The Middle English Seven Sages of Rome
Published on 2. May 2026
Book
Hardback
200 pages
978-1-58044-714-0 (ISBN)
Description
The Middle English Seven Sages of Rome (c.1300) is a popular medieval framed narrative, translated from the French by an anonymous writer whom scholarship locates in London. It features a storytelling contest to save a prince from execution, with misogynistic tales of wicked women and wise counsellors, reflecting its Eastern origins and the medieval concept of a "mirror for princes".
The text relates a tale-telling competition between parties arguing for and against the execution of Florentine, the emperor of Rome's son. The emperor's second wife wants Florentine dead because he threatens her position at court; she tells tales of usurping sons and untrustworthy counsellors. In response, the sages tell tales of perfidious wives and the dangers of haste. The emperor vacillates until his son speaks in his own favour and the contest is decided.
The collection is one of the earliest Middle English examples of a set of "frame stories". The frame narrative of the Seven Sages originates in eighth-century Persia; it was well known during the Middle Ages, and was translated into all the vernaculars and Latin. This edition makes the Middle English poem newly available to students and researchers interested in topics including medieval misogyny, east-to-west cultural transfer, and the history of the exemplum and exemplary writing.
The text relates a tale-telling competition between parties arguing for and against the execution of Florentine, the emperor of Rome's son. The emperor's second wife wants Florentine dead because he threatens her position at court; she tells tales of usurping sons and untrustworthy counsellors. In response, the sages tell tales of perfidious wives and the dangers of haste. The emperor vacillates until his son speaks in his own favour and the contest is decided.
The collection is one of the earliest Middle English examples of a set of "frame stories". The frame narrative of the Seven Sages originates in eighth-century Persia; it was well known during the Middle Ages, and was translated into all the vernaculars and Latin. This edition makes the Middle English poem newly available to students and researchers interested in topics including medieval misogyny, east-to-west cultural transfer, and the history of the exemplum and exemplary writing.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Laminated cover
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-58044-714-0 (9781580447140)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Rory G. Critten is Assistant Professor of Medieval English Literature at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Alison Wiggins is Reader in English Language and Manuscripts in the English Language & Linguistics Subject Area, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Content
1. Acknowledgements
2. Abbreviations
3. Introduction
4. Glossed text with on page explanatory notes
5. Textual Notes
6. Bibliography
2. Abbreviations
3. Introduction
4. Glossed text with on page explanatory notes
5. Textual Notes
6. Bibliography