Publisher's Synopsis
The author of Melion is unknown, but it is believed to have been written some time between 1190 and 1204. It is one of around 10 anonymous 'lais' of that time drawing upon Breton and Arthurian myths and legends. These myths and legends often contained elements of the supernatural to ornament what were moral tales of heroism and chivalry.
It is written in the Picard dialect of Old French, part of the 'Langues d'oïl' dialect continuum of Gallo-Romance languages. Old French is the result of a gradual separation from Vulgar Latin and Common Romance, coming into contact with influences from Gaulish (Continental Celtic), and Frankish (Germanic). The text is presented in the original Old French, with a literal word-for-word line-by-line translation, and a Modern English translation, all side-by-side. In this way, it is possible to see and feel how Old French worked and how it has evolved. Also included is a word list with 1,012 Old French words translated in to English, and 946 English words translated into Old French. This book is designed to be of use and interest to anyone with a passion for the Old French language, French history, or languages and history in general.
