er of Leodegraunce), he received the
table with a hundred knights as a wedding present (pt. i. 45). The
table would seat 150 knights (pt. iii. 36), and each seat was
appropriated. One of them was called the "Siege Perilous," because it
was fatal for any one to sit therein, except the knight who was destined
to achieve the Holy Graal (pt. iii. 32). King Arthur instituted an order
of knighthood called "the knights of the Round Table," the chief of whom
were Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, and Sir Lamerock, or Lamorake. The
"Siege Perilous" was reserved for Sir Galahad, the son of Sir Launcelot
by Elaine.--Sir T. Malory, _History of Prince Arthur_ (1470).

[Asterism] There is a table shown at Winchester, as "Arthur's Round
Table," but it corresponds in no respect with the Round Table described
in the _History of Prince Arthur_. Round Tables are not unusual, as Dr.
Percy has shown, with other kings in the times of chivalry. Thus, the
king of Ireland, father of Christabelle, had his "knights of the Round
Table."--See "Sir Cauline," in Percy's _Reliques_.

In the eighth year of Edward I., Roger de Mortimer established at
Kenilworth, a Round Table for "the encouragement of military pastimes."
Some seventy years later, Edward III. had his Round Table at Windsor; it
was 200 feet in diameter.

=Rousseau= (_Jean Jacques_) used to say that all fables which ascribe
speech and reason to dumb animals ought to be withheld from children, as
being only vehicles of deception.

I shall not ask Jean Jacques Rousseau
If birds confabulate or no;
'Tis clear that they were always able
To hold discourse--at least in fable.

Cowper, _Pairing-Time Anticipated_ (1782).

=Roustam= or =Rostam=, the Persian Hercul[^e]s. He was the son of Zal,
and a descendant of Djamshid At one time Roustam killed 1000 Tartars at
a blow; he slew dragons, overcame devils, captured cities, and performed
other marvellous exploits. This mighty man of strength fell into
disgrace for refusing to receive the doctrines of Zoroaster, and died by
the hand of one of his brothers named Scheghad (sixth century B.C.).

=Routledge= (_Harold_). First love of _Lilian Westbrook_, in _The Banker's
Daughter_. They have a lover's quarrel and separate. Lilian, to save her
father from poverty, marries another man. Meeting Harold in after years,
her love revives. When he challenges a Frenchman who has spoken lightly
of her, she follows him to the field in time