[Footnote 9: On this text see Sarrazin, _Octav._, p. xlv; he speaks of “die entstellte, spielmannsmässig zersungene Form, in der die Thornton Ms uns die legende überliefert. . . . . . dasselbe Pathos, dieselbe Sentimentalität und Frömmelei, aber auch dieselbe anschauliche und lebhafte Erzählungsweise (sc. as in Oct.).”] To _Isumbras_ I join a few remarks on the romance of _Octavian_, which was edited by Halliwell for the Percy Society, _The Romance of the Emperor Octavian_, London, 1844; and by Sarrazin, _Zwei mittelengl. Versionen der Octaviansage_, in Koelbing’s _Altengl. Bibliothek_, Band III. As for its contents, cf. Sarrazin, as above, p. xviii ff. Concerning the origin of the story, he agrees in general with Holland, only he shows a still nearer connection between _Isumbras_ and _Octavian_, taking the former for a mere imitation of the latter. This opinion, however, cannot be proved. As I cannot enter into detail, I only observe that the contents of _Octavian_ are a great deal more complicated and copious than those of _Isumbras_, which is simple in its plot and style, and shows the nearest resemblance to the old Eustache legend, whilst _Octavian_ is a refined and adorned version of the legendary tale with considerable change in the plan. Isumbras, of course, bears a strict resemblance to Eustache, but not to the Emperor Octavian, who has but little of the character of a suffering saint, as he does not become an outlaw himself, nor is to lose his earthly goods. Even those of his adventures which are conformable to the original--the separation from his family, the rape of the children, the final reunion--are exhibited in a different manner.