A (Seven Sages)

1. Home
2. Version
3. A (Seven Sages)

The prose redaction of The Seven Sages usually titled 'Version A' is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential versions of the European Seven Sages of Rome tradition. It originated in Old French, likely in the late 12th or early 13th centuries (see Speer and Foehr-Janssens, pp. 64-74), and was eventually translated into English, French, German, Latin, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, and Welsh. There is a consensus in scholarship that this version was also the source for the enormously popular Versions H and I as well as M, which may all be taken as variations on the theme demonstrated by the Version A pattern. By this note, Version A of the Seven Sages of Rome is singularly influential in its spread and impact.

The original Old French prose redaction of Version A likely shared a source with Version K, and that text presumably also shared a source with Versions C and D (Foehr-Janssens, 1994; Speer, 1981). This proximity is assessed partially based on linguistic detail, and partially on the basis of embedded stories and their order within the frame narrative. For example, Version A has the same embedded stories as Versions K and D, but their order differs. Version L, on the other hand, has exactly the same stories in the same order as Version A for the first 11 stories, but then varies dramatically, omitting Vidua and Vaticinium and instead including Filia and Noverca (see the information about the Overlap of Versions A and L for more details about the relationship between these two, and their mingling in some manuscripts). Of all of these early Old French redactions, however, it was Version A that spread most rapidly and widely.

This narrative version is identified by the story order (below). In Version A, the emperor is often named Dioclecian; his first wife is sometimes named Milicent, or Helie. The prince is named Florentine in the Middle English version, and Stefano in the Italian.

Identification and general Information
Reference Number
Siglum of the version of the Seven Sages	A (Seven Sages)
Version Number
Title	The Seven Sages of Rome
Author

Tradition and Lineage
Branch of the tradition	Seven Sages of Rome
Adapted from (version)	V (Lost metrical Old French Sept Sages)
Adapted into (version)	H (Historia Septem Sapientum), I (Versio Italica), M ('Male Marastre')
Source for composition and adaptation information	Campbell (1907), Foehr-Janssens (1994)

Recorded secondary versions

A (Seven Sages) Dutch Version A Dutch Verse Version: Van den seven vroeden van binnen Rome French Version A: Roman des Sept Sages Group U Group V Group W Group X Group Y Group Z Gaelic Version A German Version A: Allegatio/Libellus Italian Version A Italian Prose (V) Libro dei Sette Savj (A) Storia favolosa di Stefano (S) Latin Version A Latin Version A: Allegatio / Libellus Middle English Version A Midland Version Y Group Northern English Southern English Old Swedish Version A: Sju vise mästare Old Swedish Redaction A Old Swedish Redaction B Older Scots Version A: Buke of the Sevyne Sagis Welsh Version A: Chwedleu Seith Doethon Rufein Early Modern and Modern Welsh Version A Middle Welsh Version A

Connected manuscripts

Manuscript Language Location Date of Production Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Cardiff MS 2.83 (RMWL MS 6) Welsh Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru 1550 Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Cardiff MS 3.4 (RMWL Cardiff MS 5) Welsh Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru 1527 Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Cwrtmawr MS 20A Welsh Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru 1750 - 1782 Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Cwrtmawr MS 314-315D Welsh Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru 1860 - 1877 Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Llanover MS 13075B Welsh Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru 1580 - 1600 Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Llanstephan MS 117 Welsh Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru 1544 - 1552 Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Llanstephan MS 171 Welsh Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru 1574 Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Llanstephan MS 2. Latin Middle Welsh Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru 1451 - 1475 Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Llanstephan MS 92 Welsh Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru 1500 - 1800 Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Peniarth MS 120 Welsh Aberystwyth, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru 1775 - 1800 Arras Médiathèque de l'Abbaye Saint-Vaast 657 Old French Arras, Médiathèque de l'Abbaye Saint-Vaast 1278 Bern Burgerbibliothek Cod. 388 Old French Bern, Burgerbibliothek 1285 - 1315 Brussel Koninklijke Bibliotheek 10171 Old French Brussel, Koninklijke Bibliotheek 1293 Brussel Koninklijke Bibliotheek 11190-11191 Old French Brussel, Koninklijke Bibliotheek 1390 - 1400 Brussel Koninklijke Bibliotheek 9433 Old French Brussel, Koninklijke Bibliotheek c. 1330 Brussel Koninklijke Bibliotheek II 1171 Dutch Brussel, Koninklijke Bibliotheek 1325/1350 Cambridge Fitzwilliam Museum McClean 179 Old French Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum 1275 - 1300 Cambridge University Library MS Dd.1.17 English Cambridge University Library 1350/1400 Cambridge University Library MS Ff. 2, 38 English Cambridge University Library 1400/1500 Cambridge University Library MS Gg.1.1 English Latin Old French Cambridge University Library 1307 - 1400 Chantilly Musée Condé MS 683 Latin Bibliothèque et archives du Château de Chantilly (Musée Condé) 1301 - 1400 Dublin Trinity College Library Ms 667 Latin Dublin, Trinity College Library 1450 - 1500 Edinburgh National Library of Scotland Advocates MS 19.2.1 (Auchinleck Manuscript) English Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland 1331/1340 Edinburgh National Library of Scotland Advocates MS 72.1.39 Gaelic Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland 1690 - 1693 Edinburgh National Library of Scotland MS. 16500 (Asloan Manuscript) Scots Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland 1513/1542 Florence Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Ashburnham 49 (Libri 122) Old French Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana 1300 - 1400 Florence Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Gaddiano 166 Italian Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana 1274 - 1500 Florence Biblioteca nazionale centrale, Palatino 680 Italian Florence, Biblioteca nazionale centrale 1401 - 1500 Fribourg Bibliothèque cantonale et universitaire L 13 Old French Fribourg, Bibliothèque cantonale et universitaire 1425 - 1475 London British Library Add. MS. 27429 Italian London, British Library 1301 - 1325 London British Library Arundel 140 English London, British Library 1400/1425 London British Library Cotton Galba E IX English London, British Library 1400/1425 London British Library Egerton 1995 English London, British Library 1475/1500 London British Library Harley 3860 Old French London, British Library 1315 - 1350 Mons Université de Mons Bibliothèque Centrale cod. 330/215 Old French Mons, Université de Mons, Bibliothéque Centrale 1300 - 1325 Oxford Balliol College Library MS 354 (Richard Hill's Commonplace Book) English Oxford, Bodleian Library 1501 - 1533 Oxford Bodleian Library Jesus College MS. 111 Welsh Oxford, Bodleian Library 1375 - 1415 Oxford Bodleian Library Jesus College MS. 20 Welsh Oxford, Bodleian Library 1400 - 1425 Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 175 English Oxford, Bodleian Library 1350/1400 Oxford St John's College Library 102 Old French Oxford, St John's College 1375 - 1400 Padua Biblioteca Civica C.M. 304/6 Italian Padua, Biblioteca Civica 1460/06/18 Paris Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal 3152 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal 1200 - 1300 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, Moreau 1691 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1700 - 1800 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 1421 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1275 - 1300 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 20040 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1200 - 1300 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 2137 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1275 - 1300 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 22548-22550 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1300 - 1350 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 25545 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France November 1316 - 1317/04/03 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 5586 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1477 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 93 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1466 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, nouvelles acquisitions françaises, 1263 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1200 - 1300 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, nouvelles acquisitions françaises, 12791 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1300 - 1400 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, nouvelles acquisitions françaises, 13521 Old French Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1275 - 1300 Saint-Étienne Médiathèque Municipale 109 Old French Saint-Étienne, Médiathèque Municipale 15th century? (See notes) St. Florian Stiftsbibliothek Cod. XI 92 B German (High and Low German) St. Florian, Stiftsbibliothek 1453 Stockholm Kungliga biblioteket Cod. Holm. D 4 Old Swedish Stockholm, Kungliga biblioteket 1400 - 1450 Stockholm Kungliga biblioteket HS A 49 Old Swedish Stockholm, Kungliga biblioteket 1400 - 1450 Turin Biblioteca Nazionale MS L V 32 (lost) Old French 1275 - 1325 Uppsala Universitetsbiblioteket Cod. C 7 Latin Uppsala, Universitetsbiblioteket 1401 - 1450 Wien Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Cod. 2937 German (High and Low German) Wien, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek 1400/1450

Language and Composition
Original language of version	Old French
Language of text
Regional or specific language of version
Translated into (languages)	English, Middle English, Middle Scots, French, German (High and Low German), Dutch, Italian, Old Swedish, Welsh, Swedish
Place of composition	France
Date of composition	1175 - 1225
Islamic date of composition
Hebrew date of composition
Source for date of composition	Campbell (1907), Speer and Foehr-Janssens (2017)

Modern Scholarship and Editions
Modern research literature	Speer and Foehr-Janssens (2017), Foehr-Janssens (1994), Campbell (1907), Runte, Wikeley, Farrell (1984), Runte, Society of the Seven Sages Portal (2014), Coco (2016)
Modern Editions	Runte, Les sept sages de Rome: An On-Line Edition of French Version A (2006), Coco, Il Roman des sept sages (2016), Brunner, The Seven Sages of Rome (Southern Version) (1933), Whitelock, The Seven Sages of Rome (Midland Version) (2005), Campbell, The Seven Sages of Rome (Northern Version) (1907)

Notes and Commentary
Note
Notes on motifs
Notes on the frame

Pattern of embedded stories in this version

Has Short Title Has Sequence Number Has Narrator Has Name Variation Arbor – The Tree 1 Empress   Canis – The Faithful Dog 2 Bancillas   Aper – The Boar and the Fruit 3 Empress   Medicus – The Doctor 4 Anxilles Ancilles, Ancillas Gaza – The Treasure 5 Empress   Puteus – The Well 6 Lentulus Lentilioun, Lentillus Senescalcus – The Seneschal 7 Empress   Tentamina – The Test 8 Malquidras Malquidarz, Malqwidrat Virgilius – Virgil's Marvels 9 Empress   Avis – The Bird 10 Caton Cato, Catho, Katho Sapientes – The Wise Men 11 Empress   Vidua – The Widow 12 Jesse Josse Roma – Rome Beseiged 13 Empress   Inclusa – The Imprisoned Wife 14 Maxencius Meron, Martin Copy Embedded Stories Copy Embedded Stories × Select Target Page: Close Process

Connected prints
No connected prints