A Dissertation on Romance and Minstrelsy

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E. &. G. Goldsmid, 1891 - English poetry - 208 pages

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Page 75 - Such forces met not, nor so wide a camp, When Agrican with all his northern powers Besieged Albracca, as romances tell, The city of Gallaphrone, from thence to win The fairest of her sex Angelica, His daughter, sought by many prowest knights, Both Paynim, and the peers of Charlemain.
Page 74 - I betook me among those lofty fables and romances which recount in solemn cantos the deeds of knighthood founded by our victorious kings, and from hence had in renown over all Christendom.
Page 6 - A fable related by a poet, to excite admiration, and inspire virtue, by representing the action of some one hero, favoured by Heaven, who executes a great design, in spite of all the obstacles that oppose him...
Page 74 - Phlegra with the heroic race were join'd That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side Mix'd with auxiliar gods ; and what resounds In fable or romance of Uther's son, Begirt with British and Armoric knights...
Page 75 - Pleased me, long choosing and beginning late ; Not sedulous by nature to indite Wars, hitherto the only argument Heroic deem'd, chief mastery to dissect With long and tedious havoc...
Page 108 - Cantabanqui upon benches and barrels heads, where they have none other audience then boys or countrey fellowes that passe by them in the streete, or else by blind harpers or such like taverne minstrels that give a fit of mirth for a groat...
Page 108 - ... blind harpers, or such like taverne minstrels that give a fit of mirth for a groat ; and their matter being for the most part stories of old time, as the tale of Sir Topas, the reportes of...
Page 62 - Now yielde thee unto mee : Or fighte with mee, or lose thy lande, Noe better termes maye bee, Unlesse thou sweare upon the rood, And promise on thy faye, Here to returne to Tearne-Wadling, Upon the new-yeare's daye : And bringe me worde what thing it is All women moste desyre : This is thy ransome, Arthur, he sayes, He have noe other hyre.
Page 61 - And knelt upon the ground. A boone, a boone, O kinge Arthure, I beg a boone of thee ; Avenge me of a carlish knighte, Who hath shent my love and mee.
Page 4 - ... careful to grub up every petty fragment of the most dull and insipid rhymist, whose merit it was to deform morality, or obscure true history. Should the public encourage the revival of some of those ancient Epic Songs of Chivalry, they would frequently see the rich ore of an Ariosto or a Tasso, though buried it may be among the rubbish and dross of barbarous times.

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