DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57119#0135
5, ROYAL OPERA ARCADE
To a student of English literature this copy, in Dr Percy’s
quasi-facsimile handwriting, reproducing the contractions of the
original, is the best substitute for the Cotton MS. itself,
which is of the first half of the fifteenth century. It was first
printed in 1800, then in 1802 by Ritson.
2. Sir Isumbras. “ This Romance is transcribed from an
Ancient MS. in the Cotton Library [British Museum],
[Caligula A. 2. fol. 128).”—Dr Percy’s note on title-
page. About 800 lines. Written 1767.
The Cotton MS. is of the fifteenth century, but the tale is of the
fourteenth at latest, and probably based on a still earlier Norman-
French poem, not yet discovered. The tale, which was popular
in England in the Middle Ages, and is not infrequently referred to,
as in the Cursor Mundi and Nassington’s Mirrour of Life, gives
us much information of manners and customs, such as putting the
stone, besides details of warlike incidents.
3. The Vision of Tundal. “ This Old Legend or
Romance is transcribed from an Ancient MS. in the
Cotton Library [British Museum], (Caligula A. 2.
fol. 17).”—Dr Percy’s note on title-page. About
2250 lines. Written circa 1765.
The Cotton MS. is of the first half of the fifteenth century, and has
the oldest and best text.
The first words are :
Jhu lorde of myztes moste
Fadyr & sone & holy gooste.
4. Eglamour of Artas. This early English Metrical
Romance was copied from the Ancient MS. in the
British Museum. Cotton Library, Caligula A. 2.
fol. 3, with many explanatory notes in the hand of
Bishop Percy, partly in pencil. The poem consists
of about 1310 lines. Written circa 1765.
The first lines are :
Jhu Crist of heven kyng
Graunt us all good endyng
And beld us in hys bowre.
In the Percy Folio of Old English Ballads and Romances, 4 vols.,
1905-10, this Romance is printed differently, commencing :
“ Jesus Christ heaven King
Grant us all his deer blessinge.”
A note by Dr Percy on the title-page states :
“ This is doubtless older than Chaucer, & one of the Pieces in
123
To a student of English literature this copy, in Dr Percy’s
quasi-facsimile handwriting, reproducing the contractions of the
original, is the best substitute for the Cotton MS. itself,
which is of the first half of the fifteenth century. It was first
printed in 1800, then in 1802 by Ritson.
2. Sir Isumbras. “ This Romance is transcribed from an
Ancient MS. in the Cotton Library [British Museum],
[Caligula A. 2. fol. 128).”—Dr Percy’s note on title-
page. About 800 lines. Written 1767.
The Cotton MS. is of the fifteenth century, but the tale is of the
fourteenth at latest, and probably based on a still earlier Norman-
French poem, not yet discovered. The tale, which was popular
in England in the Middle Ages, and is not infrequently referred to,
as in the Cursor Mundi and Nassington’s Mirrour of Life, gives
us much information of manners and customs, such as putting the
stone, besides details of warlike incidents.
3. The Vision of Tundal. “ This Old Legend or
Romance is transcribed from an Ancient MS. in the
Cotton Library [British Museum], (Caligula A. 2.
fol. 17).”—Dr Percy’s note on title-page. About
2250 lines. Written circa 1765.
The Cotton MS. is of the first half of the fifteenth century, and has
the oldest and best text.
The first words are :
Jhu lorde of myztes moste
Fadyr & sone & holy gooste.
4. Eglamour of Artas. This early English Metrical
Romance was copied from the Ancient MS. in the
British Museum. Cotton Library, Caligula A. 2.
fol. 3, with many explanatory notes in the hand of
Bishop Percy, partly in pencil. The poem consists
of about 1310 lines. Written circa 1765.
The first lines are :
Jhu Crist of heven kyng
Graunt us all good endyng
And beld us in hys bowre.
In the Percy Folio of Old English Ballads and Romances, 4 vols.,
1905-10, this Romance is printed differently, commencing :
“ Jesus Christ heaven King
Grant us all his deer blessinge.”
A note by Dr Percy on the title-page states :
“ This is doubtless older than Chaucer, & one of the Pieces in
123
