Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 13, 1902.djvu/238

 2 22 Reviews. by the light on the retina. All this part of the paper is excellent. When, however, he goes on to apply the theory to such tales as those of Polyphemus, King Laurin, the adventure of Theodelinda with the sea monster, and so forth, I cannot follow him. Do such apparitions beget children ? If King Laurin on his goat be nothing more than a spectral light surrounded by a mist, what becomes of Walter Map's tale of King Herla ? It is a pity that Professor Amersbach has driven so far a theory which affords a probable explanation of a large class of stories. He should rest satisfied with convincing us as to these. He cannot unlock a whole mythology with the same key. — E. Sidney Hartland.

(i.) Morien, A Metrical Romance rendered into English prose from the Mediceval Butch. By.

(ii.) Marie de France ; Seven of her Lays done into English. By . David Nutt. 1901.

Two volumes have been added to the attractive series of Arthurian Romances published by Mr, Nutt, which already in- cludes some very interesting works. The first is a translation from the pen of Miss Weston of the Morien incident in the Dutch Lancelot. This adventure is not known in any other version. It is therefore impossible to say definitely whether it was an inven- tion or at least original composition of the Dutch translator, or whether it existed in some French lai or episodic romance now lost ; though the latter is distinctly the most likely of the two views, and is supported both by M. Gaston Paris and Miss Weston. The central idea of the story, however — the appearance of a Moorish knight who is closely related to Percival — reappears in Wolfram von Eschenbach's poem. In the latter case the Moor is Parzifal's brother, in the case of the Dutch romance his nephew, though we are told that by some he was said to be his son. Miss Weston regards the relationship in Wolfram as the earlier conception, suc- ceeded by that of son, — the Moorish hero being ultimately fathered upon Percival's brother Agloval ; but though suggestive, her argu- ments, cannot be regarded as conclusive upon the point. In any case, the story must owe its origin to a period before the introduction of the ecclesiastical Grail tradition.

The other volume consists of a translation of seven of the lais of Marie de France, furnished with copious introduction and notes. This does not strictly belong to the series with which