[35] This great romance does not appear ever to have been translated into English, which is somewhat strange, for its hero, Perceforest, was King of England, and we are told at the outset that the volume had an English origin. Philippe Comte de Hainault having accompanied Marguerite daughter of Philippe III. (le hardi) to England in order to be present at her nuptials with Edward I. (1299), the Count made an excursion to the north of England. Chancing to harbour at a monastery 'on the banks of the Humber,' he was shown an ancient manuscript which had been discovered in a vault under the ancient (? Saxon) part of the building. One of the monks had translated it into Latin. Philippe borrowed it and took it back with him to Hainault, where it was reduced into French. It is every whit as good as the Morte d'Arthur, and still awaits its Malory. The 1531 Paris edition consists of six folio volumes, the page in double columns of black letter type, with 53 lines to the column. The whole book contains rather more than six hundred thousand words. Here is a chance for some enthusiast! At the least he would learn patience, carefulness—and a deal of mediæval French.
[36] O. Fr. pierron.
[37] That there is a distinct crack on its upper side, you may see from the photograph here reproduced.
[38] Sir J. Rhys, 'Studies in the Arthurian Legend,' Oxford, 1891, pp. 300-327.
[39] In the list of books at the Louvre belonging to Charles v. of France, drawn up by Gilles Malet, his librarian, in 1373, there is a volume 'Du roy Artus, de la Table Ronde, et de la Mort dudit roy, tres bien escript et enlumine.' It would be interesting to compare this manuscript (if it is still in existence) with Malory's work, and to see whether the incident of the peron is described therein.
[40] i.e. the golden vessel, because of the samite (silken) covering.
[41] As the table is painted at present, 'S. Galahallt' is upon the King's immediate left.
[42] Of one of these enterprising antiquaries (a clergyman) it is proudly related that in the course of three years "he opened no less than a hundred and six tumuli and graves, and obtained from them a large proportion of that valuable collection of antiquities now in possession of Mr. Meyer, of Liverpool." See A Corner of Kent, by J. R. Planché, 1864, page 115.
[43] Milton.