Of Pipino's version, and those founded on it,
including Ramusio, the names appear in the correcter forms Bolgana or
Balgana and Cogacin. Now all the forms Bolgana, Balgana, Bolgara,
and Cogatra, Cocacin appear in the Geographic Text.
Kaikhatu Kaan appears in the Pauthier MSS. as Chiato, in the Pipinian as
Acatu, in the Ramusian as Chiacato. All three forms, Chiato, Achatu,
and Quiacatu are found in the Geographic Text.
The city of Koh-banan appears in the Pauthier MSS. as Cabanant, in the
Pipinian and Ramusian editions as Cobinam or Cobinan. Both forms are
found in the Geographic Text.
The city of the Great Kaan (Khanbalig) is called in the Pauthier MSS.
Cambaluc, in the Pipinian and Ramusian less correctly Cambalu. Both
forms appear in the Geographic Text.
The aboriginal People on the Burmese Frontier who received from the
Western officers of the Mongols the Persian name (translated from that
applied by the Chinese) of Zardandan, or Gold-Teeth, appear in the
Pauthier MSS. most accurately as Zardandan, but in the Pipinian as
Ardandan (still further corrupted in some copies into Arcladam). Now
both forms are found in the Geographic Text. Other examples might be
given, but these I think may suffice to prove that this Text was the
common source of both classes.
In considering the question of the French original too we must remember
what has been already said regarding Rusticien de Pise and his other
French writings; and we shall find hereafter an express testimony borne in
the next generation that Marco's Book was composed in vulgari Gallico.
[Sidenote: Greatly diffused employment of French in that age.]
54. But, after all, the circumstantial evidence that has been adduced from
the texts themselves is the most conclusive. We have then every reason to
believe both that the work was written in French, and that an existing
French Text is a close representation of it as originally committed to
paper. And that being so we may cite some circumstances to show that the
use of French or quasi-French for the purpose was not a fact of a very
unusual or surprising nature. The French language had at that time almost
as wide, perhaps relatively a wider, diffusion than it has now. It was
still spoken at the Court of England, and still used by many English
writers, of whom the authors or translators of the Round Table Romances at
Henry III.'s Court are examples.[7] In 1249 Alexander III. King of
Scotland, at his coronation spoke in Latin and French; and in 1291 the
English Chancellor addressing the Scotch Parliament did so in French. At
certain of the Oxford Colleges as late as 1328 it was an order that the
students should converse colloquio latino vel saltern gallico.[8] Late
in the same century Gower had not ceased to use French, composing many
poems in it, though apologizing for his want of skill therein:
