minstrel: a poem I'd like help with

[J.A.McGowan]

Guesses here:

> 
> So I'd tend to structure the main stresses as follows (first
> half-line stresses marked with X, second half with Y):
> 
>       X      X        X    X           Y       Y        Y
> > The Perse' off Northombarlonde and a voew to God mayd he,
>        X       X            X             X           Y  Y    Y
> > That he wold hunte in the mowntayns off Chyviat within days iij.,
>          X         X        X          X        Y    Y        Y
> > In the magger of doughte' Dogles and all that ever with him be;
>       X        X             X          X            Y        Y   (omit?)Y
> > The fattiste hartes in all Cheviat he sayd he wold kyll and carry them away.

them => 'em?

>          X               X        X       X             Y        Y 
> > "Be my feth," sayd the dougheti Doglas agayn, "I wyll let that hontyng yf
> (problem) Y
> > that I may."

I wyll=> Ile?  Be my feth prob. just "feth" with hint of a b and m
before (b'm'feth).  

>              X      X       X         X         Y     Y         Y
> > The[n] the Perse' owt off Banboroww cam, with him a myghtee meany,

This scans a treat, and prob. supports Tangwystyl's argument of (prob.
written) corruption--by a scribe concerned with grammar?  Certainly if
one starts taking out "thats" and things the lines go better.

>            X         X        X         X     (omit?)  Y             Y
> > With xvc archardes bold off blood and bone, the wear chosen owt of shyars
>   Y
> > iij.

Definitely a hundred marker.  No idea how to pronounce. 
>   X      X         X         X        Y           Y         Y
> > This begane on a Monday at morn, in Cheviat the hillys so he;
>       X          X        X    X        Y       Y       Y
> > The chylde may rue that ys unborn, it was the mor pitte'.
> note: make "woodes" into two syllables
>       X       X            X      X    Y      Y        Y
> > The dryvars throrowe the woodes went for to reas the dear;
>   X     X          X        X         Y          Y    Y
> > Bomen byckarte uppone the bent with ther browd oros cleare;
>   X          X           X      X     Y      Y          Y
> > Greahondes thorowe the grevis glent for to kyll thear dear.
>         X       X           X     X    Y          Y     Y
> > The begane in Chyviat the hyls above yerly on a Monnynday;
>   X          X            X         X       Y            Y    (omit)    Y
> > Be that it drewe to the oware off none, a hondrith fat hartes ded ther lay.

Mayhap omit "fat" instead of "ded?"  Just on allit. grounds...
...
>   X        X   X         X         Y    Y   Y
> > The wear xxc spear men goodm withiwte any feale;
>   X        X    (omit?)       X        X         Y          Y   Y
> > The wear borne along be the watter a Twyde yth bowndes of Tividale.

Try eliding the "the wear", stressing "borne" and second syllable of
"along".  


Arian o Gymru


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