Arnoul Gréban, le Picard

Abstract

It was long believed that Arnoul Greban, the author of the Mystère de la Passion, was born in the city of Le Mans and it was often emphasized his links with Paris, where his work was played. Yet, we now know that he was a native of Cambrai. Examination of the language he uses reveals that it bears sharp Picardy markings. We have noted here some graphic forms and especially twenty typical words: admonstrer, amais, amés, bescousse, broignee, bucquier, depostir, despaisier, encepper, ensoinne, esseullé, famis, forbastir (ou forbatre), fouans, hastereaux, loudier, palletoz, puraine, rapostir, scrutiner. We have been able to add two lexical picardisms, hitherto unknown, fremeux, which is the past participle of the verb formouvoir, et brioler, which is the good lesson in a passage often modified by the copyists.