No. xxxvii., in two leaves. A large extract from this romance has been given already above (p. 311.) Richard was the peculiar patron of chivalry, and favourite of the old minstrels and Troubadours. See Warton's Observ. vol. i. p. 29, vol. ii. p. 40. 26. Of the following I have only seen No. xxvii., but I believe they may all be referred to the class of romances. The Knight of Courtesy and the Lady of Faguel (Bodl. Lib. C. 39. Art. Sheld. a printed copy.) This Mr. Warton thinks is the story of Coucy's Heart, related in Fauchet, and in Howel's Letters (v. i. s. 6, 1. 20, See Wart. Obs. v. ii. p. 40.) The Editor has seen a very beautiful old ballad on this subject in French. 27. The four following are all preserved in the MS. so often referred to in the public Library at Cambridge (690. Appendix to Bp. More's MSS. in Cat. MSS. tom. ii. p. 394,) viz. The Lay of Erle of Tholouse, (No. xxvii.,) of which the Editor hath also a copy from "Cod. MSS. Mus. Ashmol. Oxon." The first line of both is, Jesu Chryste in Trynyte. 28. Roberd Kynge of Cysyll (or Sicily,) showing the fall of pride. Of this there is also a copy among the Harl. MSS. 1703 (3.) The Cambridge MS. begins, Princis that be prowde in prese. 29. Le bone Florence of Rome, beginning thus: As ferre as men ride or gone. 30. Dioclesian the Emperour, beginning, Sum tyme ther was a noble man. 32. In the Edinburgh MS. so often referred to (preserved in the Advocates' Library, W. 4, 1,) might probably be found some other articles to add to this list, as well as other copies of some of the pieces mentioned in it; for the whole volume contains not fewer than thirty-seven poems or romances, some of them very long. But as many of them have lost the beginnings, which have been cut out for the sake of the illuminations, and as I have not had an opportunity of examining the MS myself, I shall be content to mention only the articles that follow ;* viz. An old romance about Rouland (not I believe the famous Paladine, but a champion named Rouland Louth; query) being in the volume, No. xxvii., in five leaves, and wants the beginning. 33. Another romance, that seems to be a kind of continuation of this last, entitled, Otuel a Knight (No. xxviii., in eleven leaves and a half.) The two first lines are, Herkneth both zinge and old, That willen heren of battailes bold. 34. The King of Tars (No. iv., in five leaves and a half; it is also in the Bodleian Library, MS. Vernon f. 304), beginning thus: Herkneth to me both eld and zing, 35. A tale or romance (No. i., two leaves) that wants both beginning and end. The first lines now remaining are, The Erl him graunted his will y-wis. that 36. Another mutilated tale or romance (No. iii. four leaves). The first lines at present are, the sothe of the Reseyved bestow sone anon. gif zou will serve and with hir be. 31. The two knightly brothers Amys and To Mr. Steward will y gon. and tellen him Amelion (among the Harl. MSS. 2386, § 42) is an old romance of chivalry; as is also, I believe, the fragment of the Lady Belesant, the duke of Lombardy's fair daughter, mentioned in the same article. See the Catalog. vol. ii. of their titles, because they may enable a curious inquirer Some of these I give, though mutilated and divested to complete or improve other copies. 37. A mutilated tale or romance (No. xi. in thirteen leaves). The two first lines that occur are, hold That riche Dooke his fest I cannot conclude my account of this curious manuscript, without acknowledging that I was indebted to the friendship of the Rev. Dr. Blair, the ingenious professor of Belles Lettres in the University of Edinburgh, for whatever I learned of its contents, and for the important additions it enabled me to make to the foregoing list. To the preceding articles, two ancient metrical romances in the Scottish dialect may now be added, which are published in Pinkerton's "Scottish poems, reprinted from scarce editions." Lond. 1792, in 3 vols. 8vo. viz. 38. Gawan and Gologras, a metrical romance, from an edition printed at Edinburgh, 1508, 8vo., beginning, In the tyme of Arthur, as trew men me tald. It is in stanzas of thirteen lines. 39. Sir Gawan and Sir Galaron of Galloway, a metrical romance, in the same stanzas as No. xxxviii., from an ancient MS. beginning thus: In the tyme of Arthur an aunter* betydde By the Turnwathelan, as the boke tells; Whan he to Carlele was comen, and conqueror kyd, &c. Both these (which exhibit the union of the old alliterative metre, with rhyme, &c., and in the termination of each stanza the short triplets of the Turnament of Tottenham) are judged to be as old as the time of our King Henry VI., being apparently the production of an old poet, thus mentioned by Dunbar, in his "Lament for the Death of the Makkaris:" "Clerk of Tranent eik he hes take, That made the aventures of Sir Gawane." It will scarce be necessary to remind the reader, that Turnewathelan is evidently Tearne-Wadling, celebrated in the old ballad of the Marriage of Sir Gawaine. See the concluding Notes to No. 4, Series I. Book i., and No. 19, Series I. Book iii. Many new references, and perhaps some additional articles might be added to the foregoing list from Mr. Warton's "History of English Poetry," 3 vols. 4to., and from the notes to Mr. Tyrwhitt's improved edition of "Chaucer's Canterbury Tale," &c., in 5 vols. 8vo., which have been published since this Essay, &c., was first composed; but it will be sufficient once for all to refer the curious reader to those popular works. The reader will also see many interesting particulars on the subject of these volumes, as well as on most points of general literature, in Sir John Hawkins's curious "History of Music," &c., in 5 vols. 4to., as also in Dr. Burney's History, &c., in 4 vols. 4to. But whosoever contrarie doth prove, weare, But it would loose or else asunder teare. or gentlewoman drinke of that horne, but if she were true to her husband: and if shee were false she should spill all the drinke, and if shee were true unto her lorde, shee might drink peaceably and because of Queene So it happened to the false Florimel, st. 16, Guenever and in despite of Sir Launcelot du when -Being brought, about her middle small They thought to gird, as best it her became, But by no means they could it thereto frame, For ever as they fastned it, it loos'd And fell away, as feeling secret blame, &c. That all men wondred at the uncouth sight And each one thought as to their fancies came. But she herself did think it done for spight, And touched was with secret wrath and shame Lake, this horne was sent unto King Arthur.” -This horn is intercepted and brought unto another king named Marke, who is not a whit more fortunate than the British hero, for he makes "his queene drinke thereof and an hundred ladies more, and there were but foure ladies of all those that dranke cleane," of which number the said queen proves not to be one [Book II., chap. 22, Ed. 1632.] In other respects the two stories are so different, that we have just reason to suppose this Ballad was written before that romance was translated into English. As for Queen Guenever, she is here represented no otherwise than in the old Histories and Romances. Holinshed observes, that she was evil reported of, as noted of incontinence and breach of faith to hir husband." Therewith, as thing deviz'd her to defame: was untide. Thereat all knights gan laugh and ladies lowre, Till that at last the gentle Amoret Likewise assayed to prove that girdle's powre. And having it about her middle set Did find it fit withouten breach or let, Whereat the rest gan greatly to envie. But Florimel exceedingly did fret, And snatching from her hand, &c. As for the trial of the Horne, it is not peculiar to our Poet: It occurs in the old Romance, entitled "Morte Arthur," which was translated out of French in the time of King Edward IV., and first printed anno 1484. From that romance Ariosto is thought to have borrowed his tale of the Enchanted Cup, C. 42, &c. See Mr. Warton's Observations on the Faerie Queen, &c. The story of the Horn in Morte Arthur varies a good deal from this of our Poet, as the reader will judge from the following extract."By the way they met with a knight that was sent from Morgan la Faye to King Arthur, and this knight had a fair horne all garnished with gold, and the horne bad such a virtue, that there might no ladye Vol. I., p. 93. |