02 DtJJertation on the Life and Writings of

This proverbial expreflion very clearly iliews that the writings of the Greek fabulift, or at leaft of thofe who had followed him, were known to the Normans from the 1 1 th century. It is poflible, there- fore, that Henry I. might have ftudied and tranilated them into Englim. Again, all hiftorians agree in giving this prince the title of Beauclerc, though no one has affigned any reafon for a defigna- tion fo honourable. Now, the title of clerk being, at that time, be- llowed only upon men of learning, it follows that this king mull have really deferved that character ; and I confefs myfelf very much inclined to believe him the author of the Englim verfion that Mary translated. This opinion, too, ferves to juftify hiftory, which has given to Henry a name with which authors alone were dignified, and which he certainly would not have received if he had not had certain and generally acknowledged claims to it. In ftiort, what ferves fmgularly to ftrengthen this opinion is, the number of feudal terms with which the fables abound, and which correfpond per- feclly well with the reign of this prince. But, if the author of this tranflation was not Henry I. can it be maintained that he was Henry II ? The reign of the latter was fo tempeftuous, and it requires a very pacific government indeed to admit of a king's relaxing himfelf with the Mufes, that I cannot believe that Henry II. could tafte this pleafure for any length of time. In fhort, was it Henry III ? According to the teftimony of all hiftorians, that prince was not endowed with much under- ihmding ; and this ferves, on the prefent occafion, to exclude him with great propriety. III. Has Mary followed the Englim verfion literally ? To anfwer with accuracy it is neceffary to be acquainted with this verfion, and we do not even know whether it exifts at this day, and therefore to collect even a very few ideas upon the fubjecl:, we are under the ncceflity of collating the fables of Mary with thofe of