Britain ... - Blue-Lite

NOTES TO THE VARANGIAN.
433
no more than trifling emolument and empty fame : I say tri-
fling emolument, because notwithstanding the array of figures
which might be marshalled against the declaration, I maintain
that there is no labourer whatsoever so inadequately rewarded
as the poet. He is not allowed for his productions the benefit
of the ordinary standard of value. The price of all other commodities
is enhanced by rarity j the diamond always fetches a
price proportionate to the scarcity of the gem j the singer,
with the rare voice of a Sontag or a Tamburini, is always
enormously rewarded. But the poet, although to be produced
only by three throes of time, although his inestimable works
must necessarily be few, the poet is not permitted to enjoy
the advantage of a remuneration in the direct ratio of the scarcity
of the article in which he deals j and this, notwithstanding
he give you, not an idle bauble which may be lost or stolen,
or a fleeting effort of the voice, which shall put forth sounds of
sweet music to perish in the silence of death but a woven j spell
of words, which shall be ever potent, and which shall remain
a possession of delight to your children's children unto the end
of time." Anonymous.
As a proof of the similarity of one age with another, in the
twelfth century we find Ignaure and Geraud de Borneill dis-
"
I would not have general
puting respecting their poetry.
and
"
indistinct approbation," said I Ignaur6 ; wish that fools
may slight my compositions, and I prefer reputation from a
few dozen minds, to general and extensive fame." Hist. Troub.
42 For this I'll
( ) have, ere long, his eyes torn out. . . p. 370.
Henry I., A.D. 1124, condemned the minstrel or Troubadour,
Luke de Barra, to have his eyes pulled out, for having written
defamatory ballads against him. The cruel sentence was accordingly
executed on the unfortunate satirist, who died of the
wounds he received in struggling with the executioner."
Hist. Brit.
( 43 )
I'd have thee placed upon some steeple-top
Where bells were wanting. . . p. 379.
" The tolling of a bell was supposed to have had miraculous
effects, to keep the spirits of darkness from assaulting believers
; to dispel thunder ; and prevent the Devil from molesting
either the church or congregation : and hence they were
always rung in time of storm, or other attack, to paralyse the
fiend, whether the elements or mortal man, by the hallowed
intonation." The Round Towers.