one and the same form. [And] because it is safer as well as quicker to travel by known paths, let us proceed with that languagc alone which belongs to us, neglecting the others. For that which we find in one [10] appears by analogy to exist in the others also.
The language, then, which we arc proceeding to treat of is threefold, as has been mentioned above; for some of those who speak it say oc, others sì, and others oïl. And that this language was uniform at the beginning of the confusion (which must first be proved) appears from the fact that we agree in many words, as eloquent writers show, which agreement is repugnant to that confusion which expiated the crime [committed] [20] in the building of Babel.
The writers of all three forms of the language agree, then, in many words, especially in the word Amor. Giraut de Borneil says:—
‘Sim sentis fezelz amics
per ver encusera Amor.’[1]
The King of Navarre:—
‘de fine amor si vient sen et bonté.’[2]
Messer Guido Guinizelli:—
‘Ne fa amor prima che gentil core
[30] nè gentil cor prima che amor natura.’[3]
