The Book of the Epic
- Subtitle
- The World's Great Epics Told in Story
H. A. (Hélène Adeline) Guerber
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Table of contents
1. Front matter2. INTRODUCTION3. ILLUSTRATIONS4. FOREWORD5. GREEK EPICS6. THE ILIAD7. THE ODYSSEY8. LATIN EPICS9. THE AENEID10. FRENCH EPICS11. THE SONG OF ROLAND[8]12. PART I. A COUNCIL HELD BY KING MARSILE AT SARAGOSSA.—The Song of Roland opens with the statement that, after spending seven years in Spain, Charlemagne is master of all save the city of Saragossa.13. PART II. PRELUDE TO THE GREAT BATTLE. It is only when the Saracen army is beginning to close in upon the French, that the peers become aware of their danger. Oliver, Roland's bosom friend, the first to descry the enemy, calls out that this ambush is the result of Ganelon's treachery, only to be silenced by Roland, who avers none shall accuse his step-father without proof. Then, hearing of the large force approaching, Roland exclaims, "Cursed be he who flees," and admonishes all present to show their mettle and die fighting bravely.14. PART III. REPRISALS. Roland has barely breathed his last when Charlemagne arrives on the battle-field and, gazing around him, perceives nothing but corpses. Receiving no answer to his repeated call for the twelve peers, Charlemagne groans it was not without cause he felt anxious and mourns that he was not there to take part in the fray. He and his men weep aloud for their fallen companions, and twenty thousand soldiers swoon from grief at the sight of the havoc which has been made!15. AUCASSIN AND NICOLETTE16. SPANISH EPICS17. THE CID18. PORTUGUESE EPICS19. THE LUSIAD20. Book X. On the homeward journey Venus, wishing to reward the brave Lusitanians for all their pains and indemnify them for their past hardships, leads them to her "Isle of Joy." Here she and her nymphs entertain them in the most acceptable mythological style, and a siren foretells in song all that will befall their native country between Vasco da Gama's journey and Camoëns' time. Venus herself guides the navigator to the top of a hill, whence she vouchsafes him a panoramic view of all the kingdoms of the earth and of the spheres which compose the universe.21. ITALIAN EPICS22. DIVINE COMEDY23. PURGATORY24. PARADISE25. THE ORLANDOS26. GERUSALEMME LIBERATA, OR JERUSALEM DELIVERED27. EPICS OF THE BRITISH ISLES28. BEOWULF[21]29. THE ARTHURIAN CYCLE30. ROBIN HOOD31. THE FAERIE QUEENE32. BOOK II. THE LEGEND OF SIR GUYON, OR OF TEMPERANCE33. BOOK III. THE STORY OF BRITOMART,—CHASTITY34. BOOK IV. LEGEND OF COMBEL AND TRIAMOND, OR OF FRIENDSHIP35. BOOK V. THE LEGEND OF SIR ARTEGALL,—JUSTICE36. BOOK VI. LEGEND OF SIR CALIDORE, OR OF COURTESY37. Book I. After intimating he intends "no middle flight," but proposes to "justify the ways of God to man," Milton states the fall was due to the serpent, who, in revenge for being cast out of heaven with his hosts, induced the mother of mankind to sin. He adds how, hurled from the ethereal sky to the bottomless pit, Satan lands in a burning lake of asphalt. There, oppressed by the sense of lost happiness and lasting pain, he casts his eyes about him, and, flames making the darkness visible, beholds those enveloped in his doom suffering the same dire pangs. Full of immortal hate, unconquerable will, and a determination never to submit or yield, Satan, confident his companions will not fail him, and enriched by past experiences, determines to continue disputing the mastery of heaven from the Almighty.38. Book IX. The poet warns us there will be no more question of talk between man and angels, as his song must now change to a tragic note, because vile distrust has entered Paradise. Then he describes how Satan, driven away from Eden by Gabriel, circles around the earth seven days and nights without rest, and at the end of that time re-enters Paradise, by means of an underground river and in the guise of a mist. Then, perched as a bird upon the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Satan decides to approach our first parents in the guise of a loathsome serpent and seek his revenge, although fully aware the consequences will recoil upon himself. Next, finding a serpent asleep, Satan enters it, and meanders along the paths of Paradise, hoping to find Adam and Eve apart, for he deems it will be easier to work his ends on one at a time.39. PARADISE REGAINED40. GERMAN EPICS41. THE NIBELUNGENLIED[29]42. STORY OF THE HOLY GRAIL43. EPICS OF THE NETHERLANDS44. SCANDINAVIAN EPICS45. THE VOLSUNGA SAGA[34]46. RUSSIAN AND FINNISH EPICS47. THE KALEVALA, OR THE LAND OF HEROES48. THE EPICS OF CENTRAL EUROPE AND OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA49. HEBREW AND EARLY CHRISTIAN EPICS50. ARABIAN AND PERSIAN EPICS51. THE SHAH-NAMEH, OR EPIC OF KINGS52. INDIAN EPICS53. THE RAMAYANA54. THE MAHABHARATA55. THE STORY OF THE DELUGE56. THE STORY OF NALA AND DAMAYANTI57. THE STORY OF SAVITRI AND SATYAVAN58. CHINESE AND JAPANESE POETRY59. AMERICAN EPICS60. INDEX OF NAMES