Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/297

 of fevered Anglo-Norman Poets of the i$th Century. 535 the Round Table, or other romances of chivalry. In fine, our poet finifhes his piece by the following verfes, which point out their author : Ici finift la bone vie De Jofaphat le duz enfant. A ecus qui furent efcutant Mande Chardri faluz fans fin, Et au foir et au matin.^ The life of the feven fleeping brethren (and not of St. Dormans, as improperly printed by Mr. War ton) contains more than one thoufand eight hundred verfes [f]. The author begins by telling his audience that he will not addrefs them on the fubjects of fables, that he will not treat of thofe of Triftan, Galeran, Renard, nor of Herfenti. This introduction flill more forcibly proves, that the ufual occupation of the author was to rehearfe thefe historical ro- mances; and it proves alfo that he did not write thefe religious tales till about the middle of the thirteenth century, not long before which time, the different romances which he cites had been already compofed. It remains only to add that in the fecond piece he fpeaks of himfelf by the fame appellation as in the firft. The two works of Chardry are in the Britifh Mufeum. Bibl. Cotton Caligula, A. IX. In the fame manufcript is another work, entitled Le Petit Pkt, containing about one thoufand nine hundred verfes. It is a difpute between an old and a young man on the happinefs and mifery of human life. The author has not difclofed his name, but I am of opinion that this piece can belong only to our poet Chardry. It is copied by the fame hand, and, comparing it with [/] Warton's Hift. of Englifh Poetry. H h 2, the