POPULAR SONGS. 405 



Quatr'guntilhomm's y avoit, 

 Dont 1'un portoit son casque 

 Doub, dan, don, &o. 

 L'autre sea pistolets. 



L'autre sea pistolets, 

 l-'.t 1'autre son epee, 

 Doub, dan, don, &c. 

 Qui tant d'Hugu'nots a tues 



La ceremonie faite, 

 Doub, dan, don, etc. 

 (,'hacun s'allit coucher. 



Chacnn e'allit couchor, 

 Lea uns avec leurs femme , 

 Doub, dan, don, &c. 



Et lea autres tons seuls." 



Several critics, Genin amongst others, have attributed a still more ancient 

 origin to the " Chanson de Malbrough," or at least to part of this song, in 

 which may be recognised the naive and sentimental cast of the popular songs 

 of the thirteenth century. There are many instances which might be cited of 

 songs coming down from century to century, gradually losing all the souvenirs 

 which connected them with the distant period during which they gushed 

 forth from the heart of the people. The children in the villages of Poitou 

 still sing as an anthem the following verse, half Latin, half French, which 

 doubtless refers to the captivity of King John, who was taken prisoner at the 

 battle of Poitiers (September 17th, 1356) : 



" Chrittiana Francia 

 De laquelle le chef eat prig, 

 Splendent rtgni gloria 

 Aux armes de k fleur de lya." 



By the side of the historical songs, and in the same category with them, 

 must be cited the romantic songs. As has been remarked by one of those who 

 have studied the most deeply this poetry of the people, " the narrative in them 

 is abrupt and digressive, leaving secondary details in the shade, and treating 

 only of the salient points. The same forms of language are repeated several 

 times, and the dialogues are reproduced word for word as in Homer. The 



