Likewife affayed to prove that girdle's powre. And fnatching from her hand, &c. As for the trial of the HORNE, it is not peculiar to our Poet: It occurs in the old romance, intitled Morte Arthur, which was tranflated out of French in the time of K Edw. IV. and first printed anno 1484. From this romance Ariofto borrowed his tale the Enchanted Cup, C. 42. &c. See Mr. Warton's Obfervations on the Faerie Queen, 8vo. 1753. The ftory of the HORN in Morte Arthur varies a good deal from this of our Poet, as the reader will judge from the following extract. By the way they met with "a knight that was Jent from Morgan le Faye to king "Arthur. and this knight had a fair borne all garnished "with gold, and the borne bad fuch a virtue that there "might no ladye or gentlewoman drinke of that horne, but "if the were true to her husband: and if fhee were false jhe fhould jpill all the drinke, and if fhee were true unto "her lorde, fhee might drink peaceably: and because of 66 queene Guenever and in defpite of Sir Launcelot du Lake, "this borne was fent unto king Arthur.". -This born is intercepted and bro.ght unto another king named Marke, who is not a whit more fortunate than the British hero, for he makes his queene drinke thereof and an hundred "ladies moe, and there were but foure ladies of all thofe "that drank cleane" of which number the faid queen, proves not to be one [Book II. chap. 22. Ed. 1632.] 66 In other refpects the two ftories are Jo different, that we have just reafon to fuppofe this Ballad was written before that romance was tranflated into English. As for queen Guènever, fhe is here reprefented no otherwife, than as we find her in old histories and romances. Holinfhed obferves, that " he was evil reported of, as noted of inconti"nence and breach of faith to hir bufband." Vol. 1. p. 93. SUCH READERS, AS HAVE NO RELISH FOR PURE ANTIQUITY, WILL FIND A MORE MODERN COPY OF THIS BALLAD AT THE END OF THE VOLUME. Shee threw downe the mantle, That bright was of blee; Faft with a rudd redd, 50 To her chamber can fhee flee. She curft the weaver, and the walker, And bade a vengeance on his crowne, 55 That hither hath itt brought. I had rather be in a wood, Under a green tree; Than in king Arthur's court Kay called forth his ladye, And bade her come neere; Saies, Madam, and thou be guiltye, бо 65 70 Before all the rout." Then VOL. I. B 3 |