beginning the fabric of their country’s literature on foundations essentially different. [79] Walter de Chatillon’s Latin poem on Alexander the Great was so popular, that it was taught in the rhetorical schools, to the exclusion of Lucan and Virgil. (Warton’s English Poetry, London, 1824, 8vo, Vol. I. p. clxvii.) The French poem begun by Lambert li Cors, and finished by Alexandre de Paris, was less valued, but much read. Ginguené, in the Hist. Lit. de la France, Paris, 4to, Tom. XV. 1820, pp. 100-127. Among the most attractive subjects that offered themselves to such persons was that of Alexander the Great. The East--Persia, Arabia, and India--had long been full of stories of his adventures;[80] and now, in the West, as a hero more nearly approaching the spirit of knighthood than any other of antiquity, he was adopted into the poetical fictions of almost every nation that could boast the beginning of a literature, so that the Monk in the “Canterbury Tales” said truly,-- [80] Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature, Vol. I Part II. pp. 5-23, a curious paper by Sir W. Ouseley. “The storie of Alexandre is so commune, That every wight, that hath discretion, Hath herd somewhat or all of his fortune.” Juan Lorenzo took this story substantially as he had read it in the “Alexandreïs” of Walter de Chatillon, whom he repeatedly cites;[81] but he has added whatever he found elsewhere, or in his own imagination, that seemed suited to his purpose, which was by no means that of becoming a mere translator. After a short introduction, he comes at once to his subject thus, in the fifth stanza:-- [81] Coplas 225, 1452, and 1639, where Segura gives three Latin lines from Walter. I desire to teach the story · of a noble pagan king, With whose valor and bold heart · the world once did ring: For the world he overcame, · like a very little thing; And a clerkly name I shall gain, · if his story I can sing. This prince was Alexander, · and Greece it was his right; Frank and bold he was in arms, · and in knowledge took delight; Darius’ power he overthrew, · and Porus, kings of might, And for suffering and for patience · the world held no such wight. Now the infant Alexander · showed plainly from the first, That he through every hindrance · with prowess great would burst; For by a servile breast · he never would be nursed, And less than gentle lineage · to serve him never durst. And mighty signs when he was born · foretold his coming worth: The air was troubled, and the sun · his brightness put not forth, The sea was angry all, · and shook the solid earth, The world was wellnigh perishing · for terror at his birth.[82] [82] Quiero leer un libro · de un rey noble pagano, Que fue de grant esforcio, · de corazon lozano, Conquistó todel mundo, · metiol so su mano, Terné, se lo compriere, · que soe bon escribano.