GUILLAUME DE PALERME (

See also:

• WILLIAM
• WILLIAM (1143-1214)
• WILLIAM (1227-1256)
• WILLIAM (1J33-1584)
• WILLIAM (A.S. Wilhelm, O. Norse Vilhidlmr; O. H. Ger. Willahelm, Willahalm, M. H. Ger. Willehelm, Willehalm, Mod.Ger. Wilhelm; Du. Willem; O. Fr. Villalme, Mod. Fr. Guillaume; from " will," Goth. vilja, and " helm," Goth. hilms, Old Norse hidlmr, meaning
• WILLIAM (c. 1130-C. 1190)
• WILLIAM, 13TH

WILLIAM of PALERNE)  , hero of romance . The French verse romance was written at the desire of a Countess Yolande, generally identified with Yolande, daughter of Baldwin IV., count of Flanders . The English poem in alliterative verse was written about 1350 by a poet called William, at the desire of Humphrey Bohun, earl of Hereford, (d . 1361) . Guillaume, a foundling supposed to be of low degree, is brought up at the court of the emperor of Rome, and loves his daughter Melior who is destined for a Greek prince . The lovers flee into the woods disguised in bear-skins . Alfonso, who is Guillaume's cousin and a Spanish prince, has been changed into a wolf by his step-mother's enchantments . He provides food and protection for the fugitives, and Guillaume eventually triumphs over Alfonso's father, and wins back from him his kingdom . The benevolent werwolf is disenchanted, and marries Guillaume's sister . See Guillaume de Palerne, ed . H . Michelant (Soc. d. anc. textes fr., 1876) ; Hist. litt. de la France, xxii .

829; William of Palerme, ed .

Sir F . Madden (Roxburghe Club, 1832), and W . W . Skeat (E . E . Text Soc., extra series No . 1, 1867) ; M . Kaluza, in Eng . Studien (Heilbronn, iv . 196) . The prose version of the French romance, printed by N .

Bonfons, passed through several

editions .