l’auteur de cette compilation, mais un passage du 68^e dialogue du livre intitule ‘Dialogus creaturarum’ nous le revele par ces mots:  Elimandus in gestis romanorum."[28] But, as Sir F. Madden and Mr. Herrtage have pointed out, the name of “Gesta Romanorum” was given to any book treating of Roman affairs.  A French translation of Livy, by Robert Gaguin, has been catalogued as a version of the “Gesta.”  The reference cited by Brunet is to the Chroniques of Helinand.[29]

Many of the stories and anecdotes are the commonplaces of ancient history, such as the friendship of Damon and Pythias, the sword of Damocles, the chastity of Scipio, the magnanimity of Alexander, the fable of the Dog and the Shadow, &c.  Others current in the middle ages had great popularity, and even in our own days occasionally renew their youth.  The story of John of Ganazath (p. 48) is to be found in Occleve’s translation of Colonna.  Mr. Thomas Wright remarks:  “This story, under different forms, was a very common one in the middle ages.  One version will be found in my ‘Latin Stories,’ p. 28.  It will hardly be necessary to remark that the story of King Lear and his daughters is another version."[30]

The story appears also in some modern compilations.  In one instance it is given as the will of Jehan Connaxa, of Antwerp, about 1530.[31] The incident is given in the following form in the popular collection known as the “Percy Anecdotes":[32]—­

“An eminent trader at Lyons, who had acquired an easy fortune, had two handsome daughters, between whom, on their marriage, he divided all his property, on condition that he should pass the summer with one and the winter with the other.  Before the end of the first year, he found sufficient grounds to conclude that he was not a very acceptable guest to either; of this, however, he took no notice, but hired a handsome lodging, in which he resided a few weeks; he then applied to a friend, and told him the truth of the matter, desiring the gift of two hundred livres, and the loan of fifty thousand, in ready money, for a few hours.  His friend very readily complied with his request; and the next day the old gentleman made a very splendid entertainment, to which his daughters and their husbands were invited.  Just as dinner was over, his friend came in a great hurry; told him of an unexpected demand upon him, and desired to know whether he could lend him fifty thousand livres.  The old man told him, without any emotion, that twice as much was at his service, if he wanted it; and going into the next room, brought him the money.  After this, he was not suffered to stay any longer in lodgings; his daughters were jealous if he stayed a day more in one house than the other; and after three or four years spent with them, he died; when, upon examining his cabinet, inftead of livres, there was found a note containing these words:  ’He who has suffered by his virtues, has a right to avail himself of the vices of those by whom he has been injured; and a father ought never to be so fond of his children as to forget what is due to himself.’”