Note 1 — Chapter XVI

We make no attempt to translate Wace's Saxon; for which a previous examination of his original MS. not now in existence, would certainly be a necessary preliminary. The existing copies are obviously the work of French transcribers, wholly ignorant, no doubt, of the Saxon. The MS. of Duchesne is said to read, for the two first words, 'bufler' and 'welseil,' Three of the words sound at least like 'wassail,' 'drink to me,' and 'drink health' or 'half.' In the appendix to M. Raynouard's observations on Wace, some suggestions are given from high English authority; but they throw very little light upon the matter. See Jeffrey of Monmouth's story of Vortigern and Rowena. Robert de Brunne, in translating the passage, makes Rowena give this explanation of the Saxon custom:

This is ther custom and ther gest Whan thei are at the ale or fest; Ilk man that loves where him think Sall say wassail, and to him drink. He that bids sall say wassail; The tother sall say again drinkhail; That said wassail drinkes of the cup, Kissand his felow he gives it up; Drinkhail, HE says, and drinkes thereof, Kissand him in bord and skof. The king said, as the knight gan ken, Drinkhail, smiland on Rouwen; Rouwen drank as hire list, And gave the king, sine him kist. Ther was the first wassail in dede, And that first of fame gede; Of that wassail men told grete tale, &c.