Likewife affayed to prove that girdle's powre.
And having it about her middle fet
Did find it fit withouten breach or let,
Whereat the reft gan greatly to envie.
But Florimel exceedingly did fret

And fnatching from her hand, &c.

As for the trial of the HORNE, it is not peculiar to our Poet: It occurs in the old romance, intitled " Morte Arthur,” which was tranflated out of French in the time of K Edw. IV and fir printed anno 1a84. From that romance Arifto is thought to have borrowed his tale of the Enchanted Cup, C. 42. &c. See Mr. Warton's Ob/ervations on the Faerie Queen, &c.

The fiery of the HORN in Morte Arthur varies a gcod deal from this of our Foet, as the reader will judge from the following extra&. "By the way they met with a night that was fent from Morgan la Faye to king Ar"thur, and this knight had a fair borne all garnished with "gold, and the borne bad fuch a virtue, that there might na ladje er gentlewoman drinke of that burne, but if the were true to her husband: and if thee were falfe she "Lould fill all the drinke, and if thee were true unto her "lerde, Jhee might drink peaceably: and because of queene "Guenever and in despite of Sir Launcelot du Lale, this "borne was fent unto king Arthur.". -This born is in

66

tercepted and brought unto another king named Marke who is n't a whit more fortunate than the British hero, for be makes "bis qeene drinke thereof and an hundred ladies •nce, and there were but foure ladies of all thofe that "dren't cleane" of which number the fail queen proves not to be one [Book II. chap. 22 Ed, 1632.]

6.

In other refpects the two stories are fo different, that we have just reafon to fuppofe this Ballad was written before that romance was tranflated into English.

As for queen GUENEVER, he is here reprefented no otherwife than in the old Hifcries and Romanes. Helinjhed bferves, that " She was evil reported of, as noted of incont.

ence and breach of faith to Lir brfband.'. Vil. I. p. 93.

Sucu READERS, AS HAVE NO RELISH FOR PURE ANTIQUITY, WILL FIND A MORE MODERN COPY OF THIS BALLAD AT THE END OF THE VOLUME.

IN

Ver. 7. Branches, M$. Ver. 18. heate, MS. V. 21. poterver, MS.

Ver. 32. his wiffe, MS. Ver. 34. bided. MS. Ver. 41. gaule. MS.

Shee

Shee threw downe the mantle,
That bright was of blee;
Fast with a rudd redd,

To her chamber can fhee flee.

50

She curft the weaver, and the walker,
That clothe that had wrought;

And bade a vengeance on his crowne,

55

That hither hath itt brought.

I had rather be in a wood,

Under a greene tree;

Then in king Arthurs court
Shamed for to bee.

Kay called forth his ladye,

And bade her come neere;
Saies, Madam, and thou be guiltye,

I

pray thee hold thee there.

Forth came his ladye

Shortlye and anon;

Boldlye to the mantle

Then is fhee gone.

When she had tane the mantle,
And caft it her about;

60

65

70

Then was thee bare

Before all the rout."

Then

B 3

And all the time of the Christmasse

Willinglye to ffeede;

For why this mantle might

Doe his wiffe fome need.

When he had tane the mantle,

Of cloth that was inade,

Shee had no more left on her,

But a taffell and a threed:

Then every knight in the kings court

Bade evill might shee speed.

85

99

Shee threw downe the mantle,

95

That bright was of blee;

Ver. 75. lauged. MS.

And