Cambridge University Library MS Dd.1.17

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Manuscript Identification

Reference Number
Eng8
Location
Cambridge University Library
Siglum / Shelfmark
Cambridge University Library MS Dd.1.17
Page / Folio range
54r-63r

Textual Content & Tradition

Standardised title of narrative
The Seven Sages of Rome
Version (siglum)
A (Seven Sages)
Language Group within Version
Middle English Version A
Narrative / Scholarly Group within Version
Midland Version
Further scholarly subgroup (2)
Text D
Source for textual relationship
Whitelock (2005)

Languages

Language of text
English
Regional / specific language
Middle English
Source for regional language
Whitelock (2005)

Digitisation & Editions

Modern Editions
Whitelock, The Seven Sages of Rome (Midland Version) (2005)

Note

Some sages' names have been normalised; Whitelock's transcription gives the names as Lentulus, Maladas, Caton, Iesse, and Marcius.

The Midlands version, here described, is distinct from the other Middle English texts in a number of notable ways, including minor changes to the frame story (the Prince's mother dies while he is away at school, rather than before he leaves, for example), and small changes throughout. Whitelock (2005) observes that these changes tend to streamline the narrative, but also that, in the inset tales at least, they tend to make 'the fate of the female characters happy, but that of the men more unfortunate' (p. lii). Women get away with their tricks, or escape repudiation (in Vidua and Avis), while men more frequently die (including by suicide) in tales such as Canis, Puteus, and Inclusa. Conversely, this may lend gravity to the overall antifeminist bent of the text: Whitelock suggestions that 'the redactor... resists the temptation to curb these wicked women in the tales themselves', showing women to powerful, manipulative, and cunning, and thereby allowing 'the warning of the Sages [to] gain more weight' (p. liii).

Authorship & Production


Place of Production
England
Date of Production
1350/1400
Source of Date of Production
Whitelock (2005)

Physical Description

Material
Parchment
Total pages / folios
Vol. 1: ff. 261, vol. 2: ff. 93, vol. 3: ff. 87
Height
440
Width
305


Illustrations
No

Contents & Additional Texts

Other texts in the Manuscript
Manuscript is divided into three volumes. The Seven Sages appears in the third volume (54ra - 63rb). A full list of the 24 other texts that make up the manuscript can be found in the source mentioned above; notably, it includes: Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historia Regum Britannie (vol 1, 111-121); a Latin version of Marco Polo's travel account (vol 2, 38-56); texts concerning Islam, including 'Fides Saracenorum' (vol 2, 71), De origine et progressu et fine Machometi et quadruplici reprobatione eius (vol 2, 71-74), William of Tripoli, De statu Saracenorum (vol 2, 74-79), and a Life of Muhammad (vol 2, 79); Langland, Piers Plowman (B text) (Vol 3, 1-31); Mandeville's Travels (32-53).

Catalogues & Research Literature

Catalogue
Modern Research Literature
Brunner (1933), Whitelock (2005)

Embedded Stories in This Manuscript

Research Material

Has Research Material TitleHas Research Material LinkHas Research Material Description








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