as almost indispensable, nor can it be denied that those of Henryson sometimes
extend to too great a length. The collection is introduced by a prologue, and
another is prefixed to the fable of the lion and the mouse.
The tale of Vpoulands Mouse and the Burgesse Mouse may be regarded as one of his happiest efforts in this department. The snme tale, which is borrowed from Æsop, has been told by many other poets, ancient as well as modern. Habrias has despatched the story of the two mice in a few verses, but Henryson has extended it over a surface of several pages. Henryson's Tale of Sir Chauntecleire and the Foxe is evidently borrowed from Chaucer's Nonnes Preestes Tale. From these apologues some curious fragments of information may be gleaned. That of the Sheepe and the Dog, contains all the particulars of an action before the consistory court, and probably as complete an exposure of such transactions as the author could prudently hazard. The proceedings of the ecclesiastical courts seem about this period to have been felt as a common grievance.
Another conspicuous production of Henryson is the Testament of Cresseid,[1] which is the sequel to Chaucer's Troylus and Creseyde, and is commonly printed among the works of that poet. It evidently rises above the ordinary standard of that period, and on some occasions evinces no mean felicity of conception. The silent interview between Troilus and Cresseid is skilfully delineated; and the entire passage has been described as beautiful by a very competent judge of old poetry.[2] It is unnecessary to remark that for "the tale of Troy divine," neither Chaucer nor Henryson had recourse to the classical sources: this, like some other subjects of ancient history, had been invested with all the characteristics of modern romance; nor could the Scottish poet be expected to deviate from the models which delighted his contemporaries. Sir Troilus is commended for his knightly piety; a temple is converted into a kirk; Mercury is elected speaker of the parliament; and Cresseid, on being afflicted with a leprosy, is consjgned to a spittal-house, in order to beg with cup and clapper. The personages are ancient, but the institutions and manners are all modern.
Henryson's tale of Orpheus is not free from similar incongruities, and possesses fewer attractions ; it is indeed somewhat languid and feeble, and may have been a lucubration of the author's old age. Sir Orpheus is represented as a king of Thrace, and is first despatched to heaven in search of the lost Eurydice.
Quhen endit was the sangis lamentable,
He tuke his harp, that on his breast can hyng,
Syne passit to the hevin, as sais the fable,
To seke his wyf, bot that auailit no thing:
- ↑ The Testament of Cresseid, compylit be Mr Robert Henrysone, Sculemaister in Dunft-rmeling. Imprentitat Edinburgh be Henrie Charteris, 1593, 4to. " Ffor the author of this supplement," says Sir Francis Kinaston, "called the Testament of CresseJd, which may passe for the sixt and last booke of this story, I have very sufficiently bin informed by Sr. Tho. Ereskin, late earle of Ktlly, and divers aged schollers of the Scottish nation, that it' was made and written by one Mr Robert Henderson, sometime chiefe schoole-master, in Dumfermling, much about the time that Chaucer was first printed and dedicated to King Henry the 8th by- Mr Thinne, which was neere the end of his raigne. This Mr Henderson wittily observing that Chaucer in his 5th booke had related the death of Troilus, but made no mention what became of Cresseid, he learnedly takes upon him, in a fine poeticall way, toexpresthe punishment and end due to a false unconstant whore, which commonly terminates in extreme misery." See the Loves of Troiius and Cress-eid, written by Chaucer; with a Commentary by Sir Francis Kinaston, p. xxix. Lond. 1796, 8vo. Kinaston had translated into Latin rhyme two books of Chaucer's poem, and had published them under the title of Amorum Troili et Ci eseidee libri duo priores Anglico-Latini, Oxoniae, 1633, 4to. He completed his version of the poem, together with a commentary; and his manuscript at length came into the possession of Mr Waldron, who announced his intention of committing it to the press, but. did not find encouragement to proceed beyond a short specimen.
- ↑ Scott's 'Notes to Sir Tristrem,' p. 362.
