L (Sept Sages de Rome)

From The Seven Sages of Rome

Version L of the Roman des Sept Sages de Rome, named for the early editor Le Roux de Lincy, is closely related to other Sept Sages versions, in particular Version A, and S (Scala Coeli).

Version L is unusual for a few reasons. It is worth noting that althought Version L exactly follows Version A for the first 11 stories (through Sapientes), the two traditions diverge sharply from there on. Version L includes thirteen, rather than fifteen, stories: the story told by the final sage, usually called Meron or Merons in the French, is absent, as is the prince's story, Vaticinium; this version does not include the stories Vidua, Roma, or Inclusa. In their place are two final stories - Noverca and Filia - which are found only in this version, and in Version S. Version L also includes the episode of the judicial duel, in which the Empress's champion is defeated by the champion fighting for the prince.

While this pattern (fewer and different tales, in a distinct order) links the manuscripts below, there are also redactions of the Sept Sages that follow Version A's pattern, but include Noverca, Filia, or both. The presence of these texts, which seem so clearly linked to Version L's distinctive pattern, in texts that otherwise resemble Version A therefore serves as both evidence of the proximity of these two versions, and an argument for their cross-pollination. See the manuscripts filed under French A/L Overlap for more on this.

Language and Composition
Original language of version Old French
Language of text Old French
Regional or specific language of version
Translated into (languages)
Place of composition
Date of composition 1200 - 1250
Islamic date of composition
Hebrew date of composition
Source for date of composition Foehr-Janssens (1994)
Modern Scholarship and Editions
Modern research literature Berne-Aïache (1966)Berne-Aïache (1977)Brereton (1953)Coco (2016)Foehr-Janssens (1994)Gilleland (1981)Maulu (2016)Paris (1876)Roques (1983)Runte (1971)Runte, Society of the Seven Sages Portal (2014)Runte, Wikeley, Farrell (1984)Speer (1981)Speer (1989)Le Roux de Lincy (1838)
Modern Editions Le Roux de Lincy, Roman des Sept Sages de Rome (1838)
Notes and Commentary
Note
Notes on motifs
Notes on the frame
Pattern of embedded stories in this version

Connected prints

No connected prints