He narrates the grandest events--such as the first crusaders bursting into Asia, with a sword of fire hung in the firmament before them, and beckoning them on their way--as coolly as he might the emigration of a colony of ants. Yet, although there is little animation or poetry in his general manner, he usually succeeds in riveting the reader's attention; and the speeches he puts into the mouths of his heroes glow with at least rhetorical fire. And as a critic truly remarks--'Injustice to the ancient versifier, we should remember that he had still only a rude language to employ, the speech of boors and burghers, which, though it might possess a few songs and satires, could afford him no models of heroic narration. In such an age the first occupant passes uninspired over subjects which might kindle the highest enthusiasm in the poet of a riper period, as the savage treads unconsciously in his deserts over mines of incalculable value, without sagacity to discover or inplements to explore them.' We give the following extracts from Robert of Gloucester's poem:-- THE SPOUTS AND SOLEMNITIES WHICH FOLLOWED KING ARTHUR'S CORONATION. The king was to his palace, tho the service was ydo,[1] Yled with his meinie,[2] and the queen to her also. For they held the old usages, that men with men were By themselve, and women by themselve also there. When they were each one yset, as it to their state become, Kay, king of Anjou, a thousand knightes nome[3] Of noble men, yclothed in ermine each one Of one suit, and served at this noble feast anon. Bedwer the botyler, king of Normandy, Nome also in his half a fair company Of one suit for to serve of the hotelery. Before the queen it was also of all such courtesy, For to tell all the nobley that there was ydo, Though my tongue were of steel, me should nought dure thereto. Women ne kept of no knight in druery,[4] But he were in arms well yproved, and atte least thrye.[5] That made, lo, the women the chaster life lead, And the knights the stalwarder, and the better in their deed. Soon after this noble meat, as right was of such tide, The knights atyled them about in eache side, In fields and in meadows to prove their bachlery,[6] Some with lance, some with sword, without villany, With playing at tables, other atte chekere,[7] With casting, other with setting,[8] other in some other mannere. And which so of any game had the mastery, The king them of his giftes did large courtesy. Up the alurs[9] of the castle the ladies then stood, And beheld this noble game, and which knights were good. All the three exte dayes[10] ylaste this nobley, In halle's and in fieldes, of meat and eke of play. These men come the fourth day before the kinge there, And he gave them large gifts, ever as they worthy were. Bishoprics and churches' clerks he gave some, And castles and townes knights that were ycome.