It was with such dangerous cogitations that he was occupied during the beginning of the glee maiden's lay; but objects which called his attention powerfully, as the songstress proceeded, affected the current of his thoughts, and riveted them on what was passing in the courtyard of the monastery.

The song was in the Provencal dialect, well understood as the language of poetry in all the courts of Europe, and particularly in Scotland.

It was more simply turned, however, than was the general cast of the sirventes, and rather resembled the lai of a Norman minstrel.

It may be translated thus: The Lay of Poor Louise.
Ah, poor Louise! The livelong day She roams from cot to castle gay; And still her voice and viol say, Ah, maids, beware the woodland way; Think on Louise.
Ah, poor Louise! The sun was high; It smirch'd her cheek, it dimm'd her eye.
The woodland walk was cool and nigh, Where birds with chiming streamlets vie To cheer Louise.
Ah, poor Louise! The savage bear Made ne'er that lovely grove his lair; The wolves molest not paths so fair.
But better far had such been there For poor Louise.
Ah, poor Louise! In woody wold She met a huntsman fair and bold; His baldrick was of silk and gold, And many a witching tale he told To poor Louise.
Ah, poor Louise! Small cause to pine Hadst thou for treasures of the mine; For peace of mind, that gift divine, And spotless innocence, were thine.
Ah, poor Louise! Ah, poor Louise! Thy treasure's reft.
I know not if by force or theft, Or part by violence, part by gift; But misery is all that's left To poor Louise, Let poor Louise some succour have! She will not long your bounty crave, Or tire the gay with warning stave; For Heaven has grace, and earth a grave For poor Louise.
The song was no sooner finished than, anxious lest the dispute should be revived betwixt his brother and the Earl of March, King Robert called to the latter, "What think you of the minstrelsy, my lord?
Methinks, as I heard it even at this distance, it was a wild and pleasing lay." "My judgment is not deep my lord; but the singer may dispense with my approbation, since she seems to have received that of his Grace of Rothsay, the best judge in Scotland." "How!" said the King in alarm; "is my son below ?" "He is sitting on horseback by the glee maiden," said March, with a malicious smile on his cheek, "apparently as much interested by her conversation as her music." "How is this, father prior ?" said the King.
But the prior drew back from the lattice.

"I have no will to see, my lord, things which it would pain me to repeat." "How is all this ?" said the King, who coloured deeply, and seemed about to rise from his chair; but changed his mind, as if unwilling, perhaps, to look upon some unbecoming prank of the wild young prince, which he might not have had heart to punish with necessary severity.