-e) 549—52, (-ome) 643—46. Purely accidental or resulting from
the momentary impulse of the poet, successive couplets united by
the same riming syllable do not present strophic formation.
13 art Eft
CHAPTER XI.
OX THE METRICAL STRUCTURE OF THE SPECULUM.
The Speculum Gydonis may receive investigation on basis of laws
governing the lyric verse of Chaucer. The Speculum, representing
the pre-conquest rather than the modern side of the mediaeval
period, marks itself as a distinct type in the growth of language.
On authority of Chaucerian study noteworthy questions of mechanical
form may be classified. The poem is to be studied with reference
to the development of the riming vowel, its phonology, its quality
and quantity, and the method of its introduction in the riming
system used by the poet. Attention will be directed to the poet’s
use of open and closed e- and o- sounds in rime combination, to his
representation of the development of O.E. -y (-$), umlaut of -u (-u),
and to his arrangement of rimes in the relationship of -y : -ye, and
cons : cons + e.
§ 1. The Strophe.
Two lines joined by final rime form the strophe. Compared
with the Poema Morale, in septenar, and with On God Ureisun
of Ure Lefdi in mixed verse, where the completion of the strophe
marks also the limit of the sentence, the verse may be regarded as
presaging the “ run-on ” line of the Elizabethan drama. Sentence
structure is in no way impeded by mechanical verse form. At times
the riming characteristic of the strophe is continued through two
consecutive couplets, developing the scheme aaaa. This illustrates
no unusual phenomenon in M.E. versification : Sir Beues 633—6,
749—52, 893—6, etc., see Kolbing, p. xi. ; Havelok 17—20, 37—
40, etc.; Sir Fyrumhras, see Zupitza, Ubungsbuch, p. 107, 1138—
41, 1144—47, and also in the caesural rime 1138—41, etc. ; Poema
Morale, 3—6, 75—80, 233—36, etc. The Speculum contains illus-
tration through the following instances : (-ay) 249—52, (-ere) 353—
56, (-e) 389—92, (-e) 401—4 (ney : say 403—4 in HJ, (-e) 533—-
36, (-er(e)) 779—82, (-Hit) 855—58, (-ede) 1025—28, as well as in
(-e) 549—52, (-ome) 643—46. Purely accidental or resulting from
the momentary impulse of the poet, successive couplets united by
the same riming syllable do not present strophic formation.