AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FRENCH LITERATURE. 147 



though the splendour of feudal pomp and magnificence may tend to 

 glosSj they never can hide its real deformity. Wretched in its gene- 

 ral jurisprudence, it is nowhere seen to greater disadvantage than 

 in its misconception of love ; the tender passion was laid aside for 

 heartlessness, or used only for intrigue and grossness and immo- 

 rality. 



Though many, however, of the Troubadours were thus insensible 

 to the tender passion, it cannot be denied that others, again, were 

 equally susceptible. Thus, Guillaume de la Tour could not survive 

 his mistress ;* Guillaume d'Adhemar died for love ; and Pierre Ro- 

 giers and Richard Barbesieuxt turned hermits. Pierre Vidal, how- 

 ever, stands deservedly in the first rank for genius, extravagance, 

 and absurdity. In harmony of metre and in elegance of expression 

 this poet far excelled all his contemporaries ; his talents, however, 

 were alloyed with a most unfortunate propensity to fall in love 

 with every fair dame whom he saw ; and whom his inordinate va- 

 nity led him to believe loved him in return. His indiscreet boast- 

 ing caused one indignant husband to pierce his tongue with a hot 

 iron. This, however, had no effect in cooling his passion ; for very 

 shortly afterwards he succeeded in stealing a kiss from Adalasia, the 

 wife of his patron, Barral de Baux ; for this dire offence the amo- 

 rous knight was obliged to flee to Geneva, whence he proceeded, as 

 a crusader, to the Holy Land. Here he again fell in love with a 

 plebeian Grecian woman, who was palmed upon him by the nobles 

 as the niece of the Emperor of the East. Overjoyed at his lucky 

 marriage, he immediately assumed the imperial title, had a throne 

 erected, and was only deterred from further folly by the exhaustion 

 of his finances. His enemy Barral being now dead, Vidal returned 

 to Europe, and, renouncing his attachment to Adalasia, was at- 

 tracted by the charms of Louve de Genautier. In honour of this 

 fair lady he suffered himself to be called Loup ; and, by way of still 



• Millot, Hist. Lit., &c., torn, i., p. 147- 



•\ This poet was enamoured of the fair daughter of Geoffroi Rudelle ; but 

 having cause to doubt the fidelity of his mistress, he secluded himself for 

 the space of two years — 



" Miels de domna que fugit ai dos ans." 



He then returned to his mistress, but having still cause for dissatisfaction 

 he resolved to " vivre comme un reclus, comme tin ours.*' He then went to 

 Spain, Avhere he secluded himself, and died '^ e lai visquet, e lai mortV — IJay. 

 nouard, Choix des Poesies, tom. v., p. 433 ; Hist, Lift, de France, torn, xix. 

 p. 636. 



