Dialogues in French and English
Book Excerpt
24^6. Bogars in the French column (rendered by lewd freris, i.e. lay brothers) appears to be a mistake for Begars, Beghards.
26^37. Spoylle the cuppe. Another proof that Caxton had forgotten his English. The Flemish is spoel den nap, 'rinse the cup'; the English spoil of course never had the sense 'to rinse.'
29^12. Byledyng is an attempt at literal interpretation of the French deduit, delight.
29^13. Serouge (serourge) is properly 'brother-in-law'; it is not clear whether Caxton's rendering cosen alyed is a mistranslation, or whether the French word was used at Bruges in the extended sense.
30^4-6. This reference to the truce between the English and the Scots is not, as might perhaps be thought, an insertion by Caxton. Michelant considers the truce in quest