Middletown transcript., 1868-03-07
Our '0lo.
The rroubadours.

They were sought after By the great and
the .aHiuent-were the admiration and the
delight of all the gay ladies and cavaliers
at the different courts of France, Spain
and Italy, and they animated and enlven-
ed all festivals by their gayety and wit,
The Troubadours were not only poets, but
they also recited tales after the manner Of
the. Arabians, and no doubt, did much to
introduce taste for romantic fiction among
their countrymen. Many of them were
engaged in the crusades, and this also ten
ded to nourish chiyalrousr and cnthuastic
spirit. ,r 4a,ia IA u. ,,,-aass,ss haa .ssif
1t may perhaps not be amiss to inquire
whence arose these facts, and how did they
acquire this, taste for poetry and romance
As early as between 1000 and HOO the
Arabian kingdom Of Spain had imbibed the
taste for learning which was SO extremely
difused among the Saracens or Arabims.
A great number of schools and academies
were founded in Spain, to which the youth
from the south of France ,rcsorted in great
numbers 1t is also said, that at one
time the Arabians of Spain extended their
kingdom into France, and that the two
races of people were intimately blended
together. In the year 1885, Toledo was
conquered by Alphonso, king of CASTLE,
and he invited a great number of lords
and knights of France to engage in this
war. Toledo was takons and by this
means one of the finest and most celebra-
ted of the schools of Spain was alike open
to both Arabians and Christians. The
Christians of southern, Europe resortcd in
great numbers to, this school and ALSO to
others, and thus was diffused taste for
learning and for poetry, and thus may we
account for the origin Of the oubadours.
The Troubadours were mostly Of the south
Of France---were often knights and noble
men-and we even hear that sovereign
princes were yotaries Of the gay science" 4"
The court of the king of Provence, the
most refined of western Europe, was the
chief resort Of these bards, and their poetic
festivals we're celebrated among other ma
tions But after the commencement OF
the 18th century, We are surprised that we
hear no more of the lovers and cultivators
of the ''gay science" They have passed
away as shadow, and even their language
has sunk into utter oblivion. The flames
of religious persecution ragged with des-
tructive fury in the south of France. In
the memorable crusade against the Albig-
enses, the inhabitants of Provence were
mostly destroyed, and the Troubadours
shared the fate of their countrymeu.s A
whole race was utterly destroyed, and
even their language was no longer renem-
bered. ,o5f sra seyss, .s5J scl -ysis.#.
The poetry of the Troubadours is alto
gethcr original, and unlike that of ethel
the Greeks or Romans 1t was exceed
ingly simple, and love was the principal
subjectT-they sometimes personifed love
and then he was represented. as a. cavalier
mounted upon a fine horse. They also
personifed the attributes of loyalty, mer.
cy, &c. By those who have studied til,
poetry of the Troubadours, with particu
lar interest, we are informed that it pos
sesses brilliancy and a charm peculiar t.
ITSELF and that while engaged in the per
usaf we may fancy ourselves Transported
to a new fairy land, pcopled with u race
of beings as whimsical and fautastical az
we can well imagine. 4! .atsrtr Els5itl
Among the most distinguished of th.
Troubadours, was Richard Cnur dc Lion
king of England, renowned for his exploit:
in the Holy Land. Arnaua &c Mprvei
and Arnaud Daniel are also eften mention
ed, and it is said that their poetry posses
ses uncommon merit. The history of thei
lives contain no uncommon incidents
Among all these facts, however, there i
no one among them, whose history present
such a variety of interesting and romantic
adventures as that Of. Pierre Vidal. , I'll
was born in Provence about the year TO-
or ITO, and at, an early age eyineed al
uncommon talent for writing poetry III
composed great number of love, song
which were mostly addressed TO lady 0
Marseilles to whom he made great man,
professions, of attachment. In the cele
brated crusade in which Philip Augustu
Of France and Richard king Of Englan,
were engaged, he went to the Holy Land
and entered into the service of Richard
Here his conduct was SO extravagant, as t
afford great entertainment to his friends
who played all sorts Of pranks with him
In short, he was a perfect madman o
knight errant. for he supposed himself I
be the most valiant of knights and tha
he was beloved by all the ladies'. At tn
island of Cyprus his friends contrived
most ridiculous farce of which he was th
dupe, They introduced Greek lady t
him, whom they pretended was desccnde
from the emperors of Constantinople, Vid,
married her, and as he fancied that he shoul
one day mount the throne of the Easter
Empire, he assumed the title of Emperor
and caused a splended throne toJ carrie
before him when he passed through th
streets, much to the amusement of all VIII
behcld him. When hereturned to France
he still displayed the same mixture Of e1
travagance and folly, and he fell in 10y
with a lady of Carcasonne, named Louy
de Pennatier, and in order to do her homo
and to ingratiate himself with her, he al
sumed the name of Loup. He clothe
himselfin the skin of wolf, and the
caused the shepherds to go in pursuit