The inimitable Fontaine has new moulded this story from Ariosto, under the title of "La Coupe Enchantee.”

As it is manifest, from a comparison of passages, that Ariosto was intimately conversant in this romance; so I think we may fairly suppose that he drew from it the idea of his Orlando running mad with jealousy. In Morte Arthur, Sir Lancelot, smitten with a jealous fit, is driven to madness, in which state he continues for the space of two years, performing a thousand ridiculous pranks, no less extravagant than those of Orlando; and, like him, at last he recovers his senses. A popular and ridiculous romance was a sufficient hint for what we think a fine effort of poetry.

I had forgot to remark before, that our

author has borrowed the name of Materasta's

castle from that of Lancelot in Morte Arthur.

-The goodly frame

And stately port of Castle Joyeous.

3. 1, 31.

Lancelot's

castle is styled, by Caxton,

Joyous gard, or castle*.

This romance, or at least the stories formed from it, sometimes furnished matter for theatrical exhibitions, as we learn from Shakspeare." Shallow I remember at Mile-end Green, when I lay at Clement's-inn, I was Sir Dagonet in Arthur's Show t."-Where Theobald remarks-" The only intelligence I have gleaned of this worthy wight [Sir Dagonet] is from Beaumont and Fletcher, in their Knight of the Burning Pestle." Sir Dagonet is an important character in

* So Skelton, in the Crowne of Lawrell, p. 53, ed. ut supr.

Of the paiants [pageants] that were played in Joyous garde.

+ II. P. Hen. IV. Act. 3, Sc. 4.

Morte Arthur. The magnificent Arthur bore a considerable part in the old pageants. Thus, relating the marriage of Prince Arthur, son of Henry VII. says Bacon-" In the devices and conceits of the triumphs of this marriage--you may be sure that King Arthur the Briton, &c. was not forgotten*." In our author's age, we find him introduced among the entertainments exhibited at the splendid reception of Lord Leicester." Over the entrance of the court-gate was placed aloft upon a scaffold, as it had been in a cloud of skie, Arthur of Britaine, whom they compared to the earl t."-Sydney, as appears from a curious conversation between B. Jonson and Drummond of Hawthornden, recorded by the latter, intended to turn all the stories of Arcadia into the admired legend of Arthur and his knights. In his Defence

* Life of Henry VII. fol. edit. 1730, vol. iii. p. 489. + Holling. Hist. Engl. vol. iii. pag. 1426.

of Poesie he plainly hints at Caxton's romance. "I dare say, that Orlando Furioso, or honest King Arthur [his history] will never displease a soldier. *"

Caxton's recommendation of this book to the knights of England, conveys a curious picture of the timest.-" O ye knyghts of Englond! where is the custom and usage of noble chyvalry that was usid in those dayes? What do you now but go to the baynes, [baths], and playe at dyse? And some not well advised, use not honest and good rule, agayn all order of knighthood. Leve this, leve it and rede the noble volumes of Saynt Greal, of Lancelot, of Galaad, or Tristram,

* Ad Calc. The Countesse of Pembroke's Arcada, edit. 1638, pag. 558.

+ From the boke of the Ordre of Chyvalry, or Knighthood translated out of Frenshe, and imprinted by William Caxton. Without date; perhaps 1484. 4to,

of Perseforest, of Percyval, of Gawayne, and many mo There shall ye see manhode, curtoys, and gentlenes. And loke in latter dayes of the noble actes syth the conquest: as in King Richard's dayes, Cuer de Lion : Edward I. and III. and his noble sones: Syr Robert Knolles, &c. Rede Froissart. Also beholde that victorious and noble king, Harry the fifthe, &c."-Ascham however tells us" I know when God's bible was banished the court, and Morte Arthur received into princes chamber* "

In the hall of the castle of Tamworth, in Warwickshire, there is an old rude painting on the wall of Sir Lancelot du Lake, and Sir Turquin, drawn in a gigantic size, and tilting

* Ascham's Scholemaster, &c. 4to. 1589, b. 1. pag. 25, vers. There is a manuscript poem by Lydgate, Of King Arthur and the Rounde Table, which, I think, was never printed. Bibl. Bodl. Laud. D. 31, f. 64.