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Villon, Testament, Strophe CXXXVIII

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2020

A. H. Schutz
A. H. Schutz*
Affiliation:
Ohio State University
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Extract

Villon's propensity for punning needs no comment. It is not often, however, that an entire stanza of his represents a well-knit and complex chain of word-plays in the manner of the following one.

      Item, je donne a Basennier,
      Notaire et greffier criminel,
      De giroffle ung plain panier
      Prins sur maistre Jehan de Ruel,
      Tant a Mautaint, tant a Rosnel,
      Et, avec ce don de giroffle,
      Servir de cuer gent et ysnel
      Le seigneur qui sert saint Cristoffle.

Type
Research Article
Information
PMLA , Volume 55 , Issue 4 , December 1940 , pp. 931 - 933
Copyright
Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 1940

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References

1 Thuasne prefers Basennier to Basanier, given by Foulet.

2 Note roussin: “policier” (Sainéan, Sources indigènes, iii, 60, and Sources de l'argot ancien, ii, 250 and 441).

3 §185. It is to be noted that cloves are listed under cariofilus. I am indebted to Professor E. N. Transeau, department of Botany, Ohio State University, for the loan of his reproduction of the Grete Herball.

4 Champion, Villon, i, 185.

5 Cf. Echautard, La vie étrange de l'argot, p. 538, who cites Vidocq.