New-York tribune., 1891-02-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS
OLD STORIES.

THE EXEMPLA Or Es OF T2CoIEs iNBE BE
VITpY Edited with Introduction, analysis aud
notes by r. f. Crane, NJ ~, Professor Oi tho
Romance Languages m C9Fngn OnI9t&TsnH; M & r,, Up, nP
cxvi 3o3. London: David Mutt Tor the Folklore
Society.
The innocent paragrapher who endeavors once more
N make the Joke about the bald headed man and
tho ov mt a coin in hs parse would perhaps be
dsmayed If he knew that the humoT OF it, while familiar
IN the ancient readers Of AesOp Was not forgotten in
the Middle Ages Here it is a nice as new in Pro
lessor Cranes edition Of the Latin stories told by
Cardinal Jacques de Vitry, say at least G1O years ago
According to De Witty the bald man killed the fly, but
tho ioke was beyond his power. Here also one may
0nd the story Of the Irishman who blamed Adam for
bringing the Of labor into the world and then was
unabe 10 restrain his own curiosity. but he has been
tnrncd into a hermit Of the man who, condemned 10
he hanged but given the choice Of the tree to be used as
a gallows could never find one to his liking the
story Of the solid old country gentleman travelling
IN Boston who when asked by certain brisk
youngsters in the morning if he thought they would
get 10 the city by niGhtfall, replied Yes, II they
travelled slowly enough" but here the old gentle
man is St. Martin and the destination Is Paris. Moro
than one person, perhaps, can remember line or
two Of the song about shpwrcck which ran Ike
Some 6en on their bended knees.
And others fell down faintng;
But fell bread and cheese.
the main thing.
So in this collection there is the story OF the
minstrel who when the ship about to founder,
fell to eating the salt meat eagerly and upon being
chided said
Il see shall soon have plenty of water what l
need now is thirst"
But the story of all most agreeable to the modern
taste perhaps is that of the minstrel bcnighcd near
an abbey which had. he well knew, sad reputation
for lack of hospitality. The abbot was away,
but the porter was not a whit the Kinder So the
poor minstrel had 10 be content with black bread and
vegetables and a miserable bed. lie meiitatcd
revenge. and happening to meet the ABBOT, Doasted
how well he had been treated, and how he had enjoyed
the rich banquet that had been spread for him The
abbot burning with rage, fastened to the abbey
discharged the porter, and appointed new one OF
whose stinginess he was assured
The partic!ar value OF the collection Of tales made
by JACQUES DC Vitry lies in the fact that it was the
first of its kind. ard being intended for the use Of
preachers-whO, with the rise OF tie Dominican and
franciscan orders in Europe. had become potent
element in the life OF the peope-was instrumental in
the diffusion Of ,tories the spread of which has been
one of the problems of literary history. De Niliy
was famous man in his day, an eloquent preacher
an energetic bishop Acre. enthusiastic crusader
in the campaigns the Nile, and ne had the mis-
fortune 10 be in command OF Damiet.a When that
place was bcseged and taken by the >araccn in i22l
Thus a. all experienced traveller and c2lnpaiTncr. he
naturally had the best of training ior story teller
and The brevty Of the "eXempla" probably gives IN
imad .quatc OF his skill Profc;s~r Crane las
edited Tie Latin text OF his author w care. and has
added. the benefit OF those who know little Latin
or who are in haste, an analysis Of each tale The
analysis is accompanied BY noes ard references. by
the aid Of which one may trace the wardernEs o.
each narrative in Europe ana often TO the Far East
An introduction presents biography Of De Why
bb.iOrs7.phy of his works, and full sketch OF the
history Of eXempla literature down even 10 the pres
oat day. the publication Of anccdoucal collections
adapted to the Of preachers j. not yet altogctho
abandoned. The volume Will have All important c''ccJ
in rendering definite good many questions That have
hitherto rested in the field. rather obscurrd
than described by the phrase "popul2r ufdfol'
In addition II those interested especially in folklore
the book should also appeal 10 those who nave aE'N
for the cxenpla literature Of te early modern pcIod
the ORIGIN Of which needs cXpncauon in spite Of all
the learning that has been devoted TO H. This Is
twenty-,Xth in the list Of works published ov the
FOLKLORE society, and it is worthy of high praise
rot only in point of learning but also in point OF mo
chancal execution.