The third volume being chiefly devoted to romantic subjects, may not be improperly introduced with a few slight strictures on the old metrical romances: a subject the more worthy attention, as it seems not to have been known to such as have written on the nature and origin of books of chivalry, that the first compositions of this kind were in verse, and usually sung to the harp.[1]
Is printed verbatim from the old MS. described in the Preface.[2] The Editor believes it more ancient than it will appear to be at first sight; the transcriber of that manuscript having reduced the orthography and style in many instances to the standard of his own times.
The incidents of the _Mantle and the Knife_ have not, that I can recollect, been borrowed from any other writer. The former of these evidently suggested to Spenser his conceit of _Florimel's Girdle_, b. iv. c. 5, st. 3.
"That girdle gave the virtue of chaste love And wivehood true to all that did it beare; But whosoever contrarie doth prove, Might not the same about her middle weare, But it would loose or else asunder teare."
So it happened to the false Florimel, st. 16, when
"Being brought, about her middle small They thought to gird, as best it her became, But by no means they could it thereto frame, For ever as they fastned it, it loos'd And fell away, as feeling secret blame, &c. That all men wondred at the uncouth sight And each one thought as to their fancies came. But she herself did think it done for spight, And touched was with secret wrath and shame Therewith, as thing deviz'd her to defame: Then many other ladies likewise tride About their tender loynes to knit the same, But it would not on none of them abide, But when they thought it fast, eftsoones it was untide. Thereat all knights gan laugh and ladies lowre, Till that at last the gentle Amoret Likewise assayed to prove that girdle's powre. And having it about her middle set Did find it fit withouten breach or let, Whereat the rest gan greatly to envie. But Florimel exceedingly did fret And snatching from her hand," &c.
As for the trial of the _Horne_, it is not peculiar to our poet: it occurs in the old romance, intitled _Morte Arthur_, which was translated out of French in the time of K. Edw. IV., and first printed anno 1484. From that romance Ariosto is thought to have borrowed his tale of the _Enchanted Cup_, c. 42, &c. See Mr. Warton's _Observations on the Faerie Queen_, &c.