336 The Minstrel of Bruges. [VOL. 4 J. Warton also invokes melancholy From which there is no doubt but Ro in his ode to Fancy Goddess of the tearful eye, Who lov'st with folded arms to sigh. Is there who ne'er those mystic transports felt, He needs not woo the muse, he is her scorn. Beattie's Minstrel. And again in the same poem To the pure soul by fancy's fire refined, Ah! what is mirth but turbulence unholy, When with the charm compared of heavenly Melancholy! With eyes up-raised, as one inspired, Pale Melancholy sat retired, And from her wild sequestered seat, Ibid. In notes, by distance made more sweet, Oh lead me, queen sublime, to solemn glooms, gers borrowed the following well-known lines: Go, you may call it madness-folly, You shall not chase my gloom away, The following sonnet is by the author of the foregoing observations, who has "neither the scholar's melancholy, which is emulation; nor the musician's, which is fantastical; nor the courtier's, which is proud; nor the soldier's, which is ambitious; nor the lawyer's, which is politic; nor the lady's, which is nice; nor the lover's, which is all these; but a melancholy of his own, compounded of many simples, extracted from many objects; and indeed the sundry con Warton's Pleasures of Melancholy. templation of his travels, on which his often rumination wraps him in a most humorous sadness."* Goddess of downeast eye, upon whose brow The visionary tribes of busy thought, That crowd, in nameless shapes, the mental eye: TO MELANCHOLY. Sweet nymph of tears! Goddess of downcast eye! Headly's Invocation to Melancholy. Far from the phrenzied crowd 'tis time to stray, Cease to blame my Melancholy, Tho' with sighs and folded arms I muse in silence on her charms; Censure not, I know 'tis folly, Sir J. Moore. Where wildly warbling from her secret cell, For thou canst all those pleasing thoughts bestow A THE MINSTREL OF BRUGES. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH, BY THE LATE MR. JOHNES, OF HAFOD. From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, September, 1818. PART I. of fifteen and sixteen years of age, who YOUTH of Cambray, setting out were amusing themselves with gathering from that town on a party of plea- nuts. sure, overtook a wretched looking set of travellers in a hollow way not far from Cambray, at the source of the Scheldt. This company consisted of an old man about seventy, a woman of fifty,a young girl of eighteen, and two ragged boys The old man had the black collar of his coat hung round with shells, and at his feet (for he was seated) lay his pilgrim's staff and a bagpipe. He was humming an air to the tune of the Duchess Golande; the old woman was VOL. 4.] The Minstrel of Bruges. 337 complaining of her misery; the young distinctly understood the conversation number of ducats."-" No, certainly," The woman spoke to her husband. "How can you thus sing in our wretched situation ?"-" It is to drive away sorrow," replied he." Your songs have not that virtue. You must allow that you have made choice of a pretty trade."-" It is a gay one, how ever."" To turn Minstrel, and run about the world like a vagabond.""I have always loved geography and travels."—"I do not love them for my not afraid of being troublesome, I would part; you only think of yourself; and request an account of your adventures, what a fine education are you giving which assuredly must be very interestyour children." "Neither you nor ing."-" I will cheerfully comply with myself have had a better; in truth, our your wishes, sir," said the Minstrel, children are grown up." "Yes, but "for I am always thankful when any they have not a farthing.""I never one shall have the goodness to set me received more from my parents." One talking. of the little nut-gatherers now interrupt- "I was born, as I before said, at ed the conversation, by calling out, Bruges, and in my younger days was "Mother, do not scold thus loudly, for one of the best archers of that town; here is a gentleman listening to you." but having received from Nature a The Cambresian, at these words, ad- strong taste for music, I laid the bow vanced and saluted the Minstrel, who aside, and swelled the bagpipe. Unrose up with dignity, seized his staff, fortunately, at that period, Bruges and preparing his bagpipe, said, "Sir, swarmed with Minstrels, and their harwhat air would you wish to hear-gay, mony soon overpowered mine. It was tender, or grand? say, for I can satisfy in vain that I presented myself at the your taste, however difficult it may be." palaces of the Duke of Brabant and The Cambresian presented him with a Earl of Hainault-they laughed at my skelein, and replied, "Play whatever harmony, and plainly told me that I air, Minstrel you may like-I am not played most wretchedly on the pipes. difficult to please, having never heard Finding, therefore, from my own expeother music than the plain chant of our rience, that a prophet has no honour in church of St. Geri." The Minstrel his own country, I left Belgium and struck up a Virelais of the Count of went into Picardy. Barcelona. "That is very melancho- "One day as I was playing an air at ly," said the Cambresian; can not the foot of the walls of the castle of you make me laugh instead of making Coucy, the generous Raoul appeared me cry?" The Minstrel played off a on the battlements; he called me to Biscayan air, which delighted the young him, and said, Young Minstrel, four man; and as he had found out his taste, leagues hence lies the town of St. ⚫he continued so many of these airs, that Quentin; and having passed through the Cambresian no way regretted his it, you will see the fortunate castle of skelein. Fayel a quarter of a league off, seated Perhaps there is no good thing that on an eminence, wherein resides my people so soon tire of as music. The love. Go thither, and play off, under Cambresian, struck with what he had the walls, such discordant sounds as heard of the dispute between the Min- you have done here; my love may strel and his wife, said to him, "If I perhaps come to listen to them as I have 2T ATHENEUM. Vol. 4. 336 The Minstrel of Bruges. [VOL. 4 Aston "I went thence to Paris; and I know not how it happened, but I was well received there, and I was thought to possess talents, although I had not made any new acquirements. ished at this unexpected success, I was forming the most brilliant expectations, when one of my friends said to me, You must not be too much intoxicated with your success, for in this place moderate abilities only are encouraged; perhaps your fame may on the morrow vanish away like a dream.' done; thou wilt present her with this badly, and recommended my quitting a letter; she may perhaps have the kind- profession for which I was not born. ness to reply to it, which thou wilt re- His advice, however, was vain; I return here with, and I will recompense mained constant to my pipes, and thee more magnificently than if thou resolved to make them celebrated hadst been the first musician in the throughout the universe. world.' Delighted with so lucky an adventure, I took the letter from Sir Raoul, passed through St. Quentin, and was soon at the walls of the castle of Fayel. My music resounded like that of the God Pan, when a young lady appeared at her turret with a face as brilliant, and with eyes as bright, as those of a red breast when seen in win. ter in the midst of bushes. I ceased playing on her appearance, to offer her the letter;-imprudent as I was-for-make hay while the sun shines, for I had been watched-old Fayel was at hand-he seized the letter, ordered his daughter to retire, and commanded his pages and bachelors to put me into confinement. Shortly after I was brought before this Argus, who was foaming with rage; I attempted to soften, or to put him to sleep with my pipe, as Mercury had done to the original Argus with his flute; but alas! the Lord de Fayel was no lover of music; he had me bound by his valets, and, regardles of my talents, had the barbarity to order me one hundred lashes. I was then thrown into a dark hole, with a bundle of straw and a most frugal supper, and on the morrow dismissed, with the advice to examine well all the avenues of the castle, for if I were again found within its purlieus, the world would forever be deprived of so great a musician, and Raoul of so faithful a servant. They positively assured me, that I should then be delivered over to the high-bailiff of the Vumandor's from whose clutches I might get out as well as I could, "I dared not return to Coucy, but crossed the Somme; and having heard that the Lord of Pequigny, a patron of the fine arts, had a large party of Minstrels at his court, I ventured thither to make him a judge of my talents. "What be said was true, for the public was, if possible, more suddenly disgusted with me than it had before been delighted. Ah! the comical town,' said I, on quitting it, when I found there was nothing more to be gotten; but fortunately I had collected some few crowns in my pocket. "I was told that the court of the Count of Poitiers was the usual resort of the Troubadours. From time immemorial Troubadours and Minstrels have been brethren; for whilst the first were chanting their tensons and lays to the sound of their instruments in the Cisalpine provinces, our ancestors were gayly swelling their pipes to the merry dance of the Courante in the marshes of Belgium. "In the hope, therefore, of meeting brethren of the pipe, I set out for Poitiers; and whether I really did possess a certain degree of merit, or whether the Poiterians, not much famed for talents, had not the injustice to exact from others what they were wanting in themselves, I soon acquired a tolerable degree of fame, became acquainted with several inhabitants of the country,, who danced to my music--Was my wife not listening, I could tell you, sir. some humorous adventures that happened to me in that fine country. "Vanity has ever been my failing, as it is said to be that of my brethren; I must therefore own, that the Lord of "I now began to compose music; Pequigny was far from considering me and should you ever visit Poitiers, you as a first-rate performer; on the con- may hear several of my innocent airs trary, he told me that I played very sung in the villages. I believe I should 339 have made my fortune in that province, discourteous for a Minstrel." Do you had not my ruling passion for travelling hear this wretched Flemish bagpiper, caused me to leave it. I traversed who dares to insult a woman whose Languedoc and Provence, where the sole misfortune has been caused by her inhabitants have so much wit, and such weakness in marrying him? Accursed eagerness to show it, they never wait to be the fatal moment when I first thought see whether others may not be equally of fixing on such a husband. If you gifted. Afraid of my success in these knew, sir, all the rambles I have been countries, I went into Gascony; but obliged to make with this wild fellow" that was ten times worse. Nothing, Softly, madam, if you please," however, could equal the petulance of replied the Minstrel," it belongs to me the people of Biscay, whither I next to relate them to the gentleman. When directed my steps; but I soon fled I had married madam," continued he, from a country where every one seemed "it was necessary that my pipes should bitten by a tarantula. I began to furnish us with subsistence for both. I breathe in Arragon. Here, said I to quitted Catalonia, where I gained but myself, is a wise people, who are never little, and conducted my lady to Toletoo much hurried to act or talk. I al- do, where I formed for her a handsome most thought myself in my native coun- establishment. Had she not been so try; but I did not add to my riches extravagant in that town, and bad she there. not unexpectedly made me father of with her. Events will prove what I have said: for instance, examine the features of these young nut-crackers, and tell me, on your honour, if you can discover any likeness between their faces and mine. That, however, makes no difference to me-here they are, and I love them just the same as if they were my own blood. "I heard great talk of Barcelona, that girl there, I should have become where every one, even a player on the the richest musician in both Castiles. bagpipes, could make his fortune. I But in short, every thing may be exwent thither, and began to blow away pected in a married state. Do not, on my pipes at the neat tippling-houses however, suppose, sir, that I was angry in the suburbs of this capital of Catalo- with my wife on this account—Thanks nia. One day, while I was playing to Heaven for having given me a sweet to a brilliant company of both sexes, temper-She might have done much and they amusing themselves in danc- worse before I should have found fault ing, the lady whom you see by my side, hearing me utter some words in bad French (see how wonderful is the love of one's country), felt for me an instantaneous passion, at least so she has assured ine since. For my part, sir, I no way shared her flame, for the lady was scarce handsomer then than now, when she can count half a century; but charmed and most grateful to see a woman in love with me, which had never happened to me before, I told her that I should be extremely sorry she should consume herself in vain for my bright eyes, and that since she would Here the wife interrupted this indisabsolutely have my hand, I could not creet babbler." Have you not suffihave the cruelty to refuse it to her. She ciently stunned the gentleman with assured me that her birth was above the your impertinences? and do you forcommon-that her family, originally get that we have not tasted a morsel all from Berny, still were held in great con- this day, while you hear the bell at the sideration at Châteauroux. But, sir, neighbouring monastery ring for evening the privilege of a traveller is well known prayers?" in regard to truth, and I soon discovered that the lady had taken advantage of my youth." At these words the old woman interrupted her husband, who was too When I per ceived them coming into life, although I had no hand in it, I swelled my bagpipe the merrier to gain wherewith to support them, and to make a stand against our creditors." "You are in the right," replied the docile Minstrel," let us go and breakfast with the money this generous gentleman has just given me,-sufficient for the day is the evil thereof,--we may 340 The Minstrel of Bruges. [VOL. 4 possibly find, before night, some other ed the Minstrel," but I forget where I charitable person not invincible to the charms of music." "You may keep your money in your pocket," replied the Cambresian, "the monastery, whose bell you now hear, is Vaucelles, where I have some friends; let us go thither together, and we shall be well received, for the pious children of St. Bernard, to whom the convent belongs, are famous for their hospitality." The Minstrel takes up his pilgrim's staff, slings his pipes on his back, and offers his arm to his wife, who accompanies him limping and scolding; the two boys run before them like two young greyhounds; the girl is silent and sighs; and thus the Cambresian conducts the limping caravan to the monastery. PART II. HAPPY were the pilgrims of good old times, who, when worn down with fatigue and hunger, on discovering the towers of a monastery, entered instantly its gates, and were received as part of the family. It is said that great changes have since happened, and that convents are not now so charitably inclined; this may, perhaps be caused by pilgrims not being so worthy and good as in old times. left off."-" You were," replied the Cambresian," in the act of swelling your pipes at Toledo." "Good," said the Minstrel; "you have heard nothing as yet. I was forced to quit Toledo, like as I had quitted many other towns, without finding myself the richer. I went thence to Madrid, where novelty gave me a good reception. All the capitals of the world afford great resources to every new comer in the folly of their inhabitants. At this time I was followed at Madrid, as so many others had been, who possessed no greater talents than myself. A slight quarrel arose, however, in my own family: my wife accused me of poisoning her, I, who never had courage to poison a rat,was it probable that I should attempt such a thing? I was nevertheless thought guilty, arrested, and thrown into prison, where I languished for six months. A thousand captious questions were put to me, to make me own myself guilty of so horrid a crime; but when they were perfectly convinced that I bad not sense enough to do such an act, I was restored to my liberty. "I instantly hurried to my lodgings, whence I had been taken to have the honour of being made the inhabitant of a royal mansion, eager to embrace my However this may be, our Minstrel wife and these three children: but, sir, met with a favourable reception; for my wife was not there; for she had the Lord Abbot having noticed the found means to interest in her behalf company from his narrow painted win an officer of the holy inquisition, and, dow, descended the stair-case, and met if she pleases, she can tell you more on at the bottom of it his nephew. He, that head than I can. All that I know the young Cambresian, had the honour is, that she was an inmate of his house so to be. He presented to his uncle when I left prison. I hastened thither, his vagabond companions, who were and found her with that officer, who conducted by the steward into the hall turned pale at sight of me; but without for the reception of guests, and instantly noticing his paleness, I embraced my served with a dinner, during which the wife with tenderness, and without anMinstrel never said a word; but by ger, which the more astonished the aldegrees, as his hunger was satisfied, guazil. She burst into a loud fit of and the wine raised his spirits, he began laughter; her friend followed her exto talk away as usual at all rates. ample; and I also joined in the laugh. These good people were very kind, to have me imprisoned for such a trifle. 66 "Sir Minstrel," said the Cambresian, "with the permission of madam, have the goodness to continue your history, This connexion was lucky; for which is very interesting, and will cer- the officer of the holy inquisition took tainly afford pleasure to the steward, charge of my wife; so that I bad one who has taken such good care of you." mouth the less to fill, and only these "I will cheerfully comply," answer- three brats to maintain. My pipes be |