HOW HE MADE MUSIC FOR MADAME SAINT MARY'S SAKE, AND HAD THEREFROM EXCEEDING SWEET REWARD
OUR dear Lady, God's Mother, Queen of Angels, hath done in her church of Roc Amadour many miracles both fair and kindly, and they are written in the French tongue in a great book, that all may know them. And one exceeding courteous marvel did she do for a certain minstrel her servant, the which I will tell here, that every heart may understand Our Lady's courtesy.
In that country there was a troubadour, a man of much renown, for he had great skill in the tenzon and the sirvente: his name was Pierre de Syglar. He was a very courteous minstrel, loving to laud all ladies with voice and with viol; and especially would he sing the praise of Saint Mary Queen of Ladies whenever he might, for he held her in great love and reverence. To Roc Amadour Pierre came on a certain day, that was a time of pilgrimage; for the which reason many folk of his neighbourhood were with him. And within the church was also great company of other pilgrims, that
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had come out of distant countries for the sake of their salvation, and there did make great feast.
And having entered into the chapel of the Blessed Virgin, wherein is her shrine all set about with candles and with votive gifts, there did Pierre make his orisons, imploring very meekly her protection and her aid. Then, when he had so done, he took his viol, the which he always carried with him because he loved it much, and:
"Now, dear Lady," he said, "sith I have paid my reverence and made my most humble request, deign, I entreat you, to hear the sweet music wherewith I will entertain you if I can. Verily it is the joy of all ladies; therefore may hap, Madame, it shall be pleasing to you. For meseemeth that here many do make prayers to you, and ask your comfort and your help, but few laud you with lai and rondel, or seek to pleasure you with songs of chivalry and love, as every loyal troubadour should laud and serve the Mother of his King. And moreover, if this I may not do for you, then nought can I compass for your service, the which were a sorry thing; for in the making of melody is all my skill."
Then did Pierre draw the bow very softly across the strings of his viol, so that there came from it such heavenly melody that it drew all the folk wherewith the church was filled. And soon he had about him great company of clerks and pilgrims that would hear him; for indeed he made so fair a music that it seemed as if his
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viol would speak. And when he had sweetly greeted and long praised Saint Mary with all his heart, then did he play to her those melodies whereto the maidens love to dance, and sang also many piteous histories of heroes slain in battle and gentle ladies crossed in love. And when he was come to an end he fell down before her image and cried with a loud voice, saying:
"Dear Mother of God, most courteous Lady, if this my music has made you glad, now I do ask of you a gueridon; for it is the custom of all ladies so to reward their troubadours. Therefore I do most humbly demand that you will give me one of those candles of which you have so many round your shrine; verily, you cannot need them all, for never have I seen so great array. Peerless Lady, will you not spare me one, that therewith I may light me at my supper, and think upon your love?"
Now the heart of Our Lady Saint Mary, that is the fount of courtesy and the source of kindliness, was inclined towards this minstrel that had played his best to please her ; therefore, because she can do all things that she will, she granted his request, and at the hand of her angel she caused a tall and fair candle that burned before her shrine to descend from its place, and come, and rest on the viol wherewith he had extolled her. And all the people that were in the chapel saw it. But one of the monks of the abbey, a foolish and an ignorant man that had to name Gerard, the which was
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custodian of that place, stood before the shrine to guard the treasure thereof, for it was very rich. And he, because he was dull of wit and might not understand the matter, was exceeding wrath: for he dreamed not that the glorious Virgin would do marvels for a minstrel's sake, and held the miracle to be an evil sorcery. Therefore he fell upon Pierre the troubadour, and took from off his viol the candle which the Queen of Heaven had made to descend on it, and put it back on the shrine whence it had come, threatening him harshly, and saying:
"Let us cast out from the church the enchanter that has done this sacrilege, for very surely the Enemy is with him.”
But the jongleur heeded not the foolish monk that thus maligned him, for well he knew that Our Lady was his friend; and because of the gueridon she had given him, so great joy was in his heart that he was moved to tears, giving thanks in silence to God's Mother for her exceeding courtesy. Then presently he took his viol anew, for he was in no wise abashed by the vain words that Gerard had spoken: and lifting up his heart toward the Queen of Angels, he made in her praise a lai so sweet and pleasant that fairer melody that Blessed Lady had never heard in her church neither in kyriel, sequence, nor respond. And so great joy did she have of it, that she was moved to do her minstrel the more honour therefore: and she made the fair candle that he had asked of her to descend anew from her altar, and it came,
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and rested once more on his viol. And full five hundred saw this miracle.
Then Gerard the sacristan, seeing this thing, and being but a fool that had his head full of relics and knew nought of the mercies of Almighty God, was altogether filled with anger; for he loved not those matters that he might not understand. And he cried:
"Here is magic and vile sorcery, thus to desecrate Our Lady's shrine! The idle and the ignorant marvel at it, believing that a miracle has chanced; but well do I know that such enchantments are but the work of Simon Magus and his crew. Yea! his evil power it is, and no other thing, that hath caused this impious troubadour to call a candle from our holy shrine."
And he leaped upon Pierre the jongleur, being full of vexation because the people, that were amazed, doubted his words and helped him not; and he took from off the viol Saint Mary's gift, and mounted to the shrine there to fix it on that place wherefrom she made it to descend. Then said he: 'Behold! your miracle is put to nought; and now you shall be cast out of the church for blasphemer and magician." But the minstrel, that was a wise and prudent man, was nowise moved by Gerard's wrath, but did most patiently endure it: for so glad he was to have Our Lady's grace, that nought that man might say could hurt him. Therefore, heeding not the foolish sacristan, that
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would have turned him away from her chapel, he began anew his music and singing; for well did he know that the glorious Virgin would bring him well out of the matter if he might please her by his song. And he sang a right joyous carol of Christ's Birth, and of the love He had toward His dam; and playing upon his viol, he sighed and wept also, being uplifted with exceeding fervour of spirit, for whilst his mouth sang the words of love, so did his heart entreat her. And he sweetly prayed God's Mother of her courtesy to hear him, and show him earnest of her grace ; and that all might know him guiltless of blasphemy, he begged that she would again give her candle into his hands, the which the sacristan, that knew not Saint Mary's bounty, had twice taken away.
And now there was in the chapel great press of people that were much amazed by the wonder they had seen; and all marvelled greatly whether the candle, the which had twice descended at his prayer, would come again to Pierre the troubadour. And so sweetly did that minstrel play before Our Lady's image, that he made many souls to weep from pity; and so high did his heart sing, that the sound of it went even up to God. And now, as we are told, while he did serenade the Queen of Angels with all the skill he had, the candle did descend a third time from its place before the altar, and rested on his viol. Yea! three times did Saint Mary make this gift to her jongleur, that
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so courteously entreated her and made music for her delight; and when this they saw, the people cried, saying: " Ring! ring the bells! for great marvels are here; never did the Blessed Virgin fairer miracle, nor ever will at this her shrine."
Then was great feasting in the church, of priests and pilgrims and all pious folk, with much anthems and orisons and the carrying of lights. And all the bells were rung, that the people of the country side might know it; never did God hear them louder ring. And Pierre the minstrel came once more to the chapel of Our Lady, and there did offer upon her altar the candle wherewith she had paid his songs; most heartily thanking God and His glorious Mother for this exceeding grace. Hard must have been the heart that was not moved for joy of it; to see Our Lady's courtesy, and this courtesy that her troubadour did render her again.
Nor did he leave his devotion, nor ever forget the Queen of Heaven; for all his life long, each year he let bring to Roc Amadour a candle, that was of virgin wax and a full pound in weight. And he offered it before her shrine, and when he had lit it, he took his viol and made music, singing a sirvente in her praise. And he lived always Saint Mary's very loving servant, so that whensoever he entered any church, never would he leave it till he had sought out her image and there had sung her a lai ; for he knew that she had joy of his songs.
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And when that it pleased God to end his life, be ye sure that the sweet Virgin forgat not her jongleur, but did bring him to Heavenly Syon; and his soul appeared at the Throne of God by the virtue of her intercession, that there it might evermore make music before her face.
Thus may those do that make music in Our Lady's honour, entreating her right courteously and serving her with their art. For if they laud her as her minstrel did, surely shall they be given another viol and a sweeter voice, to the end that they may join the company of minstrels that is in Heaven: even those spirits of the just made perfect, the which do offer day and night to God and to His glorious Mother the celestial music of their burning love.
