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the knight who claims to be the most handsome in the land. 
She is a grand lady, haughty and respected. But the Swineherd 
undergoes more severe trials than Germine, in her long 
abstinence. Her husband’s mother persecutes her and degrades 
her to the rank of a serf keeping herds in the fields, where she 
weeps for sorrow. 
“The Swineherd’ ’ originated in southern France, according 
to Doncieux; more precisely, in Provence, near Beauvoir-de 
Marc (Isere). From there it spread to all of France, to Cata- 
logna (Spain), where it is familiar, and to Pimont (Italy). It 
crossed the ocean into New France, in the seventeenth century, 
but never developed on this side. 
The Crusader of the song seems to be Guilhem de Beauvoir, 
an historical figure of the thirteenth century, one of the most 
powerful barons of Dauphine. Beauvoir’s long adventures 
abroad ended after his return home, and he died leaving his 
will dated 1277. 
Which of the two songs, “The Swineherd’’ or Germine is the 
older, no one can tell. Perhaps it is “The Swineherd ”. The 
home of this song is nearer its birthplace, and the story follows 
closely the historical facts that seem to have inspired the com- 
position. The verses are better preserved than those of Germine, 
which are in an advanced state of decay, and there are traces of 
a southern origin in Germine. In some of the versions, the 
Crusader is named Beauvoir, or Beaucere — from Beauvoir, in 
“The Swineherd And a town mentioned is Lyon (“Mes chiens 
de Lyon’’ and “Le pont de Lyon”), 
“The Swineherd” is quite different from Germine in treat- 
ment. It is episodic, and relates several episodes of a long 
adventure. Germine holds only one, which it vitalizes and 
transfigures. One is legend or history, the other is art, and a 
masterpiece. 
These songs after their birth, one in the south and the other 
in the northwest, travelled the whole country, even crossed the 
frontiers and the seas, and halted only on our very doorstep. 
The seventeen Canadian versions of Germine were recorded on 
the St. Lawrence from Montreal down to Chaleur bay; they 
belong mostly to the districts where the settlers are predomin- 
antly Norman. One version was found among the Acadians of 
