Dutch Version A
The only extant textual witness of the Dutch Version A - as of yet - is a manuscript that contains a 4514 lines long verse adaptation of the French Prose Version A (see Schlusemann 2025: 5), called vii. vroeden van binnen Rome. The manuscript is dated around 1325–1350 (see Schlusemann 2023a: 123, Schlusemann 2025: 17). According to linguistic features, though, it is said to have emerged in the second quarter of the 13th century, and an earlier reference to the VII vroede te Rome also attests a circulation of a Dutch Version already within the 13th century (see Schlusemann 2025: 2). It is the oldest known Dutch version and is considered an adaptation (rather than a translation) of a French Prose A text (possibly the manuscript Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 95 or one that is closely related to fr. 95 – see Schlusemann 2023a: 123; Schlusemann 2025: 5,9).
The verse version differs in some aspects from the later Dutch Seven Sages texts which are all part of the Historia septem sapientum (Version H): the plea of the Emperor’s first wife not to raise her son by a new Empress, as well as the Empress’s lover and their unmasking are missing here. There is also a speech by the Empress at the end where she begs the Emperor for mercy and tries to explain her behaviour as motivated by a feeling of alienation and fear for her husband’s honour. Her death penalty is postponed for 40 days and the narrator regrets that she (ab)uses her intelligence for lying and devious acts (see Schlusemann 2023a: 123–124). Another notable aspect is that the Empress does not tell a story on the 7th Day. Aligning with the French tradition, only the seventh Master tells a story (>Vidua<) while the Empress returns on Day 8 with the story >Roma< (see Schlusemann 2025: 23–24).
[Added by Elisabeth Böttcher]
General Information
Language & Composition
Literature & Editions
Recorded Branch of This Secondary Version
- A (Seven Sages)
- Dutch Version A
- French Version A: Roman des Sept Sages
- Gaelic Version A
- German Version A: Allegatio/Libellus
- Italian Version A
- Latin Version A
- Middle English Version A
- Old Swedish Version A: Sju vise mästare
- Older Scots Version A: Buke of the Sevyne Sagis
- Welsh Version A: Chwedleu Seith Doethon Rufein
Adaptations
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 | Banxillas |
| Aper – The Boar and the Fruit | 3 | Empress | |
| Medicus – The Doctor | 4 | Anxilles | |
| Gaza – The Treasure | 5 | Empress | |
| Puteus – The Well | 6 | Lentulus | Tintillus |
| Senescalcus – The Seneschal | 7 | Empress | |
| Tentamina – The Test | 8 | Malquidras | Malequidart |
| Virgilius – Virgil's Marvels | 9 | Empress | |
| Avis – The Bird | 10 | Cato | Caton |
| Sapientes – The Wise Men | 11 | Empress | |
| Vidua – The Widow | 12 | Jesse | |
| Roma – Rome Besieged | 13 | Empress | |
| Inclusa – The Imprisoned Wife | 14 | Mauras |
Connected Manuscripts