Ballads from History
Early Written Ballads
At the beginning, ballads were a major part of the oral tradition. Therefore, they were not frequently written down.
It was not until around the 13th century in Italy and Spain that ballads became an important form of the written literary tradition.
An early example is a selection from a ballad entitled "Ballata 5" by Guido Cavalcanti which emphasizes the form and voice of the standard ballad of the day:
"That which befalls me in my Lady's presence
Bars explanation intellectual.
I seem to see a lady wonderful
Spring forth between her lips, one whom no sense
Can fully tell the mind of,and one whence
Another, in beauty, springeth marvelous,
From whom a star goes forth and speaketh thus:
'Now my salvation is gone forth from thee.'"
Although like a poem in some ways, the ballad tells more of a story than a poem does. The ballad is able to complete a more full picture of what is going on.
Remember, that this example is only one selected stanza of the ballad. However, the narrative form of the ballad was not fully complete at this point of the ballad; and so, this example may appear to be more of a poem than seen in later ballads.