The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-09-15
The Moderu Novel.

Professor Morley of London has been telling
the university students what he knows about
the pedigree of the modern novel 1t might,
ne said, be traced to Platonic philosopher,
Apuleus of the second century. and to Chris
tlan bishop, Heliodorus, who wrote two or
three hundred years afterward. Apuleius,
who was the son of chief magistrate near
Carthage, in Roman Africa, was himself Of the
same rank, and was the author of tale enti-
titled "The Golden ASS, as an episode of
which appeared for the first time the beautifu,
fiction of the loves of Cupid and Psyche. An
outline of the main story was given, and it
was pointed out that in the opening, where
speaker says he is always eager for something
"new to the ears" we find the first approach
to the word novel, derived from the diminutivs
form form OF % the Latin Latin aocgs lnewe Incidents bad
vantes, and the author of "Gil Bias" The
"Ethiopca" of Heiiodorus, bishop Of Tricca,
in Thessaly. gave the strange adventures in
the Nile Valley which befell the lovers
more distinctiyely novel, very much in
in the style of one by G. p. r. James.
The story OF the hero ard heroine Of
this earliest work Of fiction assignable to o
Christian pen was sketched, and the influence
of this archetypal work upon the latter lisera-
ture of the kind adverted to. Passing over the
intervening centuries, the professor came to the
middle of the twelfth, when the Arthurian ro-
nance emerged In the fabulous chronicle pro-
fessedly translated from Breton sources BY
Geoffry of Monmouth, in 1l47. Geoffry was
good, patriotic Welshman, who wished to take
the wind out the sails of the English annalists
by giving us the history Of the British kings
from the times Of the Trojan War Among
the same book were taken the "Ferrex and
Porrex" who gave name to the first English
drama. The Arthurian legend was popular
lied afterward by Gaiman. Layaman,
and Walter Map, who was contem-
religious spirit into this epic cycle, especially By
the introduction of the search for the holy
Grail. 1t was in this way mainly that the story
OF Arthur became thoroughly English. Com.
ing to the fourteenth century he said it was to
| that epoch and to Italy that the origin Of the
modern novel in its strictest sense was to be
traced Boccaccio, sharing in the inspiration
Dante and Petrach, is the true father of the
pastoral and epic romance Of the middle ages
hundred novelist or as he goes on to inter-
pret the word, "fables or parallels of
history. They are told in the course
of ten days, whence the title "Decame-
rom" BY seven ladies and three young men. A
still older example of the use of the word
novel" in this sense had been found in Paris
manuscript collection of Church canous written
| in the thirteenth century. There the story of
the Emperor Constantine's being healed OF
leprosy, BY substituting. at the pious suggestion
| of Pope Sylvester, the waters Of baptism for 3
bath in the blood Of new born babes. as pre-
scribed by his heathen advisers, is called Q
novel" In "Amsdis of Gaul,'' written BY
Vasco di Lcbeira, and based on old Welch ira
dition. we had the beginnings of Spanish fiction.
1t would be remembered that this was one of
the few books spared when Don Quixote burned
his novels. The learly English romances were
simply wild stories about Frisr Bacon, Friar
Bungay, etc., and might be compared with the
"Mabinogion" or "Children's Tales" translate
| ed from the Welsh BY Lady Charlotte Guest.
| The curious medieval transformation Of Virgil
| into mighty enchanter who built Naples on
| egg shells, and provided for the police OF Rome
| by means of his iron man and brazen dogs, was
referred to, in some detail. From Italy, chiefly
| in Tudor times, and especially in the reign Of
| Elizabeth, when travelling In that country was
| quite the rage among educated Englishmsn,
| the novel was transplanted to our own shores