A catalogue of medieval literature, especially of the romances of chivalry, and books relating to the customs, costume, art, and pageantry of the middle ages.

  • Bernard Quaritch Ltd
Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A catalogue of medieval literature, especially of the romances of chivalry, and books relating to the customs, costume, art, and pageantry of the middle ages. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    49/100 (page 43)
    229 The most ancient and pamots history op the renowned prince Arthtr King of Britaine, 3 vols. in 1, sm. 4to. frontispieces, black letter, calf neat London, William Stansby, 1634 12 230 MORTE ARTHUR. The Byrth, Lyf, and Actes of Kyng Arthur; of his noble Knyghtes of the Rounde Table [reprinted from Lord Spencer’s copy of the original Caxton edition], with an introduction and notes by Robert Southey, 2 vols. 4to. russia extra, gilt tops, uncut 1817 4 Sir Thomas Malory had undoubtedly done more than merely translate, in the composition of this book; and notwithstanding that the Corbiere MS. now in the Huth library contains the story of Balan and Balin (common to it and to Malory only), it is clear that Paulin Paris was not justified in supposing that that MS. (when perfect) represented Malory’s original. The old English worthy summarised the contents of the larger separate romances of Merlin, Lancelot, and Tristan, (or else, recast some of the existing French compilations) and made a single book out of them. If he had had more skill, he might have woven the various plots together with greater dexterity, but his work, such as it is, is infiLnitely less heterogeneous and patchy than any of the French compilations. It is one of the finest achievements of old English literature, and may be looked upon as the first great example of prose composition in the modern English language, just as Chaucer, half a century before, took a similar primacy in poetry. There are many incidents and pieces of descriptive writing, full of pathos and power, in the French stories which Malory, from the need of compression, was obliged to omit, but the Mort Arthur is never- theless a perennial delight and an enduring moniunent in our literature. Thomas Malory, son of Sir John Malory, served under Beauchamp Earl of Warwick in France, and was in Calais when it was attacked by the Bergundians in 1423. He succeeded his father about 1435; was Knight of the Shire for Warwick in 1445; and died in 1470. 231 MERLIN. Life. Lb preime | volume de [ merlin—Le second | volume I DE merlin—2 vols. in 1, sm.folio (4to.), @ot]^tcletter, printed in double columns, with many luoodcuts; the last four leaves of the second volume wanting; old French red morocco 8. n. {Paris, Verard, 1498) 25 232 Prophecies. Les prophecies 1 de merlin, sm. folio (4to.), the title mounted, otherwise fine copy in veau fauve gilt, arms on sides; the engraved boolcplate of Bourgevin de Moligny inside Paris, Anthoine Verard, 1498 15 The above three volumes form the first edition of the French Merlin. It would be impossible to get a uniform copy of the three volumes complete. 233 LES PROPHECIES DE Merlin, sm. 4to. ©ot^i'c letter, title within black and red borders; red morocco extra, gilt edges, by Bedford On title; On les vent a Begnes chiez iehan mace. A caen chiez michel angier. A rouen chiex richard mace . . . At end: Eouenpoiir Jehan Mace . . {about 1525) 7 Merlin himself is supposed to have dictated the matter of this book.> When he is just about to begin, he alludes to the “ Brut ” as a history of Bretagne translated from Latin into Eomance by “ Maistre Martin de Clocester.” The Merlin is the oldest element of the Arthurian stories. The name of Ambrosius or Emrys which he is stated to have borne, and the confusion between two traditionary Merlins, Merlinus Ambrosius and Merlinus Caledonicus, show that the real personage underlying the myths belonged to the fifth century, and to the North West region in which Ambrosius Aurelius united the Britanni (Roman Britons) and the Cumbrians against the Saxons and Piets. The very name Merlinus is seen to be extraneous to the Cymry of Wales, since they use it in the form Myrddin, which (had it been the true original) would have been Latinised by Geoffrey as Merdinus, or Maridinus, just as the genuine Cymric Caermarthen was Latinised Maridunum. 234 Heywood (Thomas) The Life of Merlin, sirnamed Ambrosivs. His Prophesies, and Predictions Interpreted; and their truth made good by our English Annalls . . sm. 4to. frontispiece; fine copy in red morocco extra, gilt edges J. Okes, 1641 2 The prophecies versified in successive snatches, and justified in the history of Britain from Brutus to the death of James I. 235 Myrdhin ou I’enchanteur Merlin, son histoire, ses oeuvres, son influence, par Hersart de la Villemarque, 8vo. sd. ib. 1862 0 another copy, half calf extra, gilt top, uncut, by Bedford 1862 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 5 0 5 0 7 6 236