--
VB
"Wood" is a common word for "mad" in Middle English it seems, so there
must be many poems that fit the bill. The best part of the most famous
Middle English poem has it:
from The Millers Tale
...Up stirte hire Alison and Nicholay,
And criden "Out" and "Harrow" in the strete.
The neighebores, bothe smale and grete,
In ronnen for to gauren on this man,
That yet aswowne lay, bothe pale and wan,
For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm.
But stonde he moste unto his owene harm;
For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun
With hende Nicholas and Alisoun.
They tolden every man that he was wood, <---here
He was agast so of Nowelis flood
Thurgh fantasie, that of his vanytee
He hadde yboght hym knedyng-tubbes thre,
And hadde hem hanged in the roof above;
And that he preyed hem, for Goddes love,
To sitten in the roof, par compaignye.
The folk gan laughen at his fantasye; ...
Since the man tricked was a carpenter, there must be some wood
mentioned. I'll be back...
Maybe I'd better change the question to "In a poem where "wood" means
"mad", what nearby word means "wood"?
--
Jerry Friedman, T. O. Goalpostmover
Holt
--
James
Bosk
--
James
Never mind I enjoyed reading The Millers Tale again. I have always
thought that "axed" was an ignorant way of saying "asked", but it
turns out it is the old-fashioned way. I take it the answer is not
"tymber".
...I trowe that he be went
For tymber, ther oure abott hath hym sent;
For he is wont for tymber for to go...
Or an old-fashioned way.
> I take it the answer is not
> "tymber".
>
> ...I trowe that he be went
Too bad that AFAIK "he be went" isn't quite AAVE, the way "axed" is.
> For tymber, ther oure abott hath hym sent;
> For he is wont for tymber for to go...
It's not, but it's a valiant effort. If you or James or someone finds
the T. O. answer, it will be easy to confirm, and it's closely
connected to the question title.
--
Jerry Friedman
In my final year studying English at school we studied "The Millers
Tale" for our exams. I am still amazed at how erotic, and rude, and
funny it is. Our other text was "Romeo & Juliet" so we went to see
Olivia de Havilland (topless aged 15 years) in Franco Zeffirelli's
1968 film. Learning was never such fun!
[ ... ]
> In my final year studying English at school we studied "The Millers
> Tale" for our exams. I am still amazed at how erotic, and rude, and
> funny it is. Our other text was "Romeo & Juliet" so we went to see
> Olivia de Havilland (topless aged 15 years) in Franco Zeffirelli's
> 1968 film. Learning was never such fun!-
BZZZT! Olivia Hussey. But thanks for playing.
--
Bob Lieblich
Who also went topless at 15
No sheep for you, Mr Hill!
--
Roland Hutchinson
He calls himself "the Garden State's leading violist da gamba,"
... comparable to being ruler of an exceptionally small duchy.
--Newark (NJ) Star Ledger ( http://tinyurl.com/RolandIsNJ )
Well, at least he didn't name Ollivia Newton-John.
--
Bob Lieblich
Is there any truth to the story that a set of triplets were given the
names Ollivia, Newton, and John?
I least I can link to that one without being arrested. For Laura:
Who only has one L.
--
Laura
(emulate St. George for email)
The T. O. poem is very short. Only 25 words have survived.
--
VB
T. O. Panellist
I wonder where dem foweles is. No, not that poem;
Frith.
Mark
Thank you!
Explanation:
Fowles in the frith,
The fisshes in the flod,
And I mon waxe wood.
Much sorwe I walke with
For best of bon and blood.
I /knew/ all those hours learning Britten's Sacred and Profane would
pay off in the end.
Mark
Your Middle English Cormo will arrive soon.
--
Jerry Friedman, T. O. Swain