My thanks to Denis Hüe, who has trouvéd the untrouvéable: a medieval reference
to the curious "cabanes" of the agneautique denizens of the
Beauce (http://centrechartraine.freeservers.com/postcards/shepherd.jpg );
and has provided us with a very significant bibliographie bergeriacaise, in
French, fortunately (no apology necessary :-) ).
It might not be a coincidence that both Philippe de Vitry and Villon were both
familiar with a topography condusive to such vehicles --the former being from
Meaux/so. Champagne(?), with it's gently rolling hills; and
the latter noted (around Chartres at least) for his familiarity with the
"épaule" (fragment of the 12th c. tower) of Gallardon and his etymology
of the very term "Beauce" (Gargantua, strolling through the countryside
thereabouts, says, according to my failing memory, "alors, c'est beau ici," or
words to that effect (the guy spoke French, so nobody can really tell what he
meant).
i can't see such "portable homesteads" ("bordes portables") being practical in
seriously mountainous regions.
interesting also to note that the hapless Shepard(?) Gontier enjoyed
the company of the Lady Heleine while consuming his *** repast.
whatever happened to the hermetic ideal? flakie bergers.
Best to all from here,
Christopher
Denis Hüe wrote:
>In a precedent mail, Christopher Crockett says "as far as i know there
are no medieval references to the sort of "cabane de berger" seen here,
and it might be a later innovation"
>You can find it in Philippe de Vitry's _Dit de Franc Gontier_, the same
which originated Villon's _Contredits_, a "borde portable"
Soubz feuille verd, sur herbe delectable,
Sur ruy bruyant et sur clere fontaine,
Trouvay fichee une borde portable ;
La surmangeoient Gontier et dame Heleine
Fromage frais, beure, fromagee,
Cresme, maton, prune, noix, pomme, poire,
Cibor, oignon, escalogne froyee
Sur crouste grise, au gros sel, pour mieulx boire.
I translate roughly :
Under green leaves, on delicious green
Near singing brook and clear fountain,
I Found a bearable house (house trailer ?)
There, Gontier and lady Heleine were eating more and more
Fromage blanc, butter and fromagee (flour, eggs and milk/butter cooked
in an oven)
cream, cakes, plums, nuts, apples, pears,
chives, onions, crushed shallot,
on grey bread whith coarse salt, to drink better...
Combien est heureuse la vie de celuy qui faitt sa demeure aux champs,
par Philippe de Vitrac, Évesque de Meaux, vulgairement appellé «Les
Dictz de Franc Gonthier», du nom du Païsan qui en est le sujet, in
Recueil Montaiglon, t. X, p. 198, v. 1-8.
Denis Hüe
Université de Rennes 2
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Visitez le site des médiévistes de Rennes 2 !
http://www.uhb.fr/alc/medieval
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