English Interjections in Fifteenth Century 3 
made to contain three of these expressions, all vigorous and highly 
colored. This is illustrated in line 2324, where Dyspare cries: 
“Out, harowe! hyll burneth! where shall I me hyde? ” 
SOME POINTS OF USAGE 
Common ejaculations of the fifteenth century are those express- 
ing sorrow, consternation, anger, or contempt, as we! harrowe! 
owe! owte! allas! tush! Those most typical, however, are the 
asseverations, or emphatic denials, which employ oaths and mutila- 
tions of the name of God. Familiar illustrations of the latter are 
the words Cock and Gog in various combinations. 
The romances have no rogues. Their characters move on so 
high a plane that the display of strong emotions is forbidden them. 
It is upon the more lowly that the plays depend for their color. 
As a rule, the exalted characters of the drama use no greater 
number or variety of exclamations than do heroes of chivalry. 
Even in the York cycle, Dominus employs practically no 
interjections. Once, indeed, he is made to say A! when in his 
sorrow he curses the serpent. But, throughout, his language is 
on a very dignified plane, as is that of the angels of heaven. The 
more noble among the human characters, such as Mary, Elizabeth, 
Simeon, and the three kings, are permitted the use of such ex- 
pressions as alas! and woe 1s me! But the shepherds, the soldiers, 
and the torturers have a wide range including interjections which 
I have not found elsewhere. In the York Mysteries the shep- 
herds use hudde! and colle! to express their astonishment when 
they see the star. 
Although these plays distinguish between the high and the 
lowly in the display of emotion, a closer distinction is made be- 
tween the good and the evil characters. Cain and Abel are both 
rustics, but Cain goes to the extreme in his use of abusive lan- 
guage, while his brother is mild and gentle-mannered. Lucifer 
and his angels are not restricted as to their exclamations, and 
Herod knows no bounds. It is interesting to note that Herod’s 
favorite ejaculation is the anachronistic by Mahounde! In this 
way the authors could best make known to a mediaeval audience 
the antipathy between Herod and those of the Christian faith. 
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