The parlament of foules, by Geoffrey Chaucer. Ed., with introduction, notes, and glossary, by T. R. Lounsbury.

COMPARISON OF THE MANUSCRIPTS.

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purpose of bringing out more clearly the distinction between it
and the other manuscripts, I subjoin a few of the numerous
instances where its readings are superior, most of the instances
where there is little or no choice, and all of the instances where
its readings are positively inferior. In the cases mentioned
below, MS. A is compared with all the manuscripts excepting
J, unless the contrary is expressly stated. As against any single
one, its superiority is much more conspicuous.
I. Of the few instances which will be given to mark the
superiority of MS. A, the following have reference to the
metre: -
Line 369. A alone has eueriche; the rest, eche, or euery.
Line 514. A has bet; the rest, bettre.
Line 527. A omits the before foulis.
Line 564. A omits forth before bringe.
Line 626. A has the correct reading by mere transposition
of the words. Most of the manuscripts read, " Thanne wol I
don this favour to hir that she."
Line 632. A alone has certis.
Line 670. A alone omits of hem after eche. They are unnecessary to the sense, and destructive to the metre.
Line 676. A has to before Nature.
These are fair illustrations of the slight variations occurring
in manuscripts where the addition of unimportant words and
endings has the effect of either ruining or restoring the measure. The following instances have reference to the language
employed: -
Line 363. A reads, "The rauen wys, the crowe with vois of
care; " the rest, " The rauyns and crowes with hyr voyces of
care."
Line 391. A has breke; the others, let, except F, which has
suiffre.
Line 493. A has to-slyuered; the rest, to-shiuered. While
either makes good sense, the former seems preferable; at least,
in this country, where "sliver" as a verb is very common.
Line 498. A alone has the order of the birds right: this is