Marie de France. Lais. Herausgegeben von H. Suchier. (Bibliotheca Normannica, vol. iii.) 8vo. cvii. 276 pp. Halle: Niemeyer. London: D. Nutt.
Roquefort's edition of Marie de France has long been scarce and costly. All students of mediæval romantic literature will rejoice to learn that a fresh edition has appeared of an author whose importance for the history of romance cannot easily be over-estimated. Herr Suchier has done his work with customary German accuracy and thoroughness. The text is carefully printed, provided with full critical apparatus and glossary, and preceded by a careful discussion of the grammatical and metrical peculiarities of Marie. The feature, however, of the new edition which will most interest folk-lorists is the series of "Vergleichende Anmerkungen" which Dr. Reinhold Köhler has prefixed to each tale. The Nestor of comparative storyology has been even more lavish than usual of his inexhaustible wealth of learning. As specimens of the information to be found in these notes, the enumerations in Milun of all the instances in literature of the combat between father and son, and in Le Fraisne of the singular beliefs concerning twins, may be especially signalled. But, as in Dr. R. Köhler's notes to Campbell, so here, grateful as we must be for what is given, it is impossible to help wishing that more had been given. The facts of the relations between Marie and the remainder of popular and romantic literature are fully set forth, but no attempt is made to explain them or to point out their bearing on the various hypotheses of the diffusion of romantic literature. And what may be called the Celtic side of Marie's work remains entirely unnoticed. The charming lay of Yonec has one page only of introduction vouchsafed to it; the unmistakeable sidh character of the hero is passed over in silence, as well as the incident which recurs so often both in the living Celtic folk-tale and in the Arthurian romance of the father's sword being specially treasured up for the avenging son. But, in spite of these drawbacks, Dr. R. Köhler's introduction is a mine of references and parallels which no folk-lorist should omit to consult. The new edition is essentially one for students, and should be in the hands of all workers in what is, perhaps, the most perplexing department of folk-lore.
