o of the Lays can be given; but it will be better to
lay before the reader an abstract of the whole collection, which is in
many respects interesting, because it was certainly written in this
country, was never printed, and is known to exist only in one
manuscript, viz. Harl. MSS. No. 978.

About 56 lines at the beginning of the work are intended as a general
prologue; and 26 more form the introduction to the first Lay. This
prefatory matter is written in a style of considerable obscurity, which
the author defends by the example of the ancients, and quotes Priscian
as her authority. But the doctrine she means to inculcate is, that those
who possess talents are bound to employ them; and that study is always
good as a preservative from vice and from affliction. She tells us, she
had therefore form'd a plan of translating, from Latin into romance,
_some good history_, but found her project had been anticipated by
others. She then thought of the numerous lays which she _had heard, and
carefully treasured in her memory_. These, she was sure, must be new to
the generality of her readers; and, in this confidence, she offers to
the king the fruits of her labours. After complaining she has met with
envy and persecution where she deserved praise, she declares her
intention to persevere, and relate, as briefly as possible, such stories
as she _knows to be true_, and to have been _formed into lays by the
Britons_.

Les contes ke jeo sai _rerrais,
Dunt li Bretun ont fait ces lais_,
Vus conterai asez briefment, &c.

The Lays are twelve in number; nine of which, with the above
introduction, are extracted, with some trifling abridgment, from the
Specimens of early English Metrical Romances, by George Ellis, Esq.; the
two in verse from Way's Fabliaux; and the other from the notes to Sir
Tristrem, by Walter Scott, Esq.

No. 1.--_The Lay of_ SIR GUGEMER, _or_ GUIGEMAR.

While Arthur reign'd, (so chim'd, in earlier day,
Loud to the twanging harp the Breton lay,)
While Arthur reign'd, two kingdoms born to bless,
Great Britain's king, and suzerain of the less;
A lord of Leon, one of fair report
Among the vassal barons of his court,
Own'd for his son a youth more bravely thew'd
Than aught both countries yet had seen of good.
Dame Nature gave the mould; his sire combin'd
Due culture, exercise of limbs and mind,
Till the rare strippling, now no longer boy,
Chang'd his