OUR INSULAR DIALECT. 



187 



uses it ; the various dialectic branches of the Langue d'Oc 

 prevailing in the south, and those of the Langue d'Oil, more 

 or less modified by Parisian French, prevailing in the north. 



You will see by this that both Norman and Parisian 

 French have been of very slow growth, and were practically 

 900 years in formation ; French has undergone many modi- 

 fications and embellishments, which render it what it is now. 



The Langue d'Oil is not so rich and melodious as the 

 Langue d'Oc, but it is more crisp, fresh and vigorous, and 

 in it the Trouveres wrote their Romances, which were sung 

 by the Troubadours who accompanied them. 



In the 9th century the conquerors of Neustria ceased to 

 use their original Scandinavian tongue, and adopted with 

 many modifications a form of French, henceforth called 

 Norman, and this Duke William and his followers carried 

 into England, where it was so modified as to become a true 

 Anglo-Norman branch of this stock, and this was commonly 

 used by the aristocracy till the reign of Henry III., 1258, 

 when it was discontinued, excepting for law purposes, till 

 1600. Though abandoned by the aristocracy, it must still 

 have been in occasional use, for Edward III. abolished it by 

 Act of Parliament in 1362 as an unknown tongue. French 

 is still used in England for giving royal assent to Parlia- 

 mentary documents. 



EXAMPLES. 



*LES DUCS DE NORMANDIE. 



Uit anz aveit Robert vesku 

 Puiz ki'il out le fief tenus 

 Grand deuil out William ses filz 

 Qui encoire est assez petiz 

 Mult out haignes mais poi d'amis 

 Le trouva mult esches 

 Cels que sis peres teneit chiers 

 Trouva mult arguilliers a fiers 

 Li Baruns s'entre guerrieirent 

 Li fort li faibles damagierent 

 N'en voldrent nieiit pur li lessier 

 Ne il ne pout tuz justiciers. 



From Wace, Roman de Rou. 



ROMAN DE ROU. 

 Por ramembrer des ancessours 

 Li fez, li diz, e les moeurs 

 Liet dans li livres e li gestes 



THE DUKES OF NORMANDY. 



Eight years had Duke Robert lived 



Since he had held the fief. 



Much sorrow had William his son, 



Who was still very young. 



Many were the feuds against him 



and few were his friends ; 

 Most (of the men) were ill disposed 



towards him ; 

 Even those whom his father held dear 

 He found haughty and ill inclined. 

 The Barons made war with each 



other ; 

 The strong oppressed the weak ; 

 They would have none of his guidance 

 And he could not compel them to do 



justice. 



Bouquet Ed. Vol. II., 8399-8410. 



ROMANCE OF ROU. 

 To commemorate — of our ancestors 

 The acts, sayings and the manners, 

 We should, from the books of history 

 and of jests, 



