A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century

by Barbara W. Tuchman

Battle was his exaltation. “If I had one foot already in Paradise,” exclaimed Garin li Loherains, the hero of a chanson de geste, “I would withdraw it to go and fight!” The troubadour Bertrand de Born, himself a noble, was more explicit. My heart is filled with gladness when I see Strong castles besieged, stockades broken and overwhelmed, Many vassals struck down, Horses of the dead and wounded roving at random. And when battle is joined, let all men of good lineage Think of naught but the breaking of heads and arms, For it is better to die than be vanquished and live.… I tell you I have no such joy as when I hear the shout “On! On!” from both sides and the neighing of riderless steeds, And groans of “Help me! Help me!” And when I see both great and small Fall in the ditches and on the grass And see the dead transfixed by spear shafts! Lords, mortgage your domains, castles, cities, But never give up war! Dante pictured Bertrand in Hell, carrying his severed head before him as a lantern.