V. THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR. We have here a short summary of K. Arthur's history as given by Geof, 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. 24,), 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 Manuscript. OF Brutus' blood, in Brittaine borne, Through Christendome, and Heathynesse, In Jesus Christ I doe beleeve; The Father, Sone, and Holy Gost, One God, I doe adore. In the four hundred ninetieth yeere, Over Brittaine I did rayne, After my savior Christ his byrth: The fellowshipp of the table round, And thirty sat alwayes: Who for their deeds and martiall feates, As bookes done yett record, 5 10 15 Ver. 1. Bruite his, MS.-Ver. 9. He began his reign A.D. 515, according to the Chronicies. Amongst all other nations Wer feared throwgh the world. And in the castle of Tyntagill And when I was fifteen yeere old, And drove the Saxons from the realme, Who had opprest this land; All Scotland then throughe manly feats Ireland, Denmarke, Norway, I conquered all Gallya, That now is called France; And slew the hardy Froll in feild My honor to advance. And the ugly gyant Dynabus So terrible to vewe, That in Saint Barnards mount did lye, By force of armes I slew: Ver. 23, She is named Igerna in the old Chronicles.-Ver. 24, his, MS.— Ver. 39, Froland field, MS. Froll according to the Chronicles was a Roman knight, governor of Gaul.-Ver. 41, Danibus, MS. B And Lucyus the emperour of Rome I brought to deadly wracke; And a thousand more of noble knightes Five kinges of [paynims] I did kill Whose carcasse I did send to Rome Cladd poorlye on a beere; Then I came to Rome, where I was mett Right as a conquerour, And by all the cardinalls solempnelye I was crowned an emperour. One winter there I made abode: How Mordred had oppressd the crowne: Att home in Brittaine with my queene; And soone at Sandwiche I arrivde. Where Mordred me withstoode : But yett at last I landed there, Ver. 49, of Pavye, MS. 75 80 85 For there my nephew sir Gawaine dyed, Being wounded in that sore, The whiche sir Lancelot in fight Had given him before. Thence chased I Mordered away, And still I him pursued with speed Where we did fight, of mortal life Till of a hundred thousand men There all the noble chivalrye Of Brittaine tooke their end. O see how fickle is their state That doe on feates depend! There all the traiterous men were slaine And there dyed all my vallyant knightes. Two and twenty yeere I ware the crowne And thus by death was suddenlye Deprived of the same. Ver. 92, perhaps jules. VI. A DYTTIE TO HEY DOWNE. Copied from an old MS. in the Cotton Library, [Vesp. A. 25,] intitled. 'Divers things of Hen. viij's time.' WHO sekes to tame the blustering winde, Or causse the floods bend to his wyll, To [change] things frame by cunning skyll: Who strives to breake the sturdye steele, Which never can by force be done: Who thinks to stryve against the streame, His travell ys forelorne and waste; So he lykewise, that goes about To please eche eye and every earc, A golden gyft with hym to beare; Ver. 4, cause, MS. 5 10 15 20 |