To make a full sketch of the novel, in so far as the Poet borrowed from it, would occupy too much space.  Still it seems desirable to indicate, somewhat, the extent of the Poet’s obligations in this case; which can be best done, I apprehend, by stating, as compactly as may be, a portion of the story.

Sir John of Bordeaux, being at the point of death, called in his three sons, Saladyne, Fernandine, and Rosader, and divided his wealth among them, giving nearly a third to Rosader the youngest.  After a short period of hypocritical mourning for his father, Saladyne went to studying how he might defraud his brothers, and ravish their legacies.  He put Fernandine to school at Paris, and kept Rosader as his foot-boy.  Rosader bore this patiently for three years, and then his spirit rose against it.  While he was deep in meditation on the point, Saladyne came along and began to jerk him with rough speeches.  After some interchange of angry and insulting words, Rosader “seized a great rake, and let drive at him,” and soon brought him to terms.  Saladyne, feigning sorrow for what he had done, then drew the youth, who was of a free and generous nature, into a reconciliation, till he might devise how to finish him out of the way.

Now, Gerismond, the rightful King of France, had been driven into exile, and his crown usurped, by Torismond, his younger brother.  To amuse the people, and keep them from thinking of the banished King, the usurper appointed a day of wrestling and tournament; when a Norman, of great strength and stature, who had wrestled down as many as undertook with him, was to stand against all comers.  Saladyne went to the Norman secretly, and engaged him with rich rewards to despatch Rosader, in case Rosader should come within his grasp.  He then pricked his brother on to the wrestling, telling him how much honour it would bring him, and that he was the only one to uphold the renown of the family.  The youth, full of heroic thoughts, was glad of such an opportunity.  When the time came, Torismond went to preside over the games, taking with him the Twelve Peers of France, his daughter Alinda, his niece Rosalynd, and all the most famous beauties of the Court.  Rosalynd, “upon whose cheeks there seemed a battle between the graces,” was the centre of attraction, “and made the cavaliers crack their lances with more courage.”  The tournament being over, the Norman offered himself as general challenger at wrestling.  While he is in the full career of success, Rosader alights from his horse, and presents himself for a trial.  He quickly puts an end to the Norman’s wrestling; though not till his eyes and thoughts have got badly entangled with the graces of Rosalynd.  On the other side, she is equally smitten with his handsome person and heroic bearing, insomuch that, the spectacle being over, she takes from her neck a jewel, and sends it to him by a page, as an assurance of her favour.