then exclaimed, “In faith, fair sire, I will unite you to my mother.  I will kill her present husband, and you shall marry her.”  This being arranged, they parted for the night.  On the next day they arrived at the sea:  embarked; landed in Wales after a short and pleasant passage; and were proceeding to Milun’s castle, when they were met by a messenger bearing a letter to Milun from his lady, in which she announced the death of her husband, and requested him to hasten his return.  At this joyful news they hurried on to the lady’s castle; and she had the satisfaction of being for ever united to her lover, at the same time that she embraced a son every way worthy of his accomplished parents.  On this occasion says the author, “the ancients made a lay which I have here set down in writing, and which I always relate with fresh pleasure.”

FOOTNOTES: 

[79] This lay has been translated into English metre, under the title of “the Nythingale.”  Bibl.  Cotton.  Calig.  A. 11.

[80] Perhaps Milwr, a warrior.

* * * * *

No.  X.—­CHAITIVEL.

There lived formerly, at Nantes in Bretagne, a lady of such exquisite beauty that no one could behold her with impunity.  All the young men of the town were rivals for her smiles; but four, nearly of the same age, and of equal birth and accomplishments, soon eclipsed all the rest of the competitors.  Each of these four deserved, and obtained, a place in her affections; but their merits were so equal that she was unable to make a choice.  At tournaments she sent to all some mark of distinction; a ring, a scarf, a pennant, or other ornament; and all ascribed to her, as mistress of their actions, the exploits they had the good fortune to perform.  It happened once, that Nantes was appointed for the celebration of a tournament at the Easter festival.  The four knights set out to meet the foreign ones, and proposed to joust with an equal number:  the offer was accepted, and the contest ended to the advantage of the town.  On the following day the four young lovers still further distinguished themselves; but the spectacle at length degenerated, as was frequently the case, into a real combat, in which three out of the four were accidentally slain, and the fourth dangerously wounded.  They were brought back to the lady, who caused the three to be magnificently interred, and summoned the best physicians of the town to assist her attendance on the survivor.  Their joint efforts were at length successful.  He became convalescent; and, finding his passion revive with his returning health, daily importuned the lady for her hand, to which there now remained no other equal claimant.  But she gave him to understand, that feeling herself singular in misfortune, by having lost in one day three admirers of superior merit, she would not consent to bear to the bridal ceremony a heart consumed by