Note 16 — CAP. XLVIII.
Reading edition
1: Trebizond.
2: Neighbouring countries.
3: Armenia.
4: Watch.
5: Brave.
In the old Romance of Melusina, which was written by Jean d'Arras, Secretary to the Duc de Berri, brother to Charles V. of France—in 1387 (at the command of his master) is the legend of the Lady of the Sparrow Hawk, which shows how current it was at the time. According to his version, a fairy, named Presine, married King Helmas, and made him vow that he would never go near her at the time of childbirth. She bore him three daughters—Melusina, Melior, and Palestine—and at the birth of the latter the king broke his vow. When his children grew up they learnt this fact, and were very indignant at their father's conduct, to punish which (being gifted with supernatural power) they enclosed him in an enchanted mountain until he died. Presine was powerless to undo this deed, but she visited their unnatural conduct severely upon her daughters. Melusina was to become half serpent, half woman, every Saturday; Palestine was ever to watch their father's treasure on the top of a mountain in Arragon; while Melior's fate is thus told by the chronicler:—
"And thou Melyor to the I gyve a Castel in the grette Armenye, whyche is fayre and riche, wher thou shalt kepe a Sperschak unto the tyme that the grett maister shall hold his Jugement. And al noble and worthy knyghts, descended and come of noble lynee, that wil you watche there the day byfore the even, and th' even also of Saint Johan Baptiste, whiche is on the xx day of Juny, without any slep, shal have a geft of the of suche thinges, without to demande thy body, ne thy love, by maryage, nor other wise. And al thos that shal demande the without cesse, and that wol not forbere, and absteyn them not, shal be infortunat unto the IX lynee, and shal be put from theire prosperytees."
6: Devoir, duty.
7: Poor, needy.
8: Erzeroum.
9: Ararat.
10: Noah's Ark.
11: Flood.
12: Others say seven.
13: Fiend.
14: Never went there.
15: Tabreez or Tabriz.
16: For.