The chief Middle English poets

Preface

The selection of texts to be included in this volume has been a matter of much careful consideration. I already possessed a hst of works of the period, drawn up for my guidance by Professor Schofield; a questionnaire, circulated by Messrs. Houghton Mifflin Company among the leading professors of English literature in America, brought forth numerous valuable additional suggestions; finally, I referred the list of translations, then practically completed, to Professor W. P. Ker, who, on his part, suggested other additions. The collection may thus claim to be fairly representative of the best American and English opinion, and as such will, it is hoped, meet the requirements of the majority of students of our common hterature.

But if I have been guided by others in the choice of the texts, for the manner in which they are presented I am myself responsible. It has seemed to me desirable to give the poems as much as possible in their entirety, or, that being impracticable, in complete and representative episodes. I am, and always have been, strongly of opinion that to compile such a manual as the present on the lines of short extracts only results in inflicting injustice alike on the student and on the author. I have at present before me a work designed for the use of students of English literature, where Amis and Amiloun and Sir Tristrem are represented by five and a half stanzas allotted to each, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Pearl by three and a few lines, breaking off in the midst of a section; in one case not even at a full stop! Is it possible for any student to form an opinion of the style and merits of an author from such a collection of " shreds and patches ''? Or is it fair to such poets as, for example, Layamon, or the author of Pearl, to present them in such a mutilated form? On the other hand, the continued utility of such compilations as those of Ritson and Weber, which, in spite of their age (both have been published for more than a century) and many critical imperfections, are still consulted by scholars, seems to me an argument in favor of printing the complete texts.

So far as possible the collection has been arranged to include all the principal branches of English mediaeval literature; in the "Chronicles" section special attention has been given to Layamon, both on account of the real poetical merit of his work, and also for its critical interest. As is well known, his account of the founding of the Round Table is unique, and of extreme value as throwing light upon the character of Arthurian tradition before it came under the influence of the ideals of chivalric romance. Again, Arthur's dream as related here should be compared with the version of the Thornton Morte Arthure, given in my volume entitled Romance, Vision, and Satire (Boston, 1912). Layamon's version is distinctly the more vigorous and dramatic. It is interesting, too, to compare his account of the closing scenes of Arthur's life, and his testimony to the persistent behef of the folk in the hero's return, with the more polished version of the same themes given in the Harleian M. A. ; both are fine, but there is a note of poignant realit / and regret in Layamon's fines which seem to place the writer in a closer and more intimate relation vi PREFACE

with his theme; we may suspect that the Saxon priest of the twelfth century was not altogether disinclined to share the belief of the folk among whom he lived, while to the unknown poet of the fourteenth century Arthur was a poetic tradition, and no more.

The "Introduction," given from each of the "Chronicles," throws an interesting light on the aim and purpose (indirectly also on the personahty) of the writers, and the sources they employed.

The "Legendaries" form so important a section of our mediaeval literature, and were so active a factor in the instruction and edification of our forefathers, that it seemed well they should be fully represented. Saint Dunstan and Saint Thomas were included in my original scheme; they are of historical interest, and, in the case of the latter, of decided literary merit. On the advice of Professor Ker I have added Saint Brandan, which affords a notable example of the Wonder-Voyage, a favorite theme in all literatures; examples of the Northern Legendary, and Lives of the Saints in their earlier and independent form. Of the "Romances" here given. Amis and Amiloun and Arthur and Merlin were added as the result of the questionnaire, and Syr Percyvelle on the suggestion of Professor Ker; this romance is so interesting a factor in the criticism of the evolution of an important romantic cycle that it is as well to render it more easily accessible than it is at present.

To the section devoted to works of edification I have added the Bestiary, on my own initiative, as its quaint lore has so strongly colored mediaeval art and teaching.

The "Lyrical and Religious" section has grown with the progress of the work; in looking up isolated texts, I frequently, in the same volume, came across poems which seemed to me too good to be omitted from our collection. As it stands now I hope it may be found fairly representative of the different branches of a singularly rich and varied literature, and as such receive the kindly welcome of scholars.

In conclusion, my thanks are due to all those scholars who, by advice and suggestion, have contributed towards the formation and completion of the work; I only trust that, in the form it has finally assumed, it may prove to them of enduring interest and utility.

J. L. W.

Paris, December, 1913.

Contents

HISTORICAL

Introduction 1

King Leir 1