Jacques de Longuyon ~ Les Neuf Preux

by Bauceant
Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:36 pm

The Nine Worthies (les Neuf Preux) were nine historical, scriptural, mythological or semi-legendary figures who, in the Middle Ages, were considered to be the personifications of the chivalric ideals. As an allegory for the chivalric ieal, Les Neuf Preux were first postulated in the early fourteenth century by Jacques de Longuyon in his chanson de geste entitled Voeux du Paon (1312). Organized into three groups of three, these nine exemplars of the ideas of chivalry were divided among three distinct groups: Pagan, Jewish and Christian. The Worthies were:

Pagan
Hector
Alexander the Great
Julius Caesar

Jewish
Joshua
David Judas
Maccabeus

Christian
King Arthur
Charlemagne
Godfrey of Bouillon

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by Bauceant »
Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:23 pm

The following balade was written in 1386 by the prolific French writer Eustaches Deschamps. A contemporary of England's Geoffrey Chaucer, Dechamps laments the degeneration of the chivalric character in his "current age" and uses the Nine Worthies as examples of what those in positions of power should have aspired to in the way of moral character and behavior. ________________________________________

"CONTRE LES VICES DES TEMPS"
(Against the Vices of the Times)
Eustaches Deschamps (1386)

If it were possible for human nature
To revive those who have turned to ashes,
The worthy Hector, Arthur, and Charlemagne,
Julius Caesar, Godfrey, Alexander,
David, Judas, and Joshua who were willing
To take so much trouble in order to conquer
And to gain honor and renown,
And were they to be brought back to life,
I believe they all would wish to die again
Thus seeing the envy of the world,
And the suffering that everyone here inflicts,
Of coveting, robbing, expropriating, and acquiring,
Of deceiving his neighbor, man or woman,
Of abandoning honor and taking up vices,
Doing evil to the good, and rewarding the wicked,
Doing disservice to the noble and generous heart
But serving and honoring the wicked,
And foolishly waging war against one another;
All the nine worthies would wish to make an end
Thus seeing the envy of the world.
It would seem a wicked thing to them
To compare time present with time past,
When honor was in the world, sovereign
Knowledge, which made everyone understand
To love the good, and Largesse bestowed
Reward on everyone, in order to uphold valor
And loyalty, to maintain prowess: Justice and
Right held lordship. It goes otherwise; they would all wish to perish
Thus seeing the envy of the world.
Envoy Princes, there is no one, if he has common sense,
And knew the tyranny of the world,
Who would not wish to die directly,
Thus seeing the envy of the world.

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/middleages/topic_2/deschamps.htm (Download 7-3-08)