constructed, sometimes very complicated. The lyric poetry of
Italy was more learned and more finished in style than that of
the other countries.

In Northern France the poet was called a trouvere, in Provence a
troubadour, in Germany a minnesinger. The traveling minstrel was
in France a jongleur (Provencal jogleur). The distinction between
trouvere or troubadour and jongleur is not always to be sharply
drawn. Sometimes in France and Provence the same poet composed
his verses and sang them--was both trouvere or troubadour and
jongleur; while in Germany the minnesingers were generally both
poets and minstrels.

IV. TALES AND FABLES.

No distinct line can be drawn between Tales and Fables; between
Romances and Tales; nor between Fables and Allegories. These
varieties of writings merge into one another.

The number of tales in circulation in Mediaeval Europe was
exceedingly large. These tales came from many different sources:
from Oriental lands, introduced by the Moors, or brought back by
the crusaders; from ancient classical literature; from traditions
of the church and the lives of the saints; from the old
mythologies; from common life and experience. Among many
mediaeval collections of them, the most famous are the
"Decameron" of Boccaccio, and the "Geste Romanorum", a collection
made and used by the priests in instructing their people.

V. DIDACTIC AND ALLEGORICAL LITERATURE.