20 BULLETIN OF THE LABORATORIES 



the then French-speaking world as far apart as England and Southern 

 France, and offer many differences in language and expression. As 

 to the plan of the poem, however, they agree quite closely. This 

 may be briefly stated as follows : An address, 14 lines, to the 

 "dame de Champagne." The introduction proper, which alludes to 

 royal marriage customs and describes David as writing an Epithala- 

 mium in prophetic anticipation of the nuptials of the Lord and his 

 Church, and as bringing his song to the gate of Paradise, — 190 lines. 

 The paraphrase itself then begins, setting out with a passage from the 

 Latin original of the Psalm, which is then freely translated and incor- 

 porated in the dialogue already begun between the angel at the gate 

 and the inspired poet. This dialogue is carried on a little further ; 

 thereafter the plan appears to be merely to cite the original Latin in 

 brief passages and to develop therefrom long and fanciful explana- 

 tions. The princely bridegroom's sword, bow, arrows, throne, gar- 

 ments; the bride's beauty, her ornaments; the offspring of the pair; 

 are all treated at length in the characteristic allegorical manner. An 

 epilogue, addressed to the same person as at the beginning, concludes 

 the poem. 



[CHI COUMENCHE ERUCTAVIT.] 



I t 2 



Une chanson que David fit, A costume et a chose usee 



Que nostre sires ou cuer li mit, Tient chascuns rois an sa contree, 



Dira ma dame de Champaigne, Cant il doit son fil marier 



Celi cui damedex enseigne Ou il li vet fome doner : 



Et espire de toz ses biens ; 5 Grant piece avant se fait savoir 



Si qu'en li ne faut nule riens. Qu'il puisse a son besoingne avoir 



Ainceis ja cui dire I'ose Barons et prince et chasez, 



I[un] pou trop d'une sole chose, Homages fiez et ligehez. 



Tant hi mist cil qui la cria; Chascuns des sergens se porvoit 



Largesce que trop (en) hia, 10 De son servise an son endroit. 



Largesce et li aus despens Jugleors font sonez noueauz, 



Tvletent cusenson et espens • Chansons et notes et faubleauz. 



Mainte foiz ou gentil coraige. Que droiz est que chascuns s'atort 

 Dex gart que ni oains[aions] domaige. Contre la joie de lor cort. 



Lou jor de Noel au matin 15 Damedex, qui est rois et sire, 



Vos dit sainte eglise an latin Fit autresi de son empire : 



Lou saume que je vos comanz, Ains que li veras rois venist, 



Metre lou vos veul an romant, Vot Dex que li sieglez sentist 



Si porrons prendre quenque soit, L'odor de son avenemant. 



Se folic ne nos deceit. 20 Si fit naitre une sainte gent, 



