The queen slowly riding on, perceives the stick, and recognizes the well-known characters.  She orders the knights who accompany her to stop.  She is tired; she will get off her horse for a short time, and take some repose.  She calls to her only her maid, her faithful Brenguein; quits the road, plunges into the thickest part of the forest, and finds him whom she loved more than all the world.  Both were delighted beyond measure at this meeting, which gives them full leisure to concert their future projects.  She tells him, that he may now be easily reconciled to his uncle.  That the king has often regretted his absence, and attributes to the malicious accusations of their common enemies, the severe measure of his banishment.  After a long conversation, the queen tears herself from him; and they separate with mutual grief.  Tristrem returned to South-Wales, from whence he was soon recalled by his uncle; but, in the mean time, he had repeated to himself, over and over again, every word of his mistress’s late conversation; 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