Roma

Critical Literature

No critical literature available

The inset story appears in the following manuscripts

Manuscript	Language	Siglum (Version)	Language Group within Version
Bibliothèque nationale de France, français 95	Old French (Nord)	Overlap of Versions A and L	French A/L Overlap
British Library Arundel 140	Middle English	A (Seven Sages)	Middle English Version A
British Library Cotton Galba E IX	Middle English	A (Seven Sages)	Middle English Version A
British Library Egerton 1995	Middle English	A (Seven Sages)	Middle English Version A
Brussel Koninklijke Bibliotheek 9245		Overlap of Versions A and L	French A/L Overlap
Cambridge University Library MS Dd.1.17	Middle English	A (Seven Sages)	Middle English Version A
Cambridge University Library MS Ff. 2, 38	Middle English	A (Seven Sages)	Middle English Version A
Cambridge University Library MS Gg.6.28		Overlap of Versions A and L	French A/L Overlap
Edinburgh National Library of Scotland Advocates MS 19.2.1, Auchinleck Manuscript	Middle English	A (Seven Sages)	Middle English Version A
Oxford Balliol College Library MS 354 (Richard Hill's Commonplace Book)	Middle English	A (Seven Sages)	Middle English Version A
Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson poet. 175	Middle English	A (Seven Sages)	Middle English Version A

The inset story appears in the following versions and secondary versions

Version	Original Language	Branch of Tradition	Adapted from
A (Seven Sages)	Old French	West
D (Sept Sages de Rome)		West
I (Versio Italica)		West	A (Seven Sages)

Rome

At a time when Rome was besieged by many 'heathen' kings, seven wise men attempt to govern the city, but cannot repel the enemy forces. At last the seventh wise man, named Junius (or Genius) orders the troops to be readied, then mounts the walls to the highest point. He dons a strange cloak, and a mask with many faces, a takes up two swords. He sets up a mirror or a fire behind him, and shouts so loudly the heathen armies all hear him. They are tricked into believing he is a powerful god and flee, leaving Rome victorious.