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OFr "s'esterchir": Horses rearing and rearing horses

1994; Verlag Vittorio Klostermann; Volume: 106; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

1864-0737

William Sayers,

Historical and Literary Studies

In the Jerseyman Wace's vernacular account of the Battle of Hastings in his Roman de Rou, Duke William prepares for battle below Senlac Hill. Donc se seigna, le hauberc prist, baissa son chief, dedenz le mist, la?a son helme e ceinst s'espee que un vaslet out aportee. Son been cheval fist demander; ne poeit l'en meillor trover, d'Espaigne li out envei? uns reis par mult grant amisti?, arme ne presse ne dotast se sis sires l'esperonast; Gauter Giffart Tout amen?, qui a Saint Jame aveit est?. Tendi sa main, les r?gnes prist, pi? en estrieu des?s s'asist, le cheval poinst e porsailli, torna e pos si s'esterchi.1 The purpose of this note is to enquire into the exact nature of William's horsemanship as here displayed, in particular the meaning of the reflexive verb sesterchir. Some addi tional context will prove useful. The passage continues: Li visquens de Toarz garda comment li dus armes porta, a sa gent a entor sei dit c'ommais si bel arm? ne vit, qui si gentement chevalchast ne qui si bel armes port?st, ne qui hauberc si avenist ne qui lance si bien brandist, qui en cheval si bien seist, qui se tornast ne si tenist. (11. 7547-60)