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FAMOUS SONGS
to whom the Castell appertained and the host told him it belonged to the Duke of Austria. Then he enquired whether there were any pris-oners therein detained or no, for always he made such scant questionings wheresoever he came. And the hoste gave answer, there was only one prisoner, but he knew not what he was, and yet he had been detained there more than the space of a yeare. When Blondel heard this he wrought such meanes that he be-came acquainted with them of the castell, as minstrills doe easily win acquaintance any-where. But see the King he could not, neither understand that it was he. One day he sat directly before a window of the castell where King Richard was kept prisoner, and began to sing a song in French which King Richard and Blondel had some time composed together. When King Richard heard the song, he knew it was Blondel that sung it; and when Bondel paused at halfe of the song, the King began the other halfe and completed it. Thus Blondel won knowledge of the king his maister and returning home into England made the barons of the countrie acquainted where the king was."
This happened about the year 1193. I ap-pend a translation of the old Provencal lines 13 193 |
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