Old French II

Christophe Grandsire scripsit:

> >                 Charles li reis, nostre emperesdre magnes,
> >                 Set anz totz pleinz ad ested in Espagnes.
[snip]

> Yep, Old French.
Okay, since the text dates from 1100, we can agree that anything after
that is French.

> Well, I don't seem to be able to translate the second line, its syntax looks
> much too alien for me :(( .
Well, I don't want to spoil your fun.  For me the key was to realize
that "set" is modern "sept".

FWIW, supposedly "ad ested" was pronounced [aD'Est@D].

It's also interesting to notice the rhythm, which is much more like
that of modern (and Middle) English verse than French verse:

                Charles li reis, nostre emperesdre magnes,
                  -  x   x  -     x     -  x -   x -   x
                Set anz totz pleinz ad ested in Espagnes.
                 x  -    x     -    x  -  x  -  x  -  x

--
John Cowan        http://www.ccil.org/~cowan          jcowan@reutershealth.com
Please leave your values        |       Check your assumptions.  In fact,
   at the front desk.           |          check your assumptions at the door.
     --sign in Paris hotel      |            --Miles Vorkosigan

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