The History of Reynard the Fox, from the edition printed by Caxton in 1481. Edited by W. J. Thoms, Esq. F.S.A. [Percy Society.] 8vo.

Reynard the Fox. A renowned Apologue of the Middle Age, reproduced in Rhyme. By S. Naylor, Esq. 4to. THESE are two very different books, although devoted to the same subject. The former is the Reynard for the antiquary, for the literary historian, for the bibliographer, and for the reader who desires to know not merely what Reynard the Fox is, but where it came from, and what many deep searchers after truth have thought, and said, and written touching its origin and history. In Mr. Thoms's introduction we learn that this "worldrenowned history was popular in France and Flanders more than 600 years ago, that it is alluded to by our own Richard Cœur de Lion, and can be traced back (if our critics understand rightly a passage in the life of Abbot Guibert de Nogent) to the very respectable antiquity of the year 1112, at which time it was a wide-spread fable. This is an age which will probably satisfy most of our readers; but, if they will turn to Mr. Thoms's introduction, they will find glimpses of an antiquity to which seven centuries are almost as nothing. They will there be told that Grimm, using the word "" Renart " as a peephole into the past, caught glimmerings of "the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries," and did not hesitate to maintain that even then these fables were well known. (p. xxi.) All this is very enthusiastic and very interesting, and, what is more, may be very true. The story comes obviously of a fine old Teutonic stock, and its general outline, and particular incidents in it, are probably of an antiquity very far beyond that to which our critics have been enabled to ascend.

The patriotism of a Belgian antiquary (M. Willems) has claimed the story as of Flemish origin, and given certain places which are mentioned in it a local habitation in a very wild and GENT. MAG. VOL. XXIII,

unfrequented country not far from Ghent. All that M. Willems has advanced may be true of the particular Reynard which has come down to us, but the fable is of a general character, applicable to almost all times, persons, and places, and we are sceptical as to whether circumstances which apply to a particular written version (even if that version be the only one now extant) can be accepted as evidence of the first birth-place, or the particular parentage, of a wide-spread traditionary fable.

The earliest MSS. are in Latin, one in leonine verse, which Grimm pronounces to be not later than the middle of the tenth century (Thoms, p. xxviii.), Isengrimus, printed by Grimm from a fourteenth-century MS., and Reinardus Vulpes, printed by Mone from a later MS. of the same century. Mr. Thoms gives outlines with specimens and translations of all these poems, controverting in his way a theory of M. Mone, who would convert this universal history into an allegorical representation of the affairs and quarrels of "various well-known personages," amongst whom the principal are Zwentibolcus and Reginarius. (Thoms, p. xxxvii.) All these MSS. are imperfect, but Mr. Thoms's extracts sufficiently identify them as parts of the one fable, which was rendered applicable by variations to the peculiar circumstances of many

different readers.

In the vernacular languages of Europe, Reynard is widely traceable, but we must refer for the particulars to Mr. Thoms's introduction. A High German version is found in a MS. fragment of the twelfth century in the library at Cassel; a fragment which was formerly part of the binding of an account book. (p. xlix.) The French version ascends to the thirteenth century; the Flemish, to the times of Willem van Utenhoren, or die Madoc, (for there is a great dispute as to his name, p. lxi.) who lived about 1250. Madoc's poem was continued by some nameless and inferior writer, and the 3 D

racy original and the poor continuation being united by transcribers, became thenceforth the stock Reynard -the Hume and Smollett of Reynardine story. But the heaviness of the continuator was fatal to the original, "and, after the invention of printing, they were both, to the entire suppression of Madoc's fame and name, reduced into prose, and the story on its appearance in this form was received with such universal favour, that in a short time the older poems from which it was derived were entirely forgotten." (Thoms, p. lxiii.) This prose translation was first published at Gouda in 1470, and was the work of which, on the 6th June 1481, Caxton finished a translation "into his rude and simple English, at the Abbey of Westminster." Caxton's version was printed by himself, and afterwards by Pynson, and a third, fourth, and fifth times (with many alterations) in 1550, 1650, and 1667. It is now, for a sixth time, reprinted from Caxton's first edition, in Mr. Thoms's work before us.

Mr. Thoms shews that the Reynardine story was known in England before Caxton's time, and gives us bibliographical notices of the several continuations and poetical versions which have from time to time made their appearance amongst us. There were none of them of any merit, and Reynard consequently became in this country a mere study for antiquaries and lovers of the curiosities of literature. It ceased to exercise any influence upon the popular mind, or to form a living part of the learning of the people. Mr. Douce, indeed, read it regularly every Christmas time to his wife (Thoms, p. lxxix.); but in this, as in many other things, Mr. Douce was an exception.

In Germany the fate of Reynard has been very different. There a general acquaintance with the main incidents of the story has never been lost, and for many centuries the fox of the apologue has been the popular type of worldly selfishness and successful craft. A Low German translation made by Heinrich von Alkmar in 1498, has been the great means of keeping alive this knowledge of Reynard's history. Mr. Thoms speaks slightingly of the book, but

admits its influence, and says that "most popular it assuredly has been, as is shown not only by the innumerable editions of it which have from time to time appeared, but also from the various translations which it has undergone." (Thoms, p. lxv.) Mr. Naylor differs from Mr. Thoms in his estimate of the value of von Alkmar, and certainly his popularity is strong testimony in his favour. Of the many translations from him, the first into High German was made by "Michael Beuther, the friend and pupil of Luther and Melancthon," and was published in 1545. Ten editions of Beuther's book succeeded one another at long intervals, and then, the language having probably become somewhat obsolete, another translation appeared in 1650, which ran its similar round of editions, and after the lapse of another hundred years was succeeded by Gottsched's translation, published at Leipsic and at Amsterdam in 1752.

Gottsched had kept the field for about 40 years, when "Are you aware,' said Herder to Goethe, 'that we have an epic poem in German as wise and as original as the OdysseyReynard the Fox? Goethe confessed that, having only heard of the book as modernized by Gottsched, he had not thought it worthy of any particular notice. The book was produced : Goethe carried it away with him, and almost immediately began his work." (Naylor, p. 5.) That work was a versification "of the old poem shortly afterwards published, and now recognised as the standard classical edition throughout Germany.” (Naylor, p. 6.)

But Goethe did more than versify the book himself; he recommended the earlier edition to the attention of Mr. Naylor, and although for some time the advice was unheeded, chance threw Heinrich von Alkmar in Mr. Naylor's way, the advice of the illustrious German recurred to his mind, and "hovering, as Goethe said of his own work, between translation and paraphrase," (Naylor, p. 6,) he has composed the poetical English version which is the second book named at the head of this article.

The facts we have stated will have convinced our readers of the accuracy of our assertion, that these are indeed

two very different books. The one, Caxton's English prose, quaint and curious, full of odd words, which Mr. Thoms has explained or considered in his notes, and with good store of pleasant pictures of society and manners, men and women, priests and people, governors and subjects, gentle and simple, as they lived, and laughed, and tricked, and were cheated, in the middle age. This is Mr. Thoms's

book, and of its kind a very pleasant and valuable book it is. Mr. Naylor's version is "quite another thing." Beautifully printed, and beautifully bound, glittering in red letters and blue, scarlet and ultra-marine, with initials which look as if they had been inserted by some limner of old time, and the leaves bronzed after a new fashion, the book does not appeal to your notice but demands it. Printer, paper-maker, binder, and publisher, have all done their parts to compel people to look and buy, (or borrow,) and read, and we have no doubt they will be successful. They have been so with us, and, having borrowed and read, we will tell our readers the result.

Mr. Naylor's version is in Hudibrastic lines, with the occasional irregularities and odd rhymes which distinguish Butler's extraordinary poem. The language and phraseology are not merely modern English, they are the real English of the people, an English which does not confine itself to the drawing-room, but picks up a racy phrase or a quaint expression in the shop, or the back parlour, or the play. ground, or wherever itself it may be met with, and is very far from disdaining the aid of Shakspere or any body else who wrote for the people, and understood what would please them. We will give a couple of specimens of what we mean, selected almost hap-hazard.

"Quoth Malkin, 'Is it quite safe, nunky? Because I do feel somewhat funky! I never like to trust a priest !' Quoth Reynard then- Now what a beast Were I, to lead a timid man In danger's way; There's none who can Say this of me! If you're afraid, Let us go back at once, my blade! My wife, at home, will warm us up Some broth of well-picked bones for sup; There's lots of welcome in my house, But, candidly, there's not one mouse!"

He chucks them underneath the chin,

Styles them his godsons' with a grin:
And hears them all their alphabets
Plays romps with each, till, out of breath.

He dandles them, and calls them' pets,'

And of the urchins sick to death,
His brain-pan split with so much jabber,
Nigh choked with gingerbread and slabber,
He wishes them all dead and buried
Or e'er he'd been by brats so worried!
So, kissing all his little wards,'
He leaves' mama
'his 'best regards: '
Then to a roost, hard by, repairs,
To take some stray fowl unawares."

In language bearing the same home mint-mark as this, language varied of course according to characters and circumstances, these old adventures are made applicable to the present times, and to the moral teaching of a generation in which

"The Reynards are, proverbially,
A numerous scattered family.
Search where you will throughout the map
Of Christendom, its vigorous sap
Hath rooted, and the branches shoot
Leaves evergreen and clustering fruit:
All, more or less, in some degree,
Take after the old parent tree:
The heralds make a fuss and clatter
About the quarterings-no matter."

The Reynardine picture of the world is a melancholy but a true one. The impudent and clever craft which is successful in Reynard still bears the bell in our generation, as it has done "time whereof," the lawyers say, "the memory of man runneth not to the contrary." "Is it," reads Caxton, "in the pope's court, the emperor's, the king's, duke's, or any other lord's, wheresoever it be, each man laboureth to put other out from his worship, office and power, for to make himself to climb high with lies, with flattering, with simony, with money, or with strength and force. There is no thing beloved nor known in the court nowa-days but money; the money is

better beloved than God, for men do much more therefore." They who love to see these evils played with, brought before us, as the blinded Sampson, to make us sport, should read this famous apologue. In Mr. Naylor's version of it they will find the diseases of humanity treated in the true spirit of the original work, sportively, with a dry humour which covers but does not conceal them, and with every now and then a sly hit at the follies of our day, which makes the reader laugh even in the midst of his bitterness.

Our former extracts have been specimens of Mr. Naylor's language, we will now give a few lines which exhibit his power of narration.

"When Reynard thus perceived the sport
His tales afforded to the court,
And how they riveted attention,
There seemed no end of his invention,-
He told them stories short and long ;
They seemed like cantos to a song,
Each of the other quite suggestive,
Converting gloomy thoughts to festive.
As how the stork was once provoked
By Isengrim when well nigh choked
With some great bone: for Long-bill he
Sent off, to come immediately.
The Doctor to his roost had ta'en,
But quickly rose and grasped his cane;
Slipp'd on his shoes and shovel hat,
And sought the wolf, who moaning sat:
He could not speak, but pointed to
His throat. The stork, as wont to do,
First felt his pulse, then shook his head,
Cried hem!' and said, you must be
bled!'

Whereat the wolf, in angry wise,
Unto the Doctor's wondering eyes
Made plain the grievance. Is it there?'
Quoth Long-bill, and began to stare
Adown his gorge. I'll have it out

In no time!' Then to feel about
For spectacles he did begin,

And asked, Who could have put it in ? '
The wolf could make no answer, so
The stork had nothing more to do
Than operate; tho' much it went
Against his inclinations bent,
To prætermit what forms prescribe,
Like all th' apothecary tribe !—
With bill for forceps leisurely,
The sticking bone he then did free;
And held his hand out for a fee.
Quoth Isengrim, No fee is due!
The luckiest leech alive are you!
Within my jaws your sconce hath lain-
Yet see! thou hast it whole again!"

In this way the incidents of this "story for the people" are introduced

to us with much cleverness and point, and, in a cheaper edition, old Reynard might we think become popular. The present book is too costly to do more than introduce the work with some eclat, and that not to the class of readers who will the most appreciate its peculiarities. To our taste there is a little too much of the vulgar tongue in some parts of it, especially in the description of the fight in "Fytte x." The slang of the prize-ring is as simply and absolutely disgusting as the practice with which it is connected; and, with our good will, no phrase derived from that arena should stand in the second edition of such an interesting volume. Let Mr. Naylor

IT is somewhat strange that the author of this most useful and interesting work should have found that so obvious and so necessary a subject for a popular work as a general view of academic life, education, and influences was an open subject as late as the present day; yet up to the date of this publication we may truly say that there was nothing of the kind. "College Life" bas hitherto borne a similar meaning to "Life in London." Just as if so long as a man was engaged in rioting and drunkenness, chambering and wantonness, so long he might be said to live, but the first dawn of taste, refinement, humanity, or reason were the death (instead of the birth) of all that is desirable for a rational creature.

Of a late publication called "College Life," it was truly remarked that in scenes of drunkenness only did the author seem really at home, and that he was never himself but when he was drunk. On the contrary, the Collegian's Guide contains such a picture of our universities as shows forth every thing, good as well as bad, in true and fair proportion. Its object is to paint Oxford and Cambridge as they are.

"To vindicate these time-honoured institutions from the aspersions of those who only decry what they have not the soul to appreciate to prepare the minds of youth in such a way that on entering college they

may seek the society of those emulous in things of good report, and not mistake the example of a few shameless schoolboys for the deliberate sanction of the true representatives of academical feelings-to lay open the system of Oxford education, tracing not only its more evident advantages, but also its secret yet salutary influences-to animate collegians with a laudable desire to avail themselves of so great opportunities, and to point out to themselves and their friends the danger of debts and other evils."

This volume addresses itself to three different classes of persons; though it is written in so easy and conversational a style that the formality of divisions and sub-divisions is kept out of sight.

It addresses itself, first, to collegians, secondly, to their parents, and, thirdly, to the public; bearing the threefold character of instruction, advice, and entertainment. Considered as a work of instruction and information to freshmen, as a wholesome initiation into the purer walks of college life, it is the very book which a parent would desire to put into his son's hands at matriculation. At the same time the writer enters into the light-hearted frolics as well as the more honourable emulations of days gone by.

"He too remembered

that he once was young;" but he states them as they are, and marks their due bounds and limits. He writes like a young man ; though at the same time like one of experience. If we might guess, or rather, if we might have guessed, (for we have a clue to the author,) we should have said, that he had paid a little for his experience, yet had his money's worth at last. Accordingly, there is a most winning and persuasive sympathy in all the advice he offers. It reminds us of some of the elder brothers of our old fellow-collegiates, of whom we remember that when they used to return to college to take their M.A. degree, they had abundance of advice to give to the undergraduates, and from the suitableness of their character and late experience found ready listeners.

Every particular relating to rooms, college housekeeping, etiquette, visiting parties, habits of college society generally, lectures, tutors public and private, examinations, feofmen, classmen, and pluckmen; all these points of useful knowledge are conveyed not

in a dry didactic way, but thrown with much graphic power and striking interest into a series of tales; such as Character of the true Academical “Reading for the Schools "-" The Student"-" A Tale of Rustication;" exemplifying all the checks which proctors and tutors have upon gownsmen; and, above all, "Confessions of a Ruined Collegian; or, the Debtor's Progress, in three Stages;" a most stirring and natural story.

Indeed, to say the scenes are natural, is like saying that a photographic miniature is a likeness. The author pledges himself to his publishers, Messrs. Longman and Co., to write nothing which is not substantially true; and every scene bears the stamp and impress of truth. The usual fault of advisers is that they frown all iniquity, not only into the shade, to form a bolder relief for virtue, but positively out of sight; the consequence is "incredulus odi." It is not like human nature. "I do not believe it, and hate such stuff." And, as Aristotle says, when the hollow part is thrown to the ground it drags down the substantial with it. This writer, however, draws all in proportion; laughs as much as the joke deserves, and, without denying the excesses of some, shows that they belong only to a small minority. Still what gives a great charm and value to the advice is, that there is no mistaking that it proceeds from one who entertains a most high and exalted opinion of the blessings of a university, and who writes with the more zest and power in proportion as he touches on things of good report. When he speaks of the secret yet salutary influences of academic days— when he alludes to the quadrangle of Wolsey, the cloisters of Laud, the rooms of Johnson, and the walk of Addison-of these associations of bygone days, which touch a chord within the breast inspiring reverence for the past, humility at the present, and a generous interest in the future;" on these topics the author positively luxuriates with delight.

The advice to parents respects choice of colleges, tutors, and debts. The information is just such as every parent requires before he puts his son to college, and such as he cannot acquire from any other source,