be-" very cunning in fens, and hardy as Gawen." This Gawen was King Arthur's nephew, and his achievements are highly celebrated in Morte Arthur. We find Spenser in another place alluding to the fable of the Lady of the Lake so much spoken of in this romance. -A little while Before that Merlin dyde, he did intend A brasen wall in compas to compyle About Cairmardin, and did it commend Unto these sprights to bring to perfect end; During which time, the "Ladies of the Lake," Whom long he lov'd, for him in haste did send, Who therefore forst his workmen to foresake, Them bound till his returne, their labour not to slake. 3. 3. 9: In the mean time, thro' that false ladies traine These verses are obscure, unless we consider the following relation in Morte Arthur."The 'Lady of the Lake' and Merlin departed; and by the way as they went, Merlin shewed to her many wonders, and came into Cornwaile. And alwaies Merlin lay about the ladie for to have her favour; and she was ever passing wery of him, and faine would have been delivered of him; for she was afraid of him, because he was a divells son, and she could not put him away by no meanes. And so upon a time it hapned, that Merlin shewed to her in a roche [rock] whereas was a great wonder, and wrought by enchauntment, which went under a stone, so by her subtle craft and working she made Merlin to go under that stone, to let him wit of the marvailes there. But she wrought so there for him, that he came never out, for all the craft that he could doe* " Our author has taken notice of a superstitious tradition, which is related at large in this romance. * B. i. c. 60. -Good Lucius That first received christianitie, The sacred pledge of Christs evangelie: Yet true it is, that long before that day Hither came Joseph of Arimathie*, Who brought with him the holy grayle, they say, And preacht the truth; but since it greatly did decay. 2. 10. 53. The holy Grale, that is, the real blood of our blessed Saviour. What Spenser here writes Grayle, is often written Sangreal, or St. Grale, in Morte Arthur, and it is there said to have been brought into England by Joseph of Arimathea. Many of King Arthur's knights are in the same book represented as adventuring in quest, or in search of the * Concerning the preaching of Joseph of Arimathea there was an old song or legend." The olde man had an harpe, and there he sung how Joseph of Arimathea came into this land."-Morte Arthur B. iii. c. 5. See also c. 38. Sangreal, or Sanguis Realis*. This expedition was one of the first subjects of the old romance. This romance seems to have extended its reputation beyond the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Jonson, besides his allusion to it concerning the "Lady of the Lake" mentioned above, hints at it more than once : Had I compil'd from Amadis de Gaule, And afterwards, in the same poem * Hence Grayle seems to be used for the Communionservice in this passage of Skelton The peacock so proud, Because his voyce is loud; He shall synge the Grayle. P. Sparrow, pag. 227. Ed. 1736. See also Davies in Voce, and Lwhyd's Dict. † An execration upon Vulcane, in the Underwood. The whole summe Of errant knighthood; with the dames and dwarfes; And Camden * refers to this History of King Arthur, as to a book familiarly known to the readers of his age. Speaking of the name Tristram, he observes-" I know not whether the first of his name was christened by King Arthur's fabler."-Again of Launcelot he speaks" Some think it to be no auncient name, but forged by the writer of King Arthur's history, for one of his douty knights."-And of Gawen-" A name devised by the author of King Arthur's tablet." * Remains,printed 1604. Artic. Names. † Rabelais informs us, with the utmost gravity, that Launcelot's business is to roast horses in hell; and that the knights of the round table are employed in ferrying souls over Styx; for which they have a fillip on the nose, and a piece of mouldy bread. Sect. ii. chapit. 30. |