Taylor, Edgar [Editor]; Austin, Sarah [Editor]: Lays of the minnesingers or German troubadours of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries: Illustr. by specimens of the contemporary lyric poetry of Provence and other parts of Europe ; With histor. and crit. notes, and engravings from the ms. of the minnesingers in the king's library at Paris, and from other sources (London, 1825)

BARBE DE VERRUE. 273

BARBE DE VERRUE.

This lady (said to owe her name to a Comte de
Verrue who adopted her) is the only other of M. de
Surville's list whom we shall select. To her he attri-
butes the beautiful romance of " Aucassin et Nico-
lette," and some other pieces;—on what authority is
not told. The following song is at any rate pleasing
and natural.

Voyd son hyver venir li sages
Come al fins biau jor, belle nuict;
Scet que sont roses por toz ages
Si por toz ages sont ennuict.

The wise man sees his winter close
Like evening on a summer day ;

Each age, he knows, its roses bears,
Its mournful moments and its gay.

Thus would I dwell with pleasing thought
Upon my spring of youthful pride ;

Yet, like the festive dancer, glad
To rest in peace at eventide.