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-Jongleresses, &c.--Singularity of the chansons-Their charm
-Peculiarity of the geste system-Instances-Summary of the
geste of William of Orange-And first of the Couronnement
Loys-Comments on the Couronnement—William of Orange—
The earlier poems of the cycle-The Charroi de Nîmes-The
Prise d'Orange-The story of Vivien-Aliscans—The end of
the story-Renouart-Some other chansons-Final remarks
on them
CHAPTER III.
THE MATTER OF BRITAIN.
Attractions of the Arthurian Legend-Discussions on their sources
-The personality of Arthur-The four witnesses-Their testi-
mony--The version of Geoffrey-Its lacuna-How the Legend
grew-Wace-Layamon-The Romances proper-Walter Map
-Robert de Borron - Chrestien de Troyes - Prose or verse
first? A Latin Graal-book-The Mabinogion-The Legend
itself-The story of Joseph of Arimathea-Merlin-Lancelot
-The Legend becomes dramatic-Stories of Gawain and other
knights-Sir Tristram-His story almost certainly Celtic-Sir
Lancelot-The minor knights-Arthur-Guinevere-The Graal
-How it perfects the story-Nature of this perfection-No
sequel possible-Latin episodes-The Legend as a whole-The
theories of its origin-Celtic-French-English-Literary—
The Celtic theory-The French claims-The theory of general
literary growth-The English or Anglo-Norman pretensions-
Attempted hypothesis
CHAPTER IV.
ANTIQUITY IN ROMANCE.
Oddity of the Classical Romance-Its importance--The Troy story
-The Alexandreid-Callisthenes--Latin versions-Their story
-Its developments-Alberic of Besançon-The decasyllabic
poem-The great Roman d'Alixandre-Form, &c.-Continua-
tions-King Alexander-Characteristics-The Tale of Troy-
Dictys and Dares-The Dares story-Its absurdity-Its capa-
bilities-Troilus and Briseida- The Roman de Troie-The
phases of Cressid - The Historia Trojana - Meaning of the
classical romance
148
CHAPTER V.
THE MAKING OF ENGLISH AND THE SETTLEMENT OF
EUROPEAN PROSODY.
Special interest of Early Middle English-Decay of Anglo-Saxon-
Early Middle English Literature-Scantiness of its constituents
-Layamon - The form of the Brut-Its substance-The
Ormulum: Its metre, its spelling-The Ancren Riwle-The
Owl and the Nightingale-Proverbs-Robert of Gloucester -
Romances-Havelok the Dane-King Horn-The prosody of
the modern languages - Historical retrospect - Anglo-Saxon
prosody-Romance prosody-English prosody-The later
alliteration-The new verse-] -Rhyme and syllabic equivalence
-Accent and quantity-The gain of form- The " accent"
theory-Initial fallacies, and final perversities thereof.
187
CHAPTER VI.
MIDDLE HIGH GERMAN POETRY.
Position of Germany-Merit of its poetry-Folk-epics: The Nibel-
ungenlied-The Volsunga saga-The German version-Metres
-Rhyme and language-Kudrun-Shorter national epics-
Literary poetry-Its four chief masters - Excellence, both
natural and acquired, of German verse - Originality of its
adaptation-The Pioneers: Heinrich von Veldeke-Gottfried
of Strasburg-Hartmann von Aue-Erec der Wanderære and
Iwein-Lyrics-The "booklets" - Der Arme Heinrich·
Wolfram von Eschenbach-Titurel-Willehalm-Parzival--
Walther von der Vogelweide-Personality of the poets-The
Minnesingers generally .
-
225
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CHAPTER VII.
THE FOX,' THE 'ROSE,' AND THE MINOR CONTRIBUTIONS
OF FRANCE.
The predominance of France-The rise of Allegory—Lyric—The
Romance and the Pastourelle-The Fabliaux-Their origin-
Their licence-Their wit-Definition and subjects-Effect of
the fabliaux on language-And on narrative-Conditions of
fabliau-writing-The appearance of irony-Fables proper-
Reynard the Fox-Order of texts -- Place of origin - The
French form-Its complications-Unity of spirit--The Rise
of Allegory-The satire of Renart-The Fox himself-His
circle-The burial of Renart-The Romance of the Rose-
William of Lorris and Jean de Meung-The first part-Its
capital value-The rose-garden-"Danger' 'Reason
"Shame" and "Scandal"-The later poem-"False-Seem-
ing"-Contrast of the parts-Value of both, and charm of the
first-Marie de France and Ruteboeuf-Drama-Adam de la
Halle-Robin et Marion-The Jeu de la Feuillie-Comparison
of them-Early French prose-Laws and sermons-Villehar-
douin William of Tyre - Joinville-Fiction - Aucassin et
Nicolette.
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265
CHAPTER VIII.
ICELANDIC AND PROVENÇAL.
Resemblances-Contrasts-Icelandic literature of this time mainly
prose-Difficulties with it-The Saga-Its insularity of manner
-Of scenery and character-Fact and fiction in the sagas-
Classes and authorship of them - The five greater sagas -
Njala-Laxdæla — Eyrbyggja—Egla-Grettla-Its critics-
Merits of it-The parting of Asdis and her sons-Great pas-
sages of the sagas-Style-Provençal mainly lyric--Origin of
this lyric-Forms-Many men, one mind-Example of rhyme-
schemes Provençal poetry not great-But extraordinarily
pedagogic - Though not directly on English - Some trouba-
dours-Criticism of Provençal
333
CHAPTER IX.
THE LITERATURE OF THE PENINSULAS.
Limitations of this chapter-Late Greek romance-Its difficulties
as a subject--Anna Comnena, &c.—Hysminias and Hysmine
-Its style-Its story-Its handling-Its "decadence"-Late-
ness of Italian-The "Saracen" theory-The "folk-song"
theory-Ciullo d'Alcamo-Heavy debt to France-Yet form
and spirit both original-Love-lyric in different European
countries-Position of Spanish-Catalan-Provençal-Galician-
Portuguese-Castilian - Ballads? - The Poema del Cid-A
Spanish chanson de geste-In scheme and spirit-Difficulties
of its prosody-Ballad-metre theory-Irregularity of line-
Other poems-Apollonius and Mary of Egypt - Berceo--
Alfonso el Sabio
CONCLUSION
INDEX
CHAPTER X.
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