Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/470

 434 Readings in European History 175. A few lines of Provencal. Translation. C. Provencal leu m'en irai ; e on? Non sai, Mais lai on tota li gens vai, En 1'autre segle, per saber Si lai aves tant de poder. I am going hence; and whither? I know not, But there where all the people go, Into the other world to learn If you [namely, love] have as much power there. It was precisely in the land of the troubadours, and keep- ing time by the music of their songs, that a gay, brilliant, and polished society was first developed in the modern world. Partly by instinct, partly by feeling, and partly by taking thought, a code of ideals and a system of conduct were elaborated, to break and put in training the rude ways and ungoverned passions of the feudal world. The starting- point was love for woman, as we have already discovered. As the result of love came that joi of which we already know, a gladness and lightness of heart that illuminated and vivified the inner world like another sun, and prompted to all noble, beautiful, and self-denying acts. Joi led especially to the boundless generosity that frequently almost ruined wealthy nobles, and even made robbers of them sometimes. Along with such qualities went naturally a passionate fond- ness for social pleasure, witty conversation, and gallantry. All these together were summed up in the word/07;<?, that youngness or young-heartedness which has already been mentioned more than once ; while feebleness of spirit and meanness of life were signified by the contrary word, old- ness. Over all this were thrown the bonds of self-control and moderation, expressed by another word always on the lips mesura, measure, which endeavored to bring even the virtues into aesthetic form. The precious fruit of so much striving and study was known as cortesia, courtliness, the perfect bearing and conduct of a finished gentleman according to the code of chivalry and