r, and often marvellous catastrophe. These
Lays are in the British Museum, among the Harleian MSS. No. 978. They
constitute the largest, and, at the same time, most ancient specimen of
Anglo-Norman poetry, of this kind, that has been handed down to us. The
romances of chivalry, amongst the old Welsh and Armoric Britons, appear
to have furnished the subjects of these various Lays; not that the
manuscripts of those people were continually before her when she
composed them; but, as she herself has told us, depending upon an
excellent memory, she sometimes committed them to verse, after hearing
them recited only: and, at others, composed her poems from what she had
read in the Welsh and Armoric MSS.

Plusurs en ai oi conter,
Nes voil laisser ne oublies, &c.[4]
Plusurs le me ant conte et dit
Et jeo l'ai trove en escrit, &c[5]

She confined herself to these subjects, and the event justifies her
choice. To the singularity of such a measure was owing its celebrity. By
treating of love and chivalry, she was certain of attuning her lyre to
the feelings of the age; and consequently of ensuring success. Upon this
account her Lays were extremely well received by the people. Denis
Pyramus, an Anglo-Norman poet, and the contemporary of Mary, informs us
that they were heard with pleasure in all the castles of the English
barons, but that they were particularly relished by the women of her
time. He even praises them himself; and this from the mouth of a rival,
could not but have been sincere and well deserved, since our equals are
always the best judges of our merit.[6] Insomuch as Mary was a
foreigner, she expected to be criticised with severity, and therefore
applied herself with great care to the due polishing of her works.
Besides, she thought, as she says herself, that the chief reward of a
poet, consists in perceiving the superiority of his own performance, and
its claims to public esteem. Hence the repeated efforts to attain so
honourable a distinction, and the constant apprehensions of that chagrin
which results from disappointment, and which she has expressed with so
much natural simplicity.

Ki de bone mateire traite,
Mult li peise si bien n'est faite, &c.[7]

She has dedicated her lays to some king,[8] whom she thus addresses in
her Prologue:

En le honur de vos nobles reis,
Ki tant estes preux et curteis,
M'entremis de Lais assembler.
Par rime faire et reconter;

En mon