[Illustration] THE BOY AND THE MANTLE +Text.+--The Percy Folio is the sole authority for this excellent lively ballad. It is here given as it stands in the manuscript, except for division into stanzas. Percy printed the ballad ‘_verbatim_,’--that is, with emendations--and also a revised version. +The Story+, which exists in countless variations in many lands, is told from the earliest times in connection with the Arthurian legend-cycle. Restricting the article used as a criterion of chastity to a mantle, we find the elements of this ballad existing in French manuscripts of the thirteenth century (the romance called _Cort Mantel_); in a Norse translation of this ‘fabliau’; in the Icelandic _Mantle Rhymes_ of the fifteenth century; in the _Scalachronica_ of Sir Thomas Gray of Heton (_circ._ 1355); in Germany, and in Gaelic (a ballad known in Irish writings, but not in Scottish); as well as in many other versions. The trial by the drinking-horn is a fable equally old, as far as the evidence goes, and equally widespread; but it is not told elsewhere in connection with the parallel story of the mantle. Other tests used for the purpose of discovering infidelity or unchastity are:-- a crown, a magic bridge (German); a girdle (English; cp. Florimel’s girdle in the _Faery Queen_, Book iv. Canto 5); a bed, a stepping-stone by the bedside, a chair (Scandinavian); flowers (Sanskrit); a shirt (German and Flemish); a picture (Italian, translated to England--cp. Massinger’s _The Picture_ (1630), where he localises the story in Hungary); a ring (French); a mirror (German, French, and Italian); and so forth. Caxton, in his preface to _Kyng Arthur_ (1485), says:-- ‘Item, in the castel of Douer ye may see Gauwayn’s skull and Cradok’s mantel.’ Sir Thomas Gray says the mantle was made into a chasuble, and was preserved at Glastonbury. Thomas Love Peacock says (_The Misfortunes of Elphin_, chap. xii.), ‘Tegau Eurvron, or Tegau of the Golden Bosom, was the wife of Caradoc [Craddocke], and one of the Three Chaste Wives of the island of Britain.’ A similar statement is recorded by Percy at the end of his ‘revised and altered’ ballad, taking it from ‘the Rev. Evan Evans, editor of the Specimens of Welsh Poetry.’ THE BOY AND THE MANTLE 1. In the third day of May to Carleile did come A kind curteous child that cold much of wisdome. 2. A kirtle & a mantle this child had vppon, With brauches and ringes full richelye bedone. 3. He had a sute of silke, about his middle drawne; Without he cold of curtesye, he thought itt much shame. 4. ‘God speed thee, King Arthur, sitting at thy meate! & the goodly Queene Gueneuer! I canott her fforgett. 5. ‘I tell you lords in this hall, I hett you all heede, Except you be the more surer, is you for to dread.’ 6. He plucked out of his potewer, & longer wold not dwell, He pulled forth a pretty mantle, betweene two nut-shells.