THE TROUVÈRES. Je vous supply, pardonnez moy, Celui qui la chanson a faicte A l'umbre d'ung coppeau de Moy. CHANSONS NORMANDS. S TROUVÈRES. LE CHATELAIN DE COUCY. THE pedigree of the noble family of Coucy is ably and satisfactorily elucidated by Laborde, in whose "Essay on Music" is to be found also the affecting narrative of the poet's unfortunate passion for la Dame de Fayel. The first Raoul Sire de Coucy died at the siege of Acre in 1191: but Laborde thinks that our poet was his nephew Raoul, who died, however, nearly about the same time. The Raoul to whom Thibaud king of Navarre addresses one of his pieces, M. Laborde conceives to be Raoul II. the grandson of Raoul I. Raoul II. died about 1250. The pride of this family may be judged by the characteristic motto of one of the Sires :— "Je ne suis Roi, ni Ducs, Prince ni Comte aussi, Et la mauviz qui commence a tentir, Me font resouvenir De la ou tuit mi bon desir Sont, et seront, jusqu'au morir. THE first approach of the sweet spring The memory of the love that holds In fond heart such power, my The thrush again his song essaying,— Of her on whom my heart's desire With every season fresh and new Her eyes, her face, all bright with joy,- Her faithful words,-her winning ways, That sweet look, kindling up the blaze Of love, so gently still, To wound, but not to kill,— So that when most I weep and sigh, So much the higher springs my joy. HUGUES D'ATHIES. HUGUES D'ATHIES was grand panetier under Philip Augustus, and subsequently under Louis VIII. his successor. Folz est qui a escient On n'i peut raison trouver; FOOL! who from choice can spend his hours No certain rule her course presents; The valiant knight her love may boast, Braving untoward gales at sea, |