5 MSS: A (32r-v) Marcabruns, I (119v) Marcabrus, K (105v) Marcabrus, a1 (303–304, the latter misnumbered as 305) Marcabruus, d (306v) Marcabrus

Analysis of the manuscripts

14 and 18 appear to contain archetype errors.

X–XIII contain several graphics not normal in A (for example estes in 51, guiarei in 54, fait in 57), and this suggests that these stanzas (and possibly VI, though this contains no aberrant graphics) were later additions to A’s source (perhaps a marginal addition by a different hand in A’s immediate source). Poem IV is another example where A appears to have had an extra source.

Common errors link IK in lines 10, 24, and probably 9; a1 contains errors in lines 20, 22, 25 and 39, various additions by the corrector (4, 11, 12, 25, and so on) including some odd ones (11, 12, 37), Apart from the extra stanzas, A contains isolated readings of potential interest in lines 6 (diffitilior), 19, 22, and an isolated error in 41. Aside from the case of errors at the rhyme, IK diverge from Aa1 in lines 13–14 and, despite a difference between Aa1, 18.

A is the obvious choice of base given its fuller transmission. Stanzas VI and X were doubtless lost somewhere along the line of transmission of IKa1 since their rhymes are required to complete the pattern of cohlas doblas. a1 is untidy but offers potentially useful corrections.

Versification

Frank, Repértoire, 117.3: aS a8 b8 a8 b8. Ten cohlas doblas, with apparently three tornados of four, four and three lines. Billy (Architecture, p. 145) calls this ‘dominante coblas doblas’, since the ‘b’ rhyme is constant. Chambers (Introduction. p. 68) comments on the apparent use of artificial forms for the sake of the rhyme in 24 and 26, but for this and the tornados see the notes to 24, 26, and 51–61. Spanke (Marcabrustudien, p. 22) notes similar verse forms in OF, Latin, Italian and Castilian lyrics.