ABSTRACT
And it happened that he was in the court of King Richard of England and, while at that court, another joglar 1 provoked him, saying that he composed in richer rhymes than he (Amaut) 2 . Ar(naut) took offense at this and, with the King’s power as guarantor, they made a bet, each betting his saddle horse that the other couldn’t do as well as he could. The King locked each of them in a room. Sir Ar(naut), due to the indignation that he felt, was unable to link one word with another. The joglar composed his song quickly and with ease. They had been given only ten days, and in just five days they were to be judged by the King. The joglar asked Ar(naut) if he had composed his song and Ar(naut) said yes, that he had finished three days earlier, when in fact he had not even thought about it. The joglar sang his song all night so that he would be sure to know it well. Sir Ar(naut) thought of a way to pull a joke on him. One night while the joglar was singing, Sir Ar(naut) went and memorized the song and the melody. When they went before the King, Sir Ar(naut) said that he wanted to perform his song; and he began to sing beautifully the song that the joglar had composed. And the joglar, when he heard it, looked him in the face and said that it was he who had composed it. The King asked how that could be, and the joglar begged the King to find out the truth; so the King asked Ar(naut) how this had come about. Sir Ar(naut) told him what had happened and the King was greatly amused 3 and took it all as a great joke. The bets were called off and he had fine gifts given to each of them. And to Sir Amaut Daniel was given the song which says: “Never did I have her, but she keeps me…”
