Then rose and in the cooling water cleansed
Their hands, and seated at the board again
Enjoyed the bowl, or scented high with spice,
Or flavour'd with the fragrant summer fruit,
Or luscious with metheglin* mingled rich.

dans les Couvens et les maisons opulentes, pour annoncer le couvert et le dîner. Après le service des viandes, c'est-à-dire, après ce que nous appellons entrées, rôti et entremets, on sortait de table pour se laver les mains une seconde fois, comme chez les Romains de qui parâit être venu cet usage. Les domestiques desservaient pendant ce tems; ils enlevaient une des nappes et apportaient les confitures (qu'on nommait epices) ́et les vins composés, A ce moment, fait pour la gaieté, commençaient les devis plaisans et joyeux propos, car dans ce bon vieux tems on aimait beaucoup de rire. C'était alors que les Ménétriers venoient réciter leurs fabliaux, lorsqu'on admettait leur présence.

Le Grand.

* Il y avait plusieurs sortes de ces vins préparés qu'on servait après les viandes. 1. les Vins cuits, qui sont encore en usage dans quelques provinces, et qui ont conservé le même nom. 2. ceux auxquels on ajoutait le suc de quelque fruit, tels que le Moré, fait avec du jus de mûre. 3. ceux qu'on assaisonnait avec du miel, comme le Nectar, le Medon &c. 4.

Meantime the Trouveur struck the harp; he sung
Of Lancelot du Lake, the truest Knight

That ever loved fair Lady; and the youth
Of † Cornwall underneath whose maiden sword
The strength of Ireland fell, and he who struck
The dolorous ‡ stroke, the blameless and the brave,
Who died beneath a brother's erring arm.

Ye have not perish'd, Chiefs of Carduel!

The songs of earlier

years embalm your fame,

And haply yet some Poet shall arise,

ceux où l'on faisait infuser des plantes médicinales ou aromatiques, et qui prenaient leur nom de ces plantes, Vins d'Absinthe de Myrthe, d'Aloès &c. Le Roman de Florimont les appelle Vins herbez. 5. enfin ceux dans lesquels, outre le miel, il entrait des épices. On appellait ces derniers du nom général de Pimens. C'étoient les plus estimés de tous. Nos Auteurs n'en parlent qu'avec délices. Il eût manqué quelque chose à une fête ou à un repas, si on n' y eût point servi du Piment: et l'on en donnait meme aux Moines dans les Couvens à certains jours de l'année.

+ Sir Tristram du Lyones.

Sir Balin le sauvage.

Le Grand.

Like that divinest § Tuscan, and enwreathe
The immortal garland for himself and you.

The full sound echoed o'er the arched roof,
And listening eager to the favourite lay,
The guests sat silent, when into the hall

The Messenger from that besieged town,
Stalk'd stately. "It is pleasant, King of France,
"To feast at ease and hear the harper's song;
"Far other music hear the men of Orleans!

"DEATH is among them; there the voice of Woe "Moans ceaseless."

"Rude unmannerly intruder !"

Exclaim'd the Monarch, "Cease to interrupt

"The hour of merriment; it is not thine

"To instruct me in my duty."

Of reproof

Heedless, the stranger to the minstrel cried,

Why harpest thou of good King Arthur's fame

§ Ariosto.

"Amid these walls? Virtue and Genius love

"That lofty lay. Hast thou no loose lewd tale "To pamper and provoke the appetite? "Such should procure thee worthy recompence! "Or rather sing thou of that mighty one, "Who tore the ewe lamb from the poor man's bosom, "That was to him even as a daughter! Charles, "This holy tale would I tell, prophet-like,

"And look at thee and cry, "thou art the man!"

He said, and with a quick and troubled step
Retired. Astonish'd at his daring phrase,

The guests sat heedless of the minstrel's song,
Pondering the words mysterious. Soon the harp
Beguil'd their senses of anxiety.

The court dispers'd: retiring from the hall, Charles and the delegated damsel sought

The inner palace. There awaited them

The Queen: with her JOAN loved to pass the hours,

By various converse cheer'd; for she had won
The Virgin's heart by her mild melancholy,
The calm and duteous patience that deplor'd

A husband's cold half-love. To her she told
With what strange words the messenger from Orleans
Had rous'd uneasy wonder in her mind;

For on her ear yet vibrated the voice,

"Ill-omen'd Maid I pity thee !" when lo! Again that man stalk'd to the door, and stood Scowling around.

Why dost thou haunt me thus,"

The Monarch cried, "Is there no place secure "From thy rude insolence? unmanner'd Man! "I know thee not !"

"Then learn to know me, Charles!"

Solemnly he replied; " read well my face,

"That thou mayest know it on that dreadful day, "When at the throne of God I shall demand

"His justice on thee!" Turning from the King, To Agnes as she enter'd, in a tone