onversation; and, while full of the
joy he felt at having seen her, he composed (being a perfect master of
the lays) a new lay, describing his stratagem, its success, his delight,
and the very words uttered by the queen. I will tell you the name of
this lay it is called _Goat-leaf_ in English, and _Chevre-foil_ in
French. I have now told you the whole truth.[82]

FOOTNOTES:

[81] Marie, who drew all her materials from Bretagne, probably
refers to some Armorican edition, of the history of these ill-fated
lovers.

[82] From this, which forms no part of the Sir Tristrem of
Thomas, the Rhymer, it is evident that the same tale was popular in
France, at least thirty years before the probable date of that work.

No. XII.--ELIDUC.

This is stated to be a _very_ old Breton lay. Its original title was
"Guildeluec ha Gualadun," from the names of the two heroines; but it was
afterwards more commonly stiled, The Lay of Eliduc.

Eliduc was a knight of Bretagne, much admired for military prowess,
courtesy, and political sagacity; in consequence of which, his
sovereign, who loved and admired him, was in the habit of entrusting to
his management the most important cares of government. Indeed, so great
was his influence at court, that he enjoyed, almost as completely as the
king, the privilege of the chace in the royal forests. But the favour of
sovereigns is always precarious; and so adroit were his enemies, that he
was suddenly deprived of all his honours, and even banished the country,
without being able to obtain from his once indulgent master, the
privilege of knowing his crimes, or being confronted with his accusers.
Fortunately he was in the prime of life, fond of adventure, and not of a
temper to despond. He retired to his castle, convened his friends, and
communicated to them the king's injustice, and his own projects; which
were, to embark for England, and there enter into the pay of the first
king who might want his assistance. But he had a wife, the fair and
amiable Guildeluec, whom he tenderly loved; and whom, as he was
unwilling to carry her into exile, he earnestly recommended to their
care and attentions. He then selected ten knights as his companions, and
departed for the sea-coast, escorted by nearly all his friends and
vassals, and accompanied by his wife, who was almost frantic with grief
at this cruel separation, and whom he could scarcely reconcile to her
fate, by repeating again and again the most so