She determined to wear, next her skin, a shift of hair-cloth, which she never quitted night or day, “Fors quand couchoit a son seigneur;" and she furthermore made a vow to wear it constantly till she should hear news of Tristrem. After much suffering of mind and body, she called to her a minstrel (un vielieur), to whom she explained, much in detail, her whole anxiety, and ultimately gave instructions to communicate this information to her lover. Tristrem, on the receipt of this intelligence, becomes extremely anxions to see his Ysolt in her state of penitence; he has an interview with Kaherdin, and the two friends agree to pass over, in disguise, to Cornwall. They take new devices and armour, and set off in disguise for the court of King Mark, where they arrive just before a great festival, and are, as foreign knights, honourably received. The multitude assembled at this festival was prodigious, and the games exhibited were unusually splendid and various. Skirmishing (wrestling),— "Et puis firent un sauz Waleis, Et uns qu' apelent Waneleis, Od gavelos et od espées; Sur tus i fut Tristram prisés." In the middle of the tournament, in which the two friends greatly distinguished themselves, Tristrem was fortunately recognised by one of his best friends, who, alarmed for his safety and that of Kaherdin, and foreseeing that their valour would expose them to great danger, furnished them with two excellent horses, the fleetest of the whole country. This valuable present was received just in time. Tristrem and Kaherdin had slain two knights, the most powerful and popular of the court, one of whom was Cariados, and was obliged to save themselves by flight from a whole army of assailants. These, however, were Cornish assailants, and not very anxious to overtake such formidable champions as the two friends, who arrived on the sea-coast unhurt, and returned quietly to Brittany. (Here occurs the digression on the subject of Thomas, quoted at length in the Introduction.) Tristrem and Kaherdin, the former of whom seems to have suddenly forgotten the hair-cloth shift of Ysolt, passed some time in Brittany, in amusements of different kinds; in feasting, hunting, seeking adventures on the frontiers, and when they were more at leisure, in going aux images." I "As images se délitoient, Pur les dames que tant amoient." One day it happened after a chase, when the two friends, being separated from the rest of the party, were returning to the rendezvous, they discovered, riding towards them, a Breton knight on a grey horse. He was splendidly armed. His shield was of gold, fretted with vair and so were the longe, (coat-armour,) the flag of his spear, and his crest. The vent-gualos, (covering of his shield,) which was closely shut, was of the same suit. He was tall, stout, and well-proportioned. The friends stopped, and awaited his arrival. On his approach, he saluted them courteously, which they returned, and then enquired his name, and the object of his journey. "Sir," said the unknown knight, "can you teach me the way to the castle of Tristrem l'Amoureux?"-"What do you want with him?" returned Tristrem; "who are you? what is your name? You need go no farther, for I am Tristrem. Now explain your wishes.""I am rejoiced to find you," replied the stranger; 6. my name is Tristrem le Nain: I am of the Marches of Brittany. On the right hand, towards the sea of Spain, I had a castle-1 had, too, a mistress; but I have unfortunately lost her. The night before last she was torn from me. Estuit l'Orgueilleux, of Castle-fer, has torn her away by force, and now keeps her confined in his castle. In this extremity of distress, I apply to you, as the most valiant knight in the world, for assistance and I know that the bravest of men is also the most amorous, and most able to appreciate the misery of my situation. Should you succeed in recovering my mistress, I promise you, for life. homage and service."-"I will assist you, my friend," replied Tristrem ; "but for the present, let us return to my castle. To-morrow we will set off on this adventure." The other will not hear of this delay. "Tristrem l'Amoureux,” says he, "if he heard me, would either deny, or give me his aid immediately! as a lover, he would feel compassion for my impatience. Trifle with me no longer, sirs, but show me to him!""I acquiesce," replied Tristrem; "It is my duty to accompany you now. Only suffer me to send for my arms." As soon as he is equipped, they set off upon the expedition, and, after some time, arrive at Castle-fer. They stop before the walls at the edge of the forest. Estuit l'Orgueilleux was a most formidable knight, and had six brothers, knights also, and of approved valour, though inferior to him in might. Two of these brothers were just returning from a tournament with their altendants, and falling in with Tristrem's party, commenced a combat, in which they were both slain. The noise of this encounter speedily reaching the castle, the proud Estuit sallied forth with his garrison, and a fresh and more obstinate conflict ensued, in which, after prodigies of valour, he and his four remaining brothers lost their lives. But Tristrem le Nain was also killed, and Tristrem himself wounded in the loin by a poisoned lance, after slaying the person who bore it. With great difficulty he is carried to his castle, where every effort of medicine is in vain exerted for the cure of his wound. Spite of all the salves and cataplasms, which were liberally applied, and the draughts, which were as unsparingly administered, the gangrene becomes worse, and it is at length evident, that no one can cure it save Ysolt of Cornwall. But it was impossible that Tristrem, in his reduced state, could undertake a voyage to England, and apparently, it was as difficult for Ysolt to come to Brittany. In this distress, Tristrem resolves to unbosom himself to Kaherdin in private, and directs the chamber to be cleared. His wife conceals herself to hear their conference, suspicious that Tristrem, with whose abstinence she was but too well acquainted, was about to renounce the world, and become a monk. She learns, however, a different and yet more mortifying secret. Tristrem, in a very long, and to say the truth, a very dull lamentation, bemoans his absence from Ysolt of Cornwall, and concludes by howling and sobbing so bitterly, as to melt the tender heart of Kaherdin, who, laying aside all respect for his sister's interest, offers to serve his friend in whatever he should command. Tristrem, in a second harangue, requests him to go to England in his new ship, and there to deliver to the Queen of Cornwall an exceeding long message, entreating her to come to his relief. He also desires him to furnish himself with two sets of sails, one white and one black; the former to be displayed in his return, if his embassy proved successful, the latter, should it be otherwise; and, finally, he gives him his ring, to be presented to Ysolt, as a token from her lover. To Tristrem's wife, Kaherdin is charged only to say, in general, that he goes to England for a celebrated leach (mire) to cure her husband's wound. Thus instructed, Kaberdin, after a long indulgence of social grief with his friend, departs for England. Meanwhile, Ysolt of Brittany has heard all the secret of her husband's love, with the rage of a slighted woman. On this subject the minstrel becomes sententious:- "Ire de femme est a duter, De leger vant lur balir, Et plus dure lur enemisté, These severe remarks upon female passion the poet cuts short, recollecting that the ladies will not be disposed to profit by his morality, and proceeds to tell how Ysolt of Brittany, though inwardly resolved on vengeance, showed every external mark of affection for her husband, enquiring often when Kaberdin would return with the skilful physician, to seek whom he had gone to England. Kaherdin, meanwhile, pursues his way to London. This seems to allude to the images of Ysolt and Brengwain in the Castle of Bellagog.-—See p. 362. Al Rei Markes en fait present, Et li dit raisnablement, Qu'od sun aver vent en sa terre, 19 Pur altre ganir ao et conquerre; Pals le donist en sa regiun, Que pris n'i seit a achaisun, Ne domage n'i ad, ni hunte, Par chamberlains, ne par Vescunte. Li rei li dune fermi pais 21 Olant tus iceus del palais, "2 A la reine vait parler, De ses avers 23 li volt mustrer, Un aficail 4 ovré de or fin, Li port en sa main Kaherdin, Ne quide qu'un secle 25 melleur selt; Li ors 16 est mult bons, ce dit Thus introduced to Ysolt, Kaherdin shows her the well-known ring of Tristrem, under pretence of comparing the gold, of which it is made, with that of the seal, or clasp, which he offers to her acceptance. The Queen of Cornwall instantly changes colour, and takes the supposed merchant aside, under pretence of chaffering for the ring. Kaherdin delivers his message in about fifty lines of commonplace tautology. Ysolt takes the advice of Brengwain, and communicates to her the whole circumstances of this distressing case. Here occurs another scene of weeping and sobbing, betwixt the Queen and her confidante. At length the former adopts the resolution of going, at all risks, to the aid of her lover. She escapes from the palace by a postern gate communicating with the Thames, and embarking in the vessel of Kaherdin, they instantly set sail. The Minstrel describes the agonizing expectation with which Tristrem waited the approach of every vessel, and then returns to the voyagers, whose bark is assailed by a tempest. The manœuvres of the seamen are described in nautical language; and the sobs and tears of Ysolt are, as usual, accompanied by those of the sympathetic Kaherdin. The former declaims, with the poet's usual tautology, upon the hardship of being wrecked on so interesting an expedition; and is only comforted by the reflection, that she will be drowned, and that Tristrem, on hearing the tidings, will assuredly drown himself also, and that, peradventure, the stomach of the same fish may serve as a tomb to them both. 66 Qua semel O iterum congrediamur, alt!" The storm, however, being appeased, they gain the coast of Brittany, and the white sails are displayed, as a signal of the success of Kaherdin's embassy. A dead calm prevents their gaining harbour, and occasions Ysolt nearly as much vexation as the former tempest. Meanwhile, her vengeful rival apprizes Tristrem of the return of the long-expected vessel. He eagerly enquires the colour of the sails she displays; and his wife declaring that the sails are black, he turns his face to the wall, implores the mercy of God upon Ysolt and himself, and exclaims, that, though she has refused to come to his aid, he dies for her sake. He repeats her name thrice, and dies in the fourth invocation. "Amie Ysolt !' trei fez 7 dit, A la quarte rend l'esprit ; Idune plurent par la maisun, Li chevalur, li cumpaingnun; Li cris est halt, la plainte est grant; Saillient chevaler et serjant, Et portent li hors de sun lit; Puis le chuchent 28 sur un samit, Covre le d' plaie roie. 29" During this sad scene, Ysolt lands, and demands of an old man the meaning of the lamentations which resound through every street. "Fair dame," answered he, "never was so great cause for mourning. Dead is Tristrem, the free, the valorous, the prop of his liege men, the reliever of the distressed." When Ysolt heard him, she could not for grief answer a word, but went silently through the crowds, who marvelled at her beauty, till she reached the castle-hall where the body of her lover was displayed; then threw herself upon the bier, and died in a last embrace : "Si se turne vers Orient, Pur li prie piteusement : Amis Tristran, quant mort vus vei, ACCOUNT OF THE GERMAN ROMANCES ON THE STORY OF SIR TRISTREM. BY MR. HENRY WEBER. The tale of Sir Tristrem has in no country obtained more popularity than in Germany, 30 There are no less than three metrical romances upon the subject extant at this day, of which the first and most celebrated is the composition of Gottfried Von Strasburg. Melx assisé-Mieux assise, située. Gavarnie-Guarni, provided.3 Cunteinent, etc. Ils-( les habitans de Londres) se contiennent (maintiennent) avec grand courage.-4 Recourer- Rallying point, or bulwark.5 Avant, etc.-Before the existence of London, England had no place of strength, or rallying point.- Pe-Pied.- Curt-Court.-8 Vent-Vend.-9 Des tules, elc.-Des toutes les (terres) qui existent.-10 U-Où.-" Engin -Ingine, genius. 1 Ove-Avec.-13 Pung-Poing.-14 Ostrur-Astur, Latin-a goss-hawk. Every person of rank carried a hawk upon his fist. It appears from Barclay's Ship of Fools, that they even brought their falcons into church: "Another on his fist, a sparhawke or fawcone, Or else a cokow, and so wasting his shone, 15 Estrange culur-Perhaps strange means precious, as in the Italian pelegrino.-10 Cupe, etc.-Une coupe blen tourée; well turned upon the lathe. 18 Néelée-Annealed, or perhaps nailé, in allusion 17 Entaillé-Engraved.-' to the custom of fixing nails, or pins, into drinking-vessels.-19 Qu'od, etc. That he was come into the country with his property (avoir)-20 GanirGagner. País.-Peace, or protection against the exactions of the officers of the royal household. -a2 Oiant, etc.-This may mean, in the hearing of all those of the palace; or perhaps oiant is derived from the old English ayenst, against.-3 Avers-Avoir, goods.-34 Aficail seems to mean a clasp, from afficher.-5 Secle- A seal, from sigillum; it seems to be used synonymously with aficail.-6 Li ors-L'or. Trei fez-Trois fois.-28 Chuchent-Couchent.-19 Plaie roie-Tapisserie rayé. Plaie, which is derived from plagæ, plagarum, seems to be the elymon of the Scottish plaid. 30 From the following passage in Halfdani Einari filii Scagraphía historiæ literaria Islandicæ (Hlavniæ, 1777-8), It appears that Tristrem was translated into the Icelandic tongue as early as the thirteenth century: "Tristrami et Isodda (historia) per Robertum Monachum in linguam Islandicam translata jussu Haquini Norvegia Regis." [The Islandic Sir Tristrem was This shall be more particularly noticed after mentioning the others, which I have not had an opportunity of inspecting. Among the Heidelberg MSS., preserved in the library of the Vatican, another Tristrem has been discovered, which is said to coincide with the story as contained in the French folio romance, and is the work of an unknown poet, named Segehart von Babenberg, (i. e. Bamberg in Franconia.) The date of the MS. is 4403; but the poem is said to be far more ancient. The third romance, containing 7699 lines, is the work of Eylhard von Hobergen, and is preserved among the numerous MSS. of the Dresden library. It is probably the same with a romance in the Munich library, which is introduced by the following annotation in another hand: "Of this history has first written Thomas of Britannie, and he afterwards lent his book to one named Dilhard von Oberet, who from that rewrote it in rhymes." This Oberet is most probably the identical Eythart Von Hobergen just mentioned. The romance was very soon turned into prose, not by a prosaic version from the ancient metrical copies, but by direct translation from the French folio. The first edition was printed at Augsburg, in the year 4498, in folio. It was afterwards reprinted, probably with many omissions, in a collection of prose romances printed at Frankfort in the year 1587, and entitled the Book of Love, a reprint of which has lately been commenced at Berlin, (1809, 8vo.1) The metrical romance of Gottfried von Strasburg is preserved in six different manuscripts, one of which, in the Munich library, was transcribed in the thirteenth century. From another, in the Magliabecchian collection at Florence, the poem was printed in the second volume of Myller's extensive collection of German poems of the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth centuries, (Berlin, 1785, 4to.) The poet appears, from various circumstances, to have lived in the first half of the thirteenth century. In a digression respecting the troubadours of his age, he deplores the death of Heinrich von Veldeck, (who composed a very romantic poem on the basis of Virgil's Æneid, in the year 1180, according to his own account,1) and, among his contemporaries, he mentions Hartman von Ouwe, author of Ywaine, and other poems, which he composed towards the end of the twelfth century; and Walther von der Vogelweide, who wrote a great number of amorous lays between the years 1190 and 1230. Gottfried's poem, though very diffuse, has many passages of considerable merit. He did not live to finish his projected work, which was completed by a poet of the name of Vribert; but the continuation is in every respect greatly inferior to the original. Both parts of the work comprise no less than 26,200 lines. Another shorter conclusion was the composition of Ulric von Thurheim, a poet who wrote about the year 1240-1250. In the introduction of the romance, the following remarkable passage occurs respecting the original author of the tale of Tristrem : v. 29. Ich weiz wol ir ist vil gewesen Di von Tristrande hand gelesen, Tun aber ich di glich nu, Und schephe mine wort darzu Daz mir ir igliches sage Von disem mer messehage, So wirb ich anders dan ich sol. Ich entun es niht, si sprachen wol, Als Thomas Von Britanie gibt Sus treib ich manige suche Alle sine lehe gelas Wie dirre aventure was. Of these lines, the following is a literal translation: "I well know that many have recited of Tristrem, though there have not been many who have rightly recited of him. But if 1 act like them, and fashion my words accordingly, so that every one tells me his displeasure at this tale, I do not obtain the reward I deserve: I will not do thus, for they would speak rightly; I only do it from a noble intention towards the good of myself and the world; for they counsel it well, and what a man does in good part, is done good and well. But, as I said, they have not recited rightly, and that was in consequence of their not speaking the truth, as Thomas of Britanie tells it, who was master of adventures (romance), and who read, in British books, the lives of all the lords of the land, and has made them known to us. What he has related of Tristrem, being the right and the truth, I diligently began to seek both in French and Latin books; and began to take great pains to order this poem according to his true relation. In this manner I sought for a long time, till I read in a book all his relation how these adventures happened." Accordingly, the share of the poem composed by Gottfried coincides very exactly with the romance of Thomas of Ercildoune, though in the proportion of seven verses in the former to one in the latter. At v. 220, we are told that Rivalin has been said to have been King of Lochnoys; "but Thomas, who read it in adventure [romance], says that he was of Parmenie, and that he had a separate land from a Briton, to whom the Schotte [i. e. Scots] were subject, and who was named 'li duc Morgan.'" A great number of words, sometimes whole lines, occur throughout the poem in French, which are always carefully translated into German. This renders it indisputable that the poet had a French original before him. When he had composed 19,315 lines, and had brought the tale to the marriage of Tristrem and Ysonde aux Blanches Muins, death interrupted his labours. The continuation of Heinrick von Vribert was undertaken at the desire of a noble Bohemian knight, Reymunt von Luchtenbure (at present denominated Litchenberg). At the conclusion of his performance, he makes the following protestation : "As Thomas of Britannia has related in the Longobardic tongue of the two sweet young ones, I have told the truth of the two in German." Notwithstanding this declaration, Vribert must have been unacquainted with the original tale, from which his composition widely departs.3 After the marriage of Tristrem, that knight excuses his neglect of the second Yso!t by a fictitious relation. He pretends that after having killed the serpent in Ireland, he bathed in a lake, and sinking up to his helmet in the water, he had made a vow to the Virgin Mary, if she came to his assistance, not to touch his wife, if ever he married, till a year written in 1226. The title is "Saga af Tristrand og Isaldis;" and the MS. preserved at Copenhagen has a notice at the commencement, fixing the date exactly. See CONYBEARE, p. 195.-ED.] The 53d chapter of this prose romance contains the adventure narrated in the Second Fragment in Mr. Douce's possession, but very considerably shortened. In the Cento Novelle Antiche, the greatest part of which collection is supposed to have been produced in the age of Dante, a novel occurs, in which the madness of Tristrem is related, which, however, is not assumed, but real. The story is evidently extracted from the French romances. 2 In one of the chansons of this poet, Sir Tristrem and Ysolt are mentioned, which is one of the earliest allusions to the romance. 3 The same circumstance probably occasioned his asserting the original to have been in the Longobardic tongue, which was originally Teutonic. after the ceremony. She accordingly appeared with an angel, and relieved him from his perilous situation. Tristrem then departs from Brittany, with Kahedin and Kurwenal, and meeting with a herald from King Arthur, is fired with ambition to distinguish himself at the jousts proclaimed at Karidol. Upon his road thither he meets with Sir Gawain. A terrible battle ensues, but Tristrem happening to utter his accustomed war-cry, “Parmenie," his courteous adversary refuses to fight any longer, but conducts his new friend to King Arthur's court, where he is installed one of the Knights of the Round Table. Amongst other adventures, he unhorses Sir Kay and Dalkors, but modestly conceals his glory for a long time. Gawain had promised to manage an interview between Tristrem and Ysolt, and accordingly he bribes the huntsmen of Arthur to chase a stag into a forest between his dominions and those of King Mark. When Arthur discovers that he is seven miles from Karidol, and but one from Tintaiol, he resolves to visit his neighbour sovereign, and despatches Gawain to obtain truce for all his followers. Mark entertains his visitors magnificently; but suspecting that Tristrem would go to the bed of his spouse, he placed an engine with twelve scythes near it, by which the lover is severely wounded. Notwithstanding this, he enters the bed of Ysolt, and discolours it with his blood. Having rejoined Gawain and related the treachery of his uncle, Arthur and his knights, by the advice of Sir Kay, all cut themselves, excepting Kay, whose heart fails him. Gawain, however, pushes him into the engine, so that he is wounded more seriously than all the rest. After these cruel operations, they begin a great romp about the house, throwing their pillows, shoes, and clothes at one another. Mark, awakened at the noise, and seeing the state his guests were in, ceases to suspect his nephew, with whom he reconciles himself, and suffers him to remain after the departure of Arthur. With the assistance of his page Tantrisel, Tristrem continues his intercourse with the Queen, which is, however, again suspected by Mark. Pretending a journey to Brittany, he surprises the lovers, who are tried, and condemned to death. Tynas, of Lytan, obtains Mark's permission for Tristrem to say his devotion in a chapel by the seaside, as he is led to execution. The knight, taking this opportunity, leaps into the sea, from which he is rescued by Tantrisel and Kurwenal. Mark goes in pursuit of his nephew, who, in the meantime, delivers the Queen from the stake, and flies with her into the cave of the giants for the second time. Tristrem one day was gone to hunt, and Mark, approaching the cave, was perceived by his spouse. Commencing a conversation with Tantrise!, she artfully complained of her traducers at court, and of Tristrem for having abandoned her in the wilderness. The easy King, delighted with her fidelity, reconducts her to the court. Sir Tristrem, informed of this reconciliation by his page Tantrisel, resolved to rejoin his abandoned spouse, who had carefully counted the days, and found that the year during which he had vowed chastity, was just expired. The relentless husband, however continues faithful to the Queen of Cornwall, and his neglect is discovered to Kahedin, in the same manner as in Thomas's Romance, (Fytte iii. st. 54, 54.) Tristrem informs his brother of the truth of his attachment to Ysolt la Blonde, and Kahedin resolves to accompany him to Cornwall, promising his sister that, upon their return, the marriage should be consummated. Upon their arrival in King Mark's dominions, the faithful Tynas undertook to procure an interview with the Queen. He received the ring of Tristrem, and finding Ysolt playing at chess with her husband, he managed to show the token to her. The Queen recognised it, and throwing down the board refused to play any longer. Mark very conveniently proceeded to the chase; and Tynas related to Ysolt that Tristrem had staked his life that Kahedin would acknowledge her for the most perfect beauty in the world. Ysolt accordingly issued with her whole meiny, and went to the sea-shore. Poor Kahedin was struck with one beautiful maid of honour after another, taking her for the Queen; but when he really beheld her, decked in gorgeous array, he willingly allowed the loss of his wager. Ysolt, having sent an exculpatory message to Mark, pitched her pavilion under a fine lime-tree, and appointed the two knights to enter when the horn was blown. She sends every person to bed excepting Tantrisel, her chamberlain Parananisel, and the two maids Prangane (Brengwain) and Kameline. Then the two friends are admitted, and while Tristrem is employed with the Queen, the two maidens amuse Kahedin. When the former are retiring to their bed, the Britain knight exclaims, "Where shall the poor forsaken Kahedin rest?" Ysolt exhorts him to engage one of her two damsels, and Kameline promises to indulge him; but previously places a magic pillow under his head, which causes him to lie soundly asleep till the morning, when, the pillow being withdrawn, he was awakened with the derision of the whole company. Tristrem now fell sick, and, though he was cured by the Queen, he lost all his hair, and was much disfigured. By the advice of Tantrisel, he went in fool's apparel to Tintaiol, and obtaining the favour of Mark, was recommended by him to the care of Ysolt, during his absence for eight days on a chase. The lovers again resumed their intercourse; but Pfellerin, an enemy of Sir Tristrem's, announcing suddenly the approach of Mark, discovered the knight by a great leap which be made, and followed him to his cost, for the pretended maniac slew both him and his horse with a club, and escaped to his friend Tynas from the pursuit of his uncle. Tristrem, with Kahedin, passes over to Brittany, and the latter, acquainting him with his love for Kassie, the fair wife of Nampotenis, lord of the strong castle of Gamarke, the hero promises to gratify his passion. They ride to the castle, and are most hospitably received; but Tristrem treacherously contrives to convey a letter to the fair one, and according to his request she furnishes an impression in wax of the key to her chamber. The two lovers depart in the morning, and return to Karke, where Tristrem and Ysolt aux Blanches Mains live together as "man and wife should do." Having procured a key after the wax model, Kahedin and his friend issue forth to Gamarke, and, waiting till Nempotenis came forth, and was gone to the chase, they enter the castle. Kahedin and Kassie retire to her chamber, and Tristrem, in the meantime, amuses the other ladies. When they set out on their return, the hat of Kahedin unfortunately fell into the ditch, and was observed by the husband, who, by threats, forced his wife to relate the whole transaction. Accompanied with seven attendants, he overtook the unarmed knights, killed Kahedin with his lance, but was himself felled down by Tristrem. The latter then killed five of the attendants, another fled, but the remaining one mortally wounded him. With difficulty he conveyed his brother's body home. The arrival of Ysolt, and the death of Tristrem, are related in the same manner as in the "Conclusion." His body is taken to the cathedral, accompanied with the lamentations of his wife. When Ysolt of Cornwall understands the death of her lover, she swoons, and is scarcely able to reach the cathedral, where she expires upon his body. In the meantime Mark had arrived with an intent to execute the two lovers: but when he hears their lamentable story, and the unavoidable cause of their love, he declares that he would have resigned his spouse had he been informed of it in time. The bodies are then conveyed to Tintaiol, where the King builds the monastery of St. Mary, in which he spends the remainder of his days. He plants a rose-bush on the grave of Tristrem, and a vine on that of Ysolt, which grew up, and intertwined together. NOTES ON SIR TRISTREM. --What ails me I may not, as well as they, St. George's sorrel, and his cross of blood; Was physicked from the new-found paradise: FYTTE FIRST. I was at [Erceldoune. ]-P. 332, st. 1. There is a blank, where the word Erceldoune is inserted, occasioned by cutting out the illumination; but fortunately the whole line is written at the bottom of the preceding page, by way of riority of their beauty, was charitable and meritorious, although catch-word, and runs thus : It is difficult to ascertain what country or district is here meant. Armenia, considering the age of Thomas of Erceldoune, seems here out of the question; although in the later romance of Sir Bevis, that kingdom appears to be the Ermonie to which he is transported. The British words, Ar-mon, may be interpreted "the country opposite to Mona," as Ar-morica signifies "the country by the sea." According to this derivation, Ermonie may be another name for Caernarvon, which is also interpreted "the land opposite to Mona." But it is likewise possible that the Roman way, called anciently Erming-street, may have taken that name from, or given it to, the country which it traversed, and Ermonie may therefore have lain in the midland counties. It is no objection to either of these suppositions, that, in stanza 73, seven days' voyage is said to bring Tristrem from England to Ermonie : for, in another place, the hero takes nine weeks to pass from Cornwall to Ireland. In truth, nothing can be more vague than the geography of the minstrels, even when treating of their own country. In the French Fragment, Kahardin sails from London to Bretagne, by the way of Bordeaux and Ushant! -hye was boun to go To the knight ther he lay.-P. 333, st. 10. The visit of Blanche Flour to Rouland Riis was by no means unprecedented in the annals of romance. In the days when ladies were the most successful practitioners of medicine and surgery, their intercourse with the preux chevaliers, who had been wounded in maintaining the purity of their honour, or the supe exceeding the intimacy permitted by modern decorum. The fair Josiane, Princess of Ermonie, pays a similar visit to Sir Bevis of Hamptoun, under the most discouraging circumstances. She had previously despatched two knights to invite the wounded champion to her bower, who were thus discourteously answered :"I nele rise o fot fro the grounde, For speek with an hethene hounde. I am That is, the knights came ashore in complete armour. here tempted to transcribe a curious account of the varieties of the ancient arms, which will remind the admirers of Chaucer of a similar description, previous to the tournament in the Knight's Tale. "The famous knyghtes arme them in that place, And some of them gan full streyte lace, A certayn folde that aboute hym A payre breche alder-first of mayle; And there withal, as the custom was, And some, for they would be armed more light, And some wolde have of mayle wrought full fyne, A hawberion of plate wrought cassade, That with weight be not overlade, |