be seen any longer[15]--And it may perhaps soon happen--That we shall see none of them (the Germans) any more--Admire your king, O city of Babylon--For, know it, he is worthy of wonder--He the conqueror of the whole world--The terror of all other kings!" It has already been stated that the author of the _Alexandreis_ is unknown. There is, however, no doubt that the book is the work of a Bohemian noble. The whole current of thought, the descriptions of battles and the pomps of chivalry, the author's pedantic accuracy with regard to the different grades of the nobility, his dislike of the German townsmen (up to the time of Hus the Bohemian cities were mainly inhabited by Germans)--these and other circumstances tend to prove that this supposition is correct. Portions of other epic poems belonging to chivalrous literature have also been preserved; among them are some belonging to the circle of legends of which Theodoric was the centre; such are _The Garden of Roses_, _Laurin_, and others. They are evidently adaptations from the German, and possess little originality and less interest. Other fragments deal with the tale of the Round Table. Among these _Tristram_ and _Tandarius and Floribella_ may be mentioned. The former poem, as the late Mr. Wratislaw has remarked, is strikingly similar to parts of the _Morte d'Arthur_. This specially applies to one of the fragments which contains a description of the combat between Tristram and the "noble from Ireland whose name was Morolt." _Tandarius and Floribella_ also differs little from many other poems of chivalry. The heroine is imprisoned and eventually rescued by Tandarius. Numerous descriptions of tournaments and single combats fill up the greatest part of the book. Closely connected with the chivalrous poetry of an epic character are some early lyric poems that have been preserved. They, however, all belong to a period considerably later than the _Alexandreis_, and Bohemian critics have no doubt correctly attributed them to the reign of King John. Here, too, the songs that have been preserved are not numerous. A favourite form of these early Bohemian lyrics were the so-called _Songs at Daybreak_ (in Bohemian _Svitanicka_), which have a great affinity to the French _aubades_ and to the _albes_ of the Provençal minstrels. The motive of these songs, several of which have been preserved, varies but slightly. They tell of the parting of two lovers, caused by the approach of dawn, and of the fears which they express with regard to the "false gossips," rivals, or inquisitive people who may be watching them. A translation of the best of these songs may be of interest. "_Dear clear day, how have you surprised me,_ _You that have awakened the false gossip;_ _The day rises there_ _Where two lovers live together._ _Almighty Lord God,_ _Deign Thou to guard these two._