these gentlemen, two productions bearing the title of GESTA ROMANORUM, and totally distinct from each other, exist. I confess, I see no good reason for the assertion. I take it to be the same work, with a few additions, not so considerable by any means as Mr. Douce imagines1. This I shall shew, by and by. Of the present performance, though it purports to relate the GESTS OF THE ROMANS, there is little that corresponds with the title. On the contrary, it comprehends "a multitude of narratives, either not historical; or in another respect, such as are totally unconnected with the Roman people, or perhaps

1 "In fact, the two Gestas may just as well be considered the same work, as the different versions of the Wise Masters, or of Kalilah u Damnah. The term Gesta Romanorum implies nothing more than a collection of ancient stories, many of which might be the same, but which would naturally vary in various countries according to the taste of the collector, in the same manner, as different stories are introduced in the Greek Syntipas, the Italian Erastus, and English Wise Masters."-DUNLOP. Hist. of Fiction, Vol. II. p. 170.

the most preposterous misrepresentations of their history. To cover this deviation from the promised plan, which, by introducing a more ample variety of matter, has contributed to increase the reader's entertainment, our collector has taken care to preface almost every story with the name or reign of a Roman emperor; who, at the same time, is often a monarch that never existed, and who seldom, whether real or supposititious, has any concern with the circumstances of the narrative'."

The influence which this work has had on English poetry, is not the least surprizing fact connected with it. Not only the earlier writers of our country-Gower, Chaucer, Lydgate, Occleve, &c. have been indebted to it, but also, as the reader will perceive in the notes, the poets of modern times. Its popu

1 WARTON. Dissert. on G. R. p. vii.

larity in the reign of Queen Elizabeth is proved by many allusions in the works of that period. An anonymous comedy, published early in the following reign, and entitled "Sir Giles Goosecap," observes,-" Then for your lordship's quips and quick jests, why GESTA ROMANORUM were nothing to them'." In Chapman's "May-Day"," a person speaking of the literary information of another character, styles him-" One that has read Marcus Aurelius, GESTA ROMANORUM, the Mirrour of Magistrates, &c.....to be led by the nose like a blind beare that has read nothing 3!"

The author of this popular work, has been often guessed at, but nothing certain is known. Warton believes him to be Petrus Berchorius, or Pierre Bercheur, a native of Poitou; and

1 London. Printed for J. Windet, 1606. 2 Act III. p. 39. 1611.

3 WARTON.

prior of the Benedictine convent of Saint Eloi, at Paris, in the year 1362. Mr. Douce, on the other hand, contends that he is a German, because" in the Moralization to chapter 144," [Tale LXIV. of the second volume of the translated Gesta,] "there is, in most of the early editions, a German proverb; and in chapter 142," [Tale LXII. Ibid.] " several German names of dogs." I apprehend, however, that these names may be found more analogous to the Saxon; and, at all events, Warton's idea of an interpolation, is far from improbable. Mr. Douce adds, that the earliest editions of the Gesta were printed in Germany; and certainly, they often bear the name of some place in this country. But in the first ages of the art of printing, such might be the case, without actually identifying the point where the impression was struck off. It is a fact, sufficiently well

known, that copies of certain books, printed in Italy, appeared, in every respect similar, and at the same time, in many parts of Germany, the Netherlands, &c. The only observable difference was in the alteration of names in the title-page. Now, if this be true, the Gesta Romanorum, printed in Italy, and thence sent for sale to some factor in distant parts, might have this person's name and residence affixed, not from any dishonest motive, but merely to announce the place in which they were to be sold. Such a supposition is not beyond the bounds of probability, and may be worth considering. Many copies will be found without date or place; and perhaps the inconvenience and difficulty which a new title-page created, might on some occasions induce the booksellers to omit it altogether.

ENGLISH idioms and proverbial expressions