Character Sketches of Romance Volume I Part 23

_t.i.turel_, or _The Guardian of the Holy Graal_, by Wolfram von Eschenbach. t.i.turel founded the temple of Graalburg as a shrine for the holy graal.

_The Romance of Parzival_, prince of the race of the kings of Graalburg. By Wolfram of Eschenbach (in verse). This romance (written about 1205) was partly founded upon a French poem by Chretien de Troyes, _Parceval le Gallois_ (1170).

_Launcelot of the Lake_, by Ulrich of Zazikoven, contemporary with William Rufus.

_Wigalois_, or _The Knight of the Wheel_, by Wirnd of Graffenberg.

This adventurer leaves his mother in Syria, and goes in search of his father, a knight of the Round Table.

_I'wain_, or _The Knight of the Lion_, and _Ereck_, by Hartmann von der Aue (thirteenth century).

_Tristan and Yseult_ (in verse), by Master Grottfried of Strasburg (thirteenth century). This is also the subject of Luc du Grast's prose romance, which was revised by Elie de Borron, and turned into verse by Thomas the Rhymer, of Erceldoune, under the t.i.tle of the _Romance of Tristram_.

_Merlyn Ambroise_, by Robert de Borron.

_Roman des diverses Quetes de St. Graal_, by Walter Mapes (prose).

_La Morte d'Arthur_, by Walter Mapes.

_A Life of Joseph of Arimathea_, by Robert de Borron.

_The Idylls of the King_, by Tennyson, in blank verse, containing "The Coming of Arthur," "Gareth and Lynette," "Geraint and Enid," "Merlin and Vivien," "Lancelot and Elaine," "The Holy Graal," "Peleas and Ettarre" (2 _syl._), "The Last Tournament," "Guinevere" (3 _syl._) and "The Pa.s.sing of Arthur," which is the "Morte d'Arthur" with an introduction added to it.

(The old Arthurian Romances have been collated and rendered into English by sir Thomas Malory, in three parts. Part i. contains the early history of Arthur and the beautiful allegory of Gareth and Linet; part ii. contains the adventures of sir Tristram; and part iii.

the adventures of sir Launcelot, with the death of Arthur and his knights. Sir Frederick Madden and J.T.K. have also contributed to the same series of legends.)

[Ill.u.s.tration] _Sources of the Arthurian Romances_. The prose series of romances called Arthurian, owe their origin to: 1. The legendary chronicles composed in Wales or Brittany, such as _De Excidio Britanniae_ of Gildas. 2. The chronicles of Nennius (ninth century).

3. The Armoric collections of Walter [Cale'nius] or Gauliter, archdeacon of Oxford. 4. The _Chronicon sive Historia Britonum_ of Geoffrey of Monmouth. 5. Floating traditions and metrical ballads and romances. (See CHARLEMAGNE.)

AR'THURET _(Miss Seraphina_ the papist and _Miss Angelica_), two sisters in sir W. Scott's novel called _Redgauntlet_ (time, George III.).

ARTHUR KAVANAGH, the new pastor in the Fairmeadow parish, endowed "with the zeal of Peter and the gentleness of John," who writes on his study-door Dante's injunction--

Think that To-day will never dawn again. _Kavanagh. A Tale_, by H.W.

Longfellow (1872).

ARTHUR LIVINGSTON, an American traveller in Egypt who falls in love, at first leisurely, finally desperately, with the heroine of _Kismet_ by George Fleming (Julia C. Fletcher) (1877).

ARTHUR RIPLEY, young New York lawyer employed in the criminal case that is the pivotal centre of interest in Sidney Luska's (Harry Harland) novel, _Mrs. Peixada_ (1886).

AR'TURO (lord Arthur Talbot), a cavalier affianced to Elvi'ra "the puritan," daughter of lord Walton. On the day appointed for the wedding, Arturo has to aid Enrichetta (_Henrietta, widow of Charles I._) in her escape, and Elvira, supposing he is eloping with a rival, temporarily loses her reason. On his return, Arturo explains the circ.u.mstances, and they vow never more to part. At this juncture Arturo is arrested for treason, and led away to execution; but a herald announces the defeat of the Stuarts, and free pardon of all political offenders, whereupon Arturo is released, and marries "the fair puritan."--Bellini's opera, _I Puritani_ (1834).

_Ar'turo_ [BUCKLAW]. So Frank Hayston is called in Donizetti's opera of _Lucia di Lammermoor_ (1835). (See HAYSTON.)

AR'VALAN, the wicked son of Keha'ma, slain by Ladur'lad for attempting to dishonor his daughter Kail'yal (2 _syl._). After this, his spirit became the relentless persecutor of the holy maiden, but holiness and chast.i.ty triumphed over sin and l.u.s.t. Thus when Kailyal was taken to the bower of bliss in paradise, Arvalan borrowed the dragon-car of the witch Lor'rimite (3 _syl._) to carry her off; but when the dragons came in sight of the holy place they were unable to mount, and went perpetually downwards, till Arvalan was dropped into an ice-rift of perpetual snow. When he presented himself before her in the temple of Jaganaut, she set fire to the paG.o.da. And when he caught the maiden waiting for her father, who was gone to release the glendoveer from the submerged city of Baly, Baly himself came to her rescue.

"Help, help, Kehama! help!" he cried.

But Baly tarried not to abide That mightier power. With irresistible feet He stampt and cleft the earth. It opened wide, And gave him way to his own judgment-seat.

Down like a plummet to the world below He sank ... to punishment deserved and endless woe.

Southey, _Curse of Kehama_, xvii. 12 (1809).

ARVI'DA (_Prince_), a n.o.ble friend of Gustavus Vasa. Both Arvida and Gustavus are in love with Christi'na, daughter of Christian II. king of Scandinavia. Christian employs the prince to entrap Gustavus, but when he approaches him the better instincts of old friendship and the n.o.bleness of Gustavus prevail, so that Arvida not only refuses to betray his friend, but even abandons to him all further rivalry in the love of Christina.--H. Brooke, _Gustavus Vasa_ (1730).

ARVIR'AGUS, the husband of Do'rigen. Aurelius tried to win her love, but Dorigen made answer that she would never listen to his suit till the rocks that beset the coast were removed, "and there n'is no stone y-seen." By the aid of magic, Aurelius caused all the rocks of the coast to disappear, and Dorigen's husband insisted that she should keep her word. When Aurelius saw how sad she was, and was told that she had come in obedience to her husband's wishes, he said he would rather die than injure so true a wife and n.o.ble a gentleman.--Chaucer, _Canterbury Tales_ ("The Franklin's Tale," 1388).

(This is substantially the same as Boccaccio's tale of _Dianora and Gilberto_, day x. 5. See DIANORA.)

_Arvir'agus_, younger son of Cym'beline (3 _syl._) king of Britain, and brother of Guide'rius. The two in early childhood were kidnapped by Bela'rius, out of revenge for being unjustly banished, and were brought up by him in a cave. When they were grown to manhood, Belarius, having rescued the king from the Romans, was restored to favor. He then introduced the two young men to Cymbeline, and told their story, upon which the king was rejoiced to find that his two sons whom he thought dead were both living.--Shakespeare, _Cymbeline_ (1605).

ARYAN LANGUAGES (_The_)--

1. Sanskrit, whence Hindustanee.

2. Zend, whence Persian.

3. Greek, whence Romaic.

4. Latin, whence Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Wallachian (_Romance_).

5. Keltic, whence Welsh, Irish, Gaelic.

6. Gothic, whence Teutonic, English, Scandinavian.

7. Slavonic, whence European Russian, and Austrian.

AS YOU LIKE IT, a comedy by Shakespeare. One of the French dukes, being driven from his dukedom by his brother, went with certain followers to the forest of Arden, where they lived a free and easy life, chiefly occupied in the chase. The deposed duke had one daughter, named Rosalind, whom the usurper kept at court as the companion of his own daughter Celia, and the two cousins were very fond of each other. At a wrestling match Rosalind fell in love with Orlando, who threw his antagonist, a giant and professional athlete.

The usurping duke (Frederick) now banished her from the court, but her cousin Celia resolved to go to Arden with her; so Rosalind in boy's clothes (under the name of Ganymede), and Celia as a rustic maiden (under the name of Alie'na), started to find the deposed duke. Orlando being driven from home by his elder brother, also went to the forest of Arden, and was taken under the duke's protection. Here he met the ladies, and a double marriage was the result--Orlando married Rosalind, and his elder brother Oliver married Celia. The usurper retired to a religious house, and the deposed duke was restored to his dominions.--(1598.)

ASAPH. So Tate calls Dryden in _Absalom and Achitophel_.

While Judah's throne and Zion's rock stand fast, The song of Asaph and his fame shall last.

Part ii.

_Asaph (St.)_ a British [_i.e. Welsh_] monk of the sixth century, abbot of Llan-Elvy, which changed its name to St. Asaph, in honor of him.

So bishops can she bring, of which her saints shall be: As Asaph, who first gave that name unto that see.

Drayton, _Polyolbion_, xxiv. (1622).

ASCAL'APHOS, son of Acheron, turned into an owl for tale-telling and trying to make mischief.--_Greek Fable_.

ASCA'NIO, son of don Henrique (2 _syl._), in the comedy called _The Spanish Curate_, by Beaumont and Fletcher (1622).

AS'CAPART or AS'CUPART, an enormous giant, thirty feet high, who carried off sir Bevis, his wife Jos'ian, his sword Morglay, and his steed Ar'undel, under his arm. Sir Bevis afterwards made Ascapart his slave, to run beside his horse. The effigy of sir Bevis is on the city gates of Southampton.--Drayton, _Polyolbion_, ii. (1612).

He was a man whose huge stature, thews, sinews, and bulk ... would have enabled him to enact "Colbrand," "Ascapart," or any other giant of romance, without raising himself nearer to heaven even by the alt.i.tude of a chopin.--Sir W. Scott.

Those Ascaparts, men big enough to throw Charing Cross for a bar.

Dr. Donne (1573-1631).

Thus imitated by Pope (1688-1744)--

Each man an Ascapart of strength to toss For quoits both Temple Bar and Charing Cross.