This, from the literary point of view, is one of the most important of modern editions.  The text is not taken from the same MS. as was followed by M. de Lincy.  The tales are preceded by a lengthy introduction, in which the editor discusses Queen Margaret’s work and seeks to identify the supposed narrators of her tales.  He has frequently been quoted in the notes to this translation.

XXIX. L’Heptameron, &c, avec notes, variantes et glossaire par F. Dillaye et notice par A. France.  A. Lemerre, Paris, 1879.

A handy edition based on the MSS.  The notes embody the substance of M. de Lincy’s and M. Lacroix’s researches with additional particulars supplied by M. Dillaye, who has been quoted in the course of the present work.

XXX. L’Heptameron, &c., publie stir les manuscrits avec les notes de MM.  Le Poux de Lincy et Anatole de Montaiglon.  Auguste Eudes, Paris, 1880, 8 vols. 1. 8vo and 4 vols. cr. 8vo.

The edition in 8 vols, (two copies of which on parchment were issued at L44 each; and twelve on Japanese paper at L20 each) is illustrated with the Freudenberg plates; that in 4 vols, contains the text only.  The text is the same as that of No.  XXIII.; but with additional notes, prefatory matter, &c.  The copyright attaching to this edition was acquired for the present work, in which all M. de Montaiglon’s important notes are reproduced.

Among the English translations of the Heptameron are the following:—­

Heptameron, or the History of the Fortunate Lovers, translated by R. Codrington, London, 1654, 12mo. (Dedicated to Thomas Stanley, the translator of Anacreon and editor of AEschylus, and based on Boaistuau’s defective text.)

The Heptameron of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, nota first translated from the original text, by Walter K. Kelly.  Bohn (extra volume), London, 1855.  This has been several times reprinted.  The translation is a very free rendering of M. de Lincy’s text; many passages are deficient.

The Heptameron, &c., translated from the original French by Arthur Machen.  Privately printed (G.  Redway), London, 1886, 1 vol. 1. 8vo.  A scholarly translation, not annotated; illustrated with the etchings by Flameng (see ante, edition xxv.).

The Fortunate Lovers, twenty-seven novels of the Queen of Navarre, translated by Arthur Machen, edited with notes and introduction by A. Mary F. Robinson.  G. Redway, London, 1887, 8vo.  Etched frontispiece by G. P. Jacomb Hood.  This only contains such of the tales as the lady-editor considered unobjectionable.  In her introduction she sketches the life of Queen Margaret and discusses the identity of the supposed narrators of the tales.  Some of the notes are original, but the majority are based upon the researches of French commentators.—­Ed.