[54] These various Romances are not by any means equally open to study in satisfactory critical editions. To take them chronologically, M. Hucher has published Robert de Borron's _Little Saint Graal_ in prose, his _Percevale_, and the _Great Saint Graal_, with full and valuable if not incontestable notes, 3 vols.; Le Mans, 1875-1878. The verse form of the _Little Saint Graal_ was published by M. F. Michel in 1841. An edition of _Artus_ was promised by M. Paulin Paris, but interrupted or prevented by his death. The great works of Map, _Lancelot_ and the _Quest_, as well as the _Mort Artus_, have never been critically edited in full; and the sixteenth-century editions being rare and exceedingly costly, as well as uncritical, they are not easily accessible, except in M. Paris' Abstract and Commentary, _Les Romans de la Table Ronde_, 5 vols., 1869-1877. _Tristan_ was published partially forty years ago by M. F. Michel. _Merlin_ was edited in 1886 by M. G. Paris and M. Ulrich. A complete edition of Chrestien de Troyes has been undertaken by Dr. Wendelin Foerster and has preceded to its second volume (_Yvain_). This under its second title of _Le Chevalier au Lyon_ has also been edited by Dr. Holland (third edition 1886). Besides this there is the great Romance of _Percevale_ (continued by others, especially a certain Manessier), of which M. Potvin has given an excellent edition, 6 vols., Mons, 1867-1872, including in it a previously unknown prose version of the Romance of very early date; _Le Chevalier a la Charrette_, continued by Godefroy de Lagny, and edited, with the original prose from _Lancelot du Lac_, by Dr. Jonckbloet (The Hague, 1850); and _Erec et Enide_, by M. Haupt (Berlin, 1860). This piecemeal condition of the texts, and the practical inaccessibility of many of them, make independent judgment in the matter very difficult. What is wanted first of all is a book on the plan of M. Leon Gautier's _Epopees Francaises_, giving a complete account of all the existing texts--for the entire editing of these latter must necessarily take a very long time. The statements made above represent the opinions which appear most probable to the writer, not merely from the comparison of authorities on the subject, but from the actual study of the texts as far as they are open to him. (_See note at end of Chapter._) [55] This expression occurs in the _Chanson des Saisnes_, i. 6. 7: 'Ne sont que iij matieres a nul home atandant, De France et de Bretaigne et de Rome la grant.' [56] Ed. Michelant. Stuttgart, 1846. [57] _Li Cors_, otherwise _li tors_ 'the crooked.' Since this book was first written M. Paul Meyer has treated the whole subject of the paragraph in an admirable monograph, _Alexandre le Grand dans la Litterature Francaise du Moyen Age_, 2 vols. Paris, 1886. [58] Ed. Joly. Rouen, 1870. [59] Moland and Hericault's _Nouvelles du XIV'eme Siecle_. Paris, 1857. Joly, _Op. cit._ See also P. Stapfer, _Shakespeare et l'Antiquite_. 2 vols. Paris, 1880.