The Courts of Love.
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THE COURTS OF LOVE. IN this prosaic nineteenth century the law few questions brought before this tribunr. deals with the affairs of the heart in the with the decisions of the court; and fron: same cold and unsentimental manner with him we quote as follows : — which it treats other subjects of litigation. "Once this problem was propounded : Do the In the modern breach of promise actions love is paid for with bank-notes, and money greatest affection and liveliest attachment exist is the panacea for broken hearts and wounded between lovers or married persons? The Lady affections. Dismal, dingy, dirty court-rooms Ermengarde thus determined the matter : The at are the scenes of these sad dramas, and judges tachment of the married and the tender affection of lovers are altogether different sentiments. No and juries' are composed of cold, unsympa just comparison can be established between ob thetic men. How different all this from the jects which have neither resemblance nor relation age of chivalry and romance, when the high to one another. est court was the Court of Love; when there "This question is theoretical; other and more were no juries of city shopkeepers, but con practical ones are cited. A knight claimed redress claves of earnest and impartial dames and under the following circumstances : His mistress maidens; when, instead of bullying advo had strictly enjoined him never to contend pub cates, there were gentle and quick-witted licly. But one day he was thrown into the com lady pleaders; when stately matrons were pany of some lords and ladies who said disparaging things about the object of his love. At first he the most honored judges. Everything about those mediaeval courts restrained his wrath, but at last was overpowered was in keeping, — bright, sparkling, tender. by the desire of maintaining the honor and de fending the name of the absent one. She, instead The session commenced in the gay spring of thanking him, withdrew her favor, because he time; the branches of an elm-tree, just cov had broken the pledge exacted. The Countess ered with young leaves, formed a fitting roof; of Champagne, however, when the dispute was the beautiful flowers and merry birds within brought before her, judged that the lady had been sight and hearing harmonized with the pro unlawfully severe, and that a knight could never ceedings; the ladies who held office in the incur blame by repelling charges brought against court were dressed in Nature's color, green. his mistress. The president, sometimes a knight, but "Another knight had a more serious grievance. oftener a lady, had to be well versed in the He appeared before the same Countess of Cham forms of chivalry, and experienced in the pagne when she was sitting in a full court of sixty precepts and practices of love. The names ladies, and said that he had been tenderly attached of four illustrious judges are handed down, to a lady whom distance and his other duties pre — Queen Eleanor, wife first of the French vented him from meeting as often as he liked. Louis VII., and afterward of the English They had, however, established a means of com Henry II.; Viscountess Ermengarde, of munication through his secretary, and for a time Narbonne; the Countess of Champagne; all went happily. But at length the faithless secre and the Countess of Flanders. Most noted tary showed his perfidy. He made offer of devo tion to his master's mistress, and succeeded in among the males were Richard the Liondrawing off her affections, thus violating the most hearted and Alfonso of Aragon. sacred laws of love and honor. The Court, after The cases brought under the jurisdiction mature deliberation, uttered this decision : That of this court were of sufficient diversity. the dishonorable secretary had found his mate in From Andre" the Chaplain, Martial d'Au- the lady who could encourage his advances, and vergne, and other authorities of the age, a that the knight might be glad to leave them to writer in " Household Words " has culled a what enjoyment their base alliance could afford;
