Bertran’s attachment to Prince Henry, the ‘Young King,’ as he and the old chroniclers frequently call him, was of the utmost importance for the poet’s life. It is, indeed, the redeeming feature of his character. From the first he seems to have espoused the young Prince’s cause, and no turn of fortune could ever make him waver in his fealty. It is sad to think that the influence thus acquired was used in further inflaming a nature already hot with pride and ambition. Bertran’s biographers lay particular stress on this point. ‘Whenever he chose’—the old manuscript says—‘he was master of the King of England and of his son; but he wished that the father should always be at war with the son, and the brothers with one another; and he also desired that there should be incessant feud between the Kings of France and England, and whenever there was peace or truce between them he was at great pains and trouble to undo the peace by means of his _sirventeses_, and to prove to each of them how they were dishonoured by such a peace; and he derived much good and also much evil from the mischief he made amongst them.’ In another place we are told that King Henry hated Bertran because the poet was ‘the friend and counsellor of the young King, his (Henry’s) son, who had made war against him; and he believed Sir Bertran bore the whole guilt of it.’ Not without reason does Dante place the troubadour in the ninth pit of hell, where, with Mahomet Ali, Mosca dei Lamberti, and other disturbers of Church and State, he is made to do penance for his disastrous counsels. Dante describes him carrying his own head severed from his body in his hand. ‘Know then,’ says the spectre addressing the poet, ‘that I am Bertran de Born, he who gave evil encouragement to the young King, causing father and son to wage war against each other. Because I parted men thus joined together I now carry my own head severed from its principle of life, my body.’[23] CHAPTER XVIII. BERTRAN AND RICHARD COUNT OF POITOU.