English Interjections in Fifteenth Century 35 
behold(e). OE. dihalden and modern German behalten are cog- 
nate. The application of the, word to watching is, among 
modern languages, confined to the English. But Gothic records 
halden only in the meaning watch over, guard, herd cattle. 
Hence beholde is equivalent to the phrase, hold in observation. 
Occleve, To the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of God, 126: 
Beholde! Digby Plays, Conversion of Saint Paul, 412: Ho, 
ho, be-holde me, the mygte prince of the partes infernall. 
ey. Compare other uses in sections I and XIV. Here ey is 
equivalent to ho! or hail! 
Mankind, 337: Ey, Mankynde, Gode spede yow with yowur 
spade! Castell of Perseverance, 2367: Ey, for Beyalys bonys, 
pe kynge, where-a-bowte stonde ye al day? 
hark, herke, herkyn. As in modern use. The imperative form. 
ME. hercnen, hercnian, from OE. heorcnian, hercnian gives 
hearken, from the source of Eng. hark. German horchen. 
Mankind, 479: Herke now! I say pou hast many a peny? 
York Plays, xv, 37: Herkyn to me! York, xxix, 132: Herke! 
Knyghtis. Nativity: Hark, Sim, hark! J hear our brother on 
the lo. Towneley, xii, 264: Bot hark! who so can best syng. 
Magnyfycence, 1110: Ha, ha, ha! herke, Syrs, harke! 
Towneley, xii, 296, Angelus: herkyn, hyrdes, awake! Nativity: 
Hark! they sing above in the clouds clear. York, xxix, 276: 
Herke! Jesus of Jewes will haue joie. 
hay. Cf. hay expressing merriment, in X above. In modern 
usage, commonly spelled hey! ‘Scotch (h)ot! 
Magnyfycence, 303: Go shake the, dogge, hay! Mankind, 
713: Hay, doog! hay, whoppe! whoo! Magn., 1118: Hay, 
chysshe! come hyder ! 
hem. See hem expressing doubt or disapproval, in XV above. 
Magnyfycence, 779: Hem, Colusyon! Magn., 1198: Hem, 
Fansy.! regardes, voyes vous. 
ho(o). Cf. ho used in anger, IV above. 
The Nativity: What ho! fellows! ho! ho! ho! London Lyck- 
penny: And one cryed “Hoo! go we hence!” 
395 
