New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-09
ARTHURIAN LEGEND FROM NENNIUS TO
TENETSON.
TENNYsON's IDYLLs OF THE KING AND
ARTHrRlAN STORY FROM TIE Myth
Professor Of Modern Literature in the Uni
versty Of sydney. PIP. ri. 49, Macmillan
e.


versity Of Sydney. PIP. ri, 49, Macmillan
& Co
The arrangement OF Professor Maccallnms 'itle
page corresponds neither with the order Of top
les in his book nor with their relative impor-
lance. The anticipation awakened ny first
glance is that another volume has been added
to the numerous explanations Of Tennyson's
meaning. Some chapters in the book are Of this
character. But it's value lies in the familiar and
not over-elaborate summary of the history of the
Arthur legend it appeared and reappeal"d in
literature from Nennius to Sw.nburne. This Is
worthy Of attention. Most Of the intelligent pco-
pie who read Tennyson can form satisfactory
conclusion as to the purpose of his idylls for
themselves. Professor Maccalluns ideas do not
strike one as very novel highly important.
But the adventures Of the tale of Arthur and his
knights furnish material for a new Judgment IN
Tennyson, OF which any reader OF the poet might
be glad 10 avail himself The book in hand will
save many readers the wish 10 follow arthur
through the mazes Of medieval and modern lit
erature which ne has threaded. while IT may in
cite few to more careful study OF places which
Mr.. Maccallum has sighted neglected. He
follows Professor Rhys and Mr. Mutt in what
he has 10 say about Celtic folklore. They are
the best of guides mainly because they have Ia
bored with such unrestrained enthusiasm for the
collation. Of every fragment Of Celtic lore that
could be found in the Arthurian romances. But
there is material in the legend it has come
down to modern times which would have war
ranted Mr. Maccallum in adding to his introduce
ton at least a brief study Of oriental tales and
anecdotes containing Incidents similar b those
which figure in 1t. Often In folk-tae the orl
gin feigned for It's characters or for objects
celebrated by 1t betray the origin Of the fiction
itself, or at least indicate the direction from
which 1t came. 1t is significant that the Holy
Grail and the figure OF Joseph OF Armathea. as
well as other elements of the Arthur legend
oriental, by explicit confession Of all narrators
who mention them.
To the objection that the story is hardly worthy
Of such minute investigation. IL is sufficient an
10 say that the whole secret Of twcfth-cen-
fury civilization Is wrapped up in the Arthur
story, and the man who shall unfold ii will have
to be familiar with every scrap of medieval
learning which time has spared. The attraction
Of the story TO so many men OF varied talents
Is also argument for the closest study Of 81
in every aspect. Considered a bundle Of Celtic
myths Mr.. Maccallum, following the explanations
Of others, makes the legend Descent to Iiadcs
corresponding in the central purpose TO the clev-
enth book Of the Odyssey and the Sixth Acneid
The supposed relation Of all this class Of tales
TO the sun and to sun-wOrship Is of course well
known II invades a meagre history like that Of
Nennus where Arthur is said to have fought
twelve battles with the Saxons. The solar my
biologist triumphantly points to the number twelve
indicating the passage Of the sun through
the signs Of the Zodiac.
While nothing that is said Of Arthur can be
called historical, literature the narrative Of
his exploits has definite beginning in history.
Acfd fvo ha fau oF be ct,r No
MUS, the whole tale is fathcred by Walter Mapes.
who is said to have written it In French by
ro' al command. Godfrey OF Monmouth says
that Walter lent him book in the British lam
guage. which contained the whole history Of the
Britons from Brutus to Cadwaader; but when
he comes to Arthur. he adds guilelcssy that ne
eked out his original by talking with Walter.
The picture of those two shaver pates-they
were both merry churchmen as lived in their
time-concoctng British history In this manner
Is irresistible. But 1t must be remembered that
Walter was the one man Of wide learning in
his generation. He was likely 10 ornament every
narrative he touched with colors and gems from !
every quarter. II time had but spared his |
French story for comparison with Geoffrcy's |
more subdued Latin recital, the difficulties mat !
now beset the history OF the legend would .. OBJ |
ably have no existence. Il IS significant how /
ever. that just in modern times supcrla- /
lively good theme attracts the attention OF many |
writers at once. so Walter and Godfrey had /
hardly completed their task before others were I
at il. and the close Of the twelfth century saw
the Arthurian fiction thoroughly worked OUT
in both prose and verse. One NIGH well conf
pare Walter and Godfrey and WAGE and Lava
mon and Chresten of Trayes and Beroul and
Wolfram Won Eschenbach with that numerous
band which within the present century has re-
told the whole Arthurian story. Thus tho on 8
break In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries
looks like anything but the growth OF a folk
tale. Ii was throughout conscious and wel-di- /
rected literary effort. the effect OF which Il still
10 be The work went on in varjous coun- !
tries Of Europe in succeeding centuries. What
mad been literature was bound TO bc,,mn folk
ore when much popular atten.io, was H.
-ected to IT, The work OF Mallory came natu-
ally with the advent OF printing by WAY Of
summing up the results. But the highest mo
iiaeval genius had long before set tna legend
aside as exhausted. Men like Dante and Chan
'cr barely alluded to II. In England il fell 10
he ballad-mallers. just as other old roniances
ell to the chap-book makers and wandering
tory-tellers. In Germany Hans Sachs took II
~ In the form of a drama the cpisoda Of
tristan and Isolde. while Radicals In France con-