Older Scots Version A: Buke of the Sevyne Sagis: Difference between revisions

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Like the contemporaneous Middle English manuscripts, the Scottish narrative is also part of the [[A (Seven Sages)|Version A]] branch of the tradition, and also likely had a [[French Version A]] text as its primary source, judging by the stories and their order. Also like the English texts, the ''Buke'' is in octosyllabic tail-rhymed verse. However, the ''Buke'' also diverges from the Version A/English narratives' pattern in a few key ways that suggest narrative proximity to the ''[[H (Historia Septem Sapientum)|Historia]]'' tradition as well. Catherine van Buuren notes that there are several points when the ''Buke'' uses language identical to that found in some of the [[Latin Version H]] texts, with narrative details further exemplifying the influence of the ''Historia'' tradition ([[Van Buuren (1982)]], pp. 136-81). Critically, this includes the revelation and gender-reveal of the empress's lover at the end of the frame story, something that is not found in the Version A narrative pattern. Van Buuren notes that while this could suggest a lost, early A/H source that blends the two traditions, it is perhaps more likely that the author of the ''Buke'' was familiar with both the Version A and Version H narratives.  
Like the contemporaneous Middle English manuscripts, the Scottish narrative is also part of the [[A (Seven Sages)|Version A]] branch of the tradition, and also likely had a [[French Version A]] text as its primary source, judging by the stories and their order. Also like the English texts, the ''Buke'' is in octosyllabic tail-rhymed verse. However, the ''Buke'' also diverges from the Version A/English narratives' pattern in a few key ways that suggest narrative proximity to the ''[[H (Historia Septem Sapientum)|Historia]]'' tradition as well. Catherine van Buuren notes that there are several points when the ''Buke'' uses language identical to that found in some of the [[Latin Version H]] texts, with narrative details further exemplifying the influence of the ''Historia'' tradition ([[Van Buuren (1982)]], pp. 136-81). Critically, this includes the revelation and gender-reveal of the empress's lover at the end of the frame story, something that is not found in the Version A narrative pattern. Van Buuren notes that while this could suggest a lost, early A/H source that blends the two traditions, it is perhaps more likely that the author of the ''Buke'' was familiar with both the Version A and Version H narratives.  


Another anomalous element in the Scots text is found in the rendition of the story of the parrot who reports a wife's adultery, [[Avis]]. The redactor of the Asloan text has added in two additional bed-trick motifs/embedded stories into the frame of this tale, something that is not found in any other version of the narrative.  
Another anomalous element in the Scots text is found in the rendition of the story of the parrot who reports a wife's adultery, [[Avis]]. The redactor of the Asloan text has added in two additional bed-trick motifs/embedded stories into the frame of this tale, something that is not found in any other version of the narrative. The text introduces the wife's mother as a character, and the primary actor plotting these repeated deceptions. The first additional element mirrors the story [[Gladius]], as the lover, nearly caught by the husband, is instructed to stand still, while silently hold a naked sword; the wife and mother explain his presence in the house by saying that he had been chased by men trying to kill him, and that they had hidden him to save his life. The second deception involves the key element in the story [[Linteum]], in which two women - in this case, the wife and her mother - conceal a lover's escape from the room by holding up bedsheets (pretending they need to remake the bed). 


It is worth noting that the narrative in its current form contains only thirteen stories. There is a lacuna between [[Sapientes]] (the 11th story, told by the Empress) and [[Inclusa]]; according to Catherine van Buuren (1982), this likely included the sixth sage's tale, and the Empress's reponse to it.
It is worth noting that the narrative in its current form contains only thirteen stories. There is a lacuna between [[Sapientes]] (the 11th story, told by the Empress) and [[Inclusa]]; according to Catherine van Buuren (1982), this likely included the sixth sage's tale, and the Empress's reponse to it.
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{{EmbeddedStory
|Has Short Title=Avis
|Has Short Title=Avis (and Gladius and Linteum)
|Has Sequence Number=10
|Has Sequence Number=10
|Has Narrator=Cato
|Has Narrator=Cato

Revision as of 13:46, 2 December 2025

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The anonymous Older Scots narrative The Buke of the Sevyne Sagis is preserved in the Asloan manuscript (Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, Advocates 16500), which was composed ca. 1515. The manuscript's name comes from its scribe, John Asloan, a copyist and notary public living in and around Edinburgh.

Like the contemporaneous Middle English manuscripts, the Scottish narrative is also part of the Version A branch of the tradition, and also likely had a French Version A text as its primary source, judging by the stories and their order. Also like the English texts, the Buke is in octosyllabic tail-rhymed verse. However, the Buke also diverges from the Version A/English narratives' pattern in a few key ways that suggest narrative proximity to the Historia tradition as well. Catherine van Buuren notes that there are several points when the Buke uses language identical to that found in some of the Latin Version H texts, with narrative details further exemplifying the influence of the Historia tradition (Van Buuren (1982), pp. 136-81). Critically, this includes the revelation and gender-reveal of the empress's lover at the end of the frame story, something that is not found in the Version A narrative pattern. Van Buuren notes that while this could suggest a lost, early A/H source that blends the two traditions, it is perhaps more likely that the author of the Buke was familiar with both the Version A and Version H narratives.

Another anomalous element in the Scots text is found in the rendition of the story of the parrot who reports a wife's adultery, Avis. The redactor of the Asloan text has added in two additional bed-trick motifs/embedded stories into the frame of this tale, something that is not found in any other version of the narrative. The text introduces the wife's mother as a character, and the primary actor plotting these repeated deceptions. The first additional element mirrors the story Gladius, as the lover, nearly caught by the husband, is instructed to stand still, while silently hold a naked sword; the wife and mother explain his presence in the house by saying that he had been chased by men trying to kill him, and that they had hidden him to save his life. The second deception involves the key element in the story Linteum, in which two women - in this case, the wife and her mother - conceal a lover's escape from the room by holding up bedsheets (pretending they need to remake the bed).

It is worth noting that the narrative in its current form contains only thirteen stories. There is a lacuna between Sapientes (the 11th story, told by the Empress) and Inclusa; according to Catherine van Buuren (1982), this likely included the sixth sage's tale, and the Empress's reponse to it.
General Information
Language within Version Older Scots
Narrative / Scholarly Group
Parent Versions A (Seven Sages)
Child Versions
Author
Title
Siglum of the version of the Seven Sages Older Scots Version A: Buke of the Sevyne Sagis
Version Number
Branch of the tradition West
Language & Composition
Original language of version Older Scots
Translated into (languages)
Place of composition Scotland
Date of composition 1513 - 1542
Source for date of composition https://digital.nls.uk/235163104
Literature & Editions
Modern research literature Van Buuren (1982), Cragie (1923), Van Buuren (1978)
Modern Editions Craigie, Buke of the Sevyne Sagis (1923, 1925), Van Buuren, The Buke of the Sevyne Sagis (1982)
Recorded branch of this secondary version
Connected prints

No connected prints

Adaptations
Adapted from (version) French Version A, H (Historia Septem Sapientum)
Adapted into (version)
Source for composition and adaptation information Van Buuren (1982)
Languages in Use
Language of text Scots
Regional or specific language of version Middle Scots
Notes
Note Note: the sage names are variable throughout the text, with some discrepancies between their original introductions, and their introductions prior to telling their tales. For example, the opening frame names the second sage Amipullus, while the introduction to second sage's story names the teller Maxillas - then later refers to him as Ancillas. The sage originally introduced as Malcome is listed as the fifth, but then is the fourth sage to tell a story, and is referred to as Maucundas. The fourth sage, called Cato or Catone, is distinct from the seventh sage, called Cratone, while the sixth sage, named Ampustinus, does not tell a story.
Notes on motifs
Notes on the frame
Pattern of embedded stories in this version

Connected manuscripts








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