n a different order in each stanza. The rhymes in the sirvente differed
from what we consider correct by consisting always of a repetition of
the same word. The discord was a sort of free fantasia, sometimes in
several dialects. The pastorelle was of pastoral character, usually
consisting of short lines and containing a dialogue.

Among the more narrative forms are found the ballad, more especially
favoured by the Trouveres, or minstrels of the "Langue d'oil" regions.
It gave rise to the various metres used in the epics, and sometimes
formed the basis of these longer works. In general, the Trouveres
devoted themselves to fiction and story, while their southern brethren
sang of love. The novel, used largely in the south, was a short poem
containing some brilliant anecdote of gallantry, couched in neat phrase.
The romance, or long narrative, was by reason of its size the most
permanent of all the poetry of this age. Though written by both
Troubadours and Trouveres, the latter were far superior in style and
invention, and it is mostly their work which has survived. These
romances were sometimes in prose, but more often in poetry of extremely
smooth and flowing metre.

The romances grouped themselves in three principal cycles,--first, the
Carlovingian, including the stories of Charlemagne, of Roland and the
twelve peers, of Fierabras, and so on; second, the Arthurian, dealing
with the legends of the Round Table; and third, the Alexandrian,
containing tales of antiquity, chiefly of Alexander the Great. In the
first group, "Brut d'Angleterre" contains the mythical story of all the
early English kings. It was adapted from lower Brittany by Robert Wace.
A Saxon Trouvere continued this to his own time, imbuing his work with
thorough hatred of the Normans. Walter Map, Archdeacon of Oxford under
Henry II., wrote many Arthurian tales, while Chretien de Troyes wrote
the greater part of "Sir Perceval de Galles" in Norman-French. "Floriant
and Florete" is another Arthurian tale, while "Aucassin and Nicolette,"
of unknown authorship, is a charming romance of love in Southern France
and captivity among the Saracens.

The life of the Troubadour forms a pleasing picture in the book of
mediaeval history. He was essentially a gentleman by birth, scorning to
take pay for his songs, and often distributing the gifts he received
among his servants. He had to maintain a large retinue, and give
sumptuous entertainments, with the result that he