Welsh Journals

through Macedonia into the heart of the continent, to Germany and so to France. Now Sergi (Mediterranean Race Ch. XI.) insists that the Franks were Mediterraneans who became Germanised in language and customs but who most certainly, were not Germans. He gives no date whatever for their migration and would probably be inclined to rank it as far anterior to the Chronicles, but a partial correspondence he does most certainly give. Geoffrey, of course, gives nothing of either the history of the Venetians or the Franks. Another point on which the French Chronicle adds to Geoffrey's narrative occurs in the Brennus story. Geoffrey states that Brennus goes to Segin, duke of the Allobroges, and immediately after his death becomes duke in his place, and so extends his conquests. Geoffrey, however, does not state where the Allobroges are. Wavrin's Chronicle states that Brennus becomes duke of Sens in Burgundy, and from that centre extends his conquests. Now Dechelette is clear that the Celtic Empire did start in Burgundy, and that it was from Burgundy these early iron-age conquests radiated out in all directions. Also he agrees with the Chronicles that France and Britain were conquered first and that the reinforced tribes together made the great Celtic invasion of Italy in 388 B.C. The question as to the "language "1S of Geoffrey's source whether it was or was not in the British tongue is a wholly different one which must, of course, be settled on philological grounds mainly. In this connection I quote from an article by Pro- fessor W. Lewis Jones M. Gaston Paris, holds that a British book of some sort did exist, as the names in Geoffrey's History appear to be fre- quently more archaic in form than those given by Nennius, and they are such as Geoffrey could not possibly have invented.13 12 Cymmrodor 1898-9. 13 See above. WHERE ARE YOU GOING? Where are you going, my little Welsh maid, Out in the warm spring rain ? I am going to my lover on the moorland side Up through the fresh, grass lane." U Is your lover working, my little Welsh maid, Out upon the moorland side? No, no, my lover's sleeping in a wee, green place- Tis a year ago he died." I might sum up the case as follows I- (1) Geoffrey of Monmouth's narrative must have a large substratum of truth because it agrees with so many archaeological details and so much modern ethnology. (2) His source gives with remarkable accuracy the European distribution of maritime Armenoids," whom he calls Trojans," but it does not give the Irish or Welsh groups, therefore the source is pro- bably not Irish or Welsh. (3) Fuller forms of Geoffrey's narrative can be found in French, and the additional information given (as for instance the history of the Venetians) often appears to be correct. (4) Geoffrey's name-forms often differ markedly from those found in the French Chronicles. M. Gaston Paris, thinks them older than the name- forms of Nennius. Zimmer thinks many of them Armorican. (5) It is very possible that Geoffrey's source is an old Breton book as he himself says. Sergi in his Germani ed Indogermani de- clares that German men of science in order to glorify the German race have made a matassa imbrog- liata of the whole of European history. The entire story of the nations and their civilisation has been perverted and distorted. In the general chaos of the matassa imbrogliata no one has come off worse than poor Geoffrey. We named him the champion liar of history. The very tale he told seemed too impossible for dreams. There is no longer any excuse for thinking him wholly fabulous, and we ought to study his tradition with the utmost care. Certain portions of it are obviously confused and misplaced but we should at any rate try to understand him. L. Winstanley. Have you any token, my little Welsh maid, For your lover that lies so lone? I have a bunch of primroses to put upon his grave, And a song for his white tomb-stone." Won't you take another lover, my little Welsh maid For the spring-tide's warm and kind ? Oh no, I'll have no other while the spring still comes With his footsteps in the soft hill-wind." A. G. Prys- Jones.