A hande and an arme did meete the sworde, 170 And of the duke was seene noe mair. All sore astonied stood the duke; He stood as still, as still mote bee: 175 But he was gone from under the tree. But to what place he cold not tell, For never after hee did him spye: And whether the kinge were there, or not, 180 V. 178, see. MS. * Not unlike that passage in Virgil : Summoque ulularunt vertice nymphæ. Ladies was the word our old English writers used for nymphs: as in the following lines of an old song in the Editor's folio MS. "When scorching Phœbus he did mount, Then Lady Venus went to hunt : To whom Diana did resort, With all the Ladyes of hills, and valleys, V. The Legend of King Arthur. We have here a short summary of King Arthur's history as given by Jeff. of Monmouth and the old Chronicles, with the addition of a few circumstances from the romance Morte Arthur. The ancient chronicle of Ger. de Leew, (quoted above in p. 67,) seems to have been chiefly followed: upon the authority of which we have restored some of the names which were corrupted in the MS. and have transposed one stanza, which appeared to be misplaced, [viz. that beginning at v. 49, which in the MS. followed v. 36.] Printed from the Editor's ancient folio MS. OF Brutus' blood, in Brittaine borne, Through Christendome, and Heathynesse, Well knowne is my worthy fame. In Jesus Christ I doe beleeve; I am a christyan bore: The Father, Sone, and Holy Gost One God, I doe adore. In the four hundred ninetieth yeere, 5 Oer Brittaine I did rayne, Ver. 1, Bruite his. MS. 10 V. 9, He began his reign A.D. 515, according to the Chronicles. After my savior Christ his byrth : The fellowshipp of the table round, Soe famous in those dayes; V. 23. She is named Igerna in the old Chronicles. Soe terrible to vewe, That in Saint Barnards mount did lye, By force of armes I slew : And Lucyus the emperour of Rome I brought to deadly wracke; And a thousand more of noble knightes For feare did turne their backe: 45 Five kinges of paynims' I did kill Amidst that bloody strife; Besides the Grecian emperour Whose carcasse I did send to Rome Cladd poorlye on a beere; 50 V. 39, Froland field. MS. Froll, according to the Chronicles, was a Roman knight, governor of Gaul. V. 41, Danibus. MS. V. 49, of Pavye. MS. And afterward I past Mount-Joye The next approaching yeere. Then I came to Rome, where I was mett And by all the cardinalls solempnelye I was crowned an emperour. One winter there I made abode : Then word to mee was brought Howe Mordred had oppressd the crowne: |