ment of conjecture rather than the satisfaction of demonstration, it will be, perhaps, a more useful design to give Spenser's Imitations of Himself, as I have shewn Milton's in the preceding section. This kind of criticism will prove of service in the three following respects. It will discover and ascertain a poet's favourite images: It will teach us how variously he expresses the same thought; and will explain difficult passages and words. B. i. Introduct. s. 3. Fair Venus sonne that with thy cruell dart, ** * * * * * * Again, Like as Cupido on Idæan hill, When having laid his cruell bowe aside, And with his goodly sisters, &c. 2. 8. 6. And in the following, speaking of Cupid in the garden of Adonis. Who when he hath with spoyles and crueltie Thither resorts, and laying his sad darts Thus again, 3. 6. 49. And eke amongst them little Cupid plaid From his fierce warres, and having from him layd mayd. 1 2. 9. 34. B. i. c. viii. s. xxix. Prince Arthur enters Orgoglio's castle. Then gan he loudly through the house to call, There reign'd a solemne silence over all, Nor voice was heard, nor wight was seen in bowre_or hall. This affecting image of silence and soli tude occurs again, after Britomart had surveyed the rich furniture of Busirane's house. But more she marvail'd, that no footings trace, 3. 11. 53. This is finely expressed: but the circumstance is common in romance. Thus when Sir Topas enters the land of Fairie. Wherein he sought both north and south, But in that countre was there none, Ne neither wife ne childe *. But more appositely in the old metrical romance of Syr Degore. He went aboute, and gan to calle Bothe in the courte and eke in the halle; Living man there none he sawe †. * 3310. + Sign. C. iii. 1. This romance is in the Bodleian library *, among the following pieces; which I mention for the sake of those who are making researches in ancient English literature. Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of Clowdeslie. These were three famous archers. The former, as I observed before, [pag. 73. vol. i.] is mentioned by Shakespeare †. 2. The Knight of Courtesy and the Lady of Faguel. This, I think, is the story of Coucy's heart, related in Fauchet, and Howell's letters; which, as they tell us, was represented in tapestry, in Coucy castle, in France. Jyl [Jyllian or Julian] of Brentforde's Testament. [4. Syr Degore.] 5. Syr Eglamoure of Artoys. This name occurs in the fourth act of Shakespeare's Gentlemen of Verona. 6. Syr Tryamore. These three last are in short verses, as most of the old metrical ro 3. * C. 39. 4to. Art. Selden. + Much Ado About Nothing, act 1. mances were. 7. Historye of Kyng Richard Ceur de Lyon. [Impr. W. de Worde, 1528.] His exploits were a favourite subject, and many legends were written about him, partly on account of his fondness for chivalry; for he was the first king of England that ever published a precept or permission for holding public tournaments in England. His first instrument of this kind I have * printed above, [pag. 42. vol. i.] by which it appears, that these institutions brought in a considerable revenue to the crown. 8. Syr Bevis of Southampton ; in the same verse as Syr Degore, &c. viz. It is also printed in Selden's England's Epinomis, op. vol. iii. p. 35. fol. 1726. And Kennet's Paroch. Antiq. pag. 153. It is in MSS. Bib. Bodl. James. No. 27. But Gul. Neubrigiensis says, that the first use, though not royal permission, of these exercises, was in the reign of Stephen. Hist. Lib. v. c. 4. See Matth. Par. 237. post Hoveden. p. 424. The French have also this romance, which they call Beuves de Hanton. He was Earl of Southampton, about the Norman invasion. His sword was kept in Arundel castle. |
