Neyther in dale, neyther in den, *
But he trade on dede men.
Whan it was agaynst the nyght
Uther dyde discomfyte the fyght,
With many an erle and baroune,

"And with knyghtes of grete renoune,
They wente home to theyr int

On ye morowe, by the counceyll of Marlyn.

Pendragon was out sought,

And in the erthe faire i-brought:
Beryed he was full mery

In the towne of Glastenbery.

Thus ended the doughty kynge:
God gyve bis soule good endynge!
And after that Pendragon was dede,
Uther was crowned by comyn rede, ‡
And helde Englonde to ryght.
I praye to God, full of myght,
Graunte them heven blysse above!
Amen! for his moders love.
And gyve them all good endynge
That have herde this talkynge."

It will be seen from Mr. Ellis's prose continuation, that the second part of Merlin embraces a new series of events, from the union of Uther with the beautiful Igerna, which gave birth to heroic Arthur.

T. P.

* Den is nsually put for cave or dell, but here seems opposed to the latter, and may mean a woody acclivity.

ART. V. Syr Degore. (On a label, above a wooden cut of an equestrian Knight and his Esquire) Colophon: Thus endeth the treatyse of Syr Degore. Emprinted at London in Flete strete, at the sygne of the Sonne, by Wynkyn de Worde. (18 leaves in 8vo. of 4to. size.)

AN abstract of the fable of this Romance has been given by Mr. Warton,*, and a more complete analysis by Mr. Ellis,+ from a copy printed by Copland. The present edition by W. de Worde, which seems to vary in some particulars, is not mentioned by either of those accomplished scholars, nor is it noticed by the industrious Herbert. I have therefore cited both title and colophon, for the benefit of Herbert's reputed editor, and will add the titles to the chapters which constitute the divisions or fitts of this romantic legend.

The first division, which recounts the birth, parentage, and education of Sir Degore, has no prefix. The second sets forth "How Syr Degore, fought with a dragon in a forest, and slewe hym." The third "How Syr Degore justed with the Kynge of Englonde, and smote hym downe." The fourth "How Syr Degore wedded his Moder, the Kynges doughter of Englonde, and howe shee knewe that he whas her Sone by the gloves." The fifth "How Syr Degore foughte for a Lady with a Gyaunt, and slewe hym." The sixth and last "How Syr Degore fought with his Fader, and how his Fader knewe hym by the broken swerde." A

*History of English Poetry, I. 182.

+ Specimens of Metrical Romances, III. 347.

wood cut, illustrative of the ensuing subject, follows each of these titles of contents.

[extract a few lines from the commencement and the close of this romance.

Lordynges, and ye wyll holde you styll,

A gentyll tale tell you I wyll

*

Of knyghtes of this countree,

That hath travayled beyonde the see
To seke aventures, bothe nyght and daye,
And how they myght theyr strength assay.

Thus came the knyght out of his care:

God gyve us grace well to fare,

And that we all, upon domesday,

Come to the blysse that lasteth ay.

Amen."

T.P.

ART. VI. The History of graund Amoure and la bel Pucell, called the Pastime of Pleasure, conteynyng the knowledge of the seuen sciences, and the course of mans lyfe in this worlde. Inuented by Stephen Hawes,* grome of Kyng Henry the seventh, his chamber. Anno Domini 1555.

At the end, Imprinted at London, in Forster Lane, by Ihon Waley. Anno M.D. LV. 4to. black letter, pp. 219. Wood cuts.

Ir appears that the first edition of this very rare work was printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1517, 4to.

*See Wood, Athenæ Oxon. Warton, Hist. of Engl. Poetry, Fhillips's, Theat. Poet. Anglic. edit. 1800.

In 1555 there were two; * I know of none subsequent. The following table of contents will in a great measure inform the reader of the author's plan.

"Howe graunde Amoure walked in a medowe, and met with Fame enuyroned with tongues of fyre.'

Of the swete report of Fame, of the fayre Lady la bell Pucell, in the tower of Musike.

Howe Fame departed from graunde Amoure, and left him gouernaunce and grace, and how he went to the tower of doctrine.

How he was let in by Countenaunce the portresse, and of the marueylous buildyng of the same tower. How Science sent him first to Gramer, where he was receyued by dame Congruitie.

Howe he was receyued of Logyke.

Howe he was receyued of Rethoryke, and what Rethoryke is.

Of the first part called Inuencion, and a commendation of Poetes.

A replication against ignoraunt persones.

Of Disposition, the second parte of Rethorike. Of Elocution the thirde parte of Rethorike, with colouryng of sentences.

Of Pronunciation, the fourth part of Rethorike.
Of Memory the fifth part of Rethorike.

A Comendation of Gower, Chaucer and Lidgate.
Of Ars-metrike..

Of musike mundain, humayn, and instrumental. Howe graunde Amoure was enamoured of la bell Pucell in the tower of Musike, and met with Counsayle in a temple.

* See Bib. Steevens. 1800, No. 901, where was a copy printed by Richard Tottel, 4to. 1555.

Of the dolorous and lowly disputacion betwene la bell Pucell, and graunde Amoure.

Howe la bell Pucell graunted graunde Amoure loue, and of her dispiteous departage.

Of the great sorowe that graunde Amoure made after her departyng, and of the wordes of Counsayl. How graunde Amoure went to Geometry, and what Geometry is.

Of dame Astrononime.

Of the direct operation of nature.

Of the fyve internall wittes.、

Of the hye influences of the supernal bodies. Howe graund Amoure departed from the tower of science, and went to the tower of chyualry, where he was let in by Fortitude.

Of the maruelous argument, betwene Mars and Fortune.

Howe Minerue ledde graunde Amoure to kyng Melyzyus, whiche made hym knyght.

How he departed from kynge Melyzyus, with his grayhoundes, and attendaunce his varlet, and met with false reporte, that chaunged his name to Godfrey Gobilyve.

Howe graunde Amoure in the temple of Venus made his supplication.

The copy of the letter that Venus sent to la bell Pucell.

Howe Godfrey Gobilyve was taken of correction, and punyshed.

How graunde Amoure disconfited the gyaunt with thre heades, and was receiued of thre ladyes.

Howe he met with Perceueraunce, and reposed hym in the manour place of comfort.