As Mary and Irina discussed in the previous episode of Medieval LOLs, fabliaux had an enormous influence on Chaucer, but outside of his work, only one survives in Middle English. Dame Syrith, a story of lust, deception and a mustard-eating dog, is medieval humour at its silliest and most troubling. Mary and Irina explore the surprising representations of old women, magic and consent in fabliaux, the poem’s possible role as a pedagogical tool, and medieval audiences’ love for the procuress trope.

Read Dame Syrith here: https://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/salisbury-trials-and-joys-dame-sirth

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Further reading in the LRB:

Irina Dumitrescu: Making My Moan

https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v42/n09/irina-dumitrescu/making-my-moan

Tom Shippey: Women Beware Midwives

https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v12/n09/tom-shippey/women-beware-midwives

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