Mediaeval Tales

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

28094

Title

Mediaeval Tales

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume presents a curated collection of medieval tales, including Turpin's legendary history of Charlemagne, spirited Spanish ballads of the Cid Campeador, allegorical stories from the Gesta Romanorum, and the grim tragedy of Dr. Faustus. Edited by Henry Morley, the anthology blends historical romance, religious instruction, and supernatural folklore to explore themes of faith, ingratitude, and the peril of pacts with the devil.

Summary up to 500 words

Henry Morley's *Mediæval Tales* presents a collection of four distinct sections that explore the intersection of history, romance, and moral instruction in the Middle Ages. The volume opens with Turpin's pseudo-historical chronicle, a foundational text for Charlemagne romances. In this account, St. James appears to Charlemagne in a vision, guiding the Emperor's conquest of Spain and inspiring Christian warfare against the Saracens. This narrative blends fact with romance to establish a tradition of holy war and reverence for the shrine of St. James. Following this are spirited Spanish ballads celebrating the Cid Campeador. These tales feature heroic deeds and supernatural interventions, where animals like lions, monkeys, and serpents repay the kindness of a poor woodcutter named Guido. In contrast, a seneschal suffers for his ingratitude after being rescued from a pit by these very beasts. The stories illustrate themes of gratitude versus ingratitude and the idea that even irrational creatures can render good service. The third section draws from the *Gesta Romanorum*, a medieval compilation of fables used to enforce moral lessons. These tales include a thief who is caught by his own magic word, 'False,' and a king who empowers the poor to judge the rich, reversing social hierarchies to teach humility. Another story features Alexander the Great using a mirror to reflect the poison of a basilisk back upon itself, demonstrating the power of wisdom over brute force. The volume concludes with the grim history of Dr. Faustus. A scholar who sells his soul to the devil for twenty-four years of magical power, Faustus attempts to repent as his time expires but is too late. The devil tears his body apart, leaving his soul damned. This stark ending serves as a warning against pride, the temptation of forbidden knowledge, and the necessity of steadfast faith. Through these varied narratives, the book illustrates the medieval fear of demonic influence and the enduring power of moral storytelling to shape belief and behavior.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Tales