Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1970, Blaðsíða 211

187
version of Marie de France,12 two Latin versions13 and the first
printed Gerxnan version,14 the lost portion of the Icelandic text
can be estimated at ca. 25 percent of the total. A summary of
the missing conclusion is given in the notes at the end of the Icelandic
segment.
12 Poésies de Marie de France, ed. B. de Koquefort, 2 vols. (Paris, 1820), II,
250-54.
13 Hervieux, II, 495-6, 538-40.
14 Steinhowels Åsop, ed. Hermann Osterley, Bibliothek des litterarisehen Ver-
eins in Stuttgart, CXVII (Tiibingen, 1873), pp. 209-11.
MS ADDITIONAL 9066
1. The Tuming of the Plaice.
(11. 33-35 rendered in N, f. Ir l-3a)
xi 13v Alexaundre reignede in Home; and amonge alle vertues that he hade,
he was right large. Therfore of grete nede he ordeynede for a law, that no
man shulde turne the playse in the disshe, but alle only he shulde ete the wliite
side, and in no wise the blake side; and yf any man dide the contrarie, he
5 shulde dye. But before he shulde dye, he shulde aske iij. peticions of the
Emperoure, what that he wolde, except his lyfe, and he shulde graunte hym
14 r theyme. || It fille ones, that an erle of a ferre countre withe his sone come
to the Emperoure, and at mete was sette before hem a playse. The erle hade
a goode apetite to ete. Whan he hade etene the white side of the playse,
10 he ete the blake side; and anone he was aeeusede to the Emperour, that he
hade done agayne the law. The Emperour saide, “Do hym to dethe, withe
outen any delay, after that the law askethe.” The sone of the erle, whan
he hade herde that his fadir shulde be dede, he went to the Emperour, and
saide, “Gracious lorde, for the love of hym that diede on the crosse, lette
15 me dye for my fadir.” The Emperoure saide, “It likethe me wele, that one
dye for brelcyng of the lawe.” The sone herde this, and saide, “Sithene it is
so, that I shalle dye, I aske the benefice of the lawe, that I may have iij.
peticions, before I dye.” The Emperour saide, “Aske what thou wilte;
no man shalle denye the the lawe that is made.” “Lorde,” he saide, “thou
20 hast a faire doughtir, and gracious to the sight of every man; I aske that
she may lye by me alle nyght.” The Emperour grauntede hym. Neverthelesse