MADDEN'S EDITION OF LAYAMON'S BRUT.

IN this work the Society of Antiquaries and their accomplished editor have made a valuable contribution to the history of the English language and of English literature.

Sir Frederick Madden assumes, on internal evidence, the commence- ment of the thirteenth century as the period at which Layamores Brut was composed. Of the correctness of this assumption little doubt can be entertained. Nothing is known of the author beyond the little he tells.us in his introduction. He was a priest ; be lived on the banks of the Severn, and was mass-priest in the "chapel of a noble gentleman,"— for so we interpret a passage which Sir Frederick Madden gives up in despair. The structure of the language scarcely admits of a more re- cent date for the work than that which Sir Frederick has assigned to it ; and the express mention of Wace's poem as the principal of the three books from which the materials were collected, precludes the supposition that it could be older. We have therefore in this work a monument of the language of England about the time of Mr. Carlyle's favourite Jocelyn de Brakelonde ; a literary work by a contemporary of that somewhat worldly manager of an ecclesiastical corporation.

Sir Frederick Madden's three volumes contain in parallel columns two versions of the Brut of Layamon. One is considerably abridged ; the abridgment having been effected by a process not altogether obsolete even in these later days among theatrical managers and editors of newspapers —the omission of entire passages. This curtailed or mutilated version has also a more modern appearance—approaching more nearly in the structure of its language to the early English which preceded Chaucer. A critical analysis of both versions goes far to corroborate the theory, that beyond the addition of some words, the Norman court language ex- ercised slight influence on the formation of later English ; that the tran- sition from the grammatical forms of the Anglo-Saxon before Edward the Confessor to those of Clutucer's time was an internal change, independ- ent of foreign influence, that would have taken place though the Nor- man conquest had never occurred. The truth is, that what is called Norman was the language of the French subjects of a few Norman over- lords. The Norman conquest was facilitated by the number of Normans who held influential positions in England before the invasion of Duke William. But there is no reason to believe that the language of the English Normans was a French dialect : it is much more probable that they had retained their native tongue, a kindred dialect of the Anglo- Saxon ; strong traces of which are still to be found in the provincialisms of North England and Scotland.

With respect to its literary merits, the Brut of Layamon is highly respectable. It cannot, indeed, take rank with Der Niebelungen Noth ; which is really an epic poem, while the Brut is little more than a rhymed chronicle. The Fate of the Niebelungen consists properly of two poems, one devoted to the fortunes of Siegfrid, the other to the revenge of Criemhilda. In each of these a strict unity is observed : there is a limitation of time that renders it possible and necessary to delineate the principal characters on a large scale. The Brut is historical or legendary, embracing a consecutive narrative of centuries ; and the personages are sketched more in outline. The Brut possesses neither the intense passion of the Niebelungen, nor do its characters make so deep and lasting an impression on the imagination. But the versification is spirited ; though, from the length of the poem and the shortness of the lines, apt to appear monotonous when much is read at one sitting. There is a simplicity and vivid freshness in the expression of passion at- tributed to the characters, bespeaking an age when men's power of verbal expression was less developed, and their observation of men and manners, if more limited, was also more immediate and direct. Delicate senti- ments are occasionally met with, though merely indicated and passed over. There is an utter want of the Platonic sophistries of the Trott• badours, or the softening refinements of those modern romance-writers who attribute to heroes of the middle ages the sentiments of members of the Society for Preventing Cruelty to Animals. But, to compensate for this, horrors are not dwelt upon, as they are by the energumens of mo- dern French drama and romance. What is repulsive is not shunned, but it is not expatiated on ; it is merely recorded, because it is believed. A roughness mingles with the flavour of Layamon's poetical vintage, for which a decided taste may be acquired by a little familiarity.

The subject matter of The Brut is the legendary history of the Britons from their imaginary origin as a Trojan colony to their final suppression by the Saxons. Its general outline is known beyond the circle of pro- fessed antiquaries by the compendium of Milton, and incidents selected from it and allusions made to it in Milton, Shakspere, and Spenser. The

more prominent heroes and heroines—Brutus and Corinnus, King Lear and his daughters, Helena, (mother of Constantine,) Vortigern and the fair and false Rowena, Arthur, Gninever, Mordred, and Sir Kay—are familiar as household words. One recommendation of Layamon's Brut is, that it presents to us this cycle of legendary history in a more com- pact and coherent form than the later fragmentary romances ; that it Contains much more than is to be found either in Wace (who has never yet been properly edited) or Geoffrey of Monmouth ; and that in its un- sophisticated simplicity it approaches more nearly to the original tradi- tions.

There is something extremely fine in Layamon's conception of Arthur's emotions when invited to occupy the British throne vacant by the death of Uther Pendragon. The changing hues of the boy-king, and his ex- clamation, are full of pure and passionate aspiration. The Britons full soon took three bishops, and seven riders, strong in wisdom forth they gan proceed into Britanny, and they full soon came to Arthur.—" Hail be thou, Arthur, noblest of knights' ! Uther thee greeted, when he should de- wt (die), and bade that thou shouldest thyself in Britain' hold right laws, 'and help thy folk,' and defend this kingdom, as good king should do; defeat thy ene- mies, 'and drive them from land.' And he prayed the mild Son of God to be' to thee in aid, that thou mightest do well, and the land' receive from God. For dead is Uther Pendragon, and thou art Arthur, his son; and dead is the other, Anrelie his brother." Thus they gan tell, and Arthur sate full' still: one while he was wan,' and in hue exceeding pale; one while he was red, and was moved in heart. When it all brake forth, it was good that he spake: thus said he there- right, Arthur the noble knight: "Lord Christ, Gods Son, be to us now in aid, that I may in life hold Gods laws I " Arthur was fifteen years old when this tiding was told to him, and all they were well employed, for he was much in- structed.* Arthur's first stricken field against the Saxons after ascending the throne affords a fine sample of the figurative impetuosity of Layamon's descriptions of battle. By a feigned retreat, Arthur has drawn the enemy over to his side of the river : the narrative thus proceeds. When Arthur saw that, that Colgrim was so nigh to him, and they were both beside the water, thus said Arthur, noblest of kings: " See ye, my Britons, hem beside us, our full foes,—Christ destroy them !—Colgrim the strong, out of Sax- land? His kin in this land killed our ancestors; but now is the day come, that the Lord bath appointed, that he shall lose the life, and lose his friends, or else we shall be dead; we may not see him alive! The Saxish men shall abide sorrow, ' and we avenge worthily our friends' (or relatives)." Up caught Arthur his shield, before his breast, and he gan to rush as the howling wolf, when he cometh from the wood, behung with snow, and thinketh to bite such beasts as he liketh. Arthur then called to his dear knights: "Advance we quickly, brave thanes! all together towards them; we all shall do well, and they forth fly, as the high wood, when the furious wind heaveth it with strength!" Flew over the wealds thirty thousand shields, and smote on' Colgrims knights, so that the earth shook again. ' Brake the broad spears, shivered shields'; the Saxish men fell to the ground! Colgrim saw that, therefore he was woe,—' the fairest man of all that came out of Saxland.' Colgrim gan to flee, exceeding quickly; and his horse bare bin' with great strength over the deep water, and saved him from death. ' The Saxons gan to sink,—sorrow was given to them ! ' Arthur turned his spears point, and hindered to them the ford; there the Saxons were drowned, full seven thousand. Some they gan wander, as the wild crane doth in the moorfen, when his flight is impaired, and swift hawks pursue after him, and hounds with mis- chief meet him in the reeds: then is neither good to him, nor the land nor the flood; the hawks him smite, the hounds him bite, then is the royal fowl at his death-time! Colgrirn fled him over the fields quickly, until he came to York, riding most marvellously.

Rowena's conquest of Vortigern is a graphic passage, and interesting from the indications it contains of the sentiments with which the mass- priest of the twelfth or thirteenth century contemplated their ill-starred alliance.

Hengest went in'to the inn, where Roawenne dwelt; he caused her to be clad with excessive pride; 'all the clothes that she had on, they were most excellent, they were good with the best embroidered with gold.' She bare in her hand a golden bowl, filled with wine, that was one wondrous good. High-born men led her to the hall before the king, fairest of all things ! Rouwenne sate on her knee, and called to the king, and thus first said in English land: "Lord king, was- sail ! for thy coming I am glad." The king this 'heard, and knew not what she said; the king Vortiger asked his knights 'soon,' what were the speech that the maid spake. Then answered Keredic, 'a ' knight most admirable; he was the best interpreter that ere came here: "Listen 'to me' now, lord king, and I will make known to thee what Rouwenne saith, fairest women. It is custom in Sax- land,' wheresoever any people gladden (make merry) in drink,' that friend sayeth to friend, with fair comely looks, "Dear friend, wassail!"—the other sayeth, " Drinchail 1" The same that holds the cup, ' he' drinketh it up; another full cup men thither bring, and give to his comrade. When the full cup is come, then kiss they thrice: These are 'good' customs in &Wand, 'and in Aleinaine they are accounted noble!' " Vortiger heard this,—of each evil he was ware,— and said it in British, for he knew no English: "Maiden Rouwenne, drink then blithely I"ph The maid drank up the wine, and let do other wine therein, and gave to the kin , and thrice him kissed. And through the same people the custom came to ' t is' land of Wassail and Drinchail,—many a man thereof is glad! Rouwenne the fair sate by the king; the king beheld her longingly, she was dear to him in heart; oft he kissed her, oft he embraced her; 'all his mind and his might inclined towards the maiden.' The Worse was there full nigh, who in each game is full cruel; the Worse never did good, he troubled the kings mood: he mourned full' much, to have the maiden for wife. That was a most loathly thing, that the Christian king should love the Heathen maid, to the harm of his pwpleI ' The maiden was dear to the king, even as his own life'; he prayed Hengest, his chieftain,' give him the maid- child.' Hengest found in his coun- sel to do what the king asked him; he gave him Rouwenne, the woman most fair. To the king it was pleasing; he made her queen, all after the laws that stood in the Heathen days; was there no Christendom, where the king took the maid,' nor priest, nor any bishop, nor was Gods book ever handled, but in the Heathen fashion' he wedded her, and brought her to his bed!

The following is, we believe, the earliest description of' a right Eng- lish fox-hunt on record ; and it may be questioned whether it has ever been surpassed either for spirit or technical accuracy. Colgrim sues for peace.

* [The painstaking, and on the whole successful translation, with which Sir Frederick Madden accompanies the text, is from the older version of Layamon: the variations, and a few redundant lines of the more modern version, are inserted within brackets immediately after the passages from which they vary; the pas- sages and words of the older version omitted in the new are placed between single inverted commas. To avoid weakening the force of the passages quoted, we have omitted the bracketed interpolations. The words in Italica are particles or pro- nouns which do not occur in the Saxon, but are required by the usage of modem English to complete the sense.]

Then laughed Arthur, with loud voice:—" Thanked be the Lord, that all dooms wieldeth, that Childric the strong is tired of my land! My land he bath divided to all his knights; myself he thought to drive out of my country; ' hold me for base, and have my realm, and my kin all put to death, my folk all destroy.' But of him is happened as it is of the fox, when he is boldest over the weald, and bath his full play, and fowls enow; for wildness he climbeth, and rocks seeketh; iu the wilderness holes to him worketh. Fare whosoever shall fare, he bath never any care; he weeneth to be of power the boldest of all animals. When come to him the men under the hills, with horns, with hounds, with loud cries; the hunters there hollow, the hounds there give tongue, they drive the fox over dales and over downs, he !teeth to the holm, and seeketh his hole; in the farthest end in the hole goeth; then is the bold fox of bliss all deprived, and men dig to him on each side; then is there' most wretched the proudest of all animals! So was it with Childric, the strong and the rich; he thought all my kingdom to set in his own hand; but now I have driven him to the bare death, whether so (whatsoever) I

will do, either slay or hang.

One remarkable feature of Layamon's work is the faintness of all traces of Saxon or Teutonic superstitions and legends. Sir Walter Scott, in his Ivanhoe, makes Ulrica talk and sing of Woden and Zenrabock; but the mass-priest "on Severn's side," in the same age, has only a -dim recollec- tion of Freia and Woden : Mahoun and Termagant are the deities whom he attributes indiscriminately to all heathens. The legends of the Roman- ized inhabitants of England would appear to have superseded in the minds of their Saxon conquerors the traditions of their native forests. It is a curious problem bow the Saxon language came to supersede the British, and at the same time the British legends to survive those the Saxons brought with them. The superior civilization of the British races in South England and Armorica might explain the latter fact ; but then, how was it their language also did not prevail ? The hints in the classic authors of consanguinity between the Belgian tribes and the sea-coast Britains—the title "Count of the Saxon shore" in the last age of Roman domination in this country—point to an extensive Teutonic colonization in Britain long before the sera of the Saxon conquests. Most likely, the foundation of Saxon dynasties in England has alone been recorded ; and previously to that event the German population had taken root. Sir Francis Palgrave has pointed out strong grounds for belief in an early fusion of the Teutonic and Celtic races in Britain.

Be this as it may, the legendary history of the Britons prior to the establishment of the recorded Saxon dynasties, has an imaginative unity and coherence. It is a mythns in which British and Armorican materials have been fused in a Roman mould. It is the earliest body of literature in which we find much that has subsequently been engrafted, without acknowledgment, upon Saxon and even Norman chronicles, and in legend- ary poems about Charlemagne and his twelve peers. Arthur's court was the original scene of many adventures subsequently attributed by ro- mancers to the Frankish monarch. The "earth-house," in which Locrin conceals /Estrild from his wife Guendelin, appears to be the germ of fair Rosamond's labyrinthine bower.

He took Gwendoleine, and had her for wife, and he ' it' said,—sooth though it were uot,—that he would send /Estrild out of the land. But he did no whit BO, for he thought to deceive; but he took a domestic ' of his' that he well trusted on, and ordered him most still (secretly) to steal out of the court; and bade him' go to the town that Trinovant was named, that was in our language called Lon- don, and 'there in haste throughout all things' make an earth-honse, beautiful and fair; the walls of stone, the doors of whales-bone; 'and that in a most fair place, out of the search of the people'; and place therein much coal, and clothes enow (plenty); palls and purples, and golden pennies (?); much wine, much wax, mach winsome thing; and afterwards forth-right go all by night, and' with se-

cret craft, bring /F.strild therein.

Baldolf, (Colgrim's brother,) passing safely through Arthur's host in the disguise of a harper, is probably the prototype of Alfred's visit in a somewhat similar disguise to the Danish camp.

A field of speculation is here opened, into which our limits forbid ns to enter. In conclusion, we have only to remark that Sir Frederick Madden deserves the highest credit for editorial judgment, evinced both in what he has performed and in what he has forborne. The work is not overdone,—a rare merit among antiquarian literati. The text has been carefully and faithfully given : the grammatical annotations and voca- bulary, though they still leave something to wish in respect of exact logic and observation and minute acquaintance with Saxon literature, present a marked improvement on the English etymologists of thirty years ago.