48

“Healthful airs of the forest? What is the world
‘of ‘war ‘and loss, burning ‘castles and tumbling
thrones, to them? What but so much material for
‘moving, ‘thrilling song?

These roving ‘minstrels were often of great
secret service to armies in time of war, for they
could travel where others could not, and many
were the momentous missions they undertook. The
Troubadour was always free to go and come,
a welcome guest, a jolly good fellow. ‘The camp
fires might be burning, armies moving from base
to base, but amid the tramp of marching men
and the shifting of military posts he was secure
in his privilege as a neutral person. Asa

song, the turning of three somersaults, or a new wh ie Z ee

jest was sufficient password to hostile camps,
it naturally followed that he should often be >}

outer lines, and into castles whose gates were
closed by armed men. Imagine him spirit-
edly reciting some heroic tale to a group of
rough and iron-clad warriors — restless soldiers
of tortune, who listen to him with savage in-
terest, clinking their swords as an accompani-
ment to his song. While they make jokes at
his expense they house and feed him. They
reward him with curious trinkets taken in bat-
tle, a quaint ring, or ancient bracelet, a gem-
crusted drinking-cup, which serves to swell
his possessions. But the cunning Trouba- 4
dour takes the number of theirspears. He fi
spies the secret gates
where the men go in
and out at night bear-
ing supplies of pro-
visions and arms. He
learns the plans for to-
morrow’s foraging. In
short, a song, a simple
story, a few amusing
tricks, secretly turns
the tide of battle, set-
tles the fate of kings
and queens,

Among the many
unhappy queens of
merry England, Elea-
nora of. Aquitaine stands in her place. Her
‘reign was full of trouble and misfortune, although
‘Henry the Second was a most peace-loving king of

employed as a spy or messenger, penetrating * Coes ff Ae el

UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE.

THE TROUBADOURS.

his time. Referring:to her ambitious and captive

son, Richard -Cceur de Lion, who, bythe way, was .
a Troubadour, she describes herself in one of her

letters to the Pope: “ &ileanora, by the wrath of

God, Queen of England.”

Well, the turbulence of her reign was often due
to the war songs of Troubadours; for if. ever
it occurred that hér impetuous sons were inclined
to a season of peace, the Troubadours always
broke into their retirement with passionate and
boastful zevsons which urged them to revolt and

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    

 

 

 

 

 

battle. As the Marseillaise has resounded in the
streets of Paris in our time, inspiring men and
women with feelings of enthusiasm and reckless