Merlin Or, The Early History Of King Arthur A Prose Romance (About 1450-1460 A.D.) Vol II

A PROSE ROMANCE 14.50-1460 A. D - INTRODUCTION - OF THE great cycles of mediaeval romance none was nlore popular throughout Europe than the Arthurian cycle. From the first introduction of the Arthurian legends into French literature they caught the popular favour, and stimulated writers to an unwonted activity, for a period embracing a well-rounded century, beginning toward the middle of the twelfth century and ending before the close of the thirteenth. In the history of the cycle we mav W distinguish with more or less accuracy three periods2-a period of preparation, a period of production, a period of translation and imitation. To the first period belongs the work of the Welsh bards and the pseudo-historic Latin chroniclers, Nennius and Geoffrey of Monmouth. To the second period belongs the work of the French romancers. To the third period belongs the work of translators and imitators in England and in the north and south of Europe. In each of the romances the interest centres in a very small group of characters so that what the story lacks in breadth it makes up in minuteness of detail. The earlier forms of the romances contain two figures that stand out most clearly-Arthur the King and Merlin the Enchanter. SO great an interest attaches to these two names that we learn l G. Paris, Eist. Lilt. de Zr Fra ce x, xx. p. 1. we need scarcely remark that theae periods overlap one another to some extent. with some surprise that there is no adequate treatment in any language of the origin and development of the romances dealing with Arthur and Merlin. But there are two facts that have especially hindered the solution of the numerous problems involved in a history of the Arthurian romancesfirst, the vagueness and paucity of the earlier sodrces and, secondly, the wide range of the later materials, which demand if they are to be satlisfactorily treated an extensive and critical acquaintance with the French and Celtic literatures. Such an equipment is possessed by scarcely anyone who has thus far discussed the subject, and is expressly disclaimed by some of the most eminent investigators of portions of the Arthurian cycle. Especial difficulties in the way of a demonstrable conclusion with regard both to the origin of the legend of Merlin and the development of the prose romance from earlier sources, meet the student at the beginning of his investigation and attend every step of his way. An initial difficulty appears in the chronology of the possible sources. We do not really know how much older any of the extant Welsh literature is than e o f f r oef M onrnouths His toria Regum Britanniae 1 1 35-47, to say nothing of the ninth-century Nennius. As Mr. Nutt well observes The study of Celtic tradition is only beginning to be placed upon a firm basis, and the stores of Celtic myth and legend are only beginning to be thrown open to the non Celtic scholar. A little further on he adds that as a whole Welsh literature is late, meagre, and has kept Iittle that is archaic. If this be true of Welsh literature as a whole, still more is it true of the portions available for our purpose. Even after including all the poems, spurious and genuine alike, that assume the existence of Myrddin, we have only a few lines with which to construct a portrait. But when we are l But see pp. lz xiv-cxii...