DESCRIPTION AND ABSTRACT OF TWO ANCIENT FRAGMENTS OF FRENCH METRICAL ROMANCES, ON THE SUBJECT OF SIR TRISTREM. [Agreeable to the promise of the Introduction, I subjoin, to the romance of THOMAS of Erceldoune, the abstract of those curious Fragments, existing in Mr Douce's MS. For the opportunity of comparing the style of composition which prevailed in France and in Scotland, and of illustrating, by each other, poems written about the same period, and on the same subject, the reader is indebted to GEORGE ELLIS, Esq. by whom the following elegant precis of the French romance was transmitted to the editor.] THIS Curious MS. appears to have formed part of some volume belonging to a monastery; because it contains, besides the two detached pieces of the story of Tristrem l'Amoureux, a long metrical dialogue between Pride and Humility, and a prose dissertation on the Cross. It is written on vellum, and consists of 22 leaves. The handwriting apparently belongs to the 13th century. The first of the two parts contains a regular and circumstantial relation of the latter adventures of Sir Tristrem, and terminates by his death, and by that of Ysolt. The other, a complete and separate episode, begins at the second column of the same page in which the other narrative is terminated, and contains only a single adventure; in which, however, a great part of the hero's history is artfully recapitulated. It is therefore probable, that it was inserted in the monastic volume, principally on account of its presenting a short and lively summary of the preceding long, and perhaps tedious history. Be this as it may, the two Fragments differ very considerably in their style; the first being so verbose and diffuse as fully to justify the ridicule thrown on the historian of Sir Tristrem by the author of " Sire Hain and Dame Anieuse," (BARBARAN's Fabliaux, vol. 3. p. 55.†) while the second is concise, lively, and dramatic. The orthography of the two is also different; and it is further to be observed, that, in the first poem, the residence of King Mark is placed in London, but in the second, at the castle of Tintagel. The following is a free translation of the whole of the second Fragment, which consists of 996 verses: "Tristrem, living in his own country at a distance from his beloved Ysolt, feels that he has been restored + See Introduction. " to life merely for the purpose of dying a thousand deaths, from the anxiety which daily preys on his spirits. Thought," says our author, "comforts or kills us; and such were the thoughts of Tristrem, that he would have gladly ended them by his death, had it been possible that his fate could have been separated from that of his faithful mistress." He therefore forms the desperate resolution of passing into England. It was highly important to conceal this determination from all the world, and particularly from Kaherdin, the brother of his wife. It was no less necessary that his appearance should be such, as should secure him from discovery in a country where he was so well known; and that, for this purpose, he should not only quit the usual accoutrements of chivalry, and assume the appearance of a poor and insigni-.. ficant traveller, but that he should also disguise his features, and even his voice. Tristrem resolved to neglect none of these precautions; and in this, says the author, he acted wisely: Car souvent avient domage grand Qui se cêlat, et ne le dit, Le mal, ce crois, ne encusit,* Solt + maint mal souvent venir. The reflections of a single night were sufficient to mature his project. In the morning he assumes his disguise, hastens to the nearest port, and, finding a merchant ship just on the point of weighing anchor for England, re * Encuser.-Occasion. + Solt.-Solet.-Lat. quests to be admitted on board; and, embarking with a fair wind, arrives on the second day at the harbour of Tintagel, the residence of King Mark and Queen Ysolt. The castle of Tintagel was equally celebrated for its strength and magnificence. It was situated on the seacoast of Cornwall, and its vast square towers are said to have been the work of giants. They were built of (quarels), regularly and exactly squared, and chequered, as with azure and cinnabar (si comme de sinopre et di azur). I suppose bricks alternately red and blue, as being more or less striped, and called quarels from their being quarrés, squared. The gate of the castle, commanding its only approach, was strongly secured, and capable of being defended by two guards. Immediately below the fortress were extensive and beautiful meadows, forests abounding with game, rivers filled with fish, and warrens (so I translate gueraineries, probably garennes); besides which, the walls being washed by the sea, this beautiful residence of King Mark and Queen Ysolt was plentifully supplied with every article of foreign merchandize. It was called Tintagel, i. e. Chastel fier, from the following peculiarity: "Chastel fais fut dit à dreit, "Car, dous fais la an, se perdeit." Travellers declare that, twice in every year, it became invisible; once at Christmas, and once in the summer; so that even the natives of the country would be unable .to find it, had they not previously ascertained its situation by permanent land-marks. Here Tristrem arrived; and, inquiring news of King Mark, was informed, that he was then in his palace, and had but lately held one of his solemn festivals. "And where is Queen Ysolt, and her beautiful maiden, Brengwain?"-"Faith, sir, they two are here: I saw them lately; but, in truth, Queen Ysolt is, as usual, pensive and melancholy." At the mention of his mistress, a sigh escapes from Tristrem. He recommends himself to Providence, convinced that, without inspiration, he cannot devise the means of seeing Ysolt. The vigilant hatred of King Mark alarms him for a moment, but he immediately recollects himself. "And what," says he, "if my uncle should discover and put me to death? It is my duty to suffer death for the love of my mistress. Alas! I die every day that I am absent from her sight!" Reflecting on the madness of his attempt, he says, "And why not feign madness? Under a disguise so well suited to my present circumstances, I may, perhaps, escape suspicion, and enjoy the pleasure of laughing at those who are amused by my apparent folly." At the moment when this idea came across his mind, he perceived a fisherman, whose dress seemed admirably suited to his purpose. It consisted of a coarse frock, formed of rug, with a cowl or hood, and a pair of loose and tattered trowsers. Tristrem beckons the fisherman to him, and says, "Friend! shall we change dresses? Mine, as you see, is the better of the two, but yours happens to strike my fancy." The fisherman, perceiv |