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FOOTNOTES:
[1] ‘The Songs of the Graves,’ in the twelfth century Black Book of Carmarthen. “A grave there is for March (or Mark),”—so the lines run,—“a grave for Gwythur, a grave for Gwgawn of the Ruddy Sword; a mystery is the grave of Arthur”: or, as Sir John Rhys translates, “not wise the thought—a grave for Arthur.”
[2] William of Malmesbury (Gesta Reg. Angl., Bk. III.), referring to the discovery in Wales of the grave of Gawain, Arthur’s nephew, speaks of the grave of Arthur himself as being unknown—hence, he says, ancient songs (antiquitas næniarum) prophesy his return.
[3] The opening words of the Welsh romance, ‘Gereint, Son of Erbin.’ Cf. also the first sentences of ‘The Lady of the Fountain,’ as given in Lady C. Guest’s Mabinogion.
[4] See Geoffrey’s History, Bk. IX. Ch. 12, in the excellent translation by the late Dr Sebastian Evans (Temple Classics).
[5] The three great romantic “matters” are thus categorised in a well-known passage in the Chanson de Saisnes by the twelfth century writer, Jean Bodel,—
“Ne sont que trois matières à nul home attendant,
De France et de Bretaigne et de Rome la grant.”
[6] Hist. Rerum Anglic. Proemium (Chronicles of Stephen, etc., Rolls Series, 1884-85).