Chapter XVIII: Prologue: Of Jean De Vignay to His French Translation (a.d. 1360) of (5)

TYPOGRAPHICAL PARTICULARS.--There is no title-page. The type is entirely No. 4*. The lines, which are spaced to an even length, measure 4⅞ inches, and there are 38 to a full page. Without catchwords or folios.

The Text begins on sig. ~j~ recto,

~Here foboweth the copye of a lettre whyche maistre
Alayn ‖ Charetier wrote to hys brother / whyche desired to
come dwelle in ‖ Court / in whyche he reherseth many my-
seryes & wretchydnesses ‖~

The “Curial” finishes on the sixth recto,

~to god J comande the by thys wrytyng whyche gyue the hys
gra ‖ ce / Amen~

~Thus endeth the Curial made by maystre Alain
Charretier ‖ Translated thus in Englyssh by wylliam
Caxton~

On the verso Caxton has given us the translation of a ballad, written by Alain Chartier, consisting of 28 lines. It has a burthen:--“Ne chyer but of a man Joyous,” and commences thus:--

~Ther ne is dangyer / but of a vylayn
Ne pryde / but of a poure man enryched~

The Text ends on same page, with Caxton’s name at foot,

~Ther is no speche / but it be curtoys
Ne preysyng of men / but after theyr lyf
Ne chyer but of a man Joyous
Caxton~

REMARKS.--Caxton translated the Curial from the French, “for a noble and virtuous Erle,” probably Lord Rivers, who was beheaded at Pomfret, on June 13th, 1483.

Alain Chartier, born in Normandy about 1386, earned for himself the appellation of “excellent orateur, noble poëte, et très-renommé rhétoricien.” He held the office of “Secretaire de la Maison” to both Charles VI and Charles VII. He died about 1457. The most complete editions of his works are those by Galiot du Pré, 16mo, Paris, 1529; and by Duchesne, 4to, Paris, 1617. In the former, however, is an error which has led to some confusion, as “Livre de l’Esperance” is there entitled “Le Curial,” the real Curial being a much shorter piece, and totally different in design. By the “Curial” being addressed to his brother it is supposed to have been written by Alain to Jean Chartier, known as the author of “Histoire de Charles VII.” As an instance of the great repute, in which the writings of Chartier were held in his age, it is reported that Margaret, the wife of the Dauphin of France, afterwards Louis XI, finding him one day asleep in his chair, kissed his lips to the great astonishment of her attendants. “Je ne baise pas la personne mais la bouche dont estoíent sortes tant de beux discours,” she exclaimed. There is a painting in Add. MS. No. 15300, vividly depicting this scene.

Only two copies are known; one is in the British Museum, and the other at Althorpe.

NO. 63.--TROYLUS AND CRESIDE. _Folio. Without Printer’s Name, Place,
or Date. (1484?)_

COLLATION.--~a b c d e f g~ are 4ns, the first leaf of ~a~ being blank; ~h~ a 5n; ~i k l m n o~ are 4ns; ~p~ a 3n, with the last two leaves blank. In all 120 leaves, of which 3 are blank.

TYPOGRAPHICAL PARTICULARS.--There is no title-page. The type throughout is No. 4*. Each page contains five stanzas of seven lines each, with a blank line between each stanza. Without folios or catchwords.

Commencing with a blank leaf, the poem follows on sig. ~a ij~ recto, beginning thus:--

~t~ ~He double sorow of Troylus to telle
Kyng Pryamus sone of Troye
Jn louyng / how hys auentures felle
From woo to wele / and after out of Joye
My purpos is / or that J parte froye~