ROUTLEDGE LIBRARY EDITIONS: THE MEDIEVAL WORLD Volume 53 EARLY MIDDLE ENGLISH LITERATURE EARLY MIDDLE ENGLISH LITERATURE R. M. WILSON Firstpublishedin1939byMethuen&Co.Ltd Secondeditionpublishedin1951 Thirdeditionpublishedin1968 Thiseditionfirstpublishedin2020 byRoutledge 2ParkSquare,MiltonPark,Abingdon,OxonOX144RN andbyRoutledge 52VanderbiltAvenue,NewYork,NY10017 RoutledgeisanimprintoftheTaylor&FrancisGroup,aninforma business ©1968R.M.Wilson Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereprintedor reproducedorutilisedinanyformorbyanyelectronic,mechanical, orothermeans,nowknownorhereafterinvented,including photocopyingandrecording,orinanyinformationstorageor retrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublishers. Trademarknotice:Productorcorporatenamesmaybetrademarksor registeredtrademarks,andareusedonlyforidentificationand explanationwithoutintenttoinfringe. BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary ISBN:978-0-367-22090-7(Set) ISBN:978-0-429-27322-3(Set)(ebk) ISBN:978-0-367-19681-3(Volume53)(hbk) ISBN:978-0-429-26134-3(Volume53)(ebk) Publisher’sNote Thepublisherhasgonetogreatlengthstoensurethequalityofthis reprintbutpointsoutthatsomeimperfectionsintheoriginalcopies maybeapparent. Disclaimer Thepublisherhasmadeeveryefforttotracecopyrightholdersand wouldwelcomecorrespondencefromthosetheyhavebeenunableto trace. Early Middle English Literature by R. M. WILSON METHUEN & CO. LTD II NEW FETTER LANE EC4 First published 1939 Second edition 1951 Third edition 1968 © 1968 by R. M. Wilson SBN 416460801 University Paperback edition 1968 SBN 416 69970 7 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner Ltd, Frome and London This book is available in both hardback and paperback editions. The paperback edition is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re~sold hired y out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Distributed in the U.S.A. by Barnes & Noble Inc. PREFACE DURING recent years much important work has been done on various aspects of early Middle English literature, and the time seems to have come when some attempt should be made to present the general results of this research. In dealing with an early period such as this it is inevitable that what may seem a disproportionate space should be devoted to questions of authorship, provenance, etc., which are still unsettled and for which, in many cases, it is doubtful whether sufficient evidence will ever be avail- able for a definite conclusion. It was obviously impossible to deal in detail with all the theories which have been brought forward at one time or another. Only those which have received a support so general that they may be con- sidered established, together with the more plausible or more interesting of the remainder, could be dealt with at all fully; a brief reference is all that has been possible for the majority. Nor did this seem to be the occasion on which to bring forward any individual views of the author for the first time. In a synthesis such as this it is essential that the theories and opinions included should have been subjected elsewhere to die approval or criticism of other workers in the same field. The period dealt with extends from 1066 to 1300. Not because either of these dates has a special significance in literary history; rather because they definitely have none. In dealing with early Middle English literature it is necessary to discuss the transition between Old and Middle English, and 1066 provides a convenient date at which to begin, since then, so far as we can tell, the traditional forms and subjects are still in indisputable possession. Since the period dealt ν EARLY MIDDLE ENGLISH LITERATURE with is that in which English is only one of the vernaculars in use in this country it will naturally close with the begin- ning of the fourteenth century, at a time when Anglo-French is beginning to decay and English has once again become the chief literary language of the country. A book such as this must necessarily owe much to the work of other students and scholars on the same subject. Particular indications of the debt will be found throughout the book, and more especially in some of the footnotes. It owes perhaps most to the stimulating and suggestive work of Professor R. W. Chambers, who, more than any other scholar, has made clear the importance of this period in the history of English literature. In common with all students of Middle English I owe a great debt to the invalu- able Manual of the Writings in Middle English of Professor J. E. Wells, which has done much to lighten the unavoidable drudgery of all mediaeval literary historians; it may be recommended here to all readers desiring a fuller biblio- graphy on any of the Middle English texts mentioned in this work. Finally I have to express my gratitude to various colleagues and friends who have been kind enough to read through portions or the whole of the typescript of this book: to Professor I. D. O. Arnold of Leeds University for valuable criticism and suggestions on the chapter dealing with the Anglo-French Background; to Dr A. H. Smith for his careful guidance and help in preparing the book for the press ; and above all to Professor Dickins of Leeds University for his constant kindly encouragement and help. All who have enjoyed the benefit of his wide learning and accurate scholarship will easily realize the debt which this book must owe to his generous assistance. Nevertheless it must be emphasized that any mistakes, whether of omission or commission, are the sole responsibility of the author himself. vi CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. THE EFFECTS OF THE CONQUEST 3 II. THE ANGLO-LATIN BACKGROUND 23 III. THE ANGLO-FRENCH BACKGROUND 55 IV. LEGAL AND HISTORICAL SURVIVALS 86 V. THE CONTINUITY OF THE HOMILETIC TRADITION 106 VI. THE ANCREN RIWLE AND ITS INFLUENCE 128 VII. THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE 149 VIII. RELIGIOUS AND DIDACTIC LITERATURE 170 IX. ROMANCE 193 X. TALES AND FABLES 231 XI. LYRIC POETRY 250 XII. THE BEGINNINGS OF THE DRAMA 275 XIII. CONCLUSION 288 INDEX 299 vii