our and his attendants, and explain to them how your affectionate
steward had expired in the act of bathing." At the end of three months
every thing was arranged for the execution of this diabolical plot; but
the steward, who had risen early for some purpose of business or
amusement, happening to stay rather beyond the time, the lovers had met
during his absence, forgetting that their guilty project was not yet
accomplished. A maid was stationed at the door, near which stood the
fatal bath; but the husband returning with precipitation, suddenly
forced it open, in spite of her feeble opposition, and discovered his
wife in the arms of Equitan. The prince, under the first impulse of
surprize and remorse, started from the bed, and, heedlessly plunging
into the boiling bath, was instantly suffocated or scalded to death. The
husband, almost at the same instant, seized on his guilty partner, and
threw her headlong after her paramour. Thus were the wicked punished, by
the means which they contrived for the destruction of another; and such
is the substance of the lay which was composed by the Bretons under the
name of Equitan.

* * * * *

No. III.--LAY LE FRAINE.

This ancient and curious little poem, translated from the French of
Marie, is preserved in the Auchinlech MSS. It was communicated by Mr.
Walter Scott to Mr. Ellis, and is inserted amongst his Miscellaneous
Romances. It is mutilated in two places, and wants the conclusion. These
defects are supplied from the French prose.

The prologue begins by observing, that in ancient times, lays, intended
to be accompanied by the harp, were composed on all sorts of subjects.

Some both of war, and some of woe;
And some of joy and mirth also;
And some of treachery and of guile;
Of old aventures that fell while;
And some of _bourdes_[33] and ribaudy;
And many there beth of fairy;
Of all thinges that men seth,
Most of love, forsooth, there beth.
In Bretayne, by old time,
These lays were made, so sayeth this rhyme, &c.

The Bretons never failed converting into lays all the anecdotes they
thought worth consigning to memory; and the following was thus composed,
and called Lay le Fraine (frene), or "The Aventure of the Ash."

In the "West countrie" lived two knights, men of opulence, friends from
their infancy, and married about the same time. One of the ladies having
twins, her husband sent to announce t