The Sun.
London, England, 1830-02-01 00:00:00

men :

" The Troubadours, whose origin can be traced to a re-
mote district in the kingdom of Arles, were neither like
the ftbliers, mercenary performers, who exhibited their art
for tlietnere purpose of acquiring profit, nor like the ro-
manciers, hired attendants of some proud feudal house.
Being themselves for the most part members of the no-
bility. they resided on their own domains; which they
never deserted, except with the intention of visiting some
adjacent castle, whose possessor might require their en-
livening company, or effici,ting at the gay rites of tourna-
ment. On these occasions they were treated as the equals
of the circle which they strove to amuse, and their guerdon
was proportionate to the respect entertained, as well for
their rank as their ability ; the Lords presented them with
rich carpets, or generous steeds, after the oriental fashion,
which had become prevalent during the Crusades ; the
ladies vouchsafed a smiling meed of approbation, or as
Fontenelle has it, y t more distinguishing marks of favour
—' Les princesses et les plus grandes dames y joignoient
souvent leur feveurs, cites etoient fort foibles contre les
beaux esprits,' ; and the dread of satire from those
who might in some degree be considered as the voices of
public opinion, contributed its due share to the ready wel-
come which they received in every hall. Even in official
enactments they were distinguished from their ignoble
rivals, the jongleurs, or histriones."fhe state of Bo-
logna, when it forbade its domain to all wandering min-
strels, excepted by a special clause the honourable fra-
ternity of Troubadours ; and although Philip Augustus
does not mention them as exempted from the gentral act
of exile passed against players, yet he does not seem to
have withdrawn his countenance, since they remained in
undisturbed possession of their ancient privileges. It
cannot, however, be denied, that the lives of many were
stained with duplicity and profligacy, in lieu of that pure
devotion and frank manliness which figure in the books of
chivalry as the peculiar characteristic of the singular order
of knighthood, whose brightest ornaments they professed
to be. The virtues of Piers de Cabestaing, and Geer frog
de Rutid, meet with a striking contrast in the wanton fe-
rocity of Bertrand de Born, and the cold-blooded treachery
of the eminent ecclesiast Folquet, Archbishop of Toulouse."
The last sentences of this extract do not suf-
ficiently qualify the laudatory spirit of its pre-
decessor. The " Troubadours," we believe, in
nine cases out of ten were sad vagabonds—dis-
solute to a man in their conduct to the fair sex;
knowing little of love beyond the animal excite-
ment ; self-willed, ferothous, and only half tamed.
The remaining articles in this number, which
we have not space to enumerate, are each good
in its own particular department. The London
University may well be proud of this her first
and favourite foster child ! Though an infant,
it shows the Hercules in its cradle.

NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE, AND UNITED

SERVICE JOURNAL.

The " New Monthly Magazine," and the
" United Service Journal," have reached us at
so late an hour, (a very unusual thing with these
works) that we must defer our notice of them
till to-morrow.