III For our purpose, that of tracing the evolution of the English short-story, its history commences with the Gesta Romanorum.

Every chapter of the Gesta Romanorum consists of a moral tale; so much so that in many cases the application of the moral is as long as the tale itself.

The most that can be said for the Latin origin of the Gesta Romanorum is that the nucleus is made up of extracts, frequently of glaring inaccuracy, from Roman writers and historians.

In the literary armory of the lazy parish priest of the fourteenth century, the Gesta Romanorum must have held the place which volumes of sermon-outlines occupy upon the book-shelves of certain of his brethren to-day.

" [Footnote 4: Introduction to Gesta Romanorum, translated by the Rev. Charles Swan, revised and corrected by Wynnard Hooper, B.A.]

IV The influence of the Gesta Romanorum is most conspicuously to be traced in the work of Gower, Chaucer, and Lydgate; but it has served as a source of inspiration to the flagging ingenuity of each succeeding generation.

For instance, from the lengthy story which appears as the hundred and first tale in Mr. Douce's edition of the Gesta, he selects but one scene of action, yet it is the making of Macbethone would almost suppose that this was the germ-thought which kindled his furious fancy, preceding his discovery of the Macbeth tradition as related in Holinshed's Chronicle.

It will usually be found in studying the borrowings which the masters have made from such sources as the Gesta Romanorum that the portions which they have discriminated as worth taking from any one tale have been the only artistically essential elements which the narrative contains; the remainder, which they have rejected, is either untrue to art or unnecessary to the plot's development.

The Morte D'Arthur of Malory is again a collection of traditional stories, as is the Gesta Romanorum, and not the creative work of a single intellect.

[Footnote 16: The Gesta Romanorum was written in Latin.]

in auribus, in oculis omnium gesta, novae novitia; new news lately done, our eyes and ears are full of her cures, and who can relate them all?

Tanto fastu scripsit, ut Alexandri gesta inferiora scriptis suis existimaret, Io.

Jovis cum ad Energiam venit c. 1. ad plenilunium Julii, inde gesta et collo appensa hunc affectum apprime juvat et fanaticos spiritus expellit. 4343.

There is a capital story, we think, in the "Gesta Romanorum," of three thieves who have robbed a man of a large sum of gold.

MS. of English Gesta Romanorum.

Under this head I should be disposed to place Notes of former possessors of curious or important volumes: and, as a contribution of this kind, I transmit a Note on the former possessors of the MS. of the Gesta Romanorum in English, which was presented to the British Museum in 1832, by the Rev. W.D. Conybeare, now Dean of Llandaff, and has been printed at the expense of a member of Roxburgh Club.

© 29Dec28; A5117. Elizabeth Gest (A); 6Jan56; R163530. GESTA ROMANORUM.

Tales of the monks from the Gesta Romanorum.

Tales of the monks from the Gesta Romanorum.

Il le fit; et à son retour il publia une relation, qui est composée dans cet esprit, et qu'en conséquence il a intitulée Gesta Tartarorum.

J.S. Gesta Grayorum.

In Nichol's Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, vol. iii., p. 262., a tract is inserted, entitled "Gesta Grayorum; or, History of the High and Mighty Prince Henry, Prince of Purpoole, &c., who lived and died in A.D. 1594."

Gauricus, Pomponius Gentle Shepherd Georgics Gerusalemme liberata Gesta Romanorum Gifford, William Ginguené, P. L. Giornale storico della letteratura italiana Giostra Giovanni del Virgilio Giraldi Cintio, Giovanni Battista Giunta, Filippo di Glapthorne, Henry Glasgow Peggie God's Revenge against Murder Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Goffe, Thomas Golden Age (Graham)

MALMESBURY, WILLIAM OF, an English chronicler of the 12th century; his chief work "Gesta Regum Anglorum" and "Gesta Pontificum Anglorum," followed by his "Historia Novella.

MALMESBURY, WILLIAM OF, an English chronicler of the 12th century; his chief work "Gesta Regum Anglorum" and "Gesta Pontificum Anglorum," followed by his "Historia Novella.