---
title: To this had they pledged themselves, that they would there slay him… — Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English… · tree and pragmatics
description: To this had they pledged themselves, that they would there slay him without respite or delay; and were it not that 'twere shame to themselves, and too great dishonour to one who bare the name of knight, they had hung him by the neck, on the border of the two lands, to shame King Arthur; so that all 
---

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# Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English Prose from the Mediæval Dutch, Opening, part 7, sentence 9

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To this had they pledged themselves, that they would there slay him without respite or delay; and were it not that 'twere shame to themselves, and too great dishonour to one who bare the name of knight, they had hung him by the neck, on the border of the two lands, to shame King Arthur; so that all his folk who were of the knightly order, and dwelt at his court, and sought for adventure, should shun their land when they heard the tidings of the vengeance wrought by them upon knights-errant who would prove their fate within those borders.

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**Who acts:** smart, neck, folk, errant · **What happens:** have, pledge, slay, bare, not hang, shame · **To what, where:** smart, Sir, name, delay, border, King

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This is a sentence of «Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English Prose from the Mediæval Dutch» by Jessie L. Weston, Opening, part 7. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (smart, neck, folk, errant), what happens, when and where, as Mova's frames read it from the tree.

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**Mova's own parse.** This tree may be wrong.

## The tree {#tree}

```conllu
# sent_id = book:pg8447:7:9
# text = To this had they pledged themselves, that they would there slay him without respite or delay; and were it not that 'twere shame to themselves, and too great dishonour to one who bare the name of knight, they had hung him by the neck, on the border of the two lands, to shame King Arthur; so that all his folk who were of the knightly order, and dwelt at his court, and sought for adventure, should shun their land when they heard the tidings of the vengeance wrought by them upon knights-errant who would prove their fate within those borders.
1	To	to	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	obl	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	pledged	pledge	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	12	advmod	_	_
12	slay	slay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
13	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	without	without	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	respite	respite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	delay	delay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	45	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	45	cc	_	_
20	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	45	aux:pass	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	45	nsubj:pass	_	_
22	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	45	advmod	_	_
23	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	45	mark	_	_
24	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	twere	twere	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	shame	shame	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	45	nsubj:pass	_	_
27	to	to	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
28	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	26	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	33	punct	_	_
30	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	33	cc	_	_
31	too	too	ADV	RB	_	32	advmod	_	_
32	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	33	amod	_	_
33	dishonour	dishonour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	conj	_	_
34	to	to	ADP	IN	_	35	case	_	_
35	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	33	nmod	_	_
36	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	37	nsubj	_	_
37	bare	bare	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	35	acl:relcl	_	_
38	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	39	det	_	_
39	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	obj	_	_
40	of	of	ADP	IN	_	41	case	_	_
41	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	39	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
42	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
43	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	45	nsubj:pass	_	_
44	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	45	aux	_	_
45	hung	hang	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	parataxis	_	_
46	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	45	obj	_	_
47	by	by	ADP	IN	_	49	case	_	_
48	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	49	det	_	_
49	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	45	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
50	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	53	punct	_	_
51	on	on	ADP	IN	_	53	case	_	_
52	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	53	det	_	_
53	border	border	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	45	obl	_	_
54	of	of	ADP	IN	_	57	case	_	_
55	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	57	det	_	_
56	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	57	nummod	_	_
57	lands	land	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	53	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
58	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	60	punct	_	_
59	to	to	PART	TO	_	60	mark	_	_
60	shame	shame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	45	conj	_	_
61	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	60	obj	_	_
62	Arthur	Arthur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	61	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
63	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	68	punct	_	_
64	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	68	case	_	_
65	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	64	fixed	_	_
66	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	68	det:predet	_	_
67	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	68	nmod:poss	_	_
68	folk	folk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
69	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	74	nsubj	_	_
70	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	74	cop	_	_
71	of	of	ADP	IN	_	74	case	_	_
72	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	74	det	_	_
73	knightly	knightly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	74	amod	_	_
74	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	68	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
75	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	77	punct	_	_
76	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	77	cc	_	_
77	dwelt	dwell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
78	at	at	ADP	IN	_	80	case	_	_
79	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	80	nmod:poss	_	_
80	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	77	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
81	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	83	punct	_	_
82	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	83	cc	_	_
83	sought	seek	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
84	for	for	ADP	IN	_	85	case	_	_
85	adventure	adventure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	83	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
86	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	88	punct	_	_
87	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	88	aux	_	_
88	shun	shun	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	83	conj	_	_
89	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	90	nmod:poss	_	_
90	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	88	obj	_	_
91	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	93	advmod	_	_
92	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	93	nsubj	_	_
93	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	88	advcl	_	_
94	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	95	det	_	_
95	tidings	tiding	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	93	obj	_	_
96	of	of	ADP	IN	_	98	case	_	_
97	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	98	det	_	_
98	vengeance	vengeance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	95	nmod	_	_
99	wrought	wrought	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	95	acl	_	_
100	by	by	ADP	IN	_	101	case	_	_
101	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	99	obl	_	_
102	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	103	case	_	_
103	knights	knight	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	99	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
104	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	105	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
105	errant	errant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	103	appos	_	_
106	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	108	nsubj	_	_
107	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	108	aux	_	_
108	prove	prove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	105	acl:relcl	_	_
109	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	110	nmod:poss	_	_
110	fate	fate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	108	obj	_	_
111	within	within	ADP	IN	_	113	case	_	_
112	those	that	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	113	det	_	_
113	borders	border	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	108	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
114	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

## Pragmatics {#pragmatics}

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past |  |  |  |  |  | to this; so Sir's folk | tree rules |
| 2 | **pledge** | past | smart | smart |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent themselves=Theme |
| 3 | **slay** | would | smart | Sir |  | there |  | without respite or delay | vn murder-42.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Patient |
| 4 | **bare** | present |  | the name of knight |  |  |  | who *nsubj* | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent name=Patient |
| 5 | **not** **hang** | past · perfect · passive | the neck | delay |  | the border of the two lands |  | twere shame to smart and great dishonour to one *nsubj:pass*; smart *nsubj:pass*; Sir *obj* | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Agent subject=Patient he=Result |
| 6 | **shame** | to-infinitive | the neck *not said here* | King |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus king=Experiencer |
| 7 | **is** | past | Sir's folk |  |  |  |  | of the knightly order | tree rules |
| 8 | **dwell** | past |  |  |  | Sir's court |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at court=Location |
| 9 | **seek** | past |  |  |  |  |  | for adventure | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V PP.theme PP.location»: agent=Agent for adventure=Theme |
| 10 | **shun** | should |  | smart's land |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent land=Location |
| 11 | **hear** | past | smart | the tidings of the vengeance |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer tiding=Stimulus |
| 12 | **wrought** | participle |  | the tidings of the vengeance *not said here* |  |  |  | by smart; upon knights | tree rules |
| 13 | **prove** | would | errant | smart's fate |  |  |  | within that borders | vn deduce-97.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fate=Theme |
| 14 | **name** |  |  | knight |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: of=patient |
| 15 | **fate** |  | smart |  |  |  |  |  | nom fate «event transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

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**Text:** «Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English Prose from the Mediæval Dutch» by Jessie L. Weston, Project Gutenberg book 8447 (public domain in the USA). **Tree:** Mova's own parse, Elamur Cosmic License. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), the chapter read in order.

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