Add MS 45317

WILLIAM MORRIS LITERARY MANUSCRIPTS. Vol. XXI (ff. i + 76). Contents:-

(1) 'The Story of Egil' (from the Icelandic, 'Egils Saga Skallagrimssonar'); 13 chapters and part of a 14th, differing slightly from the text of 40 surviving chapters printed in Morris, i, pp. 565-636. ff. 1-18.

(2) 'The Tale of Norn-Guest' (from the Icelandic, 'Nornagests Dáttr'); 4 chapters and parts of a 5th which was never published and probably not completed. ff. 19-28.

(3) 'Laxdaela Saga', chapters 28-33; from the Icelandic. ff. 29-44.

(4) 'The Story of Gunnlang the Worm-Tongue' (from the Icelandic, 'Gunnlangs Saga Ormstungu'); two calligraphically written leaves on vellum of the first chapter. The translation, done in conjunction with Eiríkr Magnússon, was included in Three Northern Love Stories (C.W., vol. x). This chapter, which differs slightly from the printed text (C.W., x, pp. 7-8), is set out as if it were to be illuminated (cf. Morris's illuminated MS. of 'Omar Khayam', Add. MS. 37832). The saga, however, is not mentioned in the list of projected MSS. for illumination given in C.W., ix, pp. xx-xxi. ff. 45-46b.

(5) Part of the 'Shah Namah' of Firdausi, which Morris began to translate circ. 1883 from the French version of Jules Mohl (Le Livre Des Rois, 1838 and 1876). The incomplete MS., which is calligraphically written, is mentioned by May Morris, C.W., xvii, pp. xxiii-xxv, where the section called 'The Setting-up of the Holiday of Fire' (ff. 54-56) is printed. ff. 48-75.

(6) A copy by Morris of extracts from a book or treatise in French on economics. f. 76.

includes:

• ff. 1-46b Iceland: Translations from and notes on Icelandic literature, by W. Morris: circ. 1870-1871, n.d.
• ff. 45-46b, 48-75 Calligraphy: W. Morris; poems and translations: circ. 1868-1876.