[81] Dr Kölbing, who in combination of philological and literary capacity is second among Continental students of romance only to M. Gaston Paris, appears to have convinced himself of the existence of a great unknown English poet who wrote not only Alisaundre, but Arthour and Merlin, Richard Cœur de Lion, and other pieces. I should much like to believe this.
[82] It would be unfair not to mention, as having preceded that of M. Joly by some years, and having practically founded study on the right lines, the handling of MM. Moland and d'Héricault, Nouvelles Françaises du Quatorzième Siècle (Bibliothèque Elzévirienne. Paris, 1856).
[83] Ed. Meister. Leipzig, 1872-73.
[84] The British Museum alone (see Mr Ward's Catalogue of Romances, vol. i.) contains some seventeen separate MSS. of Dares.
[85] Ed. Panton and Donaldson, E.E.T.S. London, 1869-74.
[86] Ed. Moland and d'Héricault, op. cit.
[87] The section on "L'Epopée Antique" in M. Petit de Julleville's book, more than once referred to, is by M. Léopold Constans, editor of the Roman de Thèbes, and will be found useful.
[88] See Craik, History of English Literature, 3d ed. (London, 1866), i. 55.
[89] Ed. Madden, i. 2.
[90] Ed. White and Holt, 2 vols. Oxford, 1878.