by Charles Swan
“The history of APOLLONIUS, KING OF TYRE, was supposed by Mark Welser, when he printed it in 1595, to have been translated from the Greek a thousand years before [Fabr. Bib. Gr. v. 6, p. 821]. It certainly bears strong marks of a Greek original, though it is not (that I know) now extant in that language. The rhythmical poem, under that title, in modem Greek, was re-translated (if I may so speak) from the Latin Du Freme, Index Author, ad. Gloss. Græc. When Welser printed it, he probably did not know that it had been published already (perhaps more than once) among the GESTA ROMANORUM. In an edition, which I have, printed at Bouen in 1521, it makes the 154th chapter. Towards the latter end of the xiith century, Godfrey of Viterbo, in his Pantheon or Universal Chronicle, inserted this romance as part of the history of the third Antiochus, about 200 years before Christ. It begins thus [MS. Beg. 14, c. xi.] :—
“Filia Seleuci regis stat clara decore
Matreque defuncta pater arsit in ejus amore.
Ees habet effectum, pressa puella dolet.
“The rest in the same metre, with one pentameter only to two hexameters.
“Gower, by his own acknowledgment, took his story from the Pantheon ; as the author (whoever he was) of Pericles, prince of Tyre, professes to have followed Gower.”—TYRWHITT.
“It is observable, that the hero of this tale is, in Gower’s poem, as in the present play, called prince of Tyre; in the GESTA ROMANORUM,2 and Copland’s prose romance, he is entitled King. Most of the incidents of the play are found in the Confessio Amantis, and a few of Gower’s expressions are occasionally borrowed. However, I think it is not unlikely that there may have been (though I have not met with it) an early prose translation of this popular story from the GESTA ROMANORUM, in which the name of Apollonius was changed to Pericles; to which, likewise, the author of this drama may have been indebted.
“The numerous corruptions that are found in the original edition in 1609, which have been carefully preserved and augmented in all the subsequent impressions, probably arose from its having been frequently exhibited on the stage. In the four quarto editions it is called the much admired play of PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE; and it is mentioned by many ancient writers as a very popular performance.”— MALONE.
“There are three French translations of this story, viz. ‘La chronique d’Appolin, Eoy de Thyr;’ 4to. Geneva, bl. 1. no date; and ‘Plaisante et agreable Histoire d’Appolonius Prince de Thyr en Affrique, et Boi d’Antioche; traduit par Gilles Coroset,’ 8vo. Paris, 1530; and (in the seventh volume of the Histoires Tragiques, &c, 12mo. 1604, par Francois Belle-forest, &c.) ‘Accidens diuers aduenus a Appollonie Boi des Tyriens: ses malheurs sur mer, ses pertes de femme et fille, et la fin heureuse de tous ensemble.’
“The popularity of this tale of Apollonius may be inferred from the very numerous MSS. in which it appears.
“Both editions of Twine’s translation are now before me. Thomas Twine was the continuator of Phaer’s Virgil, which was left imperfect in the year 1558.”—STEEVENS.
NOTE 30. Page 302.
From this story we learn (as Warton observes), “that when a company was assembled, if a juggler or minstrel were not present, it was the custom of our ancestors to entertain themselves by relating or hearing a series of adventures. Thus the general plan of the CANTERBURY TALES, which at first sight seems to be merely an ingenious invention of the poet to serve a particular occasion, is in a great measure founded on a fashion of ancient life: and Chaucer, in supposing each of the pilgrims to tell a tale as they are travelling to Becket’s shrine, only makes them adopt a mode of amusement which was common to the conversations of his age. I do not deny that Chaucer has shown his address in the use and application of this practice.”
Sir Walter Scott, in his notes to the third Canto of “Marmion,” cites this story immediately from Gervase of Tilbury (fitia Imperial. ap. Script rer. Brunsvic. vol. i. p. 797), without knowing apparently of its existence in the GESTA ROMANORUM. The knight’s name in Gervase is Osbert, which seems to form the only difference in the stories: Sir Walter mentions the adventure of two Bohemian knights, but not altogether as it occurs in the authority he has given. I shall transcribe the original.
“Nideriustelleth this story: In the borders of the kingdome of Bohemia lieth a valley, in which divers nights together was heard clattering of armour, and clamors of men, as if two armies had met in pitcht battell. Two knights that inhabited neere unto this prodigious place, agreed to arme themselves, and discover the secrets of this invisible army. The night was appointed, and accommodated at all assayes they rode to the place, where they might descry two battels ready ordered for present skirmish; they could easily distinguish the colours and pravant liveries of everie company: but drawing neere, the one (whose courage began to relent) told the other that he had seene sufficient for his part, and thought it good not to dally with such prodegies, wherefore further than he was he would not go. The other called him coward, and prickt on towards the armies; from one of which an horseman came forth, fought with him, and cut off his head. At which sight the other fled, and told the newes the next morning. A great confluence of people searching for the body, found it in one place, the head in another, but neither could discern the footing of horse or man; onely the print of birds feet, and those in myrie places, &c.”—HEYWOOD’S Hierarchie of the Blessed Angels, pages 554, 555. 1635.
“The most singular tale of the kind,” says Sir Walter Scott, “is contained in an extract communicated to me by my friend Mr. Surtees of Mainsforth, in the Bishopric, who copied it from a MS. note in a copy of Burthogge ‘On the nature of Spirits,’ 8vo. 1694, which had been the property of the late Mr. Gill, attorney-general to Egerton, Bishop of Durham.”—Notes to MARMION. This extract is in Latin; as it is certainly very curious, I annex a translation.
“It will not be tedious if I relate, upon the faith of a very worthy and noble person, a wonderful thing of this kind, which happened in our times. Balph Bulmer, leaving the camp (at that time pitched near Norham) for the sake of recreation, and pursuing the farther bank of the Tweed with his harriers, met by accident a certain noble Scot, formerly, as he thought, well known to him. The latter commenced a furious attack; and as it was permitted amongst foes during a contest (there being but a very brief space for question), they met one another with rapid course and hostile minds. Our knight, in the first career, unable to withstand the impetuous attack of his adversary, was thrown, horse and man, to the ground; and discharged copious streams of blood from wounds in the head and breast. He resembled a dying man, which the other observing, addressed him with soothing words; and promised assistance if he would follow his instructions, and abstain from every thought of sacred things. Moreover, on condition that he offered neither prayers nor vows either to God, the Virgin Mary, or to any saint whatever, he engaged to restore him to health and strength in a short time. The condition being complied with, in consequence of the agony he suffered, the cunning knave, murmuring I know not what kind of dishonest murmur, took him by the hand; and sooner than it is said, raised him upon his feet whole, as before. But our knight, struck with the greatest terror at the unheard of novelty of the case, exclaimed,’ My Jesus! ’ or something like it. Looking about him immediately afterward, he saw neither his enemy nor any one else; and the steed, which but very lately had been afflicted with a grievous wound, was feeding quietly by the river-side. He returned to the camp in great astonishment; and fearful of obtaining no credit, in the first instance concealed the circumstance ; but on the completion of the war he declared the whole to his confessor. There is no doubt but it was a delusion; and the vile deceit of that subtle cozener is apparent, by which he would have seduced a Christian hero to use forbidden aid. The name of this person (in other respects noble and distinguished) I forbear to mention ; since there is no question but the devil, by permission of God, may assume what shape he pleases; nay, even that of an angel of light; as the hallowed eye of the Almighty observes.”
The MS. Chronicle, Sir Walter adds, from w
hich this extract was taken, cannot now be found.
NOTE 31. Page 306.
Many strange stories are related of spirits; among others, let the reader take the following. A young and beautiful girl, of a noble Scottish family, consorted with a spirit, who was discovered in her bed. “The clamour flies abroad, the neighbours come in to be spectators of the wonderment, and amongst them the parson of the parish, who was a scholar, and a man of unblemished life and conversation: who seeing this prodigious spectacle, broke out into these words of St. John the Evangelist, Et Verbum caro factum est And the Word was made flesh: which was no sooner spoke, but the devil arose, and suddenly vanished in a terrible storme, carrying with him the roofe of the chamber, and setting fire on the bed wherein he had lien, which was in a moment burned to ashes. Shee was within three days after delivered of a monster, such as the father appeared unto them, of so odible an aspect, that the midwives caused it instantly to be burnt, lest the infamy of the daughter might too much reflect upon the inno-cencie of the noble parents.”—HEYWOOD’S Hiemrchie, lib. viii. p. 542.
“Another thing, much more admirable, hapned in the diocesse of Cullein. Diuers princes and noblemen being assembled in a beauti-full and faire pallace, which was scituate upon the riuer Rhine, they beheld a boat or small barge make toward the shore, drawne by a swan in a siluer chaine, the one end fastened about her necke, the other to the vessel, and in it an unknowne souldier, a man of a comely personage, and gracefull presence, who stept upon the shore: which done, the boat, guided by the swan, left him, and floted downe the riuer. This man fell afterward in league with a faire gentlewoman, married her, and by her had many children. After some yeares, the same swanne came with the same barge unto the same place; the souldier entring into it, was caried thence the way he came, after disappeared, left wife, children, and family, and was never seen amongst them after! Now who can judge this to be other than one of those spirits that are named INCUBI.”—Ibid., p. 541.
This beautiful incident of the swan drawing the boat occurs, I think, in “Morte Arthur.”
[Obviously we have here the story of Lohengrin in a very truncated form.—ED.]
NOTE 32. Page 315.
Scaci, Scacci, or Scachi—a, kind of chess: lejeu des Echecs. Thus called, according to Du Fresne, from the Arabic or Persian word, SCACH, or king, because this is the principal piece in the game. Pseudo-Ovidius (Lib. i. de Vetula) furnishes the following description, which will somewhat elucidate the text:—
“Sex species saltus exercent, sex quoque scaci,
Miles, et Alphinus, Roccus, Rex, Virgo, Pedesque,
In campum primum de sex istis saliunt tres,
Rex ; Pedes, Virgo: Pedes in rectum salit, atque
Virgo per obliquum, Rex saltu gaudet utroque,
Ante retroque tamen tarn Rex quam Virgo moventur,
Ante Pedes solum; capiens obliquus in ante,
Cum tamen ad metam stadii percurrerit, extunc
Sicut Virgo salit, in campum verò secundum
Tres alii saliunt, in rectum Roccus, eique
Soli concessum est ultra citraque salire.
Oblique salit Alphinus, sed Miles utroque
Saltum componit.”
Of the origin of this play the same worthy writer observes:—
“ Est alius ludus scacorum, Indus Ulyssis,
Ludus Trojana quern fecit in dbsidione,
Ne vel taederet proceres in tempore treugae,
Vel belli, si qui pro vulneribus remanerent
In castris: ludus qui castris assimilatur,
Inventor cujus jure laudandus in illo est,
Sed caussam laudis non advertunt nisi pauci.”
[To judge from Mr. Swan’s remarks contained in the foot-notes to this Tale, it might be imagined that “Schaci” were some entirely unknown game. It is nothing more nor less than chess; and the account of it, though rather careless, is quite clear when we take into account the way in which the game was played at the time when the Gesta was written. There is nothing erroneous in the description, but a good deal is omitted which ought to have been inserted, and certain statements are wanting in clearness. The description of the Eochus or Book requires no remark. Alphinus, the Bishop, is not so easily understood. The text is probably in fault, for it is not possible to reconcile all the statements made about this piece with one another. It should be remembered that the Bishop’s move was limited to two squares, and that he could leap over an intervening man, at the time this description was written. The Knight is described correctly, and its power was then what it is now. As to the Pawns, the King’s P. seems to be the Merchant, the Bishop’s P. the Wool-carder, and the Book’s P. the Husbandman. The Queen’s and Knight’s P. are not mentioned. The Pawns queened as with us; but though they attacked adverse pieces diagonally as with us, on capturing them they moved straight on. The Queen was the weakest piece on the board, only commanding the four squares of the same colour adjacent to that she stood on. The King moved as with us. He was allowed once in a game to move like a Knight. Apparently the operation of Castling is obscurely alluded to in the last sentence but one of the description.—ED.]
NOTE 33. Page 319.
“This fable is told in the Greek legend of BAELAAM AND JOSA-PHAT, written by Johannes Damascenus; and in Caxton’s GOLDEN LEGENDS, fol. 129. It is also found in CLEEICALIS DISCIPLINA of Alphonsus.”—WARTON.
Mr. Way has told this tale so beautifully, that no apology is necessary for its introduction here.
“THE LAY OF THE LITTLE BIRD.
“In days of yore, at least a century since,
There liv’d a carle as wealthy as a prince:
His name I wot not; but his wide domain
Was rich with stream and forest, mead and plain;
To crown the whole, one manor he possess’d
In choice delight so passing all the rest,
No castle, burgh, or city might compare
With the quaint beauties of that mansion rare.
The sooth to say, I fear my words may seem
Like some strange fabling, or fantastick dream,
If, unadvis’d, the portraiture I trace,
And each brave pleasure of that peerless place;
Foreknow ye then, by necromantick might
Was rais’d this paradise of all delight;
A good knight own’d it first; he, bow’d with age,
Died, and his son possess’d the heritage:
But the lewd stripling, all to riot bent,
(His chattels quickly wasted and forespent,)
Was driven to see this patrimony sold
To the base carle of whom I lately told.
Ye wot right well there only needs be sought
One spendthrift heir, to bring great wealth to nought.
A lofty tower and strong, the building stood
Midst a vast plain surrounded by a flood;
And hence one pebble-paved channel stray’d,
That compass’d in a clustering orchard’s shade :
Twas a choice charming plat; abundant round
Flowers, roses, odorous spices cloth’d the ground;
Unnumber’d kinds, and all profusely shower’d
Such aromatick balsam as they flower’d,
Their fragrance might have stay’d man’s parting breath,
And chas’d the hovering agony of death.
The sward one level held, and close above
Tall shapely trees their leafy mantles wove,
All equal growth, and low their branches came,
Thick set with goodliest fruits of every name.