Anonymous authors

“ We have not here that constant obedience and attention to the ladies, who are indeed frequently more savage than their lovers. The peculiar diablerie of their romances is, perhaps, their most striking feature. The dwarfs who, by the French minstrels, were represented as mere naturals, and humble attendants upon the knights, are here exalted into creatures of great cunning, having dominion over the interior of the earth, consequently possessing incalculable riches, in gold and gems, and having the stronger but less sagacious race of giants entirely under their controul. ”

“ The heroes paid all observance and honour to the ladies, protected widows and orphans, did no harm to women, except when their life was in danger, were always ready to assist them, and often shewed their manhood before them, both in spirit and in earnest. It should also be known that the heroes were always emperors, kings, dukes, earls, and served under lords or as knights and squires ”

“ He would not, however, be understood to insinuate the slightest depreciation of such works; works, which throw light and splendour upon by-gone days, and conjure up forms of living beauty, or of glory, which were fast disappearing in the mists of antiquity. ”