But nigh thereto the ever-damned beast Durst not approache, for he was mortal made, 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 Spenser. I take this opportunity of mentioning by the way, that our author, in his dragonencounters, circumstantially adopts all the incidents which occur on this article in romances. An ingenious correspondent has commu nicated 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 Cairleoln, 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 la Curne de Sainte Palayet, in his learned and ancient chivalry, and who informs us, that it is formed on the tale of the Enchanted Cup. Most of these old romantic 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 * Manuscript Collection of old Ballads, No. 89. † A Paris, 1760, 12mo, tom. prem. pag. 119. 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, (b. 2. 10. 70.) that man, as first made by Prometheus, was called Elfe, who wandering over the world, at length arrived at the gardens of Adonis, where he found a female whom he called Fay. Elfe, according to Junius, is derived from the runic Alfur, who likewise endeavours to prove, that the Saxons called the Elfes, or spirits of the downs, Dunelfen; 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 * See Junius, Etymolog. in Elfe. Etymologists greatly differ about the word. 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 by will, she being also called Glorian, or Gloriana. In the story of Enfinel, who overcame the Gobbelines, he either alludes to the fiction of the Guelfes and Gibbelines in Italy; or to another race of fairies, called Goblins, and commonly joined with Elfes. His friend and commentator, E. K. remarks*, that our Elfes and Goblins were derived from the two parties, Guelfes and Gibbelines. This etymology I by no means approve. The mention of it however may serve to illustrate Spenser's meaning in this passage. Elfinan perhaps is King Lud, who founded London, or Cleopolis. In which the fairest Fairy Queen doth dwell. 1. 10. 58. Elfant built her palace Panthea, probably Windsor-castle. The bridge of glass may mean London-bridge. But these images of the golden wall, the crystal tower, &c. seem to be all adopted from romance. At least Eclogue June. |