A Parallel Text Edition of the Middle English Prose Version(s) of the 'Mirror of St. Edmund' based on the known complete manuscripts

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to provide the first critical edition of the Middle English prose translations of the "Mirror of st. Edmund", based on a full collation of all the known versions of the complete text, and also to undertake a pioneer study of some of the connected textual problems.

The "Mirror", probably first composed in Anglo-Norman, is also extant in Latin and Middle English versions" and the relationship is extremely complicated. The problems of the Anglo-Norman and Latin versions are still unsolved. It is evident, however, that three of the Middle English versions are translated from some Anglo-Norman text(s), while four are translated from Latin. The remaining three versions do not clearly belong to either line of transmission. It has been necessary to provide a parallel-texts edition, in order to illustrate the divergent traditions among the versions translated into Middle English. A basic text has been selected from each group, and the related versions in each case fully collated and the variant readings recorded in the footnotes to the basic text. It seemed more profitable to discuss in the Introduction the characteristics of the three versions which show a mixed tradition, rather than to attempt to record all their variant readings in the footnotes to the basic texts, since they are not clearly related to either group.

The Introduction falls into seven sections which mainly deal with the contents of the "Mirror" and the MSS. of the Middle English versions and their relationships

I. General Introduction: the extant Middle English prose and verse versions; the original circumstances of composition; the complexity of the textual problems.

II. Description of the six MSS. of which a full collation is recorded, together with a description of the early printed text.

III. The divergent traditions of translation of the Middle English prose versions.

IV. The reasons for the selection of the basic texts in each group.

V. The version found in the early printed text.

VI. The characteristics of the three versions which show a mixed line of translation.

VII. The editorial principles observed.

Certain topics related but not essential to the main discussion appear in the Appendices. These are the incomplete versions of the text, the interpolated text erroneously ascribed to Rolle, a lengthy interpolation found in the early printed text, and the colophon to the text found in MS.Bodl.e.mus.232.

Difficulties of interpretation are treated in the Glossary, and a list of Proper Names is given. Essential books are listed in the Select Bibliography.