nite : and the extent of his knowledge procured him the appellation of the Universal Doctor. Faustus, the author of some tracts printed in the Maxima Bibliotheca Veterum Patrum, is sufficiently known as a favourer of the Semi-Pelagian doctrines. He died about the year 480. Brunell, it has been conjectured, was a native of Germany, and flourished about the end of the twelfth, or the beginning of the thirteenth century. He composed many Latin poems which have never been published: but his Sententia de Ordinibus Religiosis appears in the collection of Martene and Durand. The court of the Muses having thus reached the spot where Venus is sitting in judgment, b Among other works, he wrote a commentary on the prophecies of Merlin. See Prophetia Anglicana et Romana; hoc est Merlini Ambrosië Britanni, ex incubo olim, &c. Francofurti, 1608, 8vo. c Lilii Gyraldi Historia Poetarum, p.222. d Cave, Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Historia Literaria, p. 366. e Veterum Scriptorum et Monumentorum Collectio, tom. vi.-The following extract from Brunell's poem may be acceptable to some readers; as it contains a slight contribution to ecclesiastical history. Est et adhuc alius nuper novus ordo repertus, Quem benè, nam bonus est, commemorare decet. Hic apud Anglorum fines exortus, ab ipso Nomen habet natus quo fuit ipse loco. Corpora, non voces, murus disjungit; in unum Psallunt directo psalmate et absque mero: Calliope intercedes so effectually in the poet's behalf, that his crime is pardoned on condition that he shall compose some poem in honour of the goddess whom he has offended. He immediately pours forth an unpremeditated lay; and Venus declares she is satisfied. Her court then departs, and leaves the poet with that of the Muses. Calliope commits him to the charge of "ane sweit nymphe maist faithfull and decoir," and the whole train commences a most miraculous journey. Ane hors I gat maist richelie besene, Was harneist all with woodbind leuis grene; Of the same sute the trappours law doun hang. A's swift as thocht, with mony a merie sang, Quhilks sang and playit, but neuer a wreist yeid wrang. They now roam through a great variety of regions: but the poet's account of their flight savours strongly of the incoherence of a dream. They at length reach the Castalian fountain. Beside that cristall well sweit and digest, Alichtit doun thir Musis cleir of hew. The cumpanie all haillelie leist and best Thrang to the well to drink, quhilk ran south west Throw out ane meid quhair alkin flouris grew. Amang the laif full fast I did persew To drink, bot sa the greit preis me opprest, Quir horsis pasturit in ane plesand plane, Amid ane meid schaddowit with ceder treis. agane For birdis sang, and sounding of the beis. The ladyis fair on diuers instrumentis Went playand, singand, dansand, ouir the bentis: Stoneist the heuin, and all the eirth adoun. The warld may not considder nor descriue Unto that hald to pass commandit me. 66 Swa finally straicht to that royall steed We enterit sone, the portar was not thra, And tho I saw our ladyis twa and twa The discourse turning on love and valour, Calliope commands Ovid, her Clerk Register, to declare 'quha war maist worthie of thair handis." The favoured poet then recapitulates the deeds of ancient heroes, and also sings of transfigurations, of the art of love, and of its remedy. He is followed by other bards: Uprais the greit Virgillius anone, And playit the sportis of Daphnis and Corydone : Stude scornand euerie man as thay yeid by. With mirthis thus and meitis delicate Uprais at last, commandand till tranoynt : Schynand for sweit, as they had bene anoynt. Of all that rout was neuer a prick disjoynt, For all our tary; and I furth with my mait Mountit on horse, raid samin in gude point. Ouir mony gudlie plane we raid bedene, grene: We se the final end of our trauail, With singing, lauching, merines, and play, Now mair to write for feir tremblis my pen. The heuinlie blis the perfite joy to ken, Thocht all my members toungis war on raw, Jangleris suld it backbite and stand nane aw, Cry out on dreimis quhilks are not worth ane mite. |