Digital Index of Middle English Verse: No. 74

DIMEV 74

IMEV 50

NIMEV 50

A Jews child in Buterie while by old daw

The little Jew, a miracle of the Virgin, in the South English Legendary — in couplets

Title(s): South English Legendary

Subjects: Virgin Mary, miracles of; miracles

Versification: — two-line — aa

Manuscript Witnesses:

1.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Laud misc. 463 (SC 1596), ff. 54va-55ra

First Lines:

A Giewes child in a time while bi olde dawe
Wiþ Cristen children ofte pleied as children wile fawe…

Last Lines:

…Elles þei hadden shrewen beo ffor þe miracle of þilk childe
Mani miracles man may telle of oure lady suete & mylde

Note: Two columns per page, one full-line, the other half-line.

2.Source: Oxford, Trinity College 57, ff. 52v-53

First Lines:

A gewes child in o tyme whyse be olde dawe
with cristene children ofte playde as children willeþ fawe…

Last Lines:

…Elles hy hadde scherewen y beo for þe meracle of þulke childe
Manye meracles me may ȝut telle of oure leuedy swete & mylde

Attributed Title: Miraculum Marie (RT, f. 52v)

3.Source: Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Library Addit. 3039, f. 107v

First Lines:

A Jewes childe in Bitury somtyme as storyȝ say
With crestyn childre oft he ȝode amange þaim to play
On þe Pasche day it befell þat cristen childre gon dragh
Vn to þe kirke with cristen folke as it was þer laghe…

Last Lines:

…Þis miracle verraly befell of þis ilk childe
Þurgh vertu of our swete lady þat euermore is meke & mylde

4.Source: Cambridge UK, Corpus Christi College 145, ff. 85v-86

First Lines:

A Giwes child in buturie wile bi olde dawe
Wiþ cristene childrene ofte pleide as children wolleþ ȝute vawe…

Last Lines:

…Elles hi hadde ssrewen i be for miracle of þulke childe
Of mo miracle me may ȝute telle of oure leuedi swete & milde

Editions:

D’Evelyn, Charlotte, and A. J. Mill, eds. The South English Legendary: Corpus Christi College Cambridge MS. 145 and British Museum MS. Harley 2277, with variants from Bodley MS. Ashmole 43 and British Museum MS. Cotton Julius D.ix. EETS o.s. 235 (1959), 236 (1956); repr. 1967: 227.

5.Source: Cambridge UK, Magdalene College Pepys 2344, pp. 303-304

First Lines:

A Gyewes child in Bytinye som tyme by olde dawe
Wiþ cristene children pleyde as children wolleþ ffawe…

Last Lines:

…Elles hi hadde schrewen ybeo nere miracle of þulke childe
Of mo miracles ich wolle ȝou telle of oure lady swete & mylde

Attributed Title: Miraculum Sancte Marie (RT)

6.Source: London, British Library Cotton Cleopatra D.IX, ff. 151v-152

First Lines:

[A] Giewes child in butterne iwhile bi old dawe
Wiþ cristen children ofte he pleide as children wolleþ fawe…

Last Lines:

…Elles hi hadde schrewen ibeo for miracle of þulc childe
Of mo miracles me mai telle ȝut of marie swete & milde

Note: Folio number reflects the most recent foliation. Space left for enlarged ‘A’, which was left blank.

7.Source: London, British Library Cotton Julius D.IX, f. 301v

8.Source: London, British Library Egerton 2891, f. 94v

9.Source: London, British Library Harley 2277, f. 60v

First Lines:

A gywes child in o tyme while bi olde dawe
Wyþ cristene childerne ofte pleide as childerne wolleþ ȝut faw…

Last Lines:

…Elles hit hadde schrewen ibeo for miracle of þulke childe
Meni miracles me mai ȝut tille: of oure leuedi suete & milde

Editions:

Tryon, Ruth Wilson. “Miracles of Our Lady in Middle English Verse.” PMLA 38 (1923): 308-81: 313-14.