This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible.
Google books
https://books.google.com
This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible.
Google books
https://books.google.com
+} LIBRARY * OF THE
| gNIVERSITY OF MicHigay
Y¢ )
j \ f Ag c / Bus | y 4 < . . AY we rf J > ‘
—
|
\ \ »
\ SS
ASE
ee USES PUR ETS 5 SK rt a keke heh enone kein ee te
stil) - ee ORO TESST HES e eT ee
2
S- / ° = i) - ~ = ‘off f ~ te / <8 % « > [9 A . \S x “ up
he
=
ae
Lid
F
OS M67 |, 3 an
Digitized by Google
ify
LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
EDITED FROM MS. 593 IN THE BIBLIOTHEQUE MUNICIPALE OF RENNES
BY
LUCY ALLEN PATON
PART ONE INTRODUCTION AND TEXT
Published for the Modern Language Association of America
NEW YORK, D. C. HEATH anp COMPANY LONDON, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
MDCCCCXXVI
The Modern Language Association of America MONOGRAPH SERIES
|
LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
Digitized by Google
LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
EDITED FROM MS. 593 IN THE BIBLIOTHEQUE MUNICIPALE OF RENNES
BY
LUCY ALLEN PATON
PART ONE INTRODUCTION AND TEXT
Published for the Modern Language Association of America
NEW YORK, D.C. HEATH anp COMPANY LONDON, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
MDCCCCXXVI
Approved for publication in the M onograph: Serses of the Modern Language Association of America
JAMES WILSON BRIGHT ROBERT HERNDON FIFE _H. Carrincton LANCASTER JouHN MatTrHEews MANLY WILLIAM ALBERT NITZE Committee of Award:
PREFACE
Sometimes he angers me With telling me of the moldwarp and the ant, Of the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies,
And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff As puts me from my faith. ....... i ea iy ade, tes he Sk O, he is as tedious
As a tired horse, a railing wife,
Worse than a smoky house. I had rather live With cheese and garlic in a windmill, far, Than feed on cates and have him talk to me In any summer-house in Christendom.
King Henry IV, Part I.
Hotspur’s ahger against Glendower is a salutary warning to an editor of the Prophecies de Merlin, which at every turn spreads the snares of tediousness for unwary feet. The ideal edition of its text, indeed, should contain explanatory notes for all obscure points, as well as a documented comment on every prophecy with, so far as possible, an interpretation of it, and should bring together in complete form the various versions in which the work exists. Such was the edition that, when I began to prepare this book, I hoped to produce, but I have been compelled to leave it in the country where many projected volumes dwell, the ‘“‘ pays des chiméres, le seul digne d’étre habité,’’ for it bade fair to assume proportions that were not to be considered today, when the costs of printing are heavy, and when, moreover, scholars can no lon- ger cherish the illusion, too charitably limited by Renan to writers of romance, that others have the time to read their voluminous productions. I have therefore omitted much illustrative material that I had been tempted to publish, and have contented myself with offering in Part II a comment on only such portions of the text as in my judgment best explain the purpose and character of the work and throw light upon its authorship and date. But since to understand it at all we must enter into the thought and life of thirteenth-century Italy, I have often dwelt with greater detail upon the conditions that account for the individual predic- tions than the elucidation of their contents strictly required, and have quoted at length from contemporary sources when perhaps
VI LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
a mere reference to their pages would appear to have sufficed. Three chapters were to have been added to Part II — one on Mer- lin, the entombed prophet, including a study of his fairy retention, or so-called enserrement, another on Merlin, the dwarf, and the third on the development of the tradition of Merlin in Italy. All of these subjects are intimately connected with the Prophecies, but no argument in regard to either the first or the second can be profitable without a complete discussion of the fundamental nature of Merlin, and the last merits a more elaborate presentation than is admissible here ; consequently I reserve a treatment of them for a book on the legend of Merlin which I am preparing. In the interests of space I have moreover abandoned my original inten- tion of reprinting all the unique portions of the Vérard edition of the Prophecies and have limited myself to those parts that con- tribute directly to the evidence in regard to the composition of the work that is set forth in Part II. For the same reason I have refrained from publishing the extensive sections of the Italian versions of the Prophecses that are not represented in the French sources. I hope to edit the entire Italian text in a separate volume with a comment on some of its problems, which consequently are not treated below.
The present edition is, therefore, purposely left in some respects incomplete. Very many prophecies that I have not interpreted will be sufficiently clear to students of mediaeval history without an editor’s explanation ; many others are so obscure that I could not hope to elucidate them without much longer study and reflection, and these I leave for scholars who are more “ profited in strange concealments ”’ than I to clarify; still others will doubtless always remain inscrutable simply because they refer to events that have faded entirely from modern ken; for others again superficially plausible explanations suggest themselves, which when probcd are merely to be dismissed with a ‘‘ Montaigne efit dit, Que sais-je ? et Rabelais, Peut-étre.’’ One of the many debts that the editors of Old French texts owe to the late Professor Paul Meyer is his comforting dictum, ‘‘ Un éditeur n’est pas obligé de comprendre tout ce qu'il imprime et lorsqu’il a fidélement reproduit la lecon des manuscrits et au besoin proposé en note des conjectures ratson- nables, il a mis sa responsabilité a couvert. ”’
Reasonable conjecture is frequently the sole means for supplying material, the loss of which is palpable to us again and again in the Prophecies. ‘‘ Lost sources’ have at times been elaborately multi-
PREFACE VII
plied into a bewildering labyrinth beyond all reason and should always be put on the defensive, yet they are not invariably to be dismissed without a hearing. Of the two classes of testimony to their quondam existence — documentary statement, and unwnit- ten evidence read only between the lines of texts, the present condi- tion of which is inexplicable save as the outcome of vanished mate- rial, — the latter is quite as often invoked as the former in the following studies. Readers who share the mistrust of hypothetical versions that has recently grown up among us, as a reaction against their overdue use, will not hesitate to brush aside many pages as ‘‘mere conjecture,” and those who are willing to accept no evi- dence but such as they can see written in black and white will be obliged to reject more than a few of the proposed explanations of difficulties. For the book has been written with the conviction that conjecture, always provided that it be disciplined by fact and never be confounded by either writer or critic with assertion or proved statement, is a legitimate means for seeking to arrive at the truth. Its object is to open the path for further assumptions that may lead still nearer the goal ; the more vigorously it stimu- lates to a more logical substitute, the more successfully it accom- plishes its purposes. As Jeanroy has happily said, ‘‘ La découverte de la vérité n’est possible qu’aprés un certain nombre d’hypothéses qui la serrent de plus prés.”’ A careful examination of the Pro- phectes brings to light certain facts for which I have endeavored to demonstrate the proof, but it also reveals many puzzles for which I undertake to offer none but hypothetical solutions. My primary aim has been not to prove a theory, but to make available much unpublished material that illustrates a curious phase of human thought, and to present it with comment and inference in a form that may be of service to other students of mediaeval prophetic literature and Arthurian romance. They will be able, I hope, to propose further interpretations and throw additional light upon ‘“‘ the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies.” * I am deeply appreciative of the distinction that the Modern Language Association has conferred upon this edition of the Prophecies by allowing it to initiate the Monograph Series, which affords so greatly needed an avenue of publication for the results of American research. I congratulate the many scholars whose studies will in the future receive a like recognition. Happy are we whose works appear under such favorable auspices. Iam pleasantly indebted to the officers of the Association for the
VIII LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
consideration that they have shown me during the long process of printing, and to the Presses Universitaires de France for the care with which they have executed the often troublesome typographi- cal details of the book. It is one of the singular turns of Fortune’s wheel that has led to the printing of this, the first modern edition of the French text, by an establishment situated but a short distance in an almost direct line to the south from the Pont Notre-Dame, where in the shop of Antoine Vérard the first French edition of the Prophecies was published nearly four and a half centuries ago.
My thanks are due to the Bibliothéque Municipale of Rennes for permission to publish the text that forms the basis of the present edition. Help received in its preparation is briefly, but none the less gratefully acknowledged. The labors of other scholars in the fields of study touched upon in Part II have supplied me with continual assistance, of which I trust that I have never failed to record specific instances, but since I can lay claim to little originality beyond the new application of facts first brought to light by them, I am conscious of many unrecorded minute obligations. By the courtesies that await all students in the department of manuscripts of the Bibliothéque Nationale, the Bibliothéque de 1’Arsenal, the British Museum, the Vatican, the Biblioteca Marciana, and the Bibliotheca Palatina at Parma the task of collecting my material has always been delightfully facilitated. I would also express here my thanks to M. Gustave Macon, Conservateur-adjoint du Musée Condé, for the privilege of examining the manuscript of the Pro- phectes in the Cabinet des Livres of the Musée and for the pleasure of working in the quiet beauty of Chantilly. My debt is especially great to Messrs. Maggs Brothers of London for their kindness in allowing me to study at my leisure the important manuscript of the Prophecies in their possession, with no stipulation beyond the altogether reasonable request that I include in this edition nothing that might tend to lessen the value of the manuscript as an unpublished text.
This book is associated in my memory with the late Professor W.H. Schofield of Harvard University, of whom I wasa pupil long years ago at Radcliffe College ; it was undertaken with his encour- agement and is the better for suggestions received from him in its incipient stages, even as it must always remain the poorer for the lack of his final criticism. - DLA. P.
Pans, April, 1926.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ABBREVIATIONS
ADso. — Libellus de Antichristo, in Migne, P. L., ct, 1280 ff.
ALBERIcus TRIUM FontTIuM. — Ed. P. Scheffer-Boichorst, Chronica, M. G.H., xx111, 631 ff:
Annales S. Justinae. — Annales Sanctae Justinae Pativini, ed. P. Jaffé, M. G. H., x1x, 148ff.
Annales Venetici Breves. —Ed.H.Simonsfeld, M. G. H., xiv, 69ff.
Aquinas, De adventu Antichristi. — St. Thomas Aquinas, De adventu statu et vita Antichristi, Opera omnia, Parma, 1852-1869, XVII, 438 ff.
Archivio storico . — Archivio storico italiano, Florence, 1842 —.
Aventures. — Les aventures del saint Graal. See below, SOMMER, Vol. vi.
Bron, Attila. — Giulio Bertoni, Attila di Nicola da Casola, Fri- burg, 1907 (Collectanea Friburgensia, N. S., fasc. ix).
St. BoNAVENTURA. — Opera omnia, ed. P. P. Collegii S. Bonaventurae, Quaracchi, 1882-1902. 11 volumes.
Bouguxr. — Martin Bouquet, Recueil des historiens des Gaules et de la France (Bouquet, Vols. 1-vi1r ; continué par des religieux Béné- dictins de la Congrégation de St. Maur et des membres de |’ Académie des inscriptions et belles lettres], Paris, 1738-1904. 24 volumes (Rerum Gallicarum et Francarum Scriptores).
ENTENNE DE BourBON, Anecdotes. — Anecdotes historiques, ed. A. Lecoy de la Marche, Paris, 1877 (Société de l'histoire de France).
Boussxr. — Wilhelm Bousset, The Antichrist Legend, translated from the German, with a Prologue on the Babylonian Dragon Myth, by A. EY. Keene, London, 1896.
Bown, Venice. — Horatio F. Brown, Venice, an Historical Sketch of he Repudlic, London, 1895.
ARIUS OF HEISTERBACH, Dialogus Miraculorum. — Caesarius Heisterbacensis, Dialogus Miraculorum, ed. J. Strange, Cologne, 185 x. 2 volumes.
Da Canate. — Martino da Canale, La chronique des Venectens, ed. F. L.. Polidori, Archivio storico, Ser. 1, vitt (1845), 2318. Chrorezcon Estense. — Ed. G. Bertonie E. P. Vicini, R. I. S., Raccolta, XV, Pte. iii.
Chron que de Morée. — Ed. J. Longnon, Paris, rg11 (Société de l’his- tore de France).
Cromaca Altinate. — Chronicon Venetum, ed. H. Simonsfeld, M.G. H.,
XIV, rf. neo — Andrea Dandolo, Chronicon Venetum, R. I. S., Xt,
1.
x - LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
Davux, L’Antechrist. — Camille Daux, L’Antechrist d’aprés une hymne du x®-x1® siécle, Arras and Paris [1gor].
ANDREA DEI. — Cronica sanesi, R. I. S., xv, ff.
DENIFLE, Protocoll. — Heinrich Denifle, ‘‘ Das Evangelium aeternum und die Commission zu Anagni,” Archiv far Literatur-und Kir- chengeschtchte, 1 (1885), fasc. 1.
Von DOLLINGER. — Johann Josef Ignaz von Déllinger, Fables re- specting the Popes in the Middle Ages (translated by A. Plummer), and The Prophetic Spirit (translated by H. B. Smith), New York, 1872.
DuPIn, Histoive des controverses. — Louis Ellies Dupin, Htstotre des controverses et des matiéres ecclésiastiques traitées dans le xim1® siécle, Paris, 1701. 2 volumes.
EBERT. — Adolf Ebert, Allgemeine Geschichte dey Literatur des Mit- telalters im A bendlande, Leipzig, 1880-1889. 3 volumes.
Estoive. — Estotre del saint Graal. See below, SOMMER, Vol. I.
FERRETO VICENTINO. — Historia, R. I. S., 1X, 935ff.
GALVANEO DELLA FIAMMA. — Manipulus Florum, R. I. S., x1, 531 ff.
Fitrasi, Memorie Storiche. — Giacomo Filiasi, Memorie storiche de’ Venets primi e second:, Venice, 1796-1798. 9 volumes.
Ricerche. —- Ricerche storico-critiche sull’opportunita della laguna veneta pel commercio, sull’arte e sulla marina di questo stato, Venice, 1803.
GALLICCIOLI, Memorie venete. — Giambattista Galliccioli, Delle memo- rte venete antiche libri 111, Venice, 1795. 7 volumes.
GERARDO. — Pietro Gerardo, Historia d’Ezzelino, Padua, 1668.
Grsta DEI PER FrRaANcos. — Ed. J. de Bongars, Hannover, 1611. 2 volumes.
GIBBON, ED. Bury. — Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Emptre, ed. J. B. Bury, New York, rorg4. 7 volumes.
Giornale storico. — Gtornale storico della letteratura italiana, Turin, 1883 —,
GIOVANNI D1acono, Cronaca. —- Ed. G. Monticolo, Cronache vene- ziane antichissime, Rome, 1890 (Fonts per la storia d'Italia).
GIRALDUS CAMBRENSIS. — Opera, ed. J. S. Brewer, J. F. Dimock, and G. F. Warner, London, 1861-1891. 8 volumes (Rolls Series).
GIUSTINIANI. — Agostino Giustiniani, Annali della Repubblica di Genova, ed. G. B. Spotorno, Genoa, 1854.
GRAF, Roma. — Arturo Graf, Roma nelle memorie e nelle immagina-
. 2t0n1 del medio evo, Turin, 1915.
GREGOROVIUs. — Ferdinand Gregorovius, History of the City of Rome tn the Middle Ages, translated by Mrs. Gustavus W. Hamilton, London, 1900-1902. 8 volumes.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ABBREVIATIONS xI
HAUSSNER. -— Josef Haussner, Unsere Kaiservsage, Berlin, 1884 (Virchow und Holtzendorff, Sammlung gemeinverstandlicher wis- senschaftlicher Vortyage, Ser. 19, Heft 440).
HASKINS, Mediaeval Science. — Charles Homer Haskins, Studzes in the History of Mediaeval Science, Cambridge (Massachusetts), 1924.
Hazuitr. — William Carew Hazlitt, The Venetian Republic, London, 1915. 2 volumes.
HISTOIRE LITTERAIRE. — Histoire littéraire de la France [ouvrage commencé par les religieux Bénédictins de la Congrégation de Saint- Maur et continué par des membres de I'Institut], Paris, 1733 —.
Hopr. — Karl Hopf, Chrontques Gréco-Romanes, Berlin, 1873.
HvucHER. — Eugéne Hucher, Le Satnt-Graal, Le Mans and Paris, 1874-1878. 3 volumes.
HUILLARD-BREHOLLES. —- Jean-Louis-Alphonse Huillard-Bréholles, Historia diplomatica Friderict Secundt, Paris, 1852-1859. 4 volumes. Préface et Introduction, Paris, 1859. 1 volume.
HutH MERLIN. — Merlin (d’aprés le manuscrit appartenant a M. Alfred Huth), ed. G. Paris et J. Ulrich, Paris, 1886. 2 volumes (Société des anciens textes frangais).
ITINERARIUM REGIS RICARDI. — Itinervartum Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardt, ed. W. Stubbs, London, 1864 (Rolls Series).
JacoBus DE ViTrRiaco, Historia Hierosolymitana. — Gesta Dei per Francos, 1, 1047ff.
Historia Occidentalis. — Ed. Franciscus Mos- chus Nivigellatis, Douay, 1597.
JacoBuS DE VoRAGINE. — Legenda*Aurea, ed. Th. Graesse, Breslau, 1890.
Jacopo pa Acguit. — Chronicon Imagints Mundi, in Monumenta Historiae Patriae, Scviptores, Turin, 1840-1848, 111, 1357ff.
Jarr£. — Philipp Jaffé, Regesta Pontificum Romanorum, Leipzig, 1885-1888. 2 volumes.
Kampers, Die deutsche Katsevidee. — Franz amines Die deutsche Katseridee in Prophetie und Sage, Munich, 1896.
Lancelot.— Le livre de Lancelot del Lac. See below, SOMMER, Vols. III-v.
Lea, The Inquisition. — Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquist- tion in the Middle Ages, New York, 1888. 3 volumes.
Sacerdotal Celibacy — A History of Sacerdotal Celibacy in the Chris- tian Church, New York, 1907. 2 volumes.
Liber Pontificalis. — Ed. L. Duchesne, Paris, 1886-1892. 2 volumes (Bibliothéque des Ecoles d’Athénes et de Rome).
Liber Regiminum Padue. — R. I. S., Raccolta, vi, Pte. i, Appen- dice iii, 267ff.
Losetu, Tristan. — E. Léseth, Le roman en prose de Tristan, Paris, 1891 (Bibhiothéque de l’ Ecole des Hautes Etudes, fasc. 82).
XII LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
Lor, Lancelot. — Ferdinand Lot, Etude sur le Lancelot en prose, Paris, 1918 (Bibliothéque de }’Ecole des Hautes Etudes, fasc. 226).
M. G. H. — Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores, ed. G. H. Pertz, Hannover, 1826 —.
M. G. H., Eptstolae Saeculi xu1.— M. G. H., Epistolae Saeculs x11 e Regestts Pontificum Romanorum, ed. C. Rodenberg, Berlin, 1883. 3 volumes.
M. G. H., Libelli. — M. G. H., Libelli de Lite Impevatorum et Pon- tificum, ed. Societas aperiendis Fontibus Rerum Germanicarum Medii Aevi, Hannover, 1891-1897. 3 volumes.
M. G. H., SS. Rerum Langobardicarum. — M. G. H., Scriptores Rerum Langobardicarum et Italicarum : Saecula vi-1x, ed. Societas aperien- dis Fontibus Rerum Germanicarum Medii Aevi, Hannover, 1878.
SABA Mataspina. — Salla, or Saba, Malaspina, Rerum Sicularum His- toria, R. I. S., vu, 781ff.
MALE. — Emile Male, L’art religieux du xu® siécle en France, Paris, IgIo.
RICORDANO MALESPINI. — Malespini, Istoria Fiorentina, R. I. S., vill, 877ff.
MALVENDA. — Thomas Malvenda, De Antichristo libri undecim, Rome, 1604.
MANFRIN, Origini. — P. Manfrin, Le origini di Venezia, Rome, s. a.
Mann, Lives of the Popes. — Horace K. Mann, The Lives of the Popes tn the Middle Ages, London, 1902 —.
MARANGONE. — Bernardo Marangone, Crontche della Citta di Pisa, R. I. S., Tartini, 1, 307 ff.
MARTENE, A mplissima Collectio. — Edmund Marténe et Ursin Durand, Veterum Scriptorum et Monumentorum amplissima Collectto, Paris, 1724-1733. 9 volumes.
Thesaurus. — Marténe et Durand, Thesaurus novus Anec- dotorum, Paris, 1717. 5 volumes.
MauRrIsio. — Gherardo Maurisio, Cronica domsnorum Ecelini et Alberict fratrum de Romano, ed. G. Soranzo, R.I.S., Raccolta, vit, Pte. iv, 1 ff.
MENESTREL DE REiMS. — Reécits d’un ménestvel de Reims, ed. Natalis de Wailly, Paris, 1876.
‘Du MERIL, Poésies populaires. — Edelstand du Méril, Poéstes popu- laives latines du moyen Gge, Paris, 1847.
Merlin. — L’estoive de Merlin. See below, SOMMER, Vol. I!.
Merlin (E. E. T. S.). — Merlin or the Early History of King Arthur, ed. H. B. Wheatley, London, 1899. 2 volumes (Early English Text Society).
Huon DE Mé&ry, Tournoiement de l’ Antichrist. — Huon de Méry, Li Tournoiemenz Antecrit, ed. G. Wimmer, Marburg, 1888 (Stengel, Ausgaben und Abhandlungen, LXXVvI1).
Meyer, La langue frangaise en Italie, — Paul Meyer, De l’expansion de
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ABBREVIATIONS XII
la langue francaise en Italie pendant le moyen dge, Rome, 1904 (Atés del Congresso internazionale di scienze storiche, Roma, 1903, Iv, Sezione Storia delle lettevature).
Micnz, P. L. — J. P. Migne, Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Patres Latini, Paris, 1844-1864. 217 volumes and Indices, 4 volumes.
MoiMEnNTI, Vita privata. — Pompeo Molmenti, La storia di Venesta nella vita privata, Bergamo, 1906-1910. 3 volumes.
LoRENZzO DE Monaclis, Chronicon. — Ed. Flaminio Cornelio, Venice, 1758.
Morosin1i. — Andrea Morosini, L’imprese et espeditions ds Terra Santa, Venice, 1627.
MourRarTori, Antichtia@. — Ludovico Antonio Muratori, Dissertasions sopra le antichita italiane, Milan, 1836-1837. 5 volumes.
Antiquitates. — Antiquitates italicae medii aevi, Milan, 1738-1742. 6 volumes.
NavaGIERO. Andrea Navagiero, Storia della Repubblica veneziana, R. I. S., xx, 919ff.
Neues Archiv. — Neues Archiv dev Geselischaft fay altere deutsche Geschichtskunde, Hannover, 1876 —.
Notices et extraits. — Notices et extraits des manuscrits de la Bibliothéque nationale et autres bibliothéques [publiés par l’Académie des inscrip- tions et belles-lettres], Paris, 1787 —.
P.M. L. A. — Publications of the Modern] Language Association of America, Baltimore and Menasha, 1888 —.
MatTTHEW Paris, Chronica Maiora. — Ed. H. R. Luard, London, 1872-1880. 7 volumes (Rolls Series).
Historia Anglorum. — Ed. F. Madden, London, 1866-1869. 3 volumes (Rolls Series).
P. Paris, MSS. frangots. — Paulin Paris, Les manuscrits frangots de la Biblsothéque du Rot, Paris, 1836-1848. 7 volumes.
Prpino. — Francesco Pipino, Chronicon, R. I. S., 1X, 581ff.
Potruast. — August Potthast, Regesta Ponttficum Romanorum, Berlin, 1874-1875. 2 volumes.
Potvin. — Chrestien de Troyes, Perceval le Gallots, ed. Ch. Potving Mons, 1865-1871. 5 volumes.
R. 1. S. — Rerum Italicarum Scriptores, ed. L. A. Muratori, Milan, 1723-1751, 25 volumes.
R.I.S., Raccolta. — Rerum Italicarum Scriptores, Raccolta degh storict italiani dal cinquecento al millecinquecento (ovdinata daL.A.Muratort), ed. G. Carducci e V. Fiorini, Citta di Castello and Bologna, 1900 —,
R. I. S., Tartini. — Rerum italicarum Scriptores ex Florentinarum Bibliothecarum Codicibus, ed. J. M. Tartini, Florence, 1748-1770, 2 volumes. .
Recueil. — Recueil des historiens des Crotsades. Histortens occidentaux
XIV LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN [publié par l’Académie des nSCHBEODE: et pee eal Paris, 1844-1895. 5 volumes.
Rotanpino. — Rolandinus Pativinus, Chronica, ed. A. Bonardi, - R. I. S., Raccolta, vii, Pte. i.
RoMANIN. — Samuele Romanin, Storia documentata di Venezia, Venice, 1853-1861. 10 volumes.
Roncioni, Istonie pisane. — Raffaello Roriciont, Estorie pisane, ed. F. Bonaini, Archivio stovico, Ser. 1, vi, Pte. i (1844). SABELLICO. — M. Antonio Coccio Sabellico, Historia Rerum Vene-
tarum, Venice, 1718 (Istortcs delle cose veneztane, 1). . ‘GUILLAUME DE SAINT-AMOUR, Liber de Antschristo. — Liber Magis: tri Nicolat Ovesme de Antichristo et etus Minisivis, Marténe, Amplise sima Collectio, 1x, 1271 ff. ! SALIMBENE. — Salimbene de Adam, Cronica, a O. ashi a M. G. H., XXXII. ‘SANESI, Storta. — Paolino Pieri, La storia dt Merlino, ei. I. Sanesi, Bergamo, 1898. (Btbitoteca storica della lettevaturva ttaliana, 111). Sanupbo, Istoria dt Romanta. — Marino Sanudo Torsello, Istoria del vegno dt Romania, m Hopf. pp. 9off. | , Secreta Fidelium Cructs.— Liber Secretorum Fidelium Crucis, in Gesta Det per Francos, it. | Sanupo, R. I. S., xx. — Marino Sanudo, Le vite det Duchi di Venezia, R. I. S., xx, 390ff. R.I.S., Raccolta, xxur. —Le vite dei Dogi (through the reign of ‘Sebastiano Ziani), ed. G. Monticolo, R. J. S., Raccolta, xx11, Pte. iv.
‘SARDO, Cronaca dt Pisa. — Ranieri Sardo, Cronaca di Pisa, ed. F. Bonaini, Archivio stortco, Ser. 1, v1, Pte. (1845), 75ff. ‘Scumipt, Les Cathares. —- C. Schmidt, Htstotve et doctrine de la secte
des Cathares ou Albigeois, Paris and Geneva, 1849. 2 volumes. ‘ScriBa. — Bartholomaeus Scriba, Annales, M. G. H., xviti, 156ff. SomMER. — The Vulgate Version of the Arthurian Romances, ed. H. O. Sommer, Washington, 1909-1916. 7 volumes and Index (The * Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication No. 74). “TaYLor, Political Prophecy. — Rupert Taylor, The Political Prophecy in England, New York, 1911 (Columbia University Studies in En- glish). ‘Tocco, L’eresta. — Felice Tocco, L’eresia nel eis evo, Fiorence: 1884. VerRcI. — Giambattista Verci, Storia degli Eccelini, Venice, 1841. . 3 volumes. VILLANL — Giovanni Villani. Cronica, in Cvroniche storiche di Giovanni, Matteo, e Filippo Villant, ed. F. G. Dragomanni, Milan, _ 1848, I-IV. VINCENT DE BEAUVAIS, Selina doctrinale. — Edition, Venice, 1494. Speculum morale. — Edition, Venice, 1493.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ABBREVIATIONS xV
Wanppinc. — Luke Wadding (and continuators), Annales Minorum, Rome, 1731-1886. 25 volumes.
‘WADSTEIN. — Ernst Wadstein, Die eschatologische Ideengruppe,
- Leipzig, 1896. ;
Warp, Catalogue. — H. L. D. Ward, Catalogue of Romances in the Department of Manuscripts, British Museum, London, 1883-1893. 2 volumes.
YuLE, Marco Polo. — Henry Yule, The Book of Ser Marco Polo, Lon- don, 1903. 2 volumes.
Zs. f. fr. Sp. — ZLettschrift fiir franzisische Sprache und Literatur, Oppeln and Leipzig, 1879 —.
Digitized by Google
a
CONTENTS PREFACE cc sioss oo woo oie bo heats Sea eee ee eae te Vv BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ABBREVIATIONS .........0cccccccccccves Ix AL ABLE OF CONTENTS 66566406. bratioac Seu Ceosee Ge eaece XVII TABLE OF RUBRICS IN CHAPTER II...........ccccccecee XXIII TaBLE OF RUBRICS IN CHAPTER VI..........0ccececcce XXXVIII
PART I. THE TEXT
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The French Manuscripts and Early Editions.......... I 2. The Italian Manuscripts and Edition.................4. 46 3. The Present Edition...........0...c00. ne 50 II. LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN (RENNES, BIBLIOTHEQUE MUNI- CIPALE, (693) sede caesesct siete oie ed eeu ew ese seas sas 57
III. SUPPLEMENTARY COLLATIONS : BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE, FONDS FRANCAIS 350, AND BRITISH MusEuM, ADDI-
TIONAL (25434000 Sik scuscn aennen eden sdeus ceeimeee ee 340 IV. SuMMARIES OF EPISODES IN THE MANUSCRIPTS OF GROUP I. 371 1;.Mador de la Portes. esd etude cow ecaibssanewesiew Ken 371 2. The Plots of Morgain la Fee and Claudas de la Deserte against the Dame du Lac............ cece rece ec eeee 372 3; Golistan le’ Fort $ici56 64 5or ne ite at es gaeetecwwne was (2) The Robbers of the Moustier Saint-Lazaron ; Golis- tan at the Pavilion of Segurant le Brun............. 374 4. Alisandre: VOrtelin isc ¢oscciwcws ads sana 3:00 tees whe sts (2) The Enfances and Knighting of Alisandre........ 375 5. The Tournament of Sorelois.........cccccsecccscees
(2) The Prowess of Lancelot. — (6) Palamedes and the Damsel. — (c) The Prowess of Galeholt ; the Combat
between Palamedes and the Brother of Gozais..... 376 6. The: Saxon. InvaSiON sii60dscakdupasdedeese aceksiawns (2) The Preparations of Galeholt for the Coming of THE SAM ONS 3 os scsi oeceg ie ores ate eee ate wpa Sued wes 378 5. The Tournament of Sorelois, continued.............4. :
(@) Various Joustings ; the Visit of Galeholt to Queen Guinevere ; Palamedes and Lamorat de Gales. — (e)
The Meeting of Palamedes and Saphar........... 379 7: Percéval Je Galoiss: c.0s-03uon a cute xeccae weed eaeea es
LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN is
XVIII LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
(2) Perceval and the Clerc de la Jaiole. — (6) Per- ceval and the Robber Knights. — (c) Perceval and
the Maiden of the Pavilion..........ceee0e icone 390 5. The Tournament of Sorelois, continued............... (f) Various Joustings ; the Prowess of Lancelot. — (g) Palamedes and Corsabrin. — (hk) Lancelot and Dina- dan. — (g) Palamedes and Corsabrin, continued. — (4) Various joustings. — (7) The Loyalty of Gaheriet to Guinevere. — (fk) Various Joustings ; Lancelot and
Dinadanscecsd cheek otis se wu ewe eaee sane. 382
6. The Saxon Invasion, continued.............2-ceecees (5) The Preparations of the Saxons for War.......... 386
7. Perceval le Galois, continued... ......ccccsecccscccens
(c) Perceval and the Maiden of the Pavilion, continued. 387 8. Morgain la Fee, Sebile l’Enchanteresse, and the Reine de
NOPgales sss cnn sete nes ere ee ee ee ees (a) Berengier de Gomeret ............ Spey ag emecus o+- 388 6. The Saxon Invasion, continued ........ccccccecee paca
(c) The Preparations of Daguenet for the Saxon Invasion. — (d) The Combat of Gawain and Meleagant at
DOVOLE ots ic we pela. heh ee eek ee ate Sew ene ewe 389
7. Perceval le Galois, continued........ pin ieee aleSaeies (2) Minot Combats of Perceval..............2--00005 390
QO). Segurant Je) Brn vis finite soe ena seaacsse eee oles wale aes (a) Segurant at the Cite Fort.............. ccc ceeeee 390
6. The Saxon Invasion, continued.........ceccccscecece
(e) The Defiance of the Saxons; Baudemagus and Melea- : gant at. Vincestte. 246 iiws ccciaaeeeeeewdalusiaene 391
8. Morgain la Fee, Sebile l’Enchanteresse, and the Reine de
' *.dNorgales, CONUNUCE 6:4 tice sid ot 05 Weeeh ne Dees eas (6b) The Reconciliation between Morgain and Sebile.... 392
g. Segurant le Brun, continued ............... 00. ceeees (a) Segurant at the Cite Fort, continued............ 392
6. The Saxon Invasion, continued............ vesieegleataa
(f) The Burning of the Saxon Ships; the Offer ofa Truce from Galenol by ec.s6-4 enw heise ong Sew we oe Skee ses = 393
10. The War of Palamedes and Saphar with Karados de la Douleretse Tour :0iis sicens cians ake eet wows tees 394
6. The Saxon Invasion, continued................c0eeee . (g) Meleagant at Vincestre.............. ccc eens 395
11, The Dame du Lac and Bohors................cceceee (a) The Preparations for the Knighting of Bohors; the
Plot of King Marc against Hoel de Bretaigne....... 395 6. The Saxon Invasion, continued...............0.00e (kh) The Payment of the Soldiers by Daguenet ; the Remonstrances of Yvain with Arthur. — (i) The
a
a_i om 2 oi
= = i
- Cn er ere aa a
CONTENTS
Rage of the False Guinevere; the Dishonesty of Agra- vain and Mordret ; the proposed Departure of Ar- thur for Carmelyde. — (j) The Saxon Plot against Galeholt ; Henri le marchis and the Pagan Cham- pions. — (k) The Burning of the Saxon Ships; the
Rescue of Galeholt by Lancelot ..... ere eee
o. The War of Palamedes and Saphar with Karados de la Doulereuse Tour, continued.......... slateitietawiaceate 2
The Saxon Invasion, continued.............cceeseeee (2) The Plans of the Saxons. — (m) The two Guineveres during the War....... Pree ee eee sere
9. Segurant le Brun, continued.......... Soe eee owe ee (5) Segurant le Brun at a Hermitage. ..........e000.
8. Morgain la Fee, Sebile l’Enchanteresse, and the Reine de Norgales, continued..... sietoce biel aya: 8 <esSiee euaueress err
(c) Brehus sanz Pitie at the Castle of Norgales... ere
6. The Saxon Invasion, continued............seceeeeees (x) The Saxon Surrender...........ccsceccccccceces
4- Alisandre l’Orfelin, continued .............. ese eeceee (5) Alisandre and Brehus sanz Pitie. — (c) The Meeting
of Alisandre with Karados, Saphar and Palamedes.
— (d) The Plots of Marc against Alisandre.
— (e) The Designs of Morgain upon Alisandre..,..
6. The Saxon Invasion, continued......cccsecccccecsoes
(0) The End of the Saxon War. — () The Recovery of Arthur. — (q) The Tribute from the Saxons ; the
Aid of Jerusalem................000. Vine eakowe-e 12. Richard de Jerusalem............ ees eccccececesccne ° (a) The Exploits of Richard at Japhes and Sarras. — (6) The King of Ireland and the King of Baudac.. 13. Arthur and the Knight of Carmelyde......... anwar ee 11. The Dame du Lac and Bohors, continued............. (5) The Knighting and Maiden Adventure of Bohors; the Tower of the Copper Marvel ;.the Charrette of Karahan. 9. Segurant le Brun, continued.......... Vem Sie eiahans 2 a6 (c) Segurant at the Tower of the Copper Marvel...... : 14. The Crusade of Archemais..... ere ee ee ce 4. Alisandre l’Orfelin, continued........ Creer ye Te ere (f) Alisandre and Malgrin le Felon; the Sojourn of Ali- sandre; with Morgain............ssceeees eitteld Sala ; 15. The Plots of King Marc against Tristan..... Sehaewenes (a) Sadoc and King Marc........ccce-sccevee 16. The Dame d’Avalon, the Reine de Norgales, Sebile YEn- chanteresse, and Morgain..... dia Seca e 0:8 «Sie iw Seas ore 15. The Plots of King Marc against Tristan, continued.....
(0) The Attack on Cornwall by the Knights of Leonois ; the Release of Tristan by Perceval....... sate we Secs
396
400
400
401
402
403
403
405
407 409
410
4It 412
413 414
415
417
XX LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
3. Golistan le Fort, continued..... SP gateweteoes eee (6) Combats of Golistan with a Knight and a Villain; the Meeting of Golistan and Segurant..............
17. Lancelot and Gohenbert............. Aphis Rae cea are 18. The Plot of Claudas against Lancelot..........0...6. 4. Alisandre l’Orfelin, continued......... suiiasis Sw widiw cee (g) The Escape of Alisandre from Bele Garde; Alisandre
ONG AVES cc wcteh ans has dete eee ws ewe tenes 19. The Tourney cried by Arthur for the Riche Roy Pes- CHOOE 566 6 86 cseecccaene ales eee we ere ee ‘
V. SUMMARIES OF EPISODES FROM THE MANUSCRIPT, Arsenal, 6220 acs bates eacunadeewecsues aoaiate wale cane Siac’
1. Galeholt le Brun and Hector le Brun................. (a) The Isle Non Sachant................ sise sees
2. The Tournament of Salibiere...... ji eaieanewuee sees
(2) Galeholt le Brun (le jeune) and the Tournament of Salibiere — (6) The Battle of Arthur at the Roche aus Sesnes; Merlin, Arthur, and the Tourna- ment ; the Visit of Merlin and Arthur to Maistre
(b) The Recluses of Carmelide..............ceceeees
3. Segurant le Brun..... ee ee ee ee (a) Segurant in the Isle Non Sachant. — (5) Segurant at the Pas Bertelais. — (c) Segurant and Horderiz..
4. Galehaut, le haut Prince.............cccececcncces (2) The Defeat of the Saxons by Galehaut and Baude-
MABZUS..- cc ccccccrsrevecace eoeeeoveces @eeesenecvees 3. Segurant le Brun, continued.......cceccccccsecsces
(@) The Joust between Segurant and Galeholt le Brun. 5. Dinadan, the Chevalier aux Dix Gardes........... cove (a) Combats of the Chevalier aux Dix Gardes......... 3- Segurant le Brun, continued...............000: teats (ec) Segurant at Carmelide........ eee ee Cree , 5. Dinadan, le Chevalier aux Dix Gardes, continued. . (6) Adventures of Blio and Dinadan.. ce eceeeee 6. The Tourney at Vincestre..........0.... haar diatawrens ee (a) The Challenge of Segurant to the Knights of Vin- cestre....... cece ececcecces Cc nccrecsvccce 7. Plots Re Morgain against Arthur, Guinevere, and Lan- (et (0) Se , cone 5. Dinadan, the Chevalier aux Dix Garde: continued’: (c) Dinadan and Palamedes........... ccc ececees ee 6. The Tourney at Vincestre, continued............. ees
(6) The Pavilion of Segurant at Vincestre............ 4. Galehaut, le haut Prince, continued.......ccccccscece
418 419 420 421 422 423
423
426
428
428
430 431 432 433
433
434 434 435
435
CONTENTS XXI
(b) The Designs of Galehaut, le haut Prince, against Logres ; the Combat between rival Knights before
DIN sie ee eee cea e eee ah aie bee wees ws eaten’ 436 6. The Tourney at Vincestre, continued...........sse0e% (c) Guinevere at Vincestre. — (¢@) The Madness of....
Palamed ess. ioe eed 86 occa seca wew sence aes esos 436
8. The Plots of King Marc against Hoel de Bretaigne..... 437 6. The Tourney at Vincestre, continued..............4..-
(e) The Arrival of Segurant at Vincestre; the Prowessof Lamorat de Gales. — (f) Segurant as a ae 437
(2) The Escape of Meleagant from Pomenglois...... ~- 438 6. The Tourney at Vincestre, continued..........ecseeee (g) Lancelot and Segurant; the Shield of Segurant. — (kh) The fairy Dragon.............. cece cee ecceees 438 5. Dinadan, the Chevalier aux Dix Gardes, continued. (d) The Quest of Dinadan for Segurant.............. 440 10. Lancelot and the Maiden of the Dame du Lac.......... 440 3. Segurant le Brun, continued...........c.e.eeecceees (f) Segurant and the Dragon.............eeeceeee ose 440 tr. The Quest for Segurant and Palamedes............... 441 12. PalamedeSio iii we nc es ctns edie ew ities emcee eaeatns oe (2) Palamedes and the Beste Glatissant...... cccccess 442 8. The Plots of King Marc against Hoel de Bretaigne and Tristan, CONUNUCG 5 66sis5 essa se caisaweseees es coe 6443 4. Galehaut, le haut Prince, continued...............4.. (c) Galehaut and Arthur ; Galehaut and Golistant du Puy Perdu. — (d) Galehaut and Tristan........... 443 12. Palamedes, continued.............-scecccscccscecces _ (6b) Palamedes and the abused Wife.................. 445 3. Segurant le Brun, continued ............... eee eeeees (g) The Quest for Segurant by the Knights of the Isle NOD Sachantni6 nec ude uniacesaaesc cease ae ieee 445 13. The Tourney at Norhout............. io Rustatel os weeee 446 3. Segurant le Brun, continued.............ccececceeece _(k) The Release of the pans from Pomenglois by DECUTAN aos ccsduedieces cesses aoteaens Naeteeeds 447 9. Meleagant of Gorre, continued Se eAtseve ew se see ween (6) The Plots of Meleagant against his Sister ee re 448 14. The Plots of Morgain la Fee and Claudas de la Deserte against the Dame du Lac..............ecceeccees 448 VI. SELECTIONS FROM THE EDITION OF 1498...........ce000- 449 Ec FOWOS. -YA-148 seen cetiancayetiwG csaweedet Gieaee ss 449 2: HOW0S (2505200 nt Steet one sea eska desde eee 475 3: Folie: 840-864..64.nivccddayeeiweeesinidendeuxcas 482 A> FOUO™ 242020 5-955 ones hee Aeease ewes wee eek 484
5. ROUOS 14902152. oswia hd Pe Gacan art ouibin se emey ic 486
Digitized by Google
RUBRICS IN CHAPTER II
I. De l’apostole de Romme qui sera noies en mer....
II. Du roi d’Ilande qui fera ardoir tous ceus qui devers le menistre du Dragon se tendront.............
III. De la damoiselle de Galles qui vint en la chambre ou
Merlin: estoit (/.°73?)s <socssee ches edietdausdsoen
IV. De la grant mortalite qui sera parmi Je monde.... V. D’ung mauvais dragon qui sortira de Viterbe (/. 748)..
VI. Du dragonnet qui prechera l’advenement du Dragon
grant de Babiloine et puis estranglera quarante enfans, dont en ystra une grant noyse (f. 74°)...
VII. De la Marche Dolereuse qui sera achaptee par roetes
CO? ARRON (fs FAN) 26 3 aa ciere a tee ol eae wat add ea Shea
_ VYT, Du mauves religieus d’Escalloune................ ‘
IX. Du grant dommage que aura la Marche Doloreuse dedens: soy (f..°7§9) «ic so beast e see see ies eke
X. Du grant domage que la mestre cite de la Marche
Doulereuse aura dedems Soy............-.-eeeees
XI. De la guerre qui sourdra parmy le monde (f. 76¢)..
XII. Des fames qui seront aussi paintes comme le fust...
XIII. De la grant cite qui avoit non Orbance........ °
XIV. De la couronne de l’emperiere de Orbance.......
XV. Des .ii. feus qui crestront desus le Pau et du feu qui
descendi avecques Lucifer quand il fu boutes fors
GU CIEl cto bets bee Oana kets sed pee ees Gea wes XVI. Quelle chose est Paradis et quelle chose est Enfer 3500) 2 46a ce ties toc en orate eeeeeaeeeees ;.
XVII. De la couronne de Orbance qui sera trouvee (f. 578).. De mestre Richart qui translata les prophecies
MEIN ok hee hares eae aa Sakas awe ieee ewe
XVIII. De Merlin qui commenca a plourer (f/f. 122¢)...... XIX. D’une grant partie des Yndes qui fondra (f/. 122°).. XX. Du ministre du Dragon qui sera noies en mer..... XXI. De la bataille qui sera entre ceulx de [.H.] et ceulx de: 2B... 32248) scene tiem ocsiases cites s eweess ‘
XXII. De la dame de Falonce qui fut mauvaise (f. 123>).. XXUI, Du roy de Bislande qui fera noyer quatre prestres en la mer (f. 499). .cccccvcccccvescscccvccccecss XXIV. De la maistresse cite de Ja terre de foraine qui fondra dé nuyt: (6.1239) 604 a siesinaididea sect seeess sigs
XXIV
XXV. XXVI.
XXVIII.
XAVITI.
XXIX. XXX,
XXXI. XXXII.
XXXIII. XXXIV.
XXXV.
AXXVI. XAXVIT.
XXXVIII. XXXIX. XL.
ALI. XLII.
LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
Des mauves marcheants qui seront honni...... De l’homme qui aura herbergie l’anemi dedens soy. De l’anemi qui s’en ira apres cequelihommes prendra PONICANCE ss wick is ceases eeew gees es Du mauves jugement qui sera fet parmi le monde.. De maistre Anthoine qui fut evesque (f. 50b).. De la mestre cite du monde qui fera si grant ieee: Et du conseil que fera Merlin a Tholomer (f, 50°). D’un hoir qui istra du sang a la bele joiande.... Des trois roys qui viendront au eee de Babiloine (7. 518) Des dix mille chevaliers qui se metront en queste pour trouver les trois roys (f. 51¢).. De la royne de Tarsie qui montera sur pane mauvais pallefroy (f/f. 528)......... De l’annelet de la royne de Tarsie (f. 528)...... De la cite .M. qui aura non .V. la doulereuse..... De ceulx de Arabie qui s’en yront au mauvais Dra- gon de Babiloine (f. 524) De la gentilesce qui s’est herbergie dedens la Marche
De Merlin qui fist assavoir a maistre Anthoine la venue des trois menistres (f. 6ob)..... raw eae De Merlin qui vint a l’ostel de Bartholz (f. 61a). De Merlin qui vint a maistre Anthoine (f. 61¢).. De maistre Anthoine et des trois ministres de ROMME: (7.619) 245452 costa acawete eve See ae
. De la mauvese coustume que les menistres avoient
mise en Galles............c00.8 ge Hao OO Re
. Des trois menistres qui interroguerent Merlin
Uf OZ2S) es Saracens cate oud 6 Se aigslh oO Ga pao eee SRE eos
. De Merlin qui parla as trois menistres de son nesse-
ment et des mauveses euvres qu’ils avoient fetes OTh: Gales esi f'n os hicaea ws ars ames ad oer ale oS Soi
. Comment les trois ministres de Romme furent enchantez. {/ 363°) 3% ode h tw anureet seis ete scd . Des trois valles qui furent enchante...........
. De Merlin qui parla de sa poeste et des euvres des
trois ministres et des deux religions qui seront G6) ee eee ee ee ee
. Des trois ministres qui s’en allerent de la chambre
jusques apres disner (f. 65b).........cce eens
. De Merlin qui fut clame quicte de par les ministres
noe oO tee Seinen Wen aL ert
. Des quatre fumees qui sortyront de quatre lacs
(f. 575).
RUBRICS IN CHAPTER II
. Des gens qui istront fors du pais por les fumees.... . Du derrain gouverneur qui naistra des Bons Mari-
NICWS 2. GS) :6:s vate ieee 056 44645550.860 9 es sr
- De Merlin qui s’en ira en Norgalles por garnir le
FOL PAPC ees sees oe Mew ered wena ela
. Du roi Artus qui aura grant honnor............. . De la guerre qui commencera entre ceulx de Ou et
ceulx de Pou (f. 1248)........ccecccccves ‘eis
. De la guerre qui sera es parties de Ragonne (f. 124).
De Baviere qui sera desabitee...............6.- Du gouverneeur de l’eglise qui s’en ira en Jherusa- lem, et des .ii. bons champions d’Engleterre et C6: Gaulle oie icc cies eiwn ie Rose sans CONS SOs
. De la damoiselle qui vint en la chambre de maistre
Anthoine (f. 80¢).......escceececcccececeucecs
. De la damoisele qui enchantera le roi Meliadus de
. De Merlin qui parla de la Dame du Lac......... . De la famine qui sera en Angleterre. Et quant le
Dragon de Babiloine naistra ne seront veues nulles estoilles au ciel, et de la mer d’Escoce et de Logres
qui sechera (f. 81b)............ MinwesGine wes LXIV. De Gaiete qui fondra (f. 828)...... diicewaeelhass LXV. De la belle Dame de Abiron qui vint en Galles pour
essaier Merlin (f. 82b)..........ccceccveccece
. De l’annel que donna Merlin a la Dame d’Abiron
(f, 82d) ...... oreta ek laleiret aes care meee wheres . De la guerre qui sera es is parties de Therdsalem if 838) . Le destourbier que auront les Tostans par dessus la met (f:. 839) 6 sé iecvienwevaasewweeees pate wine De la guerre de Lombardie (/. 83°)..........00- De Narbonne qui sera prinse (f. 834)..... giokeee Des trois varle(r)z de la royne de Brequeham qui vindrent en la chambre de maistre Anthoyne (f. CC®) 05s ow Seales eee pias ten inaweeue ses
LXXII. De la guerre qui sera en Espaigne (/. 67b).......
LXXIII. LXXIV. LXXV. LXXVI. LXXVII.
De la mortalite qui sera des chretiens et des payens Fi O79) aoc 8 ecb aces Soccer esececcnvens ee eccees Du roy de Patanie qui sera occiz (f. 688).......... De la guerre de Terquine. De la mortalite qui sera en Aresne et de la grant guerre qui sera es parties des Francoys (f. 688)........0..6- eee ae were ‘ De l’apostoille de Romme qui enverra pour mestre ANTOMNE 6 6 oe ies kes cece wes Se tAeWiGewiue wen De I’homme qui nettoyoit ses blez pour les vendre et de ceulx qui y mettent les ordures (f. 68¢)....
_
XXV 112 113
114 116
117 118 120
120 I2!I
I2!I I2I
122 124
125
126 126
127
128 128
130 132 132 133 134 135
135
XXVI
LXXVIII.
LXXIX.
LXXX. LXXXI.
LXXXII.
LXXXITTI.
LXXXIV. LXXXV.
LXXXVI.
LXXXVII.
LXXXVIII. LXXXIX, |
XC.
XCI.
~ XCIT.
XCITT.
XCIV.
XCV.
XCVI.
XCVIT.
XCVIII.
XCIX.
C,
Cl,
LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
Des .iiii. vens qui [feront] dont la marchandise sera Perle: ([::O89) sss ics ds cess swcs Suwa Seeeawele es De la mer qui brisera parmy la montaigne des Yndes et de la s’en ira au royaulme feminin (2699) we nca,caeedssGutesdenaawe sans ere Du vent qui se metra en la grant mer......... De la mer de Grece qui seichera et des grans tresors qui seront trouvez (f. 69C).........eeseceee De la guerre d’Antioche et de la dame qui sera tranchee parmy l’eschine et gette hors son enfant -(/ (609). c2nc5tesdusee seesaw ete eke De Follrendins qui sera couronne roy du royaulme d’Antioche (f. 70°)....... 2... cence eee roe ee De Merlin qui conjura les anemis d’enfer...... De la famine qui sera au pays de Malfete (f. 714).. Du buisart qui cuidera estre un fauconnel. Du destourbier que auront ceulx d’[Anconne] et de la grant meslee qui sera entre .P. et .G. (f. 71)..
Des pierres precieuses de I’Ille Non Sachant qui
retourneront en Grece...........ccceecccee De la mer morte qui se partira d’illec ou elle gist
(Fo FIG) sive c tied olin wa pede oot eee eae ee De Moncibel qui fondra. Et de l’eave chaude et
froide qui est devers Chatame (/. 724)...... °
Du busart qui naistra en Cecille. Et du loup qui.
ystra de Barbagal et s’en yra veoir le bon cham-
pion de Gaulle (f. 72D)... 0... cece c eee cceee ‘ Du chevalier traistre qui ystra de Jaffes (f. 72¢).. De la chape de mestre Antoinne....... eletereaen’
Des gens qui seront avecques l’empereeur de Romme en pelerinage de la la mer.......... De Danemarche qui sera toute exillee. Et du des-
torbier de Maiolce (f. 798).......ceeees ateceer Des quinze chevaliers qui seront ars et brulez UF FOR) on cras Sua sees Seas SE Oe Oa ore De la ville de la Marche Amoureuse qui sera Geparues cece cc eneah eeeeed wees gs bowers
De la traison qui sera en la Marche Amoureuse et des .ili. poissons qui Jehan la ville desus les fontainnes...... soNe a's Narereeeeert baie e Sara
De Cayfas une cite es parties de eae qui sera vendue (f. 79°). ...csceccccccccvcnevece
De la dame de la Doloreuse Marche qui s’en yra en pelerinage de la la mer (f. 808).....e..06-
De la dame de la Marche Doloreuse qui mettra a la mort le poisson de Cayfas ,.....csccceseseee
Du destourbier qui sera en Vahenberg (/. 80>) ..
136 137 138
138
139 140 141 142 142 143 144 144 145 145 146 146 147 147
147
148 149 149
150 150
RUBRICS IN CHAPTER II
CII, D’un loup qui naistra es parties de Macedoyne. Et d’une nonnain qui sortira de son monastere (f. 598).
CIII. De la mer Basme qui degloutira.................. CIV. De la grant pueur qui sortira de Baudach (f. 59°)... CV. Du vent qui fera enfler la mer d’Inde............. CVI. De la gent de Barbarie qui s’en ira a Romme..... CVII. De l’ost qui s’en ira en Dalmacie......... Somes e CVIII. De la guerre qui sourdra es parties des Suses..... CIX. De la ville qui aura fait Mahommet eee sera
CXVI.
CXVII,
CXVIII.
abatue:((;.504) cssiieadiiedeeese woes awe s « aire
. Del’assemblee que auront ceulx de Puille ae une partie
de ceulx de Gresse (f. 608).......cccccscscceee
. De la gent qui fera guerre as crestiens por cil de Roset. . Des ysles de la grant Bretaigne qui seront en servage
et du mauvais hoir du royaulme de Bislande
CFs: BAC) cs ies Sie a dara We Gia ew ak siae Sea eva eGies
. De la fumee qui sortira es parties de Thoreseus et
de la guerre de Filoine (f/f. 444)......... eietereteays
. Des gens qui s’en iront es parties de Jherusalem qui
seront occis (/. 458). Et des vens qui seront aspres por les pechies des hommes et des femmes.....
. Du soleil qui sera aussi luysant comme il fut eeu
il fut cree (f. 45b).......... Des gens de Balinac qui yront exillant Sassoyne jusques a la mer salee, et du roy Artus qui sera detenu prisonnier (/. 45°)...... eens aeeeeue se De la maison de Soreloys qui fondra, et de la guerre qui sera en payennie, et de ceulx de Gaulle qui seront presque la moytie occis (f. 45€).....s.e. De ceulx de Gaulles qui auront guerre contre les PAVERS (fF. 4O8) sk cee oo WOE ES W ES Hee a eewers
. Du cours de la lune (f. 1244)... .. ccc eee cee wee . De la Dame du Lac et de Lusente.............. . . De Merlin qui devait aler en la forest d’Aurences.. . De toutes les villes qui yront en empirant (f. 86h).
Comment Merlin print congie de maistre Anthoine et s’en alla en la forest d’Arnantes ou la Dame du Lac estoit (f. 86¢)
ee@eneese#eefefe@e#eoee##e#ee8e# @@# @ @ @e ee 8 8 8 @
. Comment Merlin et la Dame du Lac vindrent a
la croute ou Merlin avoit la maison estoree.....
. Comment Merlin et la Dame du Lac entrerent en la
maison ou ils trouverent toutes choses qu’ilz desi- FOLENE: (7.-:8 78) gsc0s86 sb dicraw Swi ansse ane dares Oe oS eee,
. De Merlin qui demoura avec la Dame du Lac fas
WAOVS fs 87”) vars ce Sacewu kes te eeeee eerste
. De la Dame du Lac qui s’accordoit du tout a trichier
MOTI oso iid bene heee ks eghac esas sinner certs es
XXVII
151 152 153
158
159 159 160
162 162
163 164 165
166
167
XXVIII CXXVII. CXXVIII. CXXIX. CXXX. CXXXI. CXXXIT. CXXXITI.
CXXXIV.
CXXXV. CXXXVI.
CXXXVII.
CXXXVIII. CXXXIX. CXL.
CXLI. CXLII.
LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
Comment Merlin ala avecques la Dame du Lac ala tombe en la croute...........csceeeees De Merlin qui se coucha dedens la. tombe: Il demoura a tous jours (f. 888)..........eeeees Comment Merlin fut enserre en sa tombe (f. 888). . De l’esperit de Merlin qui parlera a tous ceus qui viendront a la tombe et des chevaliers qui com- menceront une queste dans la forest........ De la Dame du Lac qui prist congie de Merlin (f. 89). De ceulx de Boucerante une cite de paiennye lesquelz seront occis par une femme (f. 24°)... De Panonnie qui fondra et d’une abbaye en Almaigne qui sera arse (f. 24°)......ccceees De la mer d’Abiron qui seichera (f. 244)....... 1. Comment fu espandue la nouvelle de la mort de Merlin, et comment maint boin chevalier se mirent en queste pour lui..
2. De la Dame du Lac qui envoia a la roine Genieve la senefianche du songe qu’ele
avoit songie du liepart de Bernoic et de la serpente de Logres...........cccecceees
3. Du songe que la roine songa d’un liepart lequel issit du ventre du roi........... . De l'anelet que la Dame du Lac envoia a la
fn
5. De la roine qui fu courouchie de la sene- fianche de son songe que Sebile l’enchante- resse li manda.............00- icescoeas
De la guerre qui sourdra es parties de Filerne..
De l’homme qui ne pourra vivre s’en eve non et du feu qui istra du ciel et se metra enmi la mer.
De Merlin qui parla a Meliadus l’amy de la Dame Gu Lac (7. -329) 3.6 .tcone adaet ar eeceee te De la Dame du Lac et de Meliadus qui vindrent
a Wincestre. Et comment la Dame du Lac arriva chez une veufve dame (f/f. 31°)... D’ung mauvais homme qui naistra en Savast et d’ung poisson qui aura une pierre fine sur sa teste (7. r8c)....... eee ee eee te eG De l’homme qui naistra es parties d’Ynde...... De l’homme qui naistra es parties de Perce‘et de Vhomme qui naistra en Barbarie........... Des pelerins qui se noieront enmi la mer...... Comment la Dame du Lac ala trichant Merlin, et comment les autres femmes vont trichant les autres NOMMES........cceerccrcencccscsecs 1. De Merlin qui dit a Meliadus son nom et qui
fu son pere et Sa mere...........eeeces
167 168 169 170 172 173 173 174
174
178 178 180 180 181 183
183 184
186 186
187 187
187
189
CXLII.
CXLIV.
CXLV. CXLVI. CXLVII.
CXLVIII.
CXLIX.
CL.
RUBRICS IN CHAPTER II
2. De Tristan le frere de Meliadus........ 3. De Meliadus qui alla en l’eglise et trouva lettres qui temoignoient ce que Merlin
luy avoit dit (f. 552)... cece nce wnee 4. Des deux freres que l'un occira l’autre Ge. 208) cc c2twos erate eawar< ime tuetee dae
De la merveilleuse anguille qui ystra de la mer morte et du roy de Perse qui sera occiz par
Yorgueil de sa femme (f. 20D)...........000. ;
De Tristan qui sera occiz (f. 20d)............eceee 1. De Heliabel qui se mist en queste pour trouver
son seigneur (f. 200)......... cece ccc eccons
2 De Meliadus qui ne pourra damagier celui qui occirra Tristan.......... ee ee ee :
De Meliadus qui estoit a la tombe de Merlin (/. 1254) et du Fil du Roi et de Tristan....... ree ee Quant les gens yront en empirant aussi feront toutes choses (f/f. 1268)......... re ere ees Du roi de Logres qui voudra tenir autelle court comme fet li rois Artus (f. 126b)....... weaned
Du roi Henry et de cent cinquante chevaliers qui s’en yront en le forest d’Armantes (f, 1264)..... D’un ange qui prendra l’eave d’une fontaine et estaindra le feu du chastel de Morgain (f. 1278).. 1. De la Dame du Lac qui conduist Lancelot
a la court le roi Artus..
2. Du chevalier qui vint devant maistre An- thoyne (/5.°349) acceded isc iodeete se veneers
3. Du chevalier qui bailJa la chartre a maistre Anthoyne (f. 358@)..........00. Srp coraare air eee
Du gouverneur d’Acquille et de Moraz qui parlera a Merlin (f. 19b)...... eee err eT eee Seetass
@eeeoevoveeevoeeen one e086
. De Samuel qui ystra de Felome et de Asaubue qui sera
destruite par une dame jalouse (f. 198).........
. De Meliadus qui vint en Gales a maistre Anthoyne
(f. 324)..... ataecaee a ibaa eal aeinG ee ee coe
. Du monde comment il yra en empirant (/. 33>).... . De l’oyseau qui naistra d’ung arbre et de la beste
qui naistra au desert de Babiloine (f. 348)...... Du poisson qui naistra au fleuve Jourdain (f. 34°)..
. De la grant pluye qui sera en Bretaigne (f. 127°).. . De maistre Anthoine qui devint hermite (/. 1274).. . De ]’espee que Merlin ficha desus le perron et du bon
chevalier Galehad............. Sarg S paseate eeua eles
. Dela damoyselle d’Abiron qui alla en Galles au Saige
Clerc (f. 1288).......... Bah Ba ins nde sa Tae fox tareaan
191 191
192 192 193 194 194 195 196 196 198 198 199 200
201 202
203 204 205 205
206
206
XXX LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
CLX. Du Sage Clerc qui geta ses ars pour savoir si les prophecies Merlin estoient vrayes (f. 128¢)..
CLXAI. Du Sage Clerc qui desira aler a la tombe Merlin avecques Meliadus..........-..-cc0e8 wecece
CLXII. Du fen qui viendra de devers le ciel et se metra en mer et de mer en seiche terre, et de l’espee
qui descendra en my le champ de Burtinnoble
21209) fase hei ea tuseren se- ase eeee 4 Ses
CLXIII. Du signe qui apparoistra au ciel qui sera de feu Gs T4OD) 0565 Since sie tae awa eae seeks ee ewn
CLXIV. Du Saige Clerc qui songe a maistre Anthoins
fe T 900) oo d5h0s os wakes usawentaneemeumasee F
CLXV. Des tireors de cordes qui seront convoiteus des
roetes d’argent....... eaves waite acu Steceieoewrers
CLXVI. De la nuble qui se metra sur une ville de Gaulle nommee Arras dont ils mourront tous (7. 1315).
CLXVII. De Meliadus et de Merlin (f. 131°)............
CLXVIII. Du filz au roy Ban de Benoic qui mettra toute
Cornoaille en cendre (f. 1324)..........5..
CLXIX. De l’eave qui deviendra chaulde (f. 132>).....
CLXX. D’une eave qui sordra dessoubz une montaigne
qui sera chaulde et froide (f. 132¢)....... oe CLXXI. De l’eave qui sordra devant |l’eglise de saincte Marie de Rochemadour (f. 1324)......... we
CLXXIT. D’un enfant qui se noya dessus la tour (f. 133°¢).. CLXXIII. Des .iiii. chevaliers que Meliadus conduist a la montaigne qui debatoit............ceceeeee
CLXAXIV. Des marchans qui auront enuye l’un sur l'autre et du champion qui feront ardoir le(u)s mescreans
de la foy de Jhesu Crist (f. 134b)........ 3 CLXXV. Du champion qui fera treves aux paiens pour destruire les mescreans (f. 1349)..........
CLXXVI. Du champion au chief d’or qui donra au duc des Bons Mariniers tous les rivages de mer ou il y aura seigneurie. De Sene qui sera destruite et mise en cendre (f. 1358).....esceseses CLXXVII. De la merveille qui viendra en Abiron (f. 1 35°). CLXXVITI. De la bataille qui sera devant Huicestre...... CLAXIX. De Meliadus et de Merlin (f. 918)........... CLXXX. Du Sage Clerc qui montera desus une pierre marbrine ou uns anemis est enserres. Et des mauveses fois qui seront entre les hommes. CLXXXI. Des hommes qui feront semblant d’estre loial et
SEFONE. TAU VES i:6:s ike esses aorce's ee ecccccnns CLXAXXII. Des hommes qui doneront du sien por vainne gloire eeoeseeee @eeeveeseoee52u5#e#ee @eseovoae@eoeaeve0e eee e@
207
208
209
210
air
212
213 213
214 214
215
216 217
218
218
220
221 222 222
227
228
229
230
ae
ee
RUBRICS IN CHAPTER II XXXI
CLXXXIII. De la foi de monsaigneur saint Jehan Baptiste
. Qui Sera anientee......ccrcceccseccessones CLXXXIV. De Meliadus qui se partit de is roche ou estoit Merlin et s’en vint en Galles (/. 925)......
CLXXXV. Du Saige Clerc qui attendit la venue de Perceval le Gallois (f. 92°)... ..cncccrccsccncccccece ‘
CLXXXVI. De Perceval qui pria Nostre Seigneur qu’il ne souf- frerait la mort du clerc..............ccceees
CLXXXVII. De la pierre qui surmonta es airs de l’eave que trouva le Saige Clerc devant le ciel (f. 924).. CLXXXVIII. Comment li Sages Clers vit la roche ou Merlin estoit et la montagne qui debatoit......... CLXXXIX. Du Sage Clerc et de l’ennemi qui estoient en la pierre (f. 938) osccccsestisecesies tata araeaess CXC. Du Sage Clerc qui parloit a l’ennemy qui estoit dedens la pierre (f. 93°). Du Sage Clerc et l’ennemy et de la pierre qui chaut en la place de Kamalot (f: 939) .ccscccsscedistces ccs CXCI. Du roi Artus qui estoit courrouce (f. 948). Du Sage Clerc qui fut congneu (f. 94>)....... CXCII. Du Sage Clerc et de Perceval le Galois et de l’oyr qui ystra du roy Pelinor qui sera meee
ho OAC) cade ea Gews Se oiduwose kd eecue asses CXCIII. Du Sage Clerc qui print la cotte du Roy des Yndes et du Roy d’Ybernie qui ala querre
Merlin (2958) co. vrsiawsenaitewis sue hee cues : CXCIV. Du Sage Clerc qui vint en Gales (f. 95>)........ CXCV. De l’esperit de Merlin qui parloit a Meliadus (1, 95°) cokes se sia eeoet ars sais eh opeaes
CXCVI. De la guerre de Sarragoce et du filz Ysmael
qui aura une montaigne d’or (f. 954).......6.
CXCVII. De la destruction de Bernie............-+0- CXCVITI. Du palais que fera fere le Dragon de Babi- loine (f. 969)....cceees bee elase pe eucdsiae ees
CXCIX. De la religion des moynes qui yee preschant
(f 90%) e056 ed soca sib ernie seeadiew ee ewheanes
CC. Del’abbe qui couchera avecques abbesse (f. 964). CCI. Du fleuve d’Ybernie qui changera sa couleur
O79) svutdivicereas dus pimmucewenanieuene CCII. Des quatre montaignes que le sent abatra a Perre (f.07?) eevee cakes eetesws areas CCIII. De Pitoe qui sera mise a martire............
CCIV. Des quatre pierres qui seront fichees en la cou- ronne du Dragon de Babiloine (f. 974)..... CCV. Des miracles que le disciple du Dragon de Babi- loine fera en Abiron (f. 98P)..........ec08-
230
247
XXXII LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
CCVI. Du ministre du Dragon de Babiloine sae fera des miracles en Sarras....... 2... ces cecccecces ‘
CCVII. D’un ennemy qui s’en yra au font de eave pane
prendre la pierre (f. 998)...... peeecwak i dia acento
CCVIII. De la pierre qui estoit fichiee desus le heaume du
gaiant Geulias.............. vere ee oe
CCIX. De la bataille qui sera en Panfille et du roi de
Panfille qui sera orguelleus envers les femes.
CCX. De la nef de Pamphile qui arriva en l’isle de mer
- 99° CCXI. Dela mer qui s’en yra encontremont et de eave qu
menera si grant poisson (f. 994)...... aia
CCXII. D’un homme qui trouvera si grant argent (f. 100b), CCXIITI. Du queux qui mourra en Japhe (f. 100°)........ CCXIV. De la dame qui aporta la chartre au Sage Clerc (f. r00d)....... ia dpaue are Mev ge anwradlecdienes ai ea CCXV. De la pluye qui sera plus ane qu’elle n’aura eu de coustume estre (f/f. 108)... . ccc wees :
CCXVI. Du grant escrois qui sera par tout le monde.... CCXVII. Des merveilles celestiaulx qui apperront et des Affricans qui seront hais de toutes gens pour leur OTgueil (f,. LOI) 666s ae ciae seis de deen 46 ee
CCXVIII. De Carpharnaon qui sera abatu (f. rorc)....... CCXIX. De la guerre qui sera en payennie, et de la dame de Frise qui prendra les armes en la maniere d’un chevalier (f. 1019) boii ccdsce ied saws ees ees eiee CCXX. Dela dame de Frise qui abatit le roy a terre (f. 102b) . CCXXI. Des hommes et des femmes qui oublieront les veufves dames et des orphelins (f. 35°)....... COXXII. De eae qui vint au cymitiere de Pandragon
@eee0nveseee7reos#eseseeesvenseseeeeseeeeoeeeeet ee @ @
hermitage (/. 388)... ..ccccceccsecceescecvens CCXXIV. De Dynadam qui retourna au cimitiere de Pan- Gragon (f- 38°) s.5 ci titan sedans 01a wadaw scons
1. De Perceval le Galois qui vint a phitens
Ge TOO) io ea hwo eee nieeeewe ae 2. De l’ermite et de Perceval (f. 10gb)..
CCXXV. De Merlin qui parla a l’abbe du cors Nostre
CCXXVI. De l’abbe qui portoit l’abit de saint Benoit... CCXXVII. De la grande colee que la relegion saint Benoit
CCXXIX. Du mire qui avoit mauvesement gaaingnie ses Mars CQ arPen tise si cicesiw se s4eaies vs errs
268
268
CCXXX.
CCXXXI. CCXXXIT. CCXAXXITTT. CCXXXIV.
CCX XXV.
CCXXXVI. CCXXXVIT. CCXXXVIITI. CCXX XIX. CCXL. CCXLI. CCXLII.
CCXLITI. CCXLIV.
CCXLV. CCX LVI. CCXLVII. CCXLVIII. CCXLIX. CCL.
CCLI. CCLIT. CCLITI. CCLIV.
CCLV.
RUBRICS IN CHrre® IT
De l’evesque qui avoit nStvee gueule et de SON: chapelains os s2.06 6505 Foe eee ees Du chevalier jelous et de l’ermite et de Perceval 16 Galois. 2 ide eotesde eee neta sawn ss De Parceval et de l’ermite qui estoit malade (fe EPED) orate cs evens af atch ace hela acee se oebe braces Du clerc qui alla querir |’ermite du val pour venir a l’ermite ou estoit Parceval arrive (f. 111¢).. Du mauvese ypocrite qui demanda a Merlin comment il mourroit...................55 De l’homme qui avoit non Aristers qui mist le feu en la maison de Merlin et comment il saillit en la. Sienne: (7... 1139) 0:2 sinus caw devise oa w aes os'e-0 De .xl. coffres d’or et d’argent qui furent trouvez f. A1QD) ib fore ssid oot ecee eu enaw soueeese De l’avoir de l’ypocrite qui fut departy (f. 113°). De Merlin et de la dame bien acesmee........ De Perceval et de l’ermite (f. 1384)........... De Merlin qui vint a Helyas en son dormant et li dist que son ame seroit sauvee.............. Du marcheant de Rajanne et des changeeurs des
De la colee que recevront li Rommain....... De la povre femme qui s’en alla chiez ung prestre et comment il geut o elle (f. 1134)..........
Du juge qui donne penitance au prestre selonc le conseil de Merlin.............cceeseeee
De la justice terrienne que l’en fera en la cort de monsaignor saint Pierre...............ee0. Des .ii. enfans dont li uns occira l’autre....... De Percheval qui dist son non a l’ermite...... Du roy de Norbellande qui estoit en la forest (f5 9Q8) etinsteea Sead e.Whehs- Sie wesakee as De Merlin et de ]’evesque de Norbellande et du juge (f. 408) De l’evesque et de Merlin et du peuple qui allerent en la forest les croix en la main (f. g4ob)...... Du champion qui conduira les payens en Ytallie
eeeeste#ecs4te8setee# e@eeeesenveevsveeee#eoeetetee @
POrMita Ge toca sects sso ieee eens ass De dix chevaliers qui vindrent en Norbellande et apporterent leurs enfans devant Merlin (f. 418).
De l’aventure qui avendra a Roger, l’enfant d’un des .x. chevaliers............... eee
LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
\
XXXII
290
290
291
XXXIV
CCLVI. CCLVII. CCLVITI. CCLIX. CCLX, CCLXI.
CCLXIT.
CCLAITI.
CCLXIV. CCLXAV.
CCLXVI.
CCLXVII.
CCLXVIII.
CCLXIX.
CCLXX.
CCLXXI. CCLXXIT.
CCLXXITI. CCLXXIV.
CCLXXV.
CCLXXVI. CCLXXVII. CCLXXVIII. CCLXXIX.
LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
De l’aventure de Gauvain, un autre enfant. Et du serpent antif en Perse.............-.00. Des aventures de Gauvain et de Roger........ Du serpent antif et du roi sauvage de Perse.. De Perceval qui dit, au duc d’Ancie qu'il s’en alast au Sage Clerc de Gales............... Du duc d’Ancie qui print congie de Perceval et des Autres (f) 429) eens Gee ects edad ete De la dame orgueilleuse qui vint devant Merlin (Aas |) ee ear ae era ane ene reer eee are eae De Merlin qui plouroit pour la seur sa mere qui vint devant lui et de l’oraison que : il fist de sa mere: (7.439) <s00-s s4s4 esas eacwn’s sete aievert De la damoiselle qui vint en une barque a la court du roy Artus (/. 89°) Du roi Artus et de la damoisele d’Avalon (f. go*). De la lettre que li rois d’Ynde envoya au roi Uterpandragon par la damoisele d’Avalon.. De Merlin qui dist au roy de Norbellande comment devoient finir ses enfans (f. 1144). De la guerre de Justinople (/. 1158) Des anges qui emporterent l’ame de l’ermite en Paradis et de Perceval qui print congie des deux hermites (f. 115>). Des anemis d’enfer qui emporterent une dame dessus le Mont de saint Ange ainsi comme ilz
eseeseeoeoeeeeevseeeeoeeaenteene eee
firent Symon Magus (f. I115°)....-cceecceecs De nostre dame sainte Marie qui fera proieres a Damedieu pour les pechies du monde.......
292 293 293 294 294
296
290
297
299
300
308
302
393
395
De Jesus Crist qui sera courrouce quant les
quatre fumees ystront des quatre lacz (f. 116). Et des Bons Mariniers qui se herbergeront en une ile: Ge: Mes bias os iad vei tvwscaaaes De Joseph d’Arimacie que nostre Renad Jhesu Crist envoia en Engleterre...........00c00:- Comment Merlin fut ostes des mains as anemis CG CNICES 6.5 fatiasee toes adie aw cee ieiein ied eae Des crestiens qui seront esgare..........0... De la mer qui desgloutira les villes et les class teaulx de la riviere de Cartage (/. 140b).. Des cheitis crestiens de l’ille d’Engleterre ee de Bernos Je: hardivs isc dsiacterk sew cece eceakees Du feu qui charra desus une montaigne de Blachie De la guerre de Lucerne (f. r40°)............. Des Bons Mariniers et de leur bone coustume.. Comment ceus qui veulent avoir la oe de Dieu la puent avoir..
e@eeoecaeceaeaeeeves eee
RUBRICS IN CHAPTER II
CCLXXX. De Meliadus qui print congie du Roy d’Ybernye
et de Perceval et puis alla a la tombe Merlin CPLR) wi or arorchaae aan ee Or eiare 45 Ais
CCLXXXI. De Meliadus qui s’en alla a la tombe de Merlin
CCLXXXIT. CCLXXXIII. CCLXXXIV,
CCLXXXV. CCLXXXVI.
CCLXXXVII. CCLXXXVIII.
CCLXXXIX.
CCXC. CCXCI.
CCXCII. CCXCITII. CCXCIV.
CCXCV. CCXCVI.
CCXCVII.
CCXCVITI. CCXCIX.
CCC,
CCCI.
(f. 1164). Et des Bons Mariniers qui alerent se herbergier desus les monciaus de la mer.. Des gens qui fausseront leur marchandises... De Perceval qui ostera Tristan de prison.’... De Meliadus qui se partit de la roche et com- ment il apporta la nouvelle au Duc d’Aucye eo AIA) sie ane cet ars ented ees ees Du duc d’Anchie qui ne puet entrer en son Palais (f.- TIF?) shh acs ty cure awe ha eeeee SaN De Meliadus qui retourna a la tombe de Merlin CF. TID) scien ows Ste eaea sea eaiewe gnaw ons De Millan qui sera en adventure (f. 117°)... De la montaigne de Grece que l’on appelle Saint Helye qui despartira et la plus part de Courant qui cherra a terre et maint autre chaste! (f.:1299) sss sous vebwnnewseweiekn De Malfete la petite qui sera desrobee. Et comment Meliadus print congie de Merlin G31 99) 6 brows ds coer eres eee Woneneees De la mer qui degloutira les rivages de Saone De la bataille qui sera commenciee par .ii. enfans en Vallon.............ccceecveeee Du chapellain qui demanda un moncel de ble GU VIN AI 6 6.6 os Gee ae nee eee Aeon Du duc d’Ancie qui print congie du Saige Clerc et des autres (f. 118°).........-. cee e ween Des deux vengeances de Jerusalem, qui sera €S Mains deS pOiens........... ee eeecees De la maladie saint Lacaron qui viendra desus les femmes (/. 1184) .. Des femmes qui mettront desus leur faces les couleurs pour trichier les hommes.......... De la vengeance qui sera fete desus les femmes qui auront pointes leur faces.............. Des couleurs des femmes...........-....0008 Du mauvas jubler qui viendra a la cort du rois
De Jesu Christ qui se courrousa envers les Griffons (f. 1198). Des Griffons qui seront
exillez:(/.: L190?) sc édasveas cada vives wadse De la damoiselle orguilleuse du Blanc Royaume et du laid vallet......... (ashe eee ee
XXXV
311
311 312 313 313 313
314 315
315
315 316
316 317 318 318 319 319
319 320
320
320
321
XXXVI
CCCIT. CCCcIl. CCCIV. CCCV. CCCVI.
CCCVII.
Cecvill.
CCCIX. CCCX.
CCCXI. CCCXIT.
CCCXIITI.
CCCXIV.
CCCXV.
CCCXVI. CCCXVII.
CCCXVITI.
CCCXIX. CCCXAX.
CCCXXTI. CCCXXIT.
CCCXXITT.
CCCXXIV.
LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
De Gruin et des prisons qu’il envoia de Ber- quehan au roi ArtuS.............eec ee eeee De la grant luxure que auront les dames de Geulle: (2 1029) cence eeeadimt er aaeraes Du feu-qui istra de Samere et de toutes choses qui se feront par force d’argent (/. 1038)..... De nostre saingnor Jhesu Crist qui nous aime et qui mous gouverne.........-.. eee eeeees Des gens qui se aperceveront de leur mauvais COUSLUME (f. 103°) joss oa tees oo baneares : De la fin du monde, du soleil, et de la lune qui ne tourneront plus, et des Griffons qui mengeront les blez (f. 1034).............6.. De la guerre qui sera commenciee par une escom- mination qui istra de l’apostoille de Romme De Michene qui sera destructe et fondra (/. 1048). Du chevalier qui conduit l’ennemy en son hostel cuidant conduire le Pape (f. 104¢).......... Du Saint Esperit qui se met dedens le cors de celui qui a sa coulpe clamee..........-.. eee eee D’une cite qui est appellee Sypont, laquelle aura dedens soy grant enfermete (f/f. 105>)....... D’une cite de Barbarie que l’en appelle Folquemol la quelle fondra, et aussi de la mer de Barbarie qui sechera (f. 1o5b).. De la dame noire, du Sage Clerc, et de Meliadus (fs MOST) aig: Ge i ays how eusiae erm anwar eee au ees De Meliadus qui print congie du Sage Clerc et du chevalier qui trouva les lettres du perron (i 3069) s tusk eae. cnaehas Woes et awe es Des lettres du perron que Merlin avoit entailliees De la signifiance des lettres du perron (f. 1064).. De Meliadus qui dist la signifiance des lettres au chevalier (f. 107?) 3.2 i.6cnse awd bawa-t sewers Du ministre du Dragon de Babilloinne qui ne pourra entrer en Hanglech (f. 107¢)........ Des villes des Griffons qui seront abatues une grant partic (7.1079) 6.16.4 caeansisate Homes De la deboneirete qui sera en Ja grant ille de mer. De la trahyson que feront ceulx de Montecler (i TO74) se. cies odohotel ba eee ee eae aes De Jhesu Crist qui se couroucera moult fort vers les gens du Siecle (f. 108d)........... 20000 . Des trois damoiselles qui sortiront de Polonie et des yeulx que volleront hors de la teste du ministre du Dragon et detrenchera la langue avecques ses dens (f. 108¢)...... cece eee eens
@eeeteeeaeeeete_erteeseee eee see
323
324
RUBRICS IN CHAPTER II XXXVII
CCCXXV. De l’avoir qui sera trouve la ou Basme une ville Tondit (f< 1084). ioc hese css niceeeee ee eia us 337 CCCXXVI. Du grant avoir que aura li Dragons de Babilonne 338
CCCXXVII. De Meliadus qui torna au Sage Clerc et puis s’en ala a la court le roi Artu.................. 338
CCCXXVIII. Du mauvais hoir qm naistra en Barcelonne 4 Ae ©.) na 338
RUBRICS IN CHAPTER VI
De la mer qui croistra dessus la rive si hault comme les mon-
De .xxii. chandynes que maistre Tholomer fist eslire et de la
mort du ,roy Artus et d’aultres choses................. De Merlin qui dit sa pensee a Tholomer................. Du Bon Marinier qui aura 1’un bras court et l’autre long..... Des femmes qui vindrent a maistre Tholomer.............. Des gens qui ne seront obediens a saincte eglise........... Du bon champion qui(l) ne souffrera nul mauvais gaing.... Des champions qui passeront la mer..............eeeeees De Romanie qui tresbuchera pour la guerre du champion qui
MoulTa eM CONtUMACE... 1... cece eee t eee eenes De la famine qui sera en Rosie............ ccc eee ee eee nees D'Ytalie qui tremblera de joye et de pleure............... D’ung espervier qui sera roy couronne de trois couronnes et
de l"homme de Turquie qui trois jours gettera flambe par la
DOUCH 6 io5 eh eet seen chee tik eae eames De l’empereur de Romme qui vint devant l’apostolle avec
Cent . CREVANETS .4:6:60t iis abe b stint pw eee SMe waa eee De Merlin qui estoit musse au concille...............00e. eee De maistre Tholomer et Anthoyne qui furent pleiges pour
MOTI iii catinve: Satna saw aSieaas Ri hee deat oe Mew eae ae De l’evesque Coraz qui donna quattre de ses gens pour pleiges. . De Merlin qui vint a l’ostel de Tholhomer.................. Du juge qui vint devant le pape............ cece eee eee De la Dame du Lac qui trompoit Merlin quant elle estoit coucheie
avecques, AUhig sci ieee ces etd ese ase saree essere De Meliadus qui print conge de Merlin et s’en vint en Galles... De Meliadus qui print conge du roy Artus et de la royne Genievre De Rubers qui fust esleu en lfeu du Sage Clerc............. De la Dame du Lac qui sera au jour du jugement devant nostre
seigneur Jesu Crist et aussi Merlin a tout sa tombe....... D’un chevalier qui venoit du pays des Yndes qui vint devant le
Chappellain ca stuigsasogev dae iacanor seeks sha cies eo nan De Rambarge qui faisoit mauvaises oeuvres envers son mary. De Rambarge qui print Merlin pour le nourrir pour le faire
De Ramberge qui vouloit estrangler Merlin.............. ce De Naymars et de Merlin...........ccccecececnecseevens
RUBRICS IN CHAPTER VI XXXIX
De Rambarge qui cheut de la salle..................-000% 491 Du Juif qui estoit bossu par derriere................ ante 492 De la damoiselle qui vint devant le chapelain............... 492 Du clerc qui vint devant le chapellain....................- 493 De l’ennemy qui brisa l’ymage............... 0... e eee eeee 493
De la guerre de Pavie qui souffrera ung grant effroy et de la grant lignee qui sera en Millan............ ccc cece cece eee cnees 494
De la dame de la Doloureuse Marche qui sera olamee Dame en PONS aie ate Shes oie OGG cre SAE RS iw we ne Ba em eee 494
Du serpentis qui sera macte fors ung soullet quiseraen Almaigne 495 De ceulx qui ne pourront este enfouiz si non au tiers jour.... 495
Digitized by Google
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
I THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS AND EARLY EDITIONS
The Prophectes of Merlin has proved an elastic title. It has been given to works as unlike as the Seventh Book of the Historia Regum Britanntae of Geoffrey of Monmouth and the Didot-Perceval, to fictitious compilations mentioned in the Arthurian prose ro- mances, to thirteenth-century prophecies in Latin, and to English political vaticinations of the fifteenth and later centuries'. The French Prophectes de Merltn is distinct from all of these productions, and owing to the character of its material, which consists of his- torical and romantic prophecies mingled with narratives of knightly adventure, it occupies a unique place in Arthurian literature. Our editions of it, however, belong only to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and since they are rare and are also marred by many imperfections, they leave us in need of a more trustworthy text. Perhaps because of the lack of such a text, perhaps because of the somewhat obscure nature of the contents, the Prophecies has attracted but little attention, and Arthurian scholars have wisely elected to spend their time upon romances of greater inherent importance. Except for a few passing references from other writers the only approaches to discussions of the work as a whole have been made by Ward? in his description of two manuscripts in the British Museum, by Sanesi in the introduction to his edition of the Storia dt Merlino*, which in spite of the information that it contains is inadequate, since it fails to mention most of the French and some of the Italian sources, by Taylor*, who in his valuable study of the political prophecy in England devotes a few pages to it as a subordinate contribution to his main theme and with no claim to finality in his treatment, by myself® (unwittingly too soon) in an article on the manuscripts, which should be supplemented and
1 See below, II, 147, note 2, 153, 302, 325; Merlin (E. E. T. S.), I, Ixxi ff.; Sommer, Modern Philology, V, 304. 4 Catalogue, I, 371 ff. *° Pp. Ivii ff. § Poli- tical Prophecy, pp. 141 ff., 150. °P.M.L.A., XXVIII, rar ff.
2 LES PROPHECIES .DE MERLIN
corrected, and by Bruce ? in a few pages adding nothing of im- portance to the statements already made on the subject.
Our sources for an edition are thirteen French manuscripts varying in date from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century, the first French edition, printed in 1498, from which the texts of the sixteenth century do not materially differ, two Italian manu- scripts of the fifteenth century, the Italian editio princeps of 1480, reprinted once in the fifteenth, and several times in the sixteenth century, and a brief Italian version edited by Sanesi in 1898. These sources, though for the greater part diverging from one
another in material and in text, also exhibit such resemblances in phraseology, substance, and arrangement that they fall into fairly well defined family groups.
An attempt to form a generic classification of the manuscripts of a mediaeval prose work is as a rule quite properly facilitated by the elimination of certain textual divergences. Students who are familiar with manuscripts of this category know only too well the multitudinous verbal variations that, even where texts are au fond in agreement, are encountered at every turn, — variations so numerous and so insignificant that often a simple and conven- tional phrase assumes almost as many forms as there were scribes to transmit it, and that, although they give a touch of life to the manuscript, are an embarrassment in textual criticism. To this kind of variation the Prophecies, in common with other works that, like it, are cast in the form of a dialogue, is peculiarly suscep- tible. Its pages consist, in the main, of questions addressed to Merlin by his scribes or other interlocutors alternating with his replies, both question and answer being introduced by such for-
1 The Evolution of Arthurian Romance, 1923, II, 28 ff. * In the inventory of the libraries of Charles V and Charles VI we have the record of two more French manuscripts of the Prophecies, now evidently lost (See Jnventaive ow catalogue des livres de Vancienne Bibliotheque du Louvre fait en Vanndée 1373 par Guiles Malle, 1836, pp. 41, 72; L. Douét d’Arcq, Inventaire de la Bibliothéque du vos Charles VI, 1867, Nos. 257, 382; L. Delisle, Recherches sur la libratrie de Charles V, 1907, II, Nos. 535, 1145, Pp. *91, 187), for neither, according to the description in the inventory, agrees with any one of our known manuscripts, nor do they appear in Delisle’s list (op. cit., I, Chapter xiii) of the manuscripts from the royal collection still preserved. No. 535 (Delisle) contains a few of the works (Les propheciez Sebtile, La table Salmon, Les prophecter Methodex) that are also found with the Prophecies de Merlin in the Rennes manuscript described below under Group I. If the latter included also the Moralitez du jeu des eschez, mentioned as the first work in No. 535, we might believe that they were the same manuscript, and that the inventory had not given a complete list of the contents.
INTRODUCTION — 3
mulae as, Ds mos, Merlin, se Diex te saud ; Or me ds, Merlin, on one side, and on the other, Je votl que iu meies en escrit ; Or vosl je que és saches ; Or metes en escrit. No single form of phraseology is peculiar to any single manuscript or group of manuscripts, but the expressions fluctuate continually from one form to another even in texts that, so far as their material is concerned, should plainly be grouped together. This is merely one of many possible examples of the type of verbal variation that is too clearly due to a scribe or a redactor to have significance in a classification of maauscripts such as those with which we are dealing. On the other hand the appearance of a certain stereotyped phrase throughout a source may serve as a guide in determining its relation to its fellows ; for instance, in the members of our Group I and the manu- scripts allied to them, the dates of events foretold are consistently given in the unusual form, asnsque [quant, apres ce que, avant que] cele chose qui jadss nasqui es parties de Jherusalem aura ... ans, while m Group II the more familiar method of dating, au teus de l’im- carnation (with the year), is regularly employed. The uniform use of the form characteristic of either group in a manuscript creates the presumption that it will be found to belong to that group. Without insisting, therefore, upon exact and unvarying verbal agreements, but only upon such as collation has shown to be signi- ficant, and especially upon accord in the substance and arrange- ment of the material, we may classify the manuscripts of the Pro- phecses in the groups described below’.
Group I
1. (R) Rennes, Bibliothéqee municipale, 593 (147), fols. 104a — 163a. Dated 13037.
R, which forms the text of the present edition, is a vellum manu- script in admirable preservation. It measures 37 by 24. 7 centi- metres. It consists of 538 folios (544, by an earlier numbering), written in triple columns. A few leaves are lacking or mutilated, but
1 Unless otherwise specified below the manuscripts are of parchment. In the refer- ences to them throughout this edition the columns of each folio are designa- ted by consecutive letters of the alphabet, a, b, c, etc., with no mention of eecho oc verso. * See Catalogue général des manuscrits des bibliothégues publigues de Framce. — Départements, XXIV, (1894) 238 ff.; D. Maillet, Description des manu- serits dela bibliothéque publique de Rennes, 1837, pp. 112 ff,
4 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
those containing the Prophectes are perfect. It has sixty large color- ed initials and eighty-three miniatures, one of which adorns the first folio of the Prophectes. It contains the following twenty works : — Tables astronomiques (fol. 1) ; L’smage du monde, by Gautier de Metz (fol. 43) ; Doctrinal le sage (fol. 80) ; Le mappemonde, by Pierre (fol. 82) ; Le mariage Nostre Dame sainte Marie et son trespassement (fol. 86) ; La complainte Nostre Dame (fol. 92); Poem without title on three miracles of the Virgin (fol. 93); Le miracle de Theophsle, by Gautier de Coinsy (fol. 96); D’sn clerc gust salwoit volontiers Nostre Dame quant 11 passott devant s'ymage (fol. 103); Les prophecses de Merlin (fol. 104) ; Les prophectes a la royne Sebille (fol. 163) ; Le milliatre de Methode (fol. 165) ; Le lunatre de Salomon (fol. 167) ; Le lwre dou tresor, by Brunetto Latini (fol. 170) ; Vegsles de mors en francois (fol. 284); Le livre de Job (fol. 289) ; Le lucidaire (fol. 299) ; Le livre de la fontaine de toutes sciences atirtbue ax philosophe Sidrach (fol. 320) ; Boece de Consolation, translate de Jehan de Meun (fol. 471) ; Dtalogue entre le sage Timeo e son disciple Placide, a fragment (fol. 510).
Unlike the other French manuscripts of the Prophecies R is dated and signed. In three passages the scribe notes the dates at which he completed certain portions of his work, and in one of them he gives his own name, Robin Boutemont : — at the end
Cc of the Lunatre de Salomon (fol. 170b), — “ l’an de grace. Mil.iii. et .lii.. le vendredi au soir devant la purification nostre dame sainte Marie ”’ (i. e., Friday, February 1, since the Feast of the Purifi- cation, February 2, fell on Saturday in 1303) ; at the end of the Livre dou tresor (fol. 284a), — ‘‘ l’'an de grace mil trois cens et trois et le mardi apres quasimodo et l’escrist Robin Boutemont et apres commence le livre et tant le service de Job en celui jour meismes ”’ (i.e., April 16, Quasimodo being April 14 in 1303); at the end of the Livre de Job (fol. 2ggb), — ‘‘ Explicit le livre de Job ]’an del’in- Cc
carnation Nostre Saignor. [m.].iil.et.ili. le mardi devant feste saint Marc et commence le Lucidaire en cel meisme jor et an en- semble ”’ (i.e., April 23, since April 25, the Feast of St.Mark, came on Thursday in 1303). The scribe appears to have followed the method of beginning the annular cycle at Christmas, which con- tinued in limited use in France even after the systems that
1 Easter Day, 1303, from which the other dates may be reckoned, was April 7. See De Mas Latrie, Trésor de chronologie, 1887, Table chronologique, cols. 139, 3140; cf. cols. 378 ff. 3
INTRODUCTION 5
reckoned the year from Lady Day or Easter became prevalent’. Otherwise we must conclude with the editors of the Catalogue général that he made a mistake in putting all of his dates in 1303, for a new calendar year would have opened between February and April, and consequently his last two entries should have been dat- ed 1304. It is also true that he may have made a mistake only
Cc Cc
once, writing imhis first date ‘‘.m.iii.et.iii.” for ‘“‘.m.iii.et.11”’ ; but granted that he were in the wrong at all, itis far more probable that, like many other men of many other periods, from force of habit he fell into the error of using, even twice, the familiar number of the old year for that of the new, recently begun. We cannot, therefore, be absolutely certain whether the correct date of the manuscript is 1303 or 1304, but since it is possible to accept the former, the scribe may be allowed the benefit of the doubt. If the second and third entries should read 1304, since Easter fell on March 29 in that year, the Tuesday after Quasimodo would have been April 7, and the Tuesday before the Feast of St. Mark, which came on Saturday, would have been April 212. When the scribe was copying at the rate of speed indicated by his dates, completing folios 170b-284a between February 1 and April 16, or April 7, and folios 284a-299b in either a week or a fortnight, it is safe to assume that it took him only a few days to achieve the seven folios between the conclusion of the Prophecies (fol. 163) and the end of the Lunasre (fol. 170), and that he therefore finished the former toward the end of January, having commenced it no later than the beginning of the previous December*. We accordingly have the assurance that this version of the Prophecies was in existence perhaps by December, 1302, and certainly by December, 1303.
Robin Boutemont compares favorably with his fellow scribes of the group to which his manuscript belongs. He was guilty of errors no more often than they, and he lapses into carelessness more seldom than some‘, His text has been selected for publication,
1 On the various usages in beginning the annular cycle in France in the Middle Ages, see De Mas Latrie, op. ctt., cols. 7 ff. ; especially col. 21, note; Poole, The Beginning of the Year in the Middle Ages (Proceedings of the British Aca- demy, X), pp. 2, 8, 16, 19, 21 ff. * February 2 being Sexagesima Sunday in 1304, the Purification was celebrated on February 3; the Friday before that day was January 31. See De Mas Latrie, op. cit., cols. 314 ff. % Even on the supposi- tion — for which there is no evidence — that more than one scribe were engaged upon this part of the manuscript, it is not probable that the speed of the copyist would have varied so greatly as to affect materially this dating. ‘ See I, 51, 52.
6 ~ LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
however, not because it is the most excellent, but for other reasons which are given in detail later’.
It is impossible to discuss the relations of the various manu- scripts to one another without having in mind certain facts in regard to their contents, which can be best learned from a brief analysis of the material of R. Without this before us at the outset we become inextricably confused. The text begins with an intro- . ductory paragraph stating that the story has been relating the marvellous deeds of Merlin and will now speak of his prophecies, which were translated from Latin into French by command of the Emperor Frederic in order that knights and laymen might the better understand them. The rest of the work may be divided for convenience, but without the authority of the French manu- script*, into five principal sections, or books, the plan and arran- gement of which is shown by the following table of contents.
Boox I. — Le Livre de Maistre Antoine. Chapters I-cxx : (Prophecies delivered by Merlin to his scribe, Maistre Antoine) Chapters
Prophecies to Maistre Antoine........ sin aii Ne aon ds Gudea’ 1-XXVIII The appointment of Bishop Tholomer as Cardinal........ XXIX Prophecies to Maistre Antoine......c..cccesceccescevee XEX-XXXVII The visit of three papal legates to Merlin to test his faith... XxXXXIX-L
Prophecies to Maistre Antoine........... inate sawe: “LICL
A visit of Merlin to Arthur to give him ee pcwiseeraer. “LIV Prophecies to Maistre Antoine...... Re re ere reer eosecese LV-LXIV The visit of the Dame d’Abiron to Merlin to deat his power. LXV-LXVI Prophecies to Maistre Antoine........cccccccccsccececs LXVII-LXX The visit of the Reine de Brequehan to Merlin to seek his aid Lxx1 Prophecies to Maistre Antoine..........0e.e0. peck a eae LXXTI-CXX
Book II. — Le Livre de la Dame du Lac. Chapters Cxx1-CXxXXvI
(The entombment of Merlin by the Dame du Lac, his subsequent prophecies to her,
and earlier prophecies from Amantes) Chapters
Prophecy of the entombment of Merlin delivered to Maistre Antoine ; the departure of Merlin to the forest of Aurences CXXI-CXxII
The entombment of Merlin..........ccccecceccecceeces CXXIMI-CXXVIT Prophecies to the Dame du Lac........ cece cece eee e eee CXXIX-CXXX The visit of the Dame du Lac to Maistre Antoine........ . CXXXI Prophecies brought to Maistre Antoine by a squire........ CXXXIN-CXEXII
Prophecies brovght to Maistre Antoine by two damsels... CXXXIV-CXXxXVI
e
21, 50. ® See, however, I, 47, 48, for a similar division in the Italian texts.
INTRODUCTION a
Boox III. — Le Livre de Meltadus. Chapters CXXXVII-CCXXIV
(Prophecies of Merlin from his tomb delivered directly to Meliadus, or reported by Meliadus to Maistre Antoine or the Sage Clerc de Galles)
Chapters
Prophecies to Meliadus..............cccccceeccscvvcce CXXXVII-CXLIX Prophecies found by a knight and brought to Maistre An-
CONG i o-s's poate eae Gwws Ge ads aad ete bel anies Maas CL-CLI Prophecies brought by Meliadus to Maistre Antoine....... CLI-CLv1 The death of Maistre Antoine............ cece e eee eees cLyn Prophecy on the Perron de l’Espee concerning Galahad.... ctvim Fulfilment of a prophecy concerning Segurant........... CLIX The Sage Clerc de Galles as the scribe of Merlin........... CLX-CLXI Prophecies brought by Meliadus to the Sage Clerc........ CLXII-CLXI1 The appearance of Maistre Antoine to the Sage Clerc in a
VISION sda tereees ceases ee re ne re ere CLXIV Prophecies brought by Meliadus to the Sage Clerc....... CLXV-CLXVI Prophecies to Meliadus and the interpretation of the vision
@f the Sage Chere... .cccssscvcrccsscesseasens ceececee CLXVIR-CLXX! The four knights at the Quaking Mountain............... CLXXIII Prophecies brought by Meliadus to the Sage Clerc.......... CLXXIV-CLXXVIII Prophecies to Mrelfadus..............0 cc cccsecccceeeeees CLXXIN-CLANXI The quest for tlre tomb of Merlin by the Sage Clerc on a a
Flying Stone.s é<4:6daksinesSoesew ses Suche tiles Sceiavauer eee sees CLXXXFV-CXCIV Prophecies to Meliadus. icenae cine nana ete pauten meee Cxev-ccri! Prophecies brought by Meliadus to the Sage Clerc......... CC1v-cexmr Prophecies brought by a damsel to the Sage Clere......... CCXIV-CCXX Prophecies found on a stone by Perceval......... iaatseve . VCCRE Prophecies found by Dimadan im the Burial Ground of
PeniragO 6654 aes ve san Pit dic aera ea iareeres COXRIT-CCXXIV
Book IV. — Le Livre de Helias. Chapters CCXXV-CCLXVII
(Anecdotes Mlustrating the sapernatural wisdom of Merlin reported to Perceval by the hermit Helias)
Chapters in
The Benedictine abbot...........ceccececccccesececeees CCXXV-CCXXVIL The gluttoneus Bishop ...........0.000: Uenedi ue veudiecs:. COXAVIN The extortionate pirysician................ ivi eee etsiee CCX XIX The gluttenous bishop (continued) .............ceeeecees CCXXX The jealous lenigh #6905 6se0 de veces ae ste vexeecnsiewes CCOXXXI The illness of Hellas... 0.0... ccc ccc cence ececeeees COXXXIN-COXXXUT The hypocrite Argistres........ 0. ccc cece cece eseeceeaes CORXXIV-COXERVIT The lady in fme raiment............. 0c ccc cece eeeeeees CCXXNVHI Tee hypocrite Argistres (continued)...........0..c cee eee CCXXXIX The appearance of Merlin te Helias in a vision........... CCXL The false money changers..........eecceeeeecceeeecees CCXLI-CCXLII The Heentious priest........ cece cece cece e eee eeeeee CCXLIV-CCRLV
The ghrttoncas Bishop (contixiwed)..........00.. cece eee ccxEvt
8 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
Chapters
The two murderous children ............. cece cece ecnes CCXLVII Presentation of the Livre de Merlin to Perceval by Helias.. ccxivim The King of Northumberland...... Supe Reece Ce eeaw cen CCXLIX-CCLI1! The arrival of the Duc d’Ancie at the hermitage of Helias... ccrrm The ten knights of Val Brun and their children........... CCLIV-CCLVIII The departure of the Duc d’Ancie to the Sage Clerc........ CCLIX-CCLX The proud lady .........0..-ceeessees baeeoceuseueenaes CCLXI The sister of Merlin’s mother.........ccccccccecccesces CCLXII Esglantine at the court of Arthur........ Sierpye ge SS cate Sacer CCLXIII-CCLXV The children of the King of Northumberland............. CCLXVI The death of Helias ; the departure of Perceval from the
hermitage with the Livre de Merlin...........cccceeees CCLXVU
Boox V. — Le Livre de Merlin et le Livre de Meliadus Chapters CCLXVIII-CCCXXVIII
(The Ltore de Merlin, entrusted by Merlin to Helias for Perceval and delivered to the Sage Clerc by Perceval. The remainder of the prophecies to Meliadus)
Chapters Prophecies from the Livre de Merlin rcad by the Sage Clerc. CCLXVIII-CCLXXIX |. Prophecies to Meliadus........... cece cece cece nseces CCLXXX-CCLXXXIII The adventure of the Duc d’Ancie previously predicted by Merlin......... Cee ee cea eae eee aeseu tues anoles CCLXXXIV-CCLXXXV Prophecies to Meliadus ..........c.ce ccc ccccccrecccceces CCLXXXVI-CCXCI The adventure of the Duc d’Ancie (continued)............ CCXCII-CCXCII1
Prophecies from the Livre de Merlin read by the Sage Clerc. ccxctv-ccc The adventure of the Damoiselle Orgueilleuse and the Laid
Vallet previously predicted by Merlin................. CCCI-CCCIU Prophecies from the Livre de Merlin read by the Sage Clerc. ccctim-cccxi1 The plot of the Dame Noire against Merlin ............... CCCXIV Prophecy of Merlin found on a stone by a knight and ex-
plained by Merlin to Meliadus...........cccee see e eves CCCXV-CCCXVII Prophecies to Meliadus...........ccccecsscecccsccecesee CCCXVIII-CCCXXVI The return of Meliadus to the Sage Clerc................. CCCXXVIt
Prophecy from the Livre de Merlin read by the Sage Clerc. cccxxvnt
Almost all of the prophecies of the various groups in the above table are entirely detached, and there seldom seems to be a reason why any given prediction should occupy its own place rather than that of another. A glance at the analysis, however, shows that the work as a whole is not arranged unsystematically. Its general scheme consists of five series of prophecies by Merlin, each of which is reported by a definite individual ; their sequence is broken by short narratives that recount the sudden discovery of other prophecies of Merlin, or that are more or less directly connected with his doings. Books III and V are composed of predictions of
INTRODUCTION 9
Merlin to Meliadus with, in the latter, others read from the so-call- ed Livre de Merlin. Book IV serves as an introduction to Book V and is given up to brief scenes between Perceval and Helias inter- spersed with marvellous anecdotes in which Merlin is the central figure. Thus R, where its material is not prophetic, either relates to the collections of prophecies that it purports togive, as in the chapters that have to do with the Sage Clerc and with the visit of Perceval to Helias, or it narrates incidents illustrating the supernatural power of Merlin, as, for example, his visit from the three papal legates, and the adventures of the Damoisele Orgueilleuse and the Laid Vallet. Other elements in its structure are discussed below’ _ in connection with its relation to the remaining members of
Group I.
2, a. (E) London, Messrs. Maggs Brothers. Early fourteenth century.
E consists of 203 unnumbered folios, written in double columns, and has thirteen miniatures. It passed from private possession in England into the hands of Messrs. Maggs Brothers of London and was listed in their catalogue* as Le Roman de Merlin. In reality however, it contains only the Prophecies, of which in material, though not in execution, it is our most valuable French manuscript, being not merely the single perfect exemplar of its group, but also in cer-
tain parts unique’.
2, b. (350) Paris, Bibliothéque nationale, fr. 350 (anc. 6970). Thirteenth or fourteenth century‘.
350 consists of 438 folios, written in double columns, and is embellished with fifty-eight spirited miniatures. It 1s imperfect at the beginning and end, but is otherwise in good condition. It contains Gusron le Courtots- (fols. 1-366) ; Prophecies de Merlin (fols. 367a-438d), concluding with an unfinished sen- tence,
117, 12 ff. *® English Literature, No. 348, 1916, p. 78. 7? But for the rea- sonable request of Messrs. Mages Brothers that I publish few collations and no summaries from E, I should select its text for complete collation with R, and should summarize all of its romantic episodes. Whenever the manuscript becomes the property of a public or private collection, I hope that I may obtain permission to publish such portions as would supplement ‘the present edition. ‘See P. Paris, ASS. frangois, 11, 367; H. Omont, Catalogue général des manuscrits francais de la Brbliothéque nationale, 1, 27, For a brief summary see Léseth, Tristan, p. 490. +See I, 406, note 2.
LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
2, c. (Add.) London, British Museum, Additional 25434. Late
thirteenth century’.
Add.consists of 181 folios, written in double columns, and con- tains only the Prophecies. It is mmperfect at both beginming and end, and has three lacunae, — the first between folios 27 and 283, the second between fohos 94 and 95?, the third between foltos 113 and 314%. Folios 3 and 4 are wrongly inserted between folios 6 and 7, and folio 183 should precede foho 182, with which folio 184 is consecutive®. The manuscript ends with an incomplete sentence®.
These three manuscripts, E, 350, and Add., agree throughonrt in material and arrangement so far as they are coextensive, with only the following minor divergencies. E has a brief introduction, which, although contributing nothing new in the way of tradition, differentiates it not only from its group but also from all other manuscripts of the Prophecies. This introduction is entirely unre- lated to the prefatory paragraph of R, which itself, it should be noted, appears in no other manuscript of Group I. 350 and Add. open with the paragraph given below on page 57, note g (‘‘ En cheste partie dist licontes qu’il avoit une damoisele el reaume de Gales ’’)’,
but £, after an invocation to the Trinity and the Virgin, begins,
‘‘ Seignor, vous avez bien oz aucunes fois dire comment Luchia-
biaus ki angles estoit s’enorgeilli enviers nostre seignour Jhesu
Crist et vaut estre sires deseure lui,” and then passes to a brief.
résumé of the familiar material contained in the early part of the
romance of Merlin, — the fall of Lucifer, the council of devils, the visit of the devil to the mother of Merlin, and the birth of Merlin, to whom the author, following the common tradition, tells us that the
Lord gave grace, and the devil prophetic power ; as the fame of
Merlin as a prophet increased, many clerks consulted him, and his
prophetic sayings were written in a book by Blaise and, after the
death of Blaise, by another clerk, Antoine, ‘ einsi com vous pores
oir en cest livre.’ There are three further differences of slight im-
portance between E and the other manuscripts of its group. E
omits, almost certainly by haplography, the passage beginning. ‘‘ Met en escrit —, ’’ on page 158, ]. 14, and extending to ‘* met en
2 See Ward, Catalogue, I, 371 f§. For the few folios. of this text that have already been published, see below, I, 375, note ¥; 376, note 1. * See I, r4r, note 12; 148, note 3. * See I, 383, note 2; 390, note 2. * See I, 396, mote 2; 397, note 2. 5 See I, 420, note 1; 421, notes 1, 2, 3. © Seel.c., note 4. 7 The text cited in the discussion of Group I, 2,a, b, and c, is that of 350 unless otherwise specifed.
pi9)
INTRODUCTION II
escrit —, ’’ on page 159, 1. 12, which appears in the other two ver- sions and in KR; it also contains at the end of Chapter ccxvi a prophecy concerning the inundation of an “‘ island called Hol- lande ’’ m 1288, which is not found elsewhere, and another at the end of Chapter CxL1I, concerning a war in Couloigne, which is found in no other manuscript except H. Each prophecy is only a few lines in length, and is the sort of passage that might be added to or taken from the context according to the will of a scribe}. To what further extent E, 350, and Add. differ from R may be seen from the following table of their contents? : —
Chapters E 350 Add.
1 (including p. 57, Mote Q)—XVII..... ccc ceeseeees fols. 1d 367a 1a? Pp. 76, 77 : Maistre Richart d’Irlande........... — 7a 369Cc za4 MVE CRRKIV oss oe Send eid umn aewetes — 7b = 369d 7c Pp. 174, 175, § 1: the quest for Merlin.......... — 33b =. 38 3b 35d Pp. 178-181, §§ 2-5 : the dream of Guinevere..... — 33¢ 6©=—_- 384g 38a CXXXV-CXXXVI .. ccc eee ccee Meee PE ar eee — 35b 384c 38a Episode, I, re as Sint samen ceca re eran , — 36a =. 384d 38d CXXXVII, including pp. 184, 185 : the journey of the
Dame du Lac and Meliadus to the tomb of Merlin. — 38e¢ 386a 41b CXXXVII-CXLIT.. 2. cee ecw ee eee ape wnled aeihea we 39¢ 386c 42c Pp. 189-191, §§ 1-4 : Meliadus and Tristan...... — 40b 387a 43b CRUITI-CRESV ooh 0h 64 woos EER vised — 41Ib = 387b 43d P. 192, §§ x, 2 : prophecy of the death of Tristan. — 41c 387¢ 44a CRLV-GRLIN 356 isnt se esas. sha Sees — 41d 387d 45a Pp. 196, 197, § 1: the knighting of Vanccloes: — 43a 388b 46c Pp. 198, 199, §§ 2, 3: the knight at the Quaking
Moumtaim.. 00. ce ec c ees e eee reer ee ee eee — 43d 388c 47b Cl CORR si ise seks wea sone Sane wes eR ees ihe bdee — 44b = 389a 47d Episodes : I, 372 (No 2) — 387, note 2.......... — 62c 398b 68c§ COMM sa hos Gas ae eee ca aoe anseee ie eaks — 95a 414a Episodes : I, 387, note 2 — 394 (No. i errs r — g95c 414b gsa® COXXIPCOXXIV .. ee ce cc cees sige pana be Mapa ete Wee — Ir2a 422b = ro8b Episodes : I, 395 (No. 6g), — 399 (No. 6 k). eieene — %13¢ 423a = xrob’ Pp. 265, 266, §§ 1, 2: the arrival of Perceval at the
hermitage of Helias bss Paice eas an arb ee ask ieee — 124c 428b = 1r2rb CORR V-COMERS 6 ise vice iiweian chb5 Oise We seies errr — 324d 428b- raid Episodes : I, 400 (No. 10}, — 401 (No. ob) eae — 126d 429a 861290
1 See II, 349. *® Here and in the following tables of contents all the refer- ences where the volume is not designated are to pages and notes of the Rennes text in Part ¥. * Since the sections are consecutive, only the first folio of each is given. * Misplaced. ° Add. breaks off in an incomplete sentence at fol. 94d; see I, 383, note z. °* Add. recommences in the middle of a sentence; see I, 390, note 2. * Add. breaks off at fol. 113d, which is incomplete; see I, 396, note 2. Fol. 114a, which is defective at the beginning, commences at I, 397, note 2.
I2 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
Chapters E 350 Add. COMRXID-COR ERIK io os Gok he ae BGS Sees fols. 133b 432a Episodes : I, 402 (No. 8c) — 403 (No. 4c).......- — 135d 433b 134C CORU-COXLVIN 6:66 os Ski ere 664s aise eae es — 1404 435b Episodes : I, 404 (No. 4d), — 409 (No. 23)....... — 142¢ 436c! 143a COXLIX-COL RIE ss btaeue oes eweacews Devaar et Madea — 352d r56c Episodes : I, 410 (No. r1b)-413 (No. 4f)./....... — 155d r60b CCLXIII-CCLXV.. eo cece ec eees gle calalw bie Gisele once — r163a 167d Episode : I, 414, (NO. 1$a) .... ccc cccc cece ccece — 164d 169b*® COLXVI-COURX ik. 6 shee SE SESS OAS E ROS — 166c 71a Episodes : I, 415 (No. seer 420 (No 18)....... — 168d 173b Episode : I, 420, mote 1............ cc eee eee — 177d COLXXI-CCLXXXV. co cece ec cee cee {ite Vesateucs — 178c Episode : I, 421 (NO. 48) «2.0. ---ccccccececeeee — 181a 182a® Episode : I, 421, mote 4............ ccc cece eee — 183c COUN XXVI-CCG 595.5: N6. 5 V5 SE Raw ESS ea -- 185c Episodes : I, 421, note 4.......... cece cece cease — 188a COCICOCI iio 5cG oles eG atde cus. ca es Meese — 192C Episodes : I, 421, mote 4. .....cccccccccccess aes — 194b COCIIN-COOKIV 6 a5 50 iss 8 G5 aN Bawa eaurg en eee aes — 196b Episodes : J, 421, mote 4, 422 (NO. [y)......eeee0. — 198d COCK V-CCOEXKVIL 6505 5605S e eS ee eee ees CERES 4 — 200d P. 338, note 4 : Meliadus and the Dame du ina. — 203a CCOXKVIN <3 creese dee eee (ieee geesawe se iesis — 203¢
A mere glance at this table of contents shows that FE contains all of R, and 350 and Add. all of R that precedes the point at which each breaks off, 350 being less extensive, but also having fewer defects than Add. These three manuscripts differ from R princi- pally in their large amount of narrative material, consisting chiefly of romantic adventures interspersed at suitable points (as may be seen by a comparison of the two tables of contents) for breaking the steady flow of the prophecies. Their version, however, is clearly not an expansion of that of R, for R offers internal evidence that the author was not using all the material that he had before him, and certain of its obvious deficiencies are supplied by the other manuscripts, which by their additional passages make it intelligible in places where it is otherwise obscure.
We do not, in fact, read far in R without being obliged to look for supplementary material. Chapter 11 begins : —‘‘ Atant es vous la damoisele de Gales dont je vous ai conte ca en arriere "; but of
1 350, fol. 438d, ends in an incomplete sentence; see 1, 406, note 2, * For the defects of the folios here, see I, 414, note 1. ® For the misarrangement of the folios here, see I, 420, note 1; 421, notes 2, 3. The manuscript ends at fol. 184d; see I, 421, note 4.
INTRODUCTION 13
this damsel we find no previous mention until we turn to the other manuscripts of Group I, where the first prophecies are preceded by an account of her determination to visit Merlin’.
Again, in Chapters cxclI-cxciv Perceval meets the Sage Clerc at court and for the first time hears from him of Merlin, of his entombment and prophecies, as well as the quest for him that the knights of the Round Table have undertaken. He vows that he too will at once engage in it. The Sage Clerc replies, ‘‘ Selonc les profesies de Merlin il ne vous estuet ja traveillier, mes par aventure vous trouveres aucune merveille. ’’ The next mention of Per- ceval is in Chapter ccxx1, which begins : — “‘ Ci dit li contes que Perceval s’estoit arestes sus une pierre ou il avoit letres escriptes. ’’ The “‘ letres ’’ record one of Merlin’s prophecies, of which Perceval makes a copy, which he puts into his wallet. The narrative, after the announcement, ‘‘ mes atant se test li contes de ceste aventure et retourne as profecies de Merlin le sage, ” — passes at once in Chapters ccxxlI-ccxxIv to Dinadan’s discovery of some prophecies of Merlin in the Burial Ground of Pendragon, closing with one that predicts the rescue of Galeholt from a pagan foe at Vincestre by Lancelot. The next chapter begins, ‘“‘ Voirs fu que Merlin delivra sa mere devant le juge terrien, ’’ and then (Chapters CCXXV-CCXXVII) narrates an episode in which Merlin con- victs a Benedictine abbot of an unconfessed sin. Chapter CCXXVIII opens with an utterly incomprehensible sentence — “‘ Sire, fet Per- cheval a l’ermites, avez vous cestui livre en cest hermitage que vous deves donner a cestui chevalier que vous distes ? "’ — and con- tinues with an interview between Perceval and the hermit Helias, of whom this is the first appearance. In the manuscripts of Group I,2,on the contrary, Chapter ccxx is followed by many romantic episodes, several of which have to do with Perceval. In one of these* a young squire is sent by the mistress of a certain castle, from which Perceval has just ridden away, to summon him back to her aid. When the squire overtakes him, he is standing in the forest by a stone on which he has found a prophecy of Merlin. The text continues through the prophecy in agreement with R (Chapter ccxx1) ; then comes an interview between Perceval and the squire, after which, as in R, Perceval copies the prophecy, puts it into his wallet, and returns with the squire to the mistress of the castle. Other romantic episodes follow® before Chapters CCXXII- CCXXIV, which are directly connected by the opening sentence
11,57, note 9. 2 See I, 387. 2? See I, 387-394.
14 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
with the episodic material that precedesthem, and which close with a prophecy concerning Galeholt and Lancelot’ explained by one of the earlier episodes.* Then it is narrated that Perceval after wandering for a year and a half in the forest of Armantes in quest of Merlin arrives at a hermitage, where an aged hermit tells him that Merlin has entrusted to him a book of his wisdom, which he is to give into the hands of Perceval shortly before his own death. Perceval does not at once reveal his name, but makes inquiries about Merlin, and so leads the hermit to relate some of Merlin’s marvellous deeds. Chapter ccxxv (‘‘ Voirs fu que Merlin delivra sa mere *’) forms the beginning of his discourse, aod the question of Perceval with which Chapter CCXXVIII opens — ‘‘ Sure, aves vous cestui livre ? ’’ — is an inquiry that he makes at the clase of the hermit’s first narrative. In short, the experiences of Percevai, which are fragmentary and perplexing in R, are entirely clarifed by the other manuscripts of the group’.
Another example occurs in Chapter cxxxvul, which in & begins abruptly : — ‘“ En ceste partie dit li contes que Melitadus l’amz a la Dame du Lac fu venus au lieu ou Merlin estoit enserres qui ja avoit la char porie. Et lors oi Meliadus la vois de l’esperit de Mer- lin. ’’ The manuscripts of Group I,2, however, preface Chapter Cxxxvi1 by an introduction telling of the desire of Meliadus to visit the tomb of Merlin, of his journey thither under the convoy of the Dame du Lac, Merlin’s lament over his own fate, and his injunction to Meliadus to report his prophecies to Maistre Antoine
and bid him write them in his book. Again certain romantic pro- phecies that have no meaning in R are given point by episodes in the other manuscripts, which recount their fulfilment. Such ts the prediction already mentioned concerning the rescue of Galeholt by Lancelot at Vincestre in Chapter ccxxiv, which is explained by Episode 6, k‘, and that relating to the ‘‘ mauvais jublier ”’ at the court of Arthur in Chapter cccxviil, which is absolutely meaning- less until we have read an episode in £§ that tells of the coming to court of ‘‘ the jublicr ”’ and the dire effects of his enchantments
before his evil spell is broken by Lancelot.
1 See I, 264, Chapter ccxx1v and note 8. *® See I, 398, 399, (6, j,k). 3 See also the conclusion of Chapter ccxx : — ‘‘ Mes atant lesse li contes a parler des profecies Merlin que bien i saura retorner quand lieu sera. '’ Chapter ccxx! at once gives another prophecy of Merlin. In Group I, 2, on the other hand, romantic episodes separate Chapter ccxx from Chapter ccxxt. See I, 260, note 4. * See I, 399. 5° See I, 421, note 4, for the place of this episode in the manuscript.
INTRODUCTION I5
From these and other instances! we see that the author of R not only had before him the version represented by the three other manuscnpts, but that he was stripping his sources of the narrative introductions to the prophecies and of all episodes of a romantic character that were not connected definitely with Merlin. He grants no place to the section following Chapter xvi, which relates to Maistre Richart d’Irlande, the translator of the prophecies for the Emperor Frederic, or to those portions following Chapter CXXxIV, which recount the sorrows of Guinevere, her desire to find Merlin aftee his entombment, and her dream. He discards even the prophecies relating to Tristan following Chapters cxLu and CXLIv, nor does he give space to the knighting of Lancelot’, or to the final interview between Meliadus and the Dame du Lac’. In fact he might more appropriately than 350 have used its words, Je tiendrai ma droite voie et vous conterai des profecies Merlin. ”’
Complete evidence for the above method of composition of R and its relation to the other three sources would be lacking without E, which for this reason becomes the most important member of its group. Before we could count it among our manuscripts of the Prophecies, comparison of R with 350 and Add. showed that it was reducing their material as far as Chapter ccLxx, the last common point of all three sources, but the remainder of R, i.e., Chapters CCLXXI-CCCXXVIIL, suggested several questions to which there was no positive answer. Did the version which R was using terminate with the conclusion of the episode interrup- ted by the mutilation at the end of Add. ? If so, did R invent the rest of its prophecies ? Or did Add. and 350 in their perfect state contain all of these prophecies and intermingle them with further romantic episodes, which R continued to discard ? A few other references in R similar in character to that in Chapter cccxvill mentioned above, and a fragmentary folio of the very defective manuscript, H, which also belongs to Group I, justified the assump- tion that a lost version once existed which contained all the ma- tenial of 350, Add., R, and H, as well as romantic episodes that broke the line of prophecies forming Chapters CCLXXI-CCCXXVIII of R.-This version would have remained purely hypothetical, and therefore destined to be counted as an airy nothing by the foes of “lost sources, ’’ but for a happy chance that led to the discovery of
1Cf., e. g., I, 196, note 6; 201, note 2; 297, mote 10. *# I, 196, 197. *I, 338, note 4.
16 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
E, which, leaf by leaf, turned conjecture into certainty. The cir- cumstances of the present ownership of the manuscript, already explained in the Preface, compel me to ask the reader to accept this certainty largely on faith without a detailed confirmation, but the table given above speaks for itself.
A clue to the principle of selection that influenced R is afforded by a glance at the entire contents of the manuscript. It is composed of religious, prophetic, philosophical, and encyclopaedic works, and forms a compilation of so didactic a character that it is not surprising to find chivalric and romantic adventure excluded from its pages'. It may be, therefore, that we should attnbute these omissions to Robin Boutemont himself, and that we should regard him as virtually the author of this especial version. On the other hand, he may have been merely copying as a suitable addition to his manuscript a version already subjected to the same process of condensation for the same purpose, namely, that of producing a work, whether it were to be united with others or not, with a more distinctively serious tendency than one containing so much roman- tic material manifested. This question can be more intelligently considered when our other sources have been examined.
The four manuscripts, R, E, 350, and Add. have substantially the same text. All show a large number of those scribal variations to which I have already referred’, and which have no significance in determining their interrelations. In the more important variants, however, the manuscripts of Group I,2 in general agree where they differ from R, and they may be said to be more closely related to each other than any one of them is to R, by which each 1s some- times corrected, but which they in their turn sometimes correct and sometimes expand®. R has a tendency to brevity, 350 to diffuseness and carelessness, especially to haplography and dittography, and it frequently diverges in details where Add. and KR agree with each other. The resemblances coupled with the disagreements, and especially the failure of any single manuscript to supply consistently the evident verbal omissions in the others, imply that none of our four texts is a direct copy of one of the others,
1 An exception to this principle should be noted in the reference to Arthur and Claudas at the end of Chapter ccixv, where the author seems to have been inad- vertcntly betrayed into following his source. 2? P. 2. 3 The above statements in so far as they concern E are, of course, not based upon close collation, but only upon ‘careful study. I suspect that collation would show E to be more nearly related to 4dd., and still more so to H, than to 350.
INTRODUCTION 17
but that all point back to a common source from which the differ- efices in our versions are due to scribal variations and the indivi- dual preferences or aims of the transmitters.
In conclusion, then, it may be said that both the material and the text afford evidence that R was prepared from the source of E, 350, and Add. by discarding the romantic adventures, by preserving only the prophetic material and that immediately relating to Merlin, and by giving at times a rather free and somewhat condensed rendering of the original text. This original, which I designate Y, was in existence before 1302 or 1303.
With the exception of R no manuscript outside of our Group II contains the prefatory paragraph. This preface has a raison d’étre in only two of the manuscripts of Group II, 98 and Reg., in both of which the Prophecies is introduced into the Merlin, and conse- quently the opening sentence given meaning : — ‘“‘ Ci devant ait parleit li conte de Merlins et de ces euvres et des merveillez que il fist en la grande Bretaigne et en maintes autre terres assez souffisamment. Et pour ceu tait li conte de celles choses que ja sont cy devant declairiees et parole des prophecies de Merlin}. ”’ In the other manuscripts of Group II — B and 15211, which do hot also contain the Merlin — we may account for its presence by inferring that it was in their source, which must therefore have been orginally an intercalation in the Merlin or an addition to it. In R, also an independent work, like all the versions of the group to which it indubitably belongs, a visibly bungling effort is made to adapt the paragraph in its first sentence to a composition that pos- sesses no ‘‘ ci-devant ”’ : — ‘‘ Ci commencent les profecies Merlin et ses euvres et les merveilles que il fist en la grant Bretaigne et en Maintes autres terres ases soutillement, et pour ceu s’en test atant li conte de ceste matiere et parole des profecies Merlin. ’’ There are but two explanations for the use of this paragraph in R ; the author, or scribe, either found it in Y or adopted it from a manu- script of Group II for the sake of stating at the beginning of his work that it had been translated by the command of the Emperor Frederic II. Of these two possibilities the former is the more pro- bable. Except for the presence of these few sentences no influence of Group II is to be discovered in R, and moreover it is hard to
believe that a scribe would have taken the trouble to go to another manuscript for an introduction, the awkwardness of which in its
} 98, fol. 250a.
18 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
new surroundings he perceived. On the other hand, if it were in Y, it would naturally be discarded by the scribes of the remaining manuscripts of Group I as inappropriate in a work that was to be preserved without the Merlin. We have no means of knowing whether FY itself was an addition to the Merlin or not, but since all of its derivatives are isolated versions we may assume that it too was independent. The question has no great importance. The noteworthy point is, as we shall see later, that Group II springs from a version, Z, derived from the source of Y, namely, X. To-X, therefore, we must logically refer the prefatory paragraph, which appeared both in Y and 2, but was discarded by all our known derivatives from Y except R. It is safe, then, to affirm that X was intercalated into the Merlin or added ta it. There are certain indica- tions in the narrative sections of our versions! that X was a long romance, such as we expect to find produced toward the end af the thirteenth century when it must have been composed*, and that it was too elaborate in character for intercalation into another work. We are accordingly led to the conclusion that it was early added to the Merlin, as it is in the manuscript M and the edition of 1498, as well as the Italian edition of 1480.
2,d. (H) London, British Museum, Harleian 1629. Late thirteenth century °.
H consists of 70 folios, written in double columns, and has two miniatures. It contains only the Prophecies. It is fragmentary and in great disorder. The following table shows the relation of its contents to that of the other manuscripts of its group, and the order in which the folios are arranged. Each group of folios is imperfect at both beginning and end.
Chapters Folios.
XLVIII (p. 106, note 11) - CX1II (p. 196, mote 8)... . cee eee eee eee '33-40, r-8& CXXXvV (p. 181, note 28) - cxcix (p. 242, note 2) including Episode 1
(1,371) and the prophecy, p. 187, note 8......... cc eee eee ec eee 9-32 Episodes : I, 372 (No. 2)-383, note 4 (No. Sh) ..........2 cee ee aces 41-64 cccx (p. 328, note 6)-cCCXTV (Pp. 337, MOte 5)... . cer ec cece esecce 65 Episodes : I, 422 (No. 19) ; Chapters cccxv—cccxvin (p. 331, note 8 -
Di 333) MOE) pees istare rides ea eae nd twee eee betes bes 66
1 See II, 277, 283-296. * See II, 33, 346. 2 See Ward, Catalogue, I, 373, 374. “See the individual passages given below for the verbal beginnings and endings. 5 Fols. 40 and 1 are consecutive ; see I, 131, note 14.
INFRODUCTION 19
Chapters Folios Episodes : I, 388, note 3 (No. 8a) - 389, note 2 (No. 6c) ............ 67-68 Episodes : ¥, 394, note 2 (No. ro) ; Chapter ccxxr (p. 261, note 2 - 903 BOLE Slee t cesses ew ete ae chee tetas noua eeces 69-70
In spite of its condition AH is easily recognized as a member of Group I. The order of the material in each of the consecutive sec- tions is the same that is found in the other manuscripts, and the text is virtually theirs, although more often in agreement with Add. than with 350 where both differ from R and also from each other. Collation with E, I am inclined to believe, would show that these two texts are more closely connected with each other than either is with the remaining manuscripts of the group. The frag- mentary state of H makes it almost negligible as a source beside the better examples that we have of its version.
2,e. (J) Tréves.
A fragment of the Prophecies exists m the Bibltothéque of Tréves, which I know only through the description of it given by F. Bon- nardot m Romanta! : — ‘‘ Fragment des Prophecies de Merlin, prose, 2 feuillets 4 deux colonnes par pages et 31 lignes par colonne. Ce morceau appartenait 4 un manuscrit exécuté a la fin du ximié sié- cle; la legon reproduit en l’abrégeant fortement celle du ms. BN. fr. 350 du fol. 367°, col. a, au fol. 369", col. a,” i. e, approxi- mately Chapters I-xv of our text. |
Group IL
1,a. (B) Berne, Stadtbibliothek, 388. Thirteenth or fourteenth century*.
B consists of 136 folios, written in double columns. It contains La we de saint Jean Evangeliste (fols. 1-44) ; Les propheties de Mer- lin (fols. 45-104) ; Ls livres des VII sages de Rome (fols. 105-136}. In the Prophectes there is a gap between fols. 73 and 74, the former being imperfect at the end, the latter at the beginning.
1 XVI, 178. ® See J. R. Sinner, Catalogus Codicum MSS. Bibliotieecae Ber- nensis, 2772, II, 390; H. Hagen, Catalogus Codicum Bernensinm, 1875, ‘p. 359.
I welcome the opportunity of expressing my thanks to Dr. E. Brugger of Daves- Platz, who kindly put at my disposal for many months his copy of the Berne manu- script, which I have, of course, verified from the original in order to be able to assume responsibility for any errors in transcription.
20 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
In material and arrangement B agrees throughout with R with the following exceptions. Like the manuscripts of Group I, 2, it contains the paragraph in Chapter 1 introducing the Damoisele de Gales, but unlike them places it at the beginning of Chapter 111, in which the story of the Damoisele is continued ; like them also it contains the section on Maistre Richart between Chapters xvii and XVII, the account of the quest for Merlin and the dream of Guine- vere between Chapters CXXXIv and CxxXxv, and also the story of the arrival of Perceval at the hermitage of Helias with which they intro- duce Chapter ccxxv. It does not contain Chapters LXxI, CIX-CXIX, CXXXV-CLXXHII, CCXXI-CCXXIV, CCLXIII-CCLXV, and it ends at Chap- ter CCLXvil, adding a brief prophecy?. It should be noticed that B accords with R in having the prefatory paragraph relating to the Emperor Frederic, and in lacking the long episodes peculiar to Group I, 2, which are summarized below. The manuscript is per- fect at the end, the text concluding in the middle of the folio, the lower half of which is torn and remains blank. The absence of Chap- ters CIX-CXIX is evidently due to the previously mentioned defect in the manuscript, which is imperfect at the end of Chapter CvuII (fol. 73d) and the beginning of Chapter cxx (fol. 74a). Chapters CXXXV-CLXXIII must, at all events in part, have appeared in the source of B, for Chapter CLXxIv begins with a reference to an ad- venture related in the preceding pages. Chapters CCXXI-CCXXIV are connected with episodes that are not found in B, and the same is true to a certain extent of Chapters CCLXIII-CCLXV ; in any case both of these sections, like Chapter LxI, are so loosely connected with the course of the prophecies themselves that their absence does not necessarily lead to the inference that they had no place in the source of B, and, in fact, comparison with 98, a manuscript that plainly belongs to Group II and contains some of the chapters missing from B, shows that they must have stood in the original source of the group.
B also contains the following material, which with the few excep- tions noted below is peculiar to its group : —
Chapters Folios. iX, p. 66, note 11 : prophecy concerning the Bons Mariniers.......... 47b—48a LIV, p. 11§, note 6: prophecies concerning Galehot le Brun, the tour- é nament of Salibiere, and a war of the Aufricans..............00% 62b-d CLXXVIII, p. 223, note 4 : a conversation between the Dame du Lac Qn BOnOre.is2 i.oa hia eee eee Sew eNews NS64 645 Re bas Bee Oe 81a—83c
11, 303, note 2.
INTRODUCTION 2k Chapters Folios
CLXXXVI, Pp. 232, note 5 : the imprisonment of King Marc'.......... 85a CXCIV, p. 239, note 5 : the departure of Perceval for the forest of
ASTiaN eS ccc cin hari a6 SRR OS HS ROIS GR AG eee 87b CCl, p. 245, note 9 : the imprisonment of King Marc (continued) ;
the return of Perceval to the chapel... . 0.2.0... cece cececccvencs 89a—b CCXI, p. 253, note 5 : the widow who gave Segurant lodging......... gIc CCLXVII, p. 303, note 2: prophecy concerning the world in 1260...... 104a-b
It will be noticed that most of these passages are not prophetic but narrative in character. None have any connection with the long episodes which are scattered through the manuscripts of Group I, 2, except the conversation between the Dame du Lac and Bohors, which in its opening is very similar to the beginning of the scene between them preparatory to the knighting of Bohors in Episode 11a of Group I, 2? ; none have any connection with the context except the passage relating to the departure of Perceval for the forest of Arnantes. All except the conversation between the Dame du Lac and Bohors are extremely short, and some are altogether trivial and pointless, as, for example, the paragraphs about the return of Perceval to the chapel, and the widow with whom Segurant lodged. They bear distinctly the marks of being either fragments or abridgements of longer episodes. It is quite inconceivable that the idea of thrusting them into the Prophecies should have suggested itself to any writer unless he had before him a version containing more elaborate material, which, instead of discarding altogether, after the fashion of the author of R in his treatment of Y, he reduced almost to the vanishing point. This suspicion is confirmed by the prophecy concerning the tournament of Salibiere, which is incomprehensible in B, but which appears in another manuscript, A, in the midst of a long episode which makes it intelligible, and which the relation of A to B, as we shall see later?, gives us additional reason to believe had a place in the source of B. It is also true that B has a tendency to more conden- sed forms of expression than those of Group I, which frequent- ly, though not invariably, saves it from the use of superfluous phrases’.
What was the relation of this source, which we will call Z, to that of Group I, Y ? In material the peculiar characteristics of both branches of the derivatives of Y, i.e., R and Group I, 2,
3 See I, 395. *%II, 295, 296. *% See, e. g., the collations I, 74, notes 13, 15; 75, note 2: 92, note 21; 219, notes 2, 7; 236, note II ; 275, note 4.
22 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
appear in B. It remains to consider the text. Here B shows many pronounced variants from Group I that are limited to its own group, but in general it follows the text of the former, agreeing, where the members of the group differ among themselves, now with one manuscript, now with another, but manifesting a greater tendency to accord with Group I, 2, than with R, and where 350 and Add. differ, having a preference for the readings of the latter. Several instances occur where obvious defects common to the derivatives of Y are remedied by the text of B. All of these consid- erations lead inevitably to the conclusion that Z was not a redac- tion of Y, but of X, the source of Y. This conclusion is confirmed by the relation of the narrative portions of our sources to each other*, and is supported by the prophecy concerning the Bons Mariniers which is added in B to Chapter 1x (note 11) and also occurs in other derivatives from X.
1, b. (1 5211) Paris, Bibliothéque nationale, fr. 15211 (Suppl. fr. 683). Fourteenth century’.
15211 consists of 280 folios, written in single columns. It con- tams : Propheties de Merlin (fols. 1-68a) ; Chansons provengals by Peire Cardenal, etc. (fols. 68b-280). It gives only the three following sections of the Prophecies, each of which is in complete agreement with B : —
Chapters Folios TELY oo eee aw EEG 2 OE aS Sis e Oe WeK ee eae ae ewe 1-33a CCKXIV, p. 264, note 8 — CCLXVII, p. 303, note 2 (omittmg Chapters GCOLXUI-CCLEV) 6 5 65-2 essen iane sew ese e eerie tana t ieee as 33a-S51b CURMIN- COR iis noes ea ho WN ea ow Se eee NE Aw We 45 e CES owe ee ew §1b-682
The only essential difference between this manuscript and B consists in the smaller amount of material m 15211 and the order of the last two sections. Each of the three sections is m itself com- plete ; the author makes a suitable transition from one to the other, as may be seen from the critical notes on the passages, and adds
1 See, e. g, I, 71, note 16; 81, note 12; 238, note 7; 249, note 1; 271, note 1; 280, note 13. * II, 295, 296. *% See H. Omont, Catalogue général, Ancien supple- ment frangais, III, 329.
In the list of manuscripts belonging to the Connétable"de” Lesdiguiéres made in 1633 the Prophecies de Merlin is entered. The Lesdiguiéres manuscripts were ac- quired after the French Revolution by the Bibliothéque of, Tours,.but the Pro- phectes does not appear either in the catalogue of the Bibliothéque orfin the hist of
INTRODUCTION 23
a definite termination at the end of Chapter ccxx : — “ Explicit les profecies Merlin. Dex doint venir a bone fm qui cest livre fist en latin et gart de mal ceax de son lin.’ 15211, therefore, may be defined as an intentionally abbreviated version of B. The last two sections are obviously misplaced. At the end of Chapter Liv after Merlin has announced to Maistre Antoine that he must interrupt his prophecies in order to go to Norgales in behalf of Arthur, the author says that he will proceed to narrate some adventures of the knights of King Arthur, and first those of Perceval le Galois. At the beginning of his next chapter (Chapter ccxxv), Perceval is wandering in the forest in quest of Merlin, who has been entombed. He lodges with the hermit Helias and while he is in the hermitage, the Duc d’Ancie arrives and tells of a marvel that he has seen, — a clerk seated on a stone that was flying through the air. Not long afterward Helias dies, and Perceval returns to Gales where he joins Meliadus, who has come back fram a visit to the tomb of Merlin and is listening to a reading that the Sage Clerc is giving from the prophecies that Merlin delivered to Maistre Tholomer and Maistre Antoine. All of this is far from clear, since we have last heard of Merlin as alive and active in the service of Arthur, and since we know nothing about Meliadus or his habitual visits to Merlin’s tomb. At the end of this section (Chapter ccrxvi1) the author announces that he will now return to the Sage Clerc and to Melia- dus of whom he has spoken before, and then proceeds to Chapter CLXxIx, which begins with the story of the Sage Clerc and the Flying Stone, while in Chapter cxciu, we find the Sage Clerc telling Perceval about Merlin, of whom he has never heard, and about the quest of the Duc d'Ancie for him. |
The text, although showing minor divergencies from B, is sub- stantially the same, and exhibits the greater part of those variants that are distinctive of B.
manuscripts identified by Delisle as a part of the famous plunder that Libri stole from Tours abont 1842 (See Delisle, Notices et extraits, XX XI, pte. i, ‘ Manuscrits disparus de Ja Bibliothéque de Tours ”; P. Meyer, Romania, XII, 336 ff.). Since 35221 is entered by Omont in the Catalogue géncral as coming to the Bibliothéque Nationale from Caumont through Lesdiguiéres, although neither the name of Lesdiguié¢res nor the word propia, which is frequently inscribed in his manuscripts, appeass in it, the natural inference is that this is the manuscript of the Prophectes that was entered in the list of 1633.
24 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
1, c. (Reg.) Rome, Biblioteca Vaticana, Regina 1687. Early fourteenth century?.
Reg. consists of 137 folios, written in double columns. It is sadly mutilated, imperfect at both the beginning and the end, and having many lacunae. The folios have a double numerotation, the earlier in red Roman numerals, the later in black Arabics, which are those used in the references below. From the earlier numbers, which begin with fol. xv (fol. 1), the many missing leaves are quickly detected. The manuscript contains Histoire du saint Graal (fols. 1-75); Joseph d@’Arimathte (fols. 76-81); Roman de Merlin (fols. 82-137), into which at fols. 89b-111c the Prophectes de Merlin is intercalated. The Prophecies begins at the point in the ~ Merlin where Merlin has directed Blaise to write a book relating the history of Joseph and of Alain as well as that of the birth of Merlin. After the sentence, ‘‘ Et tu n’i mes riens que tu aies veu fors che tu m’as oi dire,’ which stands in the Merlin just before the close of the interview?, the text (fol. 89a) continues: — ‘‘ Et a ches paroles se parti Blaisses de Mellin. Et Merlins s’en ala ou il avoit un maistre qui avoit a non maistre Antoine qui li enquist e demande de plu- sieurs choses que on apela les prophesies Merlin si comme vous orres chi apres. ’’ The Prophecies follows until at the end of Chapter ccxx® (fol. rr1c, 1. 18) a new paragraph begins : — “‘ Chi endroit dist li contes que Merlins dist a maistre Blaise que ses livres qu’il avoit fait seroit... et celes, ’’ and continues with the Merlin at the point where it has been interrupted by the Prophecies. In the Prophecses, fol. 89d ends and fol. goa begins with an incomplete sentence, the former (‘‘ cheste damoisiele ara dedens sen — ”’) in Chapter 11, the latter (‘‘ tu vas disant. — Ouil chertes, che dist Merlin, — ’’) in Chapter xxx.
In arrangement, contents, and, with only minor differences, in text, Reg. agrees with 15211 except for the gap between Chapters rr and XXXII, where the manuscript is imperfect, and for another between Chapters. CLXxxvul and ccviI. Chapter CLXXxvII is con- cerned with the adventures of the Sage Clerc on the Flying Stone, but makes a digression to explain the functions of the several
1 See Langlois, Nofices et extraits, XXXIII, ii, 219 ff. Bruce in his edition of Le mort Artus (p. xv111, note 3) implies that there are only three Arthurian manu- scripts in the Vatican Library. There are at least eleven beside Regina 1687, which he does not mention ; see the index to Langlois, op. cit. * See Merlin, Som- mer, II, 20. *® See I, 260, note 4.
INTRODUCTION 25
classes of evil angels after their fall. After the sentence, ‘‘ Cil nous font songer les mauvais songez ’’ (which is followed in the other versions by, ‘‘ La pierre s’en ala ’’), the text continues, ‘‘ Or est drois que je vous die comment chele pierre fu getee ou flun Jourdain, ” and thus transfers us into a narrative in Chapter ccvi!! concerning the fourth stone in the crown of the Dragon of Babylon. Evidently there has been some confusion between the frerre reonde of the Sage Clerc and the quarte pierre of the Dragon, such as might have arisen if the scribe, who shows himself elsewhere a careless person, had lost his place in the manuscript that he was copying, or had purposely omitted material and attempted to patch together the remaining sections. |
Two prophecies are found in Reg. that are not in 15211 or B, — one introduced into Chapter xxxv*, and the other in Chapter xLvm?, which are plainly mere scribal additions.
Group II, x, then, consists of three manuscripts, the most impor- tant of which, B, is a redaction of the ultimate source of Group I ; an abbreviated version of B is represented by the other two members of the group, 15211 and Reg., of which 15211 is the better and more perfect manuscript.
2. (98) Paris, Bibliothéque nationale, fr. 98 (anc. 6772). Fourteenth century‘.
g8 is a beautiful manuscript, highly ornamented, consisting of 722 folios, written in double columns. It contains Histosre du saint Graal (fols. 1-128) ; Histoire de Merlin (fols. 129-250) ; Prophectes de Merlin (fols. 250a-258a) ; Histotre de Merlin (fols. 258a-276a) ; Prophecies de Merlin (fols 276a-287d) ; Lancelot du Lac (fols. 288a-722b). The Prophectes accordingly is intercalated in two sections into the Merlin. The first section begins at the point in the Merlin where, after the visit of Ban and Bohors to the castle of Agravadain, Merlin has left Niniane with whom he has been sojourning and has gone to Blaise, to whom he relates all that has befallen him since the assembly at Salisbury’ : — ‘“ Et Blaise mist toutes ces choses en son livre en escript si comme Merlins li avoit conteit et per lui et per son livre en savons nous la veriteit ’’ (fol. 250a). The next paragraph begins with
1 See I, 233, 250. * I, 93, mote 5. ° I, 107, note 15. See P. Paris, MfSS. francois, I, 129 ff.; Bibliotheque impériale, Catalogue des manuscrits francais, 1868, I, (Ancien fonds), 7. § Merlin, Sommer,II, 407.
26 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
the preface of the Prophecies and continues to Chapter Liv. The Merlin then recommences (fol. 258a) at the point where it was interrupted by the Prophecies, 1.e., with Arthur’s announcement to Gawain, after Merlin has left court with Ban and Bohors, that he will hold a tourney at Camalot, and continues to the last visit of Merlin to Blaise to whom he announces that he is going to sojourn with his amie from whom he will never return?. From this point, omitting the stories of Merlin’s imprisonment in the mistbound dwelling by Niniane and of the quest of Gawain and other knights for Merlin, which are contained m the ordinary Merlin, the text passes at once to the adventures of the damsel and the dwarf whom Arthur dubbed knight’, and contmues to the departure of the wounded knight, Tradedenant, from court after he has told Arthur the history of the maiden and the dwarf, concluding : ‘‘ Mes atant se tait or li conte d’eulx a parler et retorne a parleir dez prophecies de Merlins”’ (fol. 276a). The Prophecies is then resumed at Chapter Liv‘, and continues with many and great omissions to Chapter CCLXVII5.
In contents the first section of the Prophecies in 98 (fols. 250a- 258a) agrees exactly with B from the prefatory paragraph throngh Chapter Liv, except for the omission of Chapters xxx1, the greater part of Chapters XXXVI-xxxvu, and the first half of Chapter x.ir. The second section corresponds in outhne with the following chapters of the Prophecies ; the details of the omissions and addi- tions are found in the critical notes on the individual chapters.
Chapters — Folios
LIV; Ps W14y NOME QHERV bis d caous eu aecwnnsns oeeiia edie wetad Cabs 276a-—277b UR SES Ree cde eo cs reo hel ot ee ese te bee read 277b-d EXXVIIH UR AVI or oss 0 Oe g Seay oe ack ee Se ea a ee ee 277d-278a EX X KIS LIAM os awe Meee ee aa A re kB ees 278a—b
EX KX VINIEUR NIN os eae el eo ee eee a ark 278b-c CIVECY Sic hiines Gene eane eee hie oes eee a eens 278c CHIVECKRE 6d cise Svlrnis eeivweuleG ewes eee ieiecid sacs ceva 278c—280d CXXXIN, CXXXIV, Pp. 174 (§ 1), 175, 178-182 (§§ 2-5)... 2. eee ee eee 281a-282a CXARVIT, D2 159) NOES (0. 184) ivan aes hes eeneo iene uae aes 282a-c CXCV (Cl. Ps 240; NOU. 4) ancien aw cence wear ed eee ease 282c CROVINECN CIN ohn tn eee i lee Oo een ee Cea pee ews 282c-d COWVHCOVINE ies syed a cd Ae ee EN Cee RE OCR ees: 282d-—283c COXXIV, p.- 264; Note: 8 CCOXN NI iin so haes oe-ke wees SONS aoe ead 283c-285c COXMMIV=COR MA VIN 556 i 6 Se nh rs Os ee eee oO aa Re 285c—286d
1 See Merlin, Sommer, II, 451. * Sce ibid., p. 453, ? See ibid., p. 457. “1° 114, note 9; 115, note 4, *I, 303, note 2.
INTRODUCTION 27
Chapters Folios CENLI-CON LV 6) oot ERE iA ROSA AROS 286d-287b CCLRIT = Ps 297; DOE F 265 500 shea eae ewan Ra Keane ee waued 287b-c COLRVIE == 6 $03) ROLE 25s ech ei eed a teas Soho GaSe eee evan ees 287c-d
Although the folios agree in general with the chapters designated, they show many and long omissions, insertions, and in some cases widely different readings from those in any other text. The greatly abbreviated form of this version is doubtless due to the fact that the romance of Merlin was the author’s first concern, the Pro- phectes being a mere intercalation. He obviously is adapting the Merluz material to the latter, as has already been pointed out by Professor Mead. ‘‘ Of Merlin we hear no more except as he ans- wers the questions of Antoine ’’ — and, we may add, of the Dame du’ Lac and Meliadus. — ‘‘ The adapter does not allow Merlin to enter upon his enchanted sleep for the obvious reason that he is needed for the Prophectes in which he ts to be enchanted by the Dame du Lac.’’ 2 For the same reason the quest of Gawain for Merlm and the announcement to Gawain that he alone will hear Merhn’s voice are discarded, inasmuch as Merlin is to discourse at length with Mehadus in the Prophecies. At the end of Chapter Cxxxiv, 98 states that the story will tell of none of the knights who under- took the quest for Merlin except Meliadus, the ams of the Dame du Lac. From this pomt Meliadus is the central figure, and in the section following Chapter ccxxrv he takes the place of Perceval ; the Sage Clerc does not appear at all, and the prophecies that are sent to him in the other manuscripts are sent to Maistre Antoine in 98.
From its contents 98 clearly belongs to Group II. It contains the passages that are distinctive of the group, and the chapters that are found in it*, but not im the other manuscripts of the group, are among those that we have seen there is no reason to suppose were not in the original of B ; it also employs the formula for dates that is characteristic of Group II. Where Groups I and If, x, differ in text, 98 agrees more frequently with the latter than with the former, but in general it diverges so widely from both that it may almost be said to present an independent text, the prin- cipal value of which for the purposes of this edition is that it occasionally throws light on the interpretation of obscure passages. It is evidently a redaction of Z, which is treated with considerable treedom.
1 Meriin (E. E. T. 5.), I, cliv. 7? Chapters ex1v-cxix, CXXXVII.
28 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
Group III 1. (A) Paris, Bibliothéque de l’Arsenal, 5229. Fifteenth century!.
A consists of 173 folios, written in double columns, and has 67 miniatures, the majority being in camaieu. It contains only the Prophectes. Fol. 23d is imperfect at the end and fol. 24a at the beginning’. The continuation of fol. 23d is found in the manu- script C, fol. 49b*. Fol. 24a is unique in its contents.
In material A agrees with Group I,2, with the following excep- tions. It does not contain Chapter Lxxvill, the first paragraph of Chapter Lxx1x‘, Chapters CLXXXVI-CCXXIV®, CCLXIII-CCLXV*, CCLXIX-CCLXXIv’. It ends in Chapter ccxcvi®. It contains none of the romantic episodes of Group I,2 summarized below, except No. 2, which here follows Chapter CLxxxvi instead of Chapter ccxx as in Group I,2. It introduces a large number of narratives of adventure, which with the exception of a single fragment in C® are given in no other version of the Prophecies, and in only one case? are inserted at the points where the episodes of Group I,2 appear. There is a striking difference in the arrangement of certain chapters ; for instance the adventure of the knight at the Quaking Mountain in Chapters CxLIx (page 198, § § 2,3) — CLI is introduced with episodic material into Chapter CxxxvllI at page 183, note 8, before the visit of the Dame du Lac and Meliadus to: Vincestre. A more significant difference is that A, like B, contains Chapters Ix, page 66, note II; CLXXVIII, page 223, note 4 ; CCLXVII, page 303, note 2. We see also by a comparison of folios 23d and 24a, where the manuscript is defective, with C, as has been said above, that it certainly contained Chapter Liv, page 115, note 6. A, accordingly, preserves the material of B that is not found in Group I,2, with the exception of those passages that are evidently the abridgements of longer narratives.
In text A agrees in general more closely with Group I than with Group II. It always employs the form of dating characteristic of Group I, and where Groups I and II diverge, if it is in agreement
1 See Catalogue des manuscrits de la Bibliothéque def’ Arsenal, V, 169. * See I, 426, 427, note xr. *Sec I, 426, note 2. 41, 137, note 16. 5I, 232, note 4; 264, note 8. * I, 297, note 9; 301, note 5. 7 The manuscript is defective here, and passes without a break from an incomplete sentence in Chapter ccix1x (p. 305, note 4) to another in Chapter ccixxiv (p. 308, note 1). ® See I, 319, note 7.. ® See I, 426, (No. 2). 2°See I, 183, note 7.
s
INTRODUCTION 29
with either, it shows a preference for Group I rather than for Group II ; like B it may also be said to be more frequently in accord with Add. than with 350. It is worth while to note that occasional instances occur where A agrees with B in supplying obvious defects in the derivatives of Y!. Throughout, however, A exhibits innumerable minor variations from both groups and frequently presents a verbal rendering — usually an amplifi- cation — peculiar to itself. This is especially true in narrative passages in the prophecies *. All of these facts are fully illus- trated by the collations in the footnotes and especially by the citations quoted below tn extenso. This combination of charac- teristics shows that A can be derived directly neither from Y nor Z. Whether, like both, it is a redaction (perhaps through an inter- mediary) of X, in which the redactor has allowed himself a free hand both in word and content, or whether it is the result of a cross- ing of the two sources, Y and Z, cannot be determined until the episodic material which forms their chief point of differentiation has been examined?.
In order to illustrate more conveniently for the eye than by collation the relations of the most important manuscripts of the foregoing groups to each other and to R the complete text of the fol- lowing passage from Chapters XxvI and XxXvII is given from 350, Add., B, 98, and A ; —
(a) 350, fols. 370c-d ; Add., fols. gb-d. The text is that of 350, with the variants from Add. in brackets.
Ha Diex, fet maistre Antoine, n’aura il en soi ne sens ne memore ? — Je voil que tu metez en escrit que puis que li home seront sous- pris d’aucun pechie il auront le sens perdu, mais non pas du tout. — Di moi, Mellin, fait mestre Antoine, de coi aura li home pecheor le sens perdu [perdu le sens]? — Je le te dirai molt bien, ce dit Mellin. Li pechie si est l’anemis. Puis que li hom I’aura herbegie en soi li anemis [#s. si} le poindra plus souvent d’un aguillon {d’un aguillon plus souvent} qu'il ne feist s’il ne l’eust mie her- begie. Il aura le sans cangie. Et saches que de tant come li anemi sera o lui herbegie il aura le sanz cangie que jamais ne le semon- dra li anemis de bien faire, mes [ts. toutes voies] qu'il fache du tout a son pleisir, ce est de mal en pis. Met en ton escrit, ce dit Mellin, que tuit cil qui sont en pechie mortel [pechiez
1 See, e. g., I, 65, note 12; 68, note 4. * See, e. g., I, 83, note 4; 164, note 4. > See I], 281 ff.
30 ‘LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
mortieus] 1 [om. i; sms. n’J] auront ja boin memorre, puisque il aront herbegie celui qui tout le bien destorne a faire, et si te mosterai la senefianche. Souventez fois puet l’en veoir se il est her- begie en aucun ostel .1. ribaut qui [que auques| volentiers se her- bergent (herbergeront] avoec [sas. lui] li autre ribaut pour jouer la nuit a hasart. Et lorz quant il auront joue grant partie de la nuit a hasart (ows. Et... hasart] et lors quant il auront veillie assez [om. assez] grant partie de la nuit, il diront ]’un al’autre, Je sai 1. leu ou nouz porronz bien [om. bien] gaaignier, alons cele part. Et lorz s’en iront h ribaut et desroberont une maison, et (om. et] a l’endemain vendra le signorage de la vile ou li ribaut seront her- bergie et les cuidera trouver, mes il seront molt bien repost. prendront [prendra] l’oste et le geteront [jetera] au fons d’une [de la) chartre, et dira l’en que sanz le conseil {sen} de lui ne robe- ront mite fdesroberent] li ribaut la maison. Certes, mestre Antoine, ce dit Merlin [om. ce... Merlin], se celui hostez eust her- begie aucun boin chevalier et de boine renonmee il n’eust pas este pris ne getez en [is. la] chartre. Dont je te dt apertement et a toutez gens que il ne fachent herbegier en leur mesons [ostel] les pechiez que au fons d’enfer l’en [les en] fera l’en geter, mais her- bege nostre signeur Jhesu Crist qui el saint Paradis les en fom. en} fera aler et herbegier (ss. dedens] a tous jours mais.
Di moi, mestre Antoine, ce dit [om. ce ; fet] Mellin, t’acorde te bien a chou que je t’ai dit ? —- Voirement m’acort je bien, ce dit [om. ce ; fet] mestre Antoine. Mes d’une chose voel je que tu me fachez sage. Di moi, quant li hom est en pechite mortel se hi anemis est herbegiez avoecques lui. — Oi, ce dit Mellin. — Et ou est adont li anglez alez qui les ames vait gouvernant ? ce dit mestre Antoine. — As tu veu aucun home, ce dit Mellm, parler a aucun anemi, dire a autre home tres devant hui, et de tant come celui parloit [il i parole] a li (om. a li] li autrez a [tient] le chief enbronchie et est [1ms. il] ileuc tant que celui parlement remaigne? — Oil, par maintez foiz, ce dit mestre Antoine. — Aim- sint le fet li anglez qui tant conme It anemis sera herbegiez et tenuis a aise il sera enbronchiez [om. enbronchiez] environ lonme {ems. et aura le chief enbronchie] jusqu’a tant que h home (sas. en} prendra la penitanche du pechie que il aura fet, et lorssera h sains hom [angles] herbegiez la [om. la ; ans. en lui] ou il [sms. le] doit garder le boin crestien (om. le... crestien]. — Di moi, Mellin, fet mestre Antoine, ou s’en ira li anemis aprez che que li hom pren- dra penitanche ? — As tu veu, ce dit Mellin, aucunz chienz re-
INTRODUCTION 32
garder au mains d’aucun home quant il oste [runge] le char d’en- viron aucun os ? — Oil, assez en ai je veu par mamtez fois [om. par...fois} ce dit [om. ce ; fet] mestre Antoine [i#s. par maintes fois). — Ainsint regarde h anemis I’[om. l’]onme se il chiet en aucun pechie pour estre herbegie avec lui. — Je croi bien aperte- ment, ce dit mestre Antoine, que tu dis voir. Mais d’une chose vel ye que tu me fachez sage, se herbegera li anemis avoec lez homez por {par} touz les pechiez du monde. — Nanil, certez, ce dit Mer- lm, mes il en fait assez ta (Ia] chjere.
(6) B, fols. 53a-c.
Ha Dex, dit maitre Antoine, n’auront il en aus ne sen ne memoire? — Je vorl que tu metes en escrit, que puis que li hom sera re- pris d’'aucun pechie, il aura le sen perdu, mais non pas dou tout. — Di mot, Merlin, fait maitre Antoine, de quoi aura li hom pechierres perdu le sen ? — fe le te dirai, ce dit Merlin. Li hom puis que il est en pechie i a l’anermi dedens soi, et puis que li anemis est dedens ome, tt le point plus sovent de son aguillon qu’it ne le feist, se il ne l’eust herbegiez. Or saches que de tant com li anemis sera avec Ini herbergies, Hl aura le sen changie que jamais ne le semondra, . Mats qu'il face toutes voies a son plaisir, ce est de mal en pts. Met en ton escrit, ce dit Meflin, que tuit cil quiseront en pechie mortel et n'auront bone memoire, et auront herbergie celui qui tous les , biens destornera a faire, et si te monstrerai la senefiance. Soventes fois puet Fon veoir se il est herbergiez en aucun hostel d’un ribaut qui volentiers se herbergent li autre ribaut aviec Im por joer la nuit as des ; et lors quant il auront joe grant partie de la nuit i diront li uns a l'autre, Je sai un leu ou on porrait plus gaangnier, car alons cele part. Et lors s’en iront et desroberont une maison. Et a Pendemaim vandra la signorie de la vile a l’ostel ou li ribaut auront este et les cuideront trover iluec, mais il seront bien repost. Ii prendront l’oste et le geteront en une chartre, et diront que sans le sen de lui ne desroberent li ribaut larron la maison. Certes, maitre Antoinnes, se cil hostes eust herbergie aucun chevalier ou aucun home de bone renomee il ne fust pris ne getes en la chartre. Dont je te di apertement a toutes gens que il ne facent herbergier les pechies en lor hostel qui ou fons d’anfer les fera geter, mais her- bergent Nostre Signor, qui ou saint Paradis les fera aler et herbe- gier dedens a tous jors mais.
Di moi, maitre Antoine, te concordes tu bien a ce que je t’ai dit ? — VWoirement, mi acors je bien, fait maitre Antoine, mais d’une choze voil je bien que tu me faces saige. Di moi, Merlin, li
32 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
hom est en pechie est li anemis avec lui ? — Oil, ce dit Merlin. — Et ou est adonc li sains angles qui les ames va governant ? fait maitre Antoinne. — As tu veu, ce dit Merlin, aucun home dire a aucun anemi d’un autre home tres devant lui, et de tant come il parolent ensemble, le verres vos a l’autre tenir le chief enbron- chie, et estre illuec tant que li parlemens remaingne ? — Oil, par maintes fois, ce dit maitre Antoinne. — Einsi le fait li sains angeles, De tant que li anemis sera herbergies et tenus a aise il sera environ l’ome et aura le chief enbronchie dusque a tant que li hom prangne sa penitance dou pechie que il aura fait, et tantost come li hom aura prise sa penitance, maintenant sera herbergies en lui li sains angeles ou il le doit garder. — Di moi, Merlin, dit maitre Antoinne, ou sera li anemis apres ce que li hom aura prise sa penitance ? — As tu veu aucun resgarder es mains d’au-" cun home quant il manjue la char d’anviron d’aucun os ? — OH, asses en ai veu, ce dit maitre Antoinne, par maintes fois. — Einsi resgarde li anemis l’ome, c’il cherroit en pechie por estre herbegiez avec lui.— Je croi bien apertement, ce dit maitre Antoinne, que tu dis verite. Mais d’une choze voil que tu me faces saige, se her- berge li anemis avec les homes por tous les pechies dou monde. — Non voir, ce dit Merlins, mais il en fait ases lie chiere.
(c) 98, fols. 253d-254a.
Ha Dieu, fait maistre Anthonne, n’averont ilz en eulx ne sens ne memoire ? — Je vuel que tu messe en escript que pues que li home serait repris d’aucun pechiet il avera le sens perdus, mais non pas tout. — Di moy, Merlin, fait maistre Anthone, de quoi avera h homme pechour perdus le sens ? — Je le te dira, fait Merlin. Li homme puis qu’il est en pechiez il ait l’annemy dedens le corps. Et pues que li anemin est dedens l’omme il le point plus souvent de son aguillon qu'il ne feroit se il ne l’avoit point en lui habergiez. Et saiche que tant comme il averait l’anemin avec lui il avera le sens changiet, car jamais li anemin ne le semonra, mais que 11 faice a son plaisir, c’est de mal en pix.
Mes en ton escript, se dit Merlin, que tuits cilz qui seront en pe- chiez morteilx et n’averont bonne memoire averont celui haber- giet qui tous les biens destorne a faire. Or si t’en moustrerai la si- gnifiance. Souventes fois puet on veoir d’aucun ribaus se il est habergiez en aucun hostel que volentier se haberge li aultre ribas avec lui pour juer la nuit as deis. Et lors quant ilz averont juez grant piece de la nuit ilz diront li ung a l’autre. Je scai .i. lieu ou on poroit plus gaingnier que ci, car alons celle part. Et lors s’en
INTRODUCTION 33
ont et desroberont une maison, et le londemain venront li sei- gnours de la ville en l’osteil ou li ribalz averont estes habergiez et les y aideront trouver. Mais ilz se seront bien reponus. Et lors avenra qu'ilz penront l’oste de leans et le geteront en une chartre et di- ront que sens Je sceu de lui ne desroberent li ribalz lairons la maixons. Certe, maistre Anthone, se cil hoste heust habergiez aucuns chevaliers ou aucuns hommes de bonne renommee, il ne fut pas esteit pris ne gitez en chartre, dont je dis appertement a toutes gens qu'ilz ne habergent pas les pechiez en leurs consciences, car s’ilz les habergent ilz en seront gitez o feu d’enffer, mais vuellent habergier Nostre Seigneur en leurs consciences qui les habergera en son sainct Paradis a tous jors mais.
— Dimoy, Merlin, fait maistre Anthone, est il vrai ceu que tu dis ? — Oil voir, fait Merlin, et ne ti acorde tu pas bien ? — Voire- ment m'y acorde je bien, fait maistre Anthonne. Mais d’une chose vuel je que tu me faice saige. Di moi, quant li homme est en pechiez, ait ul por ce li anemin dedens lui ? — Oil voir, se dit Merlin. — Et ou est donc li sainct aingle qui son ame vet gouvernant ? fait maistre Anthone. —- Ais tu point veu, ce dit Merlin, parler a au- cun qui estoit anemi a ung autre homme tres devant lui, et tant come ilz parloient ensemble il avoient anbedeux leurs chiefz en- clns et estoient illuec tant come li parlement duroit ? — Oil (ce dit Merlin), per maintez fois, se dit maistre Anthone. — Tout ensi, dit Merlin, fait li sainct aingle, car tant comme li anemin serait habergiet avec l’ome et tenus a aise, le sainct aingle ne sera avec lui ains sera entour lui et tenra le chief enclin tant que li homme penra penitance du pechiez que il avera fait, et tantost comme li homme avera prise sa penitance maintenant sera ha- bergiet 0 lui li sainct aingle. — Di moi, Merlin, fait maistre Anthone, ou sera li annemin pues que li homme avera prise sa penitance ? — Ais tu point vues, se dit Merlin, aucun chien regarder vers les mains d’aucun homme quant il maingoit la char d’entour aucun osse? —- Oil, assez en ais veus, dit maistre Anthone, par maintes fois. — Ainsi regarde, se dit Merlin, li anemin l’omme pour veoir cil chera en pechier pour estre habergier avec lui. — Je croi bien apertement, se dit maistre Anthone, que tu dis verite, mais d'une chose je vuel que tu me faice saige, se haberge li anemin avec omme pour tous pechiez du monde ? — Nenil voir, dit Merlin, mais il en fait asses lie chier.
(d) A, fols. 10a-d,
Ha Dieux, fet maistre Antoinne, n’auront ilz en soy ne sens ne
3
34 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
mesure ? — Je vueil que tu mettes en escript, fait Merlin, que puis que li home seront seurpris d’aucun pechie ilz auront perdu le sens. Car je te di bien vrayement et si vueil que tu les mettes en escript que tuit le sachent que li pechiez si est liennemis et puis que li home l’aura herbergie dedens soy li ennemi le poindra de son aguillon plus souvent que s'il ne l’eust hebergie, et saichiez que de tant que li ennemis sera hebergiez dedens lui il aura le sens changie. Car jamez ne le semondra li ennemiz de bien faire, mez toutes voiez qu’il face ades son plaisir, ce est de mal en pys. Or met en ton escript, fait Merlin, mestre Antoinne, que tuit cil qui seront en pechie mortel n’auront bonne maison et auront hebergie cellui qui tout le bien li destornnera a faire, et si te moustreray la signi- fiance. L’en puet veoir appertement que c’il est hebergiez en bon hostel aucun ribaux que li autres mbaut se hebergeront auques voulentiers avec lui pour jouer la nuit au azart. Et quant ilz ont joue grant partie de la nuit li uns dira a l’autre, Je scay un lieu OU nous povons gaignier. Or alons celle part. Et lors s’en iront et desroberont aucune meson. Dont al’endemain viendra li sires de la ville a l’ostel de celli qui aura les ribaux hebergiez et les cuidera trouver, mais ilz seront moult bien repost. Dont ul fera prendre l’oste et le fera getter en parfonde chartre, et dira l’en apperte- mant que sans l’esceu de lui ne pouvvoient avoir desrobee celle meson li ribaux. Mes certes, maistre Antoinne, se cellui hoste eust hebergie aucun chevalier ou aucun home de bonne renomee, il ne seroit ja pris ne gettez en chartre. Dogt je dy apertement a toute gent qu’ilz ne facent hebergier avec soy le pechie qui ou fons d’enfer les fera getter, mais hebergent nostre saigneur Jhesu Crist, qui ens le saint Paradis les fera aler et hebergier dedens a tous jours mes.
Di moy, maistre Antoinne, fet Merlin, ne t’acordes tu a ce que je te dy ? — Voirement m’y accors je, fet maistre Antoinne, mes d’une chose vueil je que tu me faces sages. Tu me dis que quant hi hom est en pechie mortel que li ennemis est hebergiez avec lui. — Oil, fet Merlin. — Et ou est donc alez li angelz qui les ames gou- verne et doit garder ? —- Maistre Antoinne, fet Merlin, as tu veu comment se contient aucuns hom quant il voit aucun autre homme parler a aucun sien ennemy que de tant que il y parle, il tient le chief enclin et embronchie toutes voies ? — Oil, par maintes foiz, fait maistre Antoinne. — Or saches, fait Merlin, que tout ainsi fait li anges que de tant que li ennemis est hebergiez et tenus en aise, il est environ l’ome, et tient le chief enbronchie et enclin jusques
-
INTRODUCTION : 35
a tant qu'il lui doint congie, c’est a dire jusqu’a tant qu'il prent penitence li homme du pechie qu'il a fet, et lors sera li saint angelz hebergie en son heu la ou il doit garder. — Dy moy, Merlin, fet maistre Antoinne, ou ira li ennemis apres ce que li hom aura pris penitance ? — As tu veu, fet Merlin, un chien esgarder es mains d’aucun homme qui manje char entour un os ? Einsi regarde, fet Merlin, li ennemis l’ome qu'il chee en aucun pechie mortel pour hebergiez soy dedens lui. — Je croy bien, fet maistre Antoinne, que ce est voir que tu dis, mais d’une chose vueil je que tu me faces sages. Sera hebergie li ennemis avec l’ome puur chascun pechie ? — Certes nenil, fait Merlin, mais il en fait assez liee chier.
Group IV MISARRANGED OR DEFECTIVE SOURCES
1. (M) Venice, Biblioteca Marciana, Manoscritti francesi, Appendice, XXIX. Fourteenth century’. |
M consists of 88 unnumbered folios, written in double columns and by various hands. It contains the Roman de Merlin (fols. 1-32) ; Pro- phectes de Merlin (fols. 33a-88b). The Merlin extends to the coro- nation of Arthur. It ends at fol. 32d (which lacks one and a half lines at the end) : — “ Artus, alez querre l’espee et la jostice dont vos devez deffendre sainte iglise et la crestiente garder a votre pooir*. ’’ Fol. 33a begins with Chapter x1 of the Prophecies : — “ Ci endroit dit le contes que un samedi —. ”’
The contents of M is shown by the following table. Some of the folios do not contain all of the material of the corresponding chapters of R.
Chapters Folios MBS VT ei ek ehh RO Bee he HAASE HS 33a-35a OE 6 06866 Skee ee BF OS REESE BO ee Ve ee eal 35a—-36a EXEXVIALKARXMVID ooekew i Seated Seen GOON EAA Se Cane ee ead ne 36a oh § Cae eae en er ene ee ee gre ere area ee ee eee ae eee ee err ee ere ree 36a-c CU Gee FE bik Seed eS a RES, PEGG Oia) Oe Ws eek See eek ae ans otaua 36c CIRO K see nen eaa ad a eee Case ahi Rood de we a ees 36c-d CEIV 6c. ca Se ee we ek Ce tee Sa HA ea ee a EE OA ee es 36d-—37a CRI 6 65 ia eh SO Gk ORS ed Tt ete 37a RNAI RHE oa os eh as he BGG Oe ae Pre hth ate A ae A ee ee Sew eee 37a-41d LMRELEXRKY 656 echo oes Gas oda ta baie Ae be we 41d-—45b ERK VICK CY iii dh dvat odie Se ee he DAR ee we eee ves 45b-46b
1 See D. Ciampoli, J codict frances: della R. Biblioteca Naszionale di S. Marco in Venezia, 1897, pp. 151 ff. * Merlin, Sommer, II, 88.
36 LES PROPHECIES DE: MERLIN
Chapters Folios
I, p. 57, note 9-x1 (including Chapter 1x, p. 66, note 11)............. 460b—49c¢ Episode: 1,.469 (NGOs 82D) .3.90505.56 62565444058 90 aewe oes edad 490-51a ROMSOE dtrctig eed Se GVeiiwde rds ee Sei eee Sa eee aos eatesees §1a—§2c EMH UX Ric oas tie ho kee Sees heieenss bc ted Foneneeeses 520-55C CXXT CONNIE 65.465 doh ose. sateereded dese eae sanoaas aeons §5c—-59a COUR COURY 5. Sig ob oes Hea bord Ba OR OM RY TE CG eae Sams Mee © 59b-6oc CEXXVINIZCOXS 3 oir oi shed bh Veal ewe Neg hue e seus ee ebaames 60c—69d COCHIISCOONKVE sede bees aeaes ed GY Sa ewe owen ee eae aaa 70a—-74C COXXV=COXNN VS os oii ae eek ee eee ree es oh eas See See SNC 74C-78b COXLIV=CORLV 56 ec Soe She PE web Eee eek VIS ae eee 4G 78b-792 COCLXVIRCCERV lw so o's dina ho aren SOAS aE OS SS OVERSEER Te eaN 79a—80a COL oe Sesicine oc wc ash G toh O40 8 LEO ew EO Ko, Seo Ree S0a-—c CCLXXXI..... Dike SUAS ae Vee eee ree eae s VIAN AN 80ce-d COLXXXNIV=CCENK XVI. 2 ooh Hees Paha Oe ea ies kore ee’ 80d-—81b CORG—CON CVs Sah is ga tas aS ae Rw OSD OE eats 81c-82¢ COG Ee SEN EE oe BOS Tere re eet To eee ee ee 82¢ Episode? 1: 445.(16) oi.526400 sc0saWasewieeSiiwssed casureeeeeenes 82d-85a MVINAR Ke sare saw hers wsks ode we Vee es 64 wa aS Adee Hee ee eae ee 85a-c RXIVARKY oo oss la Gavin Owe 6908S ea be eae eee ace ne eee we 85d—86a PVSLVIN 6 occas Sob heat Maa Riche aie soo awe a ae We deares 86a-—d CIR a ee eis e Bia Ss Ss ON owe bie BW ies Sew Sew aoe A eS RE ees Sas 86d-87d LIV, p. 115, note 6 : prophecy concerning the Bons Mariniers and the
Autriquans: (ps 276) cies Sew sh ees Oes haw nae CaN s e ales 87d-88b
The manuscript ends with the words Merlins Prophetrae on a separate line. There are numerous evidences in the text that various hands were engaged in copying it. At the end of Chapter xcI (fol. 46b), instead of the last section of R, we read : ‘‘ Mes atant lese li contes a parler d[es] profecies Merlin que bien i saura retorner et parole dou concile de mon seignor I’apostoille que fait fu en la citez de Rome. ’”’ A blank space — frequently the indication of a change of scribe in a manuscript — of nine lines follows, and no fur- ther mention is made of the “‘ concile de Rome. ’’ Chapter cccxxvi ends in the middle of the third sentence (‘‘ celui Dragon aura si grant richece ’’), and a blank space of four lines follows before the next chapter begins?. Chapter ccixv also ends with an incomplete sentence, ‘‘ Li rois d’Ynde... le prie, ’’ to which a later hand has added, ‘‘ qu'il soient bons cretiens. ’’ The’ prophecy concerning Enzio da Romano in Chapter Lxxxv1 occurs twice, at folios 36a and 45b.* But the chief distinction of M is its wild disorder, and while for very much of the material we have no right to insist upon one order as superior to another, it is easy to see by com-
1 For the long introduction to this chapter seeI, 162, note 8, *%Chapter ccxxv. 3 See I, 43, note 2.
INTRODUCTION 37
parison with the text of R that the arrangement of M is a misar- rangement. We may almost apply to it the graphic description that Paulin Paris gave of a manuscript of the Roman des Sept Sages in the Fitzwilliam Museum}?, “ le commencement est a la fin ou plus exactement encore il n’a pas de téte et les pieds n’y sont pas a leur place. ’’ Such a state of confusion is not difficult to understand where many hands, as in the case of 4/7, performed the task of transcription ; under such circumstances there were manifold opportunities for the loss, misplacement, and duplication of parts, especially when it was the custom in establishments where copying was done to produce several exemplars of one work’. The material throughout is that of Group I, with the exception of the prophecies relating to the Bons Mariniers in Chapters Ix, page 66, note 11, and LIV, page 115, note 6, which are peculiar to Group II and A. In ist account of the bespelling of Merlin by the Dame du Lac M is in detail very different from any of the other versions except 1498*. The text is in general that of Group I, although frequently where Groups I and II differ, M offers still another read- ing. But for its disordered and imperfect condition there would be good reason to classify it as a defective redaction of X ; yet it is so evidently made up of fragmentary parts that we can draw no reliable deductions as to its derivation from any one source. With all its defects, but with verbal differences, M is implanted bodily into the midst of the edition of 1498, fols. 56a-125c*.
2. (C) Chantilly, Musée Condé, 644 (No. 1081). Fourteenth century‘.
C consists of 164 folios, written in double columns. It is imperfect at fols. 54a, 81d, and 82a, and has many other defects, which appear in the description given below. It contains Prophecies de Merlin (fols. 1a-59d, 1. 10) ; Le Petit Saint Graal [Joseph d’Arimathie] (fols. 59d, L x1, ‘‘ Ben devrent que savoir tuit li pecheor,”’ - 81d, ‘‘au leu terrien et a la Joy maintenir et vo — ’’)*; Roman de Merlin (fols. 82a, ‘‘ vos le faisiez ausint folement con vostre suer, ”’ - 1634, ‘‘ tint la terre et loregne de Logres lonc tens en pais, ’? name- ly, from the temptation of the younger sister of Merlin’s mother to the coronation of Arthur)’ ; Prophecies de Merlin (fols. 163a- 164d). The manuscript ends with the words “‘ aura dese —,’’ to which
1See M. R. James, Descriptive Catalogue of the Mc Clean Collection of Manuscripts, pp. 340 ff. 4Cf. Id.,i.c. * See I, 162, note 8. “SeelI, 41. 5 See Chantilly, Le Cabinet des livres, Manuscrits, II, 384. © Hucher, I, 209 ff. ? Merlin, Sommer, II, 7-88.
38 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
the conclusion ‘‘ — rirres, ’”’ is added on the next’ line (where there has evidently been an erasure), followed by ‘‘ fin, ’’ both in another hand.
The following table of contents shows the imperfect and highly disordered condition of the manuscript. The first seventeen lines of folio 1 are blank. The Prophectes begins (1. 18) in the midst of an interview between Maistre Tholomer and a lady, — ‘‘ Madame, fait Tolomer, je ne meterai home ne feme —.”
Chapters Folios Prophecies delivered by Merlin to Maistre Tholomer ............. Ia-22a LEX, Dp. 129, 1. 21 (“ Dont je vueil") 2 coca d kid iw eile daca es 22a-b LXXIT-LXXV. 2.0000: Pe eee ee ee Peer ee ee 220-23C LXXIX-LXXXIIM. 2... ce eee (Aue ee eee hes eed Sguieaaeeawaces 23c-25a PARK Voi 060 en eee GANS SaaS ROR A ee 25a~b ROKK os ie eg vas eke Has haw ee Seo eaass stata causa sess seceeee 25bD-d GO50.° 243; DOte Ginvnca tareeaewisasaeimun von be weetaucadesaess 25d COI shot 58 Ee Cas ee De ae SE Oe ee ee eee ee Ce ees 25d-26a cclv to p. 247, 1. 9, “ enfes,"’ which is run on to 1498, fol. rc,
(‘le enfans homes que sunt ploins d’ire ’’)}—2c (I, 450-453)......- 26a-28a Prophecies to Maistre Tholomer and Maistre Antoine (1498, fols.
P9C2160) his eee ede aweties pid eeeweeeeteed ere er re - 28a-33b Prophecies to Maistre Antoine in no other French source........... - 33b-35c I, Pe 57, MOLE Q—XXVINM . cece ccc ccc c eee ecncsens Re aiecevenuarewarsvacs ~ 3§¢-47b LI-LIV, pp. 115, note 6, 426, note 2..... Waals Sarees acs eee emcee - 47b-50a EVISLUE ics se a ee eile Aedes Salen a aeons hee sauw tens 50a-§1a ERTIES EREY 4.25 53s gre oon Bes Oe oe ee NERS 5 ORO SEW en a EE es S1a-d LXVII-LXX, p. 129, 1. 21 (i.e., the point where fol. 22a begins)........ 5§1d-s2d BLAM FOO secs 6.6. bud teat ow Sow Seavaee RSIS S Ai ae ala abla ale bin eaten 53a-d XCVIH, p. 149, 1. rr (*‘ en Servise de—”’)-C... ccc cc eee ee een e ees 54a-C 1498, fols. 85a (‘‘ Je vueil que- ’’)—86a (“‘la Dame du Lac en fist’); see
DAO 2HE OL iiaise hWaesein ae Vp eee es Aa eee Se A eas ee me aw eects 54¢C-56c CXXI-CXXIX, (p. 169, 1. 23 : “‘ endormir et quant e vegoe’’)......... - §6c-59d Maistre Tholomer as the scribe of Merlin (see II, 306).......... weeee 163a-d LX—LXII to p. 122, 1. 19 (“‘ desiretes’).......0.2.4. fae ea aces rere 163d-164d
In addition to the obvious blemishes of the manuscript that appear in the above description, the text is extremely poor, often defective, full of errors, occasionally introducing Italian forms, and altogether confirming the writer’s statement that he is a Lom- bard and can therefore boast no great familiarity with French’. The condition of the text is all the more to be regretted because the manuscript is unique in many of the prophecies to Maistre Tholomer, in a few to Maistre Antoine, and also in some passages
1 E. g., la novella, fol. 9c: t’aporta ma carta, fol. 49b; la femina, fol. 54d; la dona dou lac, la dama, fol. 55 a. Cf. also below, II, 336 ff.
oe ES eee:
INTRODUCTION 39
that throw light upon certain questions connected with the com- position of the Prophectes}. But its imperfections are too great to justify its publication or permit it to be classified with any of our defined groups.
* Merlin). Antoine Verard, Paris, 1498.°3 vols. Of this edition the
Prophecies forms the third volume’.
1498, the edstio princeps of the Prophecies in French, is printed in black letter and illustrated with woodcuts. Two impressions, both dated 1498 and having the same foliation, were issued by Vérard. They differ only in typographical details indicating that the types were set separately for each, and in the first of the two addresses of Vérard given in both colophons?. In one it appears as “ sur le Pont Nostre-Dame, ”’ where from other dated colophons he is known to have had a shop before the fall of the bridge in October, 1499; the other reads in the same place, ‘‘ devant Nostre-Dame de Paris,” the less precise expression by which Vérard in a few undated colophons designates a different establishment that he evidently had even before his shop on the Pont Notre-Dame was destroyed, situated very probably in the Rue du Marché Palu (the first in the line of streets between the Petit Pont and the Pont Notre-Dame) near its point of intersection by the Rue Neuve Notre-Dame, which entered the Parvis opposite the cathedral‘. The impression bearing the latter colophon Vérard issued not only on paper, but also on vellum with illuminations.
The Prophecies appeared in the sixteenth century in the fol- lowing editions® : — 1505. Michel le Now, Paris. Third volume of the romance of Merlin. — 1507. Michel le Noir, Paris. In the
1See II, 306 ff., 329 ff., 336 ff., 343. ® Brunet, Manuel duc libratve, III, 1654; Sopinger, Supplement to Hain, Repertorium Bibliographicum, 1898, 11, No. 3993; Van Praet, Catalogue des livres imprimés sur vélin dela Bibliotheque du Rot, 1822, IV, No. 377; J. Macfarlane, Antoine Vévard, 1900, pp. 26, 86 ; cf. p. 122. ® For the colophon see I, 495. The address in the Palais de Justice is believed to refer toa storehouse. Cf. Ph. Renouard. Imprimeurs parisiens, 1898, p. xii. * See ibid., p. 361. For the theory that the impression with this colophon was made in or after 1503 see Macfarlane, op. cil., pp. xi, 86; Chantilly, Le Cabinet des livres. Imprimés, 1905, p. 260. For a more convincing discussion of the datings and addresses in Vérard’s colophons see F. W. Bourdillon, The Early Editions of the Roman de la Rose, 1906, pp. 193 ff. Cf. Catalogue of the Manuscripts and Early Printed Books of the Library of J. P. Morgan, 1907, II, No. 549. Macfarlane mentions (p. 87) two copies, of the edition that he attributcs to 1503 (?). To these should be added two copies. one on vellum, in the Bibliotheque Nationale, and also one, without the Merlin, in the Morgan Library. 5 See Brunet, J. c.; Merlin (E. E. T.S.), I, xlix, note x
40 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
second volume of the Merlin}. — S.a. [1510 (?)]. Veuve feu Jehan Trepperel et Jehan Jeannot, Paris. Third volume of the romance of Merlin. — S.a. [1520 (?), 1526 (?)]. Jehan Mace of Rouen, Michel Angier of Caen, and Richard Mace of Rouen, Rouen. — 1526. Phi- lippe le Noir, Paris. — 1528. Philippe le Noir, Paris. Third volume of the romance of Merlin. All these editions repeat the text of 1498 with a very few entirely unimportant omissions or transpositions of chapters. 1498 is accordingly the only edition that should be included among our sources.
The romance of Merlin, to which the Prophecies is appended in 1498, concludes at the point where Gawain returns to court after his adventure with the dwarf, Evadeam, and after having heard Merlin from his mistbound tower recount his own fate and an- nounce that no man will ever again hear his voice. Gawain relates to Arthur all that has befallen him. The romance ends (fol. 172d), — “* Desquelles choses furent le roy Artus et la royne et tous les barons durement couroucez et en firent moult grant dueil*. Atant se taist icy et fait fin le compte de la vie Merlin et de ses faiz et compte de ses prophecies. ’’ There is no attempt whatever, as in 98, to accommodate the romance to the Prophecies, which is appended to the foregoing material, regardless of the fact that at the begin- ning it represents Merlin as alive and uttering prophecies, and later as submitting to a second form of incarceration by the Dame du Lac and addressing Meliadus from his tomb in spite of his last words to Gawain in the romance.
The Prophecies begins (fol. ra) : — ‘‘ Cy endroit dit le compte que Merlin estoit ung jor en Galles en la chambre de maistre Tholomer et pensoyt moult fort en luy meismes. ’’ Its material is seen from the following table of contents : —
Chapters Folios
Prophecies of Merlin to Maistre Tholomer. This section may be called the Livre de Tholomer, and for much the greater part is found only
in 1406, See. 1, 4409-494 ook seca io sians Ohba weeta heaweeaeaess la-I4a Prophecies to Maistre Amtoin€........ cece ccc c neces eres esc acnes 14a-18c Chapters CXXXVIII-CXLI, CL, CLI, p. 190, § 4 — CXLIV, Pp. 192, § 2..... 18c-21a Prophecies to Maistre Antoine. ........ ccc ccc cece cece cece cence 21a-24c Chapters CXXXII-CXXNIV, DP. 175. ccc ccc ec cece ccc cence ease cee cces 24c-25d The submission of the Emperor to the Pope ; Merlin before the Papal
Council. See 1, -47 $248 lc1 623s lowe bb Gta elie se cumboenee ches 23d-29b Prophecies to Maistre Antoine .......... cece eee e cer ee ccc cceacees 29b-31b
1 Not mentioned by Brunet. See Michel et Wright, lita Merlini, 1837; p. Lxviii. ® Merlin, Sommer, II, 464.
INTRODUCTION 41
Chapters Folios Chapters cxxxvu, inchiding pp. 184,°185, CXLII, CLII-CLV, CXLIX,
D: 108; $$ 2,9, COXA i ci eee wee eee eed ie eeewek eet Sass 31b-—35c Prophecies to Meliadus..... phd gad een Re ewiwes seeaeateaad st eee 35d-37a Contest of Palamedes and Meleagant? at Sorelois (Episode §d: 1, 379). 37a Chapters CCX XII-COXXIV oooh be sing eee ee cu etiae whee aeesenteses 37a-38d Scenes between Galeholt and Dinadan, and Galeholt and Meleagant
(Episode 6g : I, 395, the first six lines).......... cece ececenene 39a-c Chapters CCXLIX—CCEXM 6 o6 4 sos Ss SMe ee es oe Ween ese Saas 39C—43¢ Prophecy to Flamens concerning his death................eeee0- 43C—44a CCLXIX, -CXUI-CXVYM oo 636 ae Ses ene Saat lee bak 6 ater POveaes 44a-46a The illness of the Dame du Lac; Merlin and Orphine............... 46b-—48c XXIII-XXXVIII, CLXXVIII, p. 223, note 4, CXLII, pp. 189-190, §3......- 48c-56a M, fols. 33a-88b..... Pe er Feet ee Pes eels si ava ec atGrerdteve §6a-125C CXLV-CXLIX (p. 196, Mote 6), CLVI-CLXXVIIL.. 2. cc cee c reece ccc ceee 125d-135d Adventure of Meliadus and three knights..............ccceccseces 135d-136b Prophecies to Meliadus........cce cece ccc c ccc c cee c cen ecescecece 136b-—137¢ Sojourn of Meliadus with the Dame du Lac...............--e0 e080. 137C—-138b CCXXXVINI—CCXLIII, CCLXXI-CCLXXX, CCLXXXIH, CCLXXXIII, CCCXXVII. 138b-142a Visit of Meliadus to the Dame du Lac. See I, 484-485.........0+5-- - 42a-c COCKXVITE 6 66-0 Siwine'e'sce's dod vind seewa bomen eatiter een 60 tee. Oe eed 142d
Reading by the Sage Clerc from the Livre de Merlin and the Livre de Tholomer; the Sage Clerc and a Trembling Stone. See II, 318,
DOG 3, -319°3 20s ieee reed wes Hees ae lee eee eee ese ees Gewee 142d-147a The appointment of Rubert li Chappellain by the Sage Clerc as his
successor ; death of the Sage Clerc. See I, 486-487..........-e00: 147b—148a Prophecy brought by a knight to Rubert ; the collection of the pro-
phecies of Merlin made by Rubert. See I, 487-489..........0-00e0- 148b-r49a The story of Ramberge from the Livre de Blaise. Sec 1, 489-491...... 149a—-150a Prophecies of Merlin brought to Rubert. See I, 491-495 ......-+..--- 150b—152b
From this table of contents we see that 1498 contains a more extensive version than even E, for beside preserving prophecies from the Livre de Tholomer and many to Maistre Antoine and Meliadus not found elsewhere it gives after folio 142d (Chapter cccxxvul1) still further supplementary material. It comprises, in fact, more prophecy than any other source, including all of R with the exception of a few scattered chapters, a number of predictions which appear elsewhere only in the Italian versions or C, and also many others for which it is the only. source.
The text is often incomplete, and like M it is arranged throughout in reckless disorder. For example, on folio 18c, after various prophecies to Maistre Antoine, we read : — ‘“‘ Dy moy, Merlin, fait maistre Anthoyne, quant sera ce que tu me dis que sept ans apres que le
1 Meleagant is here a mistake for Lamorat. This section begins with the return of the knights from their visit to Guinevere.
42 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
roy Artus aura prins sa femme. Mais atant laisse le compte a parler de ceste prophecie et retourne.a une autre prophecie Merlin.” This next prophecy, which is found at the beginning of Chapter CXXXVIII is one delivered by Merlin from his tomb to Meliadus, of whom there has been no previous mention, even as there has been nothing said of Merlin’s entombment. The text continues with the prophecies to Meliadus through Chapter cx (fol. 19b), which concludes with the statement that Meliadus put into wniting all the prophecies quoted in the preceding chapters. Folio 19b continues with Chapters CL, cL1I, beginning : — ‘‘ Encores disoit en celles lettres,’ a reference that cannot be understood without Chapter CXLIX, page 198, §§ 2, 3, which give the story of the knight who brought ‘‘ celles lettres ’’ to Maistre Antoine, as in Group I, 2, or without the brief explanatory sentence at the beginning of Chapter ci that does duty for them in R. These sections are intro- duced in 1498 at folios 34d-35c, and at their end the last sen- tences of Chapter ci (‘‘ Que vous diroie je... Blarados ”’), which contain the fulfilment of the preceding prophecy, are given a second time. Folio 25c,d recounts the horror with which the news of Merlin’s entombment is received at court (Chapter CXxXxIv, Pp. 174, 175); this is followed by the stories of the Emperor’s submission to the Pope, and of the papal council at Rome before which Merlin appears in person, not having yet succumbed to the tomb (fols. 25d-29b). Folio 37a contains a mere fragment from the story of the tournament of Sorelois thrust in after certain prophecies to Meliadus, and beginning : — “ Or dit le compte que quant Gallehault le prince des loingtaines ysles print congie de la royne Genievre'.”’ At fol. 54a, after the prophecy relating to the Marche Amoureuse delivered by Merlin to Maistre Antoine, the text continues with the fourth paragraph of note 4, page 223 (Chapter CLxxvii1). Folio 141¢c passes from Merlin’s state- ment to Meliadus in Chapter CcLxxx that the knight is not yet born by whom the quest of the Graal shall be accomplished to the prophecy in Chapter CCLXxxII concerning a people ‘‘ auques pres d’euls, ’’ a phrase which refers to the ‘‘ Bons Mariniers, ’’ of whom Chapter CcLxxxI1, which occurs at folio 116d, treats. Examples of similar defects might be multiplied, but the above are sufficient to show that they are not limited to any one section.
The most striking feature of 1498, however, is that from folios 56a-
1 See I, 379, note 2,
INTRODUCTION 43
125§c it incorporates the material of M arranged in exactly the same disorder, with the same and a few other defects of text, and with the addition of rubrics. This portion is immediately preceded by Chapter CxLII, page 190, § 3, and is followed by Chapter cxLv, the intermediate chapters being given much earlier, at folios 20 and 21. The manuscript and the printed edition are in perfect agreement in material except for two omissions in 1498. One of these is evidently due to carelessness, the first words in Chapter x11 being combined with a sentence in Chapter xiv (p. 71, 1. 22), ‘‘En cele cite avoit au tens une gent qui illecques fut noye’”’ (fol. 56b) ; the other has no significance, for it merely leaves out the detached prophecies that occupy the last seven lines of Chapter xIv and the whole of Chapter xv. The resemblances, however, are note- worthy. Both sources end a paragraph in Chapter ccLxv and another in Chapter cCCxXxvI with an incomplete sentence’. It is also significant, for example, that both texts give consecutively Chap- ters XVIII-XXV, with the omission of Chapter xx111 (M, fol. 85a-86a; 1498, fols. 122c-123d), but 1498 contains Chapters xxII-xxv at much earlier folios (fol. 48c ff.). Again both texts (M, fols. 36a-372 ; 1498, fols. 5ga-60b) give consecutively Chapters CII, CIV, CIX, CX, CXIV, CXvil1, and 1498 also gives consecutively Chapters cxXII- cxvit at fols. 44c ff. So, too, Chapters CCLXVI-CCLXXXIV appear in both sources consecutively (M, fols. 79a ff.; 1498, 114d ff.) with Chapters CCLXIX, CCLXXI-CCLXXX, CCLXXXII, CCLXXXIII omitted, but 1498 contains Chapter CCLXIX at folio 44b, and the other omit- ted chapters at folios 140a ff. In other words in all of these instances passages which are incomplete in M are given in the corresponding place in 1498 in the same form, but are repeated elsewhere in their complete form. M as it stands was certainly not printed in 1498, for although the two texts are at times in close agree- ment, they at times exhibit divergences; these, however, are of such a nature that they can be attributed to the work of redactors?.
1 Chapter ccixv (M, fol. 60¢ ; 1498, fol. 91a): ‘“* Li rois d’Ynde... le prie—.”’ In M, as has been said, a different hand has added : “‘ qu’il soient bons cretiens ”’. Chapter cocxxvi (M, fol. 74c; 1498, fol. 109 a) : ‘* Et celui Dragon aura si grant richece —.°? *% The following passage, occurring in two places in each source, (See I, 36. Chapter Exxxv1) illustrates certain relations between them. The differ- ences in the two prophecies in M are accounted for when we remember that the manuscript was the work of more than one scribe. The two passages in 1498 aré practically identical, and their divergences from M, notably the absence of the
44 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
Just what process the contents of 1498 underwent before Vérard gave it to the world we shall probably never know. The repetition of the incomplete passages of M in their complete form in parts of 1498 lying outside of the scope of M certainly indicates that two (or even more) disordered manuscripts have been combined here, and that M has been incorporated into the middle of another manuscript by some one who recognized that its material obviously belonged neither before the prophecies to Maistre Tholomer — who according to the invariable tradition preceded Maistre Antoine as Merlin’s scribe! — with which the other source began, nor after the collection of prophecies made by Rubert le Chappellain, which represents the last stage in the tradition and with which the other manuscript closed. There is no palpable reason why Chapter CXLII, page 190, § 3, should have been selected as a happier point than any other for introducing M. As I have said
animal nomenclature, suggest that they have passed through a redactor’s hands : —
M, fol. 36a : — Or met en ton escrit que il aura au tens dou chanpion que morira en contumace un buchart qui bien cuitera estre un falconcel et filz dou falcon. Metra il Montel a grant martire et toz le pais aviron, et ainz que son pere deschie dou tot li prendra li Romagnols de. B. et le tendra en jaiole presque tote son aage. — Quant sera ce ? fait maistre Antoines. — La chose que jadis nasqui es parties de Jeru- Salem aura trespassez, ce dit Merlin, mille .ccxlviiii. ainz et demi.
M, fol. 45b : — Or met en ton escrit que il aura au tens dou champion qui morira en contumace un buschart qui bien cuitera estre fauchoncel et filz de un faucon et au tens que il cuitera estre fauchoncel et filz dou fauchon metra il Mothena a grant martir et tot le pais environ, et anceis que son pere dechie dou tot le prendra li Romagnols de .B. et le tendra en jaiole presque toz son aage. — Quant sera ce ? fait maistre Antoines. — Mct en ton escrit, ce dit Merlin, que la chose qui jadis nasqui en parties de Jerusalem aura tres- passee .m.cc.xlviiii. ainz et demi.
1 See II, 305 ff.
1498, fol. 58d : — Or metz en ton escript qu’il y aura au temps du cham- pion qui mourra en contumace ung homme qui metra Montel en grant martire et tout le pays d’environ et avant que son pere deschee du tout le prendront les Romagnolz de B. et le ticndront en prison presque tout son aage. — Quant sera ce ? dist maistre Anthoine. — Ce sera, dist Merlin, quant la chose qui jadis nasquit es parties de Jherusalem aura trespasse mil.ii.c.xlix. ans et demy.
1498, fol. 71b : — Or metz en ton escrit qu’il y aura au temps du cham- pion qui mourra en contumace aura ung homme qui mettra,Matheu en grant mar- tire et tout le pays d’environ, et avant que son pere deschee du tout le prendront les Romanols de B. et le tiendront en pri- son presque tout son aage. — Quant sera ce ? dist maistre Anthoine. — Metz en ton escript, se dist Merlin, il sera quant la chose qui jadis nasquit es parties de Jherusalem aura tres- passe mil.cc.xlix. ans et demy.
EEE I Moo eee = C3
INTRODUCTION 45
above, the material between this point and Chapter cxLv, where M ends, is found earlier in 1498, but such is the general disorder of the work as a whole that we can draw no inferences of any value from this fact. No one can lay the responsibility for the misarrange- ment of 1498 upon a definite pair of shoulders. It is, of course, altogether possible that the material was united before the manu- script reached Vérard, but in view of his attested methods there is no necessity of seeking an earlier source for the combination. We know that he did not invariably print, or publish, a manu- script that was sent to him without subjecting it to a certain degree of editing. This is evident from the colophon to the Martilloge des fJaulces langues of Guillaume Alexis, which Vérard published in 1498 (?). Here the author says that when his work was written, ‘je l’envoiea a ung marchant bon, juste et loial en la ville de Paris faisant residence, lequel marchant apres ce qu'il eut la matiere veue, consideree et montree a plusieurs nobles docteurs clers et expers en toute science, elle estant par eulx suffisaument corrige, Je dit marchant 1’a voulu pour perpetuelle memoire faire imprimer aimsi que vous voiez. Et demeure le dit marchant sur le pont Nostre Dame a l’enseigne de l'image saint Jehan l’evangeliste ou au palais devant la chappelle du roy nostre sire ou on chante la messe’.”’ This passage shows conclusively that Vérard gave the manuscript of the Martslloge that he was about to print to learned critics who corrected and ‘ doctored ”’ it before it went to press. He may have subjected the Prophecies, which, it should be noted, he seems to have brought out at approximately the same period, to a similar process and either have himself* combined two frag- mentary manuscripts that had chanced to come into his hands, or given them to flusteurs nobles docteurs to combine for him. That the manuscript was not ‘“‘ suffisaument corrige ’’ by the redactors is clear, yet even if they were ‘“‘ clers et expers,”’ they were but human clay, and their weakness in admitting repeti- ‘tions and inconsistencies into their edition touches a responsive chord in the breast of any one who endeavors to keep in mind all
2 See Macfarlane, op. cit., pp. xv, 61. The residence of Vérard given in the colophon dates the edition before October, 1499. *% On Vérard’s editing of the Gvvon le Courtots, see P. Paris, MSS. francois, III, 64; Léseth, Tristan, p. 435. The degree of editing to which the early Italian printers subjected their texts is, of course, well known; see H. F. Brown, The Early Venetian Printing Press, 1891, pp. 44, 45; De Vinne, Notable Printers of Italy during the Fifteenth Cen- 4ury, 1910, p. 102.
46 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
that Merlin foretold. To such an editing as Vérard subjected the Martslloge, moreover, we may attribute also the textual differences between M and 1498.
For us the value of 1498 consists almost entirely in the collec- tion of the prophecies to Maistre Tholomer and in the concluding chapters relating to Rubert le Chappellain. Those portions of its contents which are important for the light that they throw upon the composition of the Prophectes are reprinted below merely for the convenience of the reader in following the argument in the chapter! that treats of them.
II THE ITALIAN MANUSCRIPTS AND Earry EDITIONS®
1. (S) La Storta di Merlino dt Paolino Pieri. Edited from a fifteenth- century manuscript in Florence, Biblioteca Laurenziana (PI. LXXXIX inf., 65), by Ireneo Sanesi, Bergamo, 1898 (Bzsblioteca storica della letteratuva staliana, III).
The text of S is mutilated at the beginning and commences in the course of the story about the crown of Orbance in Chapter xvm of the Rennes text (1, 75, l. 23) : “la profezia che quello lapidaro andrebe —.’’ It continues with the substance of Chapter xvi, through page 77, when after stating that the prophecies of Merlin were translated into French by Maestro Ricardo, the Italian translator gives his own name: “ Ed io Paulino Pieri, avendo questo libro cosi asemprato in francesco, il meglio che 10 6 saputo e potuto nella lingua toscana I’6 recato tutto per ordine colle pit belle parole che 16 sapute, non mutando in niuno luogo I'effetto di niuna cosa*, ” Then follows an account of the. birth and enfances of Merlin, which is continued by the greater part of the anecdotes in the Livre de Heltas (pp. 266-302), followed by stories relating to Vortigern and Merlin, closing with an account of Vortigern’s tower and the dragon fight (pp. 4-74)*. Merlin then begins to deliver to Blaise, with variations, the prophecies addressed to Antoine in Chapters vu,1x-x1 of R (pp. 74-78), after which he is said to have taken another scribe, Antonio, and
1]J, Chapter IX. * For the reasons already mentioned in the Preface no detailed description or discussion of the Italian sources is given here, but merely an out- line of their contents and such facts as are necessary for an understanding of the references to them that appear below. # P. 4. ‘See the remarks of Sanesi, p. 1xxvi.
. L ae esr — eee
—— Sse Se ©
a ee —_s
INTRODUCTION 47.
the text continues to the end with prophecies agreeing substan- tially with those of Chapters I-L (exclusive of the chapters men- tioned above). The manuscript is mutilated at the end. It has no title except that given it by the author after he has stated his own name : ‘“‘ Incomincio adunque la storia di Merlino. ’’
This version in arrangement, text, and to a great extent in the details of the prophecies differs so widely from the other sources! that it stands by itself. It is too imperfect and too often contaminated by late influences to be of great service in solving the difficulties that the earlier texts of the Prophectes present. Sanesi? has shown that the author may perhaps be identified with Paolino Pieri, a Florentine chronicler, who was living in the first quarter of the fourteenth century. If this identification be correct, S is our earliest Italian source.
2.(V) La historia di Merlino. Venice, 1480. Printed without title page.
The first chapter of V has the following heading : — ‘‘ Incomincia el primo libro de la historia de Merlino divisa in .vi. libri neli quali si descrive prima la nativita di esso Merlino, e la vita sua, e poi molte prophetie le quale lui fece scrivere a piu persone.’’ The colophon reads : — ‘‘ Tracta e questa opera del Libro autentico del Magnifico Pietro Delphino. Fo del magnifico Messer Zorzi trans- latato de lingua francesse in lingua italiana, scripto nel anno del Signore .1379. a di .20. novembre, in Venetia, e stampato del .1480. a di primo fevraio. Ducante Joanne Mocenico, Pontifice vero Sixto Papa .iiii. ’” A few verses on Merlin and his book follow, clos- — ing with the line : — ‘‘ Luca Venitiano in stampa el messe. ”’
The contents is as follows : —
Folios
The romance of Merlin from the beginning of the vulgate version to the
fulfilment of Merlin’s prediction of the threefold death of a baron at
the court of Pandragon (Merlin, Sommer, II, 47, 48) .....cccceccece 1-20d The Prophetse di Merlino (Book I) : prophecies delivered to Blasio...... 20d-29a The romance of Merlin, continued from fol. 20d to the coronation of
Arthur (Merlsn, Sommer, IT, 88)... .... ccc ccc wcrc eee c cece ccnees 29b-47¢ The appointment of Ptolomeo as the scribe of Merlin.......-ceseeeees 47c-d
The Prophetie di Merlino (Book II) : prophecies delivered to Ptolomeo . 47d-49c
The remainder of the text (fols. 49c-97b) follows the course of the material in R. It is systematically divided into books : Book III,
1See Id., pp. xli ff., for a discussion of the manuscript and the relation of this version to the Italian text V. # Pp. xlvi ff.
48 LES PROPHECIES DE MERLIN
written by Maestro Antonio (fols. 49c-73b) ; Book IV, by the Donna de lo Lago (fols. 73b-79a) ; Book V, by the hermit Elia (fols. 79b- 84d) ; Book VI, by Meliadus (fols. 84d-97b). The order of arrange- ment of the individual prophecies differs somewhat from that of R, and large sections of R do not appear. None of the episodes peculiar to Group I, 2; and to A are included. In addition to the Book of Blaise, found elsewhere only in the Italian manuscript P, V contains extensive series of prophecies interspersed through the text, that are in none of the French sources. There are also sec- tions that V and P have in common with only C and 1498, or in some instances with 1498 alone’.
The portions of the text containing the romance of Merlin (fols. 1-20, 29-47) have been published by J. Ulrich under the title I due primi libri della istorta di Merlino *. The edition of 1480 exists, so far as I am aware, in only two copies, one of which is in the British Museum, and the other in the library of the Brera in Milan. It was reprinted at Florence in 1485, and at Venice in 1507, 1516, 1539, and 1554. All of these editions are rare.
3. (P) Parma, Biblioteca Palatina. Palatino 39. Fifteenth century‘.
P is a beautiful large folio paper manuscript in an excellent state of preservation. The pages have not the customary numero- tation, but are lettered in series of eight folios by the consecutive letters of the alphabet from A-Z combined with the Roman numerals 1, II, II, wu ; thus, Ar, Au, Az, Amr, Br, Bi, Br, Br111, and so on. Z1t11 is followed by four pages, numbered 1, 11, 111, II,
The colophon reads : — ‘“ Finito la istoria di Merlino laqual fo traslatato de lingua franzescha in lingua latina a laude del nostro signor misser ‘Jexu Christo. Schrito per mi Piero Ducha masser al fontigo de la farina a Rialto : del 1402 a di 28 novembrio. ”
P contains the same version as that of V and is in strict agreement with it in contents and arrangement ; verbal differences in the text and in the rubrics exist between them, and P is more pronouncedly Venetian in its language than V. When reference
1 For a discussion of this part of the material, see II, 308 ff., 321 ff. *% Bologna, 1884. Scelta di curtositd letterarie inedite. Dispensa cci. * See [Melzi,] Brbliografia des romanst e poems cavallerescht ttalianf, 1838, pp. 309, 310; Brunet, Manuel du libratre, IIT, 1656-1658. Brunet says that mention has been made of an edition of 1529. ‘* For a description see J. Ulrich, Zeitschrift far romanische Philologie, XXVI, 373 ff.
INTRODUCTION 49
is made below to the version contained in these two sources V is quoted and cited by folios without mention of P.
4. (Pal. 949) Rome, Biblioteca Vaticana. Palatine 949. Fifteenth century. 1!
Pal. 949 is a small folio paper manvecr pt: containing 127 folios, the last four blank.
The name of the author, or scribe, and the date are given on folio r1gb : — ‘‘ Qui finist lo segondo libero de Merlin delle sue pro- phegie et della soa morte. Et