CHAPTER IX.

ABSURDITIES WHICH FOLKS WITHOUT TASTE CALL POETRY.

The pieces written by Ursus were interludes--a kind of composition out

of fashion nowadays. One of these pieces, which has not come down to us,

was entitled "Ursus Rursus." It is probable that he played the principal

part himself. A pretended exit, followed by a reappearance, was

apparently its praiseworthy and sober subject. The titles of the

interludes of Ursus were sometimes Latin, as we have seen, and the

poetry frequently Spanish. The Spanish verses written by Ursus were

rhymed, as was nearly all the Castilian poetry of that period. This did

not puzzle the people. Spanish was then a familiar language; and the

English sailors spoke Castilian even as the Roman sailors spoke

Carthaginian (see Plautus). Moreover, at a theatrical representation, as

at mass, Latin, or any other language unknown to the audience, is by no

means a subject of care with them. They get out of the dilemma by

adapting to the sounds familiar words. Our old Gallic France was

particularly prone to this manner of being devout. At church, under

cover of an Immolatus, the faithful chanted, "I will make merry;" and

under a Sanctus, "Kiss me, sweet."

The Council of Trent was required to put an end to these familiarities.

Ursus had composed expressly for Gwynplaine an interlude, with which he

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The Man Who Laughs