New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-02

| early a period In the development OF religion
that il acquired even a greater sanctity than
words or eucholisic pOsturing. SO the early
secular song as well the early religious. 70
sometimes preserved long after its meaning has
| been forgotten. A beautiful story is told OF how
In the middle Of the last century a foksoug
established fraternal relations between two peo-
ples who had forgotten for centuries that they
| were OF one blood. The tale comes from a
French book C"Combat de Saint Cast, par M. de
saintPern Couelan," 1880 but Is thus told in
an essay on Some Breton Folk Songs" pub
IIshed by Theodore Bacon in The Atlantic
Monthly" for November, 1892:
In September. 1853 an English force effected
a descent upon the Breton coast at Saint-Casc
A company of Lower Bretons from the neigh
borhood Of Treguire and Saint-Pode-Ihon, was
marching against a detachment OF welsh noun,
talneers which was coming brlsky lor"aIu
singing a national air, when all at once the
Bretons of the French army stopped short IN
amazement The air their enemies were sing,
ing was one which every day may DC neafd
sounding over the hearths OF Brittany. fdectfl-
fed" says the historian, grandson hilseit OF an
eve witness. by accents when spoke 10 th-f
hearts they gave way 10 a SUDDEN enthusiast,
and Joined in the same patriotic reiraln. ne
Welsh in their turn, stood motlonless IN the'r
ranks on both sides officers gave the com
mand to FIRE: but 1t was in the same lang IAee'
and the soldiers stood as If petrihed. inns hesl-
tation continued however, but a moment.
common emotion was too strong for discipline;
the weapons fell from their hands. and the &C.
scendants from the ancient Celts renewed upon
the battlefield the fraterna ties "hich mao
formerly united their fathers
What marvel? Had the soldiers at Saint
Cast sat down together and RECALLED each other
with fairy tale and hero legend and song they
would have found that Arthur and Merlin and
the "korrigan" Gitte fairies) were their common
glories and delights King Arthur Is not
deadr may be heard as often in Brittany to-
day as in Cornwall
II the savage passions which inspired The
Wine Of the Gauls says Mr. Bacon in the essay
already cited) have been outlined by the worcS
now only Cimly appreciated, or that lyric, no.
50 wish the nobler sentiment which has kept
the March Of Arthur for twelve hundred years
alive in Breton hearts and on Breton lips. From
the sixth century, whenever war approa'uf".
there was sent its forerunner the army OK
Arthur defling at dawn on the summit OF ne
Black Mountains, and at the close OF the eleh-
teenth this song was heard again from me
rustic leves OF CadOudal and La Rochela-
queein. armed in defence of altar ana nresGc
against the Revolution.
THE MARCH OF ARTHUR
Come, Come! Come to the combat.
Come kindred. Come brother!
Come son! Come. father! Come!
Come! Come all! Nay, come. men OF hearth
The warriors son said TO his father one
morning: "HOrsemen upon the mOuntain-top!-
Horsemen passing, mounted on gray cOursers,
snOrting with cold
Ranks closed by skies; ranks closed by threes:
a thousand lances glttering in the sum
Ranks closed ty twos following flags that
nutter in the Wind of Death,
Nine lengths of a sngshot from head 10 rear.
IT'S the army of Arthur know IL: Arthur =
marching before It on the mountain-tOp
IF it is Arthur quick, TO our bows and our
live arrows and forward in his train, and let
the javelin be brandshed"
He had done speaking, when the war cry re-
sounded from end 70 end OF the mountains
Heart for eye, Head for ARM Death for
wounds! In the valley as on the mountain!
and father for mother. and mother for daughter
stallion for mare. and mule for ass. War
chief for soldier and man for child, Blood for
tears, and fire for sweat
And three for one. It's that we must have,
in the valley on the mountain, day and night,
if it be- until the valleys roll with the floods
of blood
IF we fall pierced in the fight. we shall bap-
tie ourselves with our own blood. and die with
Joyous heart,
IF we die as Christians ought as Brctons
ought, we can never die too sOOnn
Thus Mr.. Bacons paraphrase OF the French
version. which the Niscount de la Villemarqut
gives, along with the original Of the song In his
"Barzaz- Breiz" but if you would feel the rude
force of the March Of Arthur sing its opening
thus in the dialect Of COrnonaille.