beaux nieps, c’est trop tard. Vous voulés clore l’estable quand le cheval est per du.’”[1]
Poetry, too, used the trick of short alternating sentences a good deal.
“Mort, je me plaing—De qui?—De toy.
—Que t’ay je fait?—Ma dame as pris.
—C’est vérité.—Dy moy pour quoy.
—Il me plaisoit.—Tu as mespris.”[2]
Here the means have become the object. The virtuosity of these jerky dialogues was carried to an extreme in the ballad of Jean Meschinot, in which France accuses Louis XI. In each of the thirty lines, questions and answers alternate, sometimes more than once. Still, this bizarre form does not destroy the effect of the political satire. This is the first stanza:
“Sire…—Que veux?—Entendez…—Quoy?—Mon cas.
—Or dy.—Je suys…—Qui?—La destruicte France!
—Par qui?—Par vous.—Comment?—En tous estats.
—Tu mens.—Non fais.—Qui le dit?—Ma souffrance.
—Que souffres tu?—Meschief.—Quel?—A oultrance.
—Je n’en croy rien.—Bien y pert.—N’en dy plus!
—Las! si feray.—Tu perds temps.—Quelz abus!
—Qu’ay-je mal fait?—Contre paix.—Et comment?
—Guerroyant…—Qui?—Vos amys et congnus.
—Parle plus beau.—Je ne puis, bonnement.”[3]
With Froissart the sober and accurate description of outward circumstances sometimes acquires tragic force, just because it leaves out all psychological speculation, as for instance in the episode of the death of the young Gaston
- ↑ So he asked him for counsel in matters of love and lineage. The archbishop answered, “Counsel, sure, good nephew, it is too late for that. You want to shut the stable when the horse is lost.”
- ↑ Death I complain. Of whom? Of you. What have I done to you? You have taken my lady. That is so. Tell me why? It pleased me. You mistook.
- ↑ Sire… What do you want? Listen… To what? To my case. Speak out. I am… Who? Devastated France! By whom? By you. How? In all estates. You lie. I do not. Who says so? My sufferings. What do you suffer? Misery. Which? The extremity of misery. I do not believe a word of it. Evidently. Do not say any more about it! Alas! I must. It is no use. What a shame! What have I done ill? You have sinned against peace. And how? By warring. With whom? With your friends and kinsmen. Speak more pleasingly. I cannot, in truth.
