Chapter XIX

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[149] The English reader will derive much pleasure from F. S. Ellis’s admirable verse translation: _The Romance of the Rose_ (Dent and Co., London, 1900). Each of the three little volumes of this translation has a convenient synopsis of the contents. Those who would know what is known of the tale and its authors should read Langlois’s chapter on it, in _Histoire de la langue et de la littérature française_, edited by Petit de Julleville. It may be said here, for those whose memories need refreshing, that William de Lorris wrote the first part, some forty-two hundred lines, about the year 1237, and died leaving it unfinished; John de Meun took up the poem some thirty years afterwards, and added his sequel of more than eighteen thousand lines.

[150] The names are Englished after Ellis’s translation.

[151] See _ante_, Chapter XXIII .; De Meun took much from the _De planctu naturae_ of Alanus.

[152] _Post_, Chapter XXXIII .

[153] _Ante_, Vol. I. p. 213.

[154] Migne, _Pat. Lat._ 172, col. 1056.

[155] _Ante_, Chapter XII ., I.

[156] _Ante_, Chapter XIII ., I.

[157] _Ante_,