And afterwards,

But ever when Bevis was hurt sore,

He went to the well and washed him thore; 'He was as whole as any man,

And ever as fresh as when he began.'

It may be observed, that this poem of Sir Bevis is in that short measure, which was frequently sung to the harp even in queen Elizabeth's time: a custom which probably descended from the ancient bards. The author of The Arte of English poesie, printed in 1589, thus speaks of it: So on the other side doth the overbusie and too speedy returne of one manner of tune, too much annoy, and, as it were, glut the eare, unless it be in small and popular ⚫ musickes song by these cantabanqui upon benches and barrels heads, where they have none other audience than boyes, or country fellowes, that passe by them in the streete; or else by blind harpers, or such like taverneminstrels, that give a fit of mirth for a groat; and their matters being, for the most part, stories of old time; as, the Tale of Sir Topas, the Reportes of Bevis of Southampton, Guy of Warwicke, Adam Bell, and Clymme of the Clough, and such other old Romances or historical Rhymes, made purposely for recreation of the common people at christmasse diners, and brideales; and in tavernes, and alehouses, and

'such places of base resort: also they be used in ⚫ carols and rounds, and such light or lascivious poemes, which are commonly more commodiously uttered by these buffoons and VICES in plays, than by any other person: such were "the rimes of Skelton (usurping the name of a poet laureate) being in deede but a rude rayling ⚫rimer, and all his doings ridiculous; he used ⚫ both short distances and short measures, pleasing only the popular eare'; in our courtly MAKER 'we banish them utterly.' B. ii. c. 9. Hence it appears, that Chaucer's pieces, or at least legends drawn from him, were, at that time, sung to the harp; for the tale, or rime, of Sir Topas is a poem of Chaucer now extant: so the Italians, at present, sing Tasso and Ariosto. Adam Bell and Clym of the Clough were two famous archers: the former of which is, on that account, alluded to by Shakspeare.

The same author, in another place, speaks of this kind of entertainment, by which we may conjecture that it was not always confined to so vulgar an audience. We ourselves, who compiled this treatise, have written for pleasure, a little brief romance, or historical ditty, in the English tong, of the isle of Great-Britaine, in short and long meeters; and by breaches 'or divisions to be more commodiously sung to the harpe in places of assembly, where the · company shall be desirous to hear of old adven

tures, and valiaunces of noble knights in times · past; as are those of king Arthur, and his knights of the round table; Sir Bevys of Southampton, Guy of Warwicke, and such other like.'. B. i. c. 19.

But to return: the circumstance of the Dragon not being able to approach within seven feet of this well, is imitated by our author, where he mentions another water, which in like manner preserves the knight, F. Q. i. xi. 49.

'But nigh thereto the ever-damned beast
Durst not approache, for he was mortal made,
And all that life preserved did detest,

Yet he it oft adventur'd to invade.'

We feel a sort of malicious triumph in detecting the latent and obscure source, from whence an original author has drawn some celebrated description: yet this, it must be granted, soon gives way to the rapture that naturally results from contemplating the chymical energy of true genius, which can produce so noble a transmutation; and whose virtues are not less efficacious and vivifying in their nature, than those of the miraculous water here displayed by Spen

ser.

I take this opportunity of mentioning, by the way, that our author, in his Dragon-encounters, circumstantially adopts all the incidents which occur on this article in romances.

An ingenious correspondent has communicated to me an old ballad, or metrical romance, called The Boy and the Mantle, on which Spenser's conceit of Florimel's girdle is evidently founded. A boy brings into king Arthur's hall, at Cairleon, a magical mantle, by which trial is made of the fidelity of each of the ladies of the several knights. But this fiction is as manifestly taken from an old French piece, entitled, Le Court Mantel; part of which is quoted by M. de Sainte Palaye, in his learned and entertaining memoirs of ancient chivalry, and who informs us, that it is formed on the tale of the Enchanted Cup. Most of these old romantick stories in English, I presume, first existed in French or Italian.

Several other incidental imitations of romance, will be pointed out occasionally. As to Spenser's original and genealogy of the FAIRY NATION, I am inclined to conjecture, that part of it was supplied by his own inexhaustible imagination, and part from some fabulous history.

He tells us, that man, as first made by Prometheus, was called ELFE, who, wandering over the world, at length arrived at the gardens of

* But this fiction, &c.] The story of Le Court Mantel is also recorded in many manuscript Welch chronicles, as I learn from original letters of Lhuyd in the Ashmolean Museum. And from the same authority I am informed, that the fiction of the Giant's coat composed of the beards of the kings whom he had conquered, is related in the legends of the bards of both countries. T. WARTON

Adonis, where he found a female, whom he called FAY, F. Q. ii. x. 70. Elfe, according to Junius, is derived from the Runick Alfur; who likewise endeavours to prove, that the Saxons called the Elfes, or spirits of the Downs, Dunelfin; of the Fields, Feldelfen; of the Hills, Muntelfen; of the Woods, Wudelfen, &c*. ELFE, signifies quick. FAY, or FAIRY, I shall explain hereafter. The issue of ELFE and FAY were called Fairies, who soon grew to be a mighty people, and conquered all nations. Their eldest son Elfin governed America, and the next to him, named Elfinan, founded the city of Cleopolis, which was enclosed with a golden wall by Elfiline. His son Elfine overcame the Gobbelines; but, of all Fairies, Elfant was most renowned, who built Panthea, of crystal. To these succeeded Elfar, who slew two brethren giants; and to him Elfinor, who built a bridge of glass over the sea, the sound of which was like thunder. At length Elficleos ruled the Fairy land with much wisdom, and highly advanced its power and honour: he left two sons, the eldest of which, fair Elferon, died a premature death, his place being supplied by the mighty Oberon a prince, whose wide memorial' still remains; and who, dying, left Tanaquil to succeed him

See Junius, Etymolog, in v. ELFE. Etymologists greatly differ about the word. T. WARTON.