Re-evaluating ‘Satire’ in London, British Library, MS Harley 913 : a microcosmic approach

The Middle English poem known as 'Satire' in London, British Library, MS Harley 913, was transcribed in Ireland around 1330 or a little later 1) .It is the only text of its kind found in Middle English literature.The poet addresses nineteen different individuals or social groups of people, devoting to each one a single stanza: the first five are saints 2) , followed by five religious orders, and lastly nine tradespeople.All of them, except one, are made objects of satire or ridicule.The concluding stanza indicates that the poem is a drinking song about people who live in Ireland (ll.115-118) .'Satire' has not been sufficiently studied as an integral work embodying an authorial purpose.This is probably because it conveys the initial impression, in Seymour's words, that it is 'plainly the work of a wild harumscarum Goliard, a youth bubbling over with mirth and mischief' 3) .The 1) Michael Benskin, 'The style and authorship of the Kildare Poems: (I) Pers of Bermingham', in In