English Interjections in Fifteenth Century 45 
haa, haha. Ina purely vocative use, equivalent to ah! 
Eneydos, ch. 54: haa, goode kynge! Eneydos, ch. 57: Ha, 
ha, valyaunte bacheler. 
Ow(e), O00, O. A mild interjection here, equivalent in force to 
modern ah. 
Assembly of Gods, 1930: Oo, Lord God! seyde Doctrine, 
canst thow not? Mankind, 816: O Mankend, ... pis is a 
lamentabyll excuse. Mankind, 818: O, blyssed Ihesu, help 
thou this synful synner to redeme! Castell of Perseverance, 
830: Ow, Mankynde! blyssyd mote pou be! Castell of Per., 
1224: Owe, Slawthe, thou seyst me skylle! 
so. Apparently used as modern so, to express a mild sympathy. 
In the example quoted, the use is rather jesting. 
Magnyfycence, 2071: A, so! that syghe was farre fet! 
well. Merely an introductory expletive. OE. wel is cognate 
with wil] in the sense of agreeably to wish. Cf. farewell! in 
SOREL @ x, 
Morte Darthur, xx, ch. 12: Wel, wel, sayd Sir Gawayne to 
Launcelot—thou shalt not escape my hands. Magnyfycence, 
300: Wel, wyse men may eat the fysshe, when ye shal draw 
the pole. 
405 
