In the tenth century, Hrosvitha, the illustrious nun of Gandersheim in Saxony, composed a Latin

poem on the story of Theophilus.

In the eleventh

century the legend was versified by Marbodus, Bishop of Rennes. There is a poem on the subject by Gaultier de Coincy. Other rhymed versions have been published by M. Achille Jubinal, and M. Paulin Paris. One of the best of the ancient poems is that of Rutebeuf, a trouvère of the thirteenth century. There are several older miracle plays on mysteries of Theophilus: one in French, published by M. Francisque Michel'; another in low German, published by M. Dasent 2. The latter gentleman has collected a great number of pieces on Theophilus in various European languages, and quotes references to the legend in early French, Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Norman, and German writers.

Archbishop Elfric (d. 1006) alludes to the story in his "Homilies;" S. Bernard also, in his "Deprecatio ad gloriosam Virginem Mariam ;" Vincent of Beauvais, in his wonderful "Speculum Historiale;" S. Bonaventura, as a passionate devotee to the Virgin, could not omit it from his "Speculum

1 Le Théâtre Français au moyen âge. Paris, p. 137.

2 Theophilus, in Icelandic, Low German, &c. London, p. 23.

Beatæ Mariæ;" Jacques de Voragine inserts it in his "Golden Legend," and Albertus Magnus includes it in his "Biblia B. Mariæ Virginis." It is again mentioned by the great German poet of the twelfth century, Hartmann von der Aue, and by Konrad von Würzburg, in the thirteenth century. A Flemish Theophilus was published by M. Philipp Blommaert, from an old MS. of the fourteenth century, in 1836. To the same century belongs one version of the Theophilus legend in Icelandic, published by M. Dasent; the other is younger by a century. An old Swedish Theophilus of 1350 exists in the royal library at Stockholm.

In the cathedral of Notre-Dame, at Paris, are two sculptured representations of the fable; one is on the north porch. In the cathedral of Laon it is painted on a window in the choir, in eighteen medallions. It is also to be seen in the church of S. Peter, at Troyes, and in that of S. Julien at Mans, in both instances on stained glass.

Further information as to the legend, with the texts, can be found in "Theophilus, in Icelandic, Low German, and other tongues, from MSS. in the Royal Library, Stockholm, by G. Webbe Dasent, M.A. Stockholm, 1845;" in "E. F. Sommer, De Theophili cum Diabole fædere. Halle, 1844;" and

in

44

Miracle de Théophile, mis en vers au commencement du XIIIme siècle, par Gauthier de Coincy, publié par M. D. Maillet. Rennes, 1838."

I do not think it improbable that this famous story may rest on a foundation of truth; indeed it bears on the face of it tokens of authenticity. Theophilus is driven from his position by slanders: this preys on his mind. By some means he is reinstated. The revulsion of feeling upsets his reason, he undertakes a prodigious fast, goes crazy, tells a long rambling story about a compact with the devil, and dies three days after in brain-fever. His narrative is the only extraordinary item in the tale. If we remember that this was told after a forty-days' fast, and immediately before a mortal fever, the only thing to be wondered at in the legend is that any sane persons believed his ravings to have in them a foundation of truth.

IN

APPENDIX A

The Wandering Jew

N the Bragda Mágus Saga, an Icelandic version of the Romance of Maugis, but with considerable alterations in the story, is the following very curious passage, which seems to indicate a belief in a life indefinitely prolonged, not attached to the Jew, Cartaphilus. I quote from the edition "Bragda Mágus Saga, med tilheyrandi Fáttum, skrif. af Gunnlaugi Thordarsyni. Kaupmannahöfn, 1858. Cap. 35-40."

Mágus went before the king (Charlemagne), and greeted him courteously. The king received him well, and asked him his name. He said he was called 'Vidförull.' The king said, 'You are a vigorous man, though you seem very old.'

"Vidförull replied, 'Sire, you say right that I am very old, but I have been much older, and it may fall out that I become younger.'

"How can that possibly be,' asked the king, 'that you could have been older than you are, and will be younger?' "Vidförull said, 'That I will make clear to you. Twice have I cast my old skin, and become each time younger than before.'

"When he said this all the guard of the king sprang up, laughing, and said he should not venture to talk such non