by Charles Swan
And thou, O fairest princess under sky,
In this fayre mirrour maist behold thy face,
And thine own realms in lond of Faëry,
And in this antique image thy great ancestry.’1
“ It was not, however, solely from an unmeaning and a wanton spirit of refinement that the fashion of resolving everything into allegory, so universally prevailed. The same apology may be offered for cabalistical interpreters, both of the classics and of the old romances. The former, not willing that those books should be quite exploded which contained the ancient mythology, laboured to reconcile the apparent absurdities of the pagan system to the Christian mysteries, by demonstrating a figurative resemblance. The latter, as true learning began to dawn, with a view of supporting for a while the expiring credit of giants and magicians, were compelled to palliate those monstrous incredibilities, by a bold attempt to unravel the mystic web which had been wove by fairy hands, and by shewing that truth was hid under the gorgeous veil of Gothic invention.”2
1 Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, vol. iii. p. xiii.
2 In the application of the 10th Tale, the Book of Toblt is referred to.
3 Rel. of Anc. Eng. Poetry, ibid.
1 See Gesta Dei per Francos, p. 1152. Joinville (p. 42) is cited by Gibbon for a similar instance.
1 Hist of Eng. Poetry, Diss. 1.
2 Specimens of Anc. Met, Romances, vol. i. p. 31.
3 Rel. of Anc. Eng. Poetry, vol. iii. p. xii. Note.
1 Diss, on Romance and Minstrelsy, vol. i. pp. xx. xxi.
1 Du Cange; Gloss. Med. Inf. Lat tom, i., Præfatio, p. xxxii. 31.
2 Vol. i. p. 35.
3 Introduction to Amadis of Gaul.
1 Page 163.
2 Dissertation I. p. xxviii.
3 Mist, of Eng. Poetry, vol. i. p. 110.
4 Vol. i. p. 164.
1“The Edda was compiled, undoubtedly with many additions and interpolations, from fictions and traditions in the old Runic poems, by Soemund Sigfusson, surnamed the. Learned, about the year 1057.”—WARTON. But Warton has not proved his undoubtedly; and though I do not deny the probability of interpolations, I shall not relinquish the giants, &c, without further proof.
2 Monumens de la Mythol. et de la Poesie des Celtes, &c, p. 13, Pref.
3 “But the Asiatics were more quick-sighted; nay, they foresaw his journey, and deceived him with their enchantments. Then he beheld a lofty palace; its roofs were covered with golden shields, like a new roof. Thus Diodolfius speaks of it: ‘The Asiatics, more skilful, made the roof of shining gold, and its walls of stone; the foundations of the hall were mountains.’”—GORANSON, Lat. Tr. of the Edda.
Mythologie Celtique, p. 11.
1 Mythologie Celtique, p. 30.
2 Ibid. p. 36.
3 Ibid. p. 40.
4 Ibid. pp. 84 and 90.
5 The Apocryphal continuation of the Book of Esther, and Bel and the DRAGON, seem to bespeak the prevalence of this fiction in the East at a very early period.
6 Mist, of Fiction, vol. i. p. 165.
1 See Mosheim’s Eccles. Hist. Cent. I. and III.
1 The process by which Ulysses preserved himself from the charms of Circe is very similar to that which occurs in the story of “Beder Prince of Persia, and Giahaure Princess of Samandal,” in the Arabian Tales ; and the fable of the Cyclops is found in the third voyage of Sinbad the Sailor. But Homer is known to have been a great wanderer, and to have picked up much traditionary matter in the East and elsewhere. Speaking of the fable of Atalanta, Warton has observed (Diss, on the Gest. Rom. v. 3) that “It is not impossible that an oriental apologue might have given rise to the Grecian fable.” This, I am inclined to think, has often been the case.
1 There is in the British Museum, I understand, a TURKISH MS. poem, of which Alexander the Great is the hero. It is said to have been written in the 14th century, if not earlier.
2 I use this term, and one or two following, with some latitude. Gibbon calls the little town of Chrysopolis, or Scutari, “the Asiatic suburb of Constantinople:” and the extreme approximation of the two shores, the constant and easy intercourse from and before the time of Xerxes, &c, downward, not omitting the Asiatic population which has been so long naturalized there, sufficiently authorize the expression.
1 See Jerom. (tom. i. p. 126); Assemanni (Bibliot. Orient, torn. iv. p. 92, p. 857–919), and Geddes’s Church Hist, of ?thiopia, pp. 29, 30, 31.
2 Camden’s Britannia, vol. i. pp. 666, 667.
3 Gibbon’s Decline and Fall, vol. vi. p. 245–6, ed. 1811.
4 Essay on the Origin of Romantic Fooling in Ireland, p. 4. 4to.
1 “In fact, the two Gestas may just as well be considered the same work, as the different versions of The Wise Masters, or of Kalilah u Damnah. The term Gesta Romanorum implies nothing more than a collection of ancient stories, many of which might be the same, hut which would naturally vary in various countries according to the taste of the collector, in the same manner as different stories are introduced in the Greek Syntipas, the Italian Erastiis, and English Wise Masters.”—DUNLOP, Hist. of Fiction, vol. ii. p. 170.
1 Warton, Dissert, on Gest. Rom. p. vii.
2 London. Printed for J. Windet, 1606.
3 Act III. p. 39. 1611.
4 Warton.
1 Douce, Illustr. of Shakespeare, vol. ii. p. 362.
2 Ibid. p. 364.
3 I follow a copy printed in 1703, “for R. Chiswell, B. Walford, G. Conyers, at the Ring in Little Britain, and J. W.” It is a reprint of the edition of 1648, containing forty-four stories; and is rather scarce. The title-page assures us that it is “very pleasant in reading, and profitable in practice.” I hope it may be found so. Amongst the late Sir M. M. Sykes’s books was a Black Letter copy of the same work, printed in 1672, “by Edward Crowch for A. Crook.” It is in excellent condition, which most other copies are not.
1 Setting aside the tragical part of this story, it would be susceptible of much comic effect.
1 It is curious that the difference in the editions of the Wise Masters Mr. Douce calls a MODIFICATION; but the same kind of thing in the Gesta is a distinct work.
2 Page 253, folio edit.
3 “Vol. iii. p. 647. Mr. Gough speaks of it as separately printed (Brit Topogr. ii. 27). It is also copied in Burton’s Unparalleled Varieties, p. 159, edit. 1699, 12mo, and The Gentleman’s Magazine, vol. i. p. 310. It has twice been versified: 1st, anonymously, under the title of A hue and cry after the Priest, or, the Convent, a Tale, 1749, 8vo; and 2ndly, by Mr. Jodrell, under that of The Knight and the Friars, 1785, 4to.”—DOUCE. It should be added that it has been a third time versified, by Mr. Colman, in Broad Grins, &c.
1 “Jones’s Reliques of the Welsh Bards, p. 75, where there is an old Welsh song, or Englyn, on the subject.”—DOUCE.
1 From Douce’s Abridgement of the Gesta Romanorum.
2 The dog is again introduced in Tale XVII.
1 On this story Schiller seems to have founded his legend of “Fridolin, or the Road to the Iron Foundery,” lately translated by Mr. Collier. In Schiller the cause of the youth’s purposed destruction is jealousy malignantly excited in the mind of his master, by Robert the Huntsman.
But the termination and most of the principal circumstances of the story are similar. Here, then, arises a pretty strong inference that Mr. Douce’s opinions relative to what he terms the English Gesta are not altogether accurate. Whence had Schiller this story, if not from the GESTA ? And if from thence, a copy of it was probably in his possession. The resemblance is too close to suppose it furnished by tradition, when there were actually several printed or MS. copies. And even in that view, it opposes the idea of an English origin, which is the hypothesis of Mr. Douce. Such are my sentiments; the following is the account given by Mr. Collier. “Not long subsequent to the first publication of ‘Fridolin,’ it became so great a favourite throughout Germany, that it was converted into a five-act play, by Holbein, the director of the theatre at Pra
gue; and during the fifteen years that followed, it was represented on most of the continental stages, with great success, other authors making use of the same story. It was also set to music by C. F. Weber, master of the chapel at Berlin, and in this shape it was extremely popular. Mr. Boettiger informs us that the origin of the story is an Alsatian tradition, which Schiller learnt when at Manheim. The probable adherence to this Volkssage, as far as was at all convenient, will account for the mode in which the author has treated some incidents. We know of no similar narrative, or ballad, in English.”—Remarks on “Fridolin” p. 37.
2 These omissions of Mr. Douce, it is presumed, indicate a less considerable variation than he supposed; while, at the same time, they go a great way to prove the two Gestas one.
* This incident will remind the reader of a similar one in Macbeth.
1 See Vincent of Beauvais, Spec. Theol. Let. viii. cap. 90, 91.
1 Met. lib. i. 20.
1 B. ii. Introd. St. vi.
2 WARTON, Introductory Disser. See Hist, of E. Poetry, vol. Hi. p. xciv. et seq. I cannot omit observing here, that in the opinions which I have hazarded, I am led by no presumptuous feeling to condemn those who think differently. I deprecate every suspicion to the contrary. While I am anxious to elucidate and establish my own sentiments, I retain the utmost respect and deference for those whose research, judgment, critical acumen, and ability, there is little merit in frankly avowing. And I take this opportunity of acknowledging the assistance I have derived from the invaluable labours of Mr. Douce and Mr. Ellis—not to mention a fund of information from Mr. Warton, which the reader will readily observe. The latter writer, whose inaccuracies have been the theme of every pen, it seems to me, has not been justly appreciated. That he is frequently incorrect is certain; but he is blamed by those who have not repaired his deficiencies, while they have forgot the difficulty of his undertaking, and the impossibility of preventing typographical errors in a work of such extent. A slight blunder, which I should think must have been unintentional (Isumbras for Ippotis), causes Ritson to accuse him of an “infamous lie!” See Diss. on Romance and Minstrelsy ; passim.
OUTLINES OF THE TALES.
I. A king’s daughter, guarded by five soldiers, elopes with a duke. She is subsequently received back by her father
II. Of duty towards parents
III. How that the law punishes not twice for the same offence
IV. Of the conflicting claims of mercy and justice
V. How a youth, taken by pirates, was left in prison by his father, but released by his captor’s daughter
VI. How that inconsiderate oaths do not continue of force for ever
VII. How a Roman nobleman had two sons, of whom one married a harlot, and was at first rejected but afterwards received by his father
VIII. Story of a statue with a golden ring, beard, and cloak
IX. How the son of a certain emperor wished to slay him, but was dissuaded from his purpose
X. Of the rings of Memory and Oblivion
XI. Story of the queen’s daughter who was nourished on poison
XII. Of a wonderful rivulet that flowed through the jaw’s of a putrid dog
XIII. A queen commits incest, but being penitent is saved
XIV. Story of a son who left his mother and rescued his father
XV. The life of St. Alexius
XVI. An emperor discovers a sarcophagus with certain words engraved on it
XVII. Story of Guido, who rendered six kinds of service to a certain emperor
XVIII. How a certain Julian unwittingly killed his parents
XIX. Of the quarrel between Pompey and Cæsar, and of the passage of the Rubicon
XX. How the Emperor Conrad unconsciously caused the fulfilment of a prophecy which had filled him with anger
XXI. How a king of Lacedæmon sent secret intelligence to his countrymen
XXII. How the Egyptians honoured Isis and Serapis
XXIII. Of the burning on the funeral pile of an emperor’s body
XXIV. Of a magician who enticed his enemies into an enchanted garden and destroyed them
XXV. A lady, whose dominions have been laid waste by a certain king, is defended by a pilgrim, who is slain during the battle
XXVI. Of a queen’s illegitimate son, who was clothed in garments half poor, half costly
XXVII. How an emperor left his daughter in charge of a seneschal, who disobeyed the orders given him, and was put to a miserable death
XXVIII. How, through the cunning of an old woman, a youth obtained the love of a noble married lady
XXIX. How the skin of a certain unjust judge was nailed on the judgment seat
XXX. How a certain king treated his generals when victorious
XXXI. The remarks of certain philosophers on the death of Alexander the Great
XXXII. Remark of Seneca on poisoned corpses.
XXXIII. Of a tree on which three successive wives of one man hanged themselves
XXXIV. Aristotle’s advice to Alexander
XXXV. How Roman noblemen became reconciled after being at variance
XXXVI. Discourse of a philosopher before a certain king
XXXVII. Of the wisdom displayed by an eagle when attacked by the serpent Perna
XXXVIII. A dove brings news to a beleaguered city
XXXIX. How discord between two brothers was brought to an end
XL. How a learned clerk discovered the infidelity of the wife of a certain knight
XLI. Of the self-sacrifice of an Athenian king
XLII. A prophecy concerning the fall of Rome
XLIII. Of a chasm in the midst of Rome, and how it was closed
XLIV. Of an artificer who made glass as flexible as copper, and of the wickedness of the Emperor Tiberius
XLV. Of the four reputed sons of a deceased king, and how it was decided which of them was really his
XLVI. How a certain man gathered more leaves than he could carry
XLVII. Of a Danish king who saw the three kings of Cologne in a vision
XLVIII. The story of Phalaris of Agrigentum and Perillus
XLIX. Of the treachery of the Duchess Rosimila and its reward
L. Of the Emperor Zelongus, who sacrificed his right eye for his son’s sake
LI. Tiberius Cæsar’s reason for allowing corrupt governors to retain their offices
LII. Noble conduct of Quintus Fabius Maximus
LIII. Of an old woman who prayed for the long life of Dionysius of Syracuse
LIV. How the Emperor Frederic the Second constructed a gate in Capua
LV. Allegory concerning Justice, Truth, Mercy, and Peace
LVI. How a prince caused a certain merchant to cease from envying him
LVII. Of the speaking statue in Rome, and of the wisdom of Focus the carpenter
LVIII. How a malefactor, who stated three indisputable truths, was dismissed unpunished
LIX. The story of the Emperor Jovinian
LX. Of a king’s daughter who was wonderfully swift of foot
LXI. How the Emperor Claudius gave his daughter in marriage to a philosopher
LXII. Of the portrait of the beautiful Florentina
LXIII. How a certain valiant knight won the daughter of an emperor
LXIV. How a certain king took a wise and beautiful virgin to wife
LXV. Of a king who, on a certain occasion, was obliged to let his horse go without food
LXVI. How a knight recovered her dominions for a certain lady, and was slain before he could be married to her
LXVII. Of two knights, one wise and one foolish, and of their miserable end
LXVIII. How the wife of a knight was rebuked by the crowing of two cocks, but not of the third
LXIX. Of the wonderful whiteness of the shirt of a certain carpenter
LXX. Of a king’s daughter who would be married only on the fulfilment of three conditions
LXXI. How a lame and a blind man arrived safely to enjoy a feast given by a certain king
&nbs
p; LXXII. Of a king who handed over his crown to his son, who, proving ungrateful, was afterwards deposed
XLXIII. How a certain fellow, desiring to cheat others, lost his eyes without getting any advantage
LXXIV. How a certain king bequeathed a golden apple to the greatest fool that could be found
LXXV. Of the three daughters of a king who, being widows, would not marry again
LXXVI. Of the wonderful skill and friendship of two physicians
LXXVII. Of the two daughters of a king
LXXVIII. Why a certain king’s daughter would not marry a second time