Cornell University Library BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF Henry W. Sage 1891 GS a eel alam] lle. \ ‘a “Snbenire.” 4 [FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 1882. —“p No. VIII. @he Bomance of Ortabian, __ EMPEROR OF ROME. ABRIDGED FROM A | Manuscript in tBe Bodteian Library | | (CIRCA 1250.) BY THE Rev. J. J. CONEYBEARE. Any Enited wtth Additional Notes By E. M. GOLDSMID. > ee “Boy, D Books, are the Oolnen Gessels of the Ceinple ; Hurning tamps to he helv mm the band.” + RICHARD AUNGERVYLE, ~€ Read of the Society are requested to communicate any Bibliographical Rarities they may possess to the Hon. Secretary, E. M. Goldsmid, 30 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, for Publicaten. RAN RNAS NR ee ee Noricr.—The Pagination of the Society’s Publications will be a double one, the pages of each work reprinted will be sepa- rately numbered a¢ the top, while. each yearly series will be consecutively numbered af ¢he dottem. Members can’ thus bind the works as they may prefer. “INVENTRE” \ oe ean a { me A stone 3 eh ix t ppc remy | Vo wa cua te 2.-)} The | Romane of Octavia, EMPEROR OF ROME. 5 ABRIDGED FROM A (Manuscript in (Be Bodleian LRiGeary, BY THE Wt Gg Sle Rey. J. J. CONEYBEARE, !°79+ |@2¥ And Entted with Additional Notes By E. M. GOLDSMID. “* You, O Books, are the golden vessels of the Temple ; burning lamps to be ever held in the hand.” RICHARD AUNGERVYLE. PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR THE AUNGERVYLE SOCIETY, EDINBURGH. 1882, EY, H Ir A dhe say * ~ Jmpression limited to 150 Copies, of which this rs mad, Jb Ing Jnévoduction, sLMOST all the particulars which are known respecting the Romance of Octavian will be found either in Mr. Coneybeare’s original preface or in the notes attached thereto. Mr. Coneybcare never published this work: fifty copies only were privately printed for distribution amongst his personal friends. The interest of the story itself, and its extreme rarity, may give it some value in the eyes of lovers of literary antiquities. Its great similarity in one part to the story of Una and the Lion in the Fagrie Queene also gives it an interest which is want- ing in ae the old romances. As regards the present edition, few changes have been made by the present Editor. In a few instances, indeed, where the exact meaning of the old Troubadour’s language had escaped Mr. Coneybeare, the sense has been re-established ; one inci- dent, where Mr. Coneybeare had followed the English version of the Cotton MS., has been replaced by that given in the French original; but beyond these, the text, even to the doubtful spelling and singularly frequent mingling of the past and historical present tenses, is a simple reprint of that of the edition of 1809. The greatest change occurs in the notes both to the preface and to the romance itself. The present Editor is responsible for all notes bearing the initials E.M.G.; the others are Mr. Coneybeare’s, with some slight alterations in the wording, and some omissions where the notes of the 1809 edition appeared superfluous at the present time. But these omissions are few in number, as it has been the desire of the Editor to make as few changes as possible, 135 4 Aungerbyle Soctety Meprints. The name of the Author is unknown. That it was written in this ccuntry seems probable from the fact that St. George appears as the champion of the Christian army. St. Denis was the patron saint of France, and “ Monjoye* St. Denis” the battle cry of the French.f Had the work been written in France, to St. Denis and not to St. George would the victory have been attributed. E. M. G. * It was the custom of pilgrims to holy places to leave knotted branches of the Genista or other plants on their way, upon little heaps of stones, to guide those who followed them. These were called Montjoyes by the pilgrims. A hill near Jerusalem whence a first glimpse of the holy city was caught, was called Mount Joy or Montegioia; it was surrounded by a tower for the protection of pilgrims, and an order of knights instituted for their defence (Ashmole). Hence the term was applied to wayside marks, and sometimes to towers of refuge. Near St. Peter’s was a Mont- joye by which pilgrims knew that they were near the church; and the Emperor Frederic I. stopped at the Montjoye tower. Crosses marked the road from Paris to St. Denis. Pilgrims called the seroad-signs Montes Gaudii or Montjoyes, because when they saw them they began to rejoice at having reached their journey’s end. A heap of stones surmounted by a knotted branch of the Genista was the device of the Dukes of Gueldres, with the motto: “ Sans outre Guide.” The Kings of England for a time adopted the cry of “Montjote St. George/” (Palliser.) But Richard }. changed it to “ Guyenne au Rot d’ Angleterre!” and the Black Prince at the battle of Poitiers to “St. George, Guyenne !” + Henault, “ Histoire de France,” Vol. I, p. 32. Original Preface, =a) HE Metrical Romance, of which the following pages contain an abstract, is preserved among the manu- scripts bequeathed by Hatton to the Bodleian Library (No. 100). It is written on parchment, of a quarto form, and small size (scarcely exceeding the height of a modern duodecimo). The handwriting appears to be of the thirteenth or fourteenth century.(a@) It is without illumina- tions, and has been in some places slightly injured. The length of the poem amounts to about 5600 lines. Such is, perhaps, the only transcript at present existing of a work, which in its day appears to have enjoyed no inconsider- able share of popularity. It is enumerated by more than one authority among the romances of the highest repute, and appears, from a document preserved by Tyrwhitt, to have furnished a subject for the tapestry which ornamented the palace of Henry the Fifth.(é) A translation, or rather abridge- ment in English verse, in most respects far inferior to the original, is contained in a highly curious volume of manuscript English poetry, preserved in the British Museum (MS. Cotton. Caligula. A. I.) From that volume the late Mr. Ritson extracted many of the metrical romances published by him in (a) Mr Coneybeare saw reason to alter this opinion. He came to the conclusion that the manuscript could not be older than the middle of the thirteenth century.— (E.M.G.) (6) See the Glossary to Tyrwhitt’s Chaucer, under the word Octavien ; and Warton’s “ History of English Poetry,” Vol. L, pp. 119 and 207. ‘ 137 6 Aungerbyle Soctety Reprints. the year 1803. It were to be wished that the rarity of Octav- ian had induced that accurate antiquary to admit it into his collection.(c) Another poem with the same title is said by Warton to be preserved in the public Library at Cambridge : this the present Editor has not had any opportunity of consulting. He cannot discover that any other copies, either of the original or translation,are extant in England ;(@) nor (as far as his researches have extended) does any notice of it occur in French writers on these subjects.(e¢) The copious and well arranged catalogue of early French productions, affixed to the Dictionaire de la Langue Romane of Roquefort, does not mention it.(7f) While, however, in these countries, our Romance has gradually sunk into oblivion, it has experienced in another quarter a fate somewhat different, though perhaps not less dishonourable. The Editor is informed by Mr. Weber, (whose extensive and accurate acquaintance with the (c) An edition was printed, it is presumed by Copland, towards the end of the sixteenth century with the following title :— Here begpnneth Detabpen the Emperoure of Rome. —London, 4to. The only known copy was sold at Heber’s sale, part iv., for £2, 11s. It was imperfect at the end; on the title was a curious woodcut.—(E.M.G.) (@) A MS. English translation exists at Lincoln. (See Percy Society Appendix.) In the third volume of Weber's collection is printed a very singular version. It is remarkable both for the singularity of its stanza and for its being a curious specimen of Hampshire dialect, nearly as it is now spoken.—(E. M. G.) (é) The romance of “ Florient et Octavien” is well-known to all students of early French literature. A MS. version, differing, however, in many respects from the Bodleian one, is preserved in the Bibliothéque de VArsenal, Paris.—(E. M. G.) ({) It may be proper to add, that the Romance entitled, “ Le Chevalier au Lions,” and attributed by Fauchet to Chrestien of Troyes, does not appear (as might possibly be conjectured from its title,) to have anything in common with Octavian. 138 Preface, 7 literature of the Middle Ages is joined to the greatest affability and readiness in supplying information), that the story of Octavian still forms the subject of a popular * Chap Book” in Germany. (g) With respect to the present abstract, the Editor was induced to undertake it, both from the extreme scarcity, and from what appeared to himself the singular merit of the original. There are sone perhaps, to whom this praise will seem exaggerated : but it may be urged in his defence, that those, whose acquaint- ance with the early writers of romance extends only to such works as are preserved in an English dress, will form but a scanty and unfair estimate of their powers, either of expres- sior or versification. At the period which gave birth to these fictons, our language was in a state by no means favourable to poetical composition. It had lost not only many of the words and phrases, but much also of the stateliness and uni- fomity of its parent Saxon.(%) And what had been ‘g) The first printed version in German is “ Eine Schéne und Kurtz- w:ilige Hystori von dem Keyser Octauiano,” Strassburg, Griininger, 1535 ; faio of 66 leaves with woodcut. It was translated into German by Salz- ann ; it is found also in the “ Buch der Liebe,” Frankfort-am-Meyn, 1587, folio, A Danish translation was printed at Copenhagen in 1662, 8vo. -(E. M.G.) (4%) Notwithstanding the elegance with which this subject has been treated, both by Warton and Mr Ellis, the history of our vernacular voetry, during the Saxon aera, and the century immediately succeeding i, still offers a wide field for the labours of the antiquary ; and its invest- gation would probably throw much light upon the gradual formation of ur present language. Such an undertaking would be considerably acilitated, either by the publication of the Saxon Romance, from which Mr Turner has given some extracts, and which that learned and accurate antiquary has already expressed a wish to see edited complete, or the r-impression (in part at least) of the poetical paraphrase of Caedmon ecompanied by such explanations as should render them generally acessible. It is not, perhaps, too much to hope, that the attention ¢ English scholars may before long be directed to this interesting though 139 8 Aungerbyle Soctety Reprints. borrowed from the French, was as yet too scanty, and too imperfectly incorporated with the original dialect, to supply the deficiency. Add to this, that our native romancers appear to have been but little solicitous either as neglected period of our literature. Mr. Turner has entered upon the field, and it remains only for himself, or some one of equal talents and infor- mation, to enlarge and continue what he has so ably begun.’ The Editor has ventured to subjoin two specimens of the poetry of Caedmon, with a Latin translation, in which the order of the words cor- responds exactly to the Saxon text. He has added a second transhtion, as nearly literal as the metre would allow, into English blank verse. This mode of publishing the whole work might, perhaps, be the best adapted for general reading, and would, at the same time, present the fairest tan- script of the original. The former of these extracts is from a speech which the poet puts iito the mouth of Satan, while meditating the destruction of our first parent ; and has already been noticed by Mr Turner, for its similarity with ore upon the same subject in the “ Paradise Lost.” The latter is fromia relation of the overthrow of Pharaoh and the Egyptians in the Red Sea “Es thacs wnga stpde, ‘«*Estne hic iniquus locus (Angelic swithe (Dissimilis valde Tham odram Illis aliis The we er cudon Quae nos olim novimus \ Hearn on heofon rice) Alte in Coelorum regno) The me min hearra onlag? Quo ine meus Dominus detrudit ? Theah we hine Siquidem nos ea For tham alwalden Per illum omnipotentem Agan ne moston, Possidere non debemus, Romigzan ures vices Coactt cedere e regno nostro MucfS he theah Non ille siquidem Riht zedon, Jure fecit, Pat he us hacfd be filled Quod ille nos oppressit Ayre to botme Igne in abysso Belle theare hatan, Gehennae hujus torridae, Heofon rice benumen. (Et) coelorum regnum abstulit. Hatad hit zemearcod Illud designavit SAUD moncynne Humano generi 1. The reader will, of course, bear in mind that these words were written in 1809, —(E. M. G.) 140 Preface. 9 to beauty of style, or correctness and harmony of measure. Their audience, probably, required nothing more of them than a story: even for this they were in most instances content to draw upon their neighbours; and if it proved sufficiently Go gesettane. That me is sorga west, That Adam seeal The wes of cordan geworth, AMinne stronglican Stol behealdun, CA csan him on wonne, And wwe this wite tholien, Hearm on thisse helle, GAa la! ahte ic Minra handa geweald, And moste ane tyd @te weordan, GHlesan anc winter stand, Thonne ic mid this we rode— Ac liegath me pinbe Eren bend, Hidcth racentan sal Ec eam ticesleas ! Babbath me swa hearde Helle clommas Heste gefangan. Her is tyr micel, fan et neodune Ec a ne geseah HLadran landscipe. Lig ne aswamath Hot ofer helle. Ste habbath hringa gesrong Slid hearda sal Sides amprred.” In possessionem. Hoc mihi est dolor maximus, Quod Adamus debet Qui juit e terra fabricatus, Meam potentem Sedem possidere, Fore illum in gaudio, Et nos hanc vindictam pati Poenam in hoc inferno, Me miserum ! si habuerim Mearum manuum potentiam, Et possem in aliquid temporis Hinc evadere, Sit (licet) unum (tantum) hybernum tempus, Tunc ego cum hoc exercitu— Sed jacet circum me Ferrea catena, Deprimit vinculorum nexus Sum regno destitutus ! Tenent me adeo validé Gehennae vincula Fortiter obstringendo, Hic est ignis multus, Supra et infra Ego nunquam vidi Tetrius spectaculum. Flamma non languescit Torrida super Gehennam. Mihi annulis constructa Mordacibus catena Gressus impedivit.” “Is this the hateful place (unlike indeed Those seats we once in heav’n’s high kingdom knew) To which the Conqu’ror chains me, never more, Expelled by him, th’ Almighty one, to gain 141 10 Aungerbyle Society Reprints. fruitful of adventures or merriment, the end of the minstrel was answered. But their French contemporaries, enjoying the advantage of a language infinitely more copious, uniform, That realm !?_ How hath he wrong’d us of our right, That the dread flames of this infernal gulph Pours full upon us, and denies us heav’n ! That heav’'n, alas, he destines to receive The sons of men: ’tis this that grieves me most, That Adam, he the earthborn, should possess My glorious seat; that he should live in joy, And we in hell’s avenging horrors pine. O that my hands were free, that I might hence But for a time, but for a winter’s day ! Then with this host: but that these knotted chains Incompass, that these iron bands press on me. O! Iam kingdomless ; hell’s fetters cling Hard on each limb: above, beneath, the flame Fierce rages: sight more horrible mine eyes Ne’er yet have witness’d. O’er these scorching deeps The fire no respite knows: the strong forg’d chain, With ever-biting links, forbids my course.” ® HFole wes afered, Populus fuit pavefactus, Flood egsa becwom. Fluctus terribilis supervenit cos. Gastas geomre Spiritus murmurantes Gifan death-wheop. Dabant mortis-ululatum. GHaron beorh-hlidn Erant tumulorum apices Blod-bestemed. Sanguine fumantes. Holm heolfre spatv, Mare cruorum evomebat, OHrem wes on pthum, Lamentatio erat super undas Geteter wepratul 4 Aqua armorum plena Helmist astah Gurgitis caligo oriebatur GHaeron Egypte Erant Aégypti 2. Compare with this passage ‘‘ Paradise Lost,” Bk. I., 128-155.—(E. M. G.) 3. Compare ‘‘ Paradise Lost,” Bk. II., 169-170 and 182-183.—(E. M. G.) 4. The meaning of this line is not very clear, nor is the Editor very confident that his own translation is correct. ‘‘ Aqua tanquam lacrymarum plena” was sug- gested by a friend, and is adopted in the English. 142 §preface. Il and polished, had studied with far greater attention its applica- tion to poetry. The effects of this will be readily traced in the comparative variety of their rhymes, the superior melody of Eft on-cprde, SHlugon ferktigende Ser ongeton. GH olden here bleathe Hamas findan, Golyp wearth gnornva, Him ongen genap Atolptha-gzeveale, Sez ther enig becwom Berges to hame. Ac behindan beleac A prd mnid-wege. Ther xr wegas lagon Alere modzode, Meagan wes adrenced. Streamas stodou, Storm up-gewat Seah to heofnam. Here wope mest, Bathe! cyrmdon Qytt up seswaere HFeguin stefnam. Gylland grpre Gar-secg wedde Gp ateah on sleap, Ezesan stodon, CA collon wel-benna GAit-rod gefeol, (Heah of heofonum Hand weore Godes.) Saming bosina Hlodwearde sloh @uhlowan weg. Retro versi, Fugiebant pavidi, Timorem penitus senserunt. Vellet exercitus lubenter Domum reparare Superbia ¢coram erat dejectior facta, Illos iterum corripuit Terribilis fluctunm-volutatio, Neque inde ulli redibant Bellatores domum. Sed pone occludebat eos Fatum in medio-cursu. Ubi modo via fuerat aperta Mare furebat Agmen submersum est. Fluctus ascendebant, Tempestas exorta est Alté in coelos, Exercitus flebat multum, Maeror! Clamabant Usque ad aera tenebrosum Languidis vocibus. Fremens horribile Oceani violentia furebat Experrecta e somno. Terrores cus assurgebant, ‘Volvebantur cadavera hominum Suplicii virga incidebat 27 eos, (Alti in coelis Manuum opus Dei.) Spumanti 27 sinu Fluctuum custos obruebat cos Immitis Unda. The heathen stood aghast: fierce rag’d the flood, And wailing spirits gave the shriek of death. The blood stream’d fresh on each man’s destin’d grave ; The sea foam’d gore ; screams were amid the waves, 143 I2 Aungerbyle Soctety Reprints. their versification, and occasionally in the more intricate(z) and artificial structure of their metrical systems. Their descriptive passages are more elaborate and pleasing; they seldom dis- gust by that continual recurrence of unmeaning expletives, so obvious in their English imitators, and their compositions frequently appear intended as well for perusal as repetition. As though the waters wept : darkling uprose The whirlpool mists : Egypt was backwards turned : Dismay’d they fled ; fear struck their inmost soul. How fall’n their boasting now ! how would they joy Once more to reach their home ; but that foul surf, Swift rolling in its force, o’erwhelm’d their pride, That none return’d of all the warrior train. Midways Jehovah stayed their mad career : Where lay their path, there rag’d the ocean wave. Low sunk the host ; the streams ascended high, And high as heav’n uprose the vengeful storm. Loud wept the warriors ; from each dying tongue The shriek of woe pierc’d the cloud darken’d air. Mad ocean rag’d ; forth from his slumbers rous’d, In all his terrors stood the King of floods ; With horrid din he chas’d the warrior host : Corpse rolling upon corpse, th’ unpitying wave (So work’d the will of heav’n’s Almighty Lord) Deep in its foaming bosom held their pride. (Z) The Rimes couées, entrelacées, &c., have been frequently mentioned by the historians of our early poetry. The Digby MS. contains two poems of very singular metrical construction. The former, entitled, “ La Beitournée,” or “ The Distracted,” commences thus :— Estraungement Mar® est mun quer® dolent” Quant me purpens ® Que jeo® si gasté mun tens Saunz rimoier”? de aucun sens, Aucun heure. 5. Mal, badly. 6. Mon cceur, my heart. 7. Grieving; Latin, doleo. 8. Reflect; Latin, perpendo. 9. J’ai. 1c. Remuer, to move.—(E. M. G.) 144 Preface. 13 The praise of originality and invention belongs to them (as far as our knowledge extends) almost exclusively.(7) Les Dames me mettent soure’? Sus et jus” Que je rimoier ne pus.” The second commences thus :— La vie de un Vallet amerous.¥ Jolifte™ Me fet aler ad pie,” Et mes fous sens Que mous” ay en mun tens En moun quer® Ne me valoie” a nul fer!® Nul ben fere”® For” ad folie moun sen trere™ E ad deduyt,”” Que ne poeye” jour ne nuit Repos aver, Taunt pensay de amour aver.” (7) Subjoined are two specimens of our language in this state (if it may be so called) of transition (Nos. 1 and 2). The first is from a very curious poem, preserved in a MS. belonging to Jesus College, Oxford. The specimen is remarkable for the intermixture of the two languages. The original of the second is preserved in a highly valuable MS. (Digby, 86) quoted above, and noticed by Warton in the Appendix to Vol. I., “ History of English Poetry.” It affords a curious example of alliteration joined to rhyme. To enable the reader to judge for himself as to the superiority claimed for the Continental poets of the thirteenth century over their English competitors, I have added two short extracts (Nos. 3 and 4) from the “Roman del Conte de Poitiers,” edited by M. Francisque Michel in 11. ?En sourdine, by stealth. Mr Coneybeare cannot offer any explanation of this word, and I only venture to do so with the greatest diffidence.—(E. M. G.) 12. Above and below, here and there. 13. Amoureux, in love.—(E. M. G.) 14. Beauty. 15. Me fait aller 4 pied, makes me go on foot.—(E. M. G.) 16. Much; Latin, multus. 17. Availed; Latin, valeo. 18, Rien faire, do nothing.—(E. M. G.) 19. Rien faire bien, do nothing well.—-(E. M. G.) 20. Except. 21. 4 folie mon sein trainer, draw my breast to folly.—(E. M. G.) 22, Pleasure; Latin, deductus, 23. Puis, can.—(E. M. G.) 145 14 Aungerbyle Society Meprints. Under these impressions, the Editor cannot but wish that the task of making known those treasures of Early French poetry, which are contained in many of our public libraries, 1831 from the unique copy in the Bibliotheque de l’Arsenal, at Paris, the edition of which was limited to 125 copies. It will probably be unknown to most, if not all readers of this reprint, and may prove proportionally interesting.—(E. M. G.) No. I. Ici comencent les unze peyne de Enfern les queus Seynt Pool vist. Plest vus oyer une demaunde Ke li deable fist estraunge, De un cheytif pecheour Ke hors fu mys de grant tristur, De mort en vie resuscité ‘Par la volunté de Dé, “Unsely Ghost hwat dostu here Thu were in helle mine vere? Hwo haveth helle dure unloke That thu ert of pyne ibroke?” Dunke respund le mort a lu En le secle u il fu, Conte en ordre, et conte et dist Les unze peynes ke Seynt Pol vist, TRANSLATION, Here begin the eleven pains of Hell which S. Paul saw, May it please you to hear a question Which the devil strangely made Of a miserable sinner Who was delivered from great misery, Was raised from death to life By the will of God. ‘* Wicked Spirit, what dost thou here, Thou who wert in hell my companion ? Who hath unlocked the gate of hell That thou hast broken out of pain?” Then the dead man answered him In the cycle where he was, He tells him in order, he tells him and says The eleven pains which St, Paul saw, Preface. 15 may be undertaken by persons whose talents and opportunities render them more fully capable of its execution. The labours of Mr Way, Mr Ellis, and Mr Rose have already been success- Des autres ke il a senty, Un seul mot ne menty. “Wiltu ihere me Sathan, Hwich am of Helle igan? Wermes habbeth my fleys ifreten And mene freond me habbeth forgeten. Ich mon wes, as thu wel wost And now ich a wrecche gost. In helle ich habbe yare ibeo, That mon may on myn hewe iseo.” “ A hwel of steele is furthermo That berneth lihte and turneth 0, A thusend spoken beoth thereon, And pykes overal idon, Ther schule the saulen beo todrawe That her arereden unryhte lawe. Mo saulen tholieth there sucche wowe Thaue be flothre in the snowe. And of the others which he has felt : In not a single word did he lie. “Will you hear me, Satan, Who have come out of hell ? Worms have pierced my flesh And my friends have forgotten me I was a man as you well wist, And now I am a wretched ghost. In hell I have been long ; That men may see by my hue. ‘* A wheel of iron there is furthermore That burneth bright and turneth round, A thousand spokes are thereon, And spikes all around. There shall the souls be torn to pieces That have established unrighteous laws, More souls suffer there such woe Than there be flakes in snow, 147 16 Aungerbyle Soctety Reprints. fully directed towards this object. By the translations of the former, in particular, we have been made acquainted with the most beautiful and unexceptionable of the Fabliaux, and the re-impression of Barbasan has facilitated our access to the originals. But still many poems, especially of the romantic kind, remain unpublished, if not unknown.(£) (2) Of course, this was far more applicable seventy years ago than in our own day, yet much remains to be done.—(E. M. G.) Further ther is a water wallinde hot That is deop and long and brod, Blakkure than the swarte pitch, And stinketh so for holde lych, Of vych a werm that atter bereth, Other it stingeth, other it tereth. Ifulled is that fule pool, That ever is hot, and never cool. Bisydes stondeth a feondes trume And waiteth hwenne the saules cume, Heo hire awarieth al athrep Also wulves doth the scep. Hwenne the feondes heom forleteth Snaken and neddren heom towreteth.” Further there is water boiling hot That is deep and long and broad, Blacker than the swarthy pitch, And stinketh like a corpse In which a worm that beareth poison, Sometimes stingeth, sometimes teareth, Quite full is that deep pool That is ever hot and never cool. Beside standeth a fiendish crowd And wait when the souls come, Worry them all in a pack? Like wolves do sheep. When the fiends leave them Snakes and reptiles torment them.—(E. M. G.) 24. Lam doudtful whether this is the correct rendering of ‘‘ for holde lych.” 25. Mr Coneybeare can make nothing of this line, and T merely gave the above translation as a suggestion.—(E. M. G.) 148 Preface. 17 A sincere wish of promoting (however slightly), the knowledge of so interesting a branch of our national No. II. Love is sofft, Love is swet, Love is goed! sware Love is muche tene, Love is muchel kare, Love is blissene mest, Love is ? bot gare, Love is wondred and wo, with for to fare. Love is hap, wo it haveth, Love is god hele, Love is *decher and les, and lef for to tele, Love is douti in the world, with for to dele, Love maketh in the land moni 4 homilele, Love is stalewarde and strong for to striden on stede, Love is loveliche, a thing to wommon nede. Love is harde and hot as ° glovinde glede, Love maketh moni ®mai with teres to 7 wede Love hath his stivart by ® sti and by strete, Love maketh moni mai hire *wonges to wete. Love is hap, wo it haveth, ’° hon for to hete Love is wis, Love is war, and wilfful and wethe Love is the sofftest thing in herte may slepe Love is craft, Love is goed, with kares to kepe. Love is les, Love is lef, Love is longinge Love is fol, Love is fast, Love is frowringe Love is #4sellich an thing wose shal soth singe Love is wele, Love is wo, Love is geddede, Love is lif, Love is deth, Love may hous fede, Were Love also '4/ouddrez as he is furst kene 1. Swaer, A.S., painful. Goed swaer may be interpreted, ‘‘ pleasing pain.” 2. Present good, or booty. 3. The sense of this line is by no means clear. ‘‘ Becher” is not to be found (as far as the Editor’s knowledge extends) elsewhere; ‘‘les” probably signifies false (laese, A.S.); ‘‘lef” may perhaps be traced to laefend, A.S., a seducer, or fickle, from Jaefen, to leave. 4. Homilele, humble. 5. Glowing, or red hot coal: gled, A.S. coal, or embers, 6. Mai, maiden. 7. To rage? (wede, A.S. mad) to wed ? 8. His station in house and in street, or perhaps, as in Chaucer, ‘‘ by stile and eke by strete,” in country and town, V. *‘Stile” in Gloss, to Tyrwhitt’s Chaucer. g. Wonges, cheeks, A.S. 10. To inflame one ? 11. Sweet, mild, A.‘. 12, Froward, 13. Strange, wonderful, 14. Durable? 149 18 Aungerbvle Sactety Neprints. antiquities, has induced the Editor to offer this trifling contribution. He has only to add, that it has been his uniform endeavour to adhere to his original with the most scrupulous fidelity that the nature of an abridge- ment would admit. Some inaccuracies, either in the Hit were the “worthlokste thing in werlde were, ich wene. Hit is ysaid in an song soth is that sene, Love cometh with kare and hendeth with tene Mid #8 lavedi, mid wive, mid maide, mid queene. No. III. Li Conte de Pottiers descrit la dame. “Tl n’est rose, tant soit novele, Que sa biautés ne soit plus bele ; Ele est plus avenans que fée, Et france et sage et bien letrée. Nus ne les garde qui ne l’aint. De Dieu siervir pas ne se faint. Rois Pepins, miex valt sa biautés Que ne face vo roiautés : Par tant sui plus rices de vous, Et si n’en sui mie jalous.” TRANSLATION. II. The Count of Poitiers describes his lady. There is no rose, however beattiful, Which her beauty does not surpass ; She is more enchanting than a fairy, And frank, and modest, and well learned. None can look on her without loving. She never wearies of serving God. King Pepin, her beauty is worth more Than your kingdoms : Therefore am I richer than you, And yet I am not jealous of her.—(E. M. G.) 15. Most worthy? (weordlic, A.S.) or most true? (word and loc, locca, a lock, whence wordloca, logic, A.S.) 16, ? Workwoman.—(E. M,. G.) 150 Preface. 19 work itself or in the notes attached to it, may still have escaped his notice; and of many inelegancies, both in com- position and language, he cannot but feel conscious. At the same time he trusts that some indulgence may fairly be claimed even for the errors of one whose motive in writing is at least pardonable, and who is totally unaccustomed to write for the press. No. IV. Li Conte de Pottiers entre en t bos. II nuis et ij jors cevauchiérent, C’onques ne burent ne mangiérent ; Au tier jor entrent en i bos Dont li kaisne erent haut et gros, Li forés hideuse et ramue Quis plus de xv liues dure, Et ja estoit prime sonée, Quant li quens entre en la valée Orible et moult espoentable, Et non porquant s’iert delitable ; Car en mi lieu ot i prael, I olivier et i ruisiel Qui naist d’une douce fontaine Dont li iaue est et clére et saine. TRANSLATION. IV. The Count of Poitiers enters a wood, They rode on for two nights and two days, Without ever drinking or eating ; On the+third day they entered a wood Of which the oaks were tall and broad A thick and hideous forest Which extends more than fifteen leagues ; And already prime?” had sounded When the Count had entered the valley Horrible and very fearful, Yet not everywhere is it unpleasant ; For in the midst is a prairie, An olive tree, and a rivulet Which springs frum a pleasant fountain, The water of which is clear and bright.—(E. M. G.) 17. The first canonical hour in the Roman Catholic Liturgy.—(E. M. G.) 151 OCTAOIAU. "H Oavpara moda: Kal rot rt xal Bporadv ppévas ‘rep Tov addyOh Abyov Acdardarpévor pevdeot rorxirors ’Eéarardvre widor. —Pinpar, I. 43. © Deve beqynneth tbe Romaunce of Ocla¥ian, Emperour of Rome. ISTEN, Lords and Gentles, you who delight in good songs, you may now hear one so good, that you never heard tell of a better. It is of the great wonders which happened, and have been translated from the Latin into the Rom- ance. In the days that have long since past, there was at Paris a King, who was named Dagobert. Never was man born more high- minded, who knew better how to protect his country, and annoy his enemies. He took to him a wife of high renown, elegant in her Sci commence la Romanz de Othevien GEmpereoy de Rome. Scigneor prendon or escontes Q'les bones chancons ames Bune tant bone oir porres Ma de meilleor dire norres Des grants m’beilles que sont faites & de Hatin en Romanz traites. Apres un jor qui jadis fu Ot a Paris un Roi avenn 153 22 Aungerbyle Soctety Reprints. person and manners. He had a father of high courage, for he was of the loftiest birth ; hardy was he and brave. Clotaire was his name. Dagobert, of whom you hear me tell, was the founder of Saint Denys. Much did he love the Almighty, and firmly did he believe in Him. Clotaire was in extreme age, and so fell into great sickness. He prepared to give a wife to his son, and to crown him king of his dominions.” Qui Bagonh’s + ju apeles, lus fiert home de Ini ne fu nes Sle miex senst terre tenir dle ses anemis estormir. Hamme prist de grant renown + The Poet has strangely disfigured the real history of Dagobert, which was briefly this: Clotaire the Second, at the age of only four months, succeeded his father Chilperic in the kingdom of Soissons (a.D. 584). Having reunited to that crown that of Burgundy and Austrasia, he conferred the government of the latter,’ with the title of king, on his son Dagobert (A.D. 622), reserving to himself some part of its frontiers towards Burgundy and Neustria. These also Dagobert, upon his marriage with Gomatrude, his father’s sister-in-law, demanded, and with some difficulty procured, to be added to his portion. On the death of Clotaire, (A.D. 628) he succeeded to the whole of his paternal dominions, with the excep- tion of Aquitaine, which was bequeathed to his brother Charibert. Charibert dying soon after, Dagobert, having removed the elder of his nephews by poison,* seized upon the kingdom of Aquitaine, and reduced it to a duchy. He was engaged in obstinate and continued warfare with the Sclavonians. Whether any traditional accounts of these contests may have furnished our Poet with the ground work of his fictitious siege of Paris, it is perhaps impossible to deter- mine; and at all events, the discovery would scarcely recompense the labour of enquiry. Dagobert himself appears, in the general outline of his character, to have resembled many other heroes of the middle ages. Capricious, violent, and unjust in the prosecution of his voluptuous or ambitious designs ; he atoned for these vices, in the eyes of his contemporaries, by qualities which their philosophy esteemed of paramount excellence ; he was brave, and profuse in his donations to the Church. Our Poet states with truth, that he founded the Cathedral of St. Denys. His romantic compeer, Octavian, will be sought for in vain in the annals of sober history, * “Selon la coutume de ne pas vouloir ordinairemeur voir une mort naturelle dans celle des personnages importants, ou qui peuvent le devenir, on soupgonna Dagobert d’avoir fait em- poisonner son neveu,.”—(E, M, G.)—Angquetil, Hist. de France, I, p. 122. 154 Octabtan Womance. 23 Lotheire, therefore, issues from his city of Paris orders to all his nobles and dependents in Normandy (4) and Poitou, in Burgundy and Anjou, in Germany and Russia, and in the land of Hungary, to attend his Courpleniere, where, amidst the necessary accompaniments of feast and tournament, he resigns the crown to his son. And now shall you hear a marvellous adventure, which occurred about this same time at Rome. Otheviene, the Emperor of that city, had taken to wife a peerless lady, the sister of Dagobert. This union was not at first blessed by any progeny. At length, however, the Queen became the mother of two children by her husband, greatly to the joy of both parties; though in the sequel it proved the source of the most cruel misfortunes. And thus it happened. Soon after the Queen’s delivery, the old mother of Otheviene (the old woman whom may God bring to shame) (¢) bursts into the chamber, and accuses her of adultery, upon the extraordinary grounds of its being impossible that one woman could be brought to bed of two children together unless two men had participated in her sin.(¢@) She is with difficulty prevented by the attendants from strangling the children; and at last, after a torrent of abuse and Gent de cors ct de facon. Gn pere aboit de fier corage Car moult estoit de hant lignage AVIt Durement estoit prendow Botecirves fu nomes par non. Bagonbert dont motes conter Hist Sant Denis faire fonder AVI ama Diex omnipotent € crust en Diex m’lt fermement Boteires fn de m'lt grant wage Et se chei en grant malage Famme p’stuoit a so fil doner Et de le Moiaume coroner. (6) En HKormandic et en Paiton Et en Borgoine ct en Anjou En Alinagie ct en Roissic Gt en le terre de Hongric. (c) Ba dielle que Biex puisse honiv. (2) Que un famme penst aboir II Enfaw ensemble a wn lit Sell hommes na son delit. 155 24 Aungerbyle Society Meprints. threats, quits the apartment, for the purpose of repeating her accusa- tions to Otheviene. Her artifice succeeds so far, as to induce her son to absent himself from his chamber at night, under pretence of going to perform his devotions at St. Peter’s church. In the mean- time (by the promise of a mark of silver, a good robe, a good courser, and the honour of knighthood), she prevails on a youth of the court to suffer himself to be conveyed to the bed of her innocent victim, when herself and attendants are buried in sleep. She then introduces the King, who, in the first transports of his rage, kills the supposed paramour;(e) and the next day assembles a tribunal of his Barons, for the purpose of passing judgment on the Queen. This tribunal, partly induced by the apparent reality of her guilt, and partly by the persuasions of her inveterate enemy,(/) declare it their opinion, that Otheviene ought to pronounce immediate sentence of punishment. This is accordingly done, and preparations are made for burning her alive. At length she is brought from her prison to the place of execution, where, by the earnestness of her prayers, she obtains permission once more to address her husband. She then protests her innocence in the most pathetic manner, and adjures him to save her life, reminding him at the same time of his marriage oath. ‘“ Before God,” exclaimed she, ‘see now, Otheviene, if thou actest well. When thou tookest me to wife, thou didst swear to me, and pledge thyself, that thou wouldest, as thou wert able, preserve my body even as thine own. Gentle King, in the name of God, look that thou keep thine oath.”(g) The Emperor, (e) This idea was probably suggested to the writer of “ Octavian” by the traditionary tale of Alboinus, first King of the Lombards. Davenant, in his tragedy of Aléovine, has founded his plot entirely on this incident. —(E. M. G.) (f) The enmity of the Queen mother towards her daughter-in-law seems to be a distorted account of the hatred of Fredegonda towards Brunehaut. —“ Gregory of Tours,” Bks. v. et seg.—(E. M. G.) (g) “ Por Diex, fit ele, Othebviene | Que tu le mien cors garderoies Or esgardi se tu fais bien. | Come le tuen, st le posies, Quant tu a fame ore pris Gentiex Roi, por Diex entent | ue me juras ct plebis, Se tu gardes ton Saivement.” 15 Octabtan Romance. 25 although he cannot persuade himself of her innocence, is yet so much affected by the appeal, as to declare, greatly to the disappoint- ment of his mother, that her life shall be granted her, and her sentence commuted for that of banishment. Five Knights are appointed to convey herself and her infants, with all possible speed beyond the boundaries of the kingdom of Rome. This they were probably not long in accomplishing ; for the next line acquaints us, that they travelled thirty leagues in one day. Having executed their orders, they left the Queen, her infants and her palfrey, on the borders of a large wood. Here agitated by the most cruel passions, and almost heedless of her safety, she soon lost the direct path, and wandered through the intricacies of the forest, till she arrived at a clear fountain, shaded by the most beautiful trees. She alights, for the purpose of slaking her excessive thirst; gives the breast to her infants, weeps over them, and at last, overcome by grief and weariness, falls into a profound sleep. Scarcely had this happened, when an animal, very seldom, I believe, made the instrument of those heroic adventures, an old monkey, fat and evil disposed,(Z) seized and made off with one of the children. We must for the present leave the unconscious mother, and follow the fortunes of her little one. The ape, delighted with his prize, had now got to a considerable distance from the foun- tain, when a knight, who was roaming unaccompanied through the forest in search of adventures, met and deprived him at once of his plaything and his life. Soon after, the knight is in his turn attacked by a party of ten robbers; against whom he defends himself with great bravery, till, after having killed’ four, and wounded three of them, he is constrained to lay the child on the ground, for the pur- pose of more readily disembarrassing himself of the remaining three. They, however, find it more to their purpose to seize the child, and fly, while his wounds prevent him from following them with any success. They then make the best of their way to the nearest seaport town, and expose their prize for sale. While they are chaffering with some merchants, of whom they demand forty livres for him, an honest pilgrim, by name Clement, arrives at the port, on his road to his native country, France. He is immediately struck with the beauty of the infant, and draws on himself no small ridicule, by voluntarily (4) @n viex Singe gros ct nan faisant, 157 26 Aungerbyle Sortety Reprints. purchasing him at the extravagant price of an hundred pieces of gold Scarcely has he concluded his bargain, before he begins to meditate with great seriousness on his imprudence, and its probable conse- quences : his meditations, however, produce no other effect, than the additional expense of an ass, for the purpose of carrying the young foundling. By the assistance of this useful animal, they reached Paris in safety. And the wife of Clement, captivated as much and as suddenly as her spouse by the child’s beauty, receives it into the house with the most unsuspicious good nature, and agrees to bring it up as her own. Leaving him then for the present thus comfortably settled in the tamily of the good Clement, let us return to the Queen, whom we left sleeping by the fountain. Upon her awaking, she is distracted by the sudden discovery that one of her children is lost, probably for ever, and that the other is on the point of suffering a like fate, an enormous lion having at that instant seized upon, and conveyed it towards the thickest recesses of the forest. The unhappy mother immediately mounts her palfrey, in the fruitless hope of recovering her treasure. Her pursuit is at first eluded by the superior swiftness of the spoiler, and (though continued with unabated ardour for eight (2) successive days) is finally rendered abortive by an accident, which, however its truth may be questioned by the incredulous, must yet be confessed, by a reader of romances, to account satisfactorily enough for her disappointment. The lion, having reached the sea shore, was attacked by an immense dragon, who, with very little exertion, con- strained him to submit to a rather unpleasant journey through the air, which terminated in their arrival on a neighbouring island, where the lioness was nursing her cubs. Here the lion, perceiving the monster somewhat fatigued by his excursion, became in his turn the assailant ; and, after a furious contest, left his enemy dead on the spot. Thus victorious, the lions turn all their care to the sustenance and welfare of the royal innocent. Octavian becomes the playmate of their cubs, and is nourished with the lioness’ own milk; the virtues of this noble aliment being doubtless increased by her feeding daily (z) In romances we continually find heroes and heroines riding for days together without rest. In the “ Roman du Conte de Poitiers, quoted in the note page 18, we read : Il Nuis et ij jors cevauchierent. (E. M. G.) 158 ’ Octavian Romance. 27 (as we are told) on the flesh of the vanquished griffin. In the interim, the Queen, at the end of her eight days’ search, meets, near the sea-shore, a company of mariners, preparing to embark for Palestine ; and anxious to obtain the more especial protection of that power, from which alone she could now expect any alleviation of her sorrows, requests and obtains permission to accompany them to the land where God died and lived.(7) Scarcely has she related to them the history of her misfortunes, when they accidentally touch at the very island which contained her dearest treasure. Here some of the crew having disembarked, discover, to their astonishment, the lioness and child, lying together, in the most friendly manner, in the den of the former. On their return, they relate this extraordinary occurrence to their shipmates; and the Queen, deaf to all the well- meant entreaties of the crew, and intent upon rescuing her infant, determines to rush, as they suppose, upon certain destruction. The only precautions their solicitude can prevail on her to adopt, are of a religious nature. After confessing herself to the chaplain of the vessel, straight she bends her way to the lioness. The lady goes well furnished. The chaplain has lent her the sacred vestments (stole) and the holy water.(£) Thus equipped, she receives their promise to wait a short time, in hopes of her return; she lands, discovers the den, and, by the virtue of her prayers, and sanctity of her character, is enabled to subdue the ferocity of the lioness, who kneels at her feet, and allows her to recover her infant. But though she tacitly consents to the Empress’s resuming her maternal functions, she appears by no means ready to give up her own claims to the charac- ter of the child’s proctectress. She escorts them (in spite of all the efforts of the crew to prevent it) on board the vessel. ‘Ihe mariners, in a state of considerable perturbation, threaten to throw the Queen and her infant overboard, unless their unwelcome visitor will consent to retire. The Queen soon pacifies them, however, by answering for her good behaviour ; and, as she evinces no disposition to forfeit (7) ‘On Biex prist mort et dic.” (2) Broit aw Lions sa voie tourne La Bame sen ba bien garnic Hi Chapelains li a baillie Ee stole ct Veanc benaite. ; 159 28 Aungerbyle Soctety Reprints. this character, they set sail, and continue for some time to live together very amicably.(7) One accident only occurs, during their voyage, to disturb this perfect harmony. A drunken and _ ill- mannered man(m,) pays his addresses to the Queen, and, having failed in his eloquence, attempts more violent measures to compass his design; which the lioness witnessing, speedily frustrates, by tearing him to pieces.) The rest of the crew, reverencing the virtue of their beautiful com- panion, and feeling, probably, some additional respect for the fangs and teeth of her attendant, make no difficulty of acquiescing in a sense of the justice of his punishment ; though, perhaps, they are not altogether sorry, on their safe arrival at Acre, to get rid of this extra- ordinary trio, who immediately join the train of pilgrims for the Holy Sepulchre. After having paid her devotions at this place, the Queen fixes her abode at the house of a gentleman,(0) who had been induced, by the fame of her adventures, and the singularity of her appearance (for the lioness had never left her), to make her an offer of his hospi- tality. To our notions of female decorum, the readiness with which this offer is accepted, might appear somewhat revolting.(f) But we must remember, that the Queen has a formidable ally for the protec- tion of her virtue; and the benevolent gentleman might possibly enter into some recognizance for his good behaviour, as we are told, that he made a truce with the lioness. In the mean time, her other son had been baptized, and named Florens, by the care of the good Clement, with whose family and situation it is now time that the reader should become somewhat acquainted. ‘‘ Clement (as I have heard tell) had a son, both fair and gentle; people called him Glauvain. ‘They were companions, but (7) Moult chierement. (m) An omme ire et mal apris. (2) The protection afforded to the Queen by the lioness, will doubtless recall to the mind of the reader the Una of Spenser. It certainly is not impossible that the poet may have seen our romance at least in its English dress. ; (o) Gentiex omme. (p) Fancy the notions of the 19th century being applied to the age of chivalry !—(E. M. G.) 160 Octabtan Romance. 29 Florens appeared the haughtier. ‘They both believed themselves to be brothers, and that they sprang from one father. Clement was in good circumstances, he dwelt at St. Germain: his house was goodly and fair, and encompassed with embattled turrets.”(¢) In the bosom of this good family, Florens was educated, till such a timeas Glauvain and himself were at a proper age to contribute, by their own labours, to the maintenance of the household. As soon as this period had arrived, Clement consulted with his wife on the choice of their future professions. ‘‘As fcr Glauvain, replies the prudent dame, Thou shalt send him to the Exchange. He shall carry our deniers thither, and shall change them: that shall be his employ- ment.”(7) But of Florens she proposes to make a butcher; for which trade she insinuates, that his great bodily strength peculiarly qualifies him. Clement approves much of the arrangement; and the consent of the youths themselves having been readily obtained, Glauvain is the next morning dismissed, to carry his deniers to the Exchange,(s ) and Florens, with two fat oxen and a hatchet, the property of his supposed father, sets off for the Boucherie. On his way thither, he falls in with an esquire, bearing on his fist a beautiful hawk. The nobility of Florens’ mind was equal to that of his birth, and had hitherto wanted only a proper opportunity to display itself, He could not see, without delight and admiration, the feathered favourite (q) Clemens, comme Idi conter, @n Enfant owt et bel ct gent, Gladouains l'apelent la gent, Ambrdni furent compainons Hes Florens sembloit plus fiers hommes. Ambedui cnidoient estre freves € feussent engendre dun peres, Climens estoit bien aises, A Sain Germain fu herbergies. Ses hosteans fu et bons et beaux Et clos de tours tot an quernenus. (>) Aw change enboictés Si portera de nos deniers Si changera: st ert ses mestiers. (s) Au change ses deniers porter, j 161 30 Aungerbyle Society Reprints. of knights and princes. (¢) ‘hese emotions were immediately succeeded by the earnest wish of possessing it, which as quickly produced an offer of purchase. After some surprise and ridicule on the part of the squire, which Florens retorts with great spirit, the two oxen are demanded, and gladly given, in exchange for the single falcon.(z) Delighted with his purchas:, he hastened back to the family, and produces it to the great dismay and displeasure of the good peasant,/v) who had expected a very different return for his oxen, and was by no means prepared to coincide with the opinion of the boy, that his fine(ze’) bird was of more worth than all the beeves in the universe. Trusting, however, that a change of employment, and the instructions of Glauvain, would cure this youth- ful folly, he sends him the next morning to the Change with a bag of deniers, amounting to forty livres, which his supposed brother is to employ himself in changing. The success of this second experi- ment is scarcely better than that of the former. Florens, loitering by the way, loses sight of Glauvain, and meets a trader leading a courser to the Exchange for sale. ‘The same inherent affection for all the appendages of nobility, which induced him to purchase the hawk, awakens in him a strong desire to become the possessor of this noble animal also. The proposal for purchasing it is immedi- ately made, and thirty livres having been demanded as its price, Florens, in the true spirit of chivalric munificence, cried: * Are you drunk, that you ask me no more than thirty livres? I would not that you should lose by the bargain. You shall have forty livres for it.” (x) This offer, as we may suppose, is readily acceded to, and both parties make the best of their way to their respective homes, (t) The story of the discovery of the sex of Achilles by Ulysses no doubt suggested the incident.—(E. M. G.) (w) Lovers of folk-lore may like to compare the curious exchange here made by Florens with that which forms the basis of the old nursery tale of Jack and the Bean-stalk.—(E. M. G.) (v) Hi bon vilcin. (w) Gentil. (x) Bist “Estes bous ibres? Qui me le faites trente livres, He veil pas que vous t perdes, Quarante libres en avrés,” 162 Octabtan Romance. 31 each doubting (says the poet) lest the other, discontented with his bargain, should return for the purpose of retracting it. Florens, however, felt no such intention, and Clement is again surprised by the failure of his project. Enraged at the loss of so large a sum, and at what he now begins to consider as the almost incurable folly of the foundling, he loses all command of himself, and to the most bitter reproaches adds the still more powerful argument of a severe beating. His passion is, however, at length checked, by the arrival and interference of his wife; whose advice convinces him so forcibly of the impropriety of his mode of treatment, as to produce a reconciliation. Clement calls affectionately to the youth, “ Fair son, pardon me this.” “Father,” replied Florens, “hear me; you are my father; beat me, therefore, whenever you choose.” Clement heard him, embraced him, and kissed him with great tenderness. He well understood that he was sprung of a noble race.(j’) The young peasant lad, on his return. evinces little less chagrin than his father; and concludes a long string of narrow-minded abuse, by expressing his wonder how Florens could be such an idiot, as to throw away forty livres of good hard cash upon a wild beast, which for his part he dares not even approach, for fear it should devour him. Florens, equally insensible to his reproaches and his apprehensions, proceeds in search of provender and quarters for his new favourite. His whole time was now divided between the hawk and the courser, in the government of which he shewed as much address, as if he had been all his life-time accustomed to the chace and the manége. “At this time Paris was not so large as it is at present: and you know this well, that there were yet no houses of trade; all the country was covered with vineyards and woods, an] men everywhere lived by cultivating the ground. ‘They were Saracens, who had till (y) B'enfans apele Doucement, “ Beax fiwz or le me pardones.” “Pere,” dist il,” or m'entendes, des peres estes, si me battes, Totes les fois que bos voldres.” Clemens Voi si Vacola, Et moult dowcement le beca, A ses paroules bien entent Qi’il est issus de haute gent, 32 Anngerbyle Soctety Reprints. this time possessed it.”(z) These Saracens, having been mastered and driven out of the country by the French, had laid their grievances before the throne of that arch champion of all Paiennie, the Soudan of Egypt; who, warmly espousing their cause, declares, in the most unceremonious manner, his resolution, to lay every castle and city of France in ashes, and to hang Dagobert out of hand. For this purpose he summons all his Pagan allies ; and is speedily joined by his cousin- german the King of Babylon, the King Goulias of Persia, the monarchs of Tatellie, Morocco, Rouple, and the formidable sovereign of the giants. Thus the Saracen, the Aufridant, and the Boduin,(/a) flocked to his standard, and in less than fifteen days he saw himself at the head of a hundred thousand men, After a short council of war, this immense armament set sail for France, in their galleys and dromounds ;(4) elated by the expectation of a certain and easy con- quest, and anticipating the partition of the several districts to be (2) Mestoit pas se grand Paris Come est ore, et ce sachez bien, Que champeans waboit nule rien, Tont estoit viqnes ct boscage, Par tot faisoit home gargnage. Sarrazins fors sén etoient Qui a cil tems tenne Vabdoient. Not to mention the absurdity of supposing that the Saracens ever obtained any permanent footing in France, our Romancer has antedated their appearance in that country by nearly a hundred years. We do not meet with them in any part of it till 732, when, attacking the territories of Eudo, Duke of Aquitaine, they were defeated by the celebrated Charles Martel at the battle of Poitiers.* (a) Tatellie and Rouple are probably A7¢talia and Adrianople. The Bedouin Arab is immediately recognised in Boduin ; but who the Aufri- dant may be is not altogether so clear.+ (6) A mistake of Mr Coneybeare’s. What a dromound is, | know not. The text has “en les galéres avec dromaundes,” in their galleys with their dromadaries.—(E. M. G.) * Mr. Coneybeare ts wrong in assigning the date of 732 as that of the FIRST invasion of France hy the Saracens, ‘‘Tls Vavaient déja autrefois alarmé, et s’ étaient méme établis dans la Gaule Narbonnaise, mais jamais en si grand nombre.” —ANQUETIL, Histoire de France, Vol, 1,, p. 129.—(E. M. G.) + May not Goulias be GUILAN ta Persia,and the Aufridant the inhabitant of Ophir ?i—(E. M, G.) 164 NOTES AND QUERIES, Can any member refer me to any book printed by Arnoldus of Ghent before 1485? I possess a book with the Colophon: Jmpressa Gandani p. me Arnoldum—but the rest torn off, and no title page.— ABERDEEN. * * * Is it known who was the author of “ The Epics of the Ton, or the Glories of the great world,” a satirical poem in two books, London, 1807, 8vo., and where could a key to blank names be seen ?— E. M. G. Answers to the above Queries will be inserted FREE. The Committee of the AUNGERVYLE SOCIETY have resolved that in all future numbers, one page of the outside cover shall be at the disposal of members for purposes of inter-communication on all subjects of Antiquarian or Bibliographical interest. Queries will be inserted at the rate of Threepence ‘per line of Twelve Words: no query to occupy more than four lines. Replies (not to exceed three lines) will be inserted Free. Queries will be inserted in the order in which they are received. ; EDMUND GOLDSMID, 3 Fton. See 30 CASTLE TERRACE, EDINBURGH. | In No. IX. of the “AUNGERVYLE” will be continued “THE ROMANCE OF OCTAVIAN.” “ OClE TY a CE Continied re _APRIDGED PROM 4 (IRCA: aes BY THE oe ey, J. i -CONEYBEARE. eet i 1 ‘ann Enites with Anptttonal phi: By E. M. oe eh “Bou, O Vooks, are the Ooiten Beaaele oF tbe ‘Temple; 3 De & Darning Tangs: tobe helo t in the hand. dy 5 pe ; RicHann AuncER\g La, Ne of ie ‘iboeiae earnestly wheal | to Members of the Suh | Society t@ communicate any Bibliographical Rarities they imap wee possess to the Hon. Secretary, E, M. Goldsmid, 3°. 0 Castle nn : 7; Terrace, Edinburgh, for Publication, ci ge - eee Ae ae REAL " Notice. —-The ‘Pagination of the Society’s. Publications: will be a . ‘double one, ‘the pages. of each. work ‘reprinted will be sepa- - ‘ _rately nunibered at the top, while each yearly series will be : * consecutively. numbered at’ the bottom. Members can thus bind the works as they may prefer. | eres Limited to 150 wee, of whch this ts No. a Octabian BNomance. 33 wrested from the power of Dagobert. But we should not omit to mention, that the Soudan was accompanied in this expedition by an only daughter; a princess of unequalled beauty, who had herself requested permission to witness the expected triumph of the Saracen arms, with the intention of bestowing her fair hand upon the fortun- ate hero who should display his prowess by exterminating the greatest number of Christians. After a prosperous voyage, the Saracens land at Venice, (c) and immediately proceed towards France, laying waste all before them with fire and sword. Dagobert, informed by the fugitives of this powerful invasion, requests the immediate as- sistance of all his Christian allies; he is accordingly joined by the kings of Ireland, England, Scotland, Spain, and Germany, with the ‘long-unnoticed hero of our tale, Otheviene, who, as we are at last informed, had never ceased to lament his folly in listening to the treacherous insinuations of his mother, and the consequent loss of his wife and children. But “the time is approaching when the old woman will suffer in her turn.”(@) The royal allies of Dagobert being quar- tered with their respective hosts in different parts of the city and suburbs, the lodging of Otheviene is fixed near St. Germain. Here his notice is one day accidentally attracted by the house of Clement, which (as we have already been informed) was a turretted mansion, corresponding in appearance with the wealth of its owner. Upon further enquiry, he learns from Dagobert the history and character of Clement, and his supposed offspring, Florens, whose beauty and noble deportment had already excited the admiration and curiosity of the discerning monarch. “When Otheviene heard him, he answered not a word for pity; he sighed deeply in his heart, and wept tenderly with his eyes. Very sorry was Otheviene for his wife and children.”(e) Dagobert enquiring into the cause of his affliction, Otheviene relates (c) Henisse. (d) HMais li tems aprochera Quant la dielle la compara. (ce) Quant Othebiene l'entendi A pieté mot ne respondi, An quer suspira durement, Et des ens plora tendrement, or sa fame ct ses enfans Six Othediene moult dolens, y 105 34 Aungerbyle Society Reprints. his story in a manner, from which it is evident that his mind is no longer under the influence of his mother’s artifice. In the meantime, the Saracens, after ravaging Lombardy, had approached within ten leagues of Paris. A particular description is here given of the Sou- dan’s equipage and person; the former is highly magnificent, and the latter differs little from that of most unbelieving champions of romance, being very strong, and very ugly. He did not, we may be sure, travel without his Mahomet, which was carried in a chariot of pure gold. When the advice of this idol was thought requisite, a Pagan entered the vehicle, and promised the Soudan all he wished, by which means (as the poet shrewdly remarks), Mahomet was sure to remain in favour. Their camp is at length fixed within sight of Paris, and a most superb tent prepared for the peculiar residence of the Soudan and his obsequious deity. The armies could now descry each other, and the Pagans, notwith- standing the immense superiority of their numbers, could not but feel an involuntary terror, even at this distant view of the Christian Chivalry. The Saracenic Princess, under the escort of her favoured suitor, the King of the Giants, a man, or rather a monster, fifteen feet in height, and of a proportionable strength and ferocity, pitches her tent at Montmartre. The Christians, regarding this approach of the enemy as a challenge, which they could not in honour refuse to accept, were prepared, under the command of the king of Spain, to sally forth against them ; when the dwarf of Marsibelle, (for that was the Princess’s name), a creature altogether as hideous as his mistress was beautiful, was seen to present himself at the barrier and demand an audience of Dagobert. This being granted, he proceeded to request and obtain a safe conduct for a knight, who burns to assert the superior charms of his lady in single combat with the bravest of the Christian champions. The etiquette of Chivalry forbad the denial of this suit, and accordingly the next morning the giant appeared before the walls, slightly armed, and on foot, for no horse could be found of sufficient’strength to support his enormous weight. Few of the Christian knights felt themselves disposed to enter the lists to so manifest a disadvantage. At length, one more adventurous than his fellows presented himself for that purpose. The shock of 166 @Octabtan Romance. 35 his lance, however, had but little effect upon the gigantic mass opposed to it; and the monster in return, disdaining to use his weapons, seized him in his powerful grasp, and, lifting him (armed as he was at all points) from his horse, flung him across his shoulder, and, in this condition, proceeded to lay him at the feet of the lovely Marsibelle. The Princess, with the gentleness natural to her sex, prevailed upon her lover to spare the life of an opponent, who had already paid sufficiently dear for his rashness. Elated by his success, the giant promises (upon the condition of receiving a kiss for his reward) that he will bring Dagobert himself to her feet. The next morning, therefore, he again approaches the walls, armed only with an enormous weapon of offence, having quitted his helmet and shield, as if in disdain of his future opponent ; an opponent, however, it did not at first seem probable that he would meet with; for, on the repetition of his challenge, not a single knight appeared disposed to contest the field with him, till at length Dagobert, enraged and ashamed at their want of courage, offers to expose his own person in the combat ; and his example is immediately followed by the kings of Ireland, of Spain, of Scotland, and the Emperor Otheviene. It was destined, however, that these monarchs should be saved the trouble and danger of encountering the giant, by the interference of a cham- pion whose assistance had been little expected. Florens, having mounted the battlements in company with Clement, and heard from him the whole story of the knight’s defeat, feels himself strongly induced to try his fortune against the giant, and loses no time in communicating his intention to his supposed father. The good Vilain testifies considerable surprise at his rashness ; but his scruples availed but little when opposed to the headstrong determination of his éléve, and nothing remained but to furnish him with the best means of deferce which the armoury of a Bourgeois afforded. His equipments, when completed, were truly ludicrous: a sword, which, from long disuse and want of care, had contracted so intimate an alliance with the scabbard, that the united force of Clement and Glauvain were able to separate them only at the expense of a severe tumble backwards; a lance, which had exchanged its original straightness for the more graceful curve of a sickle,—with a shield, a helmet, and coat of mail, whose rusty and imperfect condition bore ample testimony to their own antiquity, and the peaceful occupation 167 36 Aungerbyle Society Reprints. of their own proprietor. These preparations at last completed, our young warrior mounted on the courser which he had purchased with Glauvain’s deniers, sallied forth, and bent his course towards the city gates. It will be readily foreseen, that his uncouth appearance drew upon him no small ridicule from the good citizens of Paris, and no small contempt from his unchristian antagonist. Both parties, how- ever, were speedily taught to entertain a more respectable opinion of his powers, when at the first onset he wounded the leg of the giant with his crooked lance, and the next instant contrived, with the most incomparable address, to elude the stroke aimed at him in return. The fury of the Pagan now exceeded all bounds, while the anxious crowds assembled on all parts of the battlements, strove, by repeated shouts of applause and encouragement, to animate their new chams pion. The contest was long and doubtful; but the valour and activity of the youthful hero at length triumphed over the brutal force of his adversary, whose insolent security in some degree contributed to his own defeat, by affording Florens an opportunity (when lifted up from the ground by his powerful grasp) of cleaving the head, which, had its possessor been less presumptious, would have rested secure under the cover of a ‘“‘helme of proofe.” The monster fell, amidst the triumphant acclamations of the Christian host ; and the youthful conqueror, having severed the head from the lifeless trunk (which was not accomplished at less than fifteen strokes), fastened it to the bow of his saddle; and, to the still further surprise of the numerous spectators, instead of returning to receive their congratulations and thanks, set spurs to his courser, and made the best of his way to the Saracenic camp. For this proceeding, however, he had what, by everyone in the least conversant with the temper and habits of a true knight, must be allowed a fully sufficient reason. No sooner was the contest decided, than he felt himself seized with an ardent curiosity to behold the fair heathen, whose extraordinary charms had captivated the heart, and whose no less extraordin™ ary caprice had favoured the addresses of so ungainly a lover. Scarcely had he reached Montmartre, when he perceived the object of his search walking with her attendant damsels on the outskirts of her little camp. Surprise at his intrusion, contempt of his uncouth appearance, and terror at the sight of the trophy attached to his saddle, succeeded each other rapidly in the 168 OHrctabtan Romance. 37. minds of the female group; and before they could reach or obtain succour from their camp, Florens was in the midst of them; and the astonished Marsibelle found herself clasped in the arms of the audacious stranger, and carried off at full speed towards the gates of Paris. And now, had the rapidity of Florens’ courser been equal to the spirit of enterprise which animated its master, the Princess had doubtless spent that night where she little expected ; but the jaded animal moved so slowly under his double burthen, that our hero soon found himself surrounded by a troop of Saracens, whom the cries of the fugitive attendants had summoned to the relief of their lady. In order the more effectually to punish the temerity of his pursuers, he allowed his fair prize to quit the saddle. This unfortunately was all they looked for: remounting her, therefore, on one of their own horses, they immediately conveyed her to the camp of her father, without attempting to prolcng a contest, which must inevitably have ended in the annihilation of their whole force. On their return, the Sultan learns, with no small indignation, the defeat of his ally, and the insult offered to his daughter. In these emotions, the latter appeared openly to participate; but her mind was, in reality, far differently occupied. Deeds “of bold emprize” were ever pleasing to the fair, even though their own persons were endangered by them. Marsibelle too, notwithstanding the hurry of their flight, and the perturbation of her spirits, had observed the youth and beauty which shone beneath the rusty and battered helmet of her ravisher; and a burning kiss, which he had imprinted on her lips at the moment of quitting his hold, had totally effaced the remembrance of her unwieldy Sichzeus, and substituted in its place the image of a far more deserving and graceful object. These sensations, and the com- munication of them to her confidential attendant, though described certainly in less polished language, are yet conceived with a warmth of imagination, and executed with a strength of colouring, which may be admired even by those who are familiar with the more exquisite delineations of the bards of Rhodes and Mantua. The mind of our hero, meanwhile, was occupied by a reciprocal and equally ardent passion, though his thoughts were for a time directed from its object, by the numberless congratulations and honours, by which the whole court and army of Dagobert hastened to reward his prowess. 169 38 Aungerbyle Society Reprints. The first care of the monarch is of course to confer the rank of knighthood on his youthful champion ; but this ceremony is some- what delayed, by the interposition of the worthy Clement, who, bear- ing, as we have already seen, a most rooted antipathy to the pro- fession of arms, uses all his eloquence to dissuade Dagobert from bestowing, and his foster son from receiving, so unprofitable and perilous a dignity. These kind-hearted exertions, however, serve only to draw upon him the ridicule and “ gaberie” of the whole assembly: and indeed, both here and elsewhere, the poet seems to have aimed at enlivening his fiction, by contrasting the simplicity and bourgeoisie of the Vilain, with the heroic deportment of his more elevated characters. The ceremony then of investing Florens with his spurs, was the next morning performed by Dagobert him- self; and no sooner was it completed, than Otheviene, feeling himself interested in an extraordinary degree, as well by the prepossessing appearance, as by the unusual prowess of our adventurer, seized an opportunity of questioning him as to the truth of his reported parent- age. The youth, who still believed himself the son of Clement, by some female of Outremer, ingenuously relates all that he had learnt concerning himself from his supposed father: and Otheviene, struck with the singularity of the tale, and feeling his affections drawn towards him by some hidden sympathy, can scarcely refrain from falling upon his neck, and acknowledging him for his son. Thus the time passed away till the evening; when Florens find- ing himself disposed for a fresh adventure, and moreover somewhat anxious for a second interview with his Pagan Inamorata, saddles his courser, and proceeds leisurely towards the Saracen encamp- ment. A branch of olive, which he cut by the wayside, gave him the appearance of an ambassador, or herald, and consequently procured him unmolested entrance into the royal tent. The Sultan immediately concluded, that the object of his errand was nothing less than an offer of submission and apostasy on the part of Dago- bert and all his subjects: he was surprised to hear Florens ‘speak aloud, as one of noble birth. That God, who pardoned Longinus, who was conceived of a virgin, and who rescued his friends from hell, save and preserve the King of France, who excels all (kings) in power, maintain all his friends, and confound all his enemies, 170 Octabian Romance. 39 Thus commands thee our Emperor, who is governor above all, that thou come to cry him mercy. Better were it for thee that thou shouldst fall at his feet. Bethink thee to do what he com- mands. Too hardy and rash wert thou, when thou camest hither from beyond the seas. Never shalt thou return. Know that all the hosts of heathenesse could not protect thee from being cut off.".(7) The Sultan’s temper was at no time of the most placable, and this unlooked-for harangue caused him to forget both his own dignity, and the respect which was entertained in all countries for the sacred character of an herald. He seized a knife, and launched it at the head of the intruder, accompanying his attack with a torrent of abuse and blasphemy. His weapon happily missed its aim, and his eloquence served only to gratify Florens in his desire of obtaining (7) En haut parler come gentis. “ Gil Biex qui pardon fit Longis, Qui en la bierge se ombra, Gt ses amis d’enfer geta, Saunt ct garde le Roi de Hrance Qui desenr toz a la poissance ; Gt mainticegne tos ses amis, Gt confonde ses anemis. Ce te mande nostre Emperere Que desor tos est gobernere, Que li biegnes merci crier. G son pic te conbient aler. Ca teste li met en pensant Por faire toit son comandement. Cu tus trop hardi ct osés Quant tu cs ca ontre passes. damais arriere ne iras. Cos li ors qui soit en Bandas? Sle bos gariroit, ce sachies, Que bos ne soies detrenchies.” 1. Baudas is probably Bagdad. Addresses of this pious and courteous nature seem to haye been no uncommon thing in the days of chivalry. A similar one is quoted by Mr Ellis, from Guy, Earl of Warwick (Early Romances, Vol. II., p. 42). Many others might be pointed out. The Longinus here mentioned is stated in the more modern copies of the pseudo Gospel of Nicodemus to have been the knight who pierced our Saviour’s side upon the cross. (Nicodemus his Gospel, by J. Warrin, p. 27). His life may be found in the Golden Legend. 171 40 Aungerbvle Society Reprints. an interview with the fair Marsibelle. Attracted by the high and angry tones of her Father’s voice, she entered the tent, illuminating (says the poet) the whole place with the blaze of her beauty. She immediately recognized the features of Florens; and if her admira- tion of his person was before great, it became unbounded now, that she saw him apparelled in a manner suitable to the splendor of his actions, and the munificence of his newly - acquired patrons. Prudently, however, smothering these emotions for the present, she demands of her father the name and errand of the stranger, and having learned the provocation given, and the violence which had ensued, she rebukes the Sultan for his want of self-possession and decorum, in attacking a messenger; and, immediately advancing towards Florens, complains, in no very gentle terms, of the indignity offered to her on the preceding day, by a vassal in rusty armour, whom, if she could but get him into her possession, she would straightway cause him to be burnt alive. “Then whispered softly : Would that Termagaunte would conduct him to my apartment.’(g) ‘“‘ Lady,” replies Florens, “I know him well ; he resembles myself in all things, and you shall distinguish him the next battle, hy his bearing attached to his lance, the sleeve which he tore from your garment at the time of your escape.” Then, addressing himself to the Sultan, “Tn an evil hour was that knife thrown. If thou dost not incon- tinently escape, heavily shalt thou feel for it, Thy death lies upon the point of my lance.”(Z) This last insult utterly exhausted the patience of the Saracen. Before Florens could quit the tent, the royal guard were ordered to cut off his retreat; but the order was more easily given, than carried into execution; and the Sultan had shortly the mortification of seeing his guard return from their fruitless pursuit, with the loss of an animal, two kings, (one whom was his own brother,) and the greater half of the detachment. Irritated be- (g) “ Puis dit en bas cotement. Car plust ore 1 Crevogant Que en ma chambre le remise.” (A) “ Mar it fut le coutianus lancies. Se sempres ne bons enfuies Bous an avres moult grant pesance, @os mors gist an fer de ma lance.” Octabtan Romance. 41 yond all bounds, he vented his rage upon his idol Mahomet, giving him four blows with his truncheon, and declaring him to be of less value than a brace of dead dogs. Mahomet was, however, some- what recompensed for his bruises, by the grateful though silent praises and thanks bestowed on him by the love-sick Marsibelle, for thus kindly conniving at the escape of her admirer. Thirty thousand Sara- cens are the next morning ordered to advance to the attack of Paris; . which the Christians no sooner perceive, than they sally forth, and animated by the presence and example of Dagobert and Otheviene, gain a complete victory, leaving a third part only of the infidel host to relate the story of their defeat. The Sultan, less terrified than enraged at this failure, determines to renew the assault on the following day, at the head of sixty thousand men. Marsibelle, affecting to participate in his anger, obtains leave to accompany him in the battle, and returns to her encampment on the banks of the Seine. Florens, being apprised of this movement by a squire, whom he had ordered to watch for that purpose, loses no time in presenting himself on the opposite bank, and is as speedily descried by his mistress, who invites him by signals to her tent. The enamoured youth ventures across the stream, accompanied only by a single squire, and happily reaches the appointed spot without inter- ruption. The mutual declaration of their loves, and the voluntary offer of Marsibelle, to renounce Mahomet and his law, are scarcely the work of a minute. It is as quickly agreed, that Florens shall the next morning provide a vessel, for the purpose of conveying herself, her treasures, and her female attendants, to the city of Paris. But as the security of their union would be somewhat questionable, while the Sultan retained a chance of superiority, either in the present or in any future contest, she proceeds to instruct her lover in the most likely means of ensuring his defeat, or rather his capture when de- feated. He was in possession, it appears, of a steed of most wond- rous qualities, upon which he was always in the habit of appearing on the field. This extraordinary creature had a single horn growing from the centre of its forehead, and surpassed all his kind both in beauty and swiftness; which latter circumstance evidently put it in his master’s power, in the event of his bad success, to bid defiance to all pursuers. Determined to obtain possession of this animal, 173 42 Aungerbople Society Reprints. and having completely arranged the plan of the Princess’s elope- ment, Florens takes his leave, and bends his steps towards Paris. Meeting on his road with a troublesome amiral, he despatches him, and permits his squire to strip the dead body of its armour and accoutrements, which were richly adorned with gold. This occasioning some delay, a large body of Saracens descry and ‘sally forth to attack him; but before they can accomplish their pur- pose, they are opposed by a party of the Christian garrison, and repulsed with the usual quantum of soldiers and amirals slain. Florens, having thus in safety regained the palace of Dagobert, relates his adventure in the hearing of the monarch and of the good Clement. He finishes by expressing much anxiety to become master of the Sultan’s palfrey ; and his foster father, always anxious to fulfil the wishes of his darling éléve, and feeling himself, as it would seem, inspired by the example of the gallant Court, in which he had spent the last three or four days, determines, even at the risk of his own person, to obtain it for him. During his residence at Outremer, he had made himself completely master of the Saracen Zatm and manners. Dis- guising himself, therefore, in the habit of that people, he seeks the Pagan camp, and presents himself to the Sultan as a native of Syria, peculiarly skilled in the management of horses. The Sultan, proud of possessing so wonderful a creature as Bondifer (for that was the animal’s name), orders it to be brought out for his inspection. The good old man, who had not bestrode a horse for nearly twenty years, on attempting to mount him, is repulsed by a severe kick. Nothing dismayed, however, he puts up a silent prayer to the Virgin, and finds a second trial more successful. Once seated, he assumes the air and tone of a Christian warrior, renounces his fictitious character, and, commending in no very gentle terms, the Sultan, his host, and his idols, to the care of Lucifer, gallops off for Paris with such rapidity, as to preclude all possibility of pursuit, and leaves the Sultan deprived of all power of utterance, by the sudden emotions of rage and surprise. On his arrival at Paris, he leads the animal to the grateful Florens, who has no sooner received it, than, noticing in Dagobert’s manner some indications of a wish to become its possessor, he immediately presents it to him with that generous courtesy which invariably distinguished the character of a true knight. 174 Octabian Romance. 43 On the morning of the following day, the Sultan advances with the whole of his force towards Paris; and the Christians, though inferior in numbers, march out to oppose them with the greatest alacrity. The battle soon became general and obstinate. Dagobert, mounted on the horse, or rather unicorn, of the Sultan, bore down all opposition; till at last, reaching the spot where the infidel monarch had taken his station, he unhorsed and beat him to the ground. And now the contest would at once have been decided, by the death of the aggressor, had not the pressure of the Saracen bodyguard forced the reluctant Dagobert to quit his prey at the moment he was about to strike the fatal blow. At this instant, Florens, (who had, during the beginning of the affray, absented himself, for the purpose of convey- ing Marsibelle to Paris,) having now accomplished his design without interruption, returns to the field, and commences the day’s business by cleaving in twain a fierce Sclavonian.(i) “The Sultan, in the meantime, having remounted, and again joined in the battle, is as- sailed and vanquished by Otheviene; from whose hands he is rescued, as he had already been from those of Dagobert, by the timely inter- position of his own troops, and Otheviene, becoming in his turn the object of attack, has his sword and helmet broken, and is on the point of falling under the blows of the infidels, when Florens, per- ceiving his danger, rushes to his assistance, and saves his life. Both of them, however, pay for their hardihood, with the loss of their liberty; and the Christian army, thus deprived of two of their greatest supports, begin to give way on all sides, and retreat in disorder towards the gates of Paris. Dagobert, in a transport of shame and anger, seizes the Oriflamme,(7) and, followed by a chosen band, preci- pitates himself into the thickest of the fight. Still this serves only to prolong the contest for a few minutes ; and the pious monarch, per- ceiving that no human efforts could avail to extricate himself and (7) Can this be looked upon as a proof, that our Poet founded his romance upon some traditionary stories concerning the wars in which Dagobert was actually engaged, or is it merely the result of ignorance and carelessness? Those who made nv scruple of applying the name of Saracens indiscriminately to all who were not Christians, would as little hesitate, where the rhyme demanded it, to substitute the name of another Heathen people, for that of the Saracens, (j) The sacred banner of St. Denis.—(E. M. G.) 175 44 Aungerbple Soctety Reprints. his people from their calamitous situation, addresses himself fervently, though hastily, to the Deity. Scarcely had he uttered the prayer, when twenty thousand warriors, mounted on milk white steeds, and clad in armour of the same colour, and of a most dazzling brightness, were seen rapidly to descend from the heights of Montmartre. On their nearer approach it was discovered, that this angelic chivalry was headed by the illustrious champion of Christianity, St. George ; and it is almost needless to add, that their interposition at once turned the scale of battle in favour of their votaries.(2) The Empire of France and the cause of religion having thus miraculously been asserted, against the most tremendous power that ever threatened their dissolution, the Parisians give vent to the warm- est expressions of triumph in their preservation, and of gratitude to its authors; while the Sultan, with his remaining forces, (which scarcely amounted to ten thousand men,) saves himself by flight, carrying with him the unfortunate Otheviene, and his unknown offspring. On his arrival at the camp, his distress is aggravated by the intelli- gence of his daughter’s elopement. His anger vents itself first upon Mahomet, whose head he dashes in pieces, and next upon his noble prisoners, whom he threatens to put to the most ignominious death, as soon as he shall set foot in Paiennie. Full of his revengeful pur- pose, he commences his march homewards with all possible rapidity; but he was calculating, it appears, without his host, and a far different fate was reserved both for himself and his intended victims. And you, gentle lords, if you will continue to listen to me, ‘“‘ without noise or interruption, you shall hear a wonderful song. I will return to the lady, whom I left in Jerusalem. Concerning her son and his lioness, you shall hear a good song.”(/) (2) A similar interposition of St. George and Demetrius in behalf of Robert Duke of Normandy. when engaged with the Saracens before Antioch, is recorded in the fourth book of William of Malmesbury.—See Whitaker’s Life of St. Neot, p. 188, who quotes also 9 passage from Henry of Huntingdon, which still more nearly coincides with the account of our Romancer, ‘‘ Viderunt exercitum equis albis et Phoebeis armis.”—(E. M. G.) (1) Sans noise faire ct sans tencon Quw'en Ferusalem vous laissaxi Sotres merbailense changotr Be son file et son Lion * * * * * . Porrez oir bone chancon. A la Bame reparerot 176 Orctabtan Romance. 45 Jerusalem, it appears, afforded them an undisturbed asylum, until the young Otheviene (for the Queen had given to her son the name of her still beloved husband) attained the twentieth year of his age. At this period, feeling the thirst of adventure natural to all noble minds, he proffered his services and those of his lioness, to the Christian monarch of Acre, with whom he speedily ingratiated him- self, by defeating a Saracen army, then on their march to invade that territory, and taking their chieftain prisoner. The grateful sovereign, becoming highly interested in the fortunes of his young champion, enquires into and learns the whole history of himself and his injured mother. This he could not be supposed to hear without strong emotions of pity and astonishment; and accordingly we find him readily acceding to the petition of the young Otheviene, that they might be allowed to quit Palestine, and provided with a sufficient escort to convoy them safely to the court of Dagobert, through whose means he hoped to effect the reconciliation of his parents. The munificence, indeed, of the king exceeded their highest expectations. The most speedy and ample preparations are made for their voyage. A company of two thousand knights, the flower of Syrian chivalry, is deputed to attend them to its completion; and, the day of their de- parture being fixed, after bidding their grateful adieus to their royal benefactor, they set sail for France, accompanied by the dumb but incontrovertible evidence of the Queen’s chastity, and her son’s legitimacy. They had now well nigh reached the place ot their destination, when, meeting a vessel employed in conveying pilgrims of various countries to the Holy Land, they learnt from some of the crew the inroad which the Saracens had made into the country of Dagobert, and the supposed danger of himself and his capital. A few words from the young prince suffice to determine his gallant companions to attempt a junction with the Christian army ; and in this determination they disembark, on their arrival at the nearest point of the French coast. At this very conjuncture of time, it happened that the Soudan was about to quit the country with his royal prisoners, followed by ten thousand Saracens, the melancholy remains of his enormous host. The heroes of Acre no sooner descry them, than they resolve, if possible, to cut off their retreat. The young Otheviene having briefly encouraged 177 46 Aunugerbyle Society Reprints. his friend and ézdoctrine his lioness, they fall suddenly upon the dispirited infidels, who had little expected, or guarded against, such an opposition to their flight. Despair, however, lent them courage ; and the battle had become obstinate, and even doubtful, when the Prince, having cut his way to the person of the Soudan, engaged and felled him to the ground. The faithful lioness now stepped in, to complete what her master had begun; and the Pagan had probably met with a death unusual even in the annals of romantic warfare, had he not cried lustily for mercy, and promised to abjure from all future allegiance to Mahomet, who had so ill repaid him for former devotion. A look from Otheviene was enough to restrain his docile attendant: and the remaining Saracens, having followed the example of their leader, the conquerors lost no time in hastening to communi- cate to the Christian prisoners the happy tidings of their delivery. It may be easily conjectured, with what surprise and satisfaction Othev- iene learnt that his timely arrival and prowess had effected the release of his own father. Judging it, however, more eligible to conceal his own character, until he had ascertained the Emperor’s sentiments with respect to his long-lost consort, he introduces himself only as the Knight of the Lioness; and in the course of their conversation, enquires of the Emperor, whether he was not formerly married to a fair and amiable princess. Otheviene, unusually affected at the enquiry, relates the story of her persecution, and supposed loss, with many expressions of remorse for his cruelty, and belief that the subse- quent misfortunes had been inflicted by Heaven solely as its punish- ment. After having thus given vent to his grief, he remarks the strong likeness which existed between the Knight of the Lioness and Florens; insinuating his hope, that the latter might some day prove to be nearly connected with him. Young Otheviene, equally affected by this strange coincidence, and perceiving the thorough change which had taken place in the mind of his father, now no longer hesitates to discover himself. The penitent husband is raptur- ously acknowledged and forgiven by his amiable Queen, and the whole party join in pious admiration of the wonderful means which Providence had destined to bring about their reunion. It remained only, in order to complete their happiness, that the 178 Octabian Romance. 47 testimony of Clement should confirm that relationship between the Emperor and Florens, which the voice of nature had already so power- fully suggested in the hearts of each. For this purpose they repair to the Court of Dagobert, where their arrival creates the most lively sensa- tions of surprise and joy. The first congratulations ended, the good Vilain is sent for, and conjured to discover all that he was acquainted with, as to the birth and country of his reputed offspring. The worthy old man, delighted to see his foster son on the eve of attain- ing that rank, to which his origin and merits so fully entitled him, suffered no selfish considerations to deter him from owning the whole truth, as to the time and place and manner of his purchasing the infant. Having done which, in order to remove all further uncertainty, he adds, (although it is not easy to () discover how he came by the information): ‘The thieves who sold him to me, took him from a knight ; this knight of whom I speak, took the child from an ape; and that ape, in truth, had taken it from a lady.”(z) Florens thus recognised, obtains the consent of his parents to his union with the fair Marsibelle, who, together with the Sultan, receives immediate baptism, and instruction in the Christian lore. The Emperor, having now seen Dagobert settled in the undisturbed possession of his kingdom, repairs with all his family to Rome, where on his arrival, he finds himself spared the painful necessity of bring- ing the queen-mother to condign punishment ; the mingled emotions of rage and apprehension, with which she hears of the triumphant return of her daughter-in-law, operating so violently, as to preduce immediate death. The Bard, having thus disposed of all parties, concludes, as usual, (m) In the English translation, the Knight has a parley with the robbers; in which he relates how he rescued the child from an ape, and the robbers repeat this account to Clement. (x) Hi larons qui me le bendirent A un Chebalier le toulirent, Cil Chebalicr dont je bons d4 D’ enfant a un singe toli, € cil singe por berite LH’ abvoit a un dame emble. 179 48 Aungerbyle Society Reprints. with a prayer in behalf of himself and all those who had condescended to listen patiently to his lengthened and eventful story. Here endetB Be Romaunce of Octa¥Bian, Emperour of Rome, and of Dagobert, Bing of France.” Gp finist Ie Remanz de Othevien, Gmporeoy de Rome, et Dagobert, Roy de Hraunce, 8 NO EES AND QUERI HS. Agente Cesaris of. Ghent. _The following Siscuaton ‘refers to oe E. MG 's query ‘in No, VEIT. I, Guillermi: Alverni. Rhetorica Divina. 11 Kal. Sean S 1483. 4to. — 2 3 Bsa IL Rhetorica Guillermi Episcopi Parisiensis, 1843. III. Boecius, Vijf bouken de consolatione. mbllogeriies 3 Mai, Beles C; H. : : Epics of a “Tom, 1847. —Hilkett. and Lang in their Dice. of . Anon.,and Pseudon, Lit. cok 127 give the name of aye “Anne ~ “Hamilton as the Author.—J. C. Hi : Will’ any, member kindly. inform me where. ‘the following book” coe printed : Discursus de- suprematu. adversus Czesarinum Fursten- _ erlum. “ Hyctopoli ad Istrum,” oe 8vo, I can find no.sueh _ + town, —B. F.- ‘NWO TH Ce The Committee of the AUNGERVYLE SOCIETY. have resolved “that in all future numbers, one page of the outside cover shall be - ab the disposal of members for: purposes of inter- ‘communication on all ‘subjects of Antiquarian or Bibliographical intérest.- Queries ‘will be inserted. at ‘the rate ‘of ‘Threepence ~ per line of Twelve - Words: no query to occupy more than four, lines, Replies (not to 7 XK exceed three lines) will be inserted Free. y Queries will ‘be inserted in the order in which they are received, EDMUND GOLDSMID, te ao Ser, : : 30. Cast TERRACE, fe EDINBURGH. In No. X. of the “AUNGERVYLE” will be commenced: “A JOURNAL of the Reign of KING EDWARD VL, written with his own hand ;” from Burnet’s Collectanea. ek