lettersfrommalory-blog

[lettersfrommalory-blog]

Futebal

What is hit[1] this sport the[2] called football? As fer[3] as I telle it is two vaward[4] of noble knyghts in batail of men ouer an bal shapen moche lyke an egge. There is bileue a knyght called a ‘quarterbak’ and gadred[5] the don deuer[6] of alle these knyghts are to kepeth hym from assaulte, so that hym can meue the bal doune the feld.  

Ther are somme thyges y lyke. Hit is lyke futebal excepte tho knyghts doo not vsed a hede that hath ben smitted[7] of whiche maketh it moche withǒuten spirite thanne the game I wit. Thoughe thyder[8] are baner and what appeireth to be som straunge  armes on their helmes. Tho men eke doth semeth to were[9] armour.  

Y wacchen after a game of the two vaward oen hayled fro a lond called Los Angeles an appeared to be a suite[10] of pirates wit madde worshipers whome wieldeth armes.  Y telle you, hit was the clossest I cam to senge[11] futebal as hit was entenden.

 [1] MED As subject of a verb: it; -- used with reference to: (a) an inanimate thing, abstraction. Serves as the pronoun it.

[2] MED 1a. As anaph. or dem. pron., pointing to a person or thing previously mentioned or understood from the context: (a) Sg. he, the one, that one; also, that [quot. c1275]; also, further specified by a prep. phrase: the army (of the Saracens); (b) pl. those ones, those, they, them.

[3] MED 6(a) To a degree, to an extent; as (so) ~ as, as far as, to the extent that, insofar as, to the same degree as.

[4] MED The foremost division of an army, vanguard; also fig. and in fig. context a group. Note: It was hard to find a suitable word for this but I used what I assumed would be Malory’s knowledge of military and knights and made a decision.

[5] MED 1.(a) Of people: to come together, assemble, congregate; meet, have a meeting.

[6][6] MED 1. don dever [AF faire dever], (a) to do (one's) duty (as a Christian, priest, lord, knight, tenant, official, etc.). Note: This word gave me absolute fits trying to find something comparable. Once again I use Malory’s knowledge of all things knightly.

[7] MED 1a. (a) To deal a blow, strike, beat; do battle, fight; also fig.; also, slash with a sword

[8] MED 1a.With verbs of motion: to that place, there: (a) with ref. to a specified place, structure, etc. Note: This is the word I am more familiar with thither, just with a different spelling.

[9] MED Infiniteve: wēren (v.(2)) 1. (b) to be clad or dressed in (an inner or outer garment, clothing, furs, skins, etc.), dress oneself in; wear (shoes, headgear, etc.); also in fig. context;

[10] 2. (a) A band of followers; a retinue, company. Note: Finally, I found the right word to suit (no pun intended) the word for group.

[11] (a) The act of seeing, looking, observing, inspecting; Note: This is the gerund form of the word seeing. The -nge was derived from the Old English -ende.

Authors note: This is the first time I’ve tried to completely write in not only Middle English language, but also used Middle English spellings as well. Though I have done my best, it must be noted that English was still developing and there are many different spellings for words. 

[lettersfrommalory-blog]

The puns are strong

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Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975)

[lettersfrommalory-blog]

Gingelen Belles

Gingelen[1] belles, gingelen belles. Gingelen by the way[2]

Oho[3] passing joy[4] it is to riden upon a one-horse slē̆de[5].

 Gingelen belles, gingelen belles. Gingelen by the way

Oho passing joy it is to riden in a one-horse slē̆de.

 Dashing[6] forth through the snow

Upon a one-horse slē̆de.

O’re[7] the slades[8] go we hence[9]

Laughing far fourthly[10]

Belles on dokken[11] tails ringeth

Makking bright spirits

Oho what joy it is riden a slē̆ding song tọ̄̆night

[1] Infinitive of jingle

[2] OED  d. fig. Chiefly in adverbial phrases indicating the degree or extent to which something is the case, as a great (now usually good) way, (by) a long way, all the way.

[3] (a) An exlamation expressing surprise;

[4] The word fun does not show up until 1699, and we’re all aware of how much Malory loves to use the phrase ‘passing + noun.

[5] It took me several passes to realize sleigh would have been sled. Sleigh wasn’t used until the late fifteen hundreds.

[6] Malory never uses this verb unless followed by the word forth. Who am I to argue with him?

[7] O’re has strangely never changed. I think it has to do with the cadence of the song when it was written.

[8] MED (a) Low-lying ground, a valley; a flat grassy area, glade; also fig.; ~ of the hille, the slope of a hill. While I could have used the word field, that generally pertains to a battle field and not quite the image I was attempting to portray.

[9] We go is used once in Le Morte, and not in the context of leaving, but more a power play saying “We go where we will.”

[10] I could have used ‘by the way’ again, but far forthly is so much more fun.

[11] Bob-tails did not become a popular way to explain the docking of tails until the 1600s.

[lettersfrommalory-blog]

My name is Tristor, Lance of Mourning. A passing terrible name, truly. 

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Proper names and sizes of medieval swords, edited by me.

Arming sword, or knightly sword, or one-handed sword: speaks for itself, it only fits for one hand, and is not not designed or practical in anyway to use with two hands, so don’t. The pommel is just there to be a counter-weight for easier use of the tip of the blade.

Bastard sword, or hand-and-a-half sword: quite a lot of misconceptions about this sword. While there is no definitive right or wrong answer when it comes to what to call these types of swords, bastard sword is the most fitting. It can be used with one hand, but if need be it can be grabbed by the pommel for extra power (note I said the pommel, the grip is curving in like that at the bottom to encourage you to grab the pommel, as the grip is still too small for two hands).

Longsword: the classic “knight” sword alongside the arming sword. Used only with two-hands (no chance of using a second weapon or shield with this one). It’s incredibly versatile and effective in the right hands.

Greatsword, or zweihänder: the biggest type of sword used in war history. Made especially famous by the german landsknecht of the 16th century, despite their more avid usage of halberds, muskets, crossbows, and pikes. Not much is known on how these swords were used, but people theorize they were used to disrupt and even rout enemy pike formations (the swordsman would twirl the sword around in an 8-shape, gathering momentum until it swinged so fast that it pushed away or cut the pikes in two), and also probably used in duels.

Finally, note the prongs on the bottom of this greatsword

Those prongs weren’t there to just “look cool”, the steel below the prongs is blunt and was grabbed by the wielder in case fighting turned into close-quarters (like when they’ve gotten themselves into a pike formation), using the sword kind of like a short spear.

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The Ren Faire

To my horror[1], at request of a comrade, bade me come[2] to The Ren Faire. I know not what I will find, but when I am brought to it, one of the most mocked things that ever I saw the days of my life. Men’s shields dressed[3] falsely. Their swords in their hands: poorly and shamefully made. The guise of some was passing dreadful and was strange to see men guised as knights stand by someone in the fashion of the day.

I most desired to see the joust! For it was told me[4] there were passing good knights and there were all manner of meat plenteously[5], all manner revels and games, with all manner of minstrelsy[6] that was used in my days. I was deceived and betrayed falsely!

Look upon the poor size of their spears! Size is well cherished[7]! How and in what manner is a man to fell another from his saddle with such poorly made yerdes[8]? That is the purpose of the joust!

Therewithall[9], I say it for thine avail, all were joyous, from the Queen to the squires. All smiled and were met with goodly grace, and the fights on a log slick with lard over a pit of mud were enjoyable. Also, the tournament by which they used the lard of a pig to grease a log was passing good.

The meat and drink was not authentic[10] though all was passing delicious, namely, the ‘funnel cake’ I ate was the best of it. Methinks I was astonied[11] by the meat and drink more than any other.

[1] At first, I thought that this phrase would be too modern, also I thought ‘to my’ was usually only followed by a physical object, but I found two instances in which Malory follows ‘to my’ with something more intangible. The first is Vol I Book II Chapter XVI where he says “…to my power” and the other I.VIII.XXXIII which says “…to my dishonor.” Therefore, though the phrase isn’t used in Le Morte I feel this is a sound choice.

[2] As you can see, there is no ‘he’ here. In middle English the ‘he’ is implied in this type of phrase.

[3] MED dressen (v.) Also drescen, drissen, drē̆s(e. Forms: p. dressede, drissede & drest(e, drist;ppl. i)dressed, dris(s)ed & drest. From the Old French drecier. 3.

(a) To dress or arm (sb., oneself); (b) to get dressed or armed.

[4] The word ‘to’ is generally omitted before the word ‘told’ in Le Morte. Examples are in Vol I, Book II, Chapter III, and Vol I, Book IX, Chapter XLIV.

[5] OED: From the root word plenteous meaning (a) Abundant, plentiful, copious; great in amount or number; also, full; (b) rich, prosperous, opulent; (c) generous, bountiful, liberal; (d) of food, drink, etc.: abundant, lavish, sumptuous; also fig.; (e) fertile, fruitful, prolific, productive; also fig.; (f) ~ in (into, of), rich or abounding in (sth.), full of, productive of, overflowing with. From the Old French plentivos, plentios.

[6] OED Origin: A borrowing from French menestralsie.  1.a. The art or occupation of a minstrel; the practice of singing and playing music; musical entertainment. Now arch. and hist. (cf. sense 1d).†to make minstrelsy: to produce music (obsolete).

[7] I just really wanted to put something along the lines of “Size does matter” here in conjunction with spears. Mea Cupla.

[8]MED From the [ OE gird, gierd, gyrd, gerd, -geard.] 1a. (b) a sapling; a branch on a tree; ~ of hasel (palm, etc.); moises ~, ?a limb from some kind of tree; note (popel, poplere) ~, a branch of a nut (poplar) tree. Because I am attempting to convey sarcasm I used yerdes.

[9]OED arch. 1. Along with or together with that; besides, or in addition to that (fact, circumstance, etc.); with all that; over and above that. First used in 1330 in R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 11915   Nys non on lyue... Þat semeþ so wel his beryng, Ne so curteys þer wyþ~al.

[10] OED: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. First used in 1387 by  J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden in Polychron.  1490 Caxton tr. Boke yf Eneydos vii. sig. Ciijv   To be closed & enuyronned wyth wallis autentyke [Fr. dautenticque muraille].

[11] OED: A variant of astoned adj.; past participle of astony v.  4. Greatly surprised, amazed, astonished. Arch. It is only used 8 times in Le Morte.  

[lettersfrommalory-blog]

I’m making knight memes

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King Arthur Pendragon

Mixed Media painting - watercolor, gouache, color pencils and digital clean up.

Prints coming soon!

[lettersfrommalory-blog]

I of late watched what is called a ‘movie’. It was methinketh[1] as a tapestry with passing[2] good quality that moved. The ‘movie’ is named Venom. It telleth[3] of a tale of a courageous man that was a great[4] spie[5]. He gathered many secrets and told them to the people. He was named Eddie Brock.

Meanwhile four passing strange creatures that looketh as they were ter[6] fell to the Earth from the skies and came together[7] with men, but they were in danger of their lives, for to come together proper, the creatures must find their match. Many men were slain, but finally they were victorious.  

First, Eddie Brock knoweth not that the creature came together with him then he becomes passing hungry for ‘tater tots’ and thirsts mightily. His body seemed fallen of roten fever[8]. He then thought him heard a grimly voice in his heart[9] and believest[10] he is mad.

The voice was called Venom that was one of the creatures which fell to the Earth from the skies. Venom lent to Eddie his strength, and mighty prowess[11] by the mean[12] of Eddie being wrapped in Venom’s flesh. Together they fight the villain and slay him to save the world. I cannot tell you his name, he was passing dull and not worthy of a bore[13].

After destroying the villain that hath no name, Venom gives the semblaunce[14] that he is dead, but this was a falsehood. Because of that, Eddie must yield[15] up everything Venom safe. So, Eddie lost his lady, and his work, but him and Venom biten[16] the heads off men (save only if they are vile and foul of manner).

Oueral[17], I am pleased greatly with the tale of Venom, though the villain was tamed.

[1]methinks, v. OED Online. Oxford University Press, July 2018. Web. 26 November 2018. Now arch., poet., and regional.  a. In the present tense: ‘it seems to me’. Originally OE me þinceþ

[2] With adverbs & adv. phr.: exceedingly, surpassingly, quite. This is sadly obsolete. It seems like a simple way to use a comparative. I’m voting to bring this back.

[3] The -eth suffix used in this instance is the third person present indicative. Since the word does doesn’t make an appearance in Le Morte, I used this form to convey the negative.

[4]great 6 (c.) of a quality, attribute, condition: eminent, remarkable, but also 7 (a.) Busy, active, much engaged (in the activity denoted by the associated noun). I believe in this case the word almost takes on a double meaning. Eddie Brock is very good at what he does, but he also a big name to the public, thus my choice to define this by two separate definitions.

[5] From the Old French espie 1. (a) One who spies on the activities of another; one sent out to make secret observations in a foreign land, a scout or spy.

[6]tē̆r (n.(2) From the OE teoru (a) Tar, the viscous liquid produced in the breakdown of an organic substance, usu. wood or coal, and used as a salve, a caulking agent, or an incendiary material.

[7]I would have liked to have used the word merge here, but sadly, that word doesn’t make its debut in the English language until 1636. Come together was the closest I could come up with. It should be noted that this phrase is generally used in fighting and considering how violent Venom is and how he uses Eddie’s body against his consent at first, I think this is an accurate choice.

[8] First used in 1398. roten fever; (f) ~ acute, ~ agu, ~ agew, a malarial fever with successive paroxysms of fever, chills, and sweating, ague; acute or violent fever, an onset of severe fever.

[9] Though we would say ‘in his head’ most sickness hailed from the heart in Arthurian Legend.

[10]The -est suffix is used as the second person indicative

[11] From the Old French pröece, prouesce, proeësche, pröesse, pröose, prüesce. 1. (a) Bravery in battle or combat, valor; martial vigor, might, or skill.

[12] Forming complex adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions (mainly reflecting sense 3).

 P1. by (also †through) (†the) means (also †mean) of [compare Anglo-Norman par mene de (13th cent.), Middle French par le moyen de (15th cent.).] a. By the agency or instrumentality of. Malory uses this phrase 41 times in Le Morte.

[13]MED: not worth a ~, utterly worthless. An Old Icelandic insult.

[14]semblaunce (n.) Also semblance, sembela(u)nce, sembalaunce.[ OF semblance, AF semblaunce.]1. (a) Outward appearance, shape, form. Once again finding a term that would substitute for the word seems which does not appear in Le Morte at all proved difficult. Finally I came up with semblance.

[15]yẹ̄lden (v.) [ OE gildan, gieldan, geldan, gyldan; p. geald; pl. guldon; ppl. golden. Cp. AL geldāre.] 1a.

(a) To relinquish (sb. or sth.) voluntarily, give up. This was a complicated choice, because while Eddie did give up everything, I am not sure it was voluntarily.

[16]MED: bīten (v.(1)) Also bight(e. Forms: sg. 3 bīteth, bīt; p.sg. bōt, N bāt; p.pl. biten, bōt, N bāte(n; ppl. biten, ibite, bẹ̄ten, ibeete, bitte(n.[ OE bītan; bāt, biton; biten.] 3.(a) To gnaw or bite; (b) to seize or hold (with teeth or mouth)

[17] First appearing in 1393 in Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 2508 (MED) Wher such thing falleth overal That eny king himself misreule, The Philosophre..In special a cause sette.

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How Sir Lancelot Wrote a Letter Unto Guenever and How the Squire Lost His Way

So then it befell[1] that LANCELOT, soon after[2], found himself longing for word of GUENEVER, so LANCELOT sent by squire letters to the Lady. The squire was fresh[3], and knew not the way unto CAMELOT well, so he found himself in a passing[4] strange forest. 

There he met with a dwarf who proffered[5] to lead him through the forest. The dwarf said unto the squire, “ I shall help you through this forest, if ye[6] will let me go with you.” 

“I cannot take you,” said LANCELOT, “for I have no tell[7] of your coming to the KING, and he would become angry.” 

The dwarf, full of sorrow, thought well on it before saying, “Then ye shall give unto me a boon[8] when I ask it of you.” 

And so LANCELOT agreed to the request of the dwarf and led he them into the forest. 

[1]Befell:bifallen(v.)Alsobivallen,-feallen.Forms:p.bifel(l,-vell,-fill,-vill;bifeol,-ful(l;ppl.bifalle(n,-valle(n.[;OEbefeallan, fallan; bifēol (lbifeallen.] To come to pass, come about, happen, occur; -- (a) with noun or pron. as subj.; bifel the cas, it so happened; (b) with a subj. clause (with or without a preceding hit, it); (c) without a subject or with impers. hit, it.I chose this particular opening for my entry because it is a favorite way to introduce new scenarios by Malory. He uses this particular word 23 times in Le Morte, and of those 23, 11 of them are introductions to a personal pronoun. It should also be noted that after the word befell either the word ‘that’ and a pronoun follows or a description of time. Examples include: “THEN Queen Igraine waxed daily greater and greater, so it befell after within half a year, as King Uther lay by his queen, he asked her, by the faith she owed to him, whose was the body” (I.III.I), THEN it befell that Arthur and many of his knights rode a-hunting into a great forest” (VI.VI.I), and “It befell upon a day La Beale Isoud came unto Sir Tramtrist, and told him of this tournament” (I.IX.III).  

[2] My first inclination was ‘not long after’ however upon inspection this preposition was not in use at the time, however Malory did use the reverse ‘after long’ on occasion. Though the MED defines after-long (adv. & prep.) From end to end, lengthwise; alongside, along, I believe in the Caxton translation they use this to define periods of time, however this still does not fit. It appears that there was no negation of time in this manner therefore, I chose to use “soon after’ which Malory uses frequently. 

[3] frē̆sh (adj.) Also frech, fresk, fres(se, freesh, freish, vresse, vreish & fersh, firsh, firesc, versh, verss(e, verisse. [ OE fersc (cp. MDu. versch, OHG frisc) & OF fres, freis, (fem.) fresche (from Gmc .).]1.(a) Of recent making or occurrence, new, recent. Mallory uses this word 19 times. Examples: “Fair young knight, dismay you not, for had ye been fresh when ye met with me, as I was, I wot well that I should not have endured so long as ye have done; and therefore for your noble deeds of arms I shall show to you kindness and gentleness in all that I may” (IX.VIII.II), and “ And without the pavilions hung three white shields on truncheons of spears, and great long spears stood upright by the pavilions, and at every pavilion's door stood three fresh squires, and so Sir Launcelot passed by them and spake no word” (VI.VII.III). 

[4] passing(e (adv.) Also passende & (N) passand & (error) passyge. 2. Surpassing, pre-eminent; outstanding; extreme. Occasionally: excessive, very numerous. The OED states this term is now rare and usually used in poetry. Mallory uses it 253 times. Examples: “ And so by means King Uther sent for this duke, charging him to bring his wife with him, for she was called a fair lady, and a passing wise, and her name was called Igraine” (I.I.II), and “And there Sir La Cote Male Taile hurt and wounded him passing sore, and put him from his horse as he had been dead” (IX.III.IV).

[5] profre (n.) Also profer(e, proferre, propfer, propher, proffer, profur(e.[ AF profre (cp. CF porofre) & ML profrum.]1.(a) An act of offering or presenting a gift; an offer of a gift, money, reward, help, etc.; (b) an offer of battle, a challenge; a peace offer or proposal, an offer to surrender; fig. the Devil's challenge in spiritual struggles; ~ of pes; maken ~, to make peace; maken ~ to, challenge (sb.) to battle; (c) an offer of love; (d) an offering or a sacrifice. The word ‘offer’ is used once in Le Morte D’Arthur. Every other instance the word ‘proffered’ is used. I looked in several versions of the Caxton edition and they all show the same single use of ‘offer’. The only idea I’ve come up with is the one time ‘offer’ is used it when Excalibur is set on the altar in front of the Arch-bishop. Perhaps ‘offered’ is used to signify it is in offering to God.

[6] yẹ̄ (pron.) Also yeȝ, yhe, ȝe, ȝhe, ge, ie, iye, iȝe, (N or early) yie, ȝie, gie & (early) ȝeo, geo, (K) hye, (SEM) hie & (error) e, (errors) y, þe, he. Contractions: ȝet (= ye hit), yave (= ye have). 1c. As subject of a verb or occas. an implied verb, with singular referent: you, thou;—occas. used derisively:(a) used for a king, queen, or other ruler;(b) used for a master, an elder, or a social superior. Ye is the second person, plural, objective pronoun. Ye is used over 3000 times in Le Morte. 

[7] tellen (v.) Also tel(le, tele, til(le & (early SWM) tællen, tealen, (early infl.) tellenne & (error) tollen. Forms: sg.2 tellest, etc. & (early) telæ, (error) te; sg.3 telleth, etc. & tellethe, telth(e, tellet, -it, telliȝt, telluth(e, (SW) telt, (16th cent.) tellus & (early) tælleð, tællæð & (errors) telled, telleȝ, (error) tolth; pl. tellen, etc. & tellethe, tellus & (error) tellad; impv. telleth, etc. & (error) tellyd; p.sg.1 & 3 tōld(e, tōlid, tould(e, tē̆ld(e, telt, telled, tauld. 1a.(a) make mention (of sth.); talk (to sb.)  bi mouth, say (sth. to sb.)... 

[8] bọ̄n (n.(2)) Also bone, boin(e. Pl. (early) bọ̄nen & bọ̄nes. 2.A petition or request; asken, bidden, praien ~, ask (sb.) for a favor, make a request, petition or beg (sb. for sth.); haven ~, receive a favor or grant, have fulfillment of one's wish; graunten, yeten ~, grant (sb.) a request. Mallory uses this word a total of 22 times. Examples: “ Sir, said Tristram, as for that, I beseech you of your mercy that you will forgive it her, and as for my part, God forgive it her, and I do; and so much it liked your highness to grant me my boon, for God's love I require you hold your promise” (VIII.II.IXX), and  THEN upon a day King Anguish asked Sir Tristram why he asked not his boon, for whatsomever he had promised him he should have it without fail”(VII.XXIV.I).