The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-07
Medieval and Eventful.

II Ia not a pretty page with dimpled
chin, but the poet Florestane des Baux
with firm chin, who il celebrated In Julia
de Wolf Addison's poetical and exuberant
story, -Florestane the Troubadour; Medi-
eval Romance of Southern France" Dana
Estes Il Co., Boston,. The reader will
remark his solicitous inquiry concerning
the troubadour maid Batriz de Belefranche
OF the Princess Meicendra's court, also a
poet OF fame, despite her tender years. and
will guess what gentle trouble Is to befall
him.
'Alack" quoth the Princess Meicendra,
as she sat at needlework with her ladies
in the orchard, 1T Is scant Of cheer In the
castle when the men are all away"
which will indicate that the familiar sum-
mer resort lament of this day is nothing
new. 1t Is not true that Batriz had any
tenderness for Sir Vigraine de Bots, though
the Princess had limited at such thing.
Truth Is, she fell in love with Florestane
as soon as she saw him. Sir Vigraine was
angry when he said to her: you set much
store by my affection once, before ever this
yapping troubadour came to court. have
watched him, and l have watched you.
His life ia in love. as the life of a fish is in
water. Any charming woman will satisfy
him, SO she but give him encouragement. I"
But this was q Misrepresentation, and the
sterling Florestane was not at all like a
| fish.
There was a plot. Somebody who was
not Florestane seems to have met Biatriz
at the high wall contrary to the arrange
ment, and galloped of with her. Still, as
it says in the next chapter head, hope fol-
lowed close upon despair, and though it is
true that Biatrz was for time a prisoner
| in "a small chamber in the turret of Sir
| Vigraine's castle" it is yet not to be sup
posed that she could be kept there forever
| Had that been the case, we should hardly
find it recorded. little further on, that
~thus for many months did Biatriz live in
the witch's cave She must have got out
| of the turret in order to live In the cave
and, moreover, If she had been permanently
| in the turret she could not have written to
Sir vigraine from the forest.
She deemed it her duty to write to Sir
| Vipraine, who was about to be poisoned
by Lady Etienette. She had parchment
but no ink. Il should have brought my
ink" she said, "for it Is of importance that
the writing be clear" Then we think il
very likely that she said, "Oh. bother the
ink" though it is not so reported. At any
rate presently. blazing with determine.
ton" she tried to write with charcoal
! the same material that the grieving
McClusky used when he stabbed his donkey
in the poem-and when this refused tc
work, the charcoal and the psrchmen,
proving "unsympathetic. scratched hel
arm with knife "until the blood ran, and
then, dipping the blade into the blood
wrote with great difficulty: Beware Of
poisoni Watch Etienette de beaucaire.'
Later, we are glad to say, Biatriz and
Florestane appeared hand in hand befor,
the Princess Melicendra. who was seatec
in tapestried carved chair, which wal
the equal of any throne, and knelt before
her. and all that had been askew was Sc,
right. Florestane, in black jerkin anc
hose. with a mantle Of scarlet, faced his
accusers with radiant smile. The greer
lar of poison belonging to the sorceress was
DESTROYED by fire, brazier being used fol
the purpose. ~Star Of my SOUL" sale
Florestane to Biatriz as he took her in hi
arms and imprinted kiss upon her brow
AT that moment the distant bells of the
monastery chimed for lauds. The pail
moved beyond the portal.
The heart and the approval OF the reader
will surely 60 with them.