Guillaume de Palerme

"Guillaume de Palerme" ("William of Palerne") is a French romance poem, which has been translated into English.

The French verse romance was composed circa 1200, commissioned by Countess Yolande (who is generally identified to be Yolande, daughter of Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders). The prose version of the French romance, printed by N Bonfons, passed through several editions.

The English poem in alliterative verse, commissioned by Humphrey de Bohun, 6th Earl of Hereford, was written circa 1350 by a poet named William. A single surviving manuscript of the English version is held at Kings College, Cambridge.

The story

Guillaume, a foundling supposed to be of low degree, is brought up at the court of the emperor of Rome, and loves his daughter Melior who is destined for a Greek prince. The lovers flee into the woods, disguised in bear-skins. Alfonso, who is Guillaume's cousin and a Spanish prince, has been changed into a wolf by his stepmother's enchantments. He provides food and protection for the fugitives, and Guillaume eventually triumphs over Alfonso's father, and wins back from him his kingdom. The benevolent werewolf is disenchanted, and marries Guillaume's sister.

References

*Bunt, Gerrit H.V., [http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=6462 "William of Palerne, An Electronic Edition"] .

External links

* [http://www.bartleby.com/211/1303.html Translators' difficulties]

Further reading

*Henri Michelant, ed., "Guillaume de Palerne", Soc. d. anc. text fr., 1876.
*"Hist. litt. de la France", xxii. 829.
*Madden, F. (1832). "William of Palerme", Roxburghe Club.
*Skeat, Walter W. (1867). "E. E. Text Soc.", extra series No. I.
* Kaluza, M., in "Eng. Studien" (Heilbronn, iv. 196).