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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II. (of
+V.), by Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II. (of V.)
+
+Author: Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
+
+Illustrator: Freudenberg and Dunker
+
+Translator: George Saintsbury: From The Authentic Text
+Of M. Le Roux De Lincy With An Essay Upon The Heptameron by the Translator
+
+Release Date: February 7, 2006 [EBook #17702]
+Last Updated: September 9, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALES OF THE HEPTAMERON ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE TALES OF
+
+THE HEPTAMERON
+
+OF
+
+Margaret, Queen of Navarre
+
+_Newly Translated into English from the Authentic Text_
+
+OF M. LE ROUX DE LINCY WITH
+
+AN ESSAY UPON THE HEPTAMERON
+
+BY
+
+GEORGE SAINTSBURY, M.A.
+
+Also the Original Seventy-three Full Page Engravings
+
+
+
+Designed by S. FREUDENBERG
+
+And One Hundred and Fifty Head and Tail Pieces
+
+By DUNKER
+
+_IN FIVE VOLUMES_
+
+VOLUME THE SECOND
+
+LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY OF ENGLISH BIBLIOPHILISTS
+
+MDCCCXCIV
+
+
+[Illustration: Frontispiece]
+
+[Margaret, Queen of Navarre, from a crayon drawing by Clouet, preserved
+at the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris]
+
+[Illustration: Titlepage]
+
+
+
+CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.
+
+
+FIRST DAY--Continued.
+
+Tale VIII. The misadventure of Bornet, who, planning with a friend of
+his that both should lie with a serving-woman, discovers too late that
+they have had to do with his own wife.
+
+Tale IX. The evil fortune of a gentleman of Dauphiné, who dies of
+despair because he cannot marry a damsel nobler and richer than himself.
+
+Tale X. The Spanish story of Florida, who, after withstanding the love
+of a gentleman named Amadour for many years, eventually becomes a nun.
+
+
+_SECOND DAY_.
+
+Prologue
+
+Tale XI. (A). Mishap of the Lady de Roncex in the Grey Friars’ Convent
+at Thouars.
+
+Tale XI. (B). Facetious discourse of a Friar of Touraine.
+
+Tale XII. Story of Alexander de’ Medici, Duke of Florence, whom his
+cousin, Lorenzino de’ Medici, slew in order to save his sister’s honour.
+
+Tale XIII. Praiseworthy artifice of a lady to whom a sea Captain sent
+a letter and diamond ring, and who, by forwarding them to the Captain’s
+wife as though they had been intended for her, united husband and wife
+once more in all affection.
+
+Tale XIV. The Lord of Bonnivet, after furthering the love entertained
+by an Italian gentleman for a lady of Milan, finds means to take
+the other’s place and so supplant him with the lady who had formerly
+rejected himself.
+
+Tale XV. The troubles and evil fortune of a virtuous lady who, after
+being long neglected by her husband, becomes the object of his jealousy.
+
+Tale XVI. Story of a Milanese Countess, who, after long rejecting the
+love of a French gentleman, rewards him at last for his faithfulness,
+but not until she has put his courage to the proof.
+
+Tale XVII. The noble manner in which King Francis the First shows Count
+William of Furstemberg that he knows of the plans laid by him against
+his life, and so compels him to do justice upon himself and to leave
+France.
+
+XVIII. A young gentleman scholar at last wins a lady’s love, after
+enduring successfully two trials that she had made of him.
+
+
+Appendix to Vol. II
+
+
+
+
+PAGE ENGRAVINGS CONTAINED IN VOLUME II.
+
+
+Tale VIII. Bornet’s Concern on discovering that his Wife is without her
+Ring.
+
+Tale IX. The Dying Gentleman receiving the Embraces of his Sweetheart.
+
+Tale X. The Countess asking an Explanation from Amadour.
+
+Tale XI. (B). The Grey Friar telling his Tales.
+
+Tale XII. The Gentleman killing the Duke.
+
+Tale XIII. The Sea-captain talking to the Lady.
+
+Tale XIV. Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan.
+
+Tale XV. The Lady taking Oath as to her Conduct.
+
+Tale XVI. The Gentleman discovering the Trick.
+
+Tale XVII. The King showing his Sword.
+
+Tale XVIII. The Student escaping the Temptation.
+
+
+[Illustration: 001a.jpg Bornet’s Concern on discovering that his Wife is
+without her Ring]
+
+[Bornet’s Concern on discovering that his Wife is without her Ring]
+
+[Illustration: 001.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE VIII_.
+
+     _A certain Bornet, less loyal to his wife than she to him,
+     desired to lie with his maidservant, and made his enterprise
+     known to a friend, who, hoping to share in the spoil, so
+     aided and abetted him, that whilst the husband thought to
+     lie with his servant he in truth lay with his wife. Unknown
+     to the latter, he then caused his friend to participate in
+     the pleasure which rightly belonged to himself alone, and
+     thus made himself a cuckold without there being any guilt on
+     the part of his wife._ (1)
+
+In the county of Alletz (2) there lived a man named Bornet, who being
+married to an upright and virtuous wife, had great regard for her honour
+and reputation, as I believe is the case with all the husbands here
+present in respect to their own wives. But although he desired that she
+should be true to him, he was not willing that the same law should apply
+to both, for he fell in love with his maid-servant, from whom he had
+nothing to gain save the pleasure afforded by a diversity of viands.
+
+     1  For a list of tales similar to this one, see _post_,
+     Appendix A.
+
+     2  Alletz, now Alais, a town of Lower Languedoc (department
+     of the Gard), lies on the Gardon, at the foot of the
+     Cevennes mountains. It was formerly a county, the title
+     having been held by Charles, Duke of Angoulême, natural son
+     of Charles IX.--M.
+
+Now he had a neighbour of the same condition as his own, named Sandras,
+a tabourer (3) and tailor by trade, and there was such friendship
+between them that, excepting Bornet’s wife, they had all things in
+common. It thus happened that Bornet told his friend of the enterprise
+he had in hand against the maid-servant; and Sandras not only
+approved of it, but gave all the assistance he could to further its
+accomplishment, hoping that he himself might share in the spoil.
+
+     3 Tabourers are still to be found in some towns of Lower
+     Languedoc and in most of those of Provence, where they
+     perambulate the streets playing their instruments. They are
+     in great request at all the country weddings and other
+     festive gatherings, as their instruments supply the
+     necessary accompaniment to the ancient Provençal dance, the
+     _farandole_.--Ed.
+
+The maid-servant, however, was loth to consent, and finding herself hard
+pressed, she went to her mistress, told her of the matter, and begged
+leave to go home to her kinsfolk, since she could no longer endure to
+live in such torment. Her mistress, who had great love for her husband
+and had often suspected him, was well pleased to have him thus at a
+disadvantage, and to be able to show that she had doubted him justly.
+Accordingly, she said to the servant--
+
+“Remain, my girl, but lead my husband on by degrees, and at last make an
+appointment to lie with him in my closet. Do not fail to tell me on what
+night he is to come, and see that no one knows anything about it.”
+
+The maid-servant did all that her mistress had commanded her, and her
+master in great content went to tell the good news to his friend. The
+latter then begged that, since he had been concerned in the business,
+he might have part in the result. This was promised him, and, when the
+appointed hour was come, the master went to lie, as he thought, with the
+maid-servant; but his wife, yielding up the authority of commanding for
+the pleasure of obeying, had put herself in the servant’s place, and she
+received him, not in the manner of a wife, but after the fashion of
+a frightened maid. This she did so well that her husband suspected
+nothing.
+
+I cannot tell you which of the two was the better pleased, he at the
+thought that he was deceiving his wife, or she at really deceiving her
+husband. When he had remained with her, not as long as he wished, but
+according to his powers, which were those of a man who had long been
+married, he went out of doors, found his friend, who was much younger
+and lustier than himself, and told him gleefully that he had never met
+with better fortune. “You know what you promised me,” said his friend to
+him.
+
+“Go quickly then,” replied the husband, “for she may get up, or my wife
+have need of her.”
+
+The friend went off and found the supposed maid-servant, who, thinking
+her husband had returned, denied him nothing that he asked of her, or
+rather took, for he durst not speak. He remained with her much longer
+than her husband had done, whereat she was greatly astonished, for she
+had not been wont to pass such nights. Nevertheless, she endured it all
+with patience, comforting herself with the thought of what she would say
+to him on the morrow, and of the ridicule that she would cast upon him.
+
+Towards daybreak the man rose from beside her, and toying with her as he
+was going away, snatched from her finger the ring with which her husband
+had espoused her, and which the women of that part of the country guard
+with great superstition. She who keeps it till her death is held in high
+honour, while she who chances to lose it, is thought lightly of as a
+person who has given her faith to some other than her husband.
+
+The wife, however, was very glad to have it taken, thinking it would
+be a sure proof of how she had deceived her husband. When the friend
+returned, the husband asked him how he had fared. He replied that he was
+of the same opinion as himself, and that he would have remained longer
+had he not feared to be surprised by daybreak. Then they both went to
+the friend’s house to take as long a rest as they could. In the morning,
+while they were dressing, the husband perceived the ring that his friend
+had on his finger, and saw that it was exactly like the one he had given
+to his wife at their marriage. He thereupon asked his friend from whom
+he had received the ring, and when he heard he had snatched it from the
+servant’s finger, he was confounded and began to strike his head against
+the wall, saying--“Ah! good Lord! have I made myself a cuckold without
+my wife knowing anything about it?”
+
+“Perhaps,” said his friend in order to comfort him, “your wife gives her
+ring into the maid’s keeping at night-time.”
+
+The husband made no reply, but took himself home, where he found his
+wife fairer, more gaily dressed, and merrier than usual, like one who
+rejoiced at having saved her maid’s conscience, and tested her husband
+to the full, at no greater cost than a night’s sleep. Seeing her so
+cheerful, the husband said to himself--
+
+“If she knew of my adventure she would not show me such a pleasant
+countenance.”
+
+Then, whilst speaking to her of various matters, he took her by the
+hand, and on noticing that she no longer wore the ring, which she had
+never been accustomed to remove from her finger, he was quite overcome.
+
+“What have you done with your ring?” he asked her in a trembling voice.
+
+She, well pleased that he gave her an opportunity to say what she
+desired, replied--
+
+“O wickedest of men! From whom do you imagine you took it? You thought
+it was from my maid-servant, for love of whom you expended more than
+twice as much of your substance as you ever did for me. The first time
+you came to bed I thought you as much in love as it was possible to be;
+but after you had gone out and were come back again, you seemed to be
+a very devil. Wretch! think how blind you must have been to bestow such
+praises on my person and lustiness, which you have long enjoyed
+without holding them in any great esteem. ‘Twas, therefore, not the
+maid-servant’s beauty that made the pleasure so delightful to you, but
+the grievous sin of lust which so consumes your heart and so clouds
+your reason that in the frenzy of your love for the servant you would,
+I believe, have taken a she-goat in a nightcap for a comely girl! Now,
+husband, it is time to amend your life, and, knowing me to be your wife,
+and an honest woman, to be as content with me as you were when you took
+me for a pitiful strumpet. What I did was to turn you from your evil
+ways, so that in your old age we might live together in true love and
+repose of conscience. If you purpose to continue your past life, I had
+rather be severed from you than daily see before my eyes the ruin of
+your soul, body, and estate. But if you will acknowledge the evil of
+your ways, and resolve to live in fear of God and obedience to His
+commandments, I will forget all your past sins, as I trust God will
+forget my ingratitude in not loving Him as I ought to do.”
+
+If ever man was reduced to despair it was this unhappy husband. Not only
+had he abandoned this sensible, fair, and chaste wife for a woman who
+did not love him, but, worse than this, he had without her knowledge
+made her a strumpet by causing another man to participate in the leasure
+which should have been for himself alone; and thus he had made himself
+horns of everlasting derision. However, seeing his wife in such wrath
+by reason of the love he had borne his maid-servant, he took care not
+to tell her of the evil trick that he had played her; and entreating her
+forgiveness, with promises of full amendment of his former evil life,
+he gave her back the ring which he had recovered from his friend. He
+entreated the latter not to reveal his shame; but, as what is whispered
+in the ear is always proclaimed from the housetop, the truth, after
+a time, became known, and men called him cuckold without imputing any
+shame to his wife.
+
+“It seems to me, ladies, that if all those who have committed like
+offences against their wives were to be punished in the same way, Hircan
+and Saffredent would have great cause for fear.”
+
+“Why, Longarine,” said Saffredent, “are none in the company married save
+Hircan and I?”
+
+“Yes, indeed there are others,” she replied, “but none who would play a
+similar trick.”
+
+“Whence did you learn,” asked Saffredent, “that we ever solicited our
+wives’ maid-servants?”
+
+“If the ladies who are in question,” said Longarine, “were willing to
+speak the truth, we should certainly hear of maid-servants dismissed
+without notice.”
+
+“Truly,” said Geburon, “you are a most worthy lady! You promised to make
+the company laugh, and yet are angering these two poor gentlemen.”
+
+“Tis all one,” said Longarine: “so long as they do not draw their
+swords, their anger will only serve to increase our laughter.”
+
+“A pretty business indeed!” said Hircan. “Why, if our wives chose to
+believe this lady, she would embroil the seemliest household in the
+company.”
+
+“I am well aware before whom I speak,” said Longarine. “Your wives are
+so sensible and bear you so much love, that if you were to give them
+horns as big as those of a deer, they would nevertheless try to persuade
+themselves and every one else that they were chaplets of roses.”
+
+At this the company, and even those concerned, laughed so heartily that
+their talk came to an end. However, Dagoucin, who had not yet uttered a
+word, could not help saying--
+
+“Men are very unreasonable when, having enough to content themselves
+with at home, they go in search of something else. I have often seen
+people who, not content with sufficiency, have aimed at bettering
+themselves, and have fallen into a worse position than they were in
+before. Such persons receive no pity, for fickleness is always blamed.”
+
+“But what say you to those who have not found their other half?” asked
+Simontault. “Do you call it fickleness to seek it wherever it may be
+found?”
+
+“Since it is impossible,” said Dagoucin, “for a man to know the
+whereabouts of that other half with whom there would be such perfect
+union that one would not differ from the other, he should remain
+steadfast wherever love has attached him. And whatsoever may happen, he
+should change neither in heart nor in desire. If she whom you love be
+the image of yourself, and there be but one will between you, it is
+yourself you love, and not her.”
+
+“Dagoucin,” said Hircan, “you are falling into error. You speak as
+though we should love women without being loved in return.”
+
+“Hircan,” replied Dagoucin, “I hold that if our love be based on the
+beauty, grace, love, and favour of a woman, and our purpose be pleasure,
+honour, or profit, such love cannot long endure; for when the foundation
+on which it rests is gone, the love itself departs from us. But I am
+firmly of opinion that he who loves with no other end or desire than to
+love well, will sooner yield up his soul in death than suffer his great
+love to leave his heart.”
+
+“In faith,” said Simontault, “I do not believe that you have ever been
+in love. If you had felt the flame like other men, you would not now be
+picturing to us Plato’s _Republic_, which may be described in writing
+but not be put into practice.”
+
+“Nay, I have been in love,” said Dagoucin, “and am so still, and
+shall continue so as long as I live. But I am in such fear lest the
+manifestation of this love should impair its perfection, that I shrink
+from declaring it even to her from whom I would fain have the like
+affection. I dare not even think of it lest my eyes should reveal
+it, for the more I keep my flame secret and hidden, the more does my
+pleasure increase at knowing that my love is perfect.”
+
+“For all that,” said Geburon, “I believe that you would willingly have
+love in return.”
+
+“I do not deny it,” said Dagoucin, “but even were I beloved as much as I
+love, my love would not be increased any more than it could be lessened,
+were it not returned with equal warmth.”
+
+Upon this Parlamente, who suspected this fantasy of Dagoucin’s, said--
+
+“Take care, Dagoucin; I have known others besides you who preferred to
+die rather than speak.”
+
+“Such persons, madam;” said Dagoucin, “I deem very happy.”
+
+“Doubtless,” said Saffredent, “and worthy of a place among the innocents
+of whom the Church sings:
+
+‘_Non loquendo sed moriendo confessi sunt_.’ (4)
+
+     4  From the ritual for the Feast of the Holy Innocents.--M.
+
+I have heard much of such timid lovers, but I have never yet seen one
+die. And since I myself have escaped death after all the troubles I have
+borne, I do not think that any one can die of love.”
+
+“Ah, Saffredent!” said Dagoucin, “how do you expect to be loved since
+those who are of your opinion never die? Yet have I known a goodly
+number who have died of no other ailment than perfect love.”
+
+“Since you know such stories,” said Longarine, “I give you my vote to
+tell us a pleasant one, which shall be the ninth of to-day.”
+
+“To the end,” said Dagoucin, “that signs and miracles may lead you to
+put faith in what I have said, I will relate to you something which
+happened less than three years ago.”
+
+
+[Illustration: 012.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 013a.jpg The Dying Gentleman receiving the Embraces of
+his Sweetheart]
+
+[The Dying Gentleman receiving the Embraces of his Sweetheart]
+
+[Illustration: 013.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE IX_.
+
+_The perfect love borne by a gentleman to a damsel, being too deeply
+concealed and disregarded, brought about his death, to the great regret
+of his sweetheart_.
+
+Between Dauphiné and Provence there lived a gentleman who was far richer
+in virtue, comeliness, and honour than in other possessions, and who was
+greatly in love with a certain damsel. I will not mention her name,
+out of consideration for her kinsfolk, who are of good and illustrious
+descent; but you may rest assured that my story is a true one. As he was
+not of such noble birth as herself, he durst not reveal his affection,
+for the love he bore her was so great and perfect that he would rather
+have died than have desired aught to her dishonour. Seeing that he was
+so greatly beneath her, he had no hope of marrying her; in his love,
+therefore, his only purpose was to love her with all his strength and
+as perfectly as he was able. This he did for so long a time that at last
+she had some knowledge of it; and, seeing that the love he bore her
+was so full of virtue and of good intent, she felt honoured by it, and
+showed him in turn so much favour that he, who sought nothing better
+than this, was well contented.
+
+But malice, which is the enemy of all peace, could not suffer this
+honourable and happy life to last, and certain persons spoke to the
+maiden’s mother of their amazement at this gentleman being thought so
+much of in her house. They said that they suspected him of coming there
+more on account of her daughter than of aught else, adding that he
+had often been seen in converse with her. The mother, who doubted the
+gentleman’s honour as little as that of any of her own children, was
+much distressed on hearing that his presence was taken in bad part, and,
+dreading lest malicious tongues should cause a scandal, she entreated
+that he would not for some time frequent her house as he had been wont
+to do. He found this hard to bear, for he knew that his honourable
+conversation with her daughter did not deserve such estrangement.
+Nevertheless, in order to silence evil gossip, he withdrew until the
+rumours had ceased; then he returned as before, his absence having in no
+wise lessened his love.
+
+One day, however, whilst he was in the house, he heard some talk of
+marrying the damsel to a gentleman who did not seem to him to be so very
+rich that he should be entitled to take his mistress from him. So he
+began to pluck up courage, and engaged his friends to speak for him,
+believing that, if the choice were left to the damsel, she would prefer
+him to his rival. Nevertheless, the mother and kinsfolk chose the
+other suitor, because he was much richer; whereupon the poor gentleman,
+knowing his sweetheart to be as little pleased as himself, gave way to
+such sorrow, that by degrees, and without any other distemper, he became
+greatly changed, seeming as though he had covered the comeliness of his
+face with the mask of that death, to which hour by hour he was joyously
+hastening.
+
+Meanwhile, he could not refrain from going as often as was possible to
+converse with her whom he so greatly loved. But at last, when strength
+failed him, he was constrained to keep his bed; yet he would not have
+his sweetheart know of this, lest he should cast part of his grief on
+her. And giving himself up to despair and sadness, he was no longer able
+to eat, drink, sleep, or rest, so that it became impossible to recognise
+him by reason of his leanness and strangely altered features.
+
+Some one brought the news of this to his sweetheart’s mother, who was
+a lady full of charity, and who had, moreover, such a liking for the
+gentleman, that if all the kinsfolk had been of the same opinion as
+herself and her daughter, his merits would have been preferred to the
+possessions of the other. But the kinsfolk on the father’s side would
+not hear of it. However, the lady went with her daughter to see the
+unhappy gentleman, and found him more dead than alive. Perceiving that
+the end of his life was at hand, he had that morning confessed and
+received the Holy Sacrament, thinking to die without seeing anybody
+more. But although he was at death’s door, when he saw her who for him
+was the resurrection and the life come in, he felt so strengthened that
+he started up in bed.
+
+“What motive,” said he to the lady, “has inclined you to come and see
+one who already has a foot in the grave, and of whose death you are
+yourself the cause?”
+
+“How is it possible,” said the lady, “that the death of one whom we
+like so well can be brought about by our fault? Tell me, I pray, why you
+speak in this manner?”
+
+“Madam,” he replied, “I concealed my love for your daughter as long as I
+was able; and my kinsfolk, in speaking of a marriage between myself
+and her, made known more than I desired, since I have thereby had the
+misfortune to lose all hope; not, indeed, in regard to my own pleasure,
+but because I know that she will never have such fair treatment and so
+much love from any other as she would have had from me. Her loss of
+the best and most loving friend she has in the world causes me more
+affliction than the loss of my own life, which I desired to preserve for
+her sake only. But since it cannot in any wise be of service to her, the
+loss of it is to me great gain.”
+
+Hearing these words, the lady and her daughter sought to comfort him.
+
+“Take courage, my friend,” said the mother. “I pledge you my word that,
+if God gives you back your health, my daughter shall have no other
+husband but you. See, she is here present, and I charge her to promise
+you the same.”
+
+The daughter, weeping, strove to assure him of what her mother promised.
+He well knew, however, that even if his health were restored he would
+still lose his sweetheart, and that these fair words were only uttered
+in order somewhat to revive him. Accordingly, he told them that had they
+spoken to him thus three months before, he would have been the lustiest
+and happiest gentleman in France; but that their aid came so late, it
+could bring him neither belief nor hope. Then, seeing that they strove
+to make him believe them, he said--
+
+“Well, since, on account of my feeble state, you promise me a blessing
+which, even though you would yourselves have it so, can never be mine, I
+will entreat of you a much smaller one, for which, however, I was never
+yet bold enough to ask.”
+
+They immediately vowed that they would grant it, and bade him ask
+boldly.
+
+“I entreat you,” he said, “to place in my arms her whom you promise me
+for my wife, and to bid her embrace and kiss me.”
+
+The daughter, who was unaccustomed to such familiarity, sought to make
+some difficulty, but her mother straightly commanded her, seeing that
+the gentleman no longer had the feelings or vigour of a living man.
+Being thus commanded, the girl went up to the poor sufferer’s bedside,
+saying--
+
+“I pray you, sweetheart, be of good cheer.”
+
+Then, as well as he could, the dying man stretched forth his arms,
+wherein flesh and blood alike were lacking, and with all the strength
+remaining in his bones embraced her who was the cause of his death. And
+kissing her with his pale cold lips, he held her thus as long as he was
+able. Then he said to her--
+
+“The love I have borne you has been so great and honourable, that,
+excepting in marriage, I have never desired of you any other favour
+than the one you are granting me now, for lack of which and with which
+I shall cheerfully yield up my spirit to God. He is perfect love and
+charity. He knows the greatness of my love and the purity of my desire,
+and I beseech Him, while I hold my desire within my arms, to receive my
+spirit into His own.”
+
+With these words he again took her in his arms, and with such exceeding
+ardour that his enfeebled heart, unable to endure the effort, was
+deprived of all its faculties and life; for joy caused it so to swell
+that the soul was severed from its abode and took flight to its Creator.
+
+And even when the poor body had lain a long time without life, and was
+thus unable to retain its hold, the love which the damsel had always
+concealed was made manifest in such a fashion that her mother and
+the dead man’s servants had much ado to separate her from her lover.
+However, the girl, who, though living, was in a worse condition than if
+she had been dead, was by force removed at last out of the gentleman’s
+arms. To him they gave honourable burial; and the crowning point of
+the ceremony was the weeping and lamentation of the unhappy damsel,
+who having concealed her love during his lifetime, made it all the more
+manifest after his death, as though she wished to atone for the wrong
+that she had done him. And I have heard that although she was given a
+husband to comfort her, she has never since had joy in her heart. (1)
+
+     1  By an expression made use of by Dagoucin (see _ante_),
+     Queen Margaret gives us to understand that the incidents
+     here related occurred three years prior to the writing of
+     the story. It may be pointed out, however, that there is
+     considerable analogy between the conclusion of this tale and
+     the death of Geffroy Rudel de Blaye, one of the earliest
+     troubadours whose name has been handed down to us. Geffroy,
+     who lived at the close of the twelfth century, became so
+     madly enamoured of the charms of the Countess of Tripoli,
+     after merely hearing an account of her moral and physical
+     perfections, that, although in failing health, he embarked
+     for Africa to see her. On reaching the port of Tripoli, he
+     no longer had sufficient strength to leave the vessel,
+     whereupon the Countess, touched by his love, visited him on
+     board, taking his hand and giving him a kindly greeting.
+     Geffroy could scarcely say a few words of thanks; his
+     emotion was so acute that he died upon the spot. See J. de
+     Nostredame’s _Vies des plus Célèbres et Anciens Poëtes
+     Provençaux_(Lyons, 1575, p. 25); Raynouard’s _Choix des
+     Poésies des Troubadours_ (vol. v. p. 165); and also
+     Raynouard’s _Histoire Littéraire de la France_ (vol. xiv. p.
+     559).--L.
+
+“What think you of that, gentlemen, you who would not believe what I
+said? Is not this example sufficient to make you confess that perfect
+love, when concealed and disregarded, may bring folks to the grave?
+There is not one among you but knows the kinsfolk on the one and the
+other side, (2) and so you cannot doubt the story, although nobody would
+be disposed to believe it unless he had some experience in the matter.”
+
+     2  This certainly points to the conclusion that the tale is
+     founded upon fact, and not, as M. Leroux de Lincy suggests,
+     borrowed from the story of Geffroy Rudel de Blaye. It will
+     have been observed (_ante_) that the Queen of Navarre
+     curiously enough lays the scene of her narrative between
+     Provence and Dauphiné. These two provinces bordered upon one
+     another, excepting upon one point where they were separated
+     by the so-called Comtat Venaissin or Papal state of Avignon.
+     Here, therefore, the incidents of the story, if authentic,
+     would probably have occurred. The story may be compared with
+     Tale L. (_post_).--Ed.
+
+When the ladies heard this they all had tears in their eyes, but Hircan
+said to them--
+
+“He was the greatest fool I ever heard of. By your faith, now, I ask
+you, is it reasonable that we should die for women who are made only for
+us, or that we should be afraid to ask them for what God has commanded
+them to give us? I do not speak for myself nor for any who are married.
+I myself have all that I want or more; but I say it for such men as
+are in need. To my thinking, they must be fools to fear those whom they
+should rather make afraid. Do you not perceive how greatly this poor
+damsel regretted her folly? Since she embraced the gentleman’s dead
+body--an action repugnant to human nature--she would not have refused
+him while he was alive had he then trusted as much to boldness as he
+trusted to pity when he lay upon his death-bed.”
+
+“Nevertheless,” said Oisille, “the gentleman most plainly showed that he
+bore her an honourable love, and for this he will ever be worthy of
+all praise. Chastity in a lover’s heart is something divine rather than
+human.”
+
+“Madam,” said Saffredent, “in support of Hircan’s opinion, which is also
+mine, I pray you believe that Fortune favours the bold, and that there
+is no man loved by a lady but may at last, in whole or in part, obtain
+from her what he desires, provided he seek it with wisdom and passion.
+But ignorance and foolish fear cause men to lose many a good chance; and
+then they impute their loss to their mistress’s virtue, which they have
+never verified with so much as the tip of the finger. A fortress was
+never well assailed but it was taken.”
+
+“Nay,” said Parlamente, “I am amazed that you two should dare to talk in
+this way. Those whom you have loved owe you but little thanks, or else
+your courting has been carried on in such evil places that you deem all
+women to be alike.”
+
+“For myself, madam,” said Saffredent, “I have been so unfortunate that
+I am unable to boast; but I impute my bad luck less to the virtue of
+the ladies than to my own fault, in not conducting my enterprises with
+sufficient prudence and sagacity. In support of my opinion I will cite
+no other authority than the old woman in the _Romance of the Rose_, who
+says--
+
+     ‘Of all, fair sirs, it truly may be said,
+     Woman for man and man for woman’s made.’ (3)
+
+     3  From John de Mehun’s continuation of the poem.--M. 2
+
+Accordingly I shall always believe that if love once enters a
+woman’s heart, her lover will have fair fortune, provided he be not a
+simpleton.”
+
+“Well,” said Parlamente, “if I were to name to you a very loving woman
+who was greatly sought after, beset and importuned, and who, like a
+virtuous lady, proved victorious over her heart, flesh, love and lover,
+would you believe this true thing possible?”
+
+“Yes,” said he, “I would.”
+
+“Then,” said Parlamente, “you must all be hard of belief if you do not
+believe this story.”
+
+“Madam,” said Dagoucin, “since I have given an example to show how the
+love of a virtuous gentleman lasted even until death, I pray you, if you
+know any such story to the honour of a lady, to tell it to us, and so
+end this day. And be not afraid to speak at length, for there is yet
+time to relate many a pleasant matter.”
+
+“Then, since I am to wind up the day,” said Parlamente, “I will make no
+long preamble, for my story is so beautiful and true that I long to have
+you know it as well as I do myself. Although I was not an actual witness
+of the events, they were told to me by one of my best and dearest
+friends in praise of the man whom of all the world he had loved the
+most. But he charged me, should I ever chance to relate them, to change
+the names of the persons. Apart, therefore, from the names of persons
+and places the story is wholly true.”
+
+[Illustration: 024.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 025a.jpg The Countess asking an Explanation from Amadour]
+
+[The Countess asking an Explanation from Amadour]
+
+[Illustration: 025.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE X_.
+
+_Florida, after virtuously resisting Amadour, who had assailed her
+honour almost to the last extremity, repaired, upon her husbands death,
+to the convent of Jesus, and there took the veil_. (1)
+
+     1  This tale appears to be a combination of fact and fiction.
+     Although Queen Margaret states that she has changed the
+     names of the persons, and also of the places where the
+     incidents happened, several historical events are certainly
+     brought into the narrative, the scene of which is laid in
+     Spain during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. M. Le Roux
+     de Lincy is of opinion, however, that Margaret really refers
+     to some affair at the Court of Charles VIII. or Louis XII.,
+     and he remarks that there is great similarity between the
+     position of the Countess of Aranda, left a widow at an early
+     age with a son and a daughter, and that of Louise of Savoy
+     with her two children. M. Lacroix and M. Dillaye believe the
+     hero and heroine to be Admiral de Bonnivet and Margaret. It
+     has often been suspected that the latter regarded her
+     brother’s favourite with affection until after the attempt
+     related in Tale IV.--Ed.
+
+In the county of Aranda, (2) in Aragon, there lived a lady who, while
+still very young, was left a widow, with a son and a daughter, by the
+Count of Aranda, the name of the daughter being Florida. This lady
+strove to bring up her children in all the virtues and qualities which
+beseem lords and gentlemen, so that her house was reputed to be one of
+the most honourable in all the Spains. She often went to Toledo, where
+the King of Spain dwelt, and when she came to Saragossa, which was not
+far from her house, she would remain a long while with the Queen and the
+Court, by whom she was held in as high esteem as any lady could be.
+
+     2 Aranda, in the valley of the Duero, between Burgos
+     and Madrid, is one of the most ancient towns in Spain, but of
+     miserable aspect, although a large trade is carried on there
+     in cheap red wines. (Ferdinand and Isabella resided for some
+     time at Aranda.--Ed.)
+
+Going one day, according to her custom, to visit the King, then at his
+castle of La Jasserye, (3) at Saragossa, this lady passed through a
+village belonging to the Viceroy of Catalonia, (4) who, by reason of the
+great wars between the kings of France and Spain, had not been wont to
+stir from the frontier at Perpignan. But for the time being there was
+peace, so that the Viceroy and all his captains had come to do homage to
+the King. The Viceroy, learning that the Countess of Aranda was passing
+through his domain, went to meet her, not only for the sake of the
+ancient friendship he bore her, but in order to do her honour as a
+kinswoman of the King’s.
+
+     3  This castle is called La Jafferie in Boaistuau’s edition
+     of 1558, and several learned commentators have speculated as
+     to which is the correct spelling. Not one of them seems to
+     have been aware that in the immediate vicinity of Saragossa
+     there still stands an old castle called El Jaferia or
+     Aljaferia, which, after being the residence of the Moorish
+     sovereigns, became that of the Spanish kings of Aragon. It
+     has of modern times been transformed into barracks.--Ed.
+
+     4  Henry of Aragon, Duke of Segorbe and Count of Ribagorce,
+     was Viceroy of Catalonia at this period. He was called the
+     Infante of Fortune, on account of his father having died
+     before his birth in 1445.--B. J.
+
+Now he had in his train many honourable gentlemen, who, in the long
+waging of war, had gained such great honour and renown that all who saw
+them and consorted with them deemed themselves fortunate. Among others
+there was one named Amadour, who, although but eighteen or nineteen
+years old, was possessed of such well-assured grace and of such
+excellent understanding that he would have been chosen from a
+thousand to hold a public office. It is true that this excellence of
+understanding was accompanied by such rare and winsome beauty that none
+could look at him without pleasure. And if his comeliness was of the
+choicest, it was so hard pressed by his speech that one knew not whether
+to give the greatest honour to his grace, his beauty, or the excellence
+of his conversation.
+
+What caused him, however, to be still more highly esteemed was his great
+daring, which was no whit diminished by his youth. He had already shown
+in many places what he could do, so that not only the Spains, but France
+and Italy also made great account of his merits. For in all the wars
+in which he had taken part he had never spared himself, and when his
+country was at peace he would go in quest of wars in foreign lands,
+where he was loved and honoured by both friend and foe.
+
+This gentleman, for the love he bore his commander, had come to the
+domain where the Countess of Aranda had arrived, and remarking the
+beauty and grace of her daughter Florida, who was then only twelve years
+old, he thought to himself that she was the fairest maiden he had ever
+seen, and that if he could win her favour it would give him greater
+satisfaction than all the wealth and pleasure he might obtain from
+another. After looking at her for a long time he resolved to love her,
+although his reason told him that what he desired was impossible by
+reason of her lineage as well as of her age, which was such that she
+could not yet understand any amorous discourse. In spite of this, he
+fortified himself with hope, and reflected that time and patience might
+bring his efforts to a happy issue. And from that moment the kindly
+love, which of itself alone had entered Amadour’s heart, assured him of
+all favour and the means of attaining his end.
+
+To overcome the greatest difficulty before him, which consisted in the
+remoteness of his own home and the few opportunities he would have of
+seeing Florida again, he resolved to get married. This was contrary
+to what he had determined whilst with the ladies of Barcelona and
+Perpignan, in which places he was in such favour that little or nothing
+was refused him; and, indeed, by reason of the wars, he had dwelt so
+long on the frontiers that, although he was born near Toledo, he seemed
+rather a Catalan than a Castillan. He came of a rich and honourable
+house, but being a younger son, he was without patrimony; and thus it
+was that Love and Fortune, seeing him neglected by his kin, determined
+to make him their masterpiece, endowing him with such qualities as
+might obtain what the laws of the land had refused him. He was of
+much experience in the art of war, and was so beloved by all lords
+and princes that he refused their favours more frequently than he had
+occasion to seek them.
+
+The Countess, of whom I have spoken, arrived then at Saragossa and was
+well received by the King and all his Court. The Governor of Catalonia
+often came to visit her, and Amadour failed not to accompany him that
+he might have the pleasure of merely seeing Florida, for he had no
+opportunity of speaking with her. In order to establish himself in this
+goodly company he paid his addresses to the daughter of an old knight,
+his neighbour. This maiden was named Avanturada, and was so intimate
+with Florida that she knew all the secrets of her heart. Amadour,
+as much for the worth which he found in Avanturada as for the three
+thousand ducats a year which formed her dowry, determined to address her
+as a suitor, and she willingly gave ear to him. But as he was poor and
+her father was rich, she feared that the latter would never consent
+to the marriage except at the instance of the Countess of Aranda. She
+therefore had recourse to the lady Florida and said to her--
+
+“You have seen, madam, that Castilian gentleman who often talks to me.
+I believe that all his aim is to have me in marriage. You know, however,
+what kind of father I have; he will never consent to the match unless he
+be earnestly entreated by the Countess and you.”
+
+Florida, who loved the damsel as herself, assured her that she would
+lay the matter to heart as though it were for her own benefit; and
+Avanturada then ventured so far as to present Amadour to her. He was
+like to swoon for joy on kissing Florida’s hand, and although he was
+accounted the readiest speaker in Spain, yet in her presence he became
+dumb. At this she was greatly surprised, for, although she was only
+twelve years old, she had already often heard it said that there was no
+man in Spain who could speak better or with more grace. So, finding that
+he said nothing to her, she herself spoke.
+
+“Senor Amadour,” she began, “the renown you enjoy throughout all the
+Spains has made you known to everybody here, and all are desirous of
+affording you pleasure. If therefore I can in any way do this, you may
+dispose of me.”
+
+Amadour was in such rapture at sight of the lady’s beauty that he could
+scarcely utter his thanks. However, although Florida was astonished to
+find that he made no further reply, she imputed it rather to some whim
+than to the power of love; and so she withdrew, without saying anything
+more.
+
+Amadour, who perceived the qualities which even in earliest youth were
+beginning to show themselves in Florida, now said to her whom he desired
+to marry--
+
+“Do not be surprised if I lost the power of utterance in presence of
+the lady Florida. I was so astonished at finding such qualities and such
+sensible speech in one so very young that I knew not what to say to her.
+But I pray you, Avanturada, you who know her secrets, tell me if she
+does not of necessity possess the hearts of all the gentlemen of the
+Court. Any who know her and do not love her must be stones or brutes.”
+
+Avanturada, who already loved Amadour more than any other man in the
+world, could conceal nothing from him, but told him that Florida was
+loved by every one. However, by reason of the custom of the country, few
+spoke to her, and only two had as yet made any show of love towards
+her. These were two princes of Spain, and they desired to marry her, one
+being the son of the Infante of Fortune (5) and the other the young Duke
+of Cardona. (6)
+
+     5  M. Lacroix asserts that the Infante of Fortune left no son
+     by his wife, Guyomare de Castro y Norogna; whereas M. Le
+     Roux de Lincy contends that he had a son--Alfonso of Aragon--
+     who in 1506 was proposed as a husband for Crazy Jane.
+     Alfonso would therefore probably be the prince referred to
+     by Margaret.--Ed.
+
+     6  Cardona, a fortified town on the river Cardoner, at a few
+     miles from Barcelona, was a county in the time of Ferdinand
+     and Isabella, and was raised by them to the rank of a duchy
+     in favour of Ramon Folch I. To-day it has between two and
+     three thousand inhabitants, and is chiefly noted for its
+     strongly built castillo. The young Duke spoken of by Queen
+     Margaret would be Ramon Folch’s son, who was also named
+     Ramon.--B. J. and Ed.
+
+“I pray you,” said Amadour, “tell me which of them you think she loves
+the most.”
+
+“She is so discreet,” said Avanturada, “that on no account would she
+confess to having any wish but her mother’s. Nevertheless, as far as can
+be judged, she likes the son of the Infante of Fortune far more than she
+likes the young Duke of Cardona. But her mother would rather have her at
+Cardona, for then she would not be so far away. I hold you for a man
+of good understanding, and, if you are so minded, you may judge of her
+choice this very day, for the son of the Infante of Fortune, who is one
+of the handsomest and most accomplished princes in Christendom, is being
+brought up at this Court. If we damsels could decide the marriage by our
+opinions, he would be sure of having the Lady Florida, for they would
+make the comeliest couple in all Spain. You must know that, although
+they are both young, she being but twelve and he but fifteen, it is
+now three years since their love for each other first began; and if
+you would secure her favour, I advise you to become his friend and
+follower.”
+
+Amadour was well pleased to find that Florida loved something, hoping
+that in time he might gain the place not of husband but of lover. He had
+no fear in regard to her virtue, but was rather afraid lest she should
+be insensible to love. After this conversation he began to consort with
+the son of the Infante of Fortune, and readily gained his favour, being
+well skilled in all the pastimes that the young Prince was fond of,
+especially in the handling of horses, in the practice of all kinds of
+weapons, and indeed in every diversion and pastime befitting a young
+man.
+
+However, war broke out again in Languedoc, and it was necessary that
+Amadour should return thither with the Governor. This he did, but not
+without great regret, since he could in no wise contrive to return to
+where he might see Florida. Accordingly, when he was setting forth, he
+spoke to a brother of his, who was majordomo to the Queen of Spain,
+and told him of the good match he had found in the Countess of Aranda’s
+house, in the person of Avanturada; entreating him, in his absence,
+to do all that he could to bring about the marriage, by employing his
+credit with the King, the Queen, and all his friends. The majordomo, who
+was attached to his brother, not only by reason of their kinship, but on
+account of Amadour’s excellent qualities, promised to do his best. This
+he did in such wise that the avaricious old father forgot his own nature
+to ponder over the qualities of Amadour, as pictured to him by the
+Countess of Aranda, and especially by the fair Florida, as well as by
+the young Count of Aranda, who was now beginning to grow up, and to
+esteem people of merit. When the marriage had been agreed upon by the
+kinsfolk, the Queen’s majordomo sent for his brother, there being at
+that time a truce between the two kings. (7)
+
+Meanwhile, the King of Spain withdrew to Madrid to avoid the bad air
+which prevailed in divers places, and, by the advice of his Council, as
+well as at the request of the Countess of Aranda, he consented to the
+marriage of the young Count with the heiress Duchess of Medina Celi.
+(8) He did this no less for their contentment and the union of the two
+houses than for the affection he bore the Countess of Aranda; and he
+caused the marriage to be celebrated at the castle of Madrid. (9)
+
+     7  There had been a truce in 1497, but Queen Margaret
+     probably alludes to that of four months’ duration towards
+     the close of 1503.--B.J.
+
+     8  Felix-Maria, widow of the Duke of Feria, and elder sister
+     of Luis Francisco de la Cerda, ninth of the name. She became
+     heiress to the titles and estates of the house of Medina-
+     Celi upon her brother’s death. If, however, Queen Margaret
+     is really describing some incident in her own life, she must
+     refer to Louis XII.’s daughter, Claude, married in 1514 to
+     Francis I.--D.
+
+     9  The castle here referred to was the Moorish Alcazar,
+     destroyed by fire in 1734. The previous statement that King
+     Ferdinand withdrew to Madrid on account of the bad air
+     prevailing in other places is borne out by the fact that the
+     town enjoyed a most delightful climate prior to the
+     destruction of the forests which surrounded it.--Ed.
+
+Amadour was present at this wedding, and succeeded so well in furthering
+his own union, that he married Avanturada, whose affection for him was
+far greater than his was for her. But this marriage furnished him with a
+very convenient cloak, and gave him an excuse for resorting to the place
+where his spirit ever dwelt. After he was married he became very bold
+and familiar in the Countess of Aranda’s household, so that he was no
+more distrusted than if he had been a woman. And although he was
+now only twenty-two years of age, he showed such good sense that the
+Countess of Aranda informed him of all her affairs, and bade her son
+consult with him and follow his counsel.
+
+Having gained their esteem thus far, Amadour comported himself so
+prudently and calmly that even the lady he loved was not aware of his
+affection for her. By reason, however, of the love she bore his wife, to
+whom she was more attached than to any other woman, she concealed none
+of her thoughts from him, and was pleased to tell him of all her love
+for the son of the Infante of Fortune. Although Amadour’s sole aim was
+to win her entirely for himself, he continually spoke to her of
+the Prince; indeed, he cared not what might be the subject of their
+converse, provided only that he could talk to her for a long time.
+However, he had not remained a month in this society after his marriage
+when he was constrained to return to the war, and he was absent for more
+than two years without returning to see his wife, who continued to live
+in the place where she had been brought up.
+
+Meanwhile Amadour often wrote to her, but his letters were for the most
+part messages to Florida, who on her side never failed to return them,
+and would with her own hand add some pleasant words to the letters which
+Avanturada wrote. It was on this account that the husband of the latter
+wrote to her very frequently; yet of all this Florida knew nothing
+except that she loved Amadour as if he had been her brother. Several
+times during the course of five years did Amadour return and go away
+again; yet so short was his stay that he did not see Florida for two
+months altogether. Nevertheless, in spite of distance and length of
+absence, his love continued to increase.
+
+At last it happened that he made a journey to see his wife, and found
+the Countess far removed from the Court, for the King of Spain was gone
+into Andalusia, (10) taking with him the young Count of Aranda, who was
+already beginning to bear arms.
+
+     10  There had been a revolt at Granada in 1499, and in the
+     following year the Moors rose in the Alpujarras, whereupon
+     King Ferdinand marched against them in person.--L.
+
+Thus the Countess had withdrawn to a country-house belonging to her
+on the frontiers of Aragon and Navarre. She was well pleased on seeing
+Amadour, who had now been away for nearly three years. He was made
+welcome by all, and the Countess commanded that he should be treated
+like her own son. Whilst he was with her she informed him of all the
+affairs of her household, leaving most of them to his judgment. And so
+much credit did he win in her house that wherever he visited all doors
+were opened to him, and, indeed, people held his prudence in such high
+esteem that he was trusted in all things as though he had been an angel
+or a saint.
+
+Florida, by reason of the love she bore his wife and himself, sought
+him out wherever he went. She had no suspicion of his purpose, and was
+unrestrained in her manners, for her heart was free from love, save that
+she felt great contentment whenever she was near Amadour. To more than
+this she gave not a thought.
+
+Amadour, however, had a hard task to escape the observation of those
+who knew by experience how to distinguish a lover’s looks from another
+man’s; for when Florida, thinking no evil, came and spoke familiarly to
+him, the fire that was hidden in his heart so consumed him that he could
+not keep the colour from rising to his face or sparks of flame from
+darting from his eyes. Thus, in order that none might be any the wiser,
+he began to pay court to a very beautiful lady named Paulina, a woman
+so famed for beauty in her day that few men who saw her escaped from her
+toils.
+
+This Paulina had heard how Amadour had made love at Barcelona and
+Perpignan, insomuch that he had gained the affection of the highest and
+most beautiful ladies in the land, especially that of a certain Countess
+of Palamos, who was esteemed the first for beauty among all the ladies
+of Spain; and she told him that she greatly pitied him, since, after so
+much good fortune, he had married such an ugly wife. Amadour, who well
+understood by these words that she had a mind to supply his need, made
+her the fairest speeches he could devise, seeking to conceal the truth
+by persuading her of a falsehood. But she, being subtle and experienced
+in love, was not to be put off with mere words; and feeling sure that
+his heart was not to be satisfied with such love as she could give him,
+she suspected he wished to make her serve as a cloak, and so kept close
+watch upon his eyes. These, however, knew so well how to dissemble, that
+she had nothing to guide her but the barest suspicion.
+
+Nevertheless, her observation sorely troubled Amadour; for Florida, who
+was ignorant of all these wiles, often spoke to him before Paulina in
+such a familiar fashion that he had to make wondrous efforts to compel
+his eyes to belie his heart. To avoid unpleasant consequences, he one
+day, while leaning against a window, spoke thus to Florida--
+
+“I pray you, sweetheart, counsel me whether it is better for a man to
+speak or die?”
+
+Florida forthwith replied--
+
+“I shall always counsel my friends to speak and not to die. There
+are few words that cannot be mended, but life once lost can never be
+regained.”
+
+“Will you promise me, then,” said Amadour, “that you will not be
+displeased by what I wish to tell you, nor yet alarmed at it, until you
+have heard me to the end?”
+
+“Say what you will,” she replied; “if you alarm me, none can reassure
+me.”
+
+“For two reasons,” he then began, “I have hitherto been unwilling to
+tell you of the great affection that I feel for you. First, I wished to
+prove it to you by long service, and secondly, I feared that you might
+deem it presumption in me, who am but a simple gentleman, to address
+myself to one upon whom it is not fitting that I should look. And
+even though I were of royal station like your own, your heart, in its
+loyalty, would suffer none save the son of the Infante of Fortune,
+who has won it, to speak to you of love. But just as in a great war
+necessity compels men to devastate their own possessions and to destroy
+their corn in the blade, that the enemy may derive no profit therefrom,
+so do I risk anticipating the fruit which I had hoped to gather in
+season, lest your enemies and mine profit by it to your detriment.
+Know, then, that from your earliest youth I have devoted myself to your
+service and have ever striven to win your favour. For this purpose alone
+I married her whom I thought you loved best, and, being acquainted with
+the love you bear to the son of the Infante of Fortune, I have striven
+to serve him and consort with him, as you yourself know. I have sought
+with all my power for everything that I thought could give you pleasure.
+You see that I have won the esteem of your mother, the Countess, and
+of your brother, the Count, and of all you love, so that I am regarded
+here, not as a dependant, but as one of the family. All my efforts for
+five years past have had no other end than that I might spend my whole
+life near you.
+
+“Understand that I am not one of those who would by these means seek to
+obtain from you any favour or pleasure otherwise than virtuous. I know
+that I cannot marry you, and even if I could, I would not do so in face
+of the love you bear him whom I would fain see your husband. And as for
+loving you with a vicious love like those who hope that long service
+will bring them a reward to the dishonour of a lady, that is far from my
+purpose. I would rather see you dead than know that you were less worthy
+of being loved, or that your virtue had diminished for the sake of
+any pleasure to me. For the end and reward of my service I ask but one
+thing, namely, that you will be so faithful a mistress to me, as never
+to take your favour from me, and that you will suffer me to continue as
+I now am, trusting in me more than in any other, and accepting from me
+the assurance that if for your honour’s sake, or for aught concerning
+you, you ever have need of a gentleman’s life, I will gladly place mine
+at your disposal. You may be sure also that whatever I may do that is
+honourable and virtuous, will be done solely for love of you. If for the
+sake of ladies less worthy than you I have ever done anything that has
+been considered of account, be sure that, for a mistress like yourself,
+my enterprise will so increase, that things I heretofore found
+impossible will become very easy to me. If, however, you will not accept
+me as wholly yours, I am resolved to lay aside my arms and to renounce
+the valour which has failed to help me in my need. So I pray you grant
+me my just request, for your honour and conscience cannot refuse it.”
+
+The maiden, hearing these unwonted words, began to change colour and to
+cast down her eyes like a woman in alarm. However, being sensible and
+discreet, she replied--
+
+“Since you already have what you ask of me, Amadour, why make me such
+a long harangue? I fear me lest beneath your honourable words there be
+some hidden guile to deceive my ignorance and youth, and I am sorely
+perplexed what to reply. Were I to refuse the honourable love you offer,
+I should do contrary to what I have hitherto done, for I have always
+trusted you more than any other man in the world. Neither my conscience
+nor my honour oppose your request, nor yet the love I bear the son of
+the Infante of Fortune, for that is founded on marriage, to which you do
+not aspire. I know of nothing that should hinder me from answering you
+according to your desire, if it be not a fear arising from the small
+need you have for talking to me in this wise; for if what you ask is
+already yours, why speak of it so ardently?”
+
+Amadour, who was at no loss for an answer, then said to her--
+
+“Madam, you speak very discreetly, and you honour me so greatly by the
+trust which you say you have in me, that if I were not satisfied with
+such good fortune I should be quite unworthy of it. But consider, madam,
+that he who would build an edifice to last for ever must be careful
+to have a sure and stable foundation. In the same way I, wishing to
+continue for ever in your service, must not only take care to have the
+means of remaining near to you, but also to prevent any one from knowing
+of the great affection that I bear you. Although it is honourable enough
+to be everywhere proclaimed, yet those who know nothing of lovers’
+hearts often judge contrary to the truth, and thence come reports as
+mischievous as though they were true. I have been prompted to say this,
+and led to declare my love to you, because Paulina, feeling in her heart
+that I cannot love her, holds me in suspicion and does nought but watch
+my face wherever I may be. Hence, when you come and speak to me so
+familiarly in her presence, I am in great fear lest I should make some
+sign on which she may ground her judgment, and should so fall into that
+which I am anxious to avoid. For this reason I am lead to entreat you
+not to come and speak to me so suddenly before her or before others whom
+you know to be equally malicious, for I would rather die than have any
+living creature know the truth. Were I not so regardful of your honour,
+I should not have sought this converse with you, for I hold myself
+sufficiently happy in the love and trust you bear me, and I ask nothing
+more save that they may continue.”
+
+Florida, who could not have been better pleased, began to be sensible
+of an unwonted feeling in her heart. She saw how honourable were the
+reasons which he laid before her; and she told him that virtue and
+honour replied for her, and that she granted him his request. Amadour’s
+joy at this no true lover can doubt.
+
+Florida, however, gave more heed to his counsel than he desired, for she
+became timid not only in presence of Paulina but elsewhere, and ceased
+to seek him out as she had been accustomed to do. While they were thus
+separated she took Amadour’s constant converse with Paulina in bad part,
+for, seeing that the latter was beautiful, she could not believe
+that Amadour did not love her. To beguile her sorrow she conversed
+continually with Avanturada, who was beginning to feel very jealous of
+her husband and Paulina, and often complained of them to Florida, who
+comforted her as well as she could, being herself smitten with the same
+disease. Amadour soon perceived the change in Florida’s demeanour, and
+forthwith thought that she was keeping aloof from him not merely by his
+own advice, but also on account of some bitter fancies of her own.
+
+One day, when they were coming from vespers at a monastery, he spoke to
+her, and asked--
+
+“What countenance is this you show me, madam?”
+
+“That which I believe you desire,” replied Florida.
+
+Thereupon, suspecting the truth, and desiring to know whether he was
+right, he said to her--
+
+“I have used my time so well, madam, that Paulina no longer has any
+suspicion of you.”
+
+“You could not do better,” she replied, “both for yourself and for me.
+While giving pleasure to yourself you bring me honour.”
+
+Amadour gathered from this speech that she believed he took pleasure in
+conversing with Paulina, and so great was his despair that he could not
+refrain from saying angrily to her--
+
+“In truth, madam, you begin betimes to torment your lover and pelt him
+with hard words. I do not think I ever had a more irksome task than to
+be obliged to hold converse with a lady I do not love. But since you
+take what I have done to serve you in bad part, I will never speak
+to her again, happen what may. And that I may hide my wrath as I have
+hidden my joy, I will betake me to some place in the neighbourhood, and
+there wait till your caprice has passed away. I hope, however, I shall
+there receive tidings from my captain and be called back to the war,
+where I will remain long enough to show you that nothing but yourself
+has kept me here.”
+
+So saying, he forthwith departed without waiting for her reply.
+
+Florida felt the greatest vexation and sorrow imaginable; and love,
+meeting with opposition, began to put forth its mighty strength. She
+perceived that she had been in the wrong, and wrote continually to
+Amadour entreating him to return, which he did after a few days, when
+his anger had abated.
+
+I cannot undertake to tell you minutely all that they said to each other
+in order to destroy this jealousy. But at all events he won the victory,
+and she promised him that not only would she never believe he loved
+Paulina, but that she would ever be convinced he found it an intolerable
+martyrdom to speak either to Paulina or to any one else except to do
+herself a service.
+
+When love had conquered this first suspicion, and while the two lovers
+were beginning to take fresh pleasure in conversing together, news came
+that the King of Spain was sending all his army to Salces. (11)
+
+     11  Salces, a village about fifteen miles north of Perpignan,
+     noted for its formidable fortress, still existing and
+     commanding a pass through the Corbière Mountains, which in
+     the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries separated France from
+     Roussillon, then belonging to Spain. The French burnt the
+     village and demolished the fort of Salces in 1496, but the
+     latter was rebuilt by the Spaniards in the most massive
+     style. The walls of the fort are 66 feet thick at the base
+     and 54 feet thick at the summit. When Queen Margaret
+     returned from Spain in 152,5 she reached France by the pass
+     of Salces. (See vol. i. p. xlvi.).--Ed.
+
+Amadour, accustomed ever to be the first in battle, failed not to seize
+this opportunity of winning renown; but in truth he set forth with
+unwonted regret, both on account of the pleasure he was losing and
+because he feared that he might find a change on his return. He knew
+that Florida, who was now fifteen or sixteen years old, was sought in
+marriage by many great princes and lords, and he reflected that if she
+were married during his absence he might have no further opportunity of
+seeing her, unless, indeed, the Countess of Aranda gave her his wife,
+Avanturada, as a companion. However, by skilful management with his
+friends, he obtained a promise from both mother and daughter that
+wherever Florida might go after her marriage thither should his wife,
+Avanturada, accompany her. Although it was proposed to marry Florida
+in Portugal, it was nevertheless resolved that Avanturada should never
+leave her. With this assurance, yet not without unspeakable regret,
+Amadour went away and left his wife with the Countess.
+
+When Florida found herself alone after his departure, she set about
+doing such good and virtuous works as she hoped might win her the
+reputation that belongs to the most perfect women, and might prove her
+to be worthy of such a lover as Amadour. He having arrived at Barcelona,
+was there welcomed by the ladies as of old; but they found a greater
+change in him than they believed it possible for marriage to effect in
+any man. He seemed to be vexed by the sight of things he had
+formerly desired; and even the Countess of Palamos, whom he had loved
+exceedingly, could not persuade him to visit her.
+
+Amadour remained at Barcelona as short a time as possible, for he was
+impatient to reach Salces, where he alone was now awaited. When he
+arrived, there began between the two kings that great and cruel war
+which I do not purpose to describe. (12) Neither will I recount the
+noble deeds that were done by Amadour, for then my story would take up
+an entire day; but you must know that he won renown far above all his
+comrades. The Duke of Najera (13) having arrived at Perpignan in command
+of two thousand men, requested Amadour to be his lieutenant, and so well
+did Amadour fulfil his duty with this band, that in every skirmish the
+only cry was “Najera!” (14)
+
+     12  In 1503 the French, under Marshals de Rieux and de Gié,
+     again besieged Salces, which had a garrison of 1200 men. The
+     latter opposed a vigorous defence during two months, and
+     upon the arrival of the old Duke of Alba with an army of
+     succour the siege had to be raised.--B. J.
+
+     13  Pedro Manriquez de Lara, Count of Trevigno, created Duke
+     of Najera by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1501.--B. J.
+
+     14  The Duke’s war-cry, repeated by his followers as a
+     rallying signal in the _mêlée_. War-cries varied greatly.
+     “Montjoie St. Denis” was that of the kings of France, and
+     “Passavant le meilleur” (the best to the front) that of the
+     Counts of Champagne. In other instances the war-cry
+     consisted of a single word, “Bigorre” being that of the
+     kings of Navarre, and “Flanders” that of the Princess of
+     Beaujeu. When the war-cry was merely a name, as in the case
+     of the Duke of Najera, it belonged to the head of the
+     family.--D.
+
+Now it came to pass that the King of Tunis, who for a long time had been
+at war with the Spaniards, heard that the kings of France and Spain were
+warring with each other on the frontiers of Perpignan and Narbonne, and
+bethought himself that he could have no better opportunity of vexing the
+King of Spain. Accordingly, he sent a great number of light galleys and
+other vessels to plunder and destroy all such badly-guarded places as
+they could find on the coasts of Spain. (15)The people of Barcelona
+seeing a great fleet passing in front of their town, sent word of the
+matter to the Viceroy, who was at Salces, and he forthwith despatched
+the Duke of Najera to Palamos. (16) When the Moors saw that place
+so well guarded, they made a feint of passing on; but returning at
+midnight, they landed a large number of men, and the Duke of Najera,
+being surprised by the enemy, was taken prisoner.
+
+     15  The above two sentences, deficient in the MS. followed by
+     M. Le Roux de Lincy, have been borrowed from MS. No. 1520
+     (Bib. Nat.). It was in 1503 that a Moorish flotilla ravaged
+     the coast of Catalonia.--Ed.
+
+     16  The village of Palamos, on the shores of the
+     Mediterranean, south of Cape Bagur, and within fifteen miles
+     from Gerona.--Ed.
+
+Amadour, who was on the alert and heard the din, forthwith assembled as
+many of his men as possible, and defended himself so stoutly that the
+enemy, in spite of their numbers, were for a long time unable to prevail
+against him. But at last, hearing that the Duke of Najera was taken, and
+that the Turks had resolved to set fire to Palamos and burn him in the
+house which he was holding against them, he thought it better to yield
+than to cause the destruction of the brave men who were with him. He
+also hoped that by paying a ransom he might yet see Florida again.
+Accordingly, he gave himself up to a Turk named Dorlin, a governor of
+the King of Tunis, who brought him to his master. By the latter he was
+well received and still better guarded; for the King deemed that in him
+he held the Achilles of all the Spains.
+
+Thus Amadour continued for two years in the service of the King of
+Tunis. The news of the captures having reached Spain, the kinsfolk
+of the Duke of Najera were in great sorrow; but those who held the
+country’s honour dear deemed Amadour the greater loss. The rumour came
+to the house of the Countess of Aranda, where the hapless Avanturada at
+that time lay grievously sick. The Countess, who had great misgivings as
+to the affection which Amadour bore to her daughter, though she suffered
+it and concealed it for the sake of the merits she perceived in him,
+took Florida apart and told her the mournful tidings. Florida, who was
+well able to dissemble, replied that it was a great loss to the entire
+household, and that above all she pitied his poor wife, who was herself
+so ill. Nevertheless, seeing that her mother wept exceedingly, she shed
+a few tears to bear her company; for she feared that if she dissembled
+too far the feint might be discovered. From that time the Countess often
+spoke to her of Amadour, but never could she surprise a look to guide
+her judgment.
+
+I will pass over the pilgrimages, prayers, supplications, and fasts
+which Florida regularly performed to ensure the safety of Amadour.
+As soon as he had arrived at Tunis, he failed not to send tidings of
+himself to his friends, and by a trusty messenger he apprised Florida
+that he was in good health, and had hopes of seeing her again. This was
+the only consolation the poor lady had in her grief, and you may be sure
+that, since she was permitted to write, she did so with all diligence,
+so that Amadour had no lack of her letters to comfort him.
+
+The Countess of Aranda was about this time commanded to repair to
+Saragossa, where the King had arrived; and here she found the young
+Duke of Cardona, who so pressed the King and Queen that they begged
+the Countess to give him their daughter in marriage. (17) The Countess
+consented, for she was unwilling to disobey them in anything, and
+moreover she considered that her daughter, being so young, could have no
+will of her own.
+
+     17  The Spanish historians state that in 1513 the King, to
+     put an end to a quarrel between the Count of Aranda and the
+     Count of Ribagorce, charged Father John of Estuniga,
+     Provincial of the Order of St. Francis, to negotiate a
+     reconciliation between them, based on the marriage of the
+     eldest daughter of the Count of Aranda with the eldest son
+     of the Count of Ribagorce. The latter refusing his consent,
+     was banished from the kingdom.--D.
+
+When all was settled, she told Florida that she had chosen for her the
+match which seemed most suitable. Florida, knowing that when a thing is
+once done there is small room for counsel, replied that God was to be
+praised for all things; and, finding her mother look coldly upon her,
+she sought rather to obey her than to take pity on herself. It scarcely
+comforted her in her sorrows to learn that the son of the Infante of
+Fortune was sick even to death; but never, either in presence of her
+mother or of any one else, did she show any sign of grief. So strongly
+did she constrain herself, that her tears, driven perforce back into her
+heart, caused so great a loss of blood from the nose that her life was
+endangered; and, that she might be restored to health, she was given in
+marriage to one whom she would willingly have exchanged for death.
+
+After the marriage Florida departed with her husband to the duchy of
+Cardona, taking with her Avanturada, whom she privately acquainted with
+her sorrow, both as regards her mother’s harshness and her own regret
+at having lost the son of the Infante of Fortune; but she never spoke of
+her regret for Amadour except to console his wife.
+
+This young lady then resolved to keep God and honour before her eyes. So
+well did she conceal her grief, that none of her friends perceived that
+her husband was displeasing to her.
+
+In this way she spent a long time, living a life that was worse than
+death, as she failed not to inform her lover Amadour, who, knowing the
+virtue and greatness of her heart, as well as the love that she had
+borne to the son of the Infante of Fortune, thought it impossible that
+she could live long, and mourned for her as for one that was more than
+dead. This sorrow was an increase to his former grief, and forgetting
+his own distress in that which he knew his sweetheart was enduring, he
+would willingly have continued all his life the slave he was if Florida
+could thereby have had a husband after her own heart. He learnt from a
+friend whom he had gained at the Court of Tunis that the King, wishing
+to keep him if only he could make a good Turk of him, intended to give
+him his choice between impalement and the renunciation of his faith.
+Thereupon he so addressed himself to his master, the governor who had
+taken him prisoner, that he persuaded him to release him on parole. His
+master named, however, a much higher ransom than he thought could be
+raised by a man of such little wealth, and then, without speaking to the
+King, he let him go.
+
+When Amadour reached the Court of the King of Spain, he stayed there but
+a short time, and then, in order to seek his ransom among his friends,
+he repaired to Barcelona, whither the young Duke of Cardona, his mother,
+and Florida had gone on business. As soon as Avanturada heard that her
+husband was returned, she told the news to Florida, who rejoiced as
+though for love of her friend. Fearing, however, that her joy at seeing
+Amadour might make her change her countenance, and that those who did
+not know her might think wrongly of her, she remained at a window in
+order to see him coming from afar. As soon as she perceived him she went
+down by a dark staircase, so that none could see whether she changed
+colour, and embracing Amadour, led him to her room, and thence to her
+mother-in-law, who had never seen him. He had not been there for two
+days before he was loved as much as he had been in the household of the
+Countess of Aranda.
+
+I leave you to imagine the conversation that he and Florida had
+together, and how she complained to him of the misfortunes that had come
+to her in his absence. After shedding many tears of sorrow, both for
+having been married against her will and also for having lost one she
+loved so dearly without any hope of seeing him again, she resolved to
+take consolation from the love and trust she had towards Amadour. Though
+she durst not declare the truth, he suspected it, and lost neither time
+nor opportunity to show her how much he loved her.
+
+Just when Florida was all but persuaded to receive him, not as a lover,
+but as a true and perfect friend, a misfortune came to pass, for the
+King summoned Amadour to him concerning some important matter.
+
+His wife was so grieved on hearing these tidings that she swooned, and
+falling down a staircase on which she was standing, was so hurt that she
+never rose again. Florida having by this death lost all her consolation,
+mourned like one who felt herself bereft of friends and kin. But Amadour
+grieved still more; for on the one part he lost one of the best wives
+that ever lived, and on the other the means of ever seeing Florida
+again. This caused him such sorrow that he was near coming by a sudden
+death. The old Duchess of Cardona visited him incessantly, reciting the
+arguments of philosophers why he should endure his loss with patience.
+But all was of no avail; for if on the one hand his wife’s death
+afflicted him, on the other his love increased his martyrdom. Having no
+longer any excuse to stay when his wife was buried, and his master again
+summoned him, his despair was such that he was like to lose his reason.
+
+Florida, who thinking to comfort him, was herself the cause of his
+greatest grief, spent a whole afternoon in the most gracious converse
+with him in order to lessen his sorrow, and assured him that she would
+find means to see him oftener than he thought. Then, as he was to depart
+on the following morning, and was so weak that he could scarcely stir
+from his bed, he prayed her to come and see him in the evening after
+every one else had left him. This she promised to do, not knowing that
+love in extremity is void of reason.
+
+Amadour altogether despaired of ever again seeing her whom he had loved
+so long, and from whom he had received no other treatment than I have
+described. Racked by secret passion and by despair at losing all means
+of consorting with her, he resolved to play at double or quits, and
+either lose her altogether or else wholly win her, and so pay himself in
+an hour the reward which he thought he had deserved. Accordingly he had
+his bed curtained in such a manner that those who came into the room
+could not see him; and he complained so much more than he had done
+previously that all the people of the house thought he had not
+twenty-four hours to live.
+
+After every one else had visited him, Florida, at the request of her
+husband himself, came in the evening, hoping to comfort him by declaring
+her affection and by telling him that, so far as honour allowed, she was
+willing to love him. She sat down on a chair beside the head of his
+bed, and began her consolation by weeping with him. Amadour, seeing her
+filled with such sorrow, thought that in her distress he might the more
+readily achieve his purpose, and raised himself up in the bed. Florida,
+thinking that he was too weak to do this, sought to prevent him, but he
+threw himself on his knees before her saying, “Must I lose sight of you
+for ever?” Then he fell into her arms like one exhausted. The hapless
+Florida embraced him and supported him for a long time, doing all she
+could to comfort him. But what she offered him to cure his pain only
+increased it; and while feigning to be half dead, he, without saying a
+word, strove to obtain that which the honour of ladies forbids.
+
+When Florida perceived his evil purpose, in which she could hardly
+believe after all his honourable conversation, she asked him what he
+sought to do. Amadour, fearing her reply, which he knew could not
+be otherwise than chaste and virtuous, said nothing, but pursued his
+attempt with all the strength that he could muster. Florida, greatly
+astonished, suspected rather that he had lost his senses than that he
+was really bent upon her dishonour, and called out to a gentleman whom
+she knew to be in the room; whereupon Amadour in extreme despair flung
+himself back upon his bed so suddenly that the gentleman thought him
+dead.
+
+Florida, who had risen from her chair, then said to the gentleman--
+
+“Go quickly for some strong vinegar.”
+
+This the gentleman did, whereupon Florida said--
+
+“What madness, Amadour, has mounted to your brain? What was it you
+thought and wished to do?”
+
+Amadour, who had lost all reason in the vehemence of his love, replied--
+
+“Does so long a service merit so cruel a reward?”
+
+“And what of the honour of which you have so often preached to me?” said
+Florida.
+
+“Ah! madam,” said Amadour, “it would be impossible to hold your honour
+more dear than I have held it. Before you were married, I was able so
+to subdue my heart that you knew nothing of my desires, but now that you
+are wedded and your honour may be shielded, do I wrong you in asking for
+what is mine? By the strength of my love I have won you. He who first
+possessed your heart had so little desire for your person that he
+deserved to lose both. He who now owns your person is not worthy to have
+your heart, and hence even your person does not properly belong to him.
+But for five or six years I have for your sake borne many pains and
+woes, which must show you that your body and heart belong to me alone.
+Think not to defend yourself by speaking of conscience, for when love
+constrains body and heart sin is never imputed. Those who are driven by
+frenzy so far as to slay themselves cannot sin, for passion leaves no
+room for reason; and if the passion of love be more intolerable than any
+other, and more blinding to the senses, what sin could you fasten upon
+one who yields to the conduct of such indomitable power? I am going
+away, and have no hope of ever seeing you again; but if before my
+departure I could have of you that assurance which the greatness of
+my love deserves, I should be strengthened sufficiently to endure in
+patience the sorrows of a long separation. If you will not grant me my
+request you will ere long learn that your harshness has brought me to a
+miserable and a cruel death.” (18)
+
+     18  The passage commencing “Those who are driven” and ending
+     “a cruel death” is deficient in the earlier editions of the
+     _Heptameron_, which give the following in place of it: “Do
+     not doubt but what those who have felt the power of love
+     will cast the blame on you who have so robbed me of my
+     liberty and dazzled my senses with your divine graces, that
+     not knowing what to do henceforth, I am constrained to go
+     away without the hope of ever seeing you again; certain,
+     however, that wherever I may be, you will still have part of
+     my heart, which will ever remain yours, be I on land, on the
+     sea, or in the hands of my most cruel enemies.” The above is
+     one of various instances of the liberty taken by Boaistuau
+     and Gruget with Margaret’s text.--Ed.
+
+Florida was not less grieved than astonished to hear these words from
+one whom she had never imagined capable of such discourse, and, weeping,
+she thus replied--
+
+“Alas, Amadour, is this the honourable converse that we used to have
+together while I was young? Is this the honour or conscience which many
+a time you counselled me to value more than life? Have you forgotten
+both the worthy examples you set before me of virtuous ladies who
+withstood unholy love, and also your own contempt for erring women? I
+cannot believe you so changed, Amadour, that regard for God, your own
+conscience, and my honour is wholly dead within you. But if it indeed
+be as you say, I praise the divine goodness which has prevented the
+misfortune into which I was about to fall, and has revealed to me by
+your own words the heart of which I was so ignorant. Having lost the
+son of the Infante of Fortune, not only by my marriage, but also, as
+is known to me, by reason of his love for another, and finding myself
+wedded to a man whom, strive as I may, I cannot love, I resolved to set
+heart and affection entirely on loving you. This love I built upon that
+virtue which I had so often perceived in you, and to which by your own
+assistance I think I have attained--I mean the virtue of loving one’s
+honour and conscience more than life. I came hither thinking to make
+this rock of virtue a sure foundation of love. But you have in a
+moment shown me, Amadour, that instead of a pure and cleanly rock, this
+foundation would have been one of shifting sand or filthy mire; and
+although a great part of the house in which I hoped always to dwell
+had already been raised, you have suddenly demolished it. Lay aside,
+therefore, any hope you had concerning me, and make up your mind not to
+seek me by look or word wherever I may be, or to hope that I shall ever
+be able or willing to change my resolve. It is with the deepest sorrow
+that I tell you this, though had I gone so far as to swear eternal
+love with you, I know that my heart could not have lived through this
+meeting. Even now I am so confounded to find myself deceived, that I
+am sure my life will be either short or sad. With these words I bid you
+farewell, and for ever.”
+
+I will not try to describe to you the grief that Amadour felt on hearing
+this speech. It is impossible not only to describe it, but even to
+conceive it, except indeed to such as have experienced the like. Seeing
+that with this cruel conclusion she was about to leave him, he seized
+her by the arm, knowing full well that, if he did not remove her evil
+opinion of him, he would lose her for ever. Accordingly he dissembled
+his looks as well as he could, and said--
+
+“During my whole life, madam, I have desired to love a woman of virtue,
+and having found so few of them, I was minded to put you to proof, and
+so discover whether you were as well worthy of esteem as of love. Now I
+know for certain that you are; and therefore I give praise to God, who
+has inclined my heart to the love of such great perfection. I entreat
+you to pardon my mad and foolhardy attempt, seeing that the issue of it
+has turned to your honour and to my great satisfaction.”
+
+Florida was beginning to learn through him the deceitfulness of men;
+and, just as she had formerly found it difficult to believe in evil
+where it existed, so did she now find it even more difficult to believe
+in virtue where there was none.
+
+“Would to God you spoke the truth,” she said to him; “but I am not so
+ignorant as not to know by my experience in marriage that the blindness
+of strong passion led you to act as you did. Had God given me a loose
+rein I am sure that you would not have drawn bridle. Those who go in
+quest of virtue are wont to take a different road to yours. But enough;
+if I have been too hasty in crediting you with some goodness, it is time
+I learned the truth, by which I am now delivered out of your hands.”
+
+So saying, Florida left the room. As long as the night lasted she did
+nought but weep; for the change that had taken place caused her intense
+grief, and her heart had much ado to hold out against the sorrowing of
+love. Although, guided by reason, she had resolved to love no more, yet
+the heart, which cannot be subdued, would in no wise permit this. Thus
+she was unable to love him less than before, and knowing that love had
+been the cause of his offence, she made up her mind to satisfy love by
+continuing to love him with her whole heart, and to obey honour by never
+giving any sign of her affection either to him or to any one else.
+
+In the morning Amadour departed in the distress that I have described.
+Nevertheless his heart, which was so lofty that there was none like
+it in the world, suffered him not to despair, but prompted him to
+new devices for seeing Florida again and winning her favour. So as he
+proceeded to the King of Spain, who was then at Toledo, he took his way
+through the county of Aranda, where he arrived very late one evening,
+and found the Countess in great sadness on account of the absence of her
+daughter.
+
+When she saw Amadour she kissed and embraced him as though he had been
+her own son, and this no less for the love she herself bore him as for
+that which she suspected he had for Florida. She asked minutely for news
+of her daughter, and he told her what he could, though not the entire
+truth. However, he confessed the love which existed between them, and
+which Florida had always concealed; and he begged the Countess to aid
+him in hearing often of Florida, and to take her as speedily as possible
+to Aranda.
+
+At daybreak he went on his way, and when he had despatched his business
+with the King he left for the war. So sad was he and so changed in
+every way that ladies, captains, and acquaintances alike could scarcely
+recognise him.
+
+He now wore nothing but black, and this of a heavier pile than was
+needful as mourning for his dead wife; but indeed her death served only
+as a cloak for the sorrow that was in his heart. Thus Amadour spent
+three or four years without returning to Court.
+
+The Countess of Aranda hearing that Florida was changed and that it was
+pitiful to see her, sent for her, hoping that she would return home. The
+contrary, however, happened. When Florida learned that Amadour had
+told her mother of their love, and that she, although so discreet and
+virtuous, had approved of it, she was in extraordinary perplexity. On
+the one hand she perceived that if her mother, who had such great esteem
+for Amadour, were told the truth some mischief might befall the latter;
+and this even to save her life she would not have brought to pass, for
+she felt strong enough to punish his folly herself without calling on
+her kinsfolk for assistance. On the other hand she saw that, if she
+concealed the evil she knew of him, she would be constrained by her
+mother and all her friends to speak to him and show him favour, and this
+she feared would only strengthen his evil purpose. However, as he was
+a long way off, she kept her own counsel, and wrote to him whenever the
+Countess commanded her. Still her letters were such that he could see
+they were written more out of obedience than goodwill; and the grief
+he felt in reading them was as great as his joy had been in reading the
+earlier ones.
+
+At the end of two or three years, when he had performed so many noble
+deeds that all the paper in Spain could not contain the records of them,
+(19) he conceived a very skilful device, not indeed to win Florida’s
+heart, which he looked upon as lost, but to gain the victory over his
+enemy, since such she had shown herself to be. He put aside all the
+promptings of reason and even the fear of death, and at the risk of
+his life resolved to act in the following way. He persuaded the chief
+Governor (20) to send him on an embassy to the King concerning some
+secret attempt against Leucate; (21) and he procured a command to
+take counsel with the Countess of Aranda about the matter before
+communicating it to the King.
+
+     19  Margaret, perhaps, wrote “All the paper of Spain could
+     not contain them,” simply because Spanish paper was then of
+     very small size. Paper-making had, however, been almost
+     monopolised by Spain until the end of the thirteenth
+     century, the cotton used in the manufacture being imported
+     from the East.--M.
+
+     20  The Viceroy of Catalonia.--D.
+
+     21  Leucate, now a village, but said to have been a
+     flourishing town in the fourteenth century, lies near the
+     Mediterranean, at a few miles from Salces, and gives its
+     name to a large salt-water lake. Formerly fortified, it was
+     repeatedly besieged and burnt by the Spaniards; notably by
+     the Duke of Alba in 1503, after he had relieved Salces.--Ed.
+
+Then he came post haste to the county of Aranda, where he knew Florida
+to be, and secretly sent a friend to inform the Countess of his coming,
+praying her to keep it secret, and to grant him audience at nightfall
+without the knowledge of any one.
+
+The Countess, who was very pleased at his coming, spoke of it to
+Florida, and sent her to undress in her husband’s room, that she might
+be ready when sent for after every one was gone to bed. Florida had not
+yet recovered from her first alarm, but she said nothing of it to her
+mother, and withdrew to an oratory in order to commend herself to Our
+Lord. While she was praying that her heart might be preserved from
+all evil affection, she remembered that Amadour had often praised her
+beauty, and that in spite of long illness it had not been impaired.
+Being, therefore, more willing to injure her beauty than suffer it to
+kindle an evil flame in the heart of an honourable gentleman, she took a
+stone which lay in the chapel and struck herself a grievous blow on the
+face so that her mouth, nose, and eyes were quite disfigured. Then,
+in order that no one might suspect it to be of her own doing, she let
+herself fall upon her face on leaving the chapel when summoned by the
+Countess, and cried out loudly. The Countess coming thither found her
+in this pitiful state, and forthwith caused her face to be dressed and
+bandaged.
+
+Then the Countess led her to her own apartment, and begged her to go
+to her room and entertain Amadour until she herself had got rid of her
+company. This Florida did, thinking that there were others with him.
+
+But when she found herself alone with him, and the door closed upon her,
+she was as greatly troubled as he was pleased. He thought that, by love
+or violence, he would now have what he desired; so he spoke to her, and
+finding that she made the same reply as before, and that even to save
+her life she would not change her resolve, he was beside himself with
+despair.
+
+“Before God, Florida,” he said to her, “your scruples shall not rob me
+of the fruits of my labour. Since love, patience, and humble entreaty
+are of no avail, I will spare no strength of mine to gain the boon, upon
+which all its existence depends.”
+
+Florida saw that his eyes and countenance were altered exceedingly, so
+that his complexion, naturally the fairest in the world, was now as red
+as fire, and his look, usually so gentle and pleasant, had become as
+horrible and furious as though fierce flames were blazing in his heart
+and face. In his frenzy he seized her delicate, weak hands in his own
+strong, powerful ones; and she, finding herself in such bondage that she
+could neither defend herself nor fly, thought that her only chance was
+to try whether he had not retained some traces of his former love, for
+the sake of which he might forego his cruelty. She therefore said to
+him--
+
+“If you now look upon me, Amadour, in the light of an enemy, I entreat
+you, by that pure love which I once thought was in your heart, to
+hearken to me before you put me to torture.”
+
+Seeing that he became attentive, she continued--
+
+“Alas! Amadour, what can prompt you to seek after a thing that can
+afford you no satisfaction, and thus afflict me with the profoundest
+grief? You made trial of my inclinations in the days of my youth and
+earliest beauty, and they perhaps served to excuse your passion; but I
+am amazed that now, when I am old, and ugly, and sorrow-stricken, you
+should seek for what you know you can never find. I am sure you do not
+doubt that my mind is as it used to be, and so by force alone can you
+obtain what you desire. If you observe the condition of my face, and lay
+aside the memory of the beauty that once you saw in it, you will have no
+inclination to draw any nearer; and if you still retain within you any
+remnants of your past love, it is impossible that pity will not subdue
+your frenzy. To this pity, which I have often found in you, I appeal
+with prayers for mercy. Suffer me to live in peace, and in that honour
+which by your own counsel I have resolved to preserve. But if the love
+you once bore me is now turned to hate, and you desire, in vengeance
+rather than in love, to make me the unhappiest woman alive, I protest to
+you that it shall not be so. You will force me against my will to make
+your evil purpose known to her who thinks so highly of you; and you may
+be sure that, when she learns it, your life will not be safe.”
+
+But Amadour interrupted her.
+
+“If I must die,” he said, “I shall be the sooner rid of my torment.
+The disfigurement of your face, which I believe is of your own seeking,
+shall not restrain me from making you mine. Though I could have nothing
+but your bones, I would yet hold them close to me.”
+
+When Florida saw that prayers, reasoning, and tears were alike of no
+avail, and that while he cruelly pursued his evil purpose she lacked
+the strength to resist him, she summoned the aid which she dreaded as
+greatly as death, and in a sad and piteous voice called as loudly as she
+could upon her mother. The Countess, hearing her daughter’s cries,
+had grave misgivings of the truth, and hastened into the room with all
+possible speed.
+
+Amadour, who was not so ready to die as he affirmed, desisted promptly
+from his enterprise; and when the lady opened the door she found him
+close beside it, and Florida some distance from him. “Amadour,” said the
+Countess, “what is the matter? Tell me the truth.”
+
+Amadour, who was never at a loss for invention, replied with a pale and
+daunted face--
+
+“Alas! madam, what change is this in the lady Florida? I was never so
+astonished before, for, as I have told you, I thought I had a share in
+her favour; but I now see clearly that I have lost it all. While she was
+being brought up by you, she was, I think, no less discreet or virtuous
+than she is at present; however, she had then no qualms of conscience
+about speaking with any one. But now, when I sought to look at her, she
+would not suffer me to do so. When I saw this behaviour on her part I
+thought I must be dreaming, and asked her for her hand to kiss it after
+the manner of the country. This she utterly refused me. I acknowledge,
+madam, that then I acted wrongfully, and I entreat your pardon for it;
+for I took her hand, as it were by force, and kissed it. I asked nothing
+more of her, but I believe that she intends my death, for she called out
+to you as you know. Why she did this I cannot tell, unless indeed she
+feared that I had some other purpose in view. Nevertheless, madam, be
+this as it may, I confess that I am in the wrong; for although she ought
+to love all who are devoted to you, fortune wills it that I, who am of
+all most attached to her, am banished from her good graces. Still, I
+shall ever continue the same both to you and to her; and I entreat you
+to continue me in your good favour since, by no fault of my own, I have
+now lost hers.”
+
+The Countess, who partly believed and partly suspected him, went up to
+her daughter and asked--“Why did you call me so loudly?”
+
+Florida replied that she had felt afraid; and, although the Countess
+questioned her minutely on many points, she would give no other reply.
+Finding that she had escaped from her enemy she deemed him sufficiently
+punished by the failure of his attempt.
+
+After the Countess had had a long conversation with Amadour, she
+suffered him to speak again in her presence with Florida, to see how
+he would behave. He said but little, save that he thanked her for not
+having confessed the truth to her mother, and begged that since she had
+expelled him from her heart, she would at least allow no other to take
+his place.
+
+“If my voice had not been my only means of defending myself,” she
+replied, “it would never have been heard; and from me you shall have no
+worse punishment, if you do not force me to it by troubling me again as
+you have done. Do not fear that I can ever love another; since I have
+not found the good I wished for in a heart that I considered to be the
+most virtuous in the world, I do not expect to find it in any man. This
+evil fortune will henceforth free me of all the passion that love can
+give.”
+
+With these words she bade him farewell.
+
+Her mother, who had been watching her face, was unable to form any
+opinion; though from that time forth she clearly saw that her daughter
+had lost all affection for Amadour. She imagined her so devoid of reason
+as to hate everything that she herself loved; and from that hour she
+warred with her in a strange way, spending seven years without speaking
+to her except in anger, all which she did at Amadour’s request.
+
+Meanwhile, on account of her mother’s harsh treatment, Florida’s former
+dread of being with her husband was changed into a desire of never
+leaving him. Seeing, however, that all her efforts were useless, she
+resolved to deceive Amadour, and laying aside her coldness for a day
+or two, she advised him to pay court to a lady who, she said, had been
+speaking of their love.
+
+This lady lived with the Queen of Spain, and was called Loretta. Amadour
+believed the story, and, thinking that he might in this way regain
+Florida’s good graces, he made love to Loretta, who was the wife of a
+captain, one of the viceroys of the King of Spain. She, in her pleasure
+at having gained such a lover, showed so much elation that the affair
+was rumoured abroad. Even the Countess of Aranda, who was at Court, had
+knowledge of it, and thenceforward treated Florida less harshly than
+before.
+
+One day Florida heard that the captain, Loretta’s husband, had grown
+jealous, and was resolved to kill Amadour in one way or another as best
+he might. In spite of her altered treatment of Amadour, Florida did not
+desire that evil should befall him, and so she immediately informed
+him of what she had heard. He was quite ready to hark back again to his
+first love, and thereupon told her that, if she would grant him three
+hours of her conversation every day, he would never again speak to
+Loretta. But this she would not grant. “Then,” said Amadour, “if you
+will not give me life, why prevent me from dying, unless indeed you hope
+to make me suffer more pain during life than any death could cause? But
+though death shun me, I will seek it until I find it; then only shall I
+have rest.”
+
+While they were on this footing, news came that the King of Granada (22)
+was entering upon a great war against the King of Spain. The latter,
+therefore, sent the Prince, his son, (23) to the war, and with him the
+Constable of Castille and the Duke of Alba, (24) two old and prudent
+lords. The Duke of Cardona and the Count of Aranda were unwilling to
+remain behind, and prayed the King to give them some command. This
+he did as befitted their rank, and gave them into the safe keeping of
+Amadour, who performed such extraordinary deeds during the war, that
+they seemed to be acts as much of despair as of bravery.
+
+     22  The last King of Granada was Mahomed Boabdil, dethroned
+     in 1493. The title may have been assumed, however, by the
+     leader of an insurrection.--D.
+
+     23  As Ferdinand and Isabella had no son, the reference must
+     be to their daughter’s husband, Philip the Fair of Austria,
+     son of the Emperor Maximilian I. and father of Charles V.--
+     B. J.
+
+     24  Frederick of Toledo, Marquis of Coria and Duke of Alba,
+     generally called the old Duke of Alba to distinguish him
+     from his son.--B. J.
+
+Coming now to the point of my story, I have to relate how his
+overboldness was proved by his death. The Moors had made a show of
+offering battle, and finding the Christian army very numerous had
+feigned a retreat. The Spaniards started in pursuit, but the old
+Constable and the Duke of Alba, who suspected the trickery of the Moors,
+restrained the Prince of Spain against his will from crossing the river.
+The Count of Aranda, however, and the Duke of Cardona crossed, although
+it was forbidden; and when the Moors saw that they were pursued by only
+a few men they faced about again. The Duke of Cardona was struck down
+and killed with a blow of a scimitar, and the Count of Aranda was so
+grievously wounded that he was left for dead. Thereupon Amadour came up
+filled with rage and fury, and bursting through the throng, caused the
+two bodies to be taken up and carried to the camp of the Prince, who
+mourned for them as for his own brothers. On examining their wounds the
+Count of Aranda was found to be still alive, and was sent in a litter
+to his home, where he lay ill for a long time. On the other hand, the
+Duke’s body was sent back to Cardona.
+
+Meanwhile Amadour, having made this effort to rescue the two bodies, had
+thought so little of his own safety that he found himself surrounded by
+a large number of Moors. Not desiring his person to be captured any more
+than he had captured that of his mistress, nor to break his faith with
+God as he had broken faith with her--for he knew that, if he were taken
+to the King of Granada, he must either die a cruel death or renounce
+Christianity--he resolved to withhold from his enemies the glory
+either of his death or capture. So kissing the cross of his sword and
+commending his body and soul to God, he dealt himself such a thrust as
+to be past all help.
+
+Thus died the unhappy Amadour, lamented as deeply as his virtues
+deserved. The news spread through the whole of Spain; and the rumour of
+it came to Florida, who was at Barcelona, where her husband had formerly
+commanded that he should be buried. She gave him an honourable funeral,
+(25) and then, without saying anything to her mother or mother-in-law,
+she became a nun in the Convent of Jesus, taking for husband and lover
+Him who had delivered her from such a violent love as that of Amadour’s,
+and from such great affliction as she had endured in the company of her
+husband. Thus were all her affections directed to the perfect loving of
+God; and, after living for a long time as a nun, she yielded up her soul
+with gladness, like that of the bride when she goes forth to meet the
+bridegroom.
+
+     25  The Franciscan monastery of the little village cf
+     Bellpuig, near Lerida, contains the tomb of Ramon de
+     Cardona, termed one of the marvels of Catalonia on account
+     of the admirable sculptures adorning it. One of the
+     beautiful white marble bas-reliefs shows a number of galleys
+     drawn up in line of battle, whilst some smaller boats are
+     conveying parties of armed men to a river-bank on which the
+     Moors are awaiting them in hostile array. On the frieze of
+     an arch the Spaniards and Moors are shown fighting, many of
+     the former retreating towards the water. An inscription
+     records that the tomb was raised to the best of husbands by
+     Isabella, his unhappy spouse.
+
+     Margaret gives the name of Florida to the wife of the Duke
+     whom she mentions, but it should be borne in mind that she
+     has systematically mingled fact with fiction throughout this
+     story; and that she was alluding to the Duke buried at
+     Bellpuig seems evident from an examination of the bas-
+     reliefs mentioned above. Ramon de Cardona was, however, a
+     more important personage than she pictures him. He became
+     Charles V.’s viceroy in Naples, and did not die till 1520,
+     whereas Margaret’s story appears to end in or about 1513.
+     Possibly she saw the tomb when in Spain.--Ed.
+
+“I am well aware, ladies, that this long tale may have been wearisome
+to some among you, but had I told it as it was told to me it would have
+been longer still. Take example, I beg you, by the virtue of Florida,
+but be somewhat less cruel; and think not so well of any man that, when
+you are undeceived, you occasion him a cruel death and yourselves a life
+of sorrow.”
+
+Having had a long and fair hearing Parlamente said to Hircan--
+
+“Do you not think that this lady was pressed to extremities and that she
+held out virtuously?”
+
+“No,” said Hircan; “a woman can make no more feeble resistance than to
+cry out. If she had been in a place where none could hear her I do not
+know how she would have fared. And if Amadour had had more love and less
+fear he would not have desisted from his attempt for so little. So
+this story will not cause me to change my firm opinion that no man
+ever perfectly loved a lady, or was loved by her, that he did not prove
+successful if only he went the right way to work. Nevertheless, I must
+praise Amadour for having in part done his duty.”
+
+“What duty?” asked Oisille. “Do you call it a lover’s duty to try
+and take his mistress by force when he owes her all reverence and
+submission?”
+
+Here Saffredent took up the discourse.
+
+“Madam,” he said, “when our mistresses hold their state in chamber or
+hall, seated at their ease as though they were our judges, we lead
+them to the dance in fear; we wait upon them with all diligence and
+anticipate their commands; and we are so afraid of offending them and so
+desirous of doing them service that those who see us pity us, and often
+deem us more witless than brutes. They account us dull and void of
+understanding, and give praise to the ladies, whose faces are so
+imperious and their speech so fair that they make themselves feared,
+loved, and honoured by those who only know them outwardly. But when we
+are together in private, and love alone can judge our behaviour, we
+know full well that they are women and we are men. Then is the name
+‘mistress’ changed to ‘sweetheart,’ and the ‘slave’ becomes a ‘lover.’
+As the proverb says--‘By service true and loyalty, do servants rise to
+mastery.’ They have honour equally with men, who can give it to them and
+can take it away; and seeing us suffer in patience, they should reward
+us when they can do so without hurt to their honour.”
+
+“You do not speak of that true honour,” said Longarine, “which is the
+greatest happiness this world can give. If every one calls me a virtuous
+woman, and I myself know the contrary, the praise I receive only
+increases my shame and puts me in secret to still greater confusion. In
+the same way, if people condemn me and I know that I am innocent, their
+condemnation will only make me the better pleased with myself.”
+
+“In spite of what you all have said,” interposed Geburon, “it seems to
+me that Amadour was as noble and virtuous a knight as ever lived, and I
+think I can recognise him under his feigned name. Since Parlamente would
+not name him, neither will I. But you may rest assured that, if he be
+the man whom I have in mind, his heart never knew fear, nor was ever
+void of love and bravery.”
+
+“The day has been spent so pleasantly,” said Oisille, “that if the
+others are like it I think our talk will make the time pass quickly by.
+But see where the sun is, and listen to the abbey bell, which has long
+been calling us to vespers. I did not mention this to you before, for I
+was more inclined to hear the end of the story than to go to prayers.”
+
+At these words they all rose, and when they reached the abbey they found
+that the monks had been waiting for them a full hour and more. After
+vespers they went to supper, and during the whole evening they conversed
+about the stories they had heard, all of them searching every corner of
+their memories to try and make the second day as pleasant as the first.
+And after playing many games in the meadow they went to bed, and so made
+a glad and happy ending of the first day.
+
+
+[Illustration: 083.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+
+
+
+SECOND DAY.
+
+_On the Second Day is recounted the first conceit that presents itself
+to each_.
+
+
+
+
+PROLOGUE.
+
+On the morrow they rose in great eagerness to return to the place where
+they had had so much pleasure on the previous day. Each one was ready
+with a tale, and was impatient for the telling of it. They listened
+to the reading of Madame Oisille, and then heard mass, all commending
+themselves to God, and praying Him to grant them speech and grace for
+the continuance of their fellowship. Afterwards they went to dinner,
+reminding one another the while of many stories of the past.
+
+After dinner, they rested in their apartments, and at the appointed time
+returned to the meadow, where day and season alike seemed favourable to
+their plans. They all sat down on the natural seat afforded by the green
+sward, and Parlamente said--
+
+“Yesterday I told the tenth and last tale; it is therefore for me to
+choose who shall begin to-day. Madame Oisille was the first of the
+ladies to speak, as being the oldest and wisest, and so I now give my
+vote to the youngest--I do not also say the flightiest--for I am sure
+that if we all follow her leading we shall not delay vespers so long
+as we did yesterday. Wherefore, Nomerfide, you shall lead us, but I beg
+that you will not cause us to begin our second day in tears.”
+
+“There was no need to make that request,” said Nomerfide, “for one of
+our number has made me choose a tale which has taken such a hold on me
+that I can tell no other; and should it occasion sadness in you, your
+natures must be melancholy ones indeed.”
+
+[Illustration: 089.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XI._ (A).
+
+     _Madame de Roncex, while at the monastery of the Grey Friars
+     at Thouars, (1) was constrained to go in great haste to a
+     certain place, and, not looking to see whether the seats
+     were clean, sat down in a filthy spot and befouled both her
+     person and clothes; whereupon crying out for assistance, in
+     the hope that some woman would come and cleanse her, she was
+     waited on by men, who beheld her in the worst plight in
+     which a woman could be found_. (2)
+
+     1  In the department of the Deux-Sèvres.--Ed.
+
+     2  This story, given in Boaistuau’s version of Margaret’s
+     tales, and to be found in most of the MS. copies of the
+     _Heptameron_ at the ‘Paris Bibliothèque Nationale’, was not
+     included in the edition issued by Gruget, who replaced it by
+     a story called _The jests made by a Grey Friar_, for which
+     see _post_, p. 95 _et seq_.--Ed.
+
+In the household of Madame de la Trémoille there was a lady named
+Roncex, who one day, when her mistress had gone to visit the monastery
+of the Grey Friars, found herself in great need to go to a certain place
+whither her maid could not go in her stead. She took with her a girl
+named La Mothe to keep her company, but being modest and unwilling to
+be seen, left her in the room, and went alone into a darksome privy,
+a place used in common by all the friars, who had given such a good
+account therein of all their victuals, that seat and floor, and in sooth
+the whole place, were thickly covered with the must of Bacchus and Ceres
+that had passed through the friars’ bellies.
+
+The unhappy lady, who was so hard pressed that she had scarcely time to
+lift her dress, chanced to sit down in the foulest, dirtiest spot in the
+whole place, where she found herself stuck fast as though with glue, her
+poor hips, garments, and feet being so contaminated that she durst not
+take a step or turn on any side, for fear lest she should meet with
+something worse. Thereupon she began to call out as loudly as she
+could--
+
+“La Mothe, my child, I am ruined and undone!”
+
+The poor girl, who had formerly heard tell of the wickedness of the Grey
+Friars, and imagined that some of them were hidden there and were trying
+to take her mistress by force, thereupon ran off as hard as she could,
+saying to every one she met--
+
+“Come and help Madame de Roncex; the Grey Friars are trying to ravish
+her in yonder privy.”
+
+They thereupon hastened thither with all speed, and found the unhappy
+lady crying out for assistance, longing for some woman to come and
+cleanse her, and with her back parts all uncovered, for she feared to
+touch them with her garments lest these also should be defiled.
+
+The gentlemen, coming in at her cries, beheld this fine sight, but could
+see nought of the Grey Friars, unless it were their ordure clinging to
+her hips; nor did this pass without laughter on their part and great
+shame on hers, for instead of having women to cleanse her, she was
+waited on by men, who saw her naked, and in the sorriest plight in which
+a woman could be found. For this reason, on perceiving them, she
+soiled what was still clean, by dropping her garments in order to cover
+herself, forgetting the filth that she was in for the shame she felt at
+sight of the men. And when she had come out of that foul place it was
+necessary to strip her naked and change all her garments before she
+could leave the monastery. She was minded to be angry with La Mothe for
+the aid that she had brought her, but finding that the poor girl had
+thought her in a yet more evil plight, she put aside her wrath and
+laughed like the rest. (3)
+
+     3  It is impossible to identify the lady mentioned in this
+     story, her name being spelt in so many ways in the various
+     MSS. of the _Heptameron_. It is given as Roncex in the copy
+     here followed, as Roubex in a copy that belonged to Louis
+     XVIII., and as Roncci in the De Thou MS., whilst Boaistuau
+     printed it as Roucey. The Madame de la Trémoille, alluded to
+     at the outset, is believed by Lacroix and Dillaye to have
+     been Anne de Laval (daughter of Guy XV., Count of Laval, and
+     of Charlotte of Aragon, Princess of Tarento), who married
+     Francis de la Trémoille, Viscount of Thouars, in 1521, and
+     was by her mother a cousin of Queen Margaret. Possibly,
+     however, the reference is to Gabrielle de Bourbon, wife of
+     Louis II. de la Trémoille, a lady of exemplary piety, who
+     erected the beautiful Renaissance chapel of the château of
+     Thouars.--L. & Ed.
+
+“I think, ladies,” said Nomerfide, “that this story has proved neither
+long nor melancholy, and that I have given you what you expected.”
+
+At this the company laughed heartily, and Oisille said--“The story is
+indeed nasty and unclean, yet, knowing the persons who fared in this
+manner, we cannot consider it unwelcome. Gladly would I have seen the
+faces of La Mothe and of the lady to whom she brought such timely aid.
+But now,” she added to Nomerfide, “since you have finished so soon, give
+your vote to some one whose thoughts are of a graver turn.”
+
+“Since you desire me to atone for my fault,” answered Nomerfide, “I give
+my vote to Dagoucin, whose discretion is such that he would die rather
+than say anything foolish.”
+
+Dagoucin then thanked her for the esteem in which she held his good
+sense, and thus began--“The story I am minded to relate is intended to
+show you how love blinds the greatest and most honourable hearts, and
+how hard it is to overcome wickedness by any kindness whatsoever.”
+
+[Illustration: 093.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 095a.jpg The Grey Friar telling his Tales]
+
+[The Grey Friar telling his Tales]
+
+[Illustration: 095.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XI._ (B).
+
+     _Of the jests made by a Grey Friar in his sermons_. (1)
+
+     1  See _ante_, p. 89, note 2, _and post_. Appendix B.
+
+Near the town of Bléré in Touraine there is a village called St.
+Martin-le-Beau, whither a Grey Friar belonging to the monastery at
+Tours was summoned to preach during the seasons of Advent and Lent.
+This friar, who was more garrulous than learned, and now and then found
+himself at a loss for matter to eke out his hour, would thereupon begin
+telling tales which more or less agreeably satisfied the good villagers.
+
+One Holy Thursday he preached about the Paschal Lamb, and while speaking
+of how it was eaten at night, seeing that there were present at the
+preaching some handsome young ladies of Amboise, who were newly
+arrived to keep Easter at the village, and to stay there for a few days
+afterwards, he wished to surpass himself, and thereupon asked all the
+women-folk whether they knew what it was to eat raw flesh at night. “I
+will tell you what it is, ladies,” he said, whereat the young men of
+Amboise, who had just arrived with their wives, sisters, and nieces, and
+who had no knowledge of the pilgrim’s humour, began to be scandalised;
+though on listening further their indignation gave place to laughter,
+even when he said that to eat the lamb it was needful to have one’s
+loins girt, one’s feet in one’s shoes, and one’s hand on one’s staff.
+
+The friar, seeing them laugh at this, and guessing the reason,
+immediately corrected himself. “Well,” said he, “to have shoes on one’s
+feet and a staff in one’s hand; ‘tis all one.”
+
+That this sally was received with laughter you will readily believe.
+Even the ladies could not refrain from merriment, and for them he
+added other diverting sayings. Then finding the time was nearly up, and
+wishing the ladies to be well pleased with him when they departed, he
+said to them--“Now, fair ladies, when you are chatting presently with
+your gossips, you will be asking one another: ‘Who, pray, is this Master
+Friar, that speaks out so boldly? He must be a brisk fellow.’ I will
+tell you, ladies, yes, I will tell you, and be not astonished if I speak
+out boldly, for I am of Anjou, at your service.”
+
+With these words he ended his sermon, leaving his hearers more disposed
+to laugh at his foolish speeches than to weep in memory of our Lord’s
+Passion which was then being commemorated.
+
+The other sermons that he preached during the festival had much the
+same value. You are aware that these friars never fail to go begging
+for their Easter eggs, and receive not only eggs, but many other things,
+such as linen, yarn, chitterlings, hams, chines, and similar trifles. So
+when Easter Tuesday came, and the friar was making those exhortations to
+charity of which such folks as he are no niggards, he said--
+
+“I am bound to thank you, ladies, for the liberality you have shown to
+our poor monastery, and yet I cannot forbear telling you that you have
+hitherto not duly considered the nature of our wants. You have for the
+most part given us chitterlings, but of these we ourselves have no lack.
+God be praised, our monastery is indeed full of them. What then can we
+do with so many? I will tell you. My advice, ladies, is that you should
+mix your hams with our chitterlings; in this way you would bestow fine
+alms.”
+
+Then, continuing his sermon, he brought into it certain scandalous
+matter, and, whilst discoursing upon it somewhat bluntly and quoting
+sundry examples, he said in apparent amazement--
+
+“Truly, ladies and gentlemen of Saint-Martin, I am greatly astonished
+that you should be scandalised so unreasonably at what is less than
+nothing, and should tell tales of me wherever you go, saying: ‘It is a
+big business; who could have thought that the father would have got
+his landlady’s daughter with child?’ A monk get a girl with child!” he
+continued; “forsooth, what a wonder! But hark you, fair ladies, would
+you not rather have had cause for wonderment, had the girl acted thus by
+the monk?”
+
+“Such, ladies, was the wholesome food on which this worshipful shepherd
+fed the Lord’s flock. And so brazen was he, that after committing the
+sin, he spake openly of it in the pulpit, where nought should be said
+that tends to aught but the edification of one’s neighbour, and above
+all to the glory of God.”
+
+“Truly,” said Saffredent, “he was a master monk--I should have liked
+him nearly as well as Brother Anjibaut, who gets credit for all the
+jests that are spoken in merry company.”
+
+“For my part, I can see nothing laughable in such mockery,” said
+Oisille, “especially in such a place.”
+
+“You forget, madam,” said Nomerfide, “that at that time, though it
+was not so very long ago, the good villagers, and indeed most of the
+dwellers in the large towns, who think themselves cleverer than other
+people, had greater regard for such preachers as he than for those who
+purely and simply preached the holy Gospel to them.”
+
+“However that may be,” said Hircan, “he was not wrong in asking for hams
+in exchange for chitterlings, for in hams there is far more eating. And
+even if some devout creature had understood him amphibologically, as I
+believe he wished to be understood, neither he nor his brethren would
+have fared badly any more than the wench that had her bag full.”
+
+“But how impudent of him,” said Oisille, “to pervert the meaning of
+the text to suit his fancy, thinking that he had to do with beasts like
+himself, and shamelessly trying to entice the poor little women so that
+he might teach them how to eat raw flesh at night.”
+
+“True,” said Simontault; “but you forget that he saw before him those
+young tripe-sellers of Amboise in whose tub he would fain have washed
+his ------ shall I name it? No, but you understand me--and have treated
+them to a taste of it, not roasted, but stirring and frisking, so as to
+please them the more.”
+
+“Softly, softly, Simontault,” said Parlamente; “you forget yourself.
+Have you laid aside your accustomed modesty to don it only in time of
+necessity?”
+
+“No, madam, no,” said he; “‘twas the unworthy monk that led me astray.
+Wherefore, that we may return to the matter in hand, I beg Nomerfide,
+who caused my offence, to give her vote to some one who will make the
+company forget our common fault.”
+
+“Since you include me in your transgression,” said Nomerfide, “I will
+choose one who will atone for our failings, that is Dagoucin. He is so
+discreet that to save his life he would not say a foolish thing.”
+
+[Illustration: 100.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 101a.jpg The Gentleman killing the Duke]
+
+[The Gentleman killing the Duke]
+
+[Illustration: 101.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XII_.
+
+     _The Duke of Florence, having continually failed to make
+     known to a certain lady the love he bore her, confided in
+     her brother, and begged his assistance that he might attain
+     his ends. This, after many remonstrances, the brother agreed
+     to give, but it was a lip-promise only, for at the moment
+     when the Duke was expecting to vanquish her whom he had
+     deemed invincible, the gentleman slew him in his bed, in
+     this fashion freeing his country from a tyrant, and saving
+     both his own life and the honour of his house_. (1)
+
+     1  The basis of this story is historical. The event here
+     described--one of the most famous in the annals of
+     Florence--furnished Alfred de Musset with the subject of his
+     play _Lorenzaccio_, and served as the foundation of _The
+     Traitor_, considered to be Shirley’s highest achievement as
+     a dramatic poet. As Queen Margaret’s narrative contains
+     various errors of fact, Sismondi’s account of the affair, as
+     borrowed by him from the best Italian historians, is given
+     in the Appendix, C--Eu.
+
+Ten years ago there reigned in the city of Florence a Duke of the house
+of Medici who had married the Emperor’s natural daughter, Margaret.
+(2) She was still so young that the marriage could not be lawfully
+consummated, and, waiting till she should be of a riper age, the Duke
+treated her with great gentleness, and to spare her, made love to
+various ladies of the city, whom he was wont to visit at night, whilst
+his wife was sleeping.
+
+     2  The Duke here referred to was Alexander de’ Medici, first
+     Duke of Florence, in which city he was born in 1510. His
+     mother, a slave named Anna, was the wife of a Florentine
+     coachman, but Lorenzo II. de’ Medici, one of this woman’s
+     lovers, acknowledged him as his offspring, though, according
+     to some accounts, his real father was one of the popes,
+     Clement VII. or Julius II. After the Emperor Charles V. had
+     made himself master of Florence in 1530, he confided the
+     governorship of the city to Alexander, upon whom he bestowed
+     the title of Duke. Two years later Alexander threw off the
+     imperial control, and soon afterwards embarked on a career
+     of debauchery and crime. In 1536, Charles V., being desirous
+     of obtaining the support of Florence against France, treated
+     with Alexander, and gave him the hand of his illegitimate
+     daughter, Margaret. The latter--whose mother was Margaret
+     van Gheenst, a Flemish damsel of noble birth--was at that
+     time barely fourteen, having been born at Brussels in 1522.
+     The Queen of Navarre’s statements concerning the
+     youthfulness of the Duchess are thus corroborated by fact.
+     After the death of Alexander de’ Medici, his widow was
+     married to Octavius Farnese, Duke of Parma, who was then
+     only twelve years old, but by whom she eventually became the
+     mother of the celebrated Alexander Farnese. Margaret of
+     Austria occupies a prominent place in the history of the
+     Netherlands, which she governed during a lengthy period for
+     her brother Philip II. She died in retirement at Ortonna in
+     Italy in 1586.--L. and Ed.
+
+Among these there was one very beautiful, discreet, and honourable lady,
+sister to a gentleman whom the Duke loved even as himself, and to whom
+he gave such authority in his household that his orders were feared and
+obeyed equally with the Duke’s own. And moreover the Duke had no secrets
+that he did not share with this gentleman, so that the latter might have
+been called his second-self. (3)
+
+     3  The gentleman here mentioned was the Duke’s cousin,
+     Lorenzo di Pier-Francesco de’ Medici, commonly called
+     Lorenzino on account of his short stature. He was born at
+     Florence in 1514, and, being the eldest member of the junior
+     branch of the Medici family, it had been decided by the
+     Emperor Charles V. that he should succeed to the Dukedom of
+     Florence, if Alexander died without issue. Lorenzino
+     cultivated letters, and is said to have possessed
+     considerable wit, but, on the other hand, instead of being a
+     high-minded man, as Queen Margaret pictures him, he was a
+     thorough profligate, and willingly lent a hand in
+     Alexander’s scandalous amours. The heroine of this story is
+     erroneously described as Lorenzino’s sister; in point of
+     fact she was his aunt, Catherine Ginori. See Appendix, C.--
+     Ed.
+
+Finding the gentleman’s sister to be a lady of such exemplary virtue
+that he was unable to declare his passion to her, though he sought
+all possible opportunities for doing so, the Duke at last came to his
+favourite and said to him--
+
+“If there were anything in this world, my friend, that I might be
+unwilling to do for you, I should hesitate to tell you what is in my
+mind, and still more to beg your assistance. But such is the affection
+I bear you that had I wife, mother, or daughter who could avail to
+save your life, I would sacrifice them rather than allow you to die in
+torment. I believe that your love for me is the counterpart of mine for
+you, and that if I, who am your master, bear you so much affection,
+you, on your part, can have no less for me. I will therefore tell you a
+secret, the keeping of which has brought me to the condition you see. I
+have no hope of any improvement except it be through death or else the
+service which you are in a position to render me.”
+
+On hearing these words from the Duke, and seeing his face unfeignedly
+bathed in tears, the gentleman felt such great pity for him that he
+said--
+
+“Sir, I am your creature: all the wealth and honour that I am possessed
+of in this world come from you. You may speak to me as to your own
+soul, in the certainty that all that it be in my power to do is at your
+command.”
+
+Thereupon the Duke began to tell him of the love he bore his sister,
+a love so deep and strong that he feared he could not live much longer
+unless, by the gentleman’s help, he succeeded in satisfying his desire.
+He was well aware that neither prayers nor presents would be of any
+avail with the lady, wherefore he begged the gentleman--if he cared for
+his master’s life as much as he, his master, cared for his--to devise
+some means of procuring him the good fortune which, without such
+assistance, he could never hope to obtain.
+
+The brother, who loved his sister and the honour of his house far
+more than the Duke’s pleasure, endeavoured to remonstrate with him,
+entreating that he might be employed for any other purpose save the
+cruel task of soliciting the dishonour of his own kin, and declaring
+that the rendering of such a service was contrary alike to his
+inclinations and his honour.
+
+Inflamed with excessive wrath, the Duke raised his hand to his mouth and
+bit his nails.
+
+“Well,” said he in a fury, “since I find that you have no friendship for
+me, I know what I have to do.”
+
+The gentleman, who was acquainted with his master’s cruelty, felt
+afraid, and answered--
+
+“My lord, since such is your pleasure, I will speak to her, and tell you
+her reply.”
+
+“If you show concern for my life, I shall show it for yours,” replied
+the Duke, and thereupon he went away.
+
+The gentleman well understood the meaning of these words, and spent a
+day or two without seeing the Duke, considering what he should do. On
+the one hand he was confronted by the duty he owed his master, and the
+wealth and honours he had received from him; on the other by the honour
+of his house, and the fair fame and chastity of his sister. He well
+knew that she would never submit to such infamy unless through his own
+treachery she were overcome by violence, so unnatural a deed that if it
+were committed he and his kindred would be disgraced for ever. In this
+dilemma he decided that he would sooner die than so ill use his sister,
+who was one of the noblest women in all Italy, and ought rather to
+deliver his country of this tyrant who, abusing his power, sought to
+cast such a slur upon his family; for he felt sure that if the Duke
+were suffered to live, neither his own life nor the lives of his kindred
+would be safe. So without speaking of the matter to his sister or to any
+living creature, he determined to save his life and vindicate his honour
+at one and the same time. Accordingly, when a couple of days had gone
+by, he went to the Duke and told him that with infinite difficulty he
+had so wrought upon his sister that she had at last consented to do his
+will, provided that the matter were kept secret, and none but he, her
+brother, knew of it.
+
+The Duke, who was longing for these tidings, readily believed them, and
+embracing the ambassador, promised him anything that he might ask. He
+begged him to put his scheme quickly into execution, and they agreed
+together upon the time when this should be done. The Duke was in great
+joy, as may well be imagined; and on the arrival of that wished-for
+night when he hoped to vanquish her whom he had deemed invincible, he
+retired early, accompanied only by the lady’s brother, and failed not to
+attire himself in a perfumed shirt and head-gear. Then, when every one
+was gone to rest, he went with the gentleman to the lady’s abode, where
+he was conducted into a well-appointed apartment.
+
+Having undressed him and put him to bed, the gentleman said--
+
+“My lord, I will now go and fetch you one who will assuredly not enter
+this room without blushing; but I hope that before morning she will have
+lost all fear of you.”
+
+Leaving the Duke, he then went to his own room, where he found one of
+his servants, to whom he said--
+
+“Are you brave enough to follow me to a place where I desire to avenge
+myself upon my greatest living enemy?”
+
+The other, who was ignorant of his master’s purpose, replied--
+
+“Yes, sir, though it were the Duke himself.”
+
+Thereupon the gentleman led him away in such haste as to leave him no
+time to take any weapon except a poignard that he was wearing.
+
+The Duke, on hearing the gentleman coming back again, thought that he
+was bringing the loved one with him, and, opening his eyes, drew back
+the curtains in order to see and welcome the joy for which he had so
+long been waiting. But instead of seeing her who, so he hoped, was to
+preserve his life, he beheld something intended to take his life away,
+that is, a naked sword which the gentleman had drawn, and with which he
+smote the Duke. The latter was wearing nothing but his shirt, and lacked
+weapons, though not courage, for sitting up in the bed he seized the
+gentleman round the body, saying--
+
+“Is this the way you keep your promise?”
+
+Then, armed as he was only with his teeth and nails, he bit the
+gentleman’s thumb, and wrestled with him so stoutly that they both fell
+down beside the bed.
+
+The gentleman, not feeling altogether confident, called to his servant,
+who, finding the Duke and his master so closely twined together that
+he could not tell the one from the other, dragged them both by the feet
+into the middle of the room, and then tried to cut the Duke’s throat
+with his poignard. The Duke defended himself until he was so exhausted
+through loss of blood that he could do no more, whereupon the gentleman
+and his servant lifted him upon the bed and finished him with their
+daggers. They then drew the curtain and went away, leaving the dead body
+shut up in the room.
+
+Having vanquished his great enemy, by whose death he hoped to free
+his country, the gentleman reflected that his work would be incomplete
+unless he treated five or six of the Duke’s kindred in the same fashion.
+The servant, however, who was neither a dare-devil nor a fool, said to
+him--
+
+“I think, sir, that you have done enough for the present, and that it
+would be better to think of saving your own life than of taking the
+lives of others, for should we be as long in making away with each of
+them as we were in the case of the Duke, daylight would overtake our
+enterprise before we could complete it, even should we find our enemies
+unarmed.”
+
+Cowed by his guilty conscience, the gentleman followed the advice of his
+servant, and taking him alone with him, repaired to a Bishop (4) whose
+office it was to have the city gates opened, and to give orders to the
+guard-posts.
+
+     4  Probably Cardinal Cybo, Alexander’s chief minister, who
+     according to Sismondi, was the first to discover the
+     murder.--Ed.
+
+“I have,” said the gentleman to the Bishop, “this evening received
+tidings that one of my brothers is at the point of death. I have just
+asked leave of the Duke to go to him, and he has granted it me; and
+I beg you to send orders that the guards may furnish me with two good
+horses, and that the gatekeeper may let me through.”
+
+The Bishop, who regarded the gentleman’s request in the same light as an
+order from his master the Duke, forthwith gave him a note, by means of
+which the gate was opened for him, and horses supplied to him as he had
+requested; but instead of going to see his brother he betook himself
+straight to Venice, where he had himself cured of the bites that he had
+received from the Duke, and then passed over into Turkey. (5)
+
+     5  On leaving Florence, Lorenzo repaired first to Bologna
+     and then to Venice, where he informed Philip Strozzi of how
+     he had rid his country of the tyrant. After embracing him in
+     a transport, and calling him the Tuscan Brutus, Strozzi
+     asked the murderer’s sisters, Laudamina and Magdalen de’
+     Medici, in marriage for his own sons, Peter and Robert. From
+     Venice Lorenzino issued a _mémoire justificatif_, full of
+     quibbles and paradoxes, in which he tried to explain his
+     lack of energy after the murder by the indifference shown by
+     the Florentines. He took no part in the various enterprises
+     directed against Cosmo de’ Medici, who had succeeded
+     Alexander at Florence. Indeed his chief concern was for his
+     own safety, which was threatened alike by Cosmo and the
+     Emperor Charles V., and to escape their emissaries he
+     proceeded to Turkey, and thence to France, ultimately
+     returning to Venice, where, despite all his precautions
+     against danger, he was assassinated in 1547, together with
+     his uncle, Soderini, by some spadassins in the pay of Cosmo
+     I.--Ed.
+
+In the morning, finding that their master delayed his return so long,
+all the Duke’s servants suspected, rightly enough, that he had gone to
+see some lady; but at last, as he still failed to return, they began
+seeking him on all sides. The poor Duchess, who was beginning to love
+him dearly, was sorely distressed on learning that he could not be
+found; and as the gentleman to whom he bore so much affection was
+likewise nowhere to be seen, some went to his house in quest of him.
+They found blood on the threshold of the gentleman’s room, which they
+entered, but he was not there, nor could any servant or other person
+give any tidings of him. Following the blood-stains, however, the Duke’s
+servants came at last to the room in which their master lay. The door
+of it was locked, but this they soon broke open, and on seeing the floor
+covered with blood they drew back the bed-curtain, and found the unhappy
+Duke’s body lying in the bed, sleeping the sleep from which one cannot
+awaken.
+
+You may imagine the mourning of these poor servants as they carried
+the body to the palace, whither came the Bishop, who told them how the
+gentleman had departed with all speed during the night under pretence of
+going to see his brother. And by this it was clearly shown that it was
+he who had committed the murder. And it was further proved that his poor
+sister had known nothing whatever of the matter. For her part, albeit
+she was astounded by what had happened, she could but love her brother
+the more, seeing that he had not shrunk from risking his life in order
+to save her from so cruel a tyrant. And so honourable and virtuous was
+the life that she continued leading, that although she was reduced to
+poverty by the confiscation of the family property, both she and her
+sister found as honourable and wealthy husbands as there were in all
+Italy, and lived ever afterwards in high and good repute.
+
+“This, ladies, is a story that should make you dread that little god who
+delights in tormenting Prince and peasant, strong and weak, and so far
+blinds them that they lose all thought of God and conscience, and even
+of their own lives. And greatly should Princes and those in authority
+fear to offend such as are less than they; for there is no man but can
+wreak injury when it pleases God to take vengeance on a sinner, nor any
+man so great that he can do hurt to one who is in God’s care.”
+
+This tale was commended by all in the company, (6) but it gave rise
+to different opinions among them, for whilst some maintained that the
+gentleman had done his duty in saving his own life and his sister’s
+honour, as well as in ridding his country of such a tyrant, others
+denied this, and said it was rank ingratitude to slay one who had
+bestowed on him such wealth and station. The ladies declared that the
+gentleman was a good brother and a worthy citizen; the men, on the
+contrary, that he was a treacherous and wicked servant.
+
+     6  In MS. No. 1520 (Bib. Nat.) this sentence begins: “The
+     tale was attentively listened to by all,” &c.--L.
+
+And pleasant was it to hear the reasons which were brought forward on
+both sides; but the ladies, as is their wont, spoke as much from passion
+as from judgment, saying that the Duke was so well worthy of death that
+he who struck him down was a happy man indeed.
+
+Then Dagoucin, seeing what a controversy he had set on foot, said to
+them--
+
+“In God’s name, ladies, do not quarrel about a thing that is past and
+gone. Take care rather that your own charms do not occasion more cruel
+murders than the one which I have related.”
+
+“‘La belle Dame sans Mercy,’” (7) replied Parlamente, “has taught us to
+say that but few die of so pleasing an ailment.”
+
+     7  _La belle Dame sans Merci_ (The Pitiless Beauty) is one
+     of Alain Chartier’s best known poems. It is written in the
+     form of a dialogue between a lady and her lover: the former
+     having obstinately refused to take compassion on the
+     sufferings of her admirer, the latter is said to have died
+     of despair. The lines alluded to by Margaret are spoken by
+     the lady, and are to the following effect--“So graceful a
+     malady seldom puts men to death; yet the sooner to obtain
+     comfort, it is fitting one should say that it did. Some
+     complain and worry greatly who have not really felt the most
+     bitter affliction; and if indeed Love doth cause such great
+     torment, surely it were better there should be but one
+     sufferer rather than two.” The poem, as here quoted, will be
+     found in André Duchesne’s edition of the _OEuvres de Maistre
+     Alain Chartier_, Paris, 1617, p. 502.--L.
+
+“Would to God, madam,” answered Dagoucin, “that all the ladies in this
+company knew how false that saying is. I think they would then scarcely
+wish to be called pitiless, or to imitate that unbelieving beauty who
+suffered a worthy lover to die for lack of a gracious answer to his
+suit.”
+
+“So,” said Parlamente, “you would have us risk honour and conscience to
+save the life of a man who says he loves us.”
+
+“That is not my meaning,” replied Dagoucin, “for he who loves with a
+perfect love would be even more afraid of hurting his lady’s honour than
+would she herself. I therefore think that an honourable and graceful
+response, such as is called for by perfect and seemly love, must tend to
+the increase of honour and the satisfaction of conscience, for no true
+lover could seek the contrary.”
+
+“That is always the end of your speeches,” said Ennasuite; “they begin
+with honour and end with the contrary. However, if all the gentlemen
+present will tell the truth of the matter, I am ready to believe them on
+their oaths.”
+
+Hircan swore that for his own part he had never loved any woman but
+his own wife, and even with her had no desire to be guilty of any gross
+offence against God.
+
+Simontault declared the same, and added that he had often wished all
+women were froward excepting his own wife.
+
+“Truly,” said Geburon to him, “you deserve that your wife should be what
+you would have the others. For my own part, I can swear to you that I
+once loved a woman so dearly that I would rather have died than have led
+her to do anything that might have diminished my esteem for her. My love
+for her was so founded upon her virtues, that for no advantage that I
+might have had of her would I have seen them blemished.”
+
+At this Saffredent burst out laughing.
+
+“Geburon,” he said, “I thought that your wife’s affection and your own
+good sense would have guarded you from the danger of falling in love
+elsewhere, but I see that I was mistaken, for you still use the very
+phrases with which we are wont to beguile the most subtle of women, and
+to obtain a hearing from the most discreet. For who would close her ears
+against us when we begin our discourse by talking of honour and virtue?
+(8) But if we were to show them our hearts just as they are, there is
+many a man now welcome among the ladies whom they would reckon of but
+little account. But we hide the devil in our natures under the most
+angelic form we can devise, and in this disguise receive many favours
+before we are found out. And perhaps we lead the ladies’ hearts so far
+forward, that when they come upon vice while believing themselves on the
+high road to virtue, they have neither opportunity nor ability to draw
+back again.”
+
+     8  This sentence is borrowed from MS. No. 1520 (Bib. Nat.)--
+     L.
+
+“Truly,” said Geburon, “I thought you a different man than your words
+would show you to be, and fancied that virtue was more pleasing to you
+than pleasure.”
+
+“What!” said Saffredent. “Is there any virtue greater than that of
+loving in the way that God commands? It seems to me that it is much
+better to love one woman as a woman than to adore a number of women as
+though they were so many idols. For my part, I am firmly of opinion that
+use is better than abuse.”
+
+The ladies, however, all sided with Geburon, and would not allow
+Saffredent to continue, whereupon he said--
+
+“I am well content to say no more on this subject of love, for I have
+been so badly treated with regard to it that I will never return to it
+again.”
+
+“It is your own maliciousness,” said Longarine, “that has occasioned
+your bad treatment; for what virtuous woman would have you for a lover
+after what you have told us?”
+
+“Those who did not consider me unwelcome,” answered Saffredent, “would
+not care to exchange their virtue for yours. But let us say no more
+about it, that my anger may offend neither myself nor others. Let us see
+to whom Dagoucin will give his vote.”
+
+“I give it to Parlamente,” said Dagoucin, “for I believe that she must
+know better than any one else the nature of honourable and perfect
+love.”
+
+“Since I have been chosen to tell the third tale,” said Parlamente, “I
+will tell you something that happened to a lady who has always been one
+of my best friends, and whose thoughts have never been hidden from me.”
+
+[Illustration: 117.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 119a.jpg The Sea-captain talking to the Lady]
+
+[The Sea-captain talking to the Lady]
+
+[Illustration: 119.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XIII_.
+
+_A sea-captain, being greatly in love with a lady, sent her a diamond;
+but she despatched it to his wife, whom he had long neglected, and in
+this wise so atoned for his conduct that his wife was reconciled to him
+in perfect affection_. (1)
+
+     1   M. Le Roux de Lincy believes that this story has some
+     historical basis, and, Louise of Savoy being termed the
+     Regent, he assigns the earlier incidents to the year 1524.
+     But Louise was Regent, for the first time, in 1515, and we
+     incline to the belief that Queen Margaret alludes to this
+     earlier period. Note the reference to a Court journey to
+     Normandy (post, p. 136), which was probably the journey that
+     Francis I. and his mother are known to have made to Rouen
+     and Alençon in the autumn of 1517. See vol. i. p. xxviii.--
+     Ed. 2  119
+
+In the household of the Lady-Regent, mother of King Francis, there was
+a very pious lady married to a gentleman of like mind with herself, and,
+albeit her husband was old and she was young and pretty, she served and
+loved him as though he had been the handsomest and youngest man in the
+world. So that she might give him no cause for sorrow, she set herself
+to live as though she were of the same age as himself, eschewing all
+such company, dress, dances, and amusements as young women are wont to
+love, and finding all her pleasure and recreation in the service of God;
+on which account her husband so loved and trusted her, that she ruled
+him and his household as she would.
+
+One day it happened that the gentleman told his wife that from his youth
+up he had desired to make a journey to Jerusalem, and asked her what she
+thought of it. She, whose only wish was to please him, replied--
+
+“Since God has withheld children from us, sweetheart, and has granted
+us sufficient wealth, I would willingly use some portion of it in making
+this sacred journey with you, for indeed, whether you go thither or
+elsewhere, I am resolved never to leave you.”
+
+At this the good man was so pleased, that it seemed to him as though he
+were already on Mount Calvary.
+
+While they were deliberating on this matter, there came to the Court
+a gentleman, the Captain of a galley, who had often served in the wars
+against the Turks, (2) and was now soliciting the King of France to
+undertake an expedition against one of their cities, which might yield
+great advantage to Christendom. The old gentleman inquired of him
+concerning this expedition, and after hearing what he intended to do,
+asked him whether, on the completion of this business, he would make
+another journey to Jerusalem, whither he himself and his wife had a
+great desire to go. The Captain was well pleased on hearing of this
+laudable desire, and he promised to conduct them thither, and to keep
+the matter secret.
+
+     2   M. Paul Lacroix, who believes that the heroine of this
+     tale is Margaret herself (she is described as telling it
+     under the name of Parlamente), is also of opinion that the
+     gentleman referred to is the Baron de Malleville, a knight
+     of Malta, who was killed at Beyrout during an expedition
+     against the Turks, and whose death was recounted in verse by
+     Clement Marot (_OEuvres_, 1731, vol. ii. p. 452-455).
+     Margaret’s gentleman, however, is represented as being
+     married, whereas M. de Malleville, as a knight of Malta, was
+     necessarily a bachelor. Marot, moreover, calls Malleville a
+     Parisian, whereas the gentleman in the tale belonged to
+     Normandy (see _post_, p. 136).--B. J. and L.
+
+The old gentleman was all impatience to find his wife and tell her of
+what he had done. She was as anxious to make the journey as her husband,
+and on that account often spoke about it to the Captain, who, paying
+more attention to her person than her words, fell so deeply in love
+with her, that when speaking to her of the voyages he had made, he often
+confused the port of Marseilles with the Archipelago, and said “horse”
+ when he meant to say “ship,” like one distracted and bereft of sense.
+Her character, however, was such that he durst not give any token of
+the truth, and concealment kindled such fires in his heart that he often
+fell sick, when the lady showed as much solicitude for him as for the
+cross and guide of her road, (3) sending to inquire after him so often
+that the anxiety she showed cured him without the aid of any other
+medicine.
+
+     3  This may simply be an allusion to wayside crosses which
+     serve to guide travellers on their road. M. de Montaiglon
+     points out, however, that in the alphabets used for teaching
+     children in the olden time, the letter A was always preceded
+     by a cross, and that the child, in reciting, invariably
+     began: “The cross of God, A, B, C, D,” &c. In a like way, a
+     cross figured at the beginning of the guide-books of the
+     time, as a symbol inviting the traveller to pray, and
+     reminding him upon whom he should rely amid the perils of
+     his journey. The best known French guide-book of the
+     sixteenth century is Charles Estienne’s _Guide des Chemins
+     de France_.--M. and Ed.
+
+Several persons who knew that this Captain had been more renowned for
+valour and jollity than for piety, were amazed that he should have
+become so intimate with this lady, and seeing that he had changed in
+every respect, and frequented churches, sermons, and confessions, they
+suspected that this was only in order to win the lady’s favour, and
+could not refrain from hinting as much to him.
+
+The Captain feared that if the lady should hear any such talk he would
+be banished from her presence, and accordingly he told her husband and
+herself that he was on the point of being despatched on his journey by
+the King, and had much to tell them, but that for the sake of greater
+secrecy he did not desire to speak to them in the presence of others,
+for which reason he begged them to send for him when they had both
+retired for the night. The gentleman deemed this to be good advice, and
+did not fail to go to bed early every evening, and to make his wife also
+undress. When all their servants had left them, they used to send for
+the Captain, and talk with him about the journey to Jerusalem, in the
+midst of which the old gentleman would oft-times fall asleep with his
+mind full of pious thoughts. When the Captain saw the old gentleman
+asleep in bed, and found himself on a chair near her whom he deemed the
+fairest and noblest woman in the world, his heart was so rent between
+his desires and his dread of speaking that he often lost the power
+of speech. In order that she might not perceive this, he would force
+himself to talk of the holy places of Jerusalem where there were such
+signs of the great love that Jesus Christ bore us; and he would speak of
+this love, using it as a cloak for his own, and looking at the lady
+with sighs and tears which she never understood. By reason of his devout
+countenance she indeed believed him to be a very holy man, and begged of
+him to tell her what his life had been, and how he had come to love God
+in that way.
+
+He told her that he was a poor gentleman, who, to arrive at riches and
+honour, had disregarded his conscience in marrying a woman who was too
+close akin to him, and this on account of the wealth she possessed,
+albeit she was ugly and old, and he loved her not; and when he had drawn
+all her money from her, he had gone to seek his fortune at sea, and had
+so prospered by his toil, that he had now come to an honourable estate.
+But since he had made his hearer’s acquaintance, she, by reason of her
+pious converse and good example, had changed all his manner of life, and
+should he return from his present enterprise he was wholly resolved to
+take her husband and herself to Jerusalem, that he might thereby partly
+atone for his grievous sins which he had now put from him; save that he
+had not yet made reparation to his wife, with whom, however, he hoped
+that he might soon be reconciled.
+
+The lady was well pleased with this discourse, and especially rejoiced
+at having drawn such a man to the love and fear of God. And thus, until
+the Captain departed from the Court, their long conversations together
+were continued every evening without his ever venturing to declare
+himself. However, he made the lady a present of a crucifix of Our Lady
+of Pity, (4) beseeching her to think of him whenever she looked upon it.
+
+     4   “Our Lady of Pity” is the designation usually applied to
+     the Virgin when she is shown seated with the corpse of
+     Christ on her knees. Michael Angelo’s famous group at St.
+     Peter’s is commonly known by this name. In the present
+     instance, however, Queen Margaret undoubtedly refers to a
+     crucifix showing the Virgin at the foot of the Cross,
+     contemplating her son’s sufferings. Such crucifixes were
+     formerly not uncommon.--M.
+
+The hour of his departure arrived, and when he had taken leave of the
+husband, who was falling asleep, and came to bid his lady farewell, he
+beheld tears standing in her eyes by reason of the honourable affection
+which she entertained for him. The sight of these rendered his passion
+for her so unendurable that, not daring to say anything concerning it,
+he almost fainted, and broke out into an exceeding sweat, so that he
+seemed to weep not only with his eyes, but with his entire body.
+And thus he departed without speaking, leaving the lady in great
+astonishment, for she had never before seen such tokens of regret.
+Nevertheless she did not change in her good opinion of him, and followed
+him with her prayers.
+
+After a month had gone by, however, as the lady was returning to her
+house, she met a gentleman who handed her a letter from the Captain, and
+begged her to read it in private.
+
+He told her how he had seen the Captain embark, fully resolved to
+accomplish whatever might be pleasing to the King and of advantage to
+Christianity. For his own part, the gentleman added, he was straightway
+going back to Marseilles to set the Captain’s affairs in order.
+
+The lady withdrew to a window by herself, and opening the letter,
+found it to consist of two sheets of paper, covered on either side with
+writing which formed the following epistle:--
+
+     “Concealment long and silence have, alas!
+     Brought me all comfortless to such a pass,
+     That now, perforce, I must, to ease my grief,
+     Either speak out, or seek in death relief.
+     Wherefore the tale I long have left untold
+     I now, in lonely friendlessness grown bold,
+     Send unto thee, for I must strive to say
+     My love, or else prepare myself to slay.
+     And though my eyes no longer may behold
+     The sweet, who in her hand my life doth hold,
+     Whose glance sufficed to make my heart rejoice,
+     The while my ear did listen to her voice,--
+     These words at least shall meet her beauteous eyes,
+     And tell her all the plaintive, clamorous cries
+     Pent in my heart, to which I must give breath,
+     Since longer silence could but bring me death.
+     And yet, at first, I was in truth full fain
+     To blot the words I’d written out again,
+     Fearing, forsooth, I might offend thine ear
+     With foolish phrases which, when thou wast near,
+     I dared not utter; and ‘Indeed,’ said I,
+     ‘Far better pine in silence, aye, and die,
+     Than save myself by bringing her annoy
+     For whose sweet sake grim death itself were joy.’
+     And yet, thought I, my death some pain might give
+     To her for whom I would be strong, and live:
+     For have I not, fair lady, promised plain,
+     My journey ended, to return again
+     And guide thee and thy spouse to where he now
+     Doth yearn to call on God from Sion’s brow?
+     And none would lead thee thither should I die.
+     If I were dead, methinks I see thee sigh
+     In sore distress, for then thou couldst not start
+     Upon that journey, dear unto thy heart.
+     So I will live, and, in a little space,
+     Return to lead thee to the sacred place.
+     Aye, I will live, though death a boon would be
+     Only to be refused for sake of thee.
+     But if I live, I needs must straight remove
+     The burden from my heart, and speak my love,
+     That love more loyal, tender, deep, and true,
+     Than, ever yet, the fondest lover knew.
+     And now, bold words about to wing your flight,
+     What will ye say when ye have reached her sight?
+     Declare her all the love that fills my heart?
+     Too weak ye are to tell its thousandth part!
+     Can ye at least not say that her clear eyes
+     Have torn my hapless heart forth in such wise,
+     That like a hollow tree I pine and wither
+     Unless hers give me back some life and vigour?
+     Ye feeble words! ye cannot even tell
+     How easily her eyes a heart compel;
+     Nor can ye praise her speech in language fit,
+     So weak and dull ye are, so void of wit.
+     Yet there are some things I would have you name--
+     How mute and foolish I oft time became
+     When all her grace and virtue I beheld;
+     How from my ‘raptured eyes tears slowly welled
+     The tears of hopeless love; how my tongue strayed
+     From fond and wooing speech, so sore afraid,
+     That all my discourse was of time and tide,
+     And of the stars which up in Heav’n abide.
+     O words, alas! ye lack the skill to tell
+     The dire confusion that upon me fell,
+     Whilst love thus wracked me; nor can ye disclose
+     My love’s immensity, its pains and woes.
+     Yet, though, for all, your powers be too weak,
+     Perchance, some little, ye are fit to speak--
+     Say to her thus: “Twas fear lest thou shouldst chide
+     That drove me, e’en so long, my love to hide,
+     And yet, forsooth, it might have openly
+     Been told to God in Heaven, as unto thee,
+     Based as it is upon thy virtue--thought
+     That to my torments frequent balm hath brought,
+     For who, indeed, could ever deem it sin
+     To seek the owner of all worth to win?
+     Deserving rather of our blame were he
+     Who having seen thee undisturbed could be.’
+     None such was I, for, straightway stricken sore,
+     My heart bowed low to Love, the conqueror.
+     And ah! no false and fleeting love is mine,
+     Such as for painted beauty feigns to pine;
+     Nor doth my passion, although deep and strong,
+     Seek its own wicked pleasure in thy wrong.
+     Nay; on this journey I would rather die
+     Than know that thou hadst fallen, and that I
+     Had wrought thy shame and foully brought to harm
+     The virtue which thy heart wraps round thy form.
+     ‘Tis thy perfection that I love in thee,
+     Nought that might lessen it could ever be
+     Desire of mine--indeed, the nobler thou,
+     The greater were the love I to thee vow.
+     I do not seek an ardent flame to quench
+     In lustful dalliance with some merry wench,
+     Pure is my heart, ‘neath reason’s calm control
+     Set on a lady of such lofty soul,
+     That neither God above nor angel bright,
+     But seeing her, would echo my delight.
+     And if of thee I may not be beloved,
+     What matter, shouldst thou deem that I have proved
+     The truest lover that did ever live?
+     And this I know thou wilt, one day, believe,
+     For time, in rolling by, shall show to thee
+     No change in my heart’s faith and loyalty.
+     And though for this thou mayst make no return,
+     Yet pleased am I with love for thee to burn,
+     And seek no recompense, pursue no end,
+     Save, that to thee, I meekly recommend
+     My soul and body, which I here consign
+     In sacrifice to Love’s consuming shrine.
+     If then in safety I sail back the main
+     To thee, still artless, I’ll return again;
+     And if I die, then there will die with me
+     A lover such as none again shall see.
+     So Ocean now doth carry far away
+     The truest lover seen for many a day;
+     His body ‘tis that journeys o’er the wave,
+     But not his heart, for that is now thy slave,
+     And from thy side can never wrested be,
+     Nor of its own accord return to me.
+     Ah! could I with me o’er the treach’rous brine
+     Take aught of that pure, guileless heart of thine,
+     No doubt should I then feel of victory,
+     Whereof the glory would belong to thee.
+     But now, whatever fortune may befall,
+     I’ve cast the die; and having told thee all,
+     Abide thereby, and vow my constancy--
+     Emblem of which, herein, a diamond see,
+     By whose great firmness and whose pure glow
+     The strength and pureness of my love thou’lt know.
+     Let it, I pray, thy fair white finger press,
+     And thou wilt deal me more than happiness.
+     And, diamond, speak and say: ‘To thee I come
+     From thy fond lover, who afar doth roam,
+     And strives by dint of glorious deeds to rise
+     To the high level of the good and wise,
+     Hoping some day that haven to attain,
+     Where thy sweet favours shall reward his pain.”
+
+The lady read the letter through, and was the more astonished at the
+Captain’s passion as she had never before suspected it. She looked at
+the cutting of the diamond, which was a large and beautiful one, set in
+a ring of black enamel, and she was in great doubt as to what she ought
+to do with it. After pondering upon the matter throughout the night, she
+was glad to find that since there was no messenger, she had no occasion
+to send any answer to the Captain, who, she reflected, was being
+sufficiently tried by those matters of the King, his master, which he
+had in hand, without being angered by the unfavourable reply which she
+was resolved to make to him, though she delayed it until his return.
+However, she found herself greatly perplexed with regard to the diamond,
+for she had never been wont to adorn herself at the expense of any but
+her husband. For this reason, being a woman of excellent understanding,
+she determined to draw from the ring some profit to the Captain’s
+conscience. She therefore despatched one of her servants to the
+Captain’s wife with the following letter, which was written as though it
+came from a nun of Tarascon:--
+
+“MADAM,--Your husband passed this way but a short time before he
+embarked, and after he had confessed himself and received his Creator
+like a good Christian, he spoke to me of something which he had upon his
+conscience, namely, his sorrow at not having loved you as he should
+have done. And on departing, he prayed and besought me to send you this
+letter, with the diamond which goes with it, and which he begs of you
+to keep for his sake, assuring you that if God bring him back again in
+health and strength, you shall be better treated than ever woman was
+before. And this stone of steadfastness shall be the pledge thereof.
+
+“I beg you to remember him in your prayers; in mine he will have a place
+as long as I live.”
+
+This letter, being finished and signed with the name of a nun, was sent
+by the lady to the Captain’s wife. And as may be readily believed, when
+the excellent old woman saw the letter and the ring, she wept for joy
+and sorrow at being loved and esteemed by her good husband when she
+could no longer see him. She kissed the ring a thousand times and more,
+watering it with her tears, and blessing God for having restored her
+husband’s affection to her at the end of her days, when she had long
+looked upon it as lost. Nor did she fail to thank the nun who had given
+her so much happiness, but sent her the fairest reply that she could
+devise. This the messenger brought back with all speed to his mistress,
+who could not read it, nor listen to what her servant told her, without
+much laughter. And so pleased was she at having got rid of the diamond
+in so profitable a fashion as to bring about a reconciliation between
+the husband and wife, that she was as happy as though she had gained a
+kingdom.
+
+A short time afterwards tidings came of the defeat and death of the poor
+Captain, and of how he had been abandoned by those who ought to have
+succoured him, and how his enterprise had been revealed by the Rhodians
+who should have kept it secret, so that he and all who landed with him,
+to the number of eighty, had been slain, among them being a gentleman
+named John, and a Turk to whom the lady of my story had stood godmother,
+both of them having been given by her to the Captain that he might take
+them with him on his journey. The first named of these had died beside
+the Captain, whilst the Turk, wounded by arrows in fifteen places, had
+saved himself by swimming to the French ships.
+
+It was through him alone that the truth of the whole affair became
+known. A certain gentleman whom the poor Captain had taken to be his
+friend and comrade, and whose interests he had advanced with the King
+and the highest nobles of France, had, it appeared, stood out to sea
+with his ships as soon as the Captain landed; and the Captain, finding
+that his expedition had been betrayed, and that four thousand Turks were
+at hand, had thereupon endeavoured to retreat, as was his duty. But the
+gentleman in whom he put such great trust perceived that his friend’s
+death would leave the sole command and profit of that great armament to
+himself, and accordingly pointed out to the officers that it would not
+be right to risk the King’s vessels or the lives of the many brave men
+on board them in order to save less than a hundred persons, an opinion
+which was shared by all those of the officers that possessed but little
+courage.
+
+So the Captain, finding that the more he called to the ships the farther
+they drew away from his assistance, faced round at last upon the Turks;
+and, albeit he was up to his knees in sand, he did such deeds of arms
+and valour that it seemed as though he alone would defeat all his
+enemies, an issue which his traitorous comrade feared far more than he
+desired it.
+
+But at last, in spite of all that he could do, the Captain received
+so many wounds from the arrows of those who durst not approach within
+bowshot, that he began to lose all his blood, whereupon the Turks,
+perceiving the weakness of these true Christians, charged upon them
+furiously with their scimitars; but the Christians, so long as God gave
+them strength and life, defended themselves to the bitter end.
+
+Then the Captain called to the gentleman named John, whom his lady love
+had given him, and to the Turk as well, and thrusting the point of his
+sword into the ground, fell upon his knees beside it, and embraced and
+kissed the cross, (5) saying--
+
+“Lord, receive into Thy hands the soul of one who has not spared his
+life to exalt Thy name.”
+
+     5  As is well known, before swords were made with shell and
+     stool hilts, the two guards combined with the handle and
+     blade formed a cross. Bayard, when dying, raised his sword
+     to gaze upon this cross, and numerous instances, similar to
+     that mentioned above by Queen Margaret, may be found in the
+     old _Chansons de Geste_.--M.
+
+The gentleman called John, seeing that his master’s life was ebbing away
+as he uttered these words, thought to aid him, and took him into his
+arms, together with the sword which he was holding. But a Turk who was
+behind them cut through both his thighs, whereupon he cried out, “Come,
+Captain, let us away to Paradise to see Him for whose sake we die,” and
+in this wise he shared the poor Captain’s death even as he had shared
+his life.
+
+The Turk, seeing that he could be of no service to either of them, and
+being himself wounded by arrows in fifteen places, made off towards
+the ships, and requested to be taken on board. But although of all the
+eighty he was the only one who had escaped, the Captain’s traitorous
+comrade refused his prayer. Nevertheless, being an exceeding good
+swimmer, he threw himself into the sea, and exerted himself so well that
+he was at last received on board a small vessel, where in a short time
+he was cured of his wounds. And it was by means of this poor foreigner
+that the truth became fully known, to the honour of the Captain and the
+shame of his comrade, whom the King and all the honourable people who
+heard the tidings deemed guilty of such wickedness toward God and man
+that there was no death howsoever cruel which he did not deserve. But
+when he returned he told so many lies, and gave so many gifts, that not
+only did he escape punishment, but even received the office of the man
+whose unworthy servant he had been.
+
+When the pitiful tidings reached the Court, the Lady-Regent, who held
+the Captain in high esteem, mourned for him exceedingly, as did the King
+and all the honourable people who had known him. And when the lady whom
+he had loved the best heard of his strange, sad, and Christian death,
+she changed the chiding she had resolved to give him into tears and
+lamentations, in which her husband kept her company, all hopes of their
+journey to Jerusalem being now frustrated.
+
+I must not forget to say that on the very day when the two gentlemen
+were killed, a damsel in the lady’s service, who loved the gentleman
+called John better than herself, came and told her mistress that she had
+seen her lover ir a dream; he had appeared to her clad in white, and had
+bidden her farewell, telling her that he was going to Paradise with his
+Captain. And when the damsel heard that her dream had come true, she
+made such lamentation that her mistress had enough to do to comfort her.
+(6)
+
+     6  The Queen of Navarre was a firm believer in the truth and
+     premonitory character of dreams, and according to her
+     biographers she, herself, had several singular ones, two of
+     which are referred to in the Memoir prefixed to the present
+     work (vol. i. pp. lxxxiii. and Ixxxvii.). In some of her
+     letters, moreover, she relates that Francis I., when under
+     the walls of Pavia, on three successive nights beheld his
+     little daughter Charlotte (then dying at Lyons) appear to
+     him in a dream, and on each occasion repeat the words,
+     “Farewell, my King, I am going to Paradise.”--Ed.
+
+A short time afterwards the Court journeyed into Normandy, to which
+province the Captain had belonged. His wife was not remiss in coming to
+pay homage to the Lady-Regent, and in order that she might be presented
+to her, she had recourse to the same lady whom her husband had so dearly
+loved.
+
+And while they were waiting in a church for the appointed hour, she
+began bewailing and praising her husband, saying among other things to
+the lady--
+
+“Alas, madam! my misfortune is the greatest that ever befell a woman,
+for just when he was loving me more than he had ever done, God took him
+from me.”
+
+So saying, and with many tears, she showed the ring which she wore on
+her finger as a token of her husband’s perfect love, whereat the other
+lady, finding that her deception had resulted in such a happy issue,
+was, despite her sorrow for the Captain’s death, so moved to laughter,
+that she would not present the widow to the Regent, but committed her to
+the charge of another lady, and withdrew into a side chapel, where she
+satisfied her inclination to laugh.
+
+“I think, ladies, that those who receive such gifts ought to seek to use
+them to as good a purpose as did this worthy lady. They would find that
+benefactions bring joy to those who bestow them. And we must not charge
+this lady with deceit, but esteem her good sense which turned to good
+that which in itself was worthless.”
+
+“Do you mean to say,” said Nomerfide, “that a fine diamond, costing two
+hundred crowns, is worthless? I can assure you that if it had fallen
+into my hands, neither his wife nor his relations would have seen aught
+of it. Nothing is more wholly one’s own than a gift. The gentleman was
+dead, no one knew anything about the matter, and she might well have
+spared the poor old woman so much sorrow.”
+
+“By my word,” said Hircan, “you are right. There are women who, to
+make themselves appear of better heart than others, do things that are
+clearly contrary to their notions, for we all know that women are
+the most avaricious of beings, yet their vanity often surpasses their
+avarice, and constrains their hearts to actions that they would rather
+not perform. My belief is that the lady who gave the diamond away in
+this fashion was unworthy to wear it.”
+
+“Softly, softly,” said Oisille; “I believe I know who she is, and I
+therefore beg that you will not condemn her unheard.”
+
+“Madam,” said Hircan, “I do not condemn her at all; but if the gentleman
+was as virtuous as you say, it were an honour to have such a lover, and
+to wear his ring; but perhaps some one less worthy of being loved than
+he held her so fast by the finger that the ring could not be put on.”
+
+“Truly,” said Ennasuite, “she might well have kept it, seeing that no
+one knew anything about it.”
+
+“What!” said Geburon; “are all things lawful to those who love, provided
+no one knows anything about them?”
+
+“By my word,” said Saffredent, “the only misdeed that I have ever seen
+punished is foolishness. There is never a murderer, robber, or adulterer
+condemned by the courts or blamed by his fellows, if only he be as
+cunning as he is wicked. Oft-time, however, a bad man’s wickedness so
+blinds him that he becomes a fool; and thus, as I have just said, it is
+the foolish only that are punished, not the vicious.”
+
+“You may say what you please,” said Oisille, “only God can judge the
+lady’s heart; but for my part, I think that her action was a very
+honourable and virtuous one. (7) However, to put an end to the debate, I
+pray you, Parlamente, to give some one your vote.”
+
+     7  In our opinion this sentence disposes of Miss Mary
+     Robinson’s supposition (_The Fortunate Lovers_, London,
+     1887, p. 159) that Oisille (i.e., Louise of Savoy) is the
+     real heroine of this tale. Queen Margaret would hardly have
+     represented her commending her own action. If any one of the
+     narrators of the _Heptameron_ be the heroine of the story,
+     the presumptions are in favour of Longarine (La Dame de
+     Lonray), Margaret’s bosom friend, whose silence during the
+     after-converse is significant.--Ed.
+
+“I give it willingly,” she said, “to Simontault, for after two such
+mournful tales we must have one that will not make us weep.”
+
+“I thank you,” said Simontault. “In giving me your vote you have all but
+told me that I am a jester. It is a name that is extremely distasteful
+to me, and in revenge I will show you that there are women who with
+certain persons, or for a certain time, make a great pretence of being
+chaste, but the end shows them in their real colours, as you will see by
+this true story.”
+
+[Illustration: 140.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 141a.jpg Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan]
+
+[Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan]
+
+[Illustration: 141.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XIV_.
+
+     _The Lord of Bonnivet, desiring to revenge himself upon a
+     Milanese lady for her cruelty, made the acquaintance of an
+     Italian gentleman whom she loved, but to whom she had never
+     granted anything save fair words and assurances of
+     affection. To accomplish his purpose he gave this gentleman
+     such good advice that the lady granted him what he had so
+     long sought, and this the gentleman made known to Bonnivet,
+     who, having cut both hair and beard, and dressed himself in
+     clothes like those of the other, went at midnight and put
+     his vengeance into execution. Then the lady, having learnt
+     from him the plan that he had devised to win her, promised
+     to desist from loving those of her own nation, and to hold
+     fast to him_.
+
+At the time when the Grand-Master of Chaumont was Governor of the Duchy
+of Milan, (1) there lived there a gentleman called the Lord of Bonnivet,
+who by reason of his merits was afterwards made Admiral of France. Being
+greatly liked by the Grand-Master and every one else on account of the
+qualities he possessed, he was a welcome guest at the banquets where
+the ladies of Milan assembled, and was regarded by them with more favour
+than ever fell to a Frenchman’s lot, either before or since; and this
+as much on account of his handsome countenance, grace of manner, and
+pleasant converse, as by reason of the renown which he had gained among
+all as being one of the most skilful and valorous soldiers of his time.
+(2)
+
+     1   M. de Lincy is of opinion that the incidents recorded in
+     this story took place between 1501 and 1503; but according
+     to M. Lacroix, the Grand-Master of Chaumont did not become
+     Governor of the Milanese till 1506. This personage, to whom
+     Queen Margaret frequently alludes in her tales, was Charles
+     d’Amboise, nephew of the famous Cardinal d’Amboise, minister
+     to Louis XII. In turn admiral and marshal, Governor of
+     Paris, and Grand-Master, in France, of the Order of St. John
+     of Jerusalem, he figured prominently in the Italian wars of
+     the time, and notably at the battle of Aignadel. In 1510 he
+     commanded the troops which fought on behalf of the Duke of
+     Ferrara against the Emperor and Pope Julius II., and the
+     latter having excommunicated him for bearing arms against
+     the Holy See, his mind is said to have become unhinged. He
+     died at Correggio in February 1511, when only thirty-eight
+     years of age, some biographers asserting that he was
+     poisoned, whilst others contend that he fell from a bridge
+     during a military expedition. Whilst on his death-bed, he
+     sent messengers to the Pope, begging that the decree of
+     excommunication against him might be annulled, but before
+     the Papal absolution arrived he had expired. The name of
+     Chaumont, by which he is generally known, is that of an
+     estate he possessed, between Blois and Amboise, on the
+     Loire. The reputation he enjoyed of being one of the
+     handsomest men of his time was well deserved, if one may
+     judge by a painting at the Louvre which is said to be his
+     portrait. This picture, long ascribed to Leonardo da Vinci,
+     and supposed to represent Charles VIII. of France, has been
+     identified as the work of Andreas Solario, who executed
+     numerous paintings for Cardinal d’Amboise at the famous
+     château of Gaillon.--L. M. and Eu.
+
+     2  Some particulars concerning William Gouffier, Lord of
+     Bonnivet, have been given in vol. i. (Tale IV. n. 3). It
+     may here be mentioned that the domain whence he derived the
+     name by which he is generally known was in the neighbourhood
+     of Poitiers, around the village of Vendeuvre, where he built
+     himself a vast château, destroyed at the close of the
+     eighteenth century. Some fragments of the sculptured work
+     adorning it, remarkable for their elegance of design and
+     delicacy of workmanship, are in the Poitiers Museum. It is
+     not unlikely that the incidents related in Tale IV. occurred
+     at this château; or else at that of Oiron, another domain of
+     the Gouffiers, between Loudun and Bressuire. In the chapel
+     of Oiron were buried Bonnivet, his mother, his brother
+     Artus, and his nephew Claud. Their tombs, large marble
+     mausoleums of Italian workmanship, surmounted by recumbent
+     statues, were opened and mutilated by the Huguenots in 1568,
+     when the bones they contained were scattered to the winds.
+     Bon-nivet’s statue is probably the most damaged of the four.
+     The château of Oiron, with its marble staircases, quaint
+     frescoes, sculptured medallions, &c, testifies to the great
+     wealth possessed by the Gouffier family, and justifies the
+     cynical motto assumed by Bonnivet’s nephew: “Others have
+     beaten the bushes, but we have the birds.”--Ed.
+
+One day during the carnival, when he was among the maskers, he danced
+with one of the most beautiful and bravely attired ladies to be found
+in the whole city; and whenever a pause occurred in the music of the
+hautboys, he did not fail to address her with love speeches, in which he
+excelled all others. But she (3) having no favourable reply to give him,
+suddenly checked his discourse by assuring him that she neither loved
+nor ever would love any man but her husband, and that he must by no
+means expect that she would listen to him.
+
+     3  This lady may perhaps be the “Sennora Clerice” (Clarissa)
+     of whom Brantôme writes as follows in his _Capitaines
+     François_:--“It was Bonnivet alone who advised King Francis
+     to cross the mountains and follow M. de Bourbon, and in this
+     he had less his master’s advantage and service at heart than
+     his desire to return and see a great and most beautiful lady
+     of Milan, whom he had made his mistress some years
+     previously.... It is said that this was the ‘Sennora
+     Clerice,’ then accounted one of the most beautiful ladies of
+     Italy.... A great lady of the time, from whom I heard this
+     story, told me that he, Bonnivet, had commended this lady
+     Clerice to the King so highly as to make him desirous of
+     seeing and winning her; and this was the principal cause of
+     this expedition of the King’s.”--Lalanne’s _OEuvres de
+     Brantôme_, vol. ii. p. 167-8.--L.
+
+The gentleman, however, would not take this answer for a refusal, and
+continued to press his suit with great energy until mid-Lent. But he
+found her still firm in her declaration that she would love neither
+himself nor another, which he could not believe, however, seeing how
+ill-favoured was her husband, and how great her own beauty. Convinced
+that she was practising dissimulation, he resolved, on his own side, to
+have recourse to deception, and accordingly he ceased to urge his suit,
+and inquired so closely concerning her manner of life that he discovered
+she was in love with a most discreet and honourable Italian gentleman.
+
+Little by little the Lord of Bonnivet insinuated himself into the
+friendship of this gentleman, and did so with so much discretion and
+skill, that the other remained ignorant of his motive, and became so
+much attached to him that, after the lady of his heart, there was no one
+in the world whom he loved more. In order that he might pluck his secret
+from his breast, the Lord of Bonnivet pretended to tell him his own,
+declaring that he loved a certain lady to whom he had in truth never
+given a thought, and begging that he would keep the matter secret, and
+that they might have but one heart and one mind together. Wishing to
+show in return a like affection, the poor Italian gentleman thereupon
+proceeded to disclose at length the love that he bore the lady on whom
+Bonnivet wished to be revenged; and after this they would meet somewhere
+once every day in order to recount the favours that had befallen them
+during the past four and twenty hours; with this difference, however,
+that one lied, and the other spoke the truth. And the Italian confessed
+that he had loved this lady for three years, but had never obtained
+anything of her save fair words and the assurance of her love.
+
+Bonnivet then gave him all the advice that he could to enable him to
+attain his end, and to such good purpose that in a few days the lady
+consented to grant all that was sought of her. It only remained to
+devise a plan for their meeting, and through the counsels of Bonnivet
+this was soon accomplished. And so one day before supper the Italian
+said to him--
+
+“I am more beholden to you, sir, than to any other man living, for,
+thanks to your good advice, I expect to obtain to-night that which I
+have coveted so many years.”
+
+“I pray you, my friend,” thereupon said Bonnivet, “tell me the manner of
+your undertaking, so that if there be any risk in it, or craft required,
+I may serve you in all friendship.”
+
+The Italian gentleman then began to tell him that the lady had devised
+a means of having the principal door of the house left open that night,
+availing herself as a pretext of the illness of one of her brothers for
+whose requirements it was necessary to send into the town at all hours.
+He might enter the courtyard, but he was to be careful not to go up by
+the principal staircase. Instead of this he was to take a small flight
+on his right hand, and enter the first gallery he came to, into which
+the rooms of the lady’s father-in-law and brothers-in-law opened; and
+he was to choose the third door from the head of the stairs, and if on
+trying it gently he found that it was locked, he was to go away again,
+for in that case he might be sure that her husband had returned, though
+not expected back for two days. If, however, he found that the door was
+open, he was to enter softly, and boldly bolt it behind him, for in that
+case there would be none but herself in the room. And above all, he was
+to get himself felt shoes, in order that he might make no noise, and he
+was to be careful not to come earlier than two hours after midnight,
+for her brothers-in-law, who were fond of play, never went to bed until
+after one of the clock.
+
+“Go, my friend,” replied Bonnivet, “and may God be with you and preserve
+you from mischief. If my company can be of any service to you, I am
+wholly at your disposal.”
+
+The Italian gentleman thanked him warmly, but said that in an affair of
+this nature he could not be too much alone; and thereupon he went away
+to set about his preparations.
+
+Bonnivet, on his part, did not go to sleep, for he saw that the time had
+come for revenging himself upon his cruel love. Going home betimes, he
+had his beard trimmed to the same length and breadth as the Italian’s,
+and also had his hair cut, so that, on touching him, no difference
+between himself and his rival might be perceived. Nor did he forget the
+felt shoes, nor garments such as the Italian was wont to wear. Being
+greatly liked by the lady’s father-in-law, he was not afraid to go to
+the house at an early hour, for he made up his mind that if he were
+perceived, he would go straight to the chamber of the old gentleman,
+with whom he had some business on hand.
+
+About midnight he entered the lady’s house, and although there were a
+good many persons going to and fro, he passed them unnoticed and thus
+reached the gallery. Trying the first two doors, he found them shut; the
+third, however, was not, and he softly pushed it open. And having thus
+entered the lady’s room, he immediately bolted the door behind him. He
+found that the whole chamber was hung with white linen, the floor and
+ceiling also being covered with the same; and there was a bed draped
+with cloth so fine and soft and so handsomely embroidered in white, that
+nothing better were possible. And in the bed lay the lady alone, wearing
+her cap and night-gown, and covered with pearls and gems. This, before
+he was himself perceived by her, he was able to see by peeping round the
+curtain; for there was a large wax candle burning, which made the room
+as bright as day. And fearful lest he should be recognised by her, he
+first of all put out the light. Then he undressed himself and got into
+bed beside her.
+
+The lady, taking him to be the Italian who had so long loved her, gave
+him the best possible reception; but he, not forgetting that he was
+there in another’s stead, was careful not to say a single word. His
+only thought was to execute his vengeance at the cost of her honour and
+chastity without being beholden to her for any boon. And although this
+was contrary to her intention, the lady was so well pleased with this
+vengeance that she deemed him rewarded for all she thought he had
+endured. At last it struck one of the clock, and it was time to say
+good-bye. Then, in the lowest tones he could employ, he asked her if she
+were as well pleased with him as he was with her. She, believing him
+to be her lover, said that she was not merely pleased but amazed at the
+greatness of his love, which had kept him an hour without answering her.
+
+Then he began to laugh aloud, and said to her--
+
+“Now, madam, will you refuse me another time, as you have hitherto been
+wont to do?”
+
+The lady, recognising him by his speech and laughter, was in such
+despair with grief and shame, that she called him villain, traitor, and
+deceiver a thousand times over, and tried to throw herself out of bed
+to search for a knife in order to kill herself, since she was so
+unfortunate as to have lost her honour through a man whom she did not
+love, and who to be revenged on her might publish the matter to the
+whole world.
+
+But he held her fast in his arms, and in fair soft words declared that
+he would _love_ her more than her lover, and would so carefully conceal
+all that affected her honour that she should never be brought to
+reproach. This the poor foolish thing believed, and on hearing from him
+the plan that he had devised and the pains that he had taken to win her,
+she swore to him that she would love him better than the other, who had
+not been able to keep her secret. She now knew, said she, how false
+was the repute in which the French were held; they were more sensible,
+persevering, and discreet than the Italians; wherefore she would
+henceforward lay aside the erroneous opinions of her nation and hold
+fast to him. But she earnestly entreated him not to show himself for
+some time at any entertainment or in any place where she might be unless
+he were masked; for she was sure she should feel so much ashamed that
+her countenance would betray her to every one.
+
+This he promised to do, and he then begged that she would give her
+lover a good welcome when he came at two o’clock, getting rid of him
+afterwards by degrees. This she was very loth to do, and but for the
+love she bore to Bonnivet would on no account have consented. However,
+when bidding her farewell, he gave her so much cause for satisfaction
+that she would fain have had him stay with her some time longer.
+
+Having risen and donned his garments again, he departed, leaving the
+door of the room slightly open, as he had found it. And as it was now
+nearly two o’clock, and he was afraid of meeting the Italian gentleman,
+he withdrew to the top of the staircase, whence he not long afterwards
+saw the other pass by and enter the lady’s room.
+
+For his own part, he then betook himself home to rest, in such wise that
+at nine of the clock on the following morning he was still in bed. While
+he was rising, there arrived the Italian gentleman, who did not fail to
+recount his fortune, which had not been so great as he had hoped; for
+on entering the lady’s chamber, said he, he had found her out of bed,
+wearing her dressing-gown, and in a high fever, with her pulse beating
+quick and her countenance aflame, and a perspiration beginning to break
+out upon her. She had therefore begged him to go away forthwith, for
+fearing a mishap, she had not ventured to summon her women, and was
+in consequence so ill that she had more need to think of death than
+of love, and to be told of God than of Cupid. She was distressed, she
+added, that he should have run such risk for her sake, since she was
+wholly unable to grant what he sought in a world she was so soon to
+leave. He had felt so astonished and unhappy on hearing this that
+all his fire and joy had been changed to ice and sadness, and he had
+immediately gone away. However, he had sent at daybreak to inquire about
+her, and had heard that she was indeed very ill. While recounting his
+griefs he wept so piteously that it seemed as though his soul must melt
+away in his tears.
+
+Bonnivet, who was as much inclined to laugh as the other was to weep,
+comforted him as well as he could, telling him that affections of long
+duration always had a difficult beginning, and that Love was causing him
+this delay only that he might afterwards have the greater joy. And so
+the two gentlemen parted. The lady remained in bed for some days, and on
+regaining her health dismissed her first suitor, alleging as her
+reason the fear of death that had beset her and the prickings of her
+conscience. But she held fast to my lord Bonnivet, whose love, as is
+usual, lasted no longer than the field flowers bloom.
+
+“I think, ladies, that the gentleman’s craftiness was a match for the
+hypocrisy of the lady, who, after playing the prude so long, showed
+herself such a wanton in the end.”
+
+“You may say what you please about women,” said Ennasuite, “but the
+gentleman played an evil trick. Is it allowable that if a lady loves one
+man, another may obtain her by craft?”
+
+“You may be sure,” said Geburon, “that when such mares are for sale
+they are of necessity carried off by the last and highest bidder. Do not
+imagine that wooers take such great pains for the ladies’ sakes. It is
+for their own sakes and their own pleasure.”
+
+“By my word,” said Longarine, “I believe you; for, truth to tell, all
+the lovers that I have ever had have always begun their speeches by
+talking about me, declaring that they cherished my life, welfare, and
+honour; but in the end they only thought of themselves, caring for
+nought but their own pleasure and vanity. The best plan, therefore,
+is to dismiss them as soon as the first portion of their discourse is
+ended; for when they come to the second, there is not so much credit in
+refusing them, seeing that vice when recognised must needs be rejected.”
+
+“So as soon as a man opens his mouth,” said Ennasuite, “we ought to
+refuse him, without knowing what he is going to say?”
+
+“Nay,” replied Parlamente, “my friend does not mean that. We know that
+at first a woman should never appear to understand what the man desires,
+or even to believe him when he has declared what it is; but when he
+comes to strong protestations, I think it were better for ladies to
+leave him on the road rather than continue to the end of the journey
+with him.”
+
+“That may be,” said Nomerfide; “but are we to believe that they love us
+for evil? Is it not a sin to judge our neighbours?”
+
+“You may believe what you please,” said Oisille; “but there is so
+much cause for fearing it to be true, that as soon as you perceive the
+faintest spark, you should flee from this fire, lest it should burn up
+your heart before you even know it.”
+
+“Truly,” said Hircan, “the laws you lay down are over harsh. If women,
+whom gentleness beseems so well, were minded to prove as rigorous as
+you would have them be, we men, on our part, would exchange our gentle
+entreaties for craft and force.”
+
+“In my opinion,” said Simontault, “the best advice is that each should
+follow his natural bent. Whether he love or not, let him do so without
+dissimulation.”
+
+“Would to God,” said Saffredent, “that such a rule would bring as much
+honour as it would give pleasure.”
+
+Dagoucin, however, could not refrain from saying--
+
+“Those who would rather die than make their desire known could not
+comply with your law.”
+
+“Die!” thereupon said Hircan; “the good knight has yet to be born that
+would die for the publishing of such a matter. But let us cease talking
+of what is impossible, and see to whom Simontault will give his vote.”
+
+“I give it,” said Simontault, “to Longarine, for I observed her just
+now talking to herself. I imagine that she was recalling some excellent
+matter, and she is not wont to conceal the truth, whether it be against
+man or woman.”
+
+“Since you deem me so truthful,” replied Longarine, “I will tell you a
+tale which, though it be not so much to the praise of women as I could
+wish it to be, will yet show you that there are some possessed of as
+much spirit, wit, and craft as men. If my tale be somewhat long, you
+will bear with it in patience.”
+
+[Illustration: 155.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 157a.jpg The Lady taking Oath as to her Conduct]
+
+[The Lady taking Oath as to her Conduct]
+
+[Illustration: 157.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XV_.
+
+     _Through the favour of King Francis, a simple gentleman of
+     the Court married a very rich woman, of whom, however, as
+     much by reason of her extreme youth as of the bestowal of
+     his own heart elsewhere, he made but little account;
+     whereat, after trying every plan to please him, she was so
+     moved with resentment and overcome by despair, that she
+     resolved to console herself with another for the indignities
+     which she endured from her husband._ (1)
+
+     1  The incidents referred to in this story must have
+     occurred between 1515 and 1543, during the reign of Francis
+     I.--L.
+
+At the Court of King Francis the First there was a gentleman whose name
+I know right well, but will not mention. He was poor, having less than
+five hundred livres a year, but he was so well liked by the King for
+his many qualities that he at last married a lady of such wealth that
+a great lord would have been pleased to take her. As she was still very
+young, he begged one of the greatest ladies of the Court to receive her
+into her household, and this the lady very willingly did.
+
+Now this gentleman was so courteous, so handsome, and so full of grace
+that he was held in great regard by all the ladies of the Court, and
+among the rest by one whom the King loved, and who was neither so young
+nor so handsome as his own wife. And by reason of the great love that
+the gentleman bore this lady, he made such little account of his wife,
+that he slept scarcely one night in the year with her, and, what she
+found still harder to endure, he never spoke to her or showed her any
+sign of love. And although he enjoyed her fortune, he allowed her so
+small a share in it, that she was not dressed as was fitting for one
+of her station, or as she herself desired. The lady with whom she abode
+would often reproach the gentleman for this, saying to him--
+
+“Your wife is handsome, rich, and of a good family, yet you make no more
+account of her than if she were the opposite. In her extreme youth and
+childishness she has hitherto submitted to your neglect; but I fear me
+that when she finds herself grown-up and handsome, her mirror and some
+one that loves you not will so set before her eyes that beauty by which
+you set so little store, that resentment will lead her to do what she
+durst not think of had you treated her well.”
+
+The gentleman, however, having bestowed his heart elsewhere, made light
+of what the lady said, and notwithstanding her admonitions, continued to
+lead the same life as before.
+
+But when two or three years had gone by, his wife became one of the most
+beautiful women ever seen in France, so that she was reputed to have no
+equal at the Court. And the more she felt herself worthy of being loved,
+the more distressed she was to find that her husband paid no
+attention to her; and so great became her affliction that, but for the
+consolations of her mistress, she had well-nigh been in despair. After
+trying every possible means to please her husband, she reflected that
+his inclinations must needs be directed elsewhere, for otherwise he
+could not but respond to the deep love that she bore him. Thereupon she
+made such skilful inquiries that she discovered the truth, namely, that
+he was every night so fully occupied in another quarter that he could
+give no thought to his wife or to his conscience.
+
+Having thus obtained certain knowledge of the manner of life he led,
+she fell into such deep melancholy, that she would not dress herself
+otherwise than in black or attend any place of entertainment. Her
+mistress, who perceived this, did all that in her lay to draw her from
+such a mood, but could not. And although her husband was made acquainted
+with her state, he showed himself more inclined to make light of it than
+to relieve it.
+
+You are aware, ladies, that just as extreme joy will give occasion to
+tears, so extreme grief finds an outlet in some joy. In this wise it
+happened that a great lord who was near akin to the lady’s mistress, and
+who often visited her, hearing one day of the strange fashion in which
+she was treated by her husband, pitied her so deeply that he desired to
+try to console her; and on speaking to her, found her so handsome, so
+sensible, and so virtuous, that he became far more desirous of winning
+her favour than of talking to her about her husband, unless it were to
+show her what little cause she had to love him.
+
+The lady, finding that, though forsaken by the man who ought to have
+loved her, she was on the other hand loved and sought after by so
+handsome a Prince, deemed herself very fortunate in having thus won his
+favour. And although she still desired to preserve her honour, she took
+great pleasure in talking to him and in reflecting that she was loved
+and prized, for these were two things for which, so to speak, she
+hungered.
+
+This friendship continued for some time, until it came to the knowledge
+of the King, who had so much regard for the lady’s husband that he
+was unwilling he should be put to any shame or vexation. He therefore
+earnestly begged the Prince to forego his inclinations, threatening him
+with his displeasure should he continue to press his suit.
+
+The Prince, who set the favour of the King above all the ladies in the
+world, promised for his sake to lay aside the enterprise, and to go that
+very evening and bid the lady farewell. This he did as soon as he knew
+that she had retired to her own apartments, over which was the room of
+the gentleman, her husband. And the husband being that evening at his
+window, saw the Prince going into his wife’s room beneath. The Prince
+saw him also, but went in for all that, and in bidding farewell to her
+whose love was but beginning, pleaded as his sole reason the King’s
+command.
+
+After many tears and lamentations and regrets, which lasted until an
+hour after midnight, the lady finally said--
+
+“I praise God, my lord, that it pleases Him you should lose your love
+for me, since it is so slight and weak that you are able to take it up
+and lay it down at the command of man. For my own part, I have never
+asked mistress or husband or even myself for permission to love you;
+Love, aided by your good looks and courtesy, gained such dominion over
+me that I could recognise no God or King save him. But since your heart
+is not so full of true love that fear may not find room in it, you can
+be no perfect lover, and I will love none that is imperfect so perfectly
+as I had resolved to love you. Farewell, then, my lord, seeing that you
+are too timorous to deserve a love as frank as mine.”
+
+The Prince went away in tears, and looking back he again noticed the
+husband, who was still at the window, and had thus seen him go in and
+come out again. Accordingly he told him on the morrow why he had gone
+to see his wife, and of the command that the King had laid upon him,
+whereat the gentleman was well pleased, and gave thanks to the King.
+
+However, finding that his wife was becoming more beautiful every day,
+whilst he himself was growing old and less handsome than before, he
+began to change his tactics, and to play the part which he had for a
+long time imposed upon his wife, bestowing some attention upon her and
+seeking her more frequently than had been his wont. But the more she was
+sought by him the more was he shunned by her; for she desired to pay him
+back some part of the grief that he had caused her by his indifference.
+
+Moreover, being unwilling to forego so soon the pleasure that love was
+beginning to afford her, she addressed herself to a young gentleman, who
+was so very handsome, well-spoken, and graceful that he was loved by
+all the ladies of the Court. And by complaining to him of the manner in
+which she had been treated, she lured him to take pity upon her, so
+that he left nothing untried in his attempts to comfort her. She, on
+her part, to console herself for the loss of the Prince who had forsaken
+her, set herself to love this gentleman so heartily that she came to
+forget her former grief, and to think of nothing but the skilful conduct
+of her new amour, in which she succeeded so well that her mistress
+perceived nought of it, for she was careful not to speak to her lover
+in her mistress’s presence. When she wished to talk with him she would
+betake herself to the rooms of some ladies who lived at the Court,
+amongst whom was one that her husband made a show of being in love with.
+
+Now one dark evening she stole away after supper, without taking any
+companion with her, and repaired to the apartment belonging to these
+ladies, where she found the man whom she loved better than herself. She
+sat down beside him, and leaning upon a table they conversed together
+while pretending to read in the same book. Some one whom her husband had
+set to watch then went and reported to him whither his wife was gone.
+Being a prudent man, he said nothing, but as quickly as possible
+betook himself to the room, where he found his wife reading the book.
+Pretending, however, not to see her, he went straight to speak to the
+other ladies, who were in another part of the room. But when his poor
+wife found herself discovered by him in the company of a gentleman to
+whom she had never spoken in his presence, she was in such confusion
+that she quite lost her wits; and being unable to pass along the bench,
+she leaped upon the table and fled as though her husband were pursuing
+her with a drawn sword. And then she went in search of her mistress, who
+was just about to withdraw to her own apartments.
+
+When her mistress was undressed, and she herself had retired, one of
+her women brought her word that her husband was inquiring for her. She
+answered plainly that she would not go, for he was so harsh and strange
+that she dreaded lest he should do her some harm.
+
+At last, however, for fear of worse, she consented to go. Her husband
+said not a word to her until they were in bed together, when being
+unable to dissemble so well as he, she began to weep. And when he asked
+her the cause of this, she told him that she was afraid lest he should
+be angry at having found her reading in company with a gentleman.
+
+He then replied that he had never forbidden her to speak to a man, and
+did not take it ill that she had done so; but he did indeed take it ill
+that she had run from him as though she had done something deserving of
+censure, and her flight and nothing else had led him to think that she
+was in love with the gentleman. He therefore commanded her never to
+speak to him again in public or in private, and assured her that the
+first time she did so he would slay her without mercy or compassion. She
+very readily promised to obey, and made up her mind not to be so foolish
+another time.
+
+But things are desired all the more for being forbidden, and it was not
+long before the poor woman had forgotten her husband’s threats and her
+own promises. That very same evening she sent to the gentleman, begging
+him to visit her at night. But the husband, who was so tormented
+by jealousy that he could not sleep, and who had heard say that the
+gentleman visited his wife at night, wrapped himself in a cloak, and
+taking a valet with him, went to his wife’s apartment and knocked at the
+door. She, not in the least expecting him, got up alone, put on furred
+slippers and a dressing-gown which were lying close at hand, and finding
+that the three or four women whom she had with her were asleep, went
+forth from her room and straight to the door at which she had heard the
+knocking. On her asking, “Who is there?” she received in answer the name
+of her lover; but to be still more certain, she opened a little wicket,
+saying--
+
+“If you be the man you say you are, show me your hand, and I shall
+recognise it.”
+
+And when she touched her husband’s hand she knew who it was, and quickly
+shutting the wicket, cried out--
+
+“Ha, sir! it is your hand.”
+
+The husband replied in great wrath--
+
+“Yes; it is the hand that will keep faith with you. Do not fail,
+therefore, to come when I send for you.”
+
+With these words he went away to his own apartment, whilst she, more
+dead than alive, went back into her room, and cried out aloud to her
+servant-women, “Get up, my friends; you have slept only too well for me,
+for thinking to trick you, I have myself been tricked.”
+
+With these words she swooned away in the middle of the room. The
+women rose at her cry, and were so astonished at seeing their mistress
+stretched upon the floor, as well as at hearing the words, she had
+uttered, that they were at their wits’ end, and sought in haste for
+remedies to restore her. When she was able to speak, she said to them--
+
+“You see before you, my friends, the most unhappy creature in the
+world.”
+
+And thereupon she went on to tell them the whole adventure, and begged
+of them to help her, for she counted her life as good as lost.
+
+While they were seeking to comfort her, a valet came with orders that
+she was to repair to her husband instantly. Thereupon, clinging to two
+of her women, she began to weep and wail, begging them not to suffer her
+to go, for she was sure she would be killed. But the valet assured her
+to the contrary, offering to pledge his life that she should receive no
+hurt. Seeing that she lacked all means of resistance, she at last threw
+herself into the servant’s arms, and said to him--
+
+“Since it may not be otherwise, you must e’en carry this hapless body to
+its death.”
+
+Half fainting in her distress, she was then at once borne by the
+valet to his master’s apartment. When she reached it, she fell at her
+husband’s feet, and said to him--
+
+“I beseech you, sir, have pity on me, and I swear to you by the faith I
+owe to God that I will tell you the whole truth.”
+
+“‘Fore God you shall,” he replied, like one beside himself, and
+forthwith he drove all the servants from the room.
+
+Having always found his wife very devout, he felt sure that she would
+not dare to forswear herself on the Holy Cross. He therefore sent for a
+very beautiful crucifix that belonged to him, and when they were alone
+together, he made her swear upon it that she would return true replies
+to his questions. Already, however, she had recovered from her first
+dread of death, and taking courage, she resolved that if she was to die
+she would make no concealment of the truth, but at the same time would
+say nothing that might injure the gentleman she loved. Accordingly,
+having heard all the questions that her husband had to put to her, she
+replied as follows--
+
+“I have no desire, sir, either to justify myself or to lessen to you the
+love that I have borne to the gentleman you suspect; for if I did, you
+could not and you should not believe me. Nevertheless, I desire to tell
+you the cause of this affection. Know, then, sir, that never did wife
+love husband more than I loved you, and that from the time I wedded you
+until I reached my present age, no other passion ever found its way into
+my heart. You will remember that while I was still a child, my parents
+wished to marry me to one richer and more highly born than yourself,
+but they could never gain my consent to this from the moment I had once
+spoken to you. In spite of all their objections I held fast to you,
+and gave as little heed to your poverty as to their remonstrances. You
+cannot but know what treatment I have had at your hands hitherto, and
+the fashion in which you have loved and honoured me; and this has caused
+me so much grief and discontent that but for the succour of the lady
+with whom you placed me, I should have been in despair. But at last,
+finding myself fully grown and deemed beautiful by all but you, I began
+to feel the wrong you did me so keenly that the love I had for you
+changed into hate, and the desire of obeying you into one for revenge.
+In this despairing condition I was found by a Prince who, being more
+anxious to obey the King than Love, forsook me just as I was beginning
+to feel my pangs assuaged by an honourable affection. When the Prince
+had left me, I lighted upon this present gentleman; and he had no need
+to entreat me, for his good looks, nobleness, grace, and virtue are
+well worthy of being sought after and courted by all women of sound
+understanding. At my instance, not at his own, he has loved me in all
+virtue, so that never has he sought from me aught that honour might
+refuse. And although I have but little cause to love you, and so might
+be absolved from being loyal and true to you, my love of God and of my
+honour has hitherto sufficed to keep me from doing aught that would call
+for confession or shame. I will not deny that I went into a closet as
+often as I could to speak with him, under pretence of going thither to
+say my prayers, for I have never trusted the conduct of this matter to
+any one, whether man or woman. Further, I will not deny that when in so
+secret a place and safe from all suspicion I have kissed him with more
+goodwill than I kiss you. But as I look to God for mercy, no other
+familiarity has passed between us; he has never urged me to it, nor has
+my heart ever desired it; for I was so glad at seeing him that methought
+the world contained no greater pleasure.
+
+“And now, sir, will you, who are the sole cause of my misfortune, take
+vengeance for conduct of which you have yourself long since set me an
+example, with, indeed, this difference, that in your case you thought
+nought of either honour or conscience; for you know and I know too
+that the woman you love does not rest content with what God and reason
+enjoin. And albeit the law of man deals great dishonour to wives who
+love other men than their husbands, the law of God does not exempt from
+punishment the husbands who love other women than their wives. And if my
+offences are to be weighed against yours, you are more to blame than
+I, for you are a wise and experienced man, and of an age to know and
+to shun evil, whilst I am young and have no experience of the might and
+power of love. You have a wife who desires you, honours you, and loves
+you more than her own life; while I have a husband who avoids me, hates
+me, and rates me as lightly as he would a servant maid. You are in love
+with a woman who is already old, of meagre figure, and less fair than I;
+whilst I love a gentleman younger, handsomer, and more amiable than you.
+You love the wife of one of the best friends you have in the world, the
+mistress, moreover, of your King and master, so that you offend against
+the friendship that is due to the first, and the respect that is due to
+the second; whereas I am in love with a gentleman whose only tie is his
+love for me. Judge then fairly which of us two is the more worthy of
+punishment or pardon: you, a man of wisdom and experience, who through
+no provocation on my part have acted thus ill not only towards me, but
+towards the King, to whom you are so greatly indebted; or I, who am
+young and ignorant, who am slighted and despised by you, and loved by
+the handsomest and most worshipful gentleman in France, a gentleman whom
+I have loved in despair of ever being loved by you.”
+
+When the husband heard her utter these truths with so fair a
+countenance, and with such a bold and graceful assurance as clearly
+testified that she neither dreaded nor deserved any punishment, he was
+overcome with astonishment, and could find nothing to reply except that
+a man’s honour and a woman’s were not the same thing. However, since she
+swore to him that there had been nothing between herself and her lover
+but what she had told him, he was not minded to treat her ill, provided
+she would act so no more, and that they both put away the memory of the
+past. To this she agreed, and they went to bed in harmony together.
+
+Next morning an old damosel who was in great fear for her mistress’s
+life came to her at her rising, and asked--
+
+“Well, madam, and how do you fare?”
+
+“I would have you know,” said her mistress, laughing, “that there is not
+a better husband than mine, for he believed me on my oath.”
+
+And so five or six days passed by.
+
+Meanwhile the husband had such care of his wife that he caused a watch
+to be kept on her both night and day. But for all his care he could not
+prevent her from again speaking with her lover in a dark and suspicious
+place. However, she contrived matters with such secrecy that no one,
+whether man or woman, could ever learn the truth, though a rumour was
+started by some serving-man about a gentleman and a lady whom he had
+found in a stable underneath the rooms belonging to the mistress of the
+lady in question. At this her husband’s suspicions were so great that he
+resolved to slay the gentleman, and gathered together a large number of
+his relations and friends to kill him if he was anywhere to be found.
+But the chief among his kinsmen was so great a friend of the gentleman
+whom they sought, that instead of surprising him he gave him warning of
+all that was being contrived against him, for which reason the other,
+being greatly liked by the whole Court, was always so well attended that
+he had no fear of his enemy’s power, and could not be taken unawares and
+attacked.
+
+However, he betook himself to a church to meet his lady’s mistress,
+who had heard nothing of all that had passed, for the lovers had never
+spoken together in her presence. But the gentleman now informed her of
+the suspicion and ill-will borne him by the lady’s husband, and told her
+that although he was guiltless he had nevertheless resolved to go on a
+long journey in order to check the rumours, which were beginning greatly
+to increase. The Princess, his lady’s mistress, was much astonished on
+hearing this tale, and protested that the husband was much in the wrong
+to suspect so virtuous a wife, and one in whom she had ever found all
+worth and honour. Nevertheless, considering the husband’s authority, and
+in order to quell these evil reports, she advised him to absent himself
+for a time, assuring him that for her part she would never believe such
+foolish suspicions.
+
+Both the gentleman and the lady, who was present, were well pleased at
+thus preserving the favour and good opinion of the Princess, who further
+advised the gentleman to speak with the husband before his departure.
+He did as he was counselled, and meeting with the husband in a gallery
+close to the King’s apartment, he assumed a bold countenance, and said
+to him with all the respect due to one of high rank--
+
+“All my life, sir, I have desired to do you service, and my only reward
+is to hear that last evening you lay in wait to kill me. I pray you,
+sir, reflect that while you have more authority and power than I have, I
+am nevertheless a gentleman even as you are. It would be grievous to me
+to lose my life for naught. I pray you also reflect that you have a wife
+of great virtue, and if any man pretend the contrary I will tell him
+that he has foully lied. For my part, I can think of nothing that I have
+done to cause you to wish me ill. If, therefore, it please you, I will
+remain your faithful servant; if not, I am that of the King, and with
+that I may well be content.”
+
+The husband replied that he had in truth somewhat suspected him, but
+he deemed him so gallant a man that he would rather have his friendship
+than his enmity; and bidding him farewell, cap in hand, he embraced
+him like a dear friend. You may imagine what was said by those who, the
+evening before, had been charged to kill the gentleman, when they beheld
+such tokens of respect and friendship. And many and diverse were the
+remarks that each one made.
+
+In this manner the gentleman departed, and as he had far less money than
+good looks, his mistress delivered to him a ring that her husband had
+given her of the value of three thousand crowns; and this he pledged for
+fifteen hundred.
+
+Some time after he was gone, the husband came to the Princess, his
+wife’s mistress, and prayed her to grant his wife leave to go and dwell
+for a while with one of his sisters. This the Princess thought very
+strange, and so begged him to tell her the reasons of his request, that
+he told her part of them, but not all. When the young lady had taken
+leave of her mistress and of the whole Court without shedding any tears
+or showing the least sign of grief, she departed on her journey to the
+place whither her husband desired her to go, travelling under the care
+of a gentleman who had been charged to guard her closely, and above all
+not to suffer her to speak on the road to her suspected lover.
+
+She knew of these instructions, and every day was wont to cause false
+alarms, scoffing at her custodians and their lack of care. Thus one day,
+on leaving her lodging, she fell in with a Grey Friar on horseback, with
+whom, being herself on her palfrey, she talked on the road the whole
+time from the dinner to the supper hour. And when she was a quarter of
+a league from the place where she was to lodge that night, she said to
+him--
+
+“Here, father, are two crowns which I give you for the consolation you
+have afforded me this afternoon. They are wrapped in paper, for I well
+know that you would not venture to touch them. (2) And I beg you to
+leave the road as soon as you have parted from me, and to take care
+that you are not seen by those who are with me. I say this for your own
+welfare, and because I feel myself beholden to you.”
+
+     2  The Grey Friars belonging to a mendicant order were
+     prohibited from demanding or accepting money; it was only
+     allowable for them to receive gifts in kind, mainly edible
+     produce. It was for this reason that the lady gave the friar
+     the two crowns wrapped in paper, knowing that he ought not
+     to touch the coins.--M. See also vol. i. p. 98, note 3.
+
+The friar, well pleased with the two crowns, set off across the fields
+at full gallop; and when he was some distance away the lady said aloud
+to her attendants--
+
+“You may well deem yourselves good servants and diligent guards. He as
+to whom you were to be so careful has been speaking to me the whole day,
+and you have suffered him to do so. Your good master, who puts so much
+trust in you, should give you the stick rather than give you wages.”
+
+When the gentleman who had charge of her heard these words he was so
+angry that he could not reply, but calling two others to him, set spurs
+to his horse, and rode so hard that he at last reached the friar, who on
+perceiving his pursuers had fled as fast as he could. However, the poor
+fellow was caught, being less well mounted than they were. He was quite
+ignorant of what it all meant, and cried them mercy, taking off his hood
+in order that he might entreat them with bareheaded humility. Thereupon
+they realised that he was not the man whom they sought, and that their
+mistress had been mocking them. And this she did with even better effect
+upon their return to her.
+
+“You are fitting fellows,” said she, “to receive ladies in your charge.
+You suffer them to talk to any stranger, and then, believing whatever
+they may say, you go and insult the ministers of God.”
+
+After all these jests they arrived at the place that her husband had
+commanded, and here her two sisters-in-law, with the husband of one of
+them, kept her in great subjection.
+
+In the meanwhile her husband had heard how his ring had been pledged
+for fifteen hundred crowns, whereat he was exceedingly wrathful, and in
+order to save his wife’s honour and to get back the ring, he bade his
+sisters tell her to redeem it, he himself paying the fifteen hundred
+crowns.
+
+She cared nought for the ring since her lover had the money, but she
+wrote to him saying that she was compelled by her husband to redeem it,
+and in order that he might not suppose she was doing this through any
+lessening of her affection, she sent him a diamond which her mistress
+had given, her, and which she liked better than any ring she had.
+
+Thereupon the gentleman forwarded her the merchant’s bond right
+willingly; deeming himself fortunate in having fifteen hundred crowns
+and a diamond, (3) and at being still assured of his lady’s favour.
+However, as long as the husband lived, he had no means of communing with
+her save by writing.
+
+When the husband died, expecting to find her still what she had promised
+him to be, he came in all haste to ask her in marriage; but he found
+that his long absence had gained him a rival who was loved better than
+himself. His sorrow at this was so great that he henceforth shunned the
+companionship of ladies and sought out scenes of danger, and so at last
+died in as high repute as any young man could have. (4)
+
+     3  The gentleman deemed it only natural that the woman he
+     honoured with his love should present him with money. In the
+     seventeenth century similar opinions were held, if one may
+     judge by some passages in Dancourt’s comedies, and by the
+     presents which the Duchess of Cleveland made to Henry
+     Jerrayn and John Churchill, afterwards Duke of Marlborough,
+     as chronicled in the _Memoirs of the Count de Gramont_.--M.
+
+     4  Brantôme tells a somewhat similar tale to this in his
+     _Vies des Dames Galantes_ (Dis. I.): “I knew,” he writes,
+     “two ladies of the Court, sisters-in-law to one another, one
+     of whom was married to a courtier, high in favour and very
+     skilful, but who did not make as much account of his wife as
+     by reason of her birth he should have done, for he spoke to
+     her in public as he might have spoken to a savage, and
+     treated her most harshly. She patiently endured this for
+     some time, until indeed her husband lost some of his credit,
+     when, watching for and taking the opportunity, she quickly
+     repaid him for all the disdain that he had shown her. And
+     her sister-in-law imitated her and did likewise; for having
+     been married when of a young and tender age, her husband
+     made no more account of her than if she had been a little
+     girl.... But she, advancing in years, feeling her heart beat
+     and becoming conscious of her beauty, paid him back in the
+     same coin, and made him a present of a fine pair of horns,
+     by way of interest for the past”--Lalanne’s _OEuvres de
+     Brantôme_, vol. ix. p. 157.--L.
+
+“In this tale, ladies, I have tried, without sparing our own sex, to
+show husbands that wives of spirit yield rather to vengeful wrath than
+to the sweetness of love. The lady of whom I have told you withstood
+the latter for a great while, but in the end succumbed to despair.
+Nevertheless, no woman of virtue should yield as she did, for, happen
+what may, no excuse can be found for doing wrong. The greater the
+temptations, the more virtuous should one show oneself, by resisting and
+overcoming evil with good, instead of returning evil for evil; and this
+all the more because the evil we think to do to another often recoils
+upon ourselves. Happy are those women who display the heavenly virtues
+of chastity, gentleness, meekness, and long-suffering.”
+
+“It seems to me, Longarine,” said Hircan, “that the lady of whom you
+have spoken was impelled by resentment rather than by love; for had she
+loved the gentleman as greatly as she appeared to do, she would not
+have forsaken him for another. She may therefore be called resentful,
+vindictive, obstinate, and fickle.”
+
+“It is all very well for you to talk in that way,” said Ennasuite, “but
+you do not know the heartbreak of loving without return.”
+
+“It is true,” said Hircan, “that I have had but little experience in
+that way. If I am shown the slightest disfavour, I forthwith forego lady
+and love together.”
+
+“That,” said Parlamente, “is well enough for you who love only your own
+pleasure; but a virtuous wife cannot thus forsake her husband.”
+
+“Yet,” returned Simontault, “the lady in the story forgot for a while
+that she was a woman. No man could have taken a more signal revenge.”
+
+“It does not follow,” said Oisille, “because one woman lacks discretion
+that all the rest are the same.”
+
+“Nevertheless,” said Saffredent, “you are all women, as any one would
+find who looked carefully, despite all the fine clothes you may wear.”
+
+“If we were to listen to you,” said Nomerlide, “we should spend the day
+in disputes. For my part, I am so impatient to hear another tale, that I
+beg Longarine to give some one her vote.”
+
+Longarine looked at Geburon and said:--
+
+“If you know anything about a virtuous woman, I pray you set it forth.”
+
+“Since I am to do what I can,” said Geburon, “I will tell you a tale of
+something that happened in the city of Milan.”
+
+[Illustration: 182.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 183a.jpg The Gentleman discovering the Trick]
+
+[The Gentleman discovering the Trick]
+
+[Illustration: 183.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XVI_.
+
+_A lady of Milan, widow of an Italian Count, had resolved never again
+to marry or to love. But for three years she was so earnestly wooed by a
+French gentleman, that after repeated proof of the steadfastness of his
+love, she granted him what he had so greatly desired, and they vowed to
+each other everlasting affection_. (l)
+
+In the days of the Grand Master of Chaumont, (2) there lived a lady who
+was reckoned one of the most honourable women that there were at that
+time in the city of Milan. She had married an Italian Count, and being
+left a widow, lived in the house of her brothers-in-law, refusing to
+hear speak of another marriage. And so discreetly and piously did she
+demean herself that there was none in the Duchy, whether French or
+Italian, but held her in high esteem.
+
+     1  According to M. de Lincy, who points out that Bonnivet
+     must be the hero of the adventure here related, the
+     incidents referred to would have occurred at Milan between
+     1501 and 1503; but in M. Lacroix’s opinion they would be
+     posterior to 1506.--Ed.
+
+     2  See _ante_, note 1 to Tale XIV.
+
+One day when her brothers and sisters-in-law offered an entertainment to
+the Grand Master of Chaumont, this widow lady was obliged to be present,
+though she made it her rule not to attend such gatherings when held in
+other places. And when the Frenchmen saw her, they were all admiration
+for her beauty and grace, especially one among them whose name I shall
+not mention; for it will suffice for you to know that there was no
+Frenchman in Italy more worthy of love than he, for he was endowed with
+all the beauties and graces that a gentleman could have. And though he
+saw that the lady wore black crape, and remained with several old women
+in a corner apart from the young ones, yet, having never known what it
+was to fear either man or woman, he set himself to converse with her,
+taking off his mask, and leaving the dance in order to remain in her
+company.
+
+Throughout the whole of the evening he did not cease talking to her and
+to the old women, and found more pleasure in doing so than if he had
+been with the most youthful and bravely attired ladies of the Court. So
+much, indeed, was this the case, that when the hour came to withdraw he
+seemed to have not yet had time even to sit down. And although he only
+spoke to the lady on such common matters as were suited to such company,
+she knew very well that he desired to win her favour, and this she
+resolved to guard against by all means in her power, so that he was
+never afterwards able to see her at any banquet or assembly.
+
+He inquired about the manner of her life, and found that she often went
+to churches and convents; whereupon he kept such good watch that she
+could never visit them so secretly but he was there before her. And he
+would remain in the church as long as he had the happiness to see
+her, and all the time that she was present would gaze at her so
+affectionately that she could not remain in ignorance of the love he
+bore her. In order to avoid him, she resolved to feign illness for a
+time, and to hear mass in her own house; and at this the gentleman was
+most sorely grieved, for he had no other means of seeing her than at
+church.
+
+Thinking that she had cured him of his habit, she at last returned to
+the churches as before, but love quickly brought tidings of this to the
+French gentleman, who then renewed his habits of devotion. He feared,
+however, that she might again throw some hindrance in his way, and that
+he might not have time to tell her what he would; and so one morning,
+when she thought herself well concealed in a chapel, he placed himself
+at the end of the altar at which she was hearing mass; and seeing that
+she was but scantily attended, he turned towards her just as the priest
+was elevating the host, and in a soft and loving voice said to her--
+
+“May I be sent to perdition, madam, by Him whom the priest has now in
+his hands, if you are not causing my death. Though you take from me
+all means of speaking with you, you cannot be ignorant of my desire; my
+wearied eyes and my deathly face must make the truth apparent to you.”
+ (3)
+
+     3  The Queen of Navarre is known to have had a considerable
+     knowledge of the Italian language, and it is therefore quite
+     possible that she was acquainted with the story of
+     Poliphilus and Polia, which, although no French translation
+     of it appeared until 1554, had been issued at Venice as
+     early as 1499. In any case, however, there is a curious
+     similarity between the speech of the French gentleman given
+     above and the discourse which Poliphilus addresses to Polia
+     when he finds her saying her prayers in the temple. A
+     considerable portion of the Italian story is in keeping with
+     the character of the _Heptameron_ tales.--M.
+
+The lady pretended not to understand him, and replied--
+
+“God’s name should not thus be taken in vain; but the poets say that
+the gods laugh at the oaths and lies of lovers, and so women who regard
+their honour should not show themselves credulous or compassionate.”
+
+With these words she rose up and returned home.
+
+The gentleman’s anger at these words may well be imagined by such as
+have experienced the like fortune. But having no lack of spirit, he held
+it better to have received this unfavourable reply than to have failed
+in declaring his love, to which he held fast during three years, losing
+neither time nor opportunity in wooing her by letters and in other ways.
+
+For three years, however, she vouchsafed him no reply, but shunned
+him as the wolf shuns the hound that is to take him; and this she did
+through fear for her honour and fair fame, and not because she hated
+him. He perceived this so clearly that he pursued her more eagerly than
+ever; and at last, after many refusals, troubles, tortures and despairs,
+the lady took pity upon him for the greatness and steadfastness of his
+love, and so granted him what he had so greatly desired and so long
+awaited.
+
+When they had agreed concerning the means to be employed, the French
+gentleman failed not to repair to her house, although in doing so he
+placed his life in great danger, seeing that she and her relations lived
+all together.
+
+However, being as skilful as he was handsome, he contrived the matter
+so prudently that he was able to enter the lady’s room at the hour which
+she had appointed, and found her there all alone, lying in a beautiful
+bed; but as he was hasting to put off his clothes in order to join her,
+he heard a great whispering at the door, and a noise of swords scraping
+against the wall.
+
+Then the widow said to him, with the face of one nigh to death--
+
+“Now is your life and my honour in as great danger as well can be, for I
+hear my brothers outside seeking you to slay you. I pray you, therefore,
+hide yourself under this bed, and when they fail to find you I shall
+have reason to be angry with them for alarming me without just cause.”
+
+The gentleman, who had never yet known fear, replied--
+
+“And what, pray, are your brothers that they should frighten a man of
+mettle? If the whole breed of them were there together, I am sure they
+would not tarry for the fourth thrust of my sword. Do you, therefore,
+rest quietly in bed, and leave the guarding of this door to me.”
+
+Then he wrapped his cloak about his arm, took his drawn sword in his
+hand, and opened the door so that he might have a closer view of
+the swords that he had heard. When the door was opened, he saw two
+serving-women, who, holding a sword in each hand, had raised this alarm.
+
+“Sir,” they said to him, “forgive us. We were commanded by our mistress
+to act in this manner, but you shall be hindered by us no more.”
+
+Seeing that they were women, the gentleman could do no more than bid
+them go to the devil, and shut the door in their faces. Then he got into
+bed to the lady with all imaginable speed, his passion for her being in
+no wise diminished by fear; and forgetting to inquire the reason of this
+skirmish, he thought only of satisfying his desire.
+
+But when daybreak was drawing nigh, he begged his mistress to tell him
+why she had treated him so ill, both in making him wait so long, and in
+having played this last trick upon him.
+
+“My intention,” she answered, laughing, “had been never to love again,
+and I had observed it from the time I became a widow; but, after you
+had spoken to me at the entertainment, your worth led me to change
+my resolve, and to love you as much as you loved me. It is true that
+honour, which had ever guided me, would not suffer me to be led by love
+to do aught to the disparagement of my reputation. But as the poor hind
+when wounded unto death thinks by change of place to change the pain it
+carries with it, so did I go from church to church thinking to flee from
+him whom I carried in my heart, and the proof of whose perfect devotion
+has reconciled honour and love. However, that I might be the more
+certain that I was giving my heart and love to a true man, I desired to
+make this last proof by means of my serving-women. And I vow to you that
+had I found you so timorous as to hide beneath my bed, either for fear
+of your life or for any other reason, I was resolved to rise and go into
+another room and never see you more. But since I have found that you are
+possessed of more beauty, and grace, and virtue, and valour than rumour
+had given you, and that fear has no power over your heart, nor can cool
+one whit the love you bear me, I am resolved to cleave to you for the
+remainder of my days. I feel sure that I could not place life and
+honour in better hands than those of one whom I deem unmatched in every
+virtue.”
+
+And, just as though the human will could be unchangeable, they vowed and
+promised what was not in their power, namely, perpetual affection. For
+this is a thing that can neither spring up nor abide in the heart of
+man, as only those ladies know who have had experience of how long such
+feelings last. (4)
+
+     4  In Boaistuau’s edition of the _Heptameron_ the final part
+     of the above sentence is given as follows: “And those women
+     that have had experience of it know this, and also how long
+     such fancies last.” An extract from Brantôme in connection
+     with the story will be found in the Appendix to this volume,
+     D.
+
+“So, ladies, if you are wise, you will beware of us even as the stag,
+had he understanding, would beware of the hunter; for our glory,
+happiness, and delight is to see you captured in order to rob you of
+that which is more precious to you than life.”
+
+“Why, Geburon,” said Hircan, “since when have you turned preacher? I can
+remember a time when you did not talk after that fashion.”
+
+“It is quite true,” said Geburon, “that I have just spoken contrary to
+what I have always said my life long; but since my teeth are no longer
+able to chew venison, I warn the hapless deer to beware of the hunters,
+in order that I may atone in my old age for all the mischief which I
+sought to do in my youth.”
+
+“We thank you, Geburon,” said Nomerfide, “for warning us to our profit,
+but for all that we do not feel very greatly beholden to you. You never
+spoke in that way to one you truly loved, and this is a proof that
+you have little love for us, and, moreover, would not have us loved.
+Nevertheless, we hold ourselves as discreet and as virtuous as the
+ladies whom you so long pursued in your youth. But old folk are commonly
+vain enough to think that they have been wiser in their time than those
+who come after them.”
+
+“Well, Nomerfide,” said Geburon, “will you believe that I have told
+you the truth when the faithlessness of one of your lovers has made you
+acquainted with the evil nature of men?”
+
+“It seems to me,” said Oisille to Geburon, “that the gentleman whom you
+praise so highly for his boldness ought rather to be praised for the
+ardour of his love. So strong is this passion, that it impels the most
+cowardly to embark on enterprises about which the bravest would think
+twice.”
+
+“If, madam,” said Saffredent, “he’had not deemed the Italians to be
+better at talking than acting, me-thinks he had reason to be afraid.”
+
+“Yes,” said Oisille, “if he had not had in his heart the fire that
+consumes fear.”
+
+“Since you do not deem the boldness of this gentleman altogether worthy
+of praise,” said Hircan, “you doubtless know of some one else more
+deserving of commendation.”
+
+“Nay,” said Oisille, “the gentleman in the story deserves praise, but I
+do know of one who is more worthy of being admired.”
+
+“I pray you, madam,” said Geburon, “if that be so, take my place and
+tell us the tale.”
+
+“If,” began Oisille, “a man who showed such boldness against the
+Milanese to save his own life and his mistress’s honour is to be
+esteemed so very brave, what shall be said of one who, without any need
+for it, and from pure and simple valour, performed the deed of which I
+will now tell you?”
+
+[Illustration: 193.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 195a.jpg The King showing his Sword]
+
+[The King showing his Sword]
+
+[Illustration: 195.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XVII_.
+
+_King Francis, being urged to banish Count William, who was said to have
+received money to bring about his death, did not suffer it to appear
+that he had any inkling of the scheme, but played the Count so shrewd a
+trick that he himself took leave of the King and went into banishment_.
+(1)
+
+To the town of Dijon, in the Duchy of Burgundy, there came a German
+Count to take service with King Francis. He was named William, (2) and
+was of the House of Saxony, which is so closely allied with that of
+Savoy that formerly they were but one. This Count, who was held for as
+handsome and valiant a gentleman as Germany ever knew, was right well
+received by the King, who not only took him into his service, but kept
+him close to himself as a groom of the chamber.
+
+     1  The incidents of this story are historical. Francis I. is
+     known to have sojourned at Dijon in June and July 1521.--L.
+
+     2  This is William, eldest son of Wolfgang von Furstemberg,
+     chamberlain to Maximilian I., and privy counsellor to Philip
+     of Austria.--B. J. Various particulars concerning him are
+     given in the Appendix to this volume, E.
+
+Now the Lord de la Trémoille, (3) Governor of Burgundy, an old knight
+and a loyal servant to the King, was ever jealous and anxious for his
+master’s safety, and was wont to have spies at all points to learn what
+the King’s enemies were doing; and so prudently did he contrive matters,
+that but few things were hidden from him. Among his informations there
+came to him one day a letter from a friend telling him that Count
+William had received a sum of money, with promise of more, for putting
+the King to death in any such manner as he might find possible. (4)
+
+     3  This is Louis II., Sire de la Trémoille, Viscount of
+     Thouars and Prince of Talmont, born in 1460. The son of
+     Louis I. de la Trémoille and of Margaret d’Amboise, he
+     became one of the most remarkable men of his time. Favoured
+     by Anne de Beaujeu, who arranged his marriage with Gabrielle
+     de Bourbon, he commanded the royal troops at the battle of
+     St. Aubin du Cormier, in Brittany (1488), at which the
+     rebellious Duke of Orleans (afterwards Louis XII.) and the
+     Prince of Orange, with a large number of the nobles, their
+     partisans, were made prisoners. They were all invited to La
+     Trémoille’s table after the engagement, and, according to
+     Godefroi’s Latin history of Louis XII., at the close of the
+     repast two Franciscan monks entered the hall, whereupon La
+     Trémoille rose and said: “Princes, I refer your judgments to
+     the King, but as for you, Knights, who have broken your
+     faith and falsified your knightly oath, you shall pay for
+     your crime with your heads. If you have any remorse on your
+     consciences, here are monks who will shrive you.” The hall
+     resounded with lamentations, but the unhappy nobles were
+     promptly dragged into the courtyard, and there put to death;
+     both Orleans and Orange being too terror-stricken to
+     intercede for them. When the former came to the throne, he
+     forgave La Trémoille for his conduct in this affair, and
+     showed him great favour, appointing him Governor of Burgundy
+     in 1501. La Trémoille also became Admiral of Guienne and
+     Brittany, and figured conspicuously in the various Italian
+     campaigns of the period. He was killed at Pavia in 1525.
+     Jean Bouchet, a contemporary, wrote a curious life of this
+     remarkable man, entitled _Panegyric du Chevalier sans
+     reproche_. It will be found in Michaud and Poujoulat’s
+     _Collection de Mitnoires_,--L. and Ed.
+
+     4  It has been suggested that the instigator of this plot
+     was Charles V.’s famous minister, Cardinal Granvelle.--Ed.
+
+The Lord de la Trémoille failed not to give speedy notice of the affair
+to the King, and further made it known to the King’s mother, Louise of
+Savoy, who, forgetting that she and this German were akin, begged the
+King to banish him forthwith. But the King bade her speak no more of
+it, saying that it was impossible so upright and honourable a gentleman
+would undertake so vile a deed.
+
+Some time afterwards a second warning arrived in confirmation of the
+first, and the Governor, burning with love for his master, sought
+permission either to banish the Count or else take him in hand in some
+other fashion; but the King charged him expressly to keep the affair
+secret, being persuaded that he might discover the truth by some other
+means.
+
+One day when going a-hunting, the King, as his sole weapon, buckled on
+the finest sword it were possible to see, and took Count William along
+with him, desiring that he would follow him close. After hunting the
+stag for some time, seeing that all his people save the Count were far
+off, he turned out of all the roads and tracks, till he found himself
+alone with the Count in the deepest part of the forest, (5) when,
+drawing his sword, he said:--
+
+“Think you that this sword be handsome and trusty?”
+
+     5  This may be either the forest of Argilly or that of
+     Mondragon, both in the vicinity of Dijon.--ED.
+
+The Count took it by the point, and answered that he had never seen one
+that he liked better.
+
+“You are right,” said the King; “and I think that, if a gentleman had
+resolved to slay me, he would think twice before he attacked me if
+he knew the strength of my arm, the stoutness-of my heart, and the
+excellence of this sword. Yet, for all that, I should count him but a
+craven scoundrel if, when we were face to face and alone, he durst not
+execute what he had dared to undertake.”
+
+“Sire,” replied Count William, with astonished countenance, “the
+wickedness of the undertaking would be very great, but the folly of
+seeking to execute it would be no less.”
+
+The King laughed, sheathed his sword again, and hearing the hunt hard
+by, spurred after it with all speed. When he reached his train he spoke
+to none of what had passed, but he felt convinced that, although Count
+William was as brave and ready a gentleman as might be, he was not the
+man to carry out so high an enterprise.
+
+However, Count William, fearing that he had been discovered or was at
+least suspected, repaired the next morning to Robertet, Secretary
+for the King’s Finances, (6) and told him that he had considered the
+privileges and pay offered him to continue in the King’s service, and
+that they would not suffice to support him for half the year. Unless
+therefore it pleased the King to give him double, he would be forced to
+depart; and he accordingly begged the said Robertet to acquaint him
+as soon as might be with the will of the King. To this the Secretary
+replied that he could not better advance the business than by going to
+the King straightway; and he undertook the mission right willingly, for
+he had seen the warnings that the Governor had received.
+
+     6  This is Florimond Robertet, the first of that family of
+     statesmen who served the French crown from Charles VIII. to
+     Henri III. It was Charles VIII. who appointed Florimond
+     Treasurer of France and Secretary of Finances, offices in
+     which he displayed great skill and honesty. Louis XII., who
+     confirmed him in his functions, habitually consulted him on
+     important political affairs. He acquired considerable
+     wealth, and was often called “the great baron,” after the
+     barony of Alluye, which he possessed in Le Perche. One of
+     the curiosities of Blois is the Hôtel d’Alluye, a house of
+     semi-Moorish style, erected by Robertet at the close of the
+     fifteenth century. Another of his residences was the château
+     of Bury, near Blois, where he set up Michael Angelo’s famous
+     bronze statue of David, presented to him by the city of
+     Florence, and the fate of which has furnished material for
+     so much speculation. Under Francis I. Robertet enjoyed the
+     same credit as during the two previous reigns. Fleuranges
+     declares that no one else was so intimate with the King, and
+     commends him as being the most experienced and competent
+     statesman of the times. According to the _Journal d’un
+     Bourgeois de Paris_, Robertet died “at the Palais (de
+     Justice) in Paris, of which he was concierge,” on November
+     29, 1527. Francis repeatedly visited him during his illness,
+     and, on his death, ordered that his remains should lie in
+     state, and be interred with great pomp and ceremony. Clement
+     Marot’s works contain a poem, four hundred lines in length,
+     celebrating Robertet’s virtues and talents.--L., B. J., and
+     Ed.
+
+As soon, therefore, as the King was awake he failed not to lay the
+matter before him in the presence of the Lord de la Trémoille and the
+Admiral de Bonnivet, who were ignorant of the trick that the King had
+played the Count the day before.
+
+Then the King laughed, and said to them--“You desired to banish Count
+William, and you see he is banishing himself. Wherefore, tell him
+that if he be not content with the establishment which he accepted on
+entering my service, and which many men of good families have deemed
+themselves fortunate to have, he must e’en seek a better fortune
+elsewhere. For my part, I will in no wise hinder him, but shall be well
+pleased if he can find some condition wherein to live according to his
+deserts.”
+
+Robertet was as prompt to bear this answer to the Count as he had been
+to prefer his request to the King. The Count replied that with the
+King’s permission he was resolved to depart, and, like one whom fear
+urges to flight, he did not tarry even four and twenty hours; but,
+just as the King was sitting down to table, came to take leave of him,
+feigning much sorrow that his need should force him from the Royal
+presence.
+
+He also went to take leave of the King’s mother, who parted from him
+no less joyfully than she had formerly received him as a kinsman and
+friend. And thus he returned to his own country; and the King, seeing
+his mother and courtiers in amazement at his sudden departure, told
+them of the fright he had given him, saying that, even if the Count
+were innocent of that which was laid against him, his fear had been
+sufficiently great to constrain him to leave a master whose temper he
+had not yet come to know.
+
+“For my part, ladies, I can see no reason why the King should have been
+moved to risk himself thus against so famous a captain, except that,
+forsaking the company and places where Kings find no inferiors ready to
+give them battle, he desired to place himself on an equal footing with
+one whom he suspected to be his enemy; and this that he might have the
+satisfaction of testing the stoutness and valour of his own heart.”
+
+“Without a doubt,” said Parlamente, “he was in the right; for all the
+praise of man cannot so well satisfy a noble heart as its own particular
+knowledge and experience of the virtues that God has placed in it.”
+
+“The ancients,” said Geburon, “long ago showed us that to reach the
+Temple of Fame it was necessary to pass through the Temple of Virtue,
+and I, who am acquainted with the two persons in your tale, know
+right well that the King is indeed one of the most valiant men in his
+kingdom.”
+
+“By my word,” said Hircan, “at the time when Count William came to
+France, I should have feared his [the King’s] sword more than those of
+the four most accomplished Italian gentlemen at Court.”
+
+“We well know,” said Ennasuite, “that he is too famous for our praises
+to equal his merit, and that the day would be spent before we each could
+say all the good we think of him. And so, madam, I pray you, give your
+vote to one who will tell us some further good of men, if such there
+be.”
+
+Then said Oisille to Hircan--
+
+“It seems to me that, as you are so wont to speak ill of women, you will
+find it easy to tell us some good story in praise of a man. I therefore
+give you my vote.”
+
+“That can I easily do,” said Hircan, “for but a little while since I was
+told a story in praise of a gentleman whose love, constancy and patience
+are so meritorious that I must not suffer them to be forgotten.”
+
+[Illustration: 203.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 205a.jpg The Student escaping the Temptation]
+
+[The Student escaping the Temptation]
+
+[Illustration: 205.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XVIII_.
+
+     _A young student of noble birth, being smitten with love for
+     a very beautiful lady, subdued both love and himself in
+     order to achieve his end, and this in spite of many such
+     temptations as might have sufficed to make him break his
+     promise. And so all his woes were turned to joy by a reward
+     suitable to his constant, patient, loyal and perfect love_.
+     (1)
+
+     1  This story seems to be based on fact, being corroborated
+     in its main lines by Brantôme, but there is nothing in the
+     narrative to admit of the personages referred to being
+     identified.--Ed.
+
+In one of the goodly towns of the kingdom of France there dwelt a
+nobleman of good birth, who attended the schools that he might learn how
+virtue and honour are to be acquired among virtuous men. But although
+he was so accomplished that at the age of seventeen or eighteen years he
+was, as it were, both precept and example to others, Love failed not to
+add his lesson to the rest; and, that he might be the better hearkened
+to and received, concealed himself in the face and the eyes of the
+fairest lady in the whole country round, who had come to the city in
+order to advance a suit-at-law. But before Love sought to vanquish the
+gentleman by means of this lady’s beauty, he had first won her heart by
+letting her see the perfections of this young lord; for in good looks,
+grace, sense and excellence of speech he was surpassed by none.
+
+You, who know what speedy way is made by the fire of love when once it
+fastens on the heart and fancy, will readily imagine that between two
+subjects so perfect as these it knew little pause until it had them at
+its will, and had so filled them with its clear light, that thought,
+wish and speech were all aflame with it. Youth, begetting fear in the
+young lord, led him to urge his suit with all the gentleness imaginable;
+but she, being conquered by love, had no need of force to win her.
+Nevertheless, shame, which tarries with ladies as long as it can,
+for some time restrained her from declaring her mind. But at last the
+heart’s fortress, which is honour’s abode, was shattered in such sort
+that the poor lady consented to that which she had never been minded to
+refuse.
+
+In order, however, to make trial of her lover’s patience, constancy
+and love, she only granted him what he sought on a very hard condition,
+assuring him that if he fulfilled it she would love him perfectly for
+ever; whereas, if he failed in it, he would certainly never win her as
+long as he lived. And the condition was this:--she would be willing to
+talk with him, both being in bed together, clad in their linen only, but
+he was to ask nothing more from her than words and kisses.
+
+He, thinking there was no joy to be compared to that which she promised
+him, agreed to the proposal, and that evening the promise was kept; in
+such wise that, despite all the caresses she bestowed on him and the
+temptations that beset him, he would not break his oath. And albeit his
+torment seemed to him no less than that of Purgatory, yet was his
+love so great and his hope so strong, sure as he felt of the ceaseless
+continuance of the love he had thus painfully won, that he preserved his
+patience and rose from beside her without having done anything contrary
+to her expressed wish. (2)
+
+     2  Brantôme’s _Dames Galantes_ contains an anecdote which is
+     very similar in character to this tale: “I have heard
+     speak,” he writes, “of a very beautiful and honourable lady,
+     who gave her lover an assignation to sleep with her, on the
+     condition that he should not touch her... and he actually
+     obeyed her, remaining in a state of ecstasy, temptation and
+     continence the whole night long; whereat she was so well
+     pleased with him that some time afterwards she consented to
+     become his mistress, giving as her reason that she had
+     wished to prove his love by his obedience to her
+     injunctions; and on this account she afterwards loved him
+     the more, for she felt sure that he was capable of even a
+     greater feat than this, though it were a very great one.”--
+     Lalanne’s _OEuvres de Brantôme_, vol. ix. pp. 6, 7.--L.
+
+The lady was, I think, more astonished than pleased by such virtue; and
+giving no heed to the honour, patience and faithfulness her lover had
+shown in the keeping of his oath, she forthwith suspected that his love
+was not so great as she had thought, or else that he had found her less
+pleasing than he had expected.
+
+She therefore resolved, before keeping her promise, to make a further
+trial of the love he bore her; and to this end she begged him to
+talk to a girl in her service, who was younger than herself and very
+beautiful, bidding him make love speeches to her, so that those who saw
+him come so often to the house might think that it was for the sake of
+this damsel and not of herself.
+
+The young lord, feeling sure that his own love was returned in equal
+measure, was wholly obedient to her commands, and for love of her
+compelled himself to make love to the girl; and she, finding him so
+handsome and well-spoken, believed his lies more than other truth, and
+loved him as much as though she herself were greatly loved by him.
+
+The mistress finding that matters were thus well advanced, albeit the
+young lord did not cease to claim her promise, granted him permission to
+come and see her at one hour after midnight, saying that after having so
+fully tested the love and obedience he had shown towards her, it was but
+just that he should be rewarded for his long patience. Of the lover’s
+joy on hearing this you need have no doubt, and he failed not to arrive
+at the appointed time.
+
+But the lady, still wishing to try the strength of his love, had said to
+her beautiful damsel--
+
+“I am well aware of the love a certain nobleman bears to you, and I
+think you are no less in love with him; and I feel so much pity for you
+both, that I have resolved to afford you time and place that you may
+converse together at your ease.”
+
+The damsel was so enchanted that she could not conceal her longings, but
+answered that she would not fail to be present.
+
+In obedience, therefore, to her mistress’s counsel and command, she
+undressed herself and lay down on a handsome bed, in a room the door of
+which the lady left half-open, whilst within she set a light so that the
+maiden’s beauty might be clearly seen. Then she herself pretended to go
+away, but hid herself near to the bed so carefully that she could not be
+seen.
+
+Her poor lover, thinking to find her according to her promise, failed
+not to enter the room as softly as he could, at the appointed hour; and
+after he had shut the door and put off his garments and fur shoes, he
+got into the bed, where he looked to find what he desired. But no
+sooner did he put out his arms to embrace her whom he believed to be his
+mistress, than the poor girl, believing him entirely her own, had her
+arms round his neck, speaking to him the while in such loving words and
+with so beautiful a countenance, that there is not a hermit so holy but
+he would have forgotten his beads for love of her.
+
+But when the gentleman recognised her with both eye and ear, and found
+he was not with her for whose sake he had so greatly suffered, the love
+that had made him get so quickly into the bed, made him rise from it
+still more quickly. And in anger equally with mistress and damsel, he
+said--
+
+“Neither your folly nor the malice of her who put you there can make
+me other than I am. But do you try to be an honest woman, for you shall
+never lose that good name through me.”
+
+So saying he rushed out of the room in the greatest wrath imaginable,
+and it was long before he returned to see his mistress. However love,
+which is never without hope, assured him that the greater and more
+manifest his constancy was proved to be by all these trials, the longer
+and more delightful would be his bliss.
+
+The lady, who had seen and heard all that passed, was so delighted and
+amazed at beholding the depth and constancy of his love, that she was
+impatient to see him again in order to ask his forgiveness for the
+sorrow that she had caused him to endure. And as soon as she could meet
+with him, she failed not to address him in such excellent and pleasant
+words, that he not only forgot all his troubles but even deemed
+them very fortunate, seeing that their issue was to the glory of his
+constancy and the perfect assurance of his love, the fruit of which he
+enjoyed from that time forth as fully as he could desire, without either
+hindrance or vexation. (3)
+
+     3  In reference to this story, Montaigne says in his Essay
+     on Cruelty: “Such as have sensuality to encounter, willingly
+     make use of this argument, that when it is at the height it
+     subjects us to that degree that a man’s reason can have no
+     access... wherein they conceive that the pleasure doth so
+     transport us that our reason cannot perform its office
+     whilst we are so benumbed and extacied in delight.... But I
+     know that a man may triumph over the utmost effort of this
+     pleasure: I have experienced it in myself, and have not
+     found Venus so imperious a goddess as many--and some more
+     reformed than I--declare. I do not consider it as a miracle,
+     as the Queen of Navarre does in one of the Tales of her
+     _Heptameron_ (which is a marvellous pretty book of the
+     kind), nor for a thing of extreme difficulty to pass over
+     whole nights, where a man has all the convenience and
+     liberty he can desire, with a long-coveted mistress, and yet
+     be just to his faith first given to satisfy himself with
+     kisses and innocent embraces only, without pressing any
+     further.”--Cotton’s “Montaigne’s Essays”, London, 1743, vol
+     ii. pp. 109-10.
+
+“I pray you, ladies, find me if you can a woman who has ever shown
+herself as constant, patient and true as was this man. They who have
+experienced the like temptations deem those in the pictures of Saint
+Antony very small in comparison; for one who can remain chaste and
+patient in spite of beauty, love, opportunity and leisure, will have
+virtue enough to vanquish every devil.”
+
+“Tis a pity,” said Oisille, “that he did not address his love to a woman
+possessing as much virtue as he possessed himself. Their amour would
+then have been the most perfect and honourable that was ever heard of.”
+
+“But prithee tell me,” said Geburon, “which of the two trials do you
+deem the harder?”
+
+“I think the last,” said Parlamente, “for resentment is the strongest of
+all temptations.”
+
+Longarine said she thought that the first was the most arduous to
+sustain, since to keep his promise it was needful he should subdue both
+love and himself.
+
+“It is all very well for you to talk,” said Simontault, “it is for us
+who know the truth of the matter to say what we think of it. For my own
+part, I think he was stupid the first time and witless the second; for
+I make no doubt that, while he was keeping his promise, to his mistress,
+she was put to as much trouble as himself, if not more. She had him take
+the oath only in order to make herself out a more virtuous woman than
+she really was; she must have well known that strong love will not be
+bound by commandment or oath, or aught else on earth, and she simply
+sought to give a show of virtue to her vice, as though she could be won
+only through heroic virtues. And the second time he was witless to leave
+a woman who loved him, and who was worth more than his pledged mistress,
+especially when his displeasure at the trick played upon him had been a
+sound excuse.”
+
+Here Dagoucin put in that he was of the contrary opinion, and held that
+the gentleman had on the first occasion shown himself constant, patient
+and true, and on the second occasion loyal and perfect in his love.
+
+“And how can we tell,” asked Saffredent, “that he was not one of those
+that a certain chapter calls _de frigidis et malificiatis?_” (4)
+
+     4  This is an allusion to the penalties pronounced by
+     several ecclesiastical Councils, and specified in the
+     Capitularies, against those who endeavoured to suspend the
+     procreative faculties of their enemies by resorting to
+     magic. On this matter Baluze’s collection of Capitularies
+     (vol. i.) may be consulted. The “chapter” referred to by
+     Margaret is evidently chapter xv. (book vi.) of the
+     Decretals of Pope Boniface VIII., which bears the title of
+     _De frigidis et maleficiatis_, and which is alluded to by
+     Rabelais in _Pantagruel_. The belief in the practices in
+     question dates back to ancient times, and was shared by
+     Plato and Pliny, the latter of whom says that to guard
+     against any spell of the kind some wolf fat should be rubbed
+     upon the threshold and door jambs of one’s bed-chamber. In
+     the sixteenth century sorcery of this description was so
+     generally believed in, in some parts of France, that
+     Cardinal du Perron inserted special prayers against it in
+     the ritual. Some particulars on the subject will be found in
+     the _Admirables Secrets du Petit Albert_, and also in a
+     _Traité d’Enchantement_, published at La Rochelle in 1591,
+     which gives details concerning certain practices alleged to
+     take place on the solemnisation of marriage among those of
+     the Reformed Church.--D. and L.
+
+“To complete his eulogy, Hircan ought to have told us how he comported
+himself when he obtained what he wanted, and then we should have been
+able to judge whether it was virtue or impotence that made him observe
+so much discretion.”
+
+“You may be sure,” said Hircan, “that had he told me this I should have
+concealed it as little as I did the rest. Nevertheless, from seeing his
+person and knowing his temper, I shall ever hold that his conduct was
+due to the power of love rather than to any impotence or coldness.”
+
+“Well, if he was such as you say,” said Simontault, “he ought to have
+broken his oath; for, had the lady been angered by such a trifle, it
+would have been easy to appease her.”
+
+“Nay,” said Ennasuite, “perhaps she would not then have consented.”
+
+“And pray,” said Saffredent, “would it not have been easy enough to
+compel her, since she had herself given him the opportunity?”
+
+“By Our Lady!” said Nomerfide, “how you run on! Is that the way to win
+the favour of a lady who is accounted virtuous and discreet?”
+
+“In my opinion,” said Saffredent, “the highest honour that can be paid
+to a woman from whom such things are desired is to take her by force,
+for there is not the pettiest damsel among them but seeks to be long
+entreated. Some indeed there are who must receive many gifts before they
+are won, whilst there are others so stupid that hardly any device or
+craft can enable one to win them, and with these one must needs be ever
+thinking of some means or other. But when you have to do with a woman
+who is too clever to be deceived, and too virtuous to be gained by words
+or gifts, is there not good reason to employ any means whatever that may
+be at your disposal to vanquish her? When you hear it said that a man
+has taken a woman by force, you may be sure that the woman has left him
+hopeless of any other means succeeding, and you should not think any
+the worse of a man who has risked his life in order to give scope to his
+love.”
+
+Geburon burst out laughing.
+
+“In my day,” said he, “I have seen besieged places stormed because it
+was impossible to bring the garrison to a parley either by money or by
+threats; ‘tis said that a place which begins to treat is half taken.”
+
+“You may think,” said Ennasuite, “that every love on earth is based upon
+such follies as these, but there are those who have loved, and who have
+long persevered in their love, with very different aims.”
+
+“If you know a story of that kind,” said Hircan, “I will give place to
+you for the telling of it.”
+
+“I do know one,” said Ennasuite, “and I will very willingly relate it.”
+
+[Illustration: 216.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+
+
+
+A. (Tale VIII., Page i.)
+
+Tales of a similar character to this will be found in the following
+works written prior to Margaret’s time:--
+
+Legrand d’Aussy’s collection of _Fabliaux ou Contes du XIIème et XIIIème
+siècles_ (vol. iii.).
+
+Boccaccio’s _Decameron_ (day viii., story iv.).
+
+Enguerrand d’Oisy’s _Le Meunier d’Aleu_.
+
+Poggio’s _Facetio ( Vir sibi cornua promovens)_.
+
+Sacchetti’s _Novelle_ (vol. ii., No. ccvi.).
+
+Morlini’s _Novelle_ (No. lxxix.).
+
+_Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles_ (story ix.).
+
+Malespini’s _Ducento Novelle_ (part ii., No. xcvi.).
+
+Of the foregoing, says M. de Montaiglon, Margaret could only have been
+acquainted with the _Decameron_, the _Cent Nouvelles_, and Poggio’s
+_Facetio_, which had been translated into French by Tardix (see Nos. cv.
+and ex. of that translation).
+
+A similar story in Latin verse is also contained in a fourteenth century
+MS. at Monte Cassino. See _I codici e le arti a Monte Cassino_, by D.
+Andrea Caravita (vol. ii. p. 289).
+
+Since Margaret’s time stories of the same character have appeared in the
+following works:--
+
+Melander’s _Jocondia_ (p. 298).
+
+Phil. Béroalde’s _Contes Latins_ (see _Poggii Imitationes_, Noel’s éd.,
+vol. ii. p. 245).
+
+Guicciardini’s _Hore di Recreazione_ (p. 103).
+
+J. Bouchet’s _Serées_ (No. 8; Roybet’s éd., vol. ii. p. 115).
+
+Gabrielle Chapuys’ _Facétieuses Journées_ (p. 213).
+
+La Fontaine’s _Contes_ (book v., No. viii.:_ Les Quiproquo_). _Le
+Passe-Temps Agréable_ (p. 27).
+
+Moreover, a song written on the same subject will be found, says M.
+de Lincy, on folio 44 of the _Premier Recueil de toutes les chansons
+nouvelles_ (Troyes, Nicholas du Ruau, 1590). It is there called “The
+facetious and recreative story of a certain labourer of a village near
+Paris, who, thinking that he was enjoying his servant, lay with his
+wife.” This song was reprinted in various other collections of the
+sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
+
+
+
+
+B (Tale XL (B.), Page 95.)
+
+An anecdote in keeping with this story will be found in Brantôme’s
+miscellaneous works (Petitot’s éd., vol. viii. pp. 382-4). The author
+of _Les Dames Galantes_, after alluding to his aunt Louise de
+Bourdeille--who was brought up at Court by Anne of Brittany--proceeds to
+say:--
+
+“A certain Grey Friar, who habitually preached before the Queen, fell so
+deeply in love with Mademoiselle de Bourdeille that he completely lost
+his wits, and sometimes in his sermons, whilst speaking of the beauty
+of the holy virgins of past times, he would so forget himself as to say
+some words respecting the beauty of my said aunt, not to mention the
+soft glances which he cast at her. And sometimes, whilst in the Queen’s
+room, he would take great pleasure in discoursing to her, not with words
+of love however, for he would have incurred a whipping, but with other
+covert words which tended towards love. My aunt in no wise approved
+of his discourses, and made some mention of them to her own and her
+companions’ governess. The Queen heard of the matter and could not
+believe it, on account of this man’s cloth and holiness. For this reason
+she kept silent until a certain Good Friday, when, in accordance with
+custom, this friar preached before her on the Holy Passion. The ladies
+and the maids, including my aunt, being seated as was their wont before
+the reverend father, in full view of him, he, as though giving out the
+text and introit of his sermon, began to say: ‘It is for you, lovely
+humanity, it is for you that I suffer this day. Thus on a certain
+occasion spake our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Then proceeding with his sermon
+the friar chronicled all the sufferings and afflictions which Jesus
+endured for mankind at His death upon the Cross, and these he compared
+to the sufferings that he himself endured on account of my aunt; but in
+such covert, such disguised words that even the most enlightened might
+have failed to understand their meaning. Queen Anne, however, who was
+very expert both in mind and judgment, laid hold of this, and took
+counsel as to the real meaning of the sermon, both with certain lords
+and ladies and certain learned men who were there present. They all
+pronounced the sermon to be most scandalous, and the Grey Friar most
+deserving of punishment; for which reason he was secretly chastised and
+whipped, and then driven away, without any scandal being made. Such was
+the Queen’s reply to the amours of this Grey Friar; and thus was my aunt
+well avenged on him for the way in which he had so often importuned her.
+In those times it was not allowable, under divers penalties, either to
+contradict or to refuse to speak to such people, who, so it was thought,
+conversed only of God and the salvation of the soul.”
+
+In Mérimée’s Chronique de Charles IX., there will be found a facetious
+sermon by another Grey Friar; this, however, is less in keeping with the
+_Heptameron_, than with the character of the discourses delivered by the
+preachers of the League.--M.
+
+
+
+
+C. (Tale XII., Page 101.)
+
+The following account of the assassination of Alexander de’ Medici is
+taken from Sismondi’s _Histoire des Républiques Italiennes du Moyen
+Age_, Paris, 1826, vol. xvi. p. 95 et seq.:--
+
+“But few months had elapsed since Alexander’s marriage, and he had
+employed them in his wonted debauchery, carrying depravity and dishonour
+alternately into the convents and noblest abodes of Florence, when, on
+January 6, 1537, he was assassinated by the man whom, of all men, he
+the least mistrusted. This was his cousin, Lorenzino de’ Medici....
+Lorenzino had already helped Alexander to seduce several women of noble
+birth; and to facilitate his assignations had often lent him his house,
+which adjoined the ducal residence in the Via Larga. He engaged to bring
+the Duke the wife of Leonardo Ginori--sister to his own mother, but much
+younger than she was. Alexander had long been struck with this lady’s
+beauty, but so far she had virtuously repulsed him. After supper,
+however, on the day of the feast of the Epiphany, when the Carnival
+begins, Lorenzino informed the Duke that if he would repair to his
+house, unaccompanied and observing the greatest secrecy, he would find
+Catherine Ginori there. Alexander accepted the assignation, dismissed
+all his guards, rid himself of all those who wished to keep a watch upon
+him, and entered Lorenzino’s house without being perceived. He was tired
+and wished to rest awhile, but before throwing himself on the bed he
+unbuckled his sword, and Lorenzino, on taking it from him to hang it
+at the head of the bedstead, wound the belt around the hilt in such a
+fashion that the weapon could not be easily drawn from its scabbard.
+After telling the Duke to rest whilst he went to fetch his aunt, he
+went away, locking the door of the room behind him; but returned shortly
+afterwards with a spadassin, nicknamed Scoronconcolo, whom he had
+previously engaged, for the purpose, he said, of ridding him of a great
+personage of the Court whose name he had prudently not given. In fact
+Lorenzino had carried his design to the very point of execution without
+taking a single person into his confidence. On returning into the room,
+followed by Scoronconcolo, he called to the Duke: ‘Are you asleep, my
+lord?’ and at the same moment transpierced him with a short sword which
+he was carrying. Alexander, although mortally wounded, tried to resist
+his murderer, whereupon Lorenzino, to prevent him from crying out,
+thrust two of his fingers into his mouth, at the same time exclaiming:
+‘Be not afraid, my lord.’ Alexander, it appears, bit his assailant’s
+fingers with all the strength of his jaws, and holding him in a tight
+embrace, rolled with him about the bed, so that Scoronconcolo was unable
+to strike the one without striking the other. He endeavoured to get at
+the Duke from between Lorenzino’s legs, but only succeeded in piercing
+the mattress, till at last he remembered that he had a knife about him,
+and drove it into the Duke’s throat, turning it round and round until he
+eventually killed him. (1)
+
+     1  Bened. Varchi, lib. xv.; Bern. Segni, 1. vii.; Filippo de
+     Nerli, 1. xii.; Gio. Batt. Adriani, 1. i.; Scipione
+     Ammirato, 1. xxxi.; Pauli Jovii. Hist. 1. xxxviii.; Istorie
+     di Marco Guazzo, fol. 159.
+
+“Lorenzino failed to reap the fruits of the crime, which he had planned
+with so much skill and such profound secrecy. By the life he had led, he
+had aroused the distrust of all honest folks, he had no friends to whom
+he could apply for advice or help, he had no party behind him, he had
+never been known to display that zeal for liberty which he subsequently
+affected. Although he was the first of the Medici in the order of
+succession, no one thought of him. For his own part, he only thought of
+ensuring his safety. He locked the door of the room, taking the key away
+with him, and having obtained an order for the city gates to be opened,
+and for post-horses to be provided for him, under pretence that he had
+just learned that his brother was ill, in the country, he started for
+Bologna, whence he proceeded to Venice, accompanied by Scoronconcolo.”
+
+
+
+
+D. (Tale XVI., Page 183.)
+
+With reference to this story Brantôme writes as follows in the Sixth
+Discourse of his _Vies des Dames Galantes_:--
+
+“In the hundred stories of Queen Margaret of Navarre we have a very fine
+tale of that lady of Milan who, having one night given an assignation to
+the late M. de Bonnivet, afterwards Admiral of France, posted her maids
+with drawn swords on the stairs so that they might make a noise there;
+which they did right well, in obedience to the orders of their mistress,
+who for her part feigned great affright, saying that her brothers-in-law
+must have remarked something amiss, that she herself was lost, and that
+he, Bonnivet, ought to hide under the bed or behind the hangings. But M.
+de Bonnivet, without evincing any fear, wrapped his cape round his arm,
+and taking his sword replied: ‘Well, where are these brave brothers who
+want to frighten me, or do me harm? When they see me they will not even
+dare to look at the point of my sword.’ Then opening the door he rushed
+out, and just as he was about to charge down the staircase he espied the
+women making all this noise; and they, taking fright at sight of him,
+began to cry out and confess everything. M. de Bonnivet, seeing that it
+was nothing more serious, left them, bidding them betake themselves to
+the devil; and then, returning into the room, he closed the door after
+him and went to find his lady, who began to laugh and embrace him, and
+confess to him that it was a trick devised by herself, assuring him that
+if he had behaved as a poltroon, and had not thus displayed the valour
+which he was said to possess, he should never have had her favours....
+She was one of the most beautiful women of Milan, and he had had a deal
+of trouble to win her.
+
+“I knew a brave gentleman who, one day at Rome, was alone with a pretty
+Roman lady--her husband being away--and she gave him a similar alarm,
+causing one of her women to come in hastily to warn her that her husband
+had returned from the country. The lady, feigning astonishment, begged
+the gentleman to hide himself in a closet, as otherwise she would be
+lost. ‘No, no,’ said the gentleman; ‘I would not do that for all the
+wealth in the world; if he comes I will kill him.’ And as he seized upon
+his sword the lady began to laugh and confess that she had contrived
+this to try him so as to see how he would act, and if he would defend
+her well should her husband seek to do her any harm.
+
+“I also knew a very beautiful lady who suddenly left a lover she
+had, because she did not find him brave, and took another who did not
+resemble him, but who was extremely feared and redoubted on account
+of his sword, he being one of the best swordsmen that could then be
+found.”--Lalanne’s _OEuvres de Brantôme_, vol. ix. pp. 388-90.
+
+
+
+
+E. (Tale XVII., Page 195.)
+
+Brantome, in the Thirtieth Discourse of his _Capitaines Étrangers_,
+writes of Furstemberg as follows:--
+
+“Count William von Furstemberg was accounted a good and valiant captain,
+and would have been more highly esteemed had he not been deficient in
+faith, over greedy and too much addicted to pillage, as he showed once
+in France, when he passed along with his troops; for after his passage
+there was nothing left. He served King Francis for the space of six or
+seven years [not more than six.--Ed.] with some five companies always
+numbering from six to seven thousand men; however, after this long term
+of services, or rather ravages and pillage, he was suspected of having
+designs against the King’s person, as I have elsewhere related, and
+those who would learn more of the matter will find the story in
+the hundred tales of Queen Margaret of Navarre, wherein the valour,
+generosity and magnanimity of that great King are clearly shown. The
+other, in great fear, left his service and entered that of the Emperor
+(Charles V.). If he had not been related to Madame la Régente (Louise
+of Savoy), through the House of Saxony, whence sprang that of Savoy,
+he would possibly have met with the fate he merited, had the King
+been minded to it; but on this occasion the King wished to show his
+magnanimity rather than have him put to death by the officers of
+justice. Again the King pardoned him when, on the arrival of the Emperor
+at St. Dizier in Champagne, he was taken, sounding the river Marne, (2)
+which he had on other occasions well reconnoitred, in coming to or on
+leaving France with his troops. He was on this occasion merely sent to
+the Bastille, and got quit for a ransom of 30,000 crowns. Some great
+captains said and opined that he ought not to have been thus treated as
+a prisoner of war but as a real vile spy, for he had professedly acted
+as such; and they said, moreover, that he got off too cheaply at such
+a ransom, which did not represent the smallest of the larcenies that he
+had perpetrated in France.”--Lalanne’s _OEuvres de Brantôme_, vol. i.
+pp. 349-50.
+
+Prior to this affair Furstemberg apparently showed some regret for his
+earlier schemes against Francis I., for Queen Margaret, writing to her
+brother in 1536, remarked:--
+
+“Count William has asked me to write and tell you that there is a great
+difference between the shameful purgatory of Italy and the glorious
+paradise of this camp, (3) and he spoke to me of his past misdeeds,
+which I would rather he should speak of to you,” &c.--Génin’s _Lettres
+de Marguerite_, p. 321.
+
+     2  This occurred in September 1544. From an unpublished MS.
+     in the public library at Rheims it appears that Furstemberg
+     was wearing a disguise when captured. The Emperor had sent
+     him forward expressly to sound the river. Another
+     unpublished MS. at the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (_anc.
+     fol._ 8561. f. 22), gives some particulars of his operations
+     about this time.--Ed.
+
+     3  That of Avignon. See vol. i. p. liv.--Ed.
+
+In a poetic epistle sent by Margaret to Francis I. in January 1543, to
+celebrate the New Year, there is an allusion to a “Conte Guillaume,”
+ whom Messrs. de Lincy and Montaiglon conjecture to be Furstemberg,
+though other commentators think that the Queen refers to William Poyet,
+the dishonest chancellor, who was sent to the Bastille in 1542 for
+peculation. We share, however, the opinion of Messrs. de Lincy and
+Montaiglon, as in various contemporary MSS. which we have referred to,
+we have frequently found Furstemberg alluded to as “Conte” and
+“Comte Guillaume,” without any mention of his surname. The passage in
+Margaret’s epistle alluded to above may be thus rendered in prose:--
+
+“God, fighting for the King in every spot, curses his enemies and brings
+them to shame and ruin, so that none hold them of account; as witness
+‘Compte [“Conte” in the MS.] Guillaume,’ who, in serving the King and
+the kingdom, became rich, feared and highly esteemed. Now, however, a
+fugitive, poor and contemned, he may well meditate as to whence came his
+honours, who it was that maintained him wealthy, happy and feared;
+and thus it is that all the King’s enemies are cursed by God in
+Paradise.”--_Les Marguerites de la Marguerite_, 1873, vol. ii. p. 203.
+
+Apropos of Furstemberg the following entry occurs in M. de Laborde’s
+_Comptes des Bâtiments du Roi_ (vol. ii. p. 229):--
+
+“Paid to Francis de Cadenet, doctor to Count William of Furstemberg,
+as a gift and favour for his services, 30 crowns, value 67 livres 10
+sols.”--L., M. and Ed.
+
+
+END OF VOL. II.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II.
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II. (of
+V.), by Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II. (of V.)
+
+Author: Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
+
+Illustrator: Freudenberg and Dunker
+
+Translator: George Saintsbury: From The Authentic Text
+Of M. Le Roux De Lincy With An Essay Upon The Heptameron by the Translator
+
+Release Date: February 7, 2006 [EBook #17702]
+Last Updated: September 9, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALES OF THE HEPTAMERON ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE TALES OF
+
+THE HEPTAMERON
+
+OF
+
+Margaret, Queen of Navarre
+
+_Newly Translated into English from the Authentic Text_
+
+OF M. LE ROUX DE LINCY WITH
+
+AN ESSAY UPON THE HEPTAMERON
+
+BY
+
+GEORGE SAINTSBURY, M.A.
+
+Also the Original Seventy-three Full Page Engravings
+
+
+
+Designed by S. FREUDENBERG
+
+And One Hundred and Fifty Head and Tail Pieces
+
+By DUNKER
+
+_IN FIVE VOLUMES_
+
+VOLUME THE SECOND
+
+LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY OF ENGLISH BIBLIOPHILISTS
+
+MDCCCXCIV
+
+
+[Illustration: Frontispiece]
+
+[Margaret, Queen of Navarre, from a crayon drawing by Clouet, preserved
+at the Biblioth�que Nationale, Paris]
+
+[Illustration: Titlepage]
+
+
+
+CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.
+
+
+FIRST DAY--Continued.
+
+Tale VIII. The misadventure of Bornet, who, planning with a friend of
+his that both should lie with a serving-woman, discovers too late that
+they have had to do with his own wife.
+
+Tale IX. The evil fortune of a gentleman of Dauphin�, who dies of
+despair because he cannot marry a damsel nobler and richer than himself.
+
+Tale X. The Spanish story of Florida, who, after withstanding the love
+of a gentleman named Amadour for many years, eventually becomes a nun.
+
+
+_SECOND DAY_.
+
+Prologue
+
+Tale XI. (A). Mishap of the Lady de Roncex in the Grey Friars� Convent
+at Thouars.
+
+Tale XI. (B). Facetious discourse of a Friar of Touraine.
+
+Tale XII. Story of Alexander de� Medici, Duke of Florence, whom his
+cousin, Lorenzino de� Medici, slew in order to save his sister�s honour.
+
+Tale XIII. Praiseworthy artifice of a lady to whom a sea Captain sent
+a letter and diamond ring, and who, by forwarding them to the Captain�s
+wife as though they had been intended for her, united husband and wife
+once more in all affection.
+
+Tale XIV. The Lord of Bonnivet, after furthering the love entertained
+by an Italian gentleman for a lady of Milan, finds means to take
+the other�s place and so supplant him with the lady who had formerly
+rejected himself.
+
+Tale XV. The troubles and evil fortune of a virtuous lady who, after
+being long neglected by her husband, becomes the object of his jealousy.
+
+Tale XVI. Story of a Milanese Countess, who, after long rejecting the
+love of a French gentleman, rewards him at last for his faithfulness,
+but not until she has put his courage to the proof.
+
+Tale XVII. The noble manner in which King Francis the First shows Count
+William of Furstemberg that he knows of the plans laid by him against
+his life, and so compels him to do justice upon himself and to leave
+France.
+
+XVIII. A young gentleman scholar at last wins a lady�s love, after
+enduring successfully two trials that she had made of him.
+
+
+Appendix to Vol. II
+
+
+
+
+PAGE ENGRAVINGS CONTAINED IN VOLUME II.
+
+
+Tale VIII. Bornet�s Concern on discovering that his Wife is without her
+Ring.
+
+Tale IX. The Dying Gentleman receiving the Embraces of his Sweetheart.
+
+Tale X. The Countess asking an Explanation from Amadour.
+
+Tale XI. (B). The Grey Friar telling his Tales.
+
+Tale XII. The Gentleman killing the Duke.
+
+Tale XIII. The Sea-captain talking to the Lady.
+
+Tale XIV. Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan.
+
+Tale XV. The Lady taking Oath as to her Conduct.
+
+Tale XVI. The Gentleman discovering the Trick.
+
+Tale XVII. The King showing his Sword.
+
+Tale XVIII. The Student escaping the Temptation.
+
+
+[Illustration: 001a.jpg Bornet�s Concern on discovering that his Wife is
+without her Ring]
+
+[Bornet�s Concern on discovering that his Wife is without her Ring]
+
+[Illustration: 001.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE VIII_.
+
+     _A certain Bornet, less loyal to his wife than she to him,
+     desired to lie with his maidservant, and made his enterprise
+     known to a friend, who, hoping to share in the spoil, so
+     aided and abetted him, that whilst the husband thought to
+     lie with his servant he in truth lay with his wife. Unknown
+     to the latter, he then caused his friend to participate in
+     the pleasure which rightly belonged to himself alone, and
+     thus made himself a cuckold without there being any guilt on
+     the part of his wife._ (1)
+
+In the county of Alletz (2) there lived a man named Bornet, who being
+married to an upright and virtuous wife, had great regard for her honour
+and reputation, as I believe is the case with all the husbands here
+present in respect to their own wives. But although he desired that she
+should be true to him, he was not willing that the same law should apply
+to both, for he fell in love with his maid-servant, from whom he had
+nothing to gain save the pleasure afforded by a diversity of viands.
+
+     1  For a list of tales similar to this one, see _post_,
+     Appendix A.
+
+     2  Alletz, now Alais, a town of Lower Languedoc (department
+     of the Gard), lies on the Gardon, at the foot of the
+     Cevennes mountains. It was formerly a county, the title
+     having been held by Charles, Duke of Angoul�me, natural son
+     of Charles IX.--M.
+
+Now he had a neighbour of the same condition as his own, named Sandras,
+a tabourer (3) and tailor by trade, and there was such friendship
+between them that, excepting Bornet�s wife, they had all things in
+common. It thus happened that Bornet told his friend of the enterprise
+he had in hand against the maid-servant; and Sandras not only
+approved of it, but gave all the assistance he could to further its
+accomplishment, hoping that he himself might share in the spoil.
+
+     3 Tabourers are still to be found in some towns of Lower
+     Languedoc and in most of those of Provence, where they
+     perambulate the streets playing their instruments. They are
+     in great request at all the country weddings and other
+     festive gatherings, as their instruments supply the
+     necessary accompaniment to the ancient Proven�al dance, the
+     _farandole_.--Ed.
+
+The maid-servant, however, was loth to consent, and finding herself hard
+pressed, she went to her mistress, told her of the matter, and begged
+leave to go home to her kinsfolk, since she could no longer endure to
+live in such torment. Her mistress, who had great love for her husband
+and had often suspected him, was well pleased to have him thus at a
+disadvantage, and to be able to show that she had doubted him justly.
+Accordingly, she said to the servant--
+
+�Remain, my girl, but lead my husband on by degrees, and at last make an
+appointment to lie with him in my closet. Do not fail to tell me on what
+night he is to come, and see that no one knows anything about it.�
+
+The maid-servant did all that her mistress had commanded her, and her
+master in great content went to tell the good news to his friend. The
+latter then begged that, since he had been concerned in the business,
+he might have part in the result. This was promised him, and, when the
+appointed hour was come, the master went to lie, as he thought, with the
+maid-servant; but his wife, yielding up the authority of commanding for
+the pleasure of obeying, had put herself in the servant�s place, and she
+received him, not in the manner of a wife, but after the fashion of
+a frightened maid. This she did so well that her husband suspected
+nothing.
+
+I cannot tell you which of the two was the better pleased, he at the
+thought that he was deceiving his wife, or she at really deceiving her
+husband. When he had remained with her, not as long as he wished, but
+according to his powers, which were those of a man who had long been
+married, he went out of doors, found his friend, who was much younger
+and lustier than himself, and told him gleefully that he had never met
+with better fortune. �You know what you promised me,� said his friend to
+him.
+
+�Go quickly then,� replied the husband, �for she may get up, or my wife
+have need of her.�
+
+The friend went off and found the supposed maid-servant, who, thinking
+her husband had returned, denied him nothing that he asked of her, or
+rather took, for he durst not speak. He remained with her much longer
+than her husband had done, whereat she was greatly astonished, for she
+had not been wont to pass such nights. Nevertheless, she endured it all
+with patience, comforting herself with the thought of what she would say
+to him on the morrow, and of the ridicule that she would cast upon him.
+
+Towards daybreak the man rose from beside her, and toying with her as he
+was going away, snatched from her finger the ring with which her husband
+had espoused her, and which the women of that part of the country guard
+with great superstition. She who keeps it till her death is held in high
+honour, while she who chances to lose it, is thought lightly of as a
+person who has given her faith to some other than her husband.
+
+The wife, however, was very glad to have it taken, thinking it would
+be a sure proof of how she had deceived her husband. When the friend
+returned, the husband asked him how he had fared. He replied that he was
+of the same opinion as himself, and that he would have remained longer
+had he not feared to be surprised by daybreak. Then they both went to
+the friend�s house to take as long a rest as they could. In the morning,
+while they were dressing, the husband perceived the ring that his friend
+had on his finger, and saw that it was exactly like the one he had given
+to his wife at their marriage. He thereupon asked his friend from whom
+he had received the ring, and when he heard he had snatched it from the
+servant�s finger, he was confounded and began to strike his head against
+the wall, saying--�Ah! good Lord! have I made myself a cuckold without
+my wife knowing anything about it?�
+
+�Perhaps,� said his friend in order to comfort him, �your wife gives her
+ring into the maid�s keeping at night-time.�
+
+The husband made no reply, but took himself home, where he found his
+wife fairer, more gaily dressed, and merrier than usual, like one who
+rejoiced at having saved her maid�s conscience, and tested her husband
+to the full, at no greater cost than a night�s sleep. Seeing her so
+cheerful, the husband said to himself--
+
+�If she knew of my adventure she would not show me such a pleasant
+countenance.�
+
+Then, whilst speaking to her of various matters, he took her by the
+hand, and on noticing that she no longer wore the ring, which she had
+never been accustomed to remove from her finger, he was quite overcome.
+
+�What have you done with your ring?� he asked her in a trembling voice.
+
+She, well pleased that he gave her an opportunity to say what she
+desired, replied--
+
+�O wickedest of men! From whom do you imagine you took it? You thought
+it was from my maid-servant, for love of whom you expended more than
+twice as much of your substance as you ever did for me. The first time
+you came to bed I thought you as much in love as it was possible to be;
+but after you had gone out and were come back again, you seemed to be
+a very devil. Wretch! think how blind you must have been to bestow such
+praises on my person and lustiness, which you have long enjoyed
+without holding them in any great esteem. �Twas, therefore, not the
+maid-servant�s beauty that made the pleasure so delightful to you, but
+the grievous sin of lust which so consumes your heart and so clouds
+your reason that in the frenzy of your love for the servant you would,
+I believe, have taken a she-goat in a nightcap for a comely girl! Now,
+husband, it is time to amend your life, and, knowing me to be your wife,
+and an honest woman, to be as content with me as you were when you took
+me for a pitiful strumpet. What I did was to turn you from your evil
+ways, so that in your old age we might live together in true love and
+repose of conscience. If you purpose to continue your past life, I had
+rather be severed from you than daily see before my eyes the ruin of
+your soul, body, and estate. But if you will acknowledge the evil of
+your ways, and resolve to live in fear of God and obedience to His
+commandments, I will forget all your past sins, as I trust God will
+forget my ingratitude in not loving Him as I ought to do.�
+
+If ever man was reduced to despair it was this unhappy husband. Not only
+had he abandoned this sensible, fair, and chaste wife for a woman who
+did not love him, but, worse than this, he had without her knowledge
+made her a strumpet by causing another man to participate in the leasure
+which should have been for himself alone; and thus he had made himself
+horns of everlasting derision. However, seeing his wife in such wrath
+by reason of the love he had borne his maid-servant, he took care not
+to tell her of the evil trick that he had played her; and entreating her
+forgiveness, with promises of full amendment of his former evil life,
+he gave her back the ring which he had recovered from his friend. He
+entreated the latter not to reveal his shame; but, as what is whispered
+in the ear is always proclaimed from the housetop, the truth, after
+a time, became known, and men called him cuckold without imputing any
+shame to his wife.
+
+�It seems to me, ladies, that if all those who have committed like
+offences against their wives were to be punished in the same way, Hircan
+and Saffredent would have great cause for fear.�
+
+�Why, Longarine,� said Saffredent, �are none in the company married save
+Hircan and I?�
+
+�Yes, indeed there are others,� she replied, �but none who would play a
+similar trick.�
+
+�Whence did you learn,� asked Saffredent, �that we ever solicited our
+wives� maid-servants?�
+
+�If the ladies who are in question,� said Longarine, �were willing to
+speak the truth, we should certainly hear of maid-servants dismissed
+without notice.�
+
+�Truly,� said Geburon, �you are a most worthy lady! You promised to make
+the company laugh, and yet are angering these two poor gentlemen.�
+
+�Tis all one,� said Longarine: �so long as they do not draw their
+swords, their anger will only serve to increase our laughter.�
+
+�A pretty business indeed!� said Hircan. �Why, if our wives chose to
+believe this lady, she would embroil the seemliest household in the
+company.�
+
+�I am well aware before whom I speak,� said Longarine. �Your wives are
+so sensible and bear you so much love, that if you were to give them
+horns as big as those of a deer, they would nevertheless try to persuade
+themselves and every one else that they were chaplets of roses.�
+
+At this the company, and even those concerned, laughed so heartily that
+their talk came to an end. However, Dagoucin, who had not yet uttered a
+word, could not help saying--
+
+�Men are very unreasonable when, having enough to content themselves
+with at home, they go in search of something else. I have often seen
+people who, not content with sufficiency, have aimed at bettering
+themselves, and have fallen into a worse position than they were in
+before. Such persons receive no pity, for fickleness is always blamed.�
+
+�But what say you to those who have not found their other half?� asked
+Simontault. �Do you call it fickleness to seek it wherever it may be
+found?�
+
+�Since it is impossible,� said Dagoucin, �for a man to know the
+whereabouts of that other half with whom there would be such perfect
+union that one would not differ from the other, he should remain
+steadfast wherever love has attached him. And whatsoever may happen, he
+should change neither in heart nor in desire. If she whom you love be
+the image of yourself, and there be but one will between you, it is
+yourself you love, and not her.�
+
+�Dagoucin,� said Hircan, �you are falling into error. You speak as
+though we should love women without being loved in return.�
+
+�Hircan,� replied Dagoucin, �I hold that if our love be based on the
+beauty, grace, love, and favour of a woman, and our purpose be pleasure,
+honour, or profit, such love cannot long endure; for when the foundation
+on which it rests is gone, the love itself departs from us. But I am
+firmly of opinion that he who loves with no other end or desire than to
+love well, will sooner yield up his soul in death than suffer his great
+love to leave his heart.�
+
+�In faith,� said Simontault, �I do not believe that you have ever been
+in love. If you had felt the flame like other men, you would not now be
+picturing to us Plato�s _Republic_, which may be described in writing
+but not be put into practice.�
+
+�Nay, I have been in love,� said Dagoucin, �and am so still, and
+shall continue so as long as I live. But I am in such fear lest the
+manifestation of this love should impair its perfection, that I shrink
+from declaring it even to her from whom I would fain have the like
+affection. I dare not even think of it lest my eyes should reveal
+it, for the more I keep my flame secret and hidden, the more does my
+pleasure increase at knowing that my love is perfect.�
+
+�For all that,� said Geburon, �I believe that you would willingly have
+love in return.�
+
+�I do not deny it,� said Dagoucin, �but even were I beloved as much as I
+love, my love would not be increased any more than it could be lessened,
+were it not returned with equal warmth.�
+
+Upon this Parlamente, who suspected this fantasy of Dagoucin�s, said--
+
+�Take care, Dagoucin; I have known others besides you who preferred to
+die rather than speak.�
+
+�Such persons, madam;� said Dagoucin, �I deem very happy.�
+
+�Doubtless,� said Saffredent, �and worthy of a place among the innocents
+of whom the Church sings:
+
+�_Non loquendo sed moriendo confessi sunt_.� (4)
+
+     4  From the ritual for the Feast of the Holy Innocents.--M.
+
+I have heard much of such timid lovers, but I have never yet seen one
+die. And since I myself have escaped death after all the troubles I have
+borne, I do not think that any one can die of love.�
+
+�Ah, Saffredent!� said Dagoucin, �how do you expect to be loved since
+those who are of your opinion never die? Yet have I known a goodly
+number who have died of no other ailment than perfect love.�
+
+�Since you know such stories,� said Longarine, �I give you my vote to
+tell us a pleasant one, which shall be the ninth of to-day.�
+
+�To the end,� said Dagoucin, �that signs and miracles may lead you to
+put faith in what I have said, I will relate to you something which
+happened less than three years ago.�
+
+
+[Illustration: 012.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 013a.jpg The Dying Gentleman receiving the Embraces of
+his Sweetheart]
+
+[The Dying Gentleman receiving the Embraces of his Sweetheart]
+
+[Illustration: 013.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE IX_.
+
+_The perfect love borne by a gentleman to a damsel, being too deeply
+concealed and disregarded, brought about his death, to the great regret
+of his sweetheart_.
+
+Between Dauphin� and Provence there lived a gentleman who was far richer
+in virtue, comeliness, and honour than in other possessions, and who was
+greatly in love with a certain damsel. I will not mention her name,
+out of consideration for her kinsfolk, who are of good and illustrious
+descent; but you may rest assured that my story is a true one. As he was
+not of such noble birth as herself, he durst not reveal his affection,
+for the love he bore her was so great and perfect that he would rather
+have died than have desired aught to her dishonour. Seeing that he was
+so greatly beneath her, he had no hope of marrying her; in his love,
+therefore, his only purpose was to love her with all his strength and
+as perfectly as he was able. This he did for so long a time that at last
+she had some knowledge of it; and, seeing that the love he bore her
+was so full of virtue and of good intent, she felt honoured by it, and
+showed him in turn so much favour that he, who sought nothing better
+than this, was well contented.
+
+But malice, which is the enemy of all peace, could not suffer this
+honourable and happy life to last, and certain persons spoke to the
+maiden�s mother of their amazement at this gentleman being thought so
+much of in her house. They said that they suspected him of coming there
+more on account of her daughter than of aught else, adding that he
+had often been seen in converse with her. The mother, who doubted the
+gentleman�s honour as little as that of any of her own children, was
+much distressed on hearing that his presence was taken in bad part, and,
+dreading lest malicious tongues should cause a scandal, she entreated
+that he would not for some time frequent her house as he had been wont
+to do. He found this hard to bear, for he knew that his honourable
+conversation with her daughter did not deserve such estrangement.
+Nevertheless, in order to silence evil gossip, he withdrew until the
+rumours had ceased; then he returned as before, his absence having in no
+wise lessened his love.
+
+One day, however, whilst he was in the house, he heard some talk of
+marrying the damsel to a gentleman who did not seem to him to be so very
+rich that he should be entitled to take his mistress from him. So he
+began to pluck up courage, and engaged his friends to speak for him,
+believing that, if the choice were left to the damsel, she would prefer
+him to his rival. Nevertheless, the mother and kinsfolk chose the
+other suitor, because he was much richer; whereupon the poor gentleman,
+knowing his sweetheart to be as little pleased as himself, gave way to
+such sorrow, that by degrees, and without any other distemper, he became
+greatly changed, seeming as though he had covered the comeliness of his
+face with the mask of that death, to which hour by hour he was joyously
+hastening.
+
+Meanwhile, he could not refrain from going as often as was possible to
+converse with her whom he so greatly loved. But at last, when strength
+failed him, he was constrained to keep his bed; yet he would not have
+his sweetheart know of this, lest he should cast part of his grief on
+her. And giving himself up to despair and sadness, he was no longer able
+to eat, drink, sleep, or rest, so that it became impossible to recognise
+him by reason of his leanness and strangely altered features.
+
+Some one brought the news of this to his sweetheart�s mother, who was
+a lady full of charity, and who had, moreover, such a liking for the
+gentleman, that if all the kinsfolk had been of the same opinion as
+herself and her daughter, his merits would have been preferred to the
+possessions of the other. But the kinsfolk on the father�s side would
+not hear of it. However, the lady went with her daughter to see the
+unhappy gentleman, and found him more dead than alive. Perceiving that
+the end of his life was at hand, he had that morning confessed and
+received the Holy Sacrament, thinking to die without seeing anybody
+more. But although he was at death�s door, when he saw her who for him
+was the resurrection and the life come in, he felt so strengthened that
+he started up in bed.
+
+�What motive,� said he to the lady, �has inclined you to come and see
+one who already has a foot in the grave, and of whose death you are
+yourself the cause?�
+
+�How is it possible,� said the lady, �that the death of one whom we
+like so well can be brought about by our fault? Tell me, I pray, why you
+speak in this manner?�
+
+�Madam,� he replied, �I concealed my love for your daughter as long as I
+was able; and my kinsfolk, in speaking of a marriage between myself
+and her, made known more than I desired, since I have thereby had the
+misfortune to lose all hope; not, indeed, in regard to my own pleasure,
+but because I know that she will never have such fair treatment and so
+much love from any other as she would have had from me. Her loss of
+the best and most loving friend she has in the world causes me more
+affliction than the loss of my own life, which I desired to preserve for
+her sake only. But since it cannot in any wise be of service to her, the
+loss of it is to me great gain.�
+
+Hearing these words, the lady and her daughter sought to comfort him.
+
+�Take courage, my friend,� said the mother. �I pledge you my word that,
+if God gives you back your health, my daughter shall have no other
+husband but you. See, she is here present, and I charge her to promise
+you the same.�
+
+The daughter, weeping, strove to assure him of what her mother promised.
+He well knew, however, that even if his health were restored he would
+still lose his sweetheart, and that these fair words were only uttered
+in order somewhat to revive him. Accordingly, he told them that had they
+spoken to him thus three months before, he would have been the lustiest
+and happiest gentleman in France; but that their aid came so late, it
+could bring him neither belief nor hope. Then, seeing that they strove
+to make him believe them, he said--
+
+�Well, since, on account of my feeble state, you promise me a blessing
+which, even though you would yourselves have it so, can never be mine, I
+will entreat of you a much smaller one, for which, however, I was never
+yet bold enough to ask.�
+
+They immediately vowed that they would grant it, and bade him ask
+boldly.
+
+�I entreat you,� he said, �to place in my arms her whom you promise me
+for my wife, and to bid her embrace and kiss me.�
+
+The daughter, who was unaccustomed to such familiarity, sought to make
+some difficulty, but her mother straightly commanded her, seeing that
+the gentleman no longer had the feelings or vigour of a living man.
+Being thus commanded, the girl went up to the poor sufferer�s bedside,
+saying--
+
+�I pray you, sweetheart, be of good cheer.�
+
+Then, as well as he could, the dying man stretched forth his arms,
+wherein flesh and blood alike were lacking, and with all the strength
+remaining in his bones embraced her who was the cause of his death. And
+kissing her with his pale cold lips, he held her thus as long as he was
+able. Then he said to her--
+
+�The love I have borne you has been so great and honourable, that,
+excepting in marriage, I have never desired of you any other favour
+than the one you are granting me now, for lack of which and with which
+I shall cheerfully yield up my spirit to God. He is perfect love and
+charity. He knows the greatness of my love and the purity of my desire,
+and I beseech Him, while I hold my desire within my arms, to receive my
+spirit into His own.�
+
+With these words he again took her in his arms, and with such exceeding
+ardour that his enfeebled heart, unable to endure the effort, was
+deprived of all its faculties and life; for joy caused it so to swell
+that the soul was severed from its abode and took flight to its Creator.
+
+And even when the poor body had lain a long time without life, and was
+thus unable to retain its hold, the love which the damsel had always
+concealed was made manifest in such a fashion that her mother and
+the dead man�s servants had much ado to separate her from her lover.
+However, the girl, who, though living, was in a worse condition than if
+she had been dead, was by force removed at last out of the gentleman�s
+arms. To him they gave honourable burial; and the crowning point of
+the ceremony was the weeping and lamentation of the unhappy damsel,
+who having concealed her love during his lifetime, made it all the more
+manifest after his death, as though she wished to atone for the wrong
+that she had done him. And I have heard that although she was given a
+husband to comfort her, she has never since had joy in her heart. (1)
+
+     1  By an expression made use of by Dagoucin (see _ante_),
+     Queen Margaret gives us to understand that the incidents
+     here related occurred three years prior to the writing of
+     the story. It may be pointed out, however, that there is
+     considerable analogy between the conclusion of this tale and
+     the death of Geffroy Rudel de Blaye, one of the earliest
+     troubadours whose name has been handed down to us. Geffroy,
+     who lived at the close of the twelfth century, became so
+     madly enamoured of the charms of the Countess of Tripoli,
+     after merely hearing an account of her moral and physical
+     perfections, that, although in failing health, he embarked
+     for Africa to see her. On reaching the port of Tripoli, he
+     no longer had sufficient strength to leave the vessel,
+     whereupon the Countess, touched by his love, visited him on
+     board, taking his hand and giving him a kindly greeting.
+     Geffroy could scarcely say a few words of thanks; his
+     emotion was so acute that he died upon the spot. See J. de
+     Nostredame�s _Vies des plus C�l�bres et Anciens Po�tes
+     Proven�aux_(Lyons, 1575, p. 25); Raynouard�s _Choix des
+     Po�sies des Troubadours_ (vol. v. p. 165); and also
+     Raynouard�s _Histoire Litt�raire de la France_ (vol. xiv. p.
+     559).--L.
+
+�What think you of that, gentlemen, you who would not believe what I
+said? Is not this example sufficient to make you confess that perfect
+love, when concealed and disregarded, may bring folks to the grave?
+There is not one among you but knows the kinsfolk on the one and the
+other side, (2) and so you cannot doubt the story, although nobody would
+be disposed to believe it unless he had some experience in the matter.�
+
+     2  This certainly points to the conclusion that the tale is
+     founded upon fact, and not, as M. Leroux de Lincy suggests,
+     borrowed from the story of Geffroy Rudel de Blaye. It will
+     have been observed (_ante_) that the Queen of Navarre
+     curiously enough lays the scene of her narrative between
+     Provence and Dauphin�. These two provinces bordered upon one
+     another, excepting upon one point where they were separated
+     by the so-called Comtat Venaissin or Papal state of Avignon.
+     Here, therefore, the incidents of the story, if authentic,
+     would probably have occurred. The story may be compared with
+     Tale L. (_post_).--Ed.
+
+When the ladies heard this they all had tears in their eyes, but Hircan
+said to them--
+
+�He was the greatest fool I ever heard of. By your faith, now, I ask
+you, is it reasonable that we should die for women who are made only for
+us, or that we should be afraid to ask them for what God has commanded
+them to give us? I do not speak for myself nor for any who are married.
+I myself have all that I want or more; but I say it for such men as
+are in need. To my thinking, they must be fools to fear those whom they
+should rather make afraid. Do you not perceive how greatly this poor
+damsel regretted her folly? Since she embraced the gentleman�s dead
+body--an action repugnant to human nature--she would not have refused
+him while he was alive had he then trusted as much to boldness as he
+trusted to pity when he lay upon his death-bed.�
+
+�Nevertheless,� said Oisille, �the gentleman most plainly showed that he
+bore her an honourable love, and for this he will ever be worthy of
+all praise. Chastity in a lover�s heart is something divine rather than
+human.�
+
+�Madam,� said Saffredent, �in support of Hircan�s opinion, which is also
+mine, I pray you believe that Fortune favours the bold, and that there
+is no man loved by a lady but may at last, in whole or in part, obtain
+from her what he desires, provided he seek it with wisdom and passion.
+But ignorance and foolish fear cause men to lose many a good chance; and
+then they impute their loss to their mistress�s virtue, which they have
+never verified with so much as the tip of the finger. A fortress was
+never well assailed but it was taken.�
+
+�Nay,� said Parlamente, �I am amazed that you two should dare to talk in
+this way. Those whom you have loved owe you but little thanks, or else
+your courting has been carried on in such evil places that you deem all
+women to be alike.�
+
+�For myself, madam,� said Saffredent, �I have been so unfortunate that
+I am unable to boast; but I impute my bad luck less to the virtue of
+the ladies than to my own fault, in not conducting my enterprises with
+sufficient prudence and sagacity. In support of my opinion I will cite
+no other authority than the old woman in the _Romance of the Rose_, who
+says--
+
+     �Of all, fair sirs, it truly may be said,
+     Woman for man and man for woman�s made.� (3)
+
+     3  From John de Mehun�s continuation of the poem.--M. 2
+
+Accordingly I shall always believe that if love once enters a
+woman�s heart, her lover will have fair fortune, provided he be not a
+simpleton.�
+
+�Well,� said Parlamente, �if I were to name to you a very loving woman
+who was greatly sought after, beset and importuned, and who, like a
+virtuous lady, proved victorious over her heart, flesh, love and lover,
+would you believe this true thing possible?�
+
+�Yes,� said he, �I would.�
+
+�Then,� said Parlamente, �you must all be hard of belief if you do not
+believe this story.�
+
+�Madam,� said Dagoucin, �since I have given an example to show how the
+love of a virtuous gentleman lasted even until death, I pray you, if you
+know any such story to the honour of a lady, to tell it to us, and so
+end this day. And be not afraid to speak at length, for there is yet
+time to relate many a pleasant matter.�
+
+�Then, since I am to wind up the day,� said Parlamente, �I will make no
+long preamble, for my story is so beautiful and true that I long to have
+you know it as well as I do myself. Although I was not an actual witness
+of the events, they were told to me by one of my best and dearest
+friends in praise of the man whom of all the world he had loved the
+most. But he charged me, should I ever chance to relate them, to change
+the names of the persons. Apart, therefore, from the names of persons
+and places the story is wholly true.�
+
+[Illustration: 024.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 025a.jpg The Countess asking an Explanation from Amadour]
+
+[The Countess asking an Explanation from Amadour]
+
+[Illustration: 025.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE X_.
+
+_Florida, after virtuously resisting Amadour, who had assailed her
+honour almost to the last extremity, repaired, upon her husbands death,
+to the convent of Jesus, and there took the veil_. (1)
+
+     1  This tale appears to be a combination of fact and fiction.
+     Although Queen Margaret states that she has changed the
+     names of the persons, and also of the places where the
+     incidents happened, several historical events are certainly
+     brought into the narrative, the scene of which is laid in
+     Spain during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. M. Le Roux
+     de Lincy is of opinion, however, that Margaret really refers
+     to some affair at the Court of Charles VIII. or Louis XII.,
+     and he remarks that there is great similarity between the
+     position of the Countess of Aranda, left a widow at an early
+     age with a son and a daughter, and that of Louise of Savoy
+     with her two children. M. Lacroix and M. Dillaye believe the
+     hero and heroine to be Admiral de Bonnivet and Margaret. It
+     has often been suspected that the latter regarded her
+     brother�s favourite with affection until after the attempt
+     related in Tale IV.--Ed.
+
+In the county of Aranda, (2) in Aragon, there lived a lady who, while
+still very young, was left a widow, with a son and a daughter, by the
+Count of Aranda, the name of the daughter being Florida. This lady
+strove to bring up her children in all the virtues and qualities which
+beseem lords and gentlemen, so that her house was reputed to be one of
+the most honourable in all the Spains. She often went to Toledo, where
+the King of Spain dwelt, and when she came to Saragossa, which was not
+far from her house, she would remain a long while with the Queen and the
+Court, by whom she was held in as high esteem as any lady could be.
+
+     2 Aranda, in the valley of the Duero, between Burgos
+     and Madrid, is one of the most ancient towns in Spain, but of
+     miserable aspect, although a large trade is carried on there
+     in cheap red wines. (Ferdinand and Isabella resided for some
+     time at Aranda.--Ed.)
+
+Going one day, according to her custom, to visit the King, then at his
+castle of La Jasserye, (3) at Saragossa, this lady passed through a
+village belonging to the Viceroy of Catalonia, (4) who, by reason of the
+great wars between the kings of France and Spain, had not been wont to
+stir from the frontier at Perpignan. But for the time being there was
+peace, so that the Viceroy and all his captains had come to do homage to
+the King. The Viceroy, learning that the Countess of Aranda was passing
+through his domain, went to meet her, not only for the sake of the
+ancient friendship he bore her, but in order to do her honour as a
+kinswoman of the King�s.
+
+     3  This castle is called La Jafferie in Boaistuau�s edition
+     of 1558, and several learned commentators have speculated as
+     to which is the correct spelling. Not one of them seems to
+     have been aware that in the immediate vicinity of Saragossa
+     there still stands an old castle called El Jaferia or
+     Aljaferia, which, after being the residence of the Moorish
+     sovereigns, became that of the Spanish kings of Aragon. It
+     has of modern times been transformed into barracks.--Ed.
+
+     4  Henry of Aragon, Duke of Segorbe and Count of Ribagorce,
+     was Viceroy of Catalonia at this period. He was called the
+     Infante of Fortune, on account of his father having died
+     before his birth in 1445.--B. J.
+
+Now he had in his train many honourable gentlemen, who, in the long
+waging of war, had gained such great honour and renown that all who saw
+them and consorted with them deemed themselves fortunate. Among others
+there was one named Amadour, who, although but eighteen or nineteen
+years old, was possessed of such well-assured grace and of such
+excellent understanding that he would have been chosen from a
+thousand to hold a public office. It is true that this excellence of
+understanding was accompanied by such rare and winsome beauty that none
+could look at him without pleasure. And if his comeliness was of the
+choicest, it was so hard pressed by his speech that one knew not whether
+to give the greatest honour to his grace, his beauty, or the excellence
+of his conversation.
+
+What caused him, however, to be still more highly esteemed was his great
+daring, which was no whit diminished by his youth. He had already shown
+in many places what he could do, so that not only the Spains, but France
+and Italy also made great account of his merits. For in all the wars
+in which he had taken part he had never spared himself, and when his
+country was at peace he would go in quest of wars in foreign lands,
+where he was loved and honoured by both friend and foe.
+
+This gentleman, for the love he bore his commander, had come to the
+domain where the Countess of Aranda had arrived, and remarking the
+beauty and grace of her daughter Florida, who was then only twelve years
+old, he thought to himself that she was the fairest maiden he had ever
+seen, and that if he could win her favour it would give him greater
+satisfaction than all the wealth and pleasure he might obtain from
+another. After looking at her for a long time he resolved to love her,
+although his reason told him that what he desired was impossible by
+reason of her lineage as well as of her age, which was such that she
+could not yet understand any amorous discourse. In spite of this, he
+fortified himself with hope, and reflected that time and patience might
+bring his efforts to a happy issue. And from that moment the kindly
+love, which of itself alone had entered Amadour�s heart, assured him of
+all favour and the means of attaining his end.
+
+To overcome the greatest difficulty before him, which consisted in the
+remoteness of his own home and the few opportunities he would have of
+seeing Florida again, he resolved to get married. This was contrary
+to what he had determined whilst with the ladies of Barcelona and
+Perpignan, in which places he was in such favour that little or nothing
+was refused him; and, indeed, by reason of the wars, he had dwelt so
+long on the frontiers that, although he was born near Toledo, he seemed
+rather a Catalan than a Castillan. He came of a rich and honourable
+house, but being a younger son, he was without patrimony; and thus it
+was that Love and Fortune, seeing him neglected by his kin, determined
+to make him their masterpiece, endowing him with such qualities as
+might obtain what the laws of the land had refused him. He was of
+much experience in the art of war, and was so beloved by all lords
+and princes that he refused their favours more frequently than he had
+occasion to seek them.
+
+The Countess, of whom I have spoken, arrived then at Saragossa and was
+well received by the King and all his Court. The Governor of Catalonia
+often came to visit her, and Amadour failed not to accompany him that
+he might have the pleasure of merely seeing Florida, for he had no
+opportunity of speaking with her. In order to establish himself in this
+goodly company he paid his addresses to the daughter of an old knight,
+his neighbour. This maiden was named Avanturada, and was so intimate
+with Florida that she knew all the secrets of her heart. Amadour,
+as much for the worth which he found in Avanturada as for the three
+thousand ducats a year which formed her dowry, determined to address her
+as a suitor, and she willingly gave ear to him. But as he was poor and
+her father was rich, she feared that the latter would never consent
+to the marriage except at the instance of the Countess of Aranda. She
+therefore had recourse to the lady Florida and said to her--
+
+�You have seen, madam, that Castilian gentleman who often talks to me.
+I believe that all his aim is to have me in marriage. You know, however,
+what kind of father I have; he will never consent to the match unless he
+be earnestly entreated by the Countess and you.�
+
+Florida, who loved the damsel as herself, assured her that she would
+lay the matter to heart as though it were for her own benefit; and
+Avanturada then ventured so far as to present Amadour to her. He was
+like to swoon for joy on kissing Florida�s hand, and although he was
+accounted the readiest speaker in Spain, yet in her presence he became
+dumb. At this she was greatly surprised, for, although she was only
+twelve years old, she had already often heard it said that there was no
+man in Spain who could speak better or with more grace. So, finding that
+he said nothing to her, she herself spoke.
+
+�Senor Amadour,� she began, �the renown you enjoy throughout all the
+Spains has made you known to everybody here, and all are desirous of
+affording you pleasure. If therefore I can in any way do this, you may
+dispose of me.�
+
+Amadour was in such rapture at sight of the lady�s beauty that he could
+scarcely utter his thanks. However, although Florida was astonished to
+find that he made no further reply, she imputed it rather to some whim
+than to the power of love; and so she withdrew, without saying anything
+more.
+
+Amadour, who perceived the qualities which even in earliest youth were
+beginning to show themselves in Florida, now said to her whom he desired
+to marry--
+
+�Do not be surprised if I lost the power of utterance in presence of
+the lady Florida. I was so astonished at finding such qualities and such
+sensible speech in one so very young that I knew not what to say to her.
+But I pray you, Avanturada, you who know her secrets, tell me if she
+does not of necessity possess the hearts of all the gentlemen of the
+Court. Any who know her and do not love her must be stones or brutes.�
+
+Avanturada, who already loved Amadour more than any other man in the
+world, could conceal nothing from him, but told him that Florida was
+loved by every one. However, by reason of the custom of the country, few
+spoke to her, and only two had as yet made any show of love towards
+her. These were two princes of Spain, and they desired to marry her, one
+being the son of the Infante of Fortune (5) and the other the young Duke
+of Cardona. (6)
+
+     5  M. Lacroix asserts that the Infante of Fortune left no son
+     by his wife, Guyomare de Castro y Norogna; whereas M. Le
+     Roux de Lincy contends that he had a son--Alfonso of Aragon--
+     who in 1506 was proposed as a husband for Crazy Jane.
+     Alfonso would therefore probably be the prince referred to
+     by Margaret.--Ed.
+
+     6  Cardona, a fortified town on the river Cardoner, at a few
+     miles from Barcelona, was a county in the time of Ferdinand
+     and Isabella, and was raised by them to the rank of a duchy
+     in favour of Ramon Folch I. To-day it has between two and
+     three thousand inhabitants, and is chiefly noted for its
+     strongly built castillo. The young Duke spoken of by Queen
+     Margaret would be Ramon Folch�s son, who was also named
+     Ramon.--B. J. and Ed.
+
+�I pray you,� said Amadour, �tell me which of them you think she loves
+the most.�
+
+�She is so discreet,� said Avanturada, �that on no account would she
+confess to having any wish but her mother�s. Nevertheless, as far as can
+be judged, she likes the son of the Infante of Fortune far more than she
+likes the young Duke of Cardona. But her mother would rather have her at
+Cardona, for then she would not be so far away. I hold you for a man
+of good understanding, and, if you are so minded, you may judge of her
+choice this very day, for the son of the Infante of Fortune, who is one
+of the handsomest and most accomplished princes in Christendom, is being
+brought up at this Court. If we damsels could decide the marriage by our
+opinions, he would be sure of having the Lady Florida, for they would
+make the comeliest couple in all Spain. You must know that, although
+they are both young, she being but twelve and he but fifteen, it is
+now three years since their love for each other first began; and if
+you would secure her favour, I advise you to become his friend and
+follower.�
+
+Amadour was well pleased to find that Florida loved something, hoping
+that in time he might gain the place not of husband but of lover. He had
+no fear in regard to her virtue, but was rather afraid lest she should
+be insensible to love. After this conversation he began to consort with
+the son of the Infante of Fortune, and readily gained his favour, being
+well skilled in all the pastimes that the young Prince was fond of,
+especially in the handling of horses, in the practice of all kinds of
+weapons, and indeed in every diversion and pastime befitting a young
+man.
+
+However, war broke out again in Languedoc, and it was necessary that
+Amadour should return thither with the Governor. This he did, but not
+without great regret, since he could in no wise contrive to return to
+where he might see Florida. Accordingly, when he was setting forth, he
+spoke to a brother of his, who was majordomo to the Queen of Spain,
+and told him of the good match he had found in the Countess of Aranda�s
+house, in the person of Avanturada; entreating him, in his absence,
+to do all that he could to bring about the marriage, by employing his
+credit with the King, the Queen, and all his friends. The majordomo, who
+was attached to his brother, not only by reason of their kinship, but on
+account of Amadour�s excellent qualities, promised to do his best. This
+he did in such wise that the avaricious old father forgot his own nature
+to ponder over the qualities of Amadour, as pictured to him by the
+Countess of Aranda, and especially by the fair Florida, as well as by
+the young Count of Aranda, who was now beginning to grow up, and to
+esteem people of merit. When the marriage had been agreed upon by the
+kinsfolk, the Queen�s majordomo sent for his brother, there being at
+that time a truce between the two kings. (7)
+
+Meanwhile, the King of Spain withdrew to Madrid to avoid the bad air
+which prevailed in divers places, and, by the advice of his Council, as
+well as at the request of the Countess of Aranda, he consented to the
+marriage of the young Count with the heiress Duchess of Medina Celi.
+(8) He did this no less for their contentment and the union of the two
+houses than for the affection he bore the Countess of Aranda; and he
+caused the marriage to be celebrated at the castle of Madrid. (9)
+
+     7  There had been a truce in 1497, but Queen Margaret
+     probably alludes to that of four months� duration towards
+     the close of 1503.--B.J.
+
+     8  Felix-Maria, widow of the Duke of Feria, and elder sister
+     of Luis Francisco de la Cerda, ninth of the name. She became
+     heiress to the titles and estates of the house of Medina-
+     Celi upon her brother�s death. If, however, Queen Margaret
+     is really describing some incident in her own life, she must
+     refer to Louis XII.�s daughter, Claude, married in 1514 to
+     Francis I.--D.
+
+     9  The castle here referred to was the Moorish Alcazar,
+     destroyed by fire in 1734. The previous statement that King
+     Ferdinand withdrew to Madrid on account of the bad air
+     prevailing in other places is borne out by the fact that the
+     town enjoyed a most delightful climate prior to the
+     destruction of the forests which surrounded it.--Ed.
+
+Amadour was present at this wedding, and succeeded so well in furthering
+his own union, that he married Avanturada, whose affection for him was
+far greater than his was for her. But this marriage furnished him with a
+very convenient cloak, and gave him an excuse for resorting to the place
+where his spirit ever dwelt. After he was married he became very bold
+and familiar in the Countess of Aranda�s household, so that he was no
+more distrusted than if he had been a woman. And although he was
+now only twenty-two years of age, he showed such good sense that the
+Countess of Aranda informed him of all her affairs, and bade her son
+consult with him and follow his counsel.
+
+Having gained their esteem thus far, Amadour comported himself so
+prudently and calmly that even the lady he loved was not aware of his
+affection for her. By reason, however, of the love she bore his wife, to
+whom she was more attached than to any other woman, she concealed none
+of her thoughts from him, and was pleased to tell him of all her love
+for the son of the Infante of Fortune. Although Amadour�s sole aim was
+to win her entirely for himself, he continually spoke to her of
+the Prince; indeed, he cared not what might be the subject of their
+converse, provided only that he could talk to her for a long time.
+However, he had not remained a month in this society after his marriage
+when he was constrained to return to the war, and he was absent for more
+than two years without returning to see his wife, who continued to live
+in the place where she had been brought up.
+
+Meanwhile Amadour often wrote to her, but his letters were for the most
+part messages to Florida, who on her side never failed to return them,
+and would with her own hand add some pleasant words to the letters which
+Avanturada wrote. It was on this account that the husband of the latter
+wrote to her very frequently; yet of all this Florida knew nothing
+except that she loved Amadour as if he had been her brother. Several
+times during the course of five years did Amadour return and go away
+again; yet so short was his stay that he did not see Florida for two
+months altogether. Nevertheless, in spite of distance and length of
+absence, his love continued to increase.
+
+At last it happened that he made a journey to see his wife, and found
+the Countess far removed from the Court, for the King of Spain was gone
+into Andalusia, (10) taking with him the young Count of Aranda, who was
+already beginning to bear arms.
+
+     10  There had been a revolt at Granada in 1499, and in the
+     following year the Moors rose in the Alpujarras, whereupon
+     King Ferdinand marched against them in person.--L.
+
+Thus the Countess had withdrawn to a country-house belonging to her
+on the frontiers of Aragon and Navarre. She was well pleased on seeing
+Amadour, who had now been away for nearly three years. He was made
+welcome by all, and the Countess commanded that he should be treated
+like her own son. Whilst he was with her she informed him of all the
+affairs of her household, leaving most of them to his judgment. And so
+much credit did he win in her house that wherever he visited all doors
+were opened to him, and, indeed, people held his prudence in such high
+esteem that he was trusted in all things as though he had been an angel
+or a saint.
+
+Florida, by reason of the love she bore his wife and himself, sought
+him out wherever he went. She had no suspicion of his purpose, and was
+unrestrained in her manners, for her heart was free from love, save that
+she felt great contentment whenever she was near Amadour. To more than
+this she gave not a thought.
+
+Amadour, however, had a hard task to escape the observation of those
+who knew by experience how to distinguish a lover�s looks from another
+man�s; for when Florida, thinking no evil, came and spoke familiarly to
+him, the fire that was hidden in his heart so consumed him that he could
+not keep the colour from rising to his face or sparks of flame from
+darting from his eyes. Thus, in order that none might be any the wiser,
+he began to pay court to a very beautiful lady named Paulina, a woman
+so famed for beauty in her day that few men who saw her escaped from her
+toils.
+
+This Paulina had heard how Amadour had made love at Barcelona and
+Perpignan, insomuch that he had gained the affection of the highest and
+most beautiful ladies in the land, especially that of a certain Countess
+of Palamos, who was esteemed the first for beauty among all the ladies
+of Spain; and she told him that she greatly pitied him, since, after so
+much good fortune, he had married such an ugly wife. Amadour, who well
+understood by these words that she had a mind to supply his need, made
+her the fairest speeches he could devise, seeking to conceal the truth
+by persuading her of a falsehood. But she, being subtle and experienced
+in love, was not to be put off with mere words; and feeling sure that
+his heart was not to be satisfied with such love as she could give him,
+she suspected he wished to make her serve as a cloak, and so kept close
+watch upon his eyes. These, however, knew so well how to dissemble, that
+she had nothing to guide her but the barest suspicion.
+
+Nevertheless, her observation sorely troubled Amadour; for Florida, who
+was ignorant of all these wiles, often spoke to him before Paulina in
+such a familiar fashion that he had to make wondrous efforts to compel
+his eyes to belie his heart. To avoid unpleasant consequences, he one
+day, while leaning against a window, spoke thus to Florida--
+
+�I pray you, sweetheart, counsel me whether it is better for a man to
+speak or die?�
+
+Florida forthwith replied--
+
+�I shall always counsel my friends to speak and not to die. There
+are few words that cannot be mended, but life once lost can never be
+regained.�
+
+�Will you promise me, then,� said Amadour, �that you will not be
+displeased by what I wish to tell you, nor yet alarmed at it, until you
+have heard me to the end?�
+
+�Say what you will,� she replied; �if you alarm me, none can reassure
+me.�
+
+�For two reasons,� he then began, �I have hitherto been unwilling to
+tell you of the great affection that I feel for you. First, I wished to
+prove it to you by long service, and secondly, I feared that you might
+deem it presumption in me, who am but a simple gentleman, to address
+myself to one upon whom it is not fitting that I should look. And
+even though I were of royal station like your own, your heart, in its
+loyalty, would suffer none save the son of the Infante of Fortune,
+who has won it, to speak to you of love. But just as in a great war
+necessity compels men to devastate their own possessions and to destroy
+their corn in the blade, that the enemy may derive no profit therefrom,
+so do I risk anticipating the fruit which I had hoped to gather in
+season, lest your enemies and mine profit by it to your detriment.
+Know, then, that from your earliest youth I have devoted myself to your
+service and have ever striven to win your favour. For this purpose alone
+I married her whom I thought you loved best, and, being acquainted with
+the love you bear to the son of the Infante of Fortune, I have striven
+to serve him and consort with him, as you yourself know. I have sought
+with all my power for everything that I thought could give you pleasure.
+You see that I have won the esteem of your mother, the Countess, and
+of your brother, the Count, and of all you love, so that I am regarded
+here, not as a dependant, but as one of the family. All my efforts for
+five years past have had no other end than that I might spend my whole
+life near you.
+
+�Understand that I am not one of those who would by these means seek to
+obtain from you any favour or pleasure otherwise than virtuous. I know
+that I cannot marry you, and even if I could, I would not do so in face
+of the love you bear him whom I would fain see your husband. And as for
+loving you with a vicious love like those who hope that long service
+will bring them a reward to the dishonour of a lady, that is far from my
+purpose. I would rather see you dead than know that you were less worthy
+of being loved, or that your virtue had diminished for the sake of
+any pleasure to me. For the end and reward of my service I ask but one
+thing, namely, that you will be so faithful a mistress to me, as never
+to take your favour from me, and that you will suffer me to continue as
+I now am, trusting in me more than in any other, and accepting from me
+the assurance that if for your honour�s sake, or for aught concerning
+you, you ever have need of a gentleman�s life, I will gladly place mine
+at your disposal. You may be sure also that whatever I may do that is
+honourable and virtuous, will be done solely for love of you. If for the
+sake of ladies less worthy than you I have ever done anything that has
+been considered of account, be sure that, for a mistress like yourself,
+my enterprise will so increase, that things I heretofore found
+impossible will become very easy to me. If, however, you will not accept
+me as wholly yours, I am resolved to lay aside my arms and to renounce
+the valour which has failed to help me in my need. So I pray you grant
+me my just request, for your honour and conscience cannot refuse it.�
+
+The maiden, hearing these unwonted words, began to change colour and to
+cast down her eyes like a woman in alarm. However, being sensible and
+discreet, she replied--
+
+�Since you already have what you ask of me, Amadour, why make me such
+a long harangue? I fear me lest beneath your honourable words there be
+some hidden guile to deceive my ignorance and youth, and I am sorely
+perplexed what to reply. Were I to refuse the honourable love you offer,
+I should do contrary to what I have hitherto done, for I have always
+trusted you more than any other man in the world. Neither my conscience
+nor my honour oppose your request, nor yet the love I bear the son of
+the Infante of Fortune, for that is founded on marriage, to which you do
+not aspire. I know of nothing that should hinder me from answering you
+according to your desire, if it be not a fear arising from the small
+need you have for talking to me in this wise; for if what you ask is
+already yours, why speak of it so ardently?�
+
+Amadour, who was at no loss for an answer, then said to her--
+
+�Madam, you speak very discreetly, and you honour me so greatly by the
+trust which you say you have in me, that if I were not satisfied with
+such good fortune I should be quite unworthy of it. But consider, madam,
+that he who would build an edifice to last for ever must be careful
+to have a sure and stable foundation. In the same way I, wishing to
+continue for ever in your service, must not only take care to have the
+means of remaining near to you, but also to prevent any one from knowing
+of the great affection that I bear you. Although it is honourable enough
+to be everywhere proclaimed, yet those who know nothing of lovers�
+hearts often judge contrary to the truth, and thence come reports as
+mischievous as though they were true. I have been prompted to say this,
+and led to declare my love to you, because Paulina, feeling in her heart
+that I cannot love her, holds me in suspicion and does nought but watch
+my face wherever I may be. Hence, when you come and speak to me so
+familiarly in her presence, I am in great fear lest I should make some
+sign on which she may ground her judgment, and should so fall into that
+which I am anxious to avoid. For this reason I am lead to entreat you
+not to come and speak to me so suddenly before her or before others whom
+you know to be equally malicious, for I would rather die than have any
+living creature know the truth. Were I not so regardful of your honour,
+I should not have sought this converse with you, for I hold myself
+sufficiently happy in the love and trust you bear me, and I ask nothing
+more save that they may continue.�
+
+Florida, who could not have been better pleased, began to be sensible
+of an unwonted feeling in her heart. She saw how honourable were the
+reasons which he laid before her; and she told him that virtue and
+honour replied for her, and that she granted him his request. Amadour�s
+joy at this no true lover can doubt.
+
+Florida, however, gave more heed to his counsel than he desired, for she
+became timid not only in presence of Paulina but elsewhere, and ceased
+to seek him out as she had been accustomed to do. While they were thus
+separated she took Amadour�s constant converse with Paulina in bad part,
+for, seeing that the latter was beautiful, she could not believe
+that Amadour did not love her. To beguile her sorrow she conversed
+continually with Avanturada, who was beginning to feel very jealous of
+her husband and Paulina, and often complained of them to Florida, who
+comforted her as well as she could, being herself smitten with the same
+disease. Amadour soon perceived the change in Florida�s demeanour, and
+forthwith thought that she was keeping aloof from him not merely by his
+own advice, but also on account of some bitter fancies of her own.
+
+One day, when they were coming from vespers at a monastery, he spoke to
+her, and asked--
+
+�What countenance is this you show me, madam?�
+
+�That which I believe you desire,� replied Florida.
+
+Thereupon, suspecting the truth, and desiring to know whether he was
+right, he said to her--
+
+�I have used my time so well, madam, that Paulina no longer has any
+suspicion of you.�
+
+�You could not do better,� she replied, �both for yourself and for me.
+While giving pleasure to yourself you bring me honour.�
+
+Amadour gathered from this speech that she believed he took pleasure in
+conversing with Paulina, and so great was his despair that he could not
+refrain from saying angrily to her--
+
+�In truth, madam, you begin betimes to torment your lover and pelt him
+with hard words. I do not think I ever had a more irksome task than to
+be obliged to hold converse with a lady I do not love. But since you
+take what I have done to serve you in bad part, I will never speak
+to her again, happen what may. And that I may hide my wrath as I have
+hidden my joy, I will betake me to some place in the neighbourhood, and
+there wait till your caprice has passed away. I hope, however, I shall
+there receive tidings from my captain and be called back to the war,
+where I will remain long enough to show you that nothing but yourself
+has kept me here.�
+
+So saying, he forthwith departed without waiting for her reply.
+
+Florida felt the greatest vexation and sorrow imaginable; and love,
+meeting with opposition, began to put forth its mighty strength. She
+perceived that she had been in the wrong, and wrote continually to
+Amadour entreating him to return, which he did after a few days, when
+his anger had abated.
+
+I cannot undertake to tell you minutely all that they said to each other
+in order to destroy this jealousy. But at all events he won the victory,
+and she promised him that not only would she never believe he loved
+Paulina, but that she would ever be convinced he found it an intolerable
+martyrdom to speak either to Paulina or to any one else except to do
+herself a service.
+
+When love had conquered this first suspicion, and while the two lovers
+were beginning to take fresh pleasure in conversing together, news came
+that the King of Spain was sending all his army to Salces. (11)
+
+     11  Salces, a village about fifteen miles north of Perpignan,
+     noted for its formidable fortress, still existing and
+     commanding a pass through the Corbi�re Mountains, which in
+     the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries separated France from
+     Roussillon, then belonging to Spain. The French burnt the
+     village and demolished the fort of Salces in 1496, but the
+     latter was rebuilt by the Spaniards in the most massive
+     style. The walls of the fort are 66 feet thick at the base
+     and 54 feet thick at the summit. When Queen Margaret
+     returned from Spain in 152,5 she reached France by the pass
+     of Salces. (See vol. i. p. xlvi.).--Ed.
+
+Amadour, accustomed ever to be the first in battle, failed not to seize
+this opportunity of winning renown; but in truth he set forth with
+unwonted regret, both on account of the pleasure he was losing and
+because he feared that he might find a change on his return. He knew
+that Florida, who was now fifteen or sixteen years old, was sought in
+marriage by many great princes and lords, and he reflected that if she
+were married during his absence he might have no further opportunity of
+seeing her, unless, indeed, the Countess of Aranda gave her his wife,
+Avanturada, as a companion. However, by skilful management with his
+friends, he obtained a promise from both mother and daughter that
+wherever Florida might go after her marriage thither should his wife,
+Avanturada, accompany her. Although it was proposed to marry Florida
+in Portugal, it was nevertheless resolved that Avanturada should never
+leave her. With this assurance, yet not without unspeakable regret,
+Amadour went away and left his wife with the Countess.
+
+When Florida found herself alone after his departure, she set about
+doing such good and virtuous works as she hoped might win her the
+reputation that belongs to the most perfect women, and might prove her
+to be worthy of such a lover as Amadour. He having arrived at Barcelona,
+was there welcomed by the ladies as of old; but they found a greater
+change in him than they believed it possible for marriage to effect in
+any man. He seemed to be vexed by the sight of things he had
+formerly desired; and even the Countess of Palamos, whom he had loved
+exceedingly, could not persuade him to visit her.
+
+Amadour remained at Barcelona as short a time as possible, for he was
+impatient to reach Salces, where he alone was now awaited. When he
+arrived, there began between the two kings that great and cruel war
+which I do not purpose to describe. (12) Neither will I recount the
+noble deeds that were done by Amadour, for then my story would take up
+an entire day; but you must know that he won renown far above all his
+comrades. The Duke of Najera (13) having arrived at Perpignan in command
+of two thousand men, requested Amadour to be his lieutenant, and so well
+did Amadour fulfil his duty with this band, that in every skirmish the
+only cry was �Najera!� (14)
+
+     12  In 1503 the French, under Marshals de Rieux and de Gi�,
+     again besieged Salces, which had a garrison of 1200 men. The
+     latter opposed a vigorous defence during two months, and
+     upon the arrival of the old Duke of Alba with an army of
+     succour the siege had to be raised.--B. J.
+
+     13  Pedro Manriquez de Lara, Count of Trevigno, created Duke
+     of Najera by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1501.--B. J.
+
+     14  The Duke�s war-cry, repeated by his followers as a
+     rallying signal in the _m�l�e_. War-cries varied greatly.
+     �Montjoie St. Denis� was that of the kings of France, and
+     �Passavant le meilleur� (the best to the front) that of the
+     Counts of Champagne. In other instances the war-cry
+     consisted of a single word, �Bigorre� being that of the
+     kings of Navarre, and �Flanders� that of the Princess of
+     Beaujeu. When the war-cry was merely a name, as in the case
+     of the Duke of Najera, it belonged to the head of the
+     family.--D.
+
+Now it came to pass that the King of Tunis, who for a long time had been
+at war with the Spaniards, heard that the kings of France and Spain were
+warring with each other on the frontiers of Perpignan and Narbonne, and
+bethought himself that he could have no better opportunity of vexing the
+King of Spain. Accordingly, he sent a great number of light galleys and
+other vessels to plunder and destroy all such badly-guarded places as
+they could find on the coasts of Spain. (15)The people of Barcelona
+seeing a great fleet passing in front of their town, sent word of the
+matter to the Viceroy, who was at Salces, and he forthwith despatched
+the Duke of Najera to Palamos. (16) When the Moors saw that place
+so well guarded, they made a feint of passing on; but returning at
+midnight, they landed a large number of men, and the Duke of Najera,
+being surprised by the enemy, was taken prisoner.
+
+     15  The above two sentences, deficient in the MS. followed by
+     M. Le Roux de Lincy, have been borrowed from MS. No. 1520
+     (Bib. Nat.). It was in 1503 that a Moorish flotilla ravaged
+     the coast of Catalonia.--Ed.
+
+     16  The village of Palamos, on the shores of the
+     Mediterranean, south of Cape Bagur, and within fifteen miles
+     from Gerona.--Ed.
+
+Amadour, who was on the alert and heard the din, forthwith assembled as
+many of his men as possible, and defended himself so stoutly that the
+enemy, in spite of their numbers, were for a long time unable to prevail
+against him. But at last, hearing that the Duke of Najera was taken, and
+that the Turks had resolved to set fire to Palamos and burn him in the
+house which he was holding against them, he thought it better to yield
+than to cause the destruction of the brave men who were with him. He
+also hoped that by paying a ransom he might yet see Florida again.
+Accordingly, he gave himself up to a Turk named Dorlin, a governor of
+the King of Tunis, who brought him to his master. By the latter he was
+well received and still better guarded; for the King deemed that in him
+he held the Achilles of all the Spains.
+
+Thus Amadour continued for two years in the service of the King of
+Tunis. The news of the captures having reached Spain, the kinsfolk
+of the Duke of Najera were in great sorrow; but those who held the
+country�s honour dear deemed Amadour the greater loss. The rumour came
+to the house of the Countess of Aranda, where the hapless Avanturada at
+that time lay grievously sick. The Countess, who had great misgivings as
+to the affection which Amadour bore to her daughter, though she suffered
+it and concealed it for the sake of the merits she perceived in him,
+took Florida apart and told her the mournful tidings. Florida, who was
+well able to dissemble, replied that it was a great loss to the entire
+household, and that above all she pitied his poor wife, who was herself
+so ill. Nevertheless, seeing that her mother wept exceedingly, she shed
+a few tears to bear her company; for she feared that if she dissembled
+too far the feint might be discovered. From that time the Countess often
+spoke to her of Amadour, but never could she surprise a look to guide
+her judgment.
+
+I will pass over the pilgrimages, prayers, supplications, and fasts
+which Florida regularly performed to ensure the safety of Amadour.
+As soon as he had arrived at Tunis, he failed not to send tidings of
+himself to his friends, and by a trusty messenger he apprised Florida
+that he was in good health, and had hopes of seeing her again. This was
+the only consolation the poor lady had in her grief, and you may be sure
+that, since she was permitted to write, she did so with all diligence,
+so that Amadour had no lack of her letters to comfort him.
+
+The Countess of Aranda was about this time commanded to repair to
+Saragossa, where the King had arrived; and here she found the young
+Duke of Cardona, who so pressed the King and Queen that they begged
+the Countess to give him their daughter in marriage. (17) The Countess
+consented, for she was unwilling to disobey them in anything, and
+moreover she considered that her daughter, being so young, could have no
+will of her own.
+
+     17  The Spanish historians state that in 1513 the King, to
+     put an end to a quarrel between the Count of Aranda and the
+     Count of Ribagorce, charged Father John of Estuniga,
+     Provincial of the Order of St. Francis, to negotiate a
+     reconciliation between them, based on the marriage of the
+     eldest daughter of the Count of Aranda with the eldest son
+     of the Count of Ribagorce. The latter refusing his consent,
+     was banished from the kingdom.--D.
+
+When all was settled, she told Florida that she had chosen for her the
+match which seemed most suitable. Florida, knowing that when a thing is
+once done there is small room for counsel, replied that God was to be
+praised for all things; and, finding her mother look coldly upon her,
+she sought rather to obey her than to take pity on herself. It scarcely
+comforted her in her sorrows to learn that the son of the Infante of
+Fortune was sick even to death; but never, either in presence of her
+mother or of any one else, did she show any sign of grief. So strongly
+did she constrain herself, that her tears, driven perforce back into her
+heart, caused so great a loss of blood from the nose that her life was
+endangered; and, that she might be restored to health, she was given in
+marriage to one whom she would willingly have exchanged for death.
+
+After the marriage Florida departed with her husband to the duchy of
+Cardona, taking with her Avanturada, whom she privately acquainted with
+her sorrow, both as regards her mother�s harshness and her own regret
+at having lost the son of the Infante of Fortune; but she never spoke of
+her regret for Amadour except to console his wife.
+
+This young lady then resolved to keep God and honour before her eyes. So
+well did she conceal her grief, that none of her friends perceived that
+her husband was displeasing to her.
+
+In this way she spent a long time, living a life that was worse than
+death, as she failed not to inform her lover Amadour, who, knowing the
+virtue and greatness of her heart, as well as the love that she had
+borne to the son of the Infante of Fortune, thought it impossible that
+she could live long, and mourned for her as for one that was more than
+dead. This sorrow was an increase to his former grief, and forgetting
+his own distress in that which he knew his sweetheart was enduring, he
+would willingly have continued all his life the slave he was if Florida
+could thereby have had a husband after her own heart. He learnt from a
+friend whom he had gained at the Court of Tunis that the King, wishing
+to keep him if only he could make a good Turk of him, intended to give
+him his choice between impalement and the renunciation of his faith.
+Thereupon he so addressed himself to his master, the governor who had
+taken him prisoner, that he persuaded him to release him on parole. His
+master named, however, a much higher ransom than he thought could be
+raised by a man of such little wealth, and then, without speaking to the
+King, he let him go.
+
+When Amadour reached the Court of the King of Spain, he stayed there but
+a short time, and then, in order to seek his ransom among his friends,
+he repaired to Barcelona, whither the young Duke of Cardona, his mother,
+and Florida had gone on business. As soon as Avanturada heard that her
+husband was returned, she told the news to Florida, who rejoiced as
+though for love of her friend. Fearing, however, that her joy at seeing
+Amadour might make her change her countenance, and that those who did
+not know her might think wrongly of her, she remained at a window in
+order to see him coming from afar. As soon as she perceived him she went
+down by a dark staircase, so that none could see whether she changed
+colour, and embracing Amadour, led him to her room, and thence to her
+mother-in-law, who had never seen him. He had not been there for two
+days before he was loved as much as he had been in the household of the
+Countess of Aranda.
+
+I leave you to imagine the conversation that he and Florida had
+together, and how she complained to him of the misfortunes that had come
+to her in his absence. After shedding many tears of sorrow, both for
+having been married against her will and also for having lost one she
+loved so dearly without any hope of seeing him again, she resolved to
+take consolation from the love and trust she had towards Amadour. Though
+she durst not declare the truth, he suspected it, and lost neither time
+nor opportunity to show her how much he loved her.
+
+Just when Florida was all but persuaded to receive him, not as a lover,
+but as a true and perfect friend, a misfortune came to pass, for the
+King summoned Amadour to him concerning some important matter.
+
+His wife was so grieved on hearing these tidings that she swooned, and
+falling down a staircase on which she was standing, was so hurt that she
+never rose again. Florida having by this death lost all her consolation,
+mourned like one who felt herself bereft of friends and kin. But Amadour
+grieved still more; for on the one part he lost one of the best wives
+that ever lived, and on the other the means of ever seeing Florida
+again. This caused him such sorrow that he was near coming by a sudden
+death. The old Duchess of Cardona visited him incessantly, reciting the
+arguments of philosophers why he should endure his loss with patience.
+But all was of no avail; for if on the one hand his wife�s death
+afflicted him, on the other his love increased his martyrdom. Having no
+longer any excuse to stay when his wife was buried, and his master again
+summoned him, his despair was such that he was like to lose his reason.
+
+Florida, who thinking to comfort him, was herself the cause of his
+greatest grief, spent a whole afternoon in the most gracious converse
+with him in order to lessen his sorrow, and assured him that she would
+find means to see him oftener than he thought. Then, as he was to depart
+on the following morning, and was so weak that he could scarcely stir
+from his bed, he prayed her to come and see him in the evening after
+every one else had left him. This she promised to do, not knowing that
+love in extremity is void of reason.
+
+Amadour altogether despaired of ever again seeing her whom he had loved
+so long, and from whom he had received no other treatment than I have
+described. Racked by secret passion and by despair at losing all means
+of consorting with her, he resolved to play at double or quits, and
+either lose her altogether or else wholly win her, and so pay himself in
+an hour the reward which he thought he had deserved. Accordingly he had
+his bed curtained in such a manner that those who came into the room
+could not see him; and he complained so much more than he had done
+previously that all the people of the house thought he had not
+twenty-four hours to live.
+
+After every one else had visited him, Florida, at the request of her
+husband himself, came in the evening, hoping to comfort him by declaring
+her affection and by telling him that, so far as honour allowed, she was
+willing to love him. She sat down on a chair beside the head of his
+bed, and began her consolation by weeping with him. Amadour, seeing her
+filled with such sorrow, thought that in her distress he might the more
+readily achieve his purpose, and raised himself up in the bed. Florida,
+thinking that he was too weak to do this, sought to prevent him, but he
+threw himself on his knees before her saying, �Must I lose sight of you
+for ever?� Then he fell into her arms like one exhausted. The hapless
+Florida embraced him and supported him for a long time, doing all she
+could to comfort him. But what she offered him to cure his pain only
+increased it; and while feigning to be half dead, he, without saying a
+word, strove to obtain that which the honour of ladies forbids.
+
+When Florida perceived his evil purpose, in which she could hardly
+believe after all his honourable conversation, she asked him what he
+sought to do. Amadour, fearing her reply, which he knew could not
+be otherwise than chaste and virtuous, said nothing, but pursued his
+attempt with all the strength that he could muster. Florida, greatly
+astonished, suspected rather that he had lost his senses than that he
+was really bent upon her dishonour, and called out to a gentleman whom
+she knew to be in the room; whereupon Amadour in extreme despair flung
+himself back upon his bed so suddenly that the gentleman thought him
+dead.
+
+Florida, who had risen from her chair, then said to the gentleman--
+
+�Go quickly for some strong vinegar.�
+
+This the gentleman did, whereupon Florida said--
+
+�What madness, Amadour, has mounted to your brain? What was it you
+thought and wished to do?�
+
+Amadour, who had lost all reason in the vehemence of his love, replied--
+
+�Does so long a service merit so cruel a reward?�
+
+�And what of the honour of which you have so often preached to me?� said
+Florida.
+
+�Ah! madam,� said Amadour, �it would be impossible to hold your honour
+more dear than I have held it. Before you were married, I was able so
+to subdue my heart that you knew nothing of my desires, but now that you
+are wedded and your honour may be shielded, do I wrong you in asking for
+what is mine? By the strength of my love I have won you. He who first
+possessed your heart had so little desire for your person that he
+deserved to lose both. He who now owns your person is not worthy to have
+your heart, and hence even your person does not properly belong to him.
+But for five or six years I have for your sake borne many pains and
+woes, which must show you that your body and heart belong to me alone.
+Think not to defend yourself by speaking of conscience, for when love
+constrains body and heart sin is never imputed. Those who are driven by
+frenzy so far as to slay themselves cannot sin, for passion leaves no
+room for reason; and if the passion of love be more intolerable than any
+other, and more blinding to the senses, what sin could you fasten upon
+one who yields to the conduct of such indomitable power? I am going
+away, and have no hope of ever seeing you again; but if before my
+departure I could have of you that assurance which the greatness of
+my love deserves, I should be strengthened sufficiently to endure in
+patience the sorrows of a long separation. If you will not grant me my
+request you will ere long learn that your harshness has brought me to a
+miserable and a cruel death.� (18)
+
+     18  The passage commencing �Those who are driven� and ending
+     �a cruel death� is deficient in the earlier editions of the
+     _Heptameron_, which give the following in place of it: �Do
+     not doubt but what those who have felt the power of love
+     will cast the blame on you who have so robbed me of my
+     liberty and dazzled my senses with your divine graces, that
+     not knowing what to do henceforth, I am constrained to go
+     away without the hope of ever seeing you again; certain,
+     however, that wherever I may be, you will still have part of
+     my heart, which will ever remain yours, be I on land, on the
+     sea, or in the hands of my most cruel enemies.� The above is
+     one of various instances of the liberty taken by Boaistuau
+     and Gruget with Margaret�s text.--Ed.
+
+Florida was not less grieved than astonished to hear these words from
+one whom she had never imagined capable of such discourse, and, weeping,
+she thus replied--
+
+�Alas, Amadour, is this the honourable converse that we used to have
+together while I was young? Is this the honour or conscience which many
+a time you counselled me to value more than life? Have you forgotten
+both the worthy examples you set before me of virtuous ladies who
+withstood unholy love, and also your own contempt for erring women? I
+cannot believe you so changed, Amadour, that regard for God, your own
+conscience, and my honour is wholly dead within you. But if it indeed
+be as you say, I praise the divine goodness which has prevented the
+misfortune into which I was about to fall, and has revealed to me by
+your own words the heart of which I was so ignorant. Having lost the
+son of the Infante of Fortune, not only by my marriage, but also, as
+is known to me, by reason of his love for another, and finding myself
+wedded to a man whom, strive as I may, I cannot love, I resolved to set
+heart and affection entirely on loving you. This love I built upon that
+virtue which I had so often perceived in you, and to which by your own
+assistance I think I have attained--I mean the virtue of loving one�s
+honour and conscience more than life. I came hither thinking to make
+this rock of virtue a sure foundation of love. But you have in a
+moment shown me, Amadour, that instead of a pure and cleanly rock, this
+foundation would have been one of shifting sand or filthy mire; and
+although a great part of the house in which I hoped always to dwell
+had already been raised, you have suddenly demolished it. Lay aside,
+therefore, any hope you had concerning me, and make up your mind not to
+seek me by look or word wherever I may be, or to hope that I shall ever
+be able or willing to change my resolve. It is with the deepest sorrow
+that I tell you this, though had I gone so far as to swear eternal
+love with you, I know that my heart could not have lived through this
+meeting. Even now I am so confounded to find myself deceived, that I
+am sure my life will be either short or sad. With these words I bid you
+farewell, and for ever.�
+
+I will not try to describe to you the grief that Amadour felt on hearing
+this speech. It is impossible not only to describe it, but even to
+conceive it, except indeed to such as have experienced the like. Seeing
+that with this cruel conclusion she was about to leave him, he seized
+her by the arm, knowing full well that, if he did not remove her evil
+opinion of him, he would lose her for ever. Accordingly he dissembled
+his looks as well as he could, and said--
+
+�During my whole life, madam, I have desired to love a woman of virtue,
+and having found so few of them, I was minded to put you to proof, and
+so discover whether you were as well worthy of esteem as of love. Now I
+know for certain that you are; and therefore I give praise to God, who
+has inclined my heart to the love of such great perfection. I entreat
+you to pardon my mad and foolhardy attempt, seeing that the issue of it
+has turned to your honour and to my great satisfaction.�
+
+Florida was beginning to learn through him the deceitfulness of men;
+and, just as she had formerly found it difficult to believe in evil
+where it existed, so did she now find it even more difficult to believe
+in virtue where there was none.
+
+�Would to God you spoke the truth,� she said to him; �but I am not so
+ignorant as not to know by my experience in marriage that the blindness
+of strong passion led you to act as you did. Had God given me a loose
+rein I am sure that you would not have drawn bridle. Those who go in
+quest of virtue are wont to take a different road to yours. But enough;
+if I have been too hasty in crediting you with some goodness, it is time
+I learned the truth, by which I am now delivered out of your hands.�
+
+So saying, Florida left the room. As long as the night lasted she did
+nought but weep; for the change that had taken place caused her intense
+grief, and her heart had much ado to hold out against the sorrowing of
+love. Although, guided by reason, she had resolved to love no more, yet
+the heart, which cannot be subdued, would in no wise permit this. Thus
+she was unable to love him less than before, and knowing that love had
+been the cause of his offence, she made up her mind to satisfy love by
+continuing to love him with her whole heart, and to obey honour by never
+giving any sign of her affection either to him or to any one else.
+
+In the morning Amadour departed in the distress that I have described.
+Nevertheless his heart, which was so lofty that there was none like
+it in the world, suffered him not to despair, but prompted him to
+new devices for seeing Florida again and winning her favour. So as he
+proceeded to the King of Spain, who was then at Toledo, he took his way
+through the county of Aranda, where he arrived very late one evening,
+and found the Countess in great sadness on account of the absence of her
+daughter.
+
+When she saw Amadour she kissed and embraced him as though he had been
+her own son, and this no less for the love she herself bore him as for
+that which she suspected he had for Florida. She asked minutely for news
+of her daughter, and he told her what he could, though not the entire
+truth. However, he confessed the love which existed between them, and
+which Florida had always concealed; and he begged the Countess to aid
+him in hearing often of Florida, and to take her as speedily as possible
+to Aranda.
+
+At daybreak he went on his way, and when he had despatched his business
+with the King he left for the war. So sad was he and so changed in
+every way that ladies, captains, and acquaintances alike could scarcely
+recognise him.
+
+He now wore nothing but black, and this of a heavier pile than was
+needful as mourning for his dead wife; but indeed her death served only
+as a cloak for the sorrow that was in his heart. Thus Amadour spent
+three or four years without returning to Court.
+
+The Countess of Aranda hearing that Florida was changed and that it was
+pitiful to see her, sent for her, hoping that she would return home. The
+contrary, however, happened. When Florida learned that Amadour had
+told her mother of their love, and that she, although so discreet and
+virtuous, had approved of it, she was in extraordinary perplexity. On
+the one hand she perceived that if her mother, who had such great esteem
+for Amadour, were told the truth some mischief might befall the latter;
+and this even to save her life she would not have brought to pass, for
+she felt strong enough to punish his folly herself without calling on
+her kinsfolk for assistance. On the other hand she saw that, if she
+concealed the evil she knew of him, she would be constrained by her
+mother and all her friends to speak to him and show him favour, and this
+she feared would only strengthen his evil purpose. However, as he was
+a long way off, she kept her own counsel, and wrote to him whenever the
+Countess commanded her. Still her letters were such that he could see
+they were written more out of obedience than goodwill; and the grief
+he felt in reading them was as great as his joy had been in reading the
+earlier ones.
+
+At the end of two or three years, when he had performed so many noble
+deeds that all the paper in Spain could not contain the records of them,
+(19) he conceived a very skilful device, not indeed to win Florida�s
+heart, which he looked upon as lost, but to gain the victory over his
+enemy, since such she had shown herself to be. He put aside all the
+promptings of reason and even the fear of death, and at the risk of
+his life resolved to act in the following way. He persuaded the chief
+Governor (20) to send him on an embassy to the King concerning some
+secret attempt against Leucate; (21) and he procured a command to
+take counsel with the Countess of Aranda about the matter before
+communicating it to the King.
+
+     19  Margaret, perhaps, wrote �All the paper of Spain could
+     not contain them,� simply because Spanish paper was then of
+     very small size. Paper-making had, however, been almost
+     monopolised by Spain until the end of the thirteenth
+     century, the cotton used in the manufacture being imported
+     from the East.--M.
+
+     20  The Viceroy of Catalonia.--D.
+
+     21  Leucate, now a village, but said to have been a
+     flourishing town in the fourteenth century, lies near the
+     Mediterranean, at a few miles from Salces, and gives its
+     name to a large salt-water lake. Formerly fortified, it was
+     repeatedly besieged and burnt by the Spaniards; notably by
+     the Duke of Alba in 1503, after he had relieved Salces.--Ed.
+
+Then he came post haste to the county of Aranda, where he knew Florida
+to be, and secretly sent a friend to inform the Countess of his coming,
+praying her to keep it secret, and to grant him audience at nightfall
+without the knowledge of any one.
+
+The Countess, who was very pleased at his coming, spoke of it to
+Florida, and sent her to undress in her husband�s room, that she might
+be ready when sent for after every one was gone to bed. Florida had not
+yet recovered from her first alarm, but she said nothing of it to her
+mother, and withdrew to an oratory in order to commend herself to Our
+Lord. While she was praying that her heart might be preserved from
+all evil affection, she remembered that Amadour had often praised her
+beauty, and that in spite of long illness it had not been impaired.
+Being, therefore, more willing to injure her beauty than suffer it to
+kindle an evil flame in the heart of an honourable gentleman, she took a
+stone which lay in the chapel and struck herself a grievous blow on the
+face so that her mouth, nose, and eyes were quite disfigured. Then,
+in order that no one might suspect it to be of her own doing, she let
+herself fall upon her face on leaving the chapel when summoned by the
+Countess, and cried out loudly. The Countess coming thither found her
+in this pitiful state, and forthwith caused her face to be dressed and
+bandaged.
+
+Then the Countess led her to her own apartment, and begged her to go
+to her room and entertain Amadour until she herself had got rid of her
+company. This Florida did, thinking that there were others with him.
+
+But when she found herself alone with him, and the door closed upon her,
+she was as greatly troubled as he was pleased. He thought that, by love
+or violence, he would now have what he desired; so he spoke to her, and
+finding that she made the same reply as before, and that even to save
+her life she would not change her resolve, he was beside himself with
+despair.
+
+�Before God, Florida,� he said to her, �your scruples shall not rob me
+of the fruits of my labour. Since love, patience, and humble entreaty
+are of no avail, I will spare no strength of mine to gain the boon, upon
+which all its existence depends.�
+
+Florida saw that his eyes and countenance were altered exceedingly, so
+that his complexion, naturally the fairest in the world, was now as red
+as fire, and his look, usually so gentle and pleasant, had become as
+horrible and furious as though fierce flames were blazing in his heart
+and face. In his frenzy he seized her delicate, weak hands in his own
+strong, powerful ones; and she, finding herself in such bondage that she
+could neither defend herself nor fly, thought that her only chance was
+to try whether he had not retained some traces of his former love, for
+the sake of which he might forego his cruelty. She therefore said to
+him--
+
+�If you now look upon me, Amadour, in the light of an enemy, I entreat
+you, by that pure love which I once thought was in your heart, to
+hearken to me before you put me to torture.�
+
+Seeing that he became attentive, she continued--
+
+�Alas! Amadour, what can prompt you to seek after a thing that can
+afford you no satisfaction, and thus afflict me with the profoundest
+grief? You made trial of my inclinations in the days of my youth and
+earliest beauty, and they perhaps served to excuse your passion; but I
+am amazed that now, when I am old, and ugly, and sorrow-stricken, you
+should seek for what you know you can never find. I am sure you do not
+doubt that my mind is as it used to be, and so by force alone can you
+obtain what you desire. If you observe the condition of my face, and lay
+aside the memory of the beauty that once you saw in it, you will have no
+inclination to draw any nearer; and if you still retain within you any
+remnants of your past love, it is impossible that pity will not subdue
+your frenzy. To this pity, which I have often found in you, I appeal
+with prayers for mercy. Suffer me to live in peace, and in that honour
+which by your own counsel I have resolved to preserve. But if the love
+you once bore me is now turned to hate, and you desire, in vengeance
+rather than in love, to make me the unhappiest woman alive, I protest to
+you that it shall not be so. You will force me against my will to make
+your evil purpose known to her who thinks so highly of you; and you may
+be sure that, when she learns it, your life will not be safe.�
+
+But Amadour interrupted her.
+
+�If I must die,� he said, �I shall be the sooner rid of my torment.
+The disfigurement of your face, which I believe is of your own seeking,
+shall not restrain me from making you mine. Though I could have nothing
+but your bones, I would yet hold them close to me.�
+
+When Florida saw that prayers, reasoning, and tears were alike of no
+avail, and that while he cruelly pursued his evil purpose she lacked
+the strength to resist him, she summoned the aid which she dreaded as
+greatly as death, and in a sad and piteous voice called as loudly as she
+could upon her mother. The Countess, hearing her daughter�s cries,
+had grave misgivings of the truth, and hastened into the room with all
+possible speed.
+
+Amadour, who was not so ready to die as he affirmed, desisted promptly
+from his enterprise; and when the lady opened the door she found him
+close beside it, and Florida some distance from him. �Amadour,� said the
+Countess, �what is the matter? Tell me the truth.�
+
+Amadour, who was never at a loss for invention, replied with a pale and
+daunted face--
+
+�Alas! madam, what change is this in the lady Florida? I was never so
+astonished before, for, as I have told you, I thought I had a share in
+her favour; but I now see clearly that I have lost it all. While she was
+being brought up by you, she was, I think, no less discreet or virtuous
+than she is at present; however, she had then no qualms of conscience
+about speaking with any one. But now, when I sought to look at her, she
+would not suffer me to do so. When I saw this behaviour on her part I
+thought I must be dreaming, and asked her for her hand to kiss it after
+the manner of the country. This she utterly refused me. I acknowledge,
+madam, that then I acted wrongfully, and I entreat your pardon for it;
+for I took her hand, as it were by force, and kissed it. I asked nothing
+more of her, but I believe that she intends my death, for she called out
+to you as you know. Why she did this I cannot tell, unless indeed she
+feared that I had some other purpose in view. Nevertheless, madam, be
+this as it may, I confess that I am in the wrong; for although she ought
+to love all who are devoted to you, fortune wills it that I, who am of
+all most attached to her, am banished from her good graces. Still, I
+shall ever continue the same both to you and to her; and I entreat you
+to continue me in your good favour since, by no fault of my own, I have
+now lost hers.�
+
+The Countess, who partly believed and partly suspected him, went up to
+her daughter and asked--�Why did you call me so loudly?�
+
+Florida replied that she had felt afraid; and, although the Countess
+questioned her minutely on many points, she would give no other reply.
+Finding that she had escaped from her enemy she deemed him sufficiently
+punished by the failure of his attempt.
+
+After the Countess had had a long conversation with Amadour, she
+suffered him to speak again in her presence with Florida, to see how
+he would behave. He said but little, save that he thanked her for not
+having confessed the truth to her mother, and begged that since she had
+expelled him from her heart, she would at least allow no other to take
+his place.
+
+�If my voice had not been my only means of defending myself,� she
+replied, �it would never have been heard; and from me you shall have no
+worse punishment, if you do not force me to it by troubling me again as
+you have done. Do not fear that I can ever love another; since I have
+not found the good I wished for in a heart that I considered to be the
+most virtuous in the world, I do not expect to find it in any man. This
+evil fortune will henceforth free me of all the passion that love can
+give.�
+
+With these words she bade him farewell.
+
+Her mother, who had been watching her face, was unable to form any
+opinion; though from that time forth she clearly saw that her daughter
+had lost all affection for Amadour. She imagined her so devoid of reason
+as to hate everything that she herself loved; and from that hour she
+warred with her in a strange way, spending seven years without speaking
+to her except in anger, all which she did at Amadour�s request.
+
+Meanwhile, on account of her mother�s harsh treatment, Florida�s former
+dread of being with her husband was changed into a desire of never
+leaving him. Seeing, however, that all her efforts were useless, she
+resolved to deceive Amadour, and laying aside her coldness for a day
+or two, she advised him to pay court to a lady who, she said, had been
+speaking of their love.
+
+This lady lived with the Queen of Spain, and was called Loretta. Amadour
+believed the story, and, thinking that he might in this way regain
+Florida�s good graces, he made love to Loretta, who was the wife of a
+captain, one of the viceroys of the King of Spain. She, in her pleasure
+at having gained such a lover, showed so much elation that the affair
+was rumoured abroad. Even the Countess of Aranda, who was at Court, had
+knowledge of it, and thenceforward treated Florida less harshly than
+before.
+
+One day Florida heard that the captain, Loretta�s husband, had grown
+jealous, and was resolved to kill Amadour in one way or another as best
+he might. In spite of her altered treatment of Amadour, Florida did not
+desire that evil should befall him, and so she immediately informed
+him of what she had heard. He was quite ready to hark back again to his
+first love, and thereupon told her that, if she would grant him three
+hours of her conversation every day, he would never again speak to
+Loretta. But this she would not grant. �Then,� said Amadour, �if you
+will not give me life, why prevent me from dying, unless indeed you hope
+to make me suffer more pain during life than any death could cause? But
+though death shun me, I will seek it until I find it; then only shall I
+have rest.�
+
+While they were on this footing, news came that the King of Granada (22)
+was entering upon a great war against the King of Spain. The latter,
+therefore, sent the Prince, his son, (23) to the war, and with him the
+Constable of Castille and the Duke of Alba, (24) two old and prudent
+lords. The Duke of Cardona and the Count of Aranda were unwilling to
+remain behind, and prayed the King to give them some command. This
+he did as befitted their rank, and gave them into the safe keeping of
+Amadour, who performed such extraordinary deeds during the war, that
+they seemed to be acts as much of despair as of bravery.
+
+     22  The last King of Granada was Mahomed Boabdil, dethroned
+     in 1493. The title may have been assumed, however, by the
+     leader of an insurrection.--D.
+
+     23  As Ferdinand and Isabella had no son, the reference must
+     be to their daughter�s husband, Philip the Fair of Austria,
+     son of the Emperor Maximilian I. and father of Charles V.--
+     B. J.
+
+     24  Frederick of Toledo, Marquis of Coria and Duke of Alba,
+     generally called the old Duke of Alba to distinguish him
+     from his son.--B. J.
+
+Coming now to the point of my story, I have to relate how his
+overboldness was proved by his death. The Moors had made a show of
+offering battle, and finding the Christian army very numerous had
+feigned a retreat. The Spaniards started in pursuit, but the old
+Constable and the Duke of Alba, who suspected the trickery of the Moors,
+restrained the Prince of Spain against his will from crossing the river.
+The Count of Aranda, however, and the Duke of Cardona crossed, although
+it was forbidden; and when the Moors saw that they were pursued by only
+a few men they faced about again. The Duke of Cardona was struck down
+and killed with a blow of a scimitar, and the Count of Aranda was so
+grievously wounded that he was left for dead. Thereupon Amadour came up
+filled with rage and fury, and bursting through the throng, caused the
+two bodies to be taken up and carried to the camp of the Prince, who
+mourned for them as for his own brothers. On examining their wounds the
+Count of Aranda was found to be still alive, and was sent in a litter
+to his home, where he lay ill for a long time. On the other hand, the
+Duke�s body was sent back to Cardona.
+
+Meanwhile Amadour, having made this effort to rescue the two bodies, had
+thought so little of his own safety that he found himself surrounded by
+a large number of Moors. Not desiring his person to be captured any more
+than he had captured that of his mistress, nor to break his faith with
+God as he had broken faith with her--for he knew that, if he were taken
+to the King of Granada, he must either die a cruel death or renounce
+Christianity--he resolved to withhold from his enemies the glory
+either of his death or capture. So kissing the cross of his sword and
+commending his body and soul to God, he dealt himself such a thrust as
+to be past all help.
+
+Thus died the unhappy Amadour, lamented as deeply as his virtues
+deserved. The news spread through the whole of Spain; and the rumour of
+it came to Florida, who was at Barcelona, where her husband had formerly
+commanded that he should be buried. She gave him an honourable funeral,
+(25) and then, without saying anything to her mother or mother-in-law,
+she became a nun in the Convent of Jesus, taking for husband and lover
+Him who had delivered her from such a violent love as that of Amadour�s,
+and from such great affliction as she had endured in the company of her
+husband. Thus were all her affections directed to the perfect loving of
+God; and, after living for a long time as a nun, she yielded up her soul
+with gladness, like that of the bride when she goes forth to meet the
+bridegroom.
+
+     25  The Franciscan monastery of the little village cf
+     Bellpuig, near Lerida, contains the tomb of Ramon de
+     Cardona, termed one of the marvels of Catalonia on account
+     of the admirable sculptures adorning it. One of the
+     beautiful white marble bas-reliefs shows a number of galleys
+     drawn up in line of battle, whilst some smaller boats are
+     conveying parties of armed men to a river-bank on which the
+     Moors are awaiting them in hostile array. On the frieze of
+     an arch the Spaniards and Moors are shown fighting, many of
+     the former retreating towards the water. An inscription
+     records that the tomb was raised to the best of husbands by
+     Isabella, his unhappy spouse.
+
+     Margaret gives the name of Florida to the wife of the Duke
+     whom she mentions, but it should be borne in mind that she
+     has systematically mingled fact with fiction throughout this
+     story; and that she was alluding to the Duke buried at
+     Bellpuig seems evident from an examination of the bas-
+     reliefs mentioned above. Ramon de Cardona was, however, a
+     more important personage than she pictures him. He became
+     Charles V.�s viceroy in Naples, and did not die till 1520,
+     whereas Margaret�s story appears to end in or about 1513.
+     Possibly she saw the tomb when in Spain.--Ed.
+
+�I am well aware, ladies, that this long tale may have been wearisome
+to some among you, but had I told it as it was told to me it would have
+been longer still. Take example, I beg you, by the virtue of Florida,
+but be somewhat less cruel; and think not so well of any man that, when
+you are undeceived, you occasion him a cruel death and yourselves a life
+of sorrow.�
+
+Having had a long and fair hearing Parlamente said to Hircan--
+
+�Do you not think that this lady was pressed to extremities and that she
+held out virtuously?�
+
+�No,� said Hircan; �a woman can make no more feeble resistance than to
+cry out. If she had been in a place where none could hear her I do not
+know how she would have fared. And if Amadour had had more love and less
+fear he would not have desisted from his attempt for so little. So
+this story will not cause me to change my firm opinion that no man
+ever perfectly loved a lady, or was loved by her, that he did not prove
+successful if only he went the right way to work. Nevertheless, I must
+praise Amadour for having in part done his duty.�
+
+�What duty?� asked Oisille. �Do you call it a lover�s duty to try
+and take his mistress by force when he owes her all reverence and
+submission?�
+
+Here Saffredent took up the discourse.
+
+�Madam,� he said, �when our mistresses hold their state in chamber or
+hall, seated at their ease as though they were our judges, we lead
+them to the dance in fear; we wait upon them with all diligence and
+anticipate their commands; and we are so afraid of offending them and so
+desirous of doing them service that those who see us pity us, and often
+deem us more witless than brutes. They account us dull and void of
+understanding, and give praise to the ladies, whose faces are so
+imperious and their speech so fair that they make themselves feared,
+loved, and honoured by those who only know them outwardly. But when we
+are together in private, and love alone can judge our behaviour, we
+know full well that they are women and we are men. Then is the name
+�mistress� changed to �sweetheart,� and the �slave� becomes a �lover.�
+As the proverb says--�By service true and loyalty, do servants rise to
+mastery.� They have honour equally with men, who can give it to them and
+can take it away; and seeing us suffer in patience, they should reward
+us when they can do so without hurt to their honour.�
+
+�You do not speak of that true honour,� said Longarine, �which is the
+greatest happiness this world can give. If every one calls me a virtuous
+woman, and I myself know the contrary, the praise I receive only
+increases my shame and puts me in secret to still greater confusion. In
+the same way, if people condemn me and I know that I am innocent, their
+condemnation will only make me the better pleased with myself.�
+
+�In spite of what you all have said,� interposed Geburon, �it seems to
+me that Amadour was as noble and virtuous a knight as ever lived, and I
+think I can recognise him under his feigned name. Since Parlamente would
+not name him, neither will I. But you may rest assured that, if he be
+the man whom I have in mind, his heart never knew fear, nor was ever
+void of love and bravery.�
+
+�The day has been spent so pleasantly,� said Oisille, �that if the
+others are like it I think our talk will make the time pass quickly by.
+But see where the sun is, and listen to the abbey bell, which has long
+been calling us to vespers. I did not mention this to you before, for I
+was more inclined to hear the end of the story than to go to prayers.�
+
+At these words they all rose, and when they reached the abbey they found
+that the monks had been waiting for them a full hour and more. After
+vespers they went to supper, and during the whole evening they conversed
+about the stories they had heard, all of them searching every corner of
+their memories to try and make the second day as pleasant as the first.
+And after playing many games in the meadow they went to bed, and so made
+a glad and happy ending of the first day.
+
+
+[Illustration: 083.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+
+
+
+SECOND DAY.
+
+_On the Second Day is recounted the first conceit that presents itself
+to each_.
+
+
+
+
+PROLOGUE.
+
+On the morrow they rose in great eagerness to return to the place where
+they had had so much pleasure on the previous day. Each one was ready
+with a tale, and was impatient for the telling of it. They listened
+to the reading of Madame Oisille, and then heard mass, all commending
+themselves to God, and praying Him to grant them speech and grace for
+the continuance of their fellowship. Afterwards they went to dinner,
+reminding one another the while of many stories of the past.
+
+After dinner, they rested in their apartments, and at the appointed time
+returned to the meadow, where day and season alike seemed favourable to
+their plans. They all sat down on the natural seat afforded by the green
+sward, and Parlamente said--
+
+�Yesterday I told the tenth and last tale; it is therefore for me to
+choose who shall begin to-day. Madame Oisille was the first of the
+ladies to speak, as being the oldest and wisest, and so I now give my
+vote to the youngest--I do not also say the flightiest--for I am sure
+that if we all follow her leading we shall not delay vespers so long
+as we did yesterday. Wherefore, Nomerfide, you shall lead us, but I beg
+that you will not cause us to begin our second day in tears.�
+
+�There was no need to make that request,� said Nomerfide, �for one of
+our number has made me choose a tale which has taken such a hold on me
+that I can tell no other; and should it occasion sadness in you, your
+natures must be melancholy ones indeed.�
+
+[Illustration: 089.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XI._ (A).
+
+     _Madame de Roncex, while at the monastery of the Grey Friars
+     at Thouars, (1) was constrained to go in great haste to a
+     certain place, and, not looking to see whether the seats
+     were clean, sat down in a filthy spot and befouled both her
+     person and clothes; whereupon crying out for assistance, in
+     the hope that some woman would come and cleanse her, she was
+     waited on by men, who beheld her in the worst plight in
+     which a woman could be found_. (2)
+
+     1  In the department of the Deux-S�vres.--Ed.
+
+     2  This story, given in Boaistuau�s version of Margaret�s
+     tales, and to be found in most of the MS. copies of the
+     _Heptameron_ at the �Paris Biblioth�que Nationale�, was not
+     included in the edition issued by Gruget, who replaced it by
+     a story called _The jests made by a Grey Friar_, for which
+     see _post_, p. 95 _et seq_.--Ed.
+
+In the household of Madame de la Tr�moille there was a lady named
+Roncex, who one day, when her mistress had gone to visit the monastery
+of the Grey Friars, found herself in great need to go to a certain place
+whither her maid could not go in her stead. She took with her a girl
+named La Mothe to keep her company, but being modest and unwilling to
+be seen, left her in the room, and went alone into a darksome privy,
+a place used in common by all the friars, who had given such a good
+account therein of all their victuals, that seat and floor, and in sooth
+the whole place, were thickly covered with the must of Bacchus and Ceres
+that had passed through the friars� bellies.
+
+The unhappy lady, who was so hard pressed that she had scarcely time to
+lift her dress, chanced to sit down in the foulest, dirtiest spot in the
+whole place, where she found herself stuck fast as though with glue, her
+poor hips, garments, and feet being so contaminated that she durst not
+take a step or turn on any side, for fear lest she should meet with
+something worse. Thereupon she began to call out as loudly as she
+could--
+
+�La Mothe, my child, I am ruined and undone!�
+
+The poor girl, who had formerly heard tell of the wickedness of the Grey
+Friars, and imagined that some of them were hidden there and were trying
+to take her mistress by force, thereupon ran off as hard as she could,
+saying to every one she met--
+
+�Come and help Madame de Roncex; the Grey Friars are trying to ravish
+her in yonder privy.�
+
+They thereupon hastened thither with all speed, and found the unhappy
+lady crying out for assistance, longing for some woman to come and
+cleanse her, and with her back parts all uncovered, for she feared to
+touch them with her garments lest these also should be defiled.
+
+The gentlemen, coming in at her cries, beheld this fine sight, but could
+see nought of the Grey Friars, unless it were their ordure clinging to
+her hips; nor did this pass without laughter on their part and great
+shame on hers, for instead of having women to cleanse her, she was
+waited on by men, who saw her naked, and in the sorriest plight in which
+a woman could be found. For this reason, on perceiving them, she
+soiled what was still clean, by dropping her garments in order to cover
+herself, forgetting the filth that she was in for the shame she felt at
+sight of the men. And when she had come out of that foul place it was
+necessary to strip her naked and change all her garments before she
+could leave the monastery. She was minded to be angry with La Mothe for
+the aid that she had brought her, but finding that the poor girl had
+thought her in a yet more evil plight, she put aside her wrath and
+laughed like the rest. (3)
+
+     3  It is impossible to identify the lady mentioned in this
+     story, her name being spelt in so many ways in the various
+     MSS. of the _Heptameron_. It is given as Roncex in the copy
+     here followed, as Roubex in a copy that belonged to Louis
+     XVIII., and as Roncci in the De Thou MS., whilst Boaistuau
+     printed it as Roucey. The Madame de la Tr�moille, alluded to
+     at the outset, is believed by Lacroix and Dillaye to have
+     been Anne de Laval (daughter of Guy XV., Count of Laval, and
+     of Charlotte of Aragon, Princess of Tarento), who married
+     Francis de la Tr�moille, Viscount of Thouars, in 1521, and
+     was by her mother a cousin of Queen Margaret. Possibly,
+     however, the reference is to Gabrielle de Bourbon, wife of
+     Louis II. de la Tr�moille, a lady of exemplary piety, who
+     erected the beautiful Renaissance chapel of the ch�teau of
+     Thouars.--L. & Ed.
+
+�I think, ladies,� said Nomerfide, �that this story has proved neither
+long nor melancholy, and that I have given you what you expected.�
+
+At this the company laughed heartily, and Oisille said--�The story is
+indeed nasty and unclean, yet, knowing the persons who fared in this
+manner, we cannot consider it unwelcome. Gladly would I have seen the
+faces of La Mothe and of the lady to whom she brought such timely aid.
+But now,� she added to Nomerfide, �since you have finished so soon, give
+your vote to some one whose thoughts are of a graver turn.�
+
+�Since you desire me to atone for my fault,� answered Nomerfide, �I give
+my vote to Dagoucin, whose discretion is such that he would die rather
+than say anything foolish.�
+
+Dagoucin then thanked her for the esteem in which she held his good
+sense, and thus began--�The story I am minded to relate is intended to
+show you how love blinds the greatest and most honourable hearts, and
+how hard it is to overcome wickedness by any kindness whatsoever.�
+
+[Illustration: 093.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 095a.jpg The Grey Friar telling his Tales]
+
+[The Grey Friar telling his Tales]
+
+[Illustration: 095.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XI._ (B).
+
+     _Of the jests made by a Grey Friar in his sermons_. (1)
+
+     1  See _ante_, p. 89, note 2, _and post_. Appendix B.
+
+Near the town of Bl�r� in Touraine there is a village called St.
+Martin-le-Beau, whither a Grey Friar belonging to the monastery at
+Tours was summoned to preach during the seasons of Advent and Lent.
+This friar, who was more garrulous than learned, and now and then found
+himself at a loss for matter to eke out his hour, would thereupon begin
+telling tales which more or less agreeably satisfied the good villagers.
+
+One Holy Thursday he preached about the Paschal Lamb, and while speaking
+of how it was eaten at night, seeing that there were present at the
+preaching some handsome young ladies of Amboise, who were newly
+arrived to keep Easter at the village, and to stay there for a few days
+afterwards, he wished to surpass himself, and thereupon asked all the
+women-folk whether they knew what it was to eat raw flesh at night. �I
+will tell you what it is, ladies,� he said, whereat the young men of
+Amboise, who had just arrived with their wives, sisters, and nieces, and
+who had no knowledge of the pilgrim�s humour, began to be scandalised;
+though on listening further their indignation gave place to laughter,
+even when he said that to eat the lamb it was needful to have one�s
+loins girt, one�s feet in one�s shoes, and one�s hand on one�s staff.
+
+The friar, seeing them laugh at this, and guessing the reason,
+immediately corrected himself. �Well,� said he, �to have shoes on one�s
+feet and a staff in one�s hand; �tis all one.�
+
+That this sally was received with laughter you will readily believe.
+Even the ladies could not refrain from merriment, and for them he
+added other diverting sayings. Then finding the time was nearly up, and
+wishing the ladies to be well pleased with him when they departed, he
+said to them--�Now, fair ladies, when you are chatting presently with
+your gossips, you will be asking one another: �Who, pray, is this Master
+Friar, that speaks out so boldly? He must be a brisk fellow.� I will
+tell you, ladies, yes, I will tell you, and be not astonished if I speak
+out boldly, for I am of Anjou, at your service.�
+
+With these words he ended his sermon, leaving his hearers more disposed
+to laugh at his foolish speeches than to weep in memory of our Lord�s
+Passion which was then being commemorated.
+
+The other sermons that he preached during the festival had much the
+same value. You are aware that these friars never fail to go begging
+for their Easter eggs, and receive not only eggs, but many other things,
+such as linen, yarn, chitterlings, hams, chines, and similar trifles. So
+when Easter Tuesday came, and the friar was making those exhortations to
+charity of which such folks as he are no niggards, he said--
+
+�I am bound to thank you, ladies, for the liberality you have shown to
+our poor monastery, and yet I cannot forbear telling you that you have
+hitherto not duly considered the nature of our wants. You have for the
+most part given us chitterlings, but of these we ourselves have no lack.
+God be praised, our monastery is indeed full of them. What then can we
+do with so many? I will tell you. My advice, ladies, is that you should
+mix your hams with our chitterlings; in this way you would bestow fine
+alms.�
+
+Then, continuing his sermon, he brought into it certain scandalous
+matter, and, whilst discoursing upon it somewhat bluntly and quoting
+sundry examples, he said in apparent amazement--
+
+�Truly, ladies and gentlemen of Saint-Martin, I am greatly astonished
+that you should be scandalised so unreasonably at what is less than
+nothing, and should tell tales of me wherever you go, saying: �It is a
+big business; who could have thought that the father would have got
+his landlady�s daughter with child?� A monk get a girl with child!� he
+continued; �forsooth, what a wonder! But hark you, fair ladies, would
+you not rather have had cause for wonderment, had the girl acted thus by
+the monk?�
+
+�Such, ladies, was the wholesome food on which this worshipful shepherd
+fed the Lord�s flock. And so brazen was he, that after committing the
+sin, he spake openly of it in the pulpit, where nought should be said
+that tends to aught but the edification of one�s neighbour, and above
+all to the glory of God.�
+
+�Truly,� said Saffredent, �he was a master monk--I should have liked
+him nearly as well as Brother Anjibaut, who gets credit for all the
+jests that are spoken in merry company.�
+
+�For my part, I can see nothing laughable in such mockery,� said
+Oisille, �especially in such a place.�
+
+�You forget, madam,� said Nomerfide, �that at that time, though it
+was not so very long ago, the good villagers, and indeed most of the
+dwellers in the large towns, who think themselves cleverer than other
+people, had greater regard for such preachers as he than for those who
+purely and simply preached the holy Gospel to them.�
+
+�However that may be,� said Hircan, �he was not wrong in asking for hams
+in exchange for chitterlings, for in hams there is far more eating. And
+even if some devout creature had understood him amphibologically, as I
+believe he wished to be understood, neither he nor his brethren would
+have fared badly any more than the wench that had her bag full.�
+
+�But how impudent of him,� said Oisille, �to pervert the meaning of
+the text to suit his fancy, thinking that he had to do with beasts like
+himself, and shamelessly trying to entice the poor little women so that
+he might teach them how to eat raw flesh at night.�
+
+�True,� said Simontault; �but you forget that he saw before him those
+young tripe-sellers of Amboise in whose tub he would fain have washed
+his ------ shall I name it? No, but you understand me--and have treated
+them to a taste of it, not roasted, but stirring and frisking, so as to
+please them the more.�
+
+�Softly, softly, Simontault,� said Parlamente; �you forget yourself.
+Have you laid aside your accustomed modesty to don it only in time of
+necessity?�
+
+�No, madam, no,� said he; ��twas the unworthy monk that led me astray.
+Wherefore, that we may return to the matter in hand, I beg Nomerfide,
+who caused my offence, to give her vote to some one who will make the
+company forget our common fault.�
+
+�Since you include me in your transgression,� said Nomerfide, �I will
+choose one who will atone for our failings, that is Dagoucin. He is so
+discreet that to save his life he would not say a foolish thing.�
+
+[Illustration: 100.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 101a.jpg The Gentleman killing the Duke]
+
+[The Gentleman killing the Duke]
+
+[Illustration: 101.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XII_.
+
+     _The Duke of Florence, having continually failed to make
+     known to a certain lady the love he bore her, confided in
+     her brother, and begged his assistance that he might attain
+     his ends. This, after many remonstrances, the brother agreed
+     to give, but it was a lip-promise only, for at the moment
+     when the Duke was expecting to vanquish her whom he had
+     deemed invincible, the gentleman slew him in his bed, in
+     this fashion freeing his country from a tyrant, and saving
+     both his own life and the honour of his house_. (1)
+
+     1  The basis of this story is historical. The event here
+     described--one of the most famous in the annals of
+     Florence--furnished Alfred de Musset with the subject of his
+     play _Lorenzaccio_, and served as the foundation of _The
+     Traitor_, considered to be Shirley�s highest achievement as
+     a dramatic poet. As Queen Margaret�s narrative contains
+     various errors of fact, Sismondi�s account of the affair, as
+     borrowed by him from the best Italian historians, is given
+     in the Appendix, C--Eu.
+
+Ten years ago there reigned in the city of Florence a Duke of the house
+of Medici who had married the Emperor�s natural daughter, Margaret.
+(2) She was still so young that the marriage could not be lawfully
+consummated, and, waiting till she should be of a riper age, the Duke
+treated her with great gentleness, and to spare her, made love to
+various ladies of the city, whom he was wont to visit at night, whilst
+his wife was sleeping.
+
+     2  The Duke here referred to was Alexander de� Medici, first
+     Duke of Florence, in which city he was born in 1510. His
+     mother, a slave named Anna, was the wife of a Florentine
+     coachman, but Lorenzo II. de� Medici, one of this woman�s
+     lovers, acknowledged him as his offspring, though, according
+     to some accounts, his real father was one of the popes,
+     Clement VII. or Julius II. After the Emperor Charles V. had
+     made himself master of Florence in 1530, he confided the
+     governorship of the city to Alexander, upon whom he bestowed
+     the title of Duke. Two years later Alexander threw off the
+     imperial control, and soon afterwards embarked on a career
+     of debauchery and crime. In 1536, Charles V., being desirous
+     of obtaining the support of Florence against France, treated
+     with Alexander, and gave him the hand of his illegitimate
+     daughter, Margaret. The latter--whose mother was Margaret
+     van Gheenst, a Flemish damsel of noble birth--was at that
+     time barely fourteen, having been born at Brussels in 1522.
+     The Queen of Navarre�s statements concerning the
+     youthfulness of the Duchess are thus corroborated by fact.
+     After the death of Alexander de� Medici, his widow was
+     married to Octavius Farnese, Duke of Parma, who was then
+     only twelve years old, but by whom she eventually became the
+     mother of the celebrated Alexander Farnese. Margaret of
+     Austria occupies a prominent place in the history of the
+     Netherlands, which she governed during a lengthy period for
+     her brother Philip II. She died in retirement at Ortonna in
+     Italy in 1586.--L. and Ed.
+
+Among these there was one very beautiful, discreet, and honourable lady,
+sister to a gentleman whom the Duke loved even as himself, and to whom
+he gave such authority in his household that his orders were feared and
+obeyed equally with the Duke�s own. And moreover the Duke had no secrets
+that he did not share with this gentleman, so that the latter might have
+been called his second-self. (3)
+
+     3  The gentleman here mentioned was the Duke�s cousin,
+     Lorenzo di Pier-Francesco de� Medici, commonly called
+     Lorenzino on account of his short stature. He was born at
+     Florence in 1514, and, being the eldest member of the junior
+     branch of the Medici family, it had been decided by the
+     Emperor Charles V. that he should succeed to the Dukedom of
+     Florence, if Alexander died without issue. Lorenzino
+     cultivated letters, and is said to have possessed
+     considerable wit, but, on the other hand, instead of being a
+     high-minded man, as Queen Margaret pictures him, he was a
+     thorough profligate, and willingly lent a hand in
+     Alexander�s scandalous amours. The heroine of this story is
+     erroneously described as Lorenzino�s sister; in point of
+     fact she was his aunt, Catherine Ginori. See Appendix, C.--
+     Ed.
+
+Finding the gentleman�s sister to be a lady of such exemplary virtue
+that he was unable to declare his passion to her, though he sought
+all possible opportunities for doing so, the Duke at last came to his
+favourite and said to him--
+
+�If there were anything in this world, my friend, that I might be
+unwilling to do for you, I should hesitate to tell you what is in my
+mind, and still more to beg your assistance. But such is the affection
+I bear you that had I wife, mother, or daughter who could avail to
+save your life, I would sacrifice them rather than allow you to die in
+torment. I believe that your love for me is the counterpart of mine for
+you, and that if I, who am your master, bear you so much affection,
+you, on your part, can have no less for me. I will therefore tell you a
+secret, the keeping of which has brought me to the condition you see. I
+have no hope of any improvement except it be through death or else the
+service which you are in a position to render me.�
+
+On hearing these words from the Duke, and seeing his face unfeignedly
+bathed in tears, the gentleman felt such great pity for him that he
+said--
+
+�Sir, I am your creature: all the wealth and honour that I am possessed
+of in this world come from you. You may speak to me as to your own
+soul, in the certainty that all that it be in my power to do is at your
+command.�
+
+Thereupon the Duke began to tell him of the love he bore his sister,
+a love so deep and strong that he feared he could not live much longer
+unless, by the gentleman�s help, he succeeded in satisfying his desire.
+He was well aware that neither prayers nor presents would be of any
+avail with the lady, wherefore he begged the gentleman--if he cared for
+his master�s life as much as he, his master, cared for his--to devise
+some means of procuring him the good fortune which, without such
+assistance, he could never hope to obtain.
+
+The brother, who loved his sister and the honour of his house far
+more than the Duke�s pleasure, endeavoured to remonstrate with him,
+entreating that he might be employed for any other purpose save the
+cruel task of soliciting the dishonour of his own kin, and declaring
+that the rendering of such a service was contrary alike to his
+inclinations and his honour.
+
+Inflamed with excessive wrath, the Duke raised his hand to his mouth and
+bit his nails.
+
+�Well,� said he in a fury, �since I find that you have no friendship for
+me, I know what I have to do.�
+
+The gentleman, who was acquainted with his master�s cruelty, felt
+afraid, and answered--
+
+�My lord, since such is your pleasure, I will speak to her, and tell you
+her reply.�
+
+�If you show concern for my life, I shall show it for yours,� replied
+the Duke, and thereupon he went away.
+
+The gentleman well understood the meaning of these words, and spent a
+day or two without seeing the Duke, considering what he should do. On
+the one hand he was confronted by the duty he owed his master, and the
+wealth and honours he had received from him; on the other by the honour
+of his house, and the fair fame and chastity of his sister. He well
+knew that she would never submit to such infamy unless through his own
+treachery she were overcome by violence, so unnatural a deed that if it
+were committed he and his kindred would be disgraced for ever. In this
+dilemma he decided that he would sooner die than so ill use his sister,
+who was one of the noblest women in all Italy, and ought rather to
+deliver his country of this tyrant who, abusing his power, sought to
+cast such a slur upon his family; for he felt sure that if the Duke
+were suffered to live, neither his own life nor the lives of his kindred
+would be safe. So without speaking of the matter to his sister or to any
+living creature, he determined to save his life and vindicate his honour
+at one and the same time. Accordingly, when a couple of days had gone
+by, he went to the Duke and told him that with infinite difficulty he
+had so wrought upon his sister that she had at last consented to do his
+will, provided that the matter were kept secret, and none but he, her
+brother, knew of it.
+
+The Duke, who was longing for these tidings, readily believed them, and
+embracing the ambassador, promised him anything that he might ask. He
+begged him to put his scheme quickly into execution, and they agreed
+together upon the time when this should be done. The Duke was in great
+joy, as may well be imagined; and on the arrival of that wished-for
+night when he hoped to vanquish her whom he had deemed invincible, he
+retired early, accompanied only by the lady�s brother, and failed not to
+attire himself in a perfumed shirt and head-gear. Then, when every one
+was gone to rest, he went with the gentleman to the lady�s abode, where
+he was conducted into a well-appointed apartment.
+
+Having undressed him and put him to bed, the gentleman said--
+
+�My lord, I will now go and fetch you one who will assuredly not enter
+this room without blushing; but I hope that before morning she will have
+lost all fear of you.�
+
+Leaving the Duke, he then went to his own room, where he found one of
+his servants, to whom he said--
+
+�Are you brave enough to follow me to a place where I desire to avenge
+myself upon my greatest living enemy?�
+
+The other, who was ignorant of his master�s purpose, replied--
+
+�Yes, sir, though it were the Duke himself.�
+
+Thereupon the gentleman led him away in such haste as to leave him no
+time to take any weapon except a poignard that he was wearing.
+
+The Duke, on hearing the gentleman coming back again, thought that he
+was bringing the loved one with him, and, opening his eyes, drew back
+the curtains in order to see and welcome the joy for which he had so
+long been waiting. But instead of seeing her who, so he hoped, was to
+preserve his life, he beheld something intended to take his life away,
+that is, a naked sword which the gentleman had drawn, and with which he
+smote the Duke. The latter was wearing nothing but his shirt, and lacked
+weapons, though not courage, for sitting up in the bed he seized the
+gentleman round the body, saying--
+
+�Is this the way you keep your promise?�
+
+Then, armed as he was only with his teeth and nails, he bit the
+gentleman�s thumb, and wrestled with him so stoutly that they both fell
+down beside the bed.
+
+The gentleman, not feeling altogether confident, called to his servant,
+who, finding the Duke and his master so closely twined together that
+he could not tell the one from the other, dragged them both by the feet
+into the middle of the room, and then tried to cut the Duke�s throat
+with his poignard. The Duke defended himself until he was so exhausted
+through loss of blood that he could do no more, whereupon the gentleman
+and his servant lifted him upon the bed and finished him with their
+daggers. They then drew the curtain and went away, leaving the dead body
+shut up in the room.
+
+Having vanquished his great enemy, by whose death he hoped to free
+his country, the gentleman reflected that his work would be incomplete
+unless he treated five or six of the Duke�s kindred in the same fashion.
+The servant, however, who was neither a dare-devil nor a fool, said to
+him--
+
+�I think, sir, that you have done enough for the present, and that it
+would be better to think of saving your own life than of taking the
+lives of others, for should we be as long in making away with each of
+them as we were in the case of the Duke, daylight would overtake our
+enterprise before we could complete it, even should we find our enemies
+unarmed.�
+
+Cowed by his guilty conscience, the gentleman followed the advice of his
+servant, and taking him alone with him, repaired to a Bishop (4) whose
+office it was to have the city gates opened, and to give orders to the
+guard-posts.
+
+     4  Probably Cardinal Cybo, Alexander�s chief minister, who
+     according to Sismondi, was the first to discover the
+     murder.--Ed.
+
+�I have,� said the gentleman to the Bishop, �this evening received
+tidings that one of my brothers is at the point of death. I have just
+asked leave of the Duke to go to him, and he has granted it me; and
+I beg you to send orders that the guards may furnish me with two good
+horses, and that the gatekeeper may let me through.�
+
+The Bishop, who regarded the gentleman�s request in the same light as an
+order from his master the Duke, forthwith gave him a note, by means of
+which the gate was opened for him, and horses supplied to him as he had
+requested; but instead of going to see his brother he betook himself
+straight to Venice, where he had himself cured of the bites that he had
+received from the Duke, and then passed over into Turkey. (5)
+
+     5  On leaving Florence, Lorenzo repaired first to Bologna
+     and then to Venice, where he informed Philip Strozzi of how
+     he had rid his country of the tyrant. After embracing him in
+     a transport, and calling him the Tuscan Brutus, Strozzi
+     asked the murderer�s sisters, Laudamina and Magdalen de�
+     Medici, in marriage for his own sons, Peter and Robert. From
+     Venice Lorenzino issued a _m�moire justificatif_, full of
+     quibbles and paradoxes, in which he tried to explain his
+     lack of energy after the murder by the indifference shown by
+     the Florentines. He took no part in the various enterprises
+     directed against Cosmo de� Medici, who had succeeded
+     Alexander at Florence. Indeed his chief concern was for his
+     own safety, which was threatened alike by Cosmo and the
+     Emperor Charles V., and to escape their emissaries he
+     proceeded to Turkey, and thence to France, ultimately
+     returning to Venice, where, despite all his precautions
+     against danger, he was assassinated in 1547, together with
+     his uncle, Soderini, by some spadassins in the pay of Cosmo
+     I.--Ed.
+
+In the morning, finding that their master delayed his return so long,
+all the Duke�s servants suspected, rightly enough, that he had gone to
+see some lady; but at last, as he still failed to return, they began
+seeking him on all sides. The poor Duchess, who was beginning to love
+him dearly, was sorely distressed on learning that he could not be
+found; and as the gentleman to whom he bore so much affection was
+likewise nowhere to be seen, some went to his house in quest of him.
+They found blood on the threshold of the gentleman�s room, which they
+entered, but he was not there, nor could any servant or other person
+give any tidings of him. Following the blood-stains, however, the Duke�s
+servants came at last to the room in which their master lay. The door
+of it was locked, but this they soon broke open, and on seeing the floor
+covered with blood they drew back the bed-curtain, and found the unhappy
+Duke�s body lying in the bed, sleeping the sleep from which one cannot
+awaken.
+
+You may imagine the mourning of these poor servants as they carried
+the body to the palace, whither came the Bishop, who told them how the
+gentleman had departed with all speed during the night under pretence of
+going to see his brother. And by this it was clearly shown that it was
+he who had committed the murder. And it was further proved that his poor
+sister had known nothing whatever of the matter. For her part, albeit
+she was astounded by what had happened, she could but love her brother
+the more, seeing that he had not shrunk from risking his life in order
+to save her from so cruel a tyrant. And so honourable and virtuous was
+the life that she continued leading, that although she was reduced to
+poverty by the confiscation of the family property, both she and her
+sister found as honourable and wealthy husbands as there were in all
+Italy, and lived ever afterwards in high and good repute.
+
+�This, ladies, is a story that should make you dread that little god who
+delights in tormenting Prince and peasant, strong and weak, and so far
+blinds them that they lose all thought of God and conscience, and even
+of their own lives. And greatly should Princes and those in authority
+fear to offend such as are less than they; for there is no man but can
+wreak injury when it pleases God to take vengeance on a sinner, nor any
+man so great that he can do hurt to one who is in God�s care.�
+
+This tale was commended by all in the company, (6) but it gave rise
+to different opinions among them, for whilst some maintained that the
+gentleman had done his duty in saving his own life and his sister�s
+honour, as well as in ridding his country of such a tyrant, others
+denied this, and said it was rank ingratitude to slay one who had
+bestowed on him such wealth and station. The ladies declared that the
+gentleman was a good brother and a worthy citizen; the men, on the
+contrary, that he was a treacherous and wicked servant.
+
+     6  In MS. No. 1520 (Bib. Nat.) this sentence begins: �The
+     tale was attentively listened to by all,� &c.--L.
+
+And pleasant was it to hear the reasons which were brought forward on
+both sides; but the ladies, as is their wont, spoke as much from passion
+as from judgment, saying that the Duke was so well worthy of death that
+he who struck him down was a happy man indeed.
+
+Then Dagoucin, seeing what a controversy he had set on foot, said to
+them--
+
+�In God�s name, ladies, do not quarrel about a thing that is past and
+gone. Take care rather that your own charms do not occasion more cruel
+murders than the one which I have related.�
+
+��La belle Dame sans Mercy,�� (7) replied Parlamente, �has taught us to
+say that but few die of so pleasing an ailment.�
+
+     7  _La belle Dame sans Merci_ (The Pitiless Beauty) is one
+     of Alain Chartier�s best known poems. It is written in the
+     form of a dialogue between a lady and her lover: the former
+     having obstinately refused to take compassion on the
+     sufferings of her admirer, the latter is said to have died
+     of despair. The lines alluded to by Margaret are spoken by
+     the lady, and are to the following effect--�So graceful a
+     malady seldom puts men to death; yet the sooner to obtain
+     comfort, it is fitting one should say that it did. Some
+     complain and worry greatly who have not really felt the most
+     bitter affliction; and if indeed Love doth cause such great
+     torment, surely it were better there should be but one
+     sufferer rather than two.� The poem, as here quoted, will be
+     found in Andr� Duchesne�s edition of the _OEuvres de Maistre
+     Alain Chartier_, Paris, 1617, p. 502.--L.
+
+�Would to God, madam,� answered Dagoucin, �that all the ladies in this
+company knew how false that saying is. I think they would then scarcely
+wish to be called pitiless, or to imitate that unbelieving beauty who
+suffered a worthy lover to die for lack of a gracious answer to his
+suit.�
+
+�So,� said Parlamente, �you would have us risk honour and conscience to
+save the life of a man who says he loves us.�
+
+�That is not my meaning,� replied Dagoucin, �for he who loves with a
+perfect love would be even more afraid of hurting his lady�s honour than
+would she herself. I therefore think that an honourable and graceful
+response, such as is called for by perfect and seemly love, must tend to
+the increase of honour and the satisfaction of conscience, for no true
+lover could seek the contrary.�
+
+�That is always the end of your speeches,� said Ennasuite; �they begin
+with honour and end with the contrary. However, if all the gentlemen
+present will tell the truth of the matter, I am ready to believe them on
+their oaths.�
+
+Hircan swore that for his own part he had never loved any woman but
+his own wife, and even with her had no desire to be guilty of any gross
+offence against God.
+
+Simontault declared the same, and added that he had often wished all
+women were froward excepting his own wife.
+
+�Truly,� said Geburon to him, �you deserve that your wife should be what
+you would have the others. For my own part, I can swear to you that I
+once loved a woman so dearly that I would rather have died than have led
+her to do anything that might have diminished my esteem for her. My love
+for her was so founded upon her virtues, that for no advantage that I
+might have had of her would I have seen them blemished.�
+
+At this Saffredent burst out laughing.
+
+�Geburon,� he said, �I thought that your wife�s affection and your own
+good sense would have guarded you from the danger of falling in love
+elsewhere, but I see that I was mistaken, for you still use the very
+phrases with which we are wont to beguile the most subtle of women, and
+to obtain a hearing from the most discreet. For who would close her ears
+against us when we begin our discourse by talking of honour and virtue?
+(8) But if we were to show them our hearts just as they are, there is
+many a man now welcome among the ladies whom they would reckon of but
+little account. But we hide the devil in our natures under the most
+angelic form we can devise, and in this disguise receive many favours
+before we are found out. And perhaps we lead the ladies� hearts so far
+forward, that when they come upon vice while believing themselves on the
+high road to virtue, they have neither opportunity nor ability to draw
+back again.�
+
+     8  This sentence is borrowed from MS. No. 1520 (Bib. Nat.)--
+     L.
+
+�Truly,� said Geburon, �I thought you a different man than your words
+would show you to be, and fancied that virtue was more pleasing to you
+than pleasure.�
+
+�What!� said Saffredent. �Is there any virtue greater than that of
+loving in the way that God commands? It seems to me that it is much
+better to love one woman as a woman than to adore a number of women as
+though they were so many idols. For my part, I am firmly of opinion that
+use is better than abuse.�
+
+The ladies, however, all sided with Geburon, and would not allow
+Saffredent to continue, whereupon he said--
+
+�I am well content to say no more on this subject of love, for I have
+been so badly treated with regard to it that I will never return to it
+again.�
+
+�It is your own maliciousness,� said Longarine, �that has occasioned
+your bad treatment; for what virtuous woman would have you for a lover
+after what you have told us?�
+
+�Those who did not consider me unwelcome,� answered Saffredent, �would
+not care to exchange their virtue for yours. But let us say no more
+about it, that my anger may offend neither myself nor others. Let us see
+to whom Dagoucin will give his vote.�
+
+�I give it to Parlamente,� said Dagoucin, �for I believe that she must
+know better than any one else the nature of honourable and perfect
+love.�
+
+�Since I have been chosen to tell the third tale,� said Parlamente, �I
+will tell you something that happened to a lady who has always been one
+of my best friends, and whose thoughts have never been hidden from me.�
+
+[Illustration: 117.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 119a.jpg The Sea-captain talking to the Lady]
+
+[The Sea-captain talking to the Lady]
+
+[Illustration: 119.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XIII_.
+
+_A sea-captain, being greatly in love with a lady, sent her a diamond;
+but she despatched it to his wife, whom he had long neglected, and in
+this wise so atoned for his conduct that his wife was reconciled to him
+in perfect affection_. (1)
+
+     1   M. Le Roux de Lincy believes that this story has some
+     historical basis, and, Louise of Savoy being termed the
+     Regent, he assigns the earlier incidents to the year 1524.
+     But Louise was Regent, for the first time, in 1515, and we
+     incline to the belief that Queen Margaret alludes to this
+     earlier period. Note the reference to a Court journey to
+     Normandy (post, p. 136), which was probably the journey that
+     Francis I. and his mother are known to have made to Rouen
+     and Alen�on in the autumn of 1517. See vol. i. p. xxviii.--
+     Ed. 2  119
+
+In the household of the Lady-Regent, mother of King Francis, there was
+a very pious lady married to a gentleman of like mind with herself, and,
+albeit her husband was old and she was young and pretty, she served and
+loved him as though he had been the handsomest and youngest man in the
+world. So that she might give him no cause for sorrow, she set herself
+to live as though she were of the same age as himself, eschewing all
+such company, dress, dances, and amusements as young women are wont to
+love, and finding all her pleasure and recreation in the service of God;
+on which account her husband so loved and trusted her, that she ruled
+him and his household as she would.
+
+One day it happened that the gentleman told his wife that from his youth
+up he had desired to make a journey to Jerusalem, and asked her what she
+thought of it. She, whose only wish was to please him, replied--
+
+�Since God has withheld children from us, sweetheart, and has granted
+us sufficient wealth, I would willingly use some portion of it in making
+this sacred journey with you, for indeed, whether you go thither or
+elsewhere, I am resolved never to leave you.�
+
+At this the good man was so pleased, that it seemed to him as though he
+were already on Mount Calvary.
+
+While they were deliberating on this matter, there came to the Court
+a gentleman, the Captain of a galley, who had often served in the wars
+against the Turks, (2) and was now soliciting the King of France to
+undertake an expedition against one of their cities, which might yield
+great advantage to Christendom. The old gentleman inquired of him
+concerning this expedition, and after hearing what he intended to do,
+asked him whether, on the completion of this business, he would make
+another journey to Jerusalem, whither he himself and his wife had a
+great desire to go. The Captain was well pleased on hearing of this
+laudable desire, and he promised to conduct them thither, and to keep
+the matter secret.
+
+     2   M. Paul Lacroix, who believes that the heroine of this
+     tale is Margaret herself (she is described as telling it
+     under the name of Parlamente), is also of opinion that the
+     gentleman referred to is the Baron de Malleville, a knight
+     of Malta, who was killed at Beyrout during an expedition
+     against the Turks, and whose death was recounted in verse by
+     Clement Marot (_OEuvres_, 1731, vol. ii. p. 452-455).
+     Margaret�s gentleman, however, is represented as being
+     married, whereas M. de Malleville, as a knight of Malta, was
+     necessarily a bachelor. Marot, moreover, calls Malleville a
+     Parisian, whereas the gentleman in the tale belonged to
+     Normandy (see _post_, p. 136).--B. J. and L.
+
+The old gentleman was all impatience to find his wife and tell her of
+what he had done. She was as anxious to make the journey as her husband,
+and on that account often spoke about it to the Captain, who, paying
+more attention to her person than her words, fell so deeply in love
+with her, that when speaking to her of the voyages he had made, he often
+confused the port of Marseilles with the Archipelago, and said �horse�
+ when he meant to say �ship,� like one distracted and bereft of sense.
+Her character, however, was such that he durst not give any token of
+the truth, and concealment kindled such fires in his heart that he often
+fell sick, when the lady showed as much solicitude for him as for the
+cross and guide of her road, (3) sending to inquire after him so often
+that the anxiety she showed cured him without the aid of any other
+medicine.
+
+     3  This may simply be an allusion to wayside crosses which
+     serve to guide travellers on their road. M. de Montaiglon
+     points out, however, that in the alphabets used for teaching
+     children in the olden time, the letter A was always preceded
+     by a cross, and that the child, in reciting, invariably
+     began: �The cross of God, A, B, C, D,� &c. In a like way, a
+     cross figured at the beginning of the guide-books of the
+     time, as a symbol inviting the traveller to pray, and
+     reminding him upon whom he should rely amid the perils of
+     his journey. The best known French guide-book of the
+     sixteenth century is Charles Estienne�s _Guide des Chemins
+     de France_.--M. and Ed.
+
+Several persons who knew that this Captain had been more renowned for
+valour and jollity than for piety, were amazed that he should have
+become so intimate with this lady, and seeing that he had changed in
+every respect, and frequented churches, sermons, and confessions, they
+suspected that this was only in order to win the lady�s favour, and
+could not refrain from hinting as much to him.
+
+The Captain feared that if the lady should hear any such talk he would
+be banished from her presence, and accordingly he told her husband and
+herself that he was on the point of being despatched on his journey by
+the King, and had much to tell them, but that for the sake of greater
+secrecy he did not desire to speak to them in the presence of others,
+for which reason he begged them to send for him when they had both
+retired for the night. The gentleman deemed this to be good advice, and
+did not fail to go to bed early every evening, and to make his wife also
+undress. When all their servants had left them, they used to send for
+the Captain, and talk with him about the journey to Jerusalem, in the
+midst of which the old gentleman would oft-times fall asleep with his
+mind full of pious thoughts. When the Captain saw the old gentleman
+asleep in bed, and found himself on a chair near her whom he deemed the
+fairest and noblest woman in the world, his heart was so rent between
+his desires and his dread of speaking that he often lost the power
+of speech. In order that she might not perceive this, he would force
+himself to talk of the holy places of Jerusalem where there were such
+signs of the great love that Jesus Christ bore us; and he would speak of
+this love, using it as a cloak for his own, and looking at the lady
+with sighs and tears which she never understood. By reason of his devout
+countenance she indeed believed him to be a very holy man, and begged of
+him to tell her what his life had been, and how he had come to love God
+in that way.
+
+He told her that he was a poor gentleman, who, to arrive at riches and
+honour, had disregarded his conscience in marrying a woman who was too
+close akin to him, and this on account of the wealth she possessed,
+albeit she was ugly and old, and he loved her not; and when he had drawn
+all her money from her, he had gone to seek his fortune at sea, and had
+so prospered by his toil, that he had now come to an honourable estate.
+But since he had made his hearer�s acquaintance, she, by reason of her
+pious converse and good example, had changed all his manner of life, and
+should he return from his present enterprise he was wholly resolved to
+take her husband and herself to Jerusalem, that he might thereby partly
+atone for his grievous sins which he had now put from him; save that he
+had not yet made reparation to his wife, with whom, however, he hoped
+that he might soon be reconciled.
+
+The lady was well pleased with this discourse, and especially rejoiced
+at having drawn such a man to the love and fear of God. And thus, until
+the Captain departed from the Court, their long conversations together
+were continued every evening without his ever venturing to declare
+himself. However, he made the lady a present of a crucifix of Our Lady
+of Pity, (4) beseeching her to think of him whenever she looked upon it.
+
+     4   �Our Lady of Pity� is the designation usually applied to
+     the Virgin when she is shown seated with the corpse of
+     Christ on her knees. Michael Angelo�s famous group at St.
+     Peter�s is commonly known by this name. In the present
+     instance, however, Queen Margaret undoubtedly refers to a
+     crucifix showing the Virgin at the foot of the Cross,
+     contemplating her son�s sufferings. Such crucifixes were
+     formerly not uncommon.--M.
+
+The hour of his departure arrived, and when he had taken leave of the
+husband, who was falling asleep, and came to bid his lady farewell, he
+beheld tears standing in her eyes by reason of the honourable affection
+which she entertained for him. The sight of these rendered his passion
+for her so unendurable that, not daring to say anything concerning it,
+he almost fainted, and broke out into an exceeding sweat, so that he
+seemed to weep not only with his eyes, but with his entire body.
+And thus he departed without speaking, leaving the lady in great
+astonishment, for she had never before seen such tokens of regret.
+Nevertheless she did not change in her good opinion of him, and followed
+him with her prayers.
+
+After a month had gone by, however, as the lady was returning to her
+house, she met a gentleman who handed her a letter from the Captain, and
+begged her to read it in private.
+
+He told her how he had seen the Captain embark, fully resolved to
+accomplish whatever might be pleasing to the King and of advantage to
+Christianity. For his own part, the gentleman added, he was straightway
+going back to Marseilles to set the Captain�s affairs in order.
+
+The lady withdrew to a window by herself, and opening the letter,
+found it to consist of two sheets of paper, covered on either side with
+writing which formed the following epistle:--
+
+     �Concealment long and silence have, alas!
+     Brought me all comfortless to such a pass,
+     That now, perforce, I must, to ease my grief,
+     Either speak out, or seek in death relief.
+     Wherefore the tale I long have left untold
+     I now, in lonely friendlessness grown bold,
+     Send unto thee, for I must strive to say
+     My love, or else prepare myself to slay.
+     And though my eyes no longer may behold
+     The sweet, who in her hand my life doth hold,
+     Whose glance sufficed to make my heart rejoice,
+     The while my ear did listen to her voice,--
+     These words at least shall meet her beauteous eyes,
+     And tell her all the plaintive, clamorous cries
+     Pent in my heart, to which I must give breath,
+     Since longer silence could but bring me death.
+     And yet, at first, I was in truth full fain
+     To blot the words I�d written out again,
+     Fearing, forsooth, I might offend thine ear
+     With foolish phrases which, when thou wast near,
+     I dared not utter; and �Indeed,� said I,
+     �Far better pine in silence, aye, and die,
+     Than save myself by bringing her annoy
+     For whose sweet sake grim death itself were joy.�
+     And yet, thought I, my death some pain might give
+     To her for whom I would be strong, and live:
+     For have I not, fair lady, promised plain,
+     My journey ended, to return again
+     And guide thee and thy spouse to where he now
+     Doth yearn to call on God from Sion�s brow?
+     And none would lead thee thither should I die.
+     If I were dead, methinks I see thee sigh
+     In sore distress, for then thou couldst not start
+     Upon that journey, dear unto thy heart.
+     So I will live, and, in a little space,
+     Return to lead thee to the sacred place.
+     Aye, I will live, though death a boon would be
+     Only to be refused for sake of thee.
+     But if I live, I needs must straight remove
+     The burden from my heart, and speak my love,
+     That love more loyal, tender, deep, and true,
+     Than, ever yet, the fondest lover knew.
+     And now, bold words about to wing your flight,
+     What will ye say when ye have reached her sight?
+     Declare her all the love that fills my heart?
+     Too weak ye are to tell its thousandth part!
+     Can ye at least not say that her clear eyes
+     Have torn my hapless heart forth in such wise,
+     That like a hollow tree I pine and wither
+     Unless hers give me back some life and vigour?
+     Ye feeble words! ye cannot even tell
+     How easily her eyes a heart compel;
+     Nor can ye praise her speech in language fit,
+     So weak and dull ye are, so void of wit.
+     Yet there are some things I would have you name--
+     How mute and foolish I oft time became
+     When all her grace and virtue I beheld;
+     How from my �raptured eyes tears slowly welled
+     The tears of hopeless love; how my tongue strayed
+     From fond and wooing speech, so sore afraid,
+     That all my discourse was of time and tide,
+     And of the stars which up in Heav�n abide.
+     O words, alas! ye lack the skill to tell
+     The dire confusion that upon me fell,
+     Whilst love thus wracked me; nor can ye disclose
+     My love�s immensity, its pains and woes.
+     Yet, though, for all, your powers be too weak,
+     Perchance, some little, ye are fit to speak--
+     Say to her thus: �Twas fear lest thou shouldst chide
+     That drove me, e�en so long, my love to hide,
+     And yet, forsooth, it might have openly
+     Been told to God in Heaven, as unto thee,
+     Based as it is upon thy virtue--thought
+     That to my torments frequent balm hath brought,
+     For who, indeed, could ever deem it sin
+     To seek the owner of all worth to win?
+     Deserving rather of our blame were he
+     Who having seen thee undisturbed could be.�
+     None such was I, for, straightway stricken sore,
+     My heart bowed low to Love, the conqueror.
+     And ah! no false and fleeting love is mine,
+     Such as for painted beauty feigns to pine;
+     Nor doth my passion, although deep and strong,
+     Seek its own wicked pleasure in thy wrong.
+     Nay; on this journey I would rather die
+     Than know that thou hadst fallen, and that I
+     Had wrought thy shame and foully brought to harm
+     The virtue which thy heart wraps round thy form.
+     �Tis thy perfection that I love in thee,
+     Nought that might lessen it could ever be
+     Desire of mine--indeed, the nobler thou,
+     The greater were the love I to thee vow.
+     I do not seek an ardent flame to quench
+     In lustful dalliance with some merry wench,
+     Pure is my heart, �neath reason�s calm control
+     Set on a lady of such lofty soul,
+     That neither God above nor angel bright,
+     But seeing her, would echo my delight.
+     And if of thee I may not be beloved,
+     What matter, shouldst thou deem that I have proved
+     The truest lover that did ever live?
+     And this I know thou wilt, one day, believe,
+     For time, in rolling by, shall show to thee
+     No change in my heart�s faith and loyalty.
+     And though for this thou mayst make no return,
+     Yet pleased am I with love for thee to burn,
+     And seek no recompense, pursue no end,
+     Save, that to thee, I meekly recommend
+     My soul and body, which I here consign
+     In sacrifice to Love�s consuming shrine.
+     If then in safety I sail back the main
+     To thee, still artless, I�ll return again;
+     And if I die, then there will die with me
+     A lover such as none again shall see.
+     So Ocean now doth carry far away
+     The truest lover seen for many a day;
+     His body �tis that journeys o�er the wave,
+     But not his heart, for that is now thy slave,
+     And from thy side can never wrested be,
+     Nor of its own accord return to me.
+     Ah! could I with me o�er the treach�rous brine
+     Take aught of that pure, guileless heart of thine,
+     No doubt should I then feel of victory,
+     Whereof the glory would belong to thee.
+     But now, whatever fortune may befall,
+     I�ve cast the die; and having told thee all,
+     Abide thereby, and vow my constancy--
+     Emblem of which, herein, a diamond see,
+     By whose great firmness and whose pure glow
+     The strength and pureness of my love thou�lt know.
+     Let it, I pray, thy fair white finger press,
+     And thou wilt deal me more than happiness.
+     And, diamond, speak and say: �To thee I come
+     From thy fond lover, who afar doth roam,
+     And strives by dint of glorious deeds to rise
+     To the high level of the good and wise,
+     Hoping some day that haven to attain,
+     Where thy sweet favours shall reward his pain.�
+
+The lady read the letter through, and was the more astonished at the
+Captain�s passion as she had never before suspected it. She looked at
+the cutting of the diamond, which was a large and beautiful one, set in
+a ring of black enamel, and she was in great doubt as to what she ought
+to do with it. After pondering upon the matter throughout the night, she
+was glad to find that since there was no messenger, she had no occasion
+to send any answer to the Captain, who, she reflected, was being
+sufficiently tried by those matters of the King, his master, which he
+had in hand, without being angered by the unfavourable reply which she
+was resolved to make to him, though she delayed it until his return.
+However, she found herself greatly perplexed with regard to the diamond,
+for she had never been wont to adorn herself at the expense of any but
+her husband. For this reason, being a woman of excellent understanding,
+she determined to draw from the ring some profit to the Captain�s
+conscience. She therefore despatched one of her servants to the
+Captain�s wife with the following letter, which was written as though it
+came from a nun of Tarascon:--
+
+�MADAM,--Your husband passed this way but a short time before he
+embarked, and after he had confessed himself and received his Creator
+like a good Christian, he spoke to me of something which he had upon his
+conscience, namely, his sorrow at not having loved you as he should
+have done. And on departing, he prayed and besought me to send you this
+letter, with the diamond which goes with it, and which he begs of you
+to keep for his sake, assuring you that if God bring him back again in
+health and strength, you shall be better treated than ever woman was
+before. And this stone of steadfastness shall be the pledge thereof.
+
+�I beg you to remember him in your prayers; in mine he will have a place
+as long as I live.�
+
+This letter, being finished and signed with the name of a nun, was sent
+by the lady to the Captain�s wife. And as may be readily believed, when
+the excellent old woman saw the letter and the ring, she wept for joy
+and sorrow at being loved and esteemed by her good husband when she
+could no longer see him. She kissed the ring a thousand times and more,
+watering it with her tears, and blessing God for having restored her
+husband�s affection to her at the end of her days, when she had long
+looked upon it as lost. Nor did she fail to thank the nun who had given
+her so much happiness, but sent her the fairest reply that she could
+devise. This the messenger brought back with all speed to his mistress,
+who could not read it, nor listen to what her servant told her, without
+much laughter. And so pleased was she at having got rid of the diamond
+in so profitable a fashion as to bring about a reconciliation between
+the husband and wife, that she was as happy as though she had gained a
+kingdom.
+
+A short time afterwards tidings came of the defeat and death of the poor
+Captain, and of how he had been abandoned by those who ought to have
+succoured him, and how his enterprise had been revealed by the Rhodians
+who should have kept it secret, so that he and all who landed with him,
+to the number of eighty, had been slain, among them being a gentleman
+named John, and a Turk to whom the lady of my story had stood godmother,
+both of them having been given by her to the Captain that he might take
+them with him on his journey. The first named of these had died beside
+the Captain, whilst the Turk, wounded by arrows in fifteen places, had
+saved himself by swimming to the French ships.
+
+It was through him alone that the truth of the whole affair became
+known. A certain gentleman whom the poor Captain had taken to be his
+friend and comrade, and whose interests he had advanced with the King
+and the highest nobles of France, had, it appeared, stood out to sea
+with his ships as soon as the Captain landed; and the Captain, finding
+that his expedition had been betrayed, and that four thousand Turks were
+at hand, had thereupon endeavoured to retreat, as was his duty. But the
+gentleman in whom he put such great trust perceived that his friend�s
+death would leave the sole command and profit of that great armament to
+himself, and accordingly pointed out to the officers that it would not
+be right to risk the King�s vessels or the lives of the many brave men
+on board them in order to save less than a hundred persons, an opinion
+which was shared by all those of the officers that possessed but little
+courage.
+
+So the Captain, finding that the more he called to the ships the farther
+they drew away from his assistance, faced round at last upon the Turks;
+and, albeit he was up to his knees in sand, he did such deeds of arms
+and valour that it seemed as though he alone would defeat all his
+enemies, an issue which his traitorous comrade feared far more than he
+desired it.
+
+But at last, in spite of all that he could do, the Captain received
+so many wounds from the arrows of those who durst not approach within
+bowshot, that he began to lose all his blood, whereupon the Turks,
+perceiving the weakness of these true Christians, charged upon them
+furiously with their scimitars; but the Christians, so long as God gave
+them strength and life, defended themselves to the bitter end.
+
+Then the Captain called to the gentleman named John, whom his lady love
+had given him, and to the Turk as well, and thrusting the point of his
+sword into the ground, fell upon his knees beside it, and embraced and
+kissed the cross, (5) saying--
+
+�Lord, receive into Thy hands the soul of one who has not spared his
+life to exalt Thy name.�
+
+     5  As is well known, before swords were made with shell and
+     stool hilts, the two guards combined with the handle and
+     blade formed a cross. Bayard, when dying, raised his sword
+     to gaze upon this cross, and numerous instances, similar to
+     that mentioned above by Queen Margaret, may be found in the
+     old _Chansons de Geste_.--M.
+
+The gentleman called John, seeing that his master�s life was ebbing away
+as he uttered these words, thought to aid him, and took him into his
+arms, together with the sword which he was holding. But a Turk who was
+behind them cut through both his thighs, whereupon he cried out, �Come,
+Captain, let us away to Paradise to see Him for whose sake we die,� and
+in this wise he shared the poor Captain�s death even as he had shared
+his life.
+
+The Turk, seeing that he could be of no service to either of them, and
+being himself wounded by arrows in fifteen places, made off towards
+the ships, and requested to be taken on board. But although of all the
+eighty he was the only one who had escaped, the Captain�s traitorous
+comrade refused his prayer. Nevertheless, being an exceeding good
+swimmer, he threw himself into the sea, and exerted himself so well that
+he was at last received on board a small vessel, where in a short time
+he was cured of his wounds. And it was by means of this poor foreigner
+that the truth became fully known, to the honour of the Captain and the
+shame of his comrade, whom the King and all the honourable people who
+heard the tidings deemed guilty of such wickedness toward God and man
+that there was no death howsoever cruel which he did not deserve. But
+when he returned he told so many lies, and gave so many gifts, that not
+only did he escape punishment, but even received the office of the man
+whose unworthy servant he had been.
+
+When the pitiful tidings reached the Court, the Lady-Regent, who held
+the Captain in high esteem, mourned for him exceedingly, as did the King
+and all the honourable people who had known him. And when the lady whom
+he had loved the best heard of his strange, sad, and Christian death,
+she changed the chiding she had resolved to give him into tears and
+lamentations, in which her husband kept her company, all hopes of their
+journey to Jerusalem being now frustrated.
+
+I must not forget to say that on the very day when the two gentlemen
+were killed, a damsel in the lady�s service, who loved the gentleman
+called John better than herself, came and told her mistress that she had
+seen her lover ir a dream; he had appeared to her clad in white, and had
+bidden her farewell, telling her that he was going to Paradise with his
+Captain. And when the damsel heard that her dream had come true, she
+made such lamentation that her mistress had enough to do to comfort her.
+(6)
+
+     6  The Queen of Navarre was a firm believer in the truth and
+     premonitory character of dreams, and according to her
+     biographers she, herself, had several singular ones, two of
+     which are referred to in the Memoir prefixed to the present
+     work (vol. i. pp. lxxxiii. and Ixxxvii.). In some of her
+     letters, moreover, she relates that Francis I., when under
+     the walls of Pavia, on three successive nights beheld his
+     little daughter Charlotte (then dying at Lyons) appear to
+     him in a dream, and on each occasion repeat the words,
+     �Farewell, my King, I am going to Paradise.�--Ed.
+
+A short time afterwards the Court journeyed into Normandy, to which
+province the Captain had belonged. His wife was not remiss in coming to
+pay homage to the Lady-Regent, and in order that she might be presented
+to her, she had recourse to the same lady whom her husband had so dearly
+loved.
+
+And while they were waiting in a church for the appointed hour, she
+began bewailing and praising her husband, saying among other things to
+the lady--
+
+�Alas, madam! my misfortune is the greatest that ever befell a woman,
+for just when he was loving me more than he had ever done, God took him
+from me.�
+
+So saying, and with many tears, she showed the ring which she wore on
+her finger as a token of her husband�s perfect love, whereat the other
+lady, finding that her deception had resulted in such a happy issue,
+was, despite her sorrow for the Captain�s death, so moved to laughter,
+that she would not present the widow to the Regent, but committed her to
+the charge of another lady, and withdrew into a side chapel, where she
+satisfied her inclination to laugh.
+
+�I think, ladies, that those who receive such gifts ought to seek to use
+them to as good a purpose as did this worthy lady. They would find that
+benefactions bring joy to those who bestow them. And we must not charge
+this lady with deceit, but esteem her good sense which turned to good
+that which in itself was worthless.�
+
+�Do you mean to say,� said Nomerfide, �that a fine diamond, costing two
+hundred crowns, is worthless? I can assure you that if it had fallen
+into my hands, neither his wife nor his relations would have seen aught
+of it. Nothing is more wholly one�s own than a gift. The gentleman was
+dead, no one knew anything about the matter, and she might well have
+spared the poor old woman so much sorrow.�
+
+�By my word,� said Hircan, �you are right. There are women who, to
+make themselves appear of better heart than others, do things that are
+clearly contrary to their notions, for we all know that women are
+the most avaricious of beings, yet their vanity often surpasses their
+avarice, and constrains their hearts to actions that they would rather
+not perform. My belief is that the lady who gave the diamond away in
+this fashion was unworthy to wear it.�
+
+�Softly, softly,� said Oisille; �I believe I know who she is, and I
+therefore beg that you will not condemn her unheard.�
+
+�Madam,� said Hircan, �I do not condemn her at all; but if the gentleman
+was as virtuous as you say, it were an honour to have such a lover, and
+to wear his ring; but perhaps some one less worthy of being loved than
+he held her so fast by the finger that the ring could not be put on.�
+
+�Truly,� said Ennasuite, �she might well have kept it, seeing that no
+one knew anything about it.�
+
+�What!� said Geburon; �are all things lawful to those who love, provided
+no one knows anything about them?�
+
+�By my word,� said Saffredent, �the only misdeed that I have ever seen
+punished is foolishness. There is never a murderer, robber, or adulterer
+condemned by the courts or blamed by his fellows, if only he be as
+cunning as he is wicked. Oft-time, however, a bad man�s wickedness so
+blinds him that he becomes a fool; and thus, as I have just said, it is
+the foolish only that are punished, not the vicious.�
+
+�You may say what you please,� said Oisille, �only God can judge the
+lady�s heart; but for my part, I think that her action was a very
+honourable and virtuous one. (7) However, to put an end to the debate, I
+pray you, Parlamente, to give some one your vote.�
+
+     7  In our opinion this sentence disposes of Miss Mary
+     Robinson�s supposition (_The Fortunate Lovers_, London,
+     1887, p. 159) that Oisille (i.e., Louise of Savoy) is the
+     real heroine of this tale. Queen Margaret would hardly have
+     represented her commending her own action. If any one of the
+     narrators of the _Heptameron_ be the heroine of the story,
+     the presumptions are in favour of Longarine (La Dame de
+     Lonray), Margaret�s bosom friend, whose silence during the
+     after-converse is significant.--Ed.
+
+�I give it willingly,� she said, �to Simontault, for after two such
+mournful tales we must have one that will not make us weep.�
+
+�I thank you,� said Simontault. �In giving me your vote you have all but
+told me that I am a jester. It is a name that is extremely distasteful
+to me, and in revenge I will show you that there are women who with
+certain persons, or for a certain time, make a great pretence of being
+chaste, but the end shows them in their real colours, as you will see by
+this true story.�
+
+[Illustration: 140.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 141a.jpg Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan]
+
+[Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan]
+
+[Illustration: 141.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XIV_.
+
+     _The Lord of Bonnivet, desiring to revenge himself upon a
+     Milanese lady for her cruelty, made the acquaintance of an
+     Italian gentleman whom she loved, but to whom she had never
+     granted anything save fair words and assurances of
+     affection. To accomplish his purpose he gave this gentleman
+     such good advice that the lady granted him what he had so
+     long sought, and this the gentleman made known to Bonnivet,
+     who, having cut both hair and beard, and dressed himself in
+     clothes like those of the other, went at midnight and put
+     his vengeance into execution. Then the lady, having learnt
+     from him the plan that he had devised to win her, promised
+     to desist from loving those of her own nation, and to hold
+     fast to him_.
+
+At the time when the Grand-Master of Chaumont was Governor of the Duchy
+of Milan, (1) there lived there a gentleman called the Lord of Bonnivet,
+who by reason of his merits was afterwards made Admiral of France. Being
+greatly liked by the Grand-Master and every one else on account of the
+qualities he possessed, he was a welcome guest at the banquets where
+the ladies of Milan assembled, and was regarded by them with more favour
+than ever fell to a Frenchman�s lot, either before or since; and this
+as much on account of his handsome countenance, grace of manner, and
+pleasant converse, as by reason of the renown which he had gained among
+all as being one of the most skilful and valorous soldiers of his time.
+(2)
+
+     1   M. de Lincy is of opinion that the incidents recorded in
+     this story took place between 1501 and 1503; but according
+     to M. Lacroix, the Grand-Master of Chaumont did not become
+     Governor of the Milanese till 1506. This personage, to whom
+     Queen Margaret frequently alludes in her tales, was Charles
+     d�Amboise, nephew of the famous Cardinal d�Amboise, minister
+     to Louis XII. In turn admiral and marshal, Governor of
+     Paris, and Grand-Master, in France, of the Order of St. John
+     of Jerusalem, he figured prominently in the Italian wars of
+     the time, and notably at the battle of Aignadel. In 1510 he
+     commanded the troops which fought on behalf of the Duke of
+     Ferrara against the Emperor and Pope Julius II., and the
+     latter having excommunicated him for bearing arms against
+     the Holy See, his mind is said to have become unhinged. He
+     died at Correggio in February 1511, when only thirty-eight
+     years of age, some biographers asserting that he was
+     poisoned, whilst others contend that he fell from a bridge
+     during a military expedition. Whilst on his death-bed, he
+     sent messengers to the Pope, begging that the decree of
+     excommunication against him might be annulled, but before
+     the Papal absolution arrived he had expired. The name of
+     Chaumont, by which he is generally known, is that of an
+     estate he possessed, between Blois and Amboise, on the
+     Loire. The reputation he enjoyed of being one of the
+     handsomest men of his time was well deserved, if one may
+     judge by a painting at the Louvre which is said to be his
+     portrait. This picture, long ascribed to Leonardo da Vinci,
+     and supposed to represent Charles VIII. of France, has been
+     identified as the work of Andreas Solario, who executed
+     numerous paintings for Cardinal d�Amboise at the famous
+     ch�teau of Gaillon.--L. M. and Eu.
+
+     2  Some particulars concerning William Gouffier, Lord of
+     Bonnivet, have been given in vol. i. (Tale IV. n. 3). It
+     may here be mentioned that the domain whence he derived the
+     name by which he is generally known was in the neighbourhood
+     of Poitiers, around the village of Vendeuvre, where he built
+     himself a vast ch�teau, destroyed at the close of the
+     eighteenth century. Some fragments of the sculptured work
+     adorning it, remarkable for their elegance of design and
+     delicacy of workmanship, are in the Poitiers Museum. It is
+     not unlikely that the incidents related in Tale IV. occurred
+     at this ch�teau; or else at that of Oiron, another domain of
+     the Gouffiers, between Loudun and Bressuire. In the chapel
+     of Oiron were buried Bonnivet, his mother, his brother
+     Artus, and his nephew Claud. Their tombs, large marble
+     mausoleums of Italian workmanship, surmounted by recumbent
+     statues, were opened and mutilated by the Huguenots in 1568,
+     when the bones they contained were scattered to the winds.
+     Bon-nivet�s statue is probably the most damaged of the four.
+     The ch�teau of Oiron, with its marble staircases, quaint
+     frescoes, sculptured medallions, &c, testifies to the great
+     wealth possessed by the Gouffier family, and justifies the
+     cynical motto assumed by Bonnivet�s nephew: �Others have
+     beaten the bushes, but we have the birds.�--Ed.
+
+One day during the carnival, when he was among the maskers, he danced
+with one of the most beautiful and bravely attired ladies to be found
+in the whole city; and whenever a pause occurred in the music of the
+hautboys, he did not fail to address her with love speeches, in which he
+excelled all others. But she (3) having no favourable reply to give him,
+suddenly checked his discourse by assuring him that she neither loved
+nor ever would love any man but her husband, and that he must by no
+means expect that she would listen to him.
+
+     3  This lady may perhaps be the �Sennora Clerice� (Clarissa)
+     of whom Brant�me writes as follows in his _Capitaines
+     Fran�ois_:--�It was Bonnivet alone who advised King Francis
+     to cross the mountains and follow M. de Bourbon, and in this
+     he had less his master�s advantage and service at heart than
+     his desire to return and see a great and most beautiful lady
+     of Milan, whom he had made his mistress some years
+     previously.... It is said that this was the �Sennora
+     Clerice,� then accounted one of the most beautiful ladies of
+     Italy.... A great lady of the time, from whom I heard this
+     story, told me that he, Bonnivet, had commended this lady
+     Clerice to the King so highly as to make him desirous of
+     seeing and winning her; and this was the principal cause of
+     this expedition of the King�s.�--Lalanne�s _OEuvres de
+     Brant�me_, vol. ii. p. 167-8.--L.
+
+The gentleman, however, would not take this answer for a refusal, and
+continued to press his suit with great energy until mid-Lent. But he
+found her still firm in her declaration that she would love neither
+himself nor another, which he could not believe, however, seeing how
+ill-favoured was her husband, and how great her own beauty. Convinced
+that she was practising dissimulation, he resolved, on his own side, to
+have recourse to deception, and accordingly he ceased to urge his suit,
+and inquired so closely concerning her manner of life that he discovered
+she was in love with a most discreet and honourable Italian gentleman.
+
+Little by little the Lord of Bonnivet insinuated himself into the
+friendship of this gentleman, and did so with so much discretion and
+skill, that the other remained ignorant of his motive, and became so
+much attached to him that, after the lady of his heart, there was no one
+in the world whom he loved more. In order that he might pluck his secret
+from his breast, the Lord of Bonnivet pretended to tell him his own,
+declaring that he loved a certain lady to whom he had in truth never
+given a thought, and begging that he would keep the matter secret, and
+that they might have but one heart and one mind together. Wishing to
+show in return a like affection, the poor Italian gentleman thereupon
+proceeded to disclose at length the love that he bore the lady on whom
+Bonnivet wished to be revenged; and after this they would meet somewhere
+once every day in order to recount the favours that had befallen them
+during the past four and twenty hours; with this difference, however,
+that one lied, and the other spoke the truth. And the Italian confessed
+that he had loved this lady for three years, but had never obtained
+anything of her save fair words and the assurance of her love.
+
+Bonnivet then gave him all the advice that he could to enable him to
+attain his end, and to such good purpose that in a few days the lady
+consented to grant all that was sought of her. It only remained to
+devise a plan for their meeting, and through the counsels of Bonnivet
+this was soon accomplished. And so one day before supper the Italian
+said to him--
+
+�I am more beholden to you, sir, than to any other man living, for,
+thanks to your good advice, I expect to obtain to-night that which I
+have coveted so many years.�
+
+�I pray you, my friend,� thereupon said Bonnivet, �tell me the manner of
+your undertaking, so that if there be any risk in it, or craft required,
+I may serve you in all friendship.�
+
+The Italian gentleman then began to tell him that the lady had devised
+a means of having the principal door of the house left open that night,
+availing herself as a pretext of the illness of one of her brothers for
+whose requirements it was necessary to send into the town at all hours.
+He might enter the courtyard, but he was to be careful not to go up by
+the principal staircase. Instead of this he was to take a small flight
+on his right hand, and enter the first gallery he came to, into which
+the rooms of the lady�s father-in-law and brothers-in-law opened; and
+he was to choose the third door from the head of the stairs, and if on
+trying it gently he found that it was locked, he was to go away again,
+for in that case he might be sure that her husband had returned, though
+not expected back for two days. If, however, he found that the door was
+open, he was to enter softly, and boldly bolt it behind him, for in that
+case there would be none but herself in the room. And above all, he was
+to get himself felt shoes, in order that he might make no noise, and he
+was to be careful not to come earlier than two hours after midnight,
+for her brothers-in-law, who were fond of play, never went to bed until
+after one of the clock.
+
+�Go, my friend,� replied Bonnivet, �and may God be with you and preserve
+you from mischief. If my company can be of any service to you, I am
+wholly at your disposal.�
+
+The Italian gentleman thanked him warmly, but said that in an affair of
+this nature he could not be too much alone; and thereupon he went away
+to set about his preparations.
+
+Bonnivet, on his part, did not go to sleep, for he saw that the time had
+come for revenging himself upon his cruel love. Going home betimes, he
+had his beard trimmed to the same length and breadth as the Italian�s,
+and also had his hair cut, so that, on touching him, no difference
+between himself and his rival might be perceived. Nor did he forget the
+felt shoes, nor garments such as the Italian was wont to wear. Being
+greatly liked by the lady�s father-in-law, he was not afraid to go to
+the house at an early hour, for he made up his mind that if he were
+perceived, he would go straight to the chamber of the old gentleman,
+with whom he had some business on hand.
+
+About midnight he entered the lady�s house, and although there were a
+good many persons going to and fro, he passed them unnoticed and thus
+reached the gallery. Trying the first two doors, he found them shut; the
+third, however, was not, and he softly pushed it open. And having thus
+entered the lady�s room, he immediately bolted the door behind him. He
+found that the whole chamber was hung with white linen, the floor and
+ceiling also being covered with the same; and there was a bed draped
+with cloth so fine and soft and so handsomely embroidered in white, that
+nothing better were possible. And in the bed lay the lady alone, wearing
+her cap and night-gown, and covered with pearls and gems. This, before
+he was himself perceived by her, he was able to see by peeping round the
+curtain; for there was a large wax candle burning, which made the room
+as bright as day. And fearful lest he should be recognised by her, he
+first of all put out the light. Then he undressed himself and got into
+bed beside her.
+
+The lady, taking him to be the Italian who had so long loved her, gave
+him the best possible reception; but he, not forgetting that he was
+there in another�s stead, was careful not to say a single word. His
+only thought was to execute his vengeance at the cost of her honour and
+chastity without being beholden to her for any boon. And although this
+was contrary to her intention, the lady was so well pleased with this
+vengeance that she deemed him rewarded for all she thought he had
+endured. At last it struck one of the clock, and it was time to say
+good-bye. Then, in the lowest tones he could employ, he asked her if she
+were as well pleased with him as he was with her. She, believing him
+to be her lover, said that she was not merely pleased but amazed at the
+greatness of his love, which had kept him an hour without answering her.
+
+Then he began to laugh aloud, and said to her--
+
+�Now, madam, will you refuse me another time, as you have hitherto been
+wont to do?�
+
+The lady, recognising him by his speech and laughter, was in such
+despair with grief and shame, that she called him villain, traitor, and
+deceiver a thousand times over, and tried to throw herself out of bed
+to search for a knife in order to kill herself, since she was so
+unfortunate as to have lost her honour through a man whom she did not
+love, and who to be revenged on her might publish the matter to the
+whole world.
+
+But he held her fast in his arms, and in fair soft words declared that
+he would _love_ her more than her lover, and would so carefully conceal
+all that affected her honour that she should never be brought to
+reproach. This the poor foolish thing believed, and on hearing from him
+the plan that he had devised and the pains that he had taken to win her,
+she swore to him that she would love him better than the other, who had
+not been able to keep her secret. She now knew, said she, how false
+was the repute in which the French were held; they were more sensible,
+persevering, and discreet than the Italians; wherefore she would
+henceforward lay aside the erroneous opinions of her nation and hold
+fast to him. But she earnestly entreated him not to show himself for
+some time at any entertainment or in any place where she might be unless
+he were masked; for she was sure she should feel so much ashamed that
+her countenance would betray her to every one.
+
+This he promised to do, and he then begged that she would give her
+lover a good welcome when he came at two o�clock, getting rid of him
+afterwards by degrees. This she was very loth to do, and but for the
+love she bore to Bonnivet would on no account have consented. However,
+when bidding her farewell, he gave her so much cause for satisfaction
+that she would fain have had him stay with her some time longer.
+
+Having risen and donned his garments again, he departed, leaving the
+door of the room slightly open, as he had found it. And as it was now
+nearly two o�clock, and he was afraid of meeting the Italian gentleman,
+he withdrew to the top of the staircase, whence he not long afterwards
+saw the other pass by and enter the lady�s room.
+
+For his own part, he then betook himself home to rest, in such wise that
+at nine of the clock on the following morning he was still in bed. While
+he was rising, there arrived the Italian gentleman, who did not fail to
+recount his fortune, which had not been so great as he had hoped; for
+on entering the lady�s chamber, said he, he had found her out of bed,
+wearing her dressing-gown, and in a high fever, with her pulse beating
+quick and her countenance aflame, and a perspiration beginning to break
+out upon her. She had therefore begged him to go away forthwith, for
+fearing a mishap, she had not ventured to summon her women, and was
+in consequence so ill that she had more need to think of death than
+of love, and to be told of God than of Cupid. She was distressed, she
+added, that he should have run such risk for her sake, since she was
+wholly unable to grant what he sought in a world she was so soon to
+leave. He had felt so astonished and unhappy on hearing this that
+all his fire and joy had been changed to ice and sadness, and he had
+immediately gone away. However, he had sent at daybreak to inquire about
+her, and had heard that she was indeed very ill. While recounting his
+griefs he wept so piteously that it seemed as though his soul must melt
+away in his tears.
+
+Bonnivet, who was as much inclined to laugh as the other was to weep,
+comforted him as well as he could, telling him that affections of long
+duration always had a difficult beginning, and that Love was causing him
+this delay only that he might afterwards have the greater joy. And so
+the two gentlemen parted. The lady remained in bed for some days, and on
+regaining her health dismissed her first suitor, alleging as her
+reason the fear of death that had beset her and the prickings of her
+conscience. But she held fast to my lord Bonnivet, whose love, as is
+usual, lasted no longer than the field flowers bloom.
+
+�I think, ladies, that the gentleman�s craftiness was a match for the
+hypocrisy of the lady, who, after playing the prude so long, showed
+herself such a wanton in the end.�
+
+�You may say what you please about women,� said Ennasuite, �but the
+gentleman played an evil trick. Is it allowable that if a lady loves one
+man, another may obtain her by craft?�
+
+�You may be sure,� said Geburon, �that when such mares are for sale
+they are of necessity carried off by the last and highest bidder. Do not
+imagine that wooers take such great pains for the ladies� sakes. It is
+for their own sakes and their own pleasure.�
+
+�By my word,� said Longarine, �I believe you; for, truth to tell, all
+the lovers that I have ever had have always begun their speeches by
+talking about me, declaring that they cherished my life, welfare, and
+honour; but in the end they only thought of themselves, caring for
+nought but their own pleasure and vanity. The best plan, therefore,
+is to dismiss them as soon as the first portion of their discourse is
+ended; for when they come to the second, there is not so much credit in
+refusing them, seeing that vice when recognised must needs be rejected.�
+
+�So as soon as a man opens his mouth,� said Ennasuite, �we ought to
+refuse him, without knowing what he is going to say?�
+
+�Nay,� replied Parlamente, �my friend does not mean that. We know that
+at first a woman should never appear to understand what the man desires,
+or even to believe him when he has declared what it is; but when he
+comes to strong protestations, I think it were better for ladies to
+leave him on the road rather than continue to the end of the journey
+with him.�
+
+�That may be,� said Nomerfide; �but are we to believe that they love us
+for evil? Is it not a sin to judge our neighbours?�
+
+�You may believe what you please,� said Oisille; �but there is so
+much cause for fearing it to be true, that as soon as you perceive the
+faintest spark, you should flee from this fire, lest it should burn up
+your heart before you even know it.�
+
+�Truly,� said Hircan, �the laws you lay down are over harsh. If women,
+whom gentleness beseems so well, were minded to prove as rigorous as
+you would have them be, we men, on our part, would exchange our gentle
+entreaties for craft and force.�
+
+�In my opinion,� said Simontault, �the best advice is that each should
+follow his natural bent. Whether he love or not, let him do so without
+dissimulation.�
+
+�Would to God,� said Saffredent, �that such a rule would bring as much
+honour as it would give pleasure.�
+
+Dagoucin, however, could not refrain from saying--
+
+�Those who would rather die than make their desire known could not
+comply with your law.�
+
+�Die!� thereupon said Hircan; �the good knight has yet to be born that
+would die for the publishing of such a matter. But let us cease talking
+of what is impossible, and see to whom Simontault will give his vote.�
+
+�I give it,� said Simontault, �to Longarine, for I observed her just
+now talking to herself. I imagine that she was recalling some excellent
+matter, and she is not wont to conceal the truth, whether it be against
+man or woman.�
+
+�Since you deem me so truthful,� replied Longarine, �I will tell you a
+tale which, though it be not so much to the praise of women as I could
+wish it to be, will yet show you that there are some possessed of as
+much spirit, wit, and craft as men. If my tale be somewhat long, you
+will bear with it in patience.�
+
+[Illustration: 155.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 157a.jpg The Lady taking Oath as to her Conduct]
+
+[The Lady taking Oath as to her Conduct]
+
+[Illustration: 157.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XV_.
+
+     _Through the favour of King Francis, a simple gentleman of
+     the Court married a very rich woman, of whom, however, as
+     much by reason of her extreme youth as of the bestowal of
+     his own heart elsewhere, he made but little account;
+     whereat, after trying every plan to please him, she was so
+     moved with resentment and overcome by despair, that she
+     resolved to console herself with another for the indignities
+     which she endured from her husband._ (1)
+
+     1  The incidents referred to in this story must have
+     occurred between 1515 and 1543, during the reign of Francis
+     I.--L.
+
+At the Court of King Francis the First there was a gentleman whose name
+I know right well, but will not mention. He was poor, having less than
+five hundred livres a year, but he was so well liked by the King for
+his many qualities that he at last married a lady of such wealth that
+a great lord would have been pleased to take her. As she was still very
+young, he begged one of the greatest ladies of the Court to receive her
+into her household, and this the lady very willingly did.
+
+Now this gentleman was so courteous, so handsome, and so full of grace
+that he was held in great regard by all the ladies of the Court, and
+among the rest by one whom the King loved, and who was neither so young
+nor so handsome as his own wife. And by reason of the great love that
+the gentleman bore this lady, he made such little account of his wife,
+that he slept scarcely one night in the year with her, and, what she
+found still harder to endure, he never spoke to her or showed her any
+sign of love. And although he enjoyed her fortune, he allowed her so
+small a share in it, that she was not dressed as was fitting for one
+of her station, or as she herself desired. The lady with whom she abode
+would often reproach the gentleman for this, saying to him--
+
+�Your wife is handsome, rich, and of a good family, yet you make no more
+account of her than if she were the opposite. In her extreme youth and
+childishness she has hitherto submitted to your neglect; but I fear me
+that when she finds herself grown-up and handsome, her mirror and some
+one that loves you not will so set before her eyes that beauty by which
+you set so little store, that resentment will lead her to do what she
+durst not think of had you treated her well.�
+
+The gentleman, however, having bestowed his heart elsewhere, made light
+of what the lady said, and notwithstanding her admonitions, continued to
+lead the same life as before.
+
+But when two or three years had gone by, his wife became one of the most
+beautiful women ever seen in France, so that she was reputed to have no
+equal at the Court. And the more she felt herself worthy of being loved,
+the more distressed she was to find that her husband paid no
+attention to her; and so great became her affliction that, but for the
+consolations of her mistress, she had well-nigh been in despair. After
+trying every possible means to please her husband, she reflected that
+his inclinations must needs be directed elsewhere, for otherwise he
+could not but respond to the deep love that she bore him. Thereupon she
+made such skilful inquiries that she discovered the truth, namely, that
+he was every night so fully occupied in another quarter that he could
+give no thought to his wife or to his conscience.
+
+Having thus obtained certain knowledge of the manner of life he led,
+she fell into such deep melancholy, that she would not dress herself
+otherwise than in black or attend any place of entertainment. Her
+mistress, who perceived this, did all that in her lay to draw her from
+such a mood, but could not. And although her husband was made acquainted
+with her state, he showed himself more inclined to make light of it than
+to relieve it.
+
+You are aware, ladies, that just as extreme joy will give occasion to
+tears, so extreme grief finds an outlet in some joy. In this wise it
+happened that a great lord who was near akin to the lady�s mistress, and
+who often visited her, hearing one day of the strange fashion in which
+she was treated by her husband, pitied her so deeply that he desired to
+try to console her; and on speaking to her, found her so handsome, so
+sensible, and so virtuous, that he became far more desirous of winning
+her favour than of talking to her about her husband, unless it were to
+show her what little cause she had to love him.
+
+The lady, finding that, though forsaken by the man who ought to have
+loved her, she was on the other hand loved and sought after by so
+handsome a Prince, deemed herself very fortunate in having thus won his
+favour. And although she still desired to preserve her honour, she took
+great pleasure in talking to him and in reflecting that she was loved
+and prized, for these were two things for which, so to speak, she
+hungered.
+
+This friendship continued for some time, until it came to the knowledge
+of the King, who had so much regard for the lady�s husband that he
+was unwilling he should be put to any shame or vexation. He therefore
+earnestly begged the Prince to forego his inclinations, threatening him
+with his displeasure should he continue to press his suit.
+
+The Prince, who set the favour of the King above all the ladies in the
+world, promised for his sake to lay aside the enterprise, and to go that
+very evening and bid the lady farewell. This he did as soon as he knew
+that she had retired to her own apartments, over which was the room of
+the gentleman, her husband. And the husband being that evening at his
+window, saw the Prince going into his wife�s room beneath. The Prince
+saw him also, but went in for all that, and in bidding farewell to her
+whose love was but beginning, pleaded as his sole reason the King�s
+command.
+
+After many tears and lamentations and regrets, which lasted until an
+hour after midnight, the lady finally said--
+
+�I praise God, my lord, that it pleases Him you should lose your love
+for me, since it is so slight and weak that you are able to take it up
+and lay it down at the command of man. For my own part, I have never
+asked mistress or husband or even myself for permission to love you;
+Love, aided by your good looks and courtesy, gained such dominion over
+me that I could recognise no God or King save him. But since your heart
+is not so full of true love that fear may not find room in it, you can
+be no perfect lover, and I will love none that is imperfect so perfectly
+as I had resolved to love you. Farewell, then, my lord, seeing that you
+are too timorous to deserve a love as frank as mine.�
+
+The Prince went away in tears, and looking back he again noticed the
+husband, who was still at the window, and had thus seen him go in and
+come out again. Accordingly he told him on the morrow why he had gone
+to see his wife, and of the command that the King had laid upon him,
+whereat the gentleman was well pleased, and gave thanks to the King.
+
+However, finding that his wife was becoming more beautiful every day,
+whilst he himself was growing old and less handsome than before, he
+began to change his tactics, and to play the part which he had for a
+long time imposed upon his wife, bestowing some attention upon her and
+seeking her more frequently than had been his wont. But the more she was
+sought by him the more was he shunned by her; for she desired to pay him
+back some part of the grief that he had caused her by his indifference.
+
+Moreover, being unwilling to forego so soon the pleasure that love was
+beginning to afford her, she addressed herself to a young gentleman, who
+was so very handsome, well-spoken, and graceful that he was loved by
+all the ladies of the Court. And by complaining to him of the manner in
+which she had been treated, she lured him to take pity upon her, so
+that he left nothing untried in his attempts to comfort her. She, on
+her part, to console herself for the loss of the Prince who had forsaken
+her, set herself to love this gentleman so heartily that she came to
+forget her former grief, and to think of nothing but the skilful conduct
+of her new amour, in which she succeeded so well that her mistress
+perceived nought of it, for she was careful not to speak to her lover
+in her mistress�s presence. When she wished to talk with him she would
+betake herself to the rooms of some ladies who lived at the Court,
+amongst whom was one that her husband made a show of being in love with.
+
+Now one dark evening she stole away after supper, without taking any
+companion with her, and repaired to the apartment belonging to these
+ladies, where she found the man whom she loved better than herself. She
+sat down beside him, and leaning upon a table they conversed together
+while pretending to read in the same book. Some one whom her husband had
+set to watch then went and reported to him whither his wife was gone.
+Being a prudent man, he said nothing, but as quickly as possible
+betook himself to the room, where he found his wife reading the book.
+Pretending, however, not to see her, he went straight to speak to the
+other ladies, who were in another part of the room. But when his poor
+wife found herself discovered by him in the company of a gentleman to
+whom she had never spoken in his presence, she was in such confusion
+that she quite lost her wits; and being unable to pass along the bench,
+she leaped upon the table and fled as though her husband were pursuing
+her with a drawn sword. And then she went in search of her mistress, who
+was just about to withdraw to her own apartments.
+
+When her mistress was undressed, and she herself had retired, one of
+her women brought her word that her husband was inquiring for her. She
+answered plainly that she would not go, for he was so harsh and strange
+that she dreaded lest he should do her some harm.
+
+At last, however, for fear of worse, she consented to go. Her husband
+said not a word to her until they were in bed together, when being
+unable to dissemble so well as he, she began to weep. And when he asked
+her the cause of this, she told him that she was afraid lest he should
+be angry at having found her reading in company with a gentleman.
+
+He then replied that he had never forbidden her to speak to a man, and
+did not take it ill that she had done so; but he did indeed take it ill
+that she had run from him as though she had done something deserving of
+censure, and her flight and nothing else had led him to think that she
+was in love with the gentleman. He therefore commanded her never to
+speak to him again in public or in private, and assured her that the
+first time she did so he would slay her without mercy or compassion. She
+very readily promised to obey, and made up her mind not to be so foolish
+another time.
+
+But things are desired all the more for being forbidden, and it was not
+long before the poor woman had forgotten her husband�s threats and her
+own promises. That very same evening she sent to the gentleman, begging
+him to visit her at night. But the husband, who was so tormented
+by jealousy that he could not sleep, and who had heard say that the
+gentleman visited his wife at night, wrapped himself in a cloak, and
+taking a valet with him, went to his wife�s apartment and knocked at the
+door. She, not in the least expecting him, got up alone, put on furred
+slippers and a dressing-gown which were lying close at hand, and finding
+that the three or four women whom she had with her were asleep, went
+forth from her room and straight to the door at which she had heard the
+knocking. On her asking, �Who is there?� she received in answer the name
+of her lover; but to be still more certain, she opened a little wicket,
+saying--
+
+�If you be the man you say you are, show me your hand, and I shall
+recognise it.�
+
+And when she touched her husband�s hand she knew who it was, and quickly
+shutting the wicket, cried out--
+
+�Ha, sir! it is your hand.�
+
+The husband replied in great wrath--
+
+�Yes; it is the hand that will keep faith with you. Do not fail,
+therefore, to come when I send for you.�
+
+With these words he went away to his own apartment, whilst she, more
+dead than alive, went back into her room, and cried out aloud to her
+servant-women, �Get up, my friends; you have slept only too well for me,
+for thinking to trick you, I have myself been tricked.�
+
+With these words she swooned away in the middle of the room. The
+women rose at her cry, and were so astonished at seeing their mistress
+stretched upon the floor, as well as at hearing the words, she had
+uttered, that they were at their wits� end, and sought in haste for
+remedies to restore her. When she was able to speak, she said to them--
+
+�You see before you, my friends, the most unhappy creature in the
+world.�
+
+And thereupon she went on to tell them the whole adventure, and begged
+of them to help her, for she counted her life as good as lost.
+
+While they were seeking to comfort her, a valet came with orders that
+she was to repair to her husband instantly. Thereupon, clinging to two
+of her women, she began to weep and wail, begging them not to suffer her
+to go, for she was sure she would be killed. But the valet assured her
+to the contrary, offering to pledge his life that she should receive no
+hurt. Seeing that she lacked all means of resistance, she at last threw
+herself into the servant�s arms, and said to him--
+
+�Since it may not be otherwise, you must e�en carry this hapless body to
+its death.�
+
+Half fainting in her distress, she was then at once borne by the
+valet to his master�s apartment. When she reached it, she fell at her
+husband�s feet, and said to him--
+
+�I beseech you, sir, have pity on me, and I swear to you by the faith I
+owe to God that I will tell you the whole truth.�
+
+��Fore God you shall,� he replied, like one beside himself, and
+forthwith he drove all the servants from the room.
+
+Having always found his wife very devout, he felt sure that she would
+not dare to forswear herself on the Holy Cross. He therefore sent for a
+very beautiful crucifix that belonged to him, and when they were alone
+together, he made her swear upon it that she would return true replies
+to his questions. Already, however, she had recovered from her first
+dread of death, and taking courage, she resolved that if she was to die
+she would make no concealment of the truth, but at the same time would
+say nothing that might injure the gentleman she loved. Accordingly,
+having heard all the questions that her husband had to put to her, she
+replied as follows--
+
+�I have no desire, sir, either to justify myself or to lessen to you the
+love that I have borne to the gentleman you suspect; for if I did, you
+could not and you should not believe me. Nevertheless, I desire to tell
+you the cause of this affection. Know, then, sir, that never did wife
+love husband more than I loved you, and that from the time I wedded you
+until I reached my present age, no other passion ever found its way into
+my heart. You will remember that while I was still a child, my parents
+wished to marry me to one richer and more highly born than yourself,
+but they could never gain my consent to this from the moment I had once
+spoken to you. In spite of all their objections I held fast to you,
+and gave as little heed to your poverty as to their remonstrances. You
+cannot but know what treatment I have had at your hands hitherto, and
+the fashion in which you have loved and honoured me; and this has caused
+me so much grief and discontent that but for the succour of the lady
+with whom you placed me, I should have been in despair. But at last,
+finding myself fully grown and deemed beautiful by all but you, I began
+to feel the wrong you did me so keenly that the love I had for you
+changed into hate, and the desire of obeying you into one for revenge.
+In this despairing condition I was found by a Prince who, being more
+anxious to obey the King than Love, forsook me just as I was beginning
+to feel my pangs assuaged by an honourable affection. When the Prince
+had left me, I lighted upon this present gentleman; and he had no need
+to entreat me, for his good looks, nobleness, grace, and virtue are
+well worthy of being sought after and courted by all women of sound
+understanding. At my instance, not at his own, he has loved me in all
+virtue, so that never has he sought from me aught that honour might
+refuse. And although I have but little cause to love you, and so might
+be absolved from being loyal and true to you, my love of God and of my
+honour has hitherto sufficed to keep me from doing aught that would call
+for confession or shame. I will not deny that I went into a closet as
+often as I could to speak with him, under pretence of going thither to
+say my prayers, for I have never trusted the conduct of this matter to
+any one, whether man or woman. Further, I will not deny that when in so
+secret a place and safe from all suspicion I have kissed him with more
+goodwill than I kiss you. But as I look to God for mercy, no other
+familiarity has passed between us; he has never urged me to it, nor has
+my heart ever desired it; for I was so glad at seeing him that methought
+the world contained no greater pleasure.
+
+�And now, sir, will you, who are the sole cause of my misfortune, take
+vengeance for conduct of which you have yourself long since set me an
+example, with, indeed, this difference, that in your case you thought
+nought of either honour or conscience; for you know and I know too
+that the woman you love does not rest content with what God and reason
+enjoin. And albeit the law of man deals great dishonour to wives who
+love other men than their husbands, the law of God does not exempt from
+punishment the husbands who love other women than their wives. And if my
+offences are to be weighed against yours, you are more to blame than
+I, for you are a wise and experienced man, and of an age to know and
+to shun evil, whilst I am young and have no experience of the might and
+power of love. You have a wife who desires you, honours you, and loves
+you more than her own life; while I have a husband who avoids me, hates
+me, and rates me as lightly as he would a servant maid. You are in love
+with a woman who is already old, of meagre figure, and less fair than I;
+whilst I love a gentleman younger, handsomer, and more amiable than you.
+You love the wife of one of the best friends you have in the world, the
+mistress, moreover, of your King and master, so that you offend against
+the friendship that is due to the first, and the respect that is due to
+the second; whereas I am in love with a gentleman whose only tie is his
+love for me. Judge then fairly which of us two is the more worthy of
+punishment or pardon: you, a man of wisdom and experience, who through
+no provocation on my part have acted thus ill not only towards me, but
+towards the King, to whom you are so greatly indebted; or I, who am
+young and ignorant, who am slighted and despised by you, and loved by
+the handsomest and most worshipful gentleman in France, a gentleman whom
+I have loved in despair of ever being loved by you.�
+
+When the husband heard her utter these truths with so fair a
+countenance, and with such a bold and graceful assurance as clearly
+testified that she neither dreaded nor deserved any punishment, he was
+overcome with astonishment, and could find nothing to reply except that
+a man�s honour and a woman�s were not the same thing. However, since she
+swore to him that there had been nothing between herself and her lover
+but what she had told him, he was not minded to treat her ill, provided
+she would act so no more, and that they both put away the memory of the
+past. To this she agreed, and they went to bed in harmony together.
+
+Next morning an old damosel who was in great fear for her mistress�s
+life came to her at her rising, and asked--
+
+�Well, madam, and how do you fare?�
+
+�I would have you know,� said her mistress, laughing, �that there is not
+a better husband than mine, for he believed me on my oath.�
+
+And so five or six days passed by.
+
+Meanwhile the husband had such care of his wife that he caused a watch
+to be kept on her both night and day. But for all his care he could not
+prevent her from again speaking with her lover in a dark and suspicious
+place. However, she contrived matters with such secrecy that no one,
+whether man or woman, could ever learn the truth, though a rumour was
+started by some serving-man about a gentleman and a lady whom he had
+found in a stable underneath the rooms belonging to the mistress of the
+lady in question. At this her husband�s suspicions were so great that he
+resolved to slay the gentleman, and gathered together a large number of
+his relations and friends to kill him if he was anywhere to be found.
+But the chief among his kinsmen was so great a friend of the gentleman
+whom they sought, that instead of surprising him he gave him warning of
+all that was being contrived against him, for which reason the other,
+being greatly liked by the whole Court, was always so well attended that
+he had no fear of his enemy�s power, and could not be taken unawares and
+attacked.
+
+However, he betook himself to a church to meet his lady�s mistress,
+who had heard nothing of all that had passed, for the lovers had never
+spoken together in her presence. But the gentleman now informed her of
+the suspicion and ill-will borne him by the lady�s husband, and told her
+that although he was guiltless he had nevertheless resolved to go on a
+long journey in order to check the rumours, which were beginning greatly
+to increase. The Princess, his lady�s mistress, was much astonished on
+hearing this tale, and protested that the husband was much in the wrong
+to suspect so virtuous a wife, and one in whom she had ever found all
+worth and honour. Nevertheless, considering the husband�s authority, and
+in order to quell these evil reports, she advised him to absent himself
+for a time, assuring him that for her part she would never believe such
+foolish suspicions.
+
+Both the gentleman and the lady, who was present, were well pleased at
+thus preserving the favour and good opinion of the Princess, who further
+advised the gentleman to speak with the husband before his departure.
+He did as he was counselled, and meeting with the husband in a gallery
+close to the King�s apartment, he assumed a bold countenance, and said
+to him with all the respect due to one of high rank--
+
+�All my life, sir, I have desired to do you service, and my only reward
+is to hear that last evening you lay in wait to kill me. I pray you,
+sir, reflect that while you have more authority and power than I have, I
+am nevertheless a gentleman even as you are. It would be grievous to me
+to lose my life for naught. I pray you also reflect that you have a wife
+of great virtue, and if any man pretend the contrary I will tell him
+that he has foully lied. For my part, I can think of nothing that I have
+done to cause you to wish me ill. If, therefore, it please you, I will
+remain your faithful servant; if not, I am that of the King, and with
+that I may well be content.�
+
+The husband replied that he had in truth somewhat suspected him, but
+he deemed him so gallant a man that he would rather have his friendship
+than his enmity; and bidding him farewell, cap in hand, he embraced
+him like a dear friend. You may imagine what was said by those who, the
+evening before, had been charged to kill the gentleman, when they beheld
+such tokens of respect and friendship. And many and diverse were the
+remarks that each one made.
+
+In this manner the gentleman departed, and as he had far less money than
+good looks, his mistress delivered to him a ring that her husband had
+given her of the value of three thousand crowns; and this he pledged for
+fifteen hundred.
+
+Some time after he was gone, the husband came to the Princess, his
+wife�s mistress, and prayed her to grant his wife leave to go and dwell
+for a while with one of his sisters. This the Princess thought very
+strange, and so begged him to tell her the reasons of his request, that
+he told her part of them, but not all. When the young lady had taken
+leave of her mistress and of the whole Court without shedding any tears
+or showing the least sign of grief, she departed on her journey to the
+place whither her husband desired her to go, travelling under the care
+of a gentleman who had been charged to guard her closely, and above all
+not to suffer her to speak on the road to her suspected lover.
+
+She knew of these instructions, and every day was wont to cause false
+alarms, scoffing at her custodians and their lack of care. Thus one day,
+on leaving her lodging, she fell in with a Grey Friar on horseback, with
+whom, being herself on her palfrey, she talked on the road the whole
+time from the dinner to the supper hour. And when she was a quarter of
+a league from the place where she was to lodge that night, she said to
+him--
+
+�Here, father, are two crowns which I give you for the consolation you
+have afforded me this afternoon. They are wrapped in paper, for I well
+know that you would not venture to touch them. (2) And I beg you to
+leave the road as soon as you have parted from me, and to take care
+that you are not seen by those who are with me. I say this for your own
+welfare, and because I feel myself beholden to you.�
+
+     2  The Grey Friars belonging to a mendicant order were
+     prohibited from demanding or accepting money; it was only
+     allowable for them to receive gifts in kind, mainly edible
+     produce. It was for this reason that the lady gave the friar
+     the two crowns wrapped in paper, knowing that he ought not
+     to touch the coins.--M. See also vol. i. p. 98, note 3.
+
+The friar, well pleased with the two crowns, set off across the fields
+at full gallop; and when he was some distance away the lady said aloud
+to her attendants--
+
+�You may well deem yourselves good servants and diligent guards. He as
+to whom you were to be so careful has been speaking to me the whole day,
+and you have suffered him to do so. Your good master, who puts so much
+trust in you, should give you the stick rather than give you wages.�
+
+When the gentleman who had charge of her heard these words he was so
+angry that he could not reply, but calling two others to him, set spurs
+to his horse, and rode so hard that he at last reached the friar, who on
+perceiving his pursuers had fled as fast as he could. However, the poor
+fellow was caught, being less well mounted than they were. He was quite
+ignorant of what it all meant, and cried them mercy, taking off his hood
+in order that he might entreat them with bareheaded humility. Thereupon
+they realised that he was not the man whom they sought, and that their
+mistress had been mocking them. And this she did with even better effect
+upon their return to her.
+
+�You are fitting fellows,� said she, �to receive ladies in your charge.
+You suffer them to talk to any stranger, and then, believing whatever
+they may say, you go and insult the ministers of God.�
+
+After all these jests they arrived at the place that her husband had
+commanded, and here her two sisters-in-law, with the husband of one of
+them, kept her in great subjection.
+
+In the meanwhile her husband had heard how his ring had been pledged
+for fifteen hundred crowns, whereat he was exceedingly wrathful, and in
+order to save his wife�s honour and to get back the ring, he bade his
+sisters tell her to redeem it, he himself paying the fifteen hundred
+crowns.
+
+She cared nought for the ring since her lover had the money, but she
+wrote to him saying that she was compelled by her husband to redeem it,
+and in order that he might not suppose she was doing this through any
+lessening of her affection, she sent him a diamond which her mistress
+had given, her, and which she liked better than any ring she had.
+
+Thereupon the gentleman forwarded her the merchant�s bond right
+willingly; deeming himself fortunate in having fifteen hundred crowns
+and a diamond, (3) and at being still assured of his lady�s favour.
+However, as long as the husband lived, he had no means of communing with
+her save by writing.
+
+When the husband died, expecting to find her still what she had promised
+him to be, he came in all haste to ask her in marriage; but he found
+that his long absence had gained him a rival who was loved better than
+himself. His sorrow at this was so great that he henceforth shunned the
+companionship of ladies and sought out scenes of danger, and so at last
+died in as high repute as any young man could have. (4)
+
+     3  The gentleman deemed it only natural that the woman he
+     honoured with his love should present him with money. In the
+     seventeenth century similar opinions were held, if one may
+     judge by some passages in Dancourt�s comedies, and by the
+     presents which the Duchess of Cleveland made to Henry
+     Jerrayn and John Churchill, afterwards Duke of Marlborough,
+     as chronicled in the _Memoirs of the Count de Gramont_.--M.
+
+     4  Brant�me tells a somewhat similar tale to this in his
+     _Vies des Dames Galantes_ (Dis. I.): �I knew,� he writes,
+     �two ladies of the Court, sisters-in-law to one another, one
+     of whom was married to a courtier, high in favour and very
+     skilful, but who did not make as much account of his wife as
+     by reason of her birth he should have done, for he spoke to
+     her in public as he might have spoken to a savage, and
+     treated her most harshly. She patiently endured this for
+     some time, until indeed her husband lost some of his credit,
+     when, watching for and taking the opportunity, she quickly
+     repaid him for all the disdain that he had shown her. And
+     her sister-in-law imitated her and did likewise; for having
+     been married when of a young and tender age, her husband
+     made no more account of her than if she had been a little
+     girl.... But she, advancing in years, feeling her heart beat
+     and becoming conscious of her beauty, paid him back in the
+     same coin, and made him a present of a fine pair of horns,
+     by way of interest for the past�--Lalanne�s _OEuvres de
+     Brant�me_, vol. ix. p. 157.--L.
+
+�In this tale, ladies, I have tried, without sparing our own sex, to
+show husbands that wives of spirit yield rather to vengeful wrath than
+to the sweetness of love. The lady of whom I have told you withstood
+the latter for a great while, but in the end succumbed to despair.
+Nevertheless, no woman of virtue should yield as she did, for, happen
+what may, no excuse can be found for doing wrong. The greater the
+temptations, the more virtuous should one show oneself, by resisting and
+overcoming evil with good, instead of returning evil for evil; and this
+all the more because the evil we think to do to another often recoils
+upon ourselves. Happy are those women who display the heavenly virtues
+of chastity, gentleness, meekness, and long-suffering.�
+
+�It seems to me, Longarine,� said Hircan, �that the lady of whom you
+have spoken was impelled by resentment rather than by love; for had she
+loved the gentleman as greatly as she appeared to do, she would not
+have forsaken him for another. She may therefore be called resentful,
+vindictive, obstinate, and fickle.�
+
+�It is all very well for you to talk in that way,� said Ennasuite, �but
+you do not know the heartbreak of loving without return.�
+
+�It is true,� said Hircan, �that I have had but little experience in
+that way. If I am shown the slightest disfavour, I forthwith forego lady
+and love together.�
+
+�That,� said Parlamente, �is well enough for you who love only your own
+pleasure; but a virtuous wife cannot thus forsake her husband.�
+
+�Yet,� returned Simontault, �the lady in the story forgot for a while
+that she was a woman. No man could have taken a more signal revenge.�
+
+�It does not follow,� said Oisille, �because one woman lacks discretion
+that all the rest are the same.�
+
+�Nevertheless,� said Saffredent, �you are all women, as any one would
+find who looked carefully, despite all the fine clothes you may wear.�
+
+�If we were to listen to you,� said Nomerlide, �we should spend the day
+in disputes. For my part, I am so impatient to hear another tale, that I
+beg Longarine to give some one her vote.�
+
+Longarine looked at Geburon and said:--
+
+�If you know anything about a virtuous woman, I pray you set it forth.�
+
+�Since I am to do what I can,� said Geburon, �I will tell you a tale of
+something that happened in the city of Milan.�
+
+[Illustration: 182.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 183a.jpg The Gentleman discovering the Trick]
+
+[The Gentleman discovering the Trick]
+
+[Illustration: 183.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XVI_.
+
+_A lady of Milan, widow of an Italian Count, had resolved never again
+to marry or to love. But for three years she was so earnestly wooed by a
+French gentleman, that after repeated proof of the steadfastness of his
+love, she granted him what he had so greatly desired, and they vowed to
+each other everlasting affection_. (l)
+
+In the days of the Grand Master of Chaumont, (2) there lived a lady who
+was reckoned one of the most honourable women that there were at that
+time in the city of Milan. She had married an Italian Count, and being
+left a widow, lived in the house of her brothers-in-law, refusing to
+hear speak of another marriage. And so discreetly and piously did she
+demean herself that there was none in the Duchy, whether French or
+Italian, but held her in high esteem.
+
+     1  According to M. de Lincy, who points out that Bonnivet
+     must be the hero of the adventure here related, the
+     incidents referred to would have occurred at Milan between
+     1501 and 1503; but in M. Lacroix�s opinion they would be
+     posterior to 1506.--Ed.
+
+     2  See _ante_, note 1 to Tale XIV.
+
+One day when her brothers and sisters-in-law offered an entertainment to
+the Grand Master of Chaumont, this widow lady was obliged to be present,
+though she made it her rule not to attend such gatherings when held in
+other places. And when the Frenchmen saw her, they were all admiration
+for her beauty and grace, especially one among them whose name I shall
+not mention; for it will suffice for you to know that there was no
+Frenchman in Italy more worthy of love than he, for he was endowed with
+all the beauties and graces that a gentleman could have. And though he
+saw that the lady wore black crape, and remained with several old women
+in a corner apart from the young ones, yet, having never known what it
+was to fear either man or woman, he set himself to converse with her,
+taking off his mask, and leaving the dance in order to remain in her
+company.
+
+Throughout the whole of the evening he did not cease talking to her and
+to the old women, and found more pleasure in doing so than if he had
+been with the most youthful and bravely attired ladies of the Court. So
+much, indeed, was this the case, that when the hour came to withdraw he
+seemed to have not yet had time even to sit down. And although he only
+spoke to the lady on such common matters as were suited to such company,
+she knew very well that he desired to win her favour, and this she
+resolved to guard against by all means in her power, so that he was
+never afterwards able to see her at any banquet or assembly.
+
+He inquired about the manner of her life, and found that she often went
+to churches and convents; whereupon he kept such good watch that she
+could never visit them so secretly but he was there before her. And he
+would remain in the church as long as he had the happiness to see
+her, and all the time that she was present would gaze at her so
+affectionately that she could not remain in ignorance of the love he
+bore her. In order to avoid him, she resolved to feign illness for a
+time, and to hear mass in her own house; and at this the gentleman was
+most sorely grieved, for he had no other means of seeing her than at
+church.
+
+Thinking that she had cured him of his habit, she at last returned to
+the churches as before, but love quickly brought tidings of this to the
+French gentleman, who then renewed his habits of devotion. He feared,
+however, that she might again throw some hindrance in his way, and that
+he might not have time to tell her what he would; and so one morning,
+when she thought herself well concealed in a chapel, he placed himself
+at the end of the altar at which she was hearing mass; and seeing that
+she was but scantily attended, he turned towards her just as the priest
+was elevating the host, and in a soft and loving voice said to her--
+
+�May I be sent to perdition, madam, by Him whom the priest has now in
+his hands, if you are not causing my death. Though you take from me
+all means of speaking with you, you cannot be ignorant of my desire; my
+wearied eyes and my deathly face must make the truth apparent to you.�
+ (3)
+
+     3  The Queen of Navarre is known to have had a considerable
+     knowledge of the Italian language, and it is therefore quite
+     possible that she was acquainted with the story of
+     Poliphilus and Polia, which, although no French translation
+     of it appeared until 1554, had been issued at Venice as
+     early as 1499. In any case, however, there is a curious
+     similarity between the speech of the French gentleman given
+     above and the discourse which Poliphilus addresses to Polia
+     when he finds her saying her prayers in the temple. A
+     considerable portion of the Italian story is in keeping with
+     the character of the _Heptameron_ tales.--M.
+
+The lady pretended not to understand him, and replied--
+
+�God�s name should not thus be taken in vain; but the poets say that
+the gods laugh at the oaths and lies of lovers, and so women who regard
+their honour should not show themselves credulous or compassionate.�
+
+With these words she rose up and returned home.
+
+The gentleman�s anger at these words may well be imagined by such as
+have experienced the like fortune. But having no lack of spirit, he held
+it better to have received this unfavourable reply than to have failed
+in declaring his love, to which he held fast during three years, losing
+neither time nor opportunity in wooing her by letters and in other ways.
+
+For three years, however, she vouchsafed him no reply, but shunned
+him as the wolf shuns the hound that is to take him; and this she did
+through fear for her honour and fair fame, and not because she hated
+him. He perceived this so clearly that he pursued her more eagerly than
+ever; and at last, after many refusals, troubles, tortures and despairs,
+the lady took pity upon him for the greatness and steadfastness of his
+love, and so granted him what he had so greatly desired and so long
+awaited.
+
+When they had agreed concerning the means to be employed, the French
+gentleman failed not to repair to her house, although in doing so he
+placed his life in great danger, seeing that she and her relations lived
+all together.
+
+However, being as skilful as he was handsome, he contrived the matter
+so prudently that he was able to enter the lady�s room at the hour which
+she had appointed, and found her there all alone, lying in a beautiful
+bed; but as he was hasting to put off his clothes in order to join her,
+he heard a great whispering at the door, and a noise of swords scraping
+against the wall.
+
+Then the widow said to him, with the face of one nigh to death--
+
+�Now is your life and my honour in as great danger as well can be, for I
+hear my brothers outside seeking you to slay you. I pray you, therefore,
+hide yourself under this bed, and when they fail to find you I shall
+have reason to be angry with them for alarming me without just cause.�
+
+The gentleman, who had never yet known fear, replied--
+
+�And what, pray, are your brothers that they should frighten a man of
+mettle? If the whole breed of them were there together, I am sure they
+would not tarry for the fourth thrust of my sword. Do you, therefore,
+rest quietly in bed, and leave the guarding of this door to me.�
+
+Then he wrapped his cloak about his arm, took his drawn sword in his
+hand, and opened the door so that he might have a closer view of
+the swords that he had heard. When the door was opened, he saw two
+serving-women, who, holding a sword in each hand, had raised this alarm.
+
+�Sir,� they said to him, �forgive us. We were commanded by our mistress
+to act in this manner, but you shall be hindered by us no more.�
+
+Seeing that they were women, the gentleman could do no more than bid
+them go to the devil, and shut the door in their faces. Then he got into
+bed to the lady with all imaginable speed, his passion for her being in
+no wise diminished by fear; and forgetting to inquire the reason of this
+skirmish, he thought only of satisfying his desire.
+
+But when daybreak was drawing nigh, he begged his mistress to tell him
+why she had treated him so ill, both in making him wait so long, and in
+having played this last trick upon him.
+
+�My intention,� she answered, laughing, �had been never to love again,
+and I had observed it from the time I became a widow; but, after you
+had spoken to me at the entertainment, your worth led me to change
+my resolve, and to love you as much as you loved me. It is true that
+honour, which had ever guided me, would not suffer me to be led by love
+to do aught to the disparagement of my reputation. But as the poor hind
+when wounded unto death thinks by change of place to change the pain it
+carries with it, so did I go from church to church thinking to flee from
+him whom I carried in my heart, and the proof of whose perfect devotion
+has reconciled honour and love. However, that I might be the more
+certain that I was giving my heart and love to a true man, I desired to
+make this last proof by means of my serving-women. And I vow to you that
+had I found you so timorous as to hide beneath my bed, either for fear
+of your life or for any other reason, I was resolved to rise and go into
+another room and never see you more. But since I have found that you are
+possessed of more beauty, and grace, and virtue, and valour than rumour
+had given you, and that fear has no power over your heart, nor can cool
+one whit the love you bear me, I am resolved to cleave to you for the
+remainder of my days. I feel sure that I could not place life and
+honour in better hands than those of one whom I deem unmatched in every
+virtue.�
+
+And, just as though the human will could be unchangeable, they vowed and
+promised what was not in their power, namely, perpetual affection. For
+this is a thing that can neither spring up nor abide in the heart of
+man, as only those ladies know who have had experience of how long such
+feelings last. (4)
+
+     4  In Boaistuau�s edition of the _Heptameron_ the final part
+     of the above sentence is given as follows: �And those women
+     that have had experience of it know this, and also how long
+     such fancies last.� An extract from Brant�me in connection
+     with the story will be found in the Appendix to this volume,
+     D.
+
+�So, ladies, if you are wise, you will beware of us even as the stag,
+had he understanding, would beware of the hunter; for our glory,
+happiness, and delight is to see you captured in order to rob you of
+that which is more precious to you than life.�
+
+�Why, Geburon,� said Hircan, �since when have you turned preacher? I can
+remember a time when you did not talk after that fashion.�
+
+�It is quite true,� said Geburon, �that I have just spoken contrary to
+what I have always said my life long; but since my teeth are no longer
+able to chew venison, I warn the hapless deer to beware of the hunters,
+in order that I may atone in my old age for all the mischief which I
+sought to do in my youth.�
+
+�We thank you, Geburon,� said Nomerfide, �for warning us to our profit,
+but for all that we do not feel very greatly beholden to you. You never
+spoke in that way to one you truly loved, and this is a proof that
+you have little love for us, and, moreover, would not have us loved.
+Nevertheless, we hold ourselves as discreet and as virtuous as the
+ladies whom you so long pursued in your youth. But old folk are commonly
+vain enough to think that they have been wiser in their time than those
+who come after them.�
+
+�Well, Nomerfide,� said Geburon, �will you believe that I have told
+you the truth when the faithlessness of one of your lovers has made you
+acquainted with the evil nature of men?�
+
+�It seems to me,� said Oisille to Geburon, �that the gentleman whom you
+praise so highly for his boldness ought rather to be praised for the
+ardour of his love. So strong is this passion, that it impels the most
+cowardly to embark on enterprises about which the bravest would think
+twice.�
+
+�If, madam,� said Saffredent, �he�had not deemed the Italians to be
+better at talking than acting, me-thinks he had reason to be afraid.�
+
+�Yes,� said Oisille, �if he had not had in his heart the fire that
+consumes fear.�
+
+�Since you do not deem the boldness of this gentleman altogether worthy
+of praise,� said Hircan, �you doubtless know of some one else more
+deserving of commendation.�
+
+�Nay,� said Oisille, �the gentleman in the story deserves praise, but I
+do know of one who is more worthy of being admired.�
+
+�I pray you, madam,� said Geburon, �if that be so, take my place and
+tell us the tale.�
+
+�If,� began Oisille, �a man who showed such boldness against the
+Milanese to save his own life and his mistress�s honour is to be
+esteemed so very brave, what shall be said of one who, without any need
+for it, and from pure and simple valour, performed the deed of which I
+will now tell you?�
+
+[Illustration: 193.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 195a.jpg The King showing his Sword]
+
+[The King showing his Sword]
+
+[Illustration: 195.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XVII_.
+
+_King Francis, being urged to banish Count William, who was said to have
+received money to bring about his death, did not suffer it to appear
+that he had any inkling of the scheme, but played the Count so shrewd a
+trick that he himself took leave of the King and went into banishment_.
+(1)
+
+To the town of Dijon, in the Duchy of Burgundy, there came a German
+Count to take service with King Francis. He was named William, (2) and
+was of the House of Saxony, which is so closely allied with that of
+Savoy that formerly they were but one. This Count, who was held for as
+handsome and valiant a gentleman as Germany ever knew, was right well
+received by the King, who not only took him into his service, but kept
+him close to himself as a groom of the chamber.
+
+     1  The incidents of this story are historical. Francis I. is
+     known to have sojourned at Dijon in June and July 1521.--L.
+
+     2  This is William, eldest son of Wolfgang von Furstemberg,
+     chamberlain to Maximilian I., and privy counsellor to Philip
+     of Austria.--B. J. Various particulars concerning him are
+     given in the Appendix to this volume, E.
+
+Now the Lord de la Tr�moille, (3) Governor of Burgundy, an old knight
+and a loyal servant to the King, was ever jealous and anxious for his
+master�s safety, and was wont to have spies at all points to learn what
+the King�s enemies were doing; and so prudently did he contrive matters,
+that but few things were hidden from him. Among his informations there
+came to him one day a letter from a friend telling him that Count
+William had received a sum of money, with promise of more, for putting
+the King to death in any such manner as he might find possible. (4)
+
+     3  This is Louis II., Sire de la Tr�moille, Viscount of
+     Thouars and Prince of Talmont, born in 1460. The son of
+     Louis I. de la Tr�moille and of Margaret d�Amboise, he
+     became one of the most remarkable men of his time. Favoured
+     by Anne de Beaujeu, who arranged his marriage with Gabrielle
+     de Bourbon, he commanded the royal troops at the battle of
+     St. Aubin du Cormier, in Brittany (1488), at which the
+     rebellious Duke of Orleans (afterwards Louis XII.) and the
+     Prince of Orange, with a large number of the nobles, their
+     partisans, were made prisoners. They were all invited to La
+     Tr�moille�s table after the engagement, and, according to
+     Godefroi�s Latin history of Louis XII., at the close of the
+     repast two Franciscan monks entered the hall, whereupon La
+     Tr�moille rose and said: �Princes, I refer your judgments to
+     the King, but as for you, Knights, who have broken your
+     faith and falsified your knightly oath, you shall pay for
+     your crime with your heads. If you have any remorse on your
+     consciences, here are monks who will shrive you.� The hall
+     resounded with lamentations, but the unhappy nobles were
+     promptly dragged into the courtyard, and there put to death;
+     both Orleans and Orange being too terror-stricken to
+     intercede for them. When the former came to the throne, he
+     forgave La Tr�moille for his conduct in this affair, and
+     showed him great favour, appointing him Governor of Burgundy
+     in 1501. La Tr�moille also became Admiral of Guienne and
+     Brittany, and figured conspicuously in the various Italian
+     campaigns of the period. He was killed at Pavia in 1525.
+     Jean Bouchet, a contemporary, wrote a curious life of this
+     remarkable man, entitled _Panegyric du Chevalier sans
+     reproche_. It will be found in Michaud and Poujoulat�s
+     _Collection de Mitnoires_,--L. and Ed.
+
+     4  It has been suggested that the instigator of this plot
+     was Charles V.�s famous minister, Cardinal Granvelle.--Ed.
+
+The Lord de la Tr�moille failed not to give speedy notice of the affair
+to the King, and further made it known to the King�s mother, Louise of
+Savoy, who, forgetting that she and this German were akin, begged the
+King to banish him forthwith. But the King bade her speak no more of
+it, saying that it was impossible so upright and honourable a gentleman
+would undertake so vile a deed.
+
+Some time afterwards a second warning arrived in confirmation of the
+first, and the Governor, burning with love for his master, sought
+permission either to banish the Count or else take him in hand in some
+other fashion; but the King charged him expressly to keep the affair
+secret, being persuaded that he might discover the truth by some other
+means.
+
+One day when going a-hunting, the King, as his sole weapon, buckled on
+the finest sword it were possible to see, and took Count William along
+with him, desiring that he would follow him close. After hunting the
+stag for some time, seeing that all his people save the Count were far
+off, he turned out of all the roads and tracks, till he found himself
+alone with the Count in the deepest part of the forest, (5) when,
+drawing his sword, he said:--
+
+�Think you that this sword be handsome and trusty?�
+
+     5  This may be either the forest of Argilly or that of
+     Mondragon, both in the vicinity of Dijon.--ED.
+
+The Count took it by the point, and answered that he had never seen one
+that he liked better.
+
+�You are right,� said the King; �and I think that, if a gentleman had
+resolved to slay me, he would think twice before he attacked me if
+he knew the strength of my arm, the stoutness-of my heart, and the
+excellence of this sword. Yet, for all that, I should count him but a
+craven scoundrel if, when we were face to face and alone, he durst not
+execute what he had dared to undertake.�
+
+�Sire,� replied Count William, with astonished countenance, �the
+wickedness of the undertaking would be very great, but the folly of
+seeking to execute it would be no less.�
+
+The King laughed, sheathed his sword again, and hearing the hunt hard
+by, spurred after it with all speed. When he reached his train he spoke
+to none of what had passed, but he felt convinced that, although Count
+William was as brave and ready a gentleman as might be, he was not the
+man to carry out so high an enterprise.
+
+However, Count William, fearing that he had been discovered or was at
+least suspected, repaired the next morning to Robertet, Secretary
+for the King�s Finances, (6) and told him that he had considered the
+privileges and pay offered him to continue in the King�s service, and
+that they would not suffice to support him for half the year. Unless
+therefore it pleased the King to give him double, he would be forced to
+depart; and he accordingly begged the said Robertet to acquaint him
+as soon as might be with the will of the King. To this the Secretary
+replied that he could not better advance the business than by going to
+the King straightway; and he undertook the mission right willingly, for
+he had seen the warnings that the Governor had received.
+
+     6  This is Florimond Robertet, the first of that family of
+     statesmen who served the French crown from Charles VIII. to
+     Henri III. It was Charles VIII. who appointed Florimond
+     Treasurer of France and Secretary of Finances, offices in
+     which he displayed great skill and honesty. Louis XII., who
+     confirmed him in his functions, habitually consulted him on
+     important political affairs. He acquired considerable
+     wealth, and was often called �the great baron,� after the
+     barony of Alluye, which he possessed in Le Perche. One of
+     the curiosities of Blois is the H�tel d�Alluye, a house of
+     semi-Moorish style, erected by Robertet at the close of the
+     fifteenth century. Another of his residences was the ch�teau
+     of Bury, near Blois, where he set up Michael Angelo�s famous
+     bronze statue of David, presented to him by the city of
+     Florence, and the fate of which has furnished material for
+     so much speculation. Under Francis I. Robertet enjoyed the
+     same credit as during the two previous reigns. Fleuranges
+     declares that no one else was so intimate with the King, and
+     commends him as being the most experienced and competent
+     statesman of the times. According to the _Journal d�un
+     Bourgeois de Paris_, Robertet died �at the Palais (de
+     Justice) in Paris, of which he was concierge,� on November
+     29, 1527. Francis repeatedly visited him during his illness,
+     and, on his death, ordered that his remains should lie in
+     state, and be interred with great pomp and ceremony. Clement
+     Marot�s works contain a poem, four hundred lines in length,
+     celebrating Robertet�s virtues and talents.--L., B. J., and
+     Ed.
+
+As soon, therefore, as the King was awake he failed not to lay the
+matter before him in the presence of the Lord de la Tr�moille and the
+Admiral de Bonnivet, who were ignorant of the trick that the King had
+played the Count the day before.
+
+Then the King laughed, and said to them--�You desired to banish Count
+William, and you see he is banishing himself. Wherefore, tell him
+that if he be not content with the establishment which he accepted on
+entering my service, and which many men of good families have deemed
+themselves fortunate to have, he must e�en seek a better fortune
+elsewhere. For my part, I will in no wise hinder him, but shall be well
+pleased if he can find some condition wherein to live according to his
+deserts.�
+
+Robertet was as prompt to bear this answer to the Count as he had been
+to prefer his request to the King. The Count replied that with the
+King�s permission he was resolved to depart, and, like one whom fear
+urges to flight, he did not tarry even four and twenty hours; but,
+just as the King was sitting down to table, came to take leave of him,
+feigning much sorrow that his need should force him from the Royal
+presence.
+
+He also went to take leave of the King�s mother, who parted from him
+no less joyfully than she had formerly received him as a kinsman and
+friend. And thus he returned to his own country; and the King, seeing
+his mother and courtiers in amazement at his sudden departure, told
+them of the fright he had given him, saying that, even if the Count
+were innocent of that which was laid against him, his fear had been
+sufficiently great to constrain him to leave a master whose temper he
+had not yet come to know.
+
+�For my part, ladies, I can see no reason why the King should have been
+moved to risk himself thus against so famous a captain, except that,
+forsaking the company and places where Kings find no inferiors ready to
+give them battle, he desired to place himself on an equal footing with
+one whom he suspected to be his enemy; and this that he might have the
+satisfaction of testing the stoutness and valour of his own heart.�
+
+�Without a doubt,� said Parlamente, �he was in the right; for all the
+praise of man cannot so well satisfy a noble heart as its own particular
+knowledge and experience of the virtues that God has placed in it.�
+
+�The ancients,� said Geburon, �long ago showed us that to reach the
+Temple of Fame it was necessary to pass through the Temple of Virtue,
+and I, who am acquainted with the two persons in your tale, know
+right well that the King is indeed one of the most valiant men in his
+kingdom.�
+
+�By my word,� said Hircan, �at the time when Count William came to
+France, I should have feared his [the King�s] sword more than those of
+the four most accomplished Italian gentlemen at Court.�
+
+�We well know,� said Ennasuite, �that he is too famous for our praises
+to equal his merit, and that the day would be spent before we each could
+say all the good we think of him. And so, madam, I pray you, give your
+vote to one who will tell us some further good of men, if such there
+be.�
+
+Then said Oisille to Hircan--
+
+�It seems to me that, as you are so wont to speak ill of women, you will
+find it easy to tell us some good story in praise of a man. I therefore
+give you my vote.�
+
+�That can I easily do,� said Hircan, �for but a little while since I was
+told a story in praise of a gentleman whose love, constancy and patience
+are so meritorious that I must not suffer them to be forgotten.�
+
+[Illustration: 203.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 205a.jpg The Student escaping the Temptation]
+
+[The Student escaping the Temptation]
+
+[Illustration: 205.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XVIII_.
+
+     _A young student of noble birth, being smitten with love for
+     a very beautiful lady, subdued both love and himself in
+     order to achieve his end, and this in spite of many such
+     temptations as might have sufficed to make him break his
+     promise. And so all his woes were turned to joy by a reward
+     suitable to his constant, patient, loyal and perfect love_.
+     (1)
+
+     1  This story seems to be based on fact, being corroborated
+     in its main lines by Brant�me, but there is nothing in the
+     narrative to admit of the personages referred to being
+     identified.--Ed.
+
+In one of the goodly towns of the kingdom of France there dwelt a
+nobleman of good birth, who attended the schools that he might learn how
+virtue and honour are to be acquired among virtuous men. But although
+he was so accomplished that at the age of seventeen or eighteen years he
+was, as it were, both precept and example to others, Love failed not to
+add his lesson to the rest; and, that he might be the better hearkened
+to and received, concealed himself in the face and the eyes of the
+fairest lady in the whole country round, who had come to the city in
+order to advance a suit-at-law. But before Love sought to vanquish the
+gentleman by means of this lady�s beauty, he had first won her heart by
+letting her see the perfections of this young lord; for in good looks,
+grace, sense and excellence of speech he was surpassed by none.
+
+You, who know what speedy way is made by the fire of love when once it
+fastens on the heart and fancy, will readily imagine that between two
+subjects so perfect as these it knew little pause until it had them at
+its will, and had so filled them with its clear light, that thought,
+wish and speech were all aflame with it. Youth, begetting fear in the
+young lord, led him to urge his suit with all the gentleness imaginable;
+but she, being conquered by love, had no need of force to win her.
+Nevertheless, shame, which tarries with ladies as long as it can,
+for some time restrained her from declaring her mind. But at last the
+heart�s fortress, which is honour�s abode, was shattered in such sort
+that the poor lady consented to that which she had never been minded to
+refuse.
+
+In order, however, to make trial of her lover�s patience, constancy
+and love, she only granted him what he sought on a very hard condition,
+assuring him that if he fulfilled it she would love him perfectly for
+ever; whereas, if he failed in it, he would certainly never win her as
+long as he lived. And the condition was this:--she would be willing to
+talk with him, both being in bed together, clad in their linen only, but
+he was to ask nothing more from her than words and kisses.
+
+He, thinking there was no joy to be compared to that which she promised
+him, agreed to the proposal, and that evening the promise was kept; in
+such wise that, despite all the caresses she bestowed on him and the
+temptations that beset him, he would not break his oath. And albeit his
+torment seemed to him no less than that of Purgatory, yet was his
+love so great and his hope so strong, sure as he felt of the ceaseless
+continuance of the love he had thus painfully won, that he preserved his
+patience and rose from beside her without having done anything contrary
+to her expressed wish. (2)
+
+     2  Brant�me�s _Dames Galantes_ contains an anecdote which is
+     very similar in character to this tale: �I have heard
+     speak,� he writes, �of a very beautiful and honourable lady,
+     who gave her lover an assignation to sleep with her, on the
+     condition that he should not touch her... and he actually
+     obeyed her, remaining in a state of ecstasy, temptation and
+     continence the whole night long; whereat she was so well
+     pleased with him that some time afterwards she consented to
+     become his mistress, giving as her reason that she had
+     wished to prove his love by his obedience to her
+     injunctions; and on this account she afterwards loved him
+     the more, for she felt sure that he was capable of even a
+     greater feat than this, though it were a very great one.�--
+     Lalanne�s _OEuvres de Brant�me_, vol. ix. pp. 6, 7.--L.
+
+The lady was, I think, more astonished than pleased by such virtue; and
+giving no heed to the honour, patience and faithfulness her lover had
+shown in the keeping of his oath, she forthwith suspected that his love
+was not so great as she had thought, or else that he had found her less
+pleasing than he had expected.
+
+She therefore resolved, before keeping her promise, to make a further
+trial of the love he bore her; and to this end she begged him to
+talk to a girl in her service, who was younger than herself and very
+beautiful, bidding him make love speeches to her, so that those who saw
+him come so often to the house might think that it was for the sake of
+this damsel and not of herself.
+
+The young lord, feeling sure that his own love was returned in equal
+measure, was wholly obedient to her commands, and for love of her
+compelled himself to make love to the girl; and she, finding him so
+handsome and well-spoken, believed his lies more than other truth, and
+loved him as much as though she herself were greatly loved by him.
+
+The mistress finding that matters were thus well advanced, albeit the
+young lord did not cease to claim her promise, granted him permission to
+come and see her at one hour after midnight, saying that after having so
+fully tested the love and obedience he had shown towards her, it was but
+just that he should be rewarded for his long patience. Of the lover�s
+joy on hearing this you need have no doubt, and he failed not to arrive
+at the appointed time.
+
+But the lady, still wishing to try the strength of his love, had said to
+her beautiful damsel--
+
+�I am well aware of the love a certain nobleman bears to you, and I
+think you are no less in love with him; and I feel so much pity for you
+both, that I have resolved to afford you time and place that you may
+converse together at your ease.�
+
+The damsel was so enchanted that she could not conceal her longings, but
+answered that she would not fail to be present.
+
+In obedience, therefore, to her mistress�s counsel and command, she
+undressed herself and lay down on a handsome bed, in a room the door of
+which the lady left half-open, whilst within she set a light so that the
+maiden�s beauty might be clearly seen. Then she herself pretended to go
+away, but hid herself near to the bed so carefully that she could not be
+seen.
+
+Her poor lover, thinking to find her according to her promise, failed
+not to enter the room as softly as he could, at the appointed hour; and
+after he had shut the door and put off his garments and fur shoes, he
+got into the bed, where he looked to find what he desired. But no
+sooner did he put out his arms to embrace her whom he believed to be his
+mistress, than the poor girl, believing him entirely her own, had her
+arms round his neck, speaking to him the while in such loving words and
+with so beautiful a countenance, that there is not a hermit so holy but
+he would have forgotten his beads for love of her.
+
+But when the gentleman recognised her with both eye and ear, and found
+he was not with her for whose sake he had so greatly suffered, the love
+that had made him get so quickly into the bed, made him rise from it
+still more quickly. And in anger equally with mistress and damsel, he
+said--
+
+�Neither your folly nor the malice of her who put you there can make
+me other than I am. But do you try to be an honest woman, for you shall
+never lose that good name through me.�
+
+So saying he rushed out of the room in the greatest wrath imaginable,
+and it was long before he returned to see his mistress. However love,
+which is never without hope, assured him that the greater and more
+manifest his constancy was proved to be by all these trials, the longer
+and more delightful would be his bliss.
+
+The lady, who had seen and heard all that passed, was so delighted and
+amazed at beholding the depth and constancy of his love, that she was
+impatient to see him again in order to ask his forgiveness for the
+sorrow that she had caused him to endure. And as soon as she could meet
+with him, she failed not to address him in such excellent and pleasant
+words, that he not only forgot all his troubles but even deemed
+them very fortunate, seeing that their issue was to the glory of his
+constancy and the perfect assurance of his love, the fruit of which he
+enjoyed from that time forth as fully as he could desire, without either
+hindrance or vexation. (3)
+
+     3  In reference to this story, Montaigne says in his Essay
+     on Cruelty: �Such as have sensuality to encounter, willingly
+     make use of this argument, that when it is at the height it
+     subjects us to that degree that a man�s reason can have no
+     access... wherein they conceive that the pleasure doth so
+     transport us that our reason cannot perform its office
+     whilst we are so benumbed and extacied in delight.... But I
+     know that a man may triumph over the utmost effort of this
+     pleasure: I have experienced it in myself, and have not
+     found Venus so imperious a goddess as many--and some more
+     reformed than I--declare. I do not consider it as a miracle,
+     as the Queen of Navarre does in one of the Tales of her
+     _Heptameron_ (which is a marvellous pretty book of the
+     kind), nor for a thing of extreme difficulty to pass over
+     whole nights, where a man has all the convenience and
+     liberty he can desire, with a long-coveted mistress, and yet
+     be just to his faith first given to satisfy himself with
+     kisses and innocent embraces only, without pressing any
+     further.�--Cotton�s �Montaigne�s Essays�, London, 1743, vol
+     ii. pp. 109-10.
+
+�I pray you, ladies, find me if you can a woman who has ever shown
+herself as constant, patient and true as was this man. They who have
+experienced the like temptations deem those in the pictures of Saint
+Antony very small in comparison; for one who can remain chaste and
+patient in spite of beauty, love, opportunity and leisure, will have
+virtue enough to vanquish every devil.�
+
+�Tis a pity,� said Oisille, �that he did not address his love to a woman
+possessing as much virtue as he possessed himself. Their amour would
+then have been the most perfect and honourable that was ever heard of.�
+
+�But prithee tell me,� said Geburon, �which of the two trials do you
+deem the harder?�
+
+�I think the last,� said Parlamente, �for resentment is the strongest of
+all temptations.�
+
+Longarine said she thought that the first was the most arduous to
+sustain, since to keep his promise it was needful he should subdue both
+love and himself.
+
+�It is all very well for you to talk,� said Simontault, �it is for us
+who know the truth of the matter to say what we think of it. For my own
+part, I think he was stupid the first time and witless the second; for
+I make no doubt that, while he was keeping his promise, to his mistress,
+she was put to as much trouble as himself, if not more. She had him take
+the oath only in order to make herself out a more virtuous woman than
+she really was; she must have well known that strong love will not be
+bound by commandment or oath, or aught else on earth, and she simply
+sought to give a show of virtue to her vice, as though she could be won
+only through heroic virtues. And the second time he was witless to leave
+a woman who loved him, and who was worth more than his pledged mistress,
+especially when his displeasure at the trick played upon him had been a
+sound excuse.�
+
+Here Dagoucin put in that he was of the contrary opinion, and held that
+the gentleman had on the first occasion shown himself constant, patient
+and true, and on the second occasion loyal and perfect in his love.
+
+�And how can we tell,� asked Saffredent, �that he was not one of those
+that a certain chapter calls _de frigidis et malificiatis?_� (4)
+
+     4  This is an allusion to the penalties pronounced by
+     several ecclesiastical Councils, and specified in the
+     Capitularies, against those who endeavoured to suspend the
+     procreative faculties of their enemies by resorting to
+     magic. On this matter Baluze�s collection of Capitularies
+     (vol. i.) may be consulted. The �chapter� referred to by
+     Margaret is evidently chapter xv. (book vi.) of the
+     Decretals of Pope Boniface VIII., which bears the title of
+     _De frigidis et maleficiatis_, and which is alluded to by
+     Rabelais in _Pantagruel_. The belief in the practices in
+     question dates back to ancient times, and was shared by
+     Plato and Pliny, the latter of whom says that to guard
+     against any spell of the kind some wolf fat should be rubbed
+     upon the threshold and door jambs of one�s bed-chamber. In
+     the sixteenth century sorcery of this description was so
+     generally believed in, in some parts of France, that
+     Cardinal du Perron inserted special prayers against it in
+     the ritual. Some particulars on the subject will be found in
+     the _Admirables Secrets du Petit Albert_, and also in a
+     _Trait� d�Enchantement_, published at La Rochelle in 1591,
+     which gives details concerning certain practices alleged to
+     take place on the solemnisation of marriage among those of
+     the Reformed Church.--D. and L.
+
+�To complete his eulogy, Hircan ought to have told us how he comported
+himself when he obtained what he wanted, and then we should have been
+able to judge whether it was virtue or impotence that made him observe
+so much discretion.�
+
+�You may be sure,� said Hircan, �that had he told me this I should have
+concealed it as little as I did the rest. Nevertheless, from seeing his
+person and knowing his temper, I shall ever hold that his conduct was
+due to the power of love rather than to any impotence or coldness.�
+
+�Well, if he was such as you say,� said Simontault, �he ought to have
+broken his oath; for, had the lady been angered by such a trifle, it
+would have been easy to appease her.�
+
+�Nay,� said Ennasuite, �perhaps she would not then have consented.�
+
+�And pray,� said Saffredent, �would it not have been easy enough to
+compel her, since she had herself given him the opportunity?�
+
+�By Our Lady!� said Nomerfide, �how you run on! Is that the way to win
+the favour of a lady who is accounted virtuous and discreet?�
+
+�In my opinion,� said Saffredent, �the highest honour that can be paid
+to a woman from whom such things are desired is to take her by force,
+for there is not the pettiest damsel among them but seeks to be long
+entreated. Some indeed there are who must receive many gifts before they
+are won, whilst there are others so stupid that hardly any device or
+craft can enable one to win them, and with these one must needs be ever
+thinking of some means or other. But when you have to do with a woman
+who is too clever to be deceived, and too virtuous to be gained by words
+or gifts, is there not good reason to employ any means whatever that may
+be at your disposal to vanquish her? When you hear it said that a man
+has taken a woman by force, you may be sure that the woman has left him
+hopeless of any other means succeeding, and you should not think any
+the worse of a man who has risked his life in order to give scope to his
+love.�
+
+Geburon burst out laughing.
+
+�In my day,� said he, �I have seen besieged places stormed because it
+was impossible to bring the garrison to a parley either by money or by
+threats; �tis said that a place which begins to treat is half taken.�
+
+�You may think,� said Ennasuite, �that every love on earth is based upon
+such follies as these, but there are those who have loved, and who have
+long persevered in their love, with very different aims.�
+
+�If you know a story of that kind,� said Hircan, �I will give place to
+you for the telling of it.�
+
+�I do know one,� said Ennasuite, �and I will very willingly relate it.�
+
+[Illustration: 216.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+
+
+
+A. (Tale VIII., Page i.)
+
+Tales of a similar character to this will be found in the following
+works written prior to Margaret�s time:--
+
+Legrand d�Aussy�s collection of _Fabliaux ou Contes du XII�me et XIII�me
+si�cles_ (vol. iii.).
+
+Boccaccio�s _Decameron_ (day viii., story iv.).
+
+Enguerrand d�Oisy�s _Le Meunier d�Aleu_.
+
+Poggio�s _Facetio ( Vir sibi cornua promovens)_.
+
+Sacchetti�s _Novelle_ (vol. ii., No. ccvi.).
+
+Morlini�s _Novelle_ (No. lxxix.).
+
+_Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles_ (story ix.).
+
+Malespini�s _Ducento Novelle_ (part ii., No. xcvi.).
+
+Of the foregoing, says M. de Montaiglon, Margaret could only have been
+acquainted with the _Decameron_, the _Cent Nouvelles_, and Poggio�s
+_Facetio_, which had been translated into French by Tardix (see Nos. cv.
+and ex. of that translation).
+
+A similar story in Latin verse is also contained in a fourteenth century
+MS. at Monte Cassino. See _I codici e le arti a Monte Cassino_, by D.
+Andrea Caravita (vol. ii. p. 289).
+
+Since Margaret�s time stories of the same character have appeared in the
+following works:--
+
+Melander�s _Jocondia_ (p. 298).
+
+Phil. B�roalde�s _Contes Latins_ (see _Poggii Imitationes_, Noel�s �d.,
+vol. ii. p. 245).
+
+Guicciardini�s _Hore di Recreazione_ (p. 103).
+
+J. Bouchet�s _Ser�es_ (No. 8; Roybet�s �d., vol. ii. p. 115).
+
+Gabrielle Chapuys� _Fac�tieuses Journ�es_ (p. 213).
+
+La Fontaine�s _Contes_ (book v., No. viii.:_ Les Quiproquo_). _Le
+Passe-Temps Agr�able_ (p. 27).
+
+Moreover, a song written on the same subject will be found, says M.
+de Lincy, on folio 44 of the _Premier Recueil de toutes les chansons
+nouvelles_ (Troyes, Nicholas du Ruau, 1590). It is there called �The
+facetious and recreative story of a certain labourer of a village near
+Paris, who, thinking that he was enjoying his servant, lay with his
+wife.� This song was reprinted in various other collections of the
+sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
+
+
+
+
+B (Tale XL (B.), Page 95.)
+
+An anecdote in keeping with this story will be found in Brant�me�s
+miscellaneous works (Petitot�s �d., vol. viii. pp. 382-4). The author
+of _Les Dames Galantes_, after alluding to his aunt Louise de
+Bourdeille--who was brought up at Court by Anne of Brittany--proceeds to
+say:--
+
+�A certain Grey Friar, who habitually preached before the Queen, fell so
+deeply in love with Mademoiselle de Bourdeille that he completely lost
+his wits, and sometimes in his sermons, whilst speaking of the beauty
+of the holy virgins of past times, he would so forget himself as to say
+some words respecting the beauty of my said aunt, not to mention the
+soft glances which he cast at her. And sometimes, whilst in the Queen�s
+room, he would take great pleasure in discoursing to her, not with words
+of love however, for he would have incurred a whipping, but with other
+covert words which tended towards love. My aunt in no wise approved
+of his discourses, and made some mention of them to her own and her
+companions� governess. The Queen heard of the matter and could not
+believe it, on account of this man�s cloth and holiness. For this reason
+she kept silent until a certain Good Friday, when, in accordance with
+custom, this friar preached before her on the Holy Passion. The ladies
+and the maids, including my aunt, being seated as was their wont before
+the reverend father, in full view of him, he, as though giving out the
+text and introit of his sermon, began to say: �It is for you, lovely
+humanity, it is for you that I suffer this day. Thus on a certain
+occasion spake our Lord Jesus Christ.� Then proceeding with his sermon
+the friar chronicled all the sufferings and afflictions which Jesus
+endured for mankind at His death upon the Cross, and these he compared
+to the sufferings that he himself endured on account of my aunt; but in
+such covert, such disguised words that even the most enlightened might
+have failed to understand their meaning. Queen Anne, however, who was
+very expert both in mind and judgment, laid hold of this, and took
+counsel as to the real meaning of the sermon, both with certain lords
+and ladies and certain learned men who were there present. They all
+pronounced the sermon to be most scandalous, and the Grey Friar most
+deserving of punishment; for which reason he was secretly chastised and
+whipped, and then driven away, without any scandal being made. Such was
+the Queen�s reply to the amours of this Grey Friar; and thus was my aunt
+well avenged on him for the way in which he had so often importuned her.
+In those times it was not allowable, under divers penalties, either to
+contradict or to refuse to speak to such people, who, so it was thought,
+conversed only of God and the salvation of the soul.�
+
+In M�rim�e�s Chronique de Charles IX., there will be found a facetious
+sermon by another Grey Friar; this, however, is less in keeping with the
+_Heptameron_, than with the character of the discourses delivered by the
+preachers of the League.--M.
+
+
+
+
+C. (Tale XII., Page 101.)
+
+The following account of the assassination of Alexander de� Medici is
+taken from Sismondi�s _Histoire des R�publiques Italiennes du Moyen
+Age_, Paris, 1826, vol. xvi. p. 95 et seq.:--
+
+�But few months had elapsed since Alexander�s marriage, and he had
+employed them in his wonted debauchery, carrying depravity and dishonour
+alternately into the convents and noblest abodes of Florence, when, on
+January 6, 1537, he was assassinated by the man whom, of all men, he
+the least mistrusted. This was his cousin, Lorenzino de� Medici....
+Lorenzino had already helped Alexander to seduce several women of noble
+birth; and to facilitate his assignations had often lent him his house,
+which adjoined the ducal residence in the Via Larga. He engaged to bring
+the Duke the wife of Leonardo Ginori--sister to his own mother, but much
+younger than she was. Alexander had long been struck with this lady�s
+beauty, but so far she had virtuously repulsed him. After supper,
+however, on the day of the feast of the Epiphany, when the Carnival
+begins, Lorenzino informed the Duke that if he would repair to his
+house, unaccompanied and observing the greatest secrecy, he would find
+Catherine Ginori there. Alexander accepted the assignation, dismissed
+all his guards, rid himself of all those who wished to keep a watch upon
+him, and entered Lorenzino�s house without being perceived. He was tired
+and wished to rest awhile, but before throwing himself on the bed he
+unbuckled his sword, and Lorenzino, on taking it from him to hang it
+at the head of the bedstead, wound the belt around the hilt in such a
+fashion that the weapon could not be easily drawn from its scabbard.
+After telling the Duke to rest whilst he went to fetch his aunt, he
+went away, locking the door of the room behind him; but returned shortly
+afterwards with a spadassin, nicknamed Scoronconcolo, whom he had
+previously engaged, for the purpose, he said, of ridding him of a great
+personage of the Court whose name he had prudently not given. In fact
+Lorenzino had carried his design to the very point of execution without
+taking a single person into his confidence. On returning into the room,
+followed by Scoronconcolo, he called to the Duke: �Are you asleep, my
+lord?� and at the same moment transpierced him with a short sword which
+he was carrying. Alexander, although mortally wounded, tried to resist
+his murderer, whereupon Lorenzino, to prevent him from crying out,
+thrust two of his fingers into his mouth, at the same time exclaiming:
+�Be not afraid, my lord.� Alexander, it appears, bit his assailant�s
+fingers with all the strength of his jaws, and holding him in a tight
+embrace, rolled with him about the bed, so that Scoronconcolo was unable
+to strike the one without striking the other. He endeavoured to get at
+the Duke from between Lorenzino�s legs, but only succeeded in piercing
+the mattress, till at last he remembered that he had a knife about him,
+and drove it into the Duke�s throat, turning it round and round until he
+eventually killed him. (1)
+
+     1  Bened. Varchi, lib. xv.; Bern. Segni, 1. vii.; Filippo de
+     Nerli, 1. xii.; Gio. Batt. Adriani, 1. i.; Scipione
+     Ammirato, 1. xxxi.; Pauli Jovii. Hist. 1. xxxviii.; Istorie
+     di Marco Guazzo, fol. 159.
+
+�Lorenzino failed to reap the fruits of the crime, which he had planned
+with so much skill and such profound secrecy. By the life he had led, he
+had aroused the distrust of all honest folks, he had no friends to whom
+he could apply for advice or help, he had no party behind him, he had
+never been known to display that zeal for liberty which he subsequently
+affected. Although he was the first of the Medici in the order of
+succession, no one thought of him. For his own part, he only thought of
+ensuring his safety. He locked the door of the room, taking the key away
+with him, and having obtained an order for the city gates to be opened,
+and for post-horses to be provided for him, under pretence that he had
+just learned that his brother was ill, in the country, he started for
+Bologna, whence he proceeded to Venice, accompanied by Scoronconcolo.�
+
+
+
+
+D. (Tale XVI., Page 183.)
+
+With reference to this story Brant�me writes as follows in the Sixth
+Discourse of his _Vies des Dames Galantes_:--
+
+�In the hundred stories of Queen Margaret of Navarre we have a very fine
+tale of that lady of Milan who, having one night given an assignation to
+the late M. de Bonnivet, afterwards Admiral of France, posted her maids
+with drawn swords on the stairs so that they might make a noise there;
+which they did right well, in obedience to the orders of their mistress,
+who for her part feigned great affright, saying that her brothers-in-law
+must have remarked something amiss, that she herself was lost, and that
+he, Bonnivet, ought to hide under the bed or behind the hangings. But M.
+de Bonnivet, without evincing any fear, wrapped his cape round his arm,
+and taking his sword replied: �Well, where are these brave brothers who
+want to frighten me, or do me harm? When they see me they will not even
+dare to look at the point of my sword.� Then opening the door he rushed
+out, and just as he was about to charge down the staircase he espied the
+women making all this noise; and they, taking fright at sight of him,
+began to cry out and confess everything. M. de Bonnivet, seeing that it
+was nothing more serious, left them, bidding them betake themselves to
+the devil; and then, returning into the room, he closed the door after
+him and went to find his lady, who began to laugh and embrace him, and
+confess to him that it was a trick devised by herself, assuring him that
+if he had behaved as a poltroon, and had not thus displayed the valour
+which he was said to possess, he should never have had her favours....
+She was one of the most beautiful women of Milan, and he had had a deal
+of trouble to win her.
+
+�I knew a brave gentleman who, one day at Rome, was alone with a pretty
+Roman lady--her husband being away--and she gave him a similar alarm,
+causing one of her women to come in hastily to warn her that her husband
+had returned from the country. The lady, feigning astonishment, begged
+the gentleman to hide himself in a closet, as otherwise she would be
+lost. �No, no,� said the gentleman; �I would not do that for all the
+wealth in the world; if he comes I will kill him.� And as he seized upon
+his sword the lady began to laugh and confess that she had contrived
+this to try him so as to see how he would act, and if he would defend
+her well should her husband seek to do her any harm.
+
+�I also knew a very beautiful lady who suddenly left a lover she
+had, because she did not find him brave, and took another who did not
+resemble him, but who was extremely feared and redoubted on account
+of his sword, he being one of the best swordsmen that could then be
+found.�--Lalanne�s _OEuvres de Brant�me_, vol. ix. pp. 388-90.
+
+
+
+
+E. (Tale XVII., Page 195.)
+
+Brantome, in the Thirtieth Discourse of his _Capitaines �trangers_,
+writes of Furstemberg as follows:--
+
+�Count William von Furstemberg was accounted a good and valiant captain,
+and would have been more highly esteemed had he not been deficient in
+faith, over greedy and too much addicted to pillage, as he showed once
+in France, when he passed along with his troops; for after his passage
+there was nothing left. He served King Francis for the space of six or
+seven years [not more than six.--Ed.] with some five companies always
+numbering from six to seven thousand men; however, after this long term
+of services, or rather ravages and pillage, he was suspected of having
+designs against the King�s person, as I have elsewhere related, and
+those who would learn more of the matter will find the story in
+the hundred tales of Queen Margaret of Navarre, wherein the valour,
+generosity and magnanimity of that great King are clearly shown. The
+other, in great fear, left his service and entered that of the Emperor
+(Charles V.). If he had not been related to Madame la R�gente (Louise
+of Savoy), through the House of Saxony, whence sprang that of Savoy,
+he would possibly have met with the fate he merited, had the King
+been minded to it; but on this occasion the King wished to show his
+magnanimity rather than have him put to death by the officers of
+justice. Again the King pardoned him when, on the arrival of the Emperor
+at St. Dizier in Champagne, he was taken, sounding the river Marne, (2)
+which he had on other occasions well reconnoitred, in coming to or on
+leaving France with his troops. He was on this occasion merely sent to
+the Bastille, and got quit for a ransom of 30,000 crowns. Some great
+captains said and opined that he ought not to have been thus treated as
+a prisoner of war but as a real vile spy, for he had professedly acted
+as such; and they said, moreover, that he got off too cheaply at such
+a ransom, which did not represent the smallest of the larcenies that he
+had perpetrated in France.�--Lalanne�s _OEuvres de Brant�me_, vol. i.
+pp. 349-50.
+
+Prior to this affair Furstemberg apparently showed some regret for his
+earlier schemes against Francis I., for Queen Margaret, writing to her
+brother in 1536, remarked:--
+
+�Count William has asked me to write and tell you that there is a great
+difference between the shameful purgatory of Italy and the glorious
+paradise of this camp, (3) and he spoke to me of his past misdeeds,
+which I would rather he should speak of to you,� &c.--G�nin�s _Lettres
+de Marguerite_, p. 321.
+
+     2  This occurred in September 1544. From an unpublished MS.
+     in the public library at Rheims it appears that Furstemberg
+     was wearing a disguise when captured. The Emperor had sent
+     him forward expressly to sound the river. Another
+     unpublished MS. at the Biblioth�que Nationale, Paris (_anc.
+     fol._ 8561. f. 22), gives some particulars of his operations
+     about this time.--Ed.
+
+     3  That of Avignon. See vol. i. p. liv.--Ed.
+
+In a poetic epistle sent by Margaret to Francis I. in January 1543, to
+celebrate the New Year, there is an allusion to a �Conte Guillaume,�
+ whom Messrs. de Lincy and Montaiglon conjecture to be Furstemberg,
+though other commentators think that the Queen refers to William Poyet,
+the dishonest chancellor, who was sent to the Bastille in 1542 for
+peculation. We share, however, the opinion of Messrs. de Lincy and
+Montaiglon, as in various contemporary MSS. which we have referred to,
+we have frequently found Furstemberg alluded to as �Conte� and
+�Comte Guillaume,� without any mention of his surname. The passage in
+Margaret�s epistle alluded to above may be thus rendered in prose:--
+
+�God, fighting for the King in every spot, curses his enemies and brings
+them to shame and ruin, so that none hold them of account; as witness
+�Compte [�Conte� in the MS.] Guillaume,� who, in serving the King and
+the kingdom, became rich, feared and highly esteemed. Now, however, a
+fugitive, poor and contemned, he may well meditate as to whence came his
+honours, who it was that maintained him wealthy, happy and feared;
+and thus it is that all the King�s enemies are cursed by God in
+Paradise.�--_Les Marguerites de la Marguerite_, 1873, vol. ii. p. 203.
+
+Apropos of Furstemberg the following entry occurs in M. de Laborde�s
+_Comptes des B�timents du Roi_ (vol. ii. p. 229):--
+
+�Paid to Francis de Cadenet, doctor to Count William of Furstemberg,
+as a gift and favour for his services, 30 crowns, value 67 livres 10
+sols.�--L., M. and Ed.
+
+
+END OF VOL. II.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II.
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+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+
+<!DOCTYPE html
+   PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+   "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" >
+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" />
+    <title>
+      The Heptameron, Volume II.
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve">
+
+    body { margin:5%; background:#faebd7; text-align:justify}
+    P { text-indent: 2em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; }
+    H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; }
+    hr  { width: 50%; text-align: center;}
+    .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; }
+    blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;}
+    .mynote    {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;}
+    .toc       { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;}
+    .toc2      { margin-left: 20%;}
+    div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; }
+    pre     { font-family: Times; font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;}
+
+</style>
+  </head>
+  <body>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II. (of
+V.), by Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II. (of V.)
+
+Author: Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
+
+Illustrator: Freudenberg and Dunker
+
+Translator: George Saintsbury: From The Authentic Text
+Of M. Le Roux De Lincy With An Essay Upon The Heptameron by the Translator
+
+Release Date: February 7, 2006 [EBook #17702]
+Last Updated: September 9, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALES OF THE HEPTAMERON ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img alt="cover (92K)" src="images/cover.jpg" width="100%" />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img alt="spines (63K)" src="images/spines.jpg" width="100%" />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <h1>
+      THE TALES OF<br /> THE HEPTAMERON<br /> <br /> OF<br /> <br /> Margaret, Queen
+      of Navarre
+    </h1>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <h3>
+      <i>Newly Translated into English from the Authentic Text</i> <br /> <br />
+      OF M. LE ROUX DE LINCY WITH <br /> <br /> AN ESSAY UPON THE HEPTAMERON <br />
+      BY <br /> GEORGE SAINTSBURY, M.A. <br /> <br /> Also the Original
+      Seventy-three Full Page Engravings <br /> Designed by S. FREUDENBERG <br />
+      <br /> And One Hundred and Fifty Head and Tail Pieces <br /> By DUNKER<br />
+      <br /> <i>IN FIVE VOLUMES</i>
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <h2>
+      VOLUME THE SECOND
+    </h2>
+    <h4>
+      LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY OF ENGLISH BIBLIOPHILISTS <br /> MDCCCXCIV
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+     <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto" cellpadding="4" border="3">
+      <tbody>
+        <tr>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17701/17701-h/17701-h.htm">Volume
+            I.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17703/17703-h/17703-h.htm">Volume
+            III.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17704/17704-h/17704-h.htm">Volume
+            IV.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17705/17705-h/17705-h.htm">Volume
+            V.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+        </tr>
+      </tbody>
+    </table>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br /> <a name="linkimage-0001" id="linkimage-0001">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="100%" alt="Frontispiece " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [Margaret, Queen of Navarre, from a crayon drawing by Clouet, preserved at
+      the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0002" id="linkimage-0002">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/titlepage.jpg" width="100%" alt="Titlepage " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <blockquote>
+      <h2>
+        Contents
+      </h2>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> <i><b>FIRST DAY, Continued</b></i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> <i>TALE VIII</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> <i>TALE IX</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> <i>TALE X</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> <b>SECOND DAY.</b> </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_PROL"> PROLOGUE. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> <i>TALE XI.</i> (A). </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> <i>TALE XI.</i> (B). </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> <i>TALE XII</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> <i>TALE XIII</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> <i>TALE XIV</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> <i>TALE XV</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> <i>TALE XVI</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> <i>TALE XVII</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> <i>TALE XVIII</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_APPE"> <b>APPENDIX.</b> </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> A. (Tale VIII., Page i.) </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> B (Tale XL (B.), Page 95.) </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> C. (Tale XII., Page 101.) </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> D. (Tale XVI., Page 183.) </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> E. (Tale XVII., Page 195.) </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br /> <br />
+      </p>
+      <hr />
+      <p>
+        <br /> <br />
+      </p>
+      <h2>
+        List of Illustrations
+      </h2>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0001"> Frontispiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0002"> Titlepage </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0003"> 001a.jpg Bornet&rsquo;s Concern on Discovering That
+        his Wife Is Without Her Ring </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0004"> 001.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0005"> 012.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0006"> 013a.jpg the Dying Gentleman Receiving The
+        Embraces Of His Sweetheart </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0007"> 013.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0008"> 024.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0009"> 025a.jpg the Countess Asking an Explanation
+        from Amadour </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0010"> 025.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0011"> 083.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0012"> 089.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0013"> 093.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0014"> 095a.jpg the Grey Friar Telling his Tales
+        </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0015"> 095.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0016"> 100.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0017"> 101a.jpg the Gentleman Killing The Duke </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0018"> 101.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0019"> 117.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0020"> 119a.jpg the Sea-captain Talking to The Lady
+        </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0021"> 119.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0022"> 140.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0023"> 141a.jpg Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0024"> 141.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0025"> 155.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0026"> 157a.jpg the Lady Taking Oath As to Her
+        Conduct </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0027"> 157.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0028"> 182.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0029"> 183a.jpg the Gentleman Discovering The Trick
+        </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0030"> 183.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0031"> 193.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0032"> 195a.jpg the King Showing his Sword </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0033"> 195.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0034"> 203.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0035"> 205a.jpg the Student Escaping The Temptation
+        </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0036"> 205.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0037"> 216.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+    </blockquote>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_TOC" id="link2H_TOC">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      DETAILED CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.
+    </h2>
+    <blockquote>
+      <p>
+        <i><b>FIRST DAY&mdash;Continued.</b></i> <br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0002">Tale
+        VIII.</a> The misadventure of Bornet, who, planning with a friend of
+        <br /> his that both should lie with a serving-woman, discovers too late
+        that <br /> they have had to do with his own wife. <br /><br /> <a
+        href="#link2H_4_0003">Tale IX.</a> The evil fortune of a gentleman of
+        Dauphiné, who dies of <br /> despair because he cannot marry a damsel
+        nobler and richer than himself. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0004">Tale
+        X.</a> The Spanish story of Florida, who, after withstanding the love
+        <br /> of a gentleman named Amadour for many years, eventually becomes a
+        nun. <br /><br /> <br /> <i><b>SECOND DAY</b></i>. <br /> Prologue <br /><br />
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0007">Tale XI. (A).</a> Mishap of the Lady de Roncex
+        in the Grey Friars&rsquo; Convent <br /> at Thouars. <br /><br /> <a
+        href="#link2H_4_0008">Tale XI. (B)</a>. Facetious discourse of a Friar
+        of Touraine. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0009">Tale XII.</a> Story of
+        Alexander de&rsquo; Medici, Duke of Florence, whom his <br /> cousin, Lorenzino
+        de&rsquo; Medici, slew in order to save his sister&rsquo;s honour. <br /><br /> <a
+        href="#link2H_4_0010">Tale XIII.</a> Praiseworthy artifice of a lady to
+        whom a sea Captain sent <br /> a letter and diamond ring, and who, by
+        forwarding them to the Captain&rsquo;s <br /> wife as though they had been
+        intended for her, united husband and wife <br /> once more in all
+        affection. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0011">Tale XIV.</a> The Lord of
+        Bonnivet, after furthering the love entertained <br /> by an Italian
+        gentleman for a lady of Milan, finds means to take <br /> the other&rsquo;s
+        place and so supplant him with the lady who had formerly <br /> rejected
+        himself. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0012">Tale XV.</a> The troubles
+        and evil fortune of a virtuous lady who, after <br /> being long
+        neglected by her husband, becomes the object of his jealousy. <br /><br />
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0013">Tale XVI.</a> Story of a Milanese Countess,
+        who, after long rejecting the <br /> love of a French gentleman, rewards
+        him at last for his faithfulness, <br /> but not until she has put his
+        courage to the proof. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0014">Tale XVII.</a>
+        The noble manner in which King Francis the First shows Count <br />
+        William of Furstemberg that he knows of the plans laid by him against
+        <br /> his life, and so compels him to do justice upon himself and to
+        leave <br /> France. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0015">Tale XVIII.</a>
+        A young gentleman scholar at last wins a lady&rsquo;s love, after <br />
+        enduring successfully two trials that she had made of him. <br /><br /> <b><a
+        href="#link2H_APPE">Appendix to Vol. II</a></b> <br />
+      </p>
+    </blockquote>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br /> <a name="linkimage-0003" id="linkimage-0003">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/001a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="001a.jpg Bornet&rsquo;s Concern on Discovering That his Wife Is Without Her Ring " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [Bornet&rsquo;s Concern on discovering that his Wife is without her Ring]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0004" id="linkimage-0004">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/001.jpg" width="100%" alt="001.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE VIII</i>.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>A certain Bornet, less loyal to his wife than she to him,
+     desired to lie with his maidservant, and made his enterprise
+     known to a friend, who, hoping to share in the spoil, so
+     aided and abetted him, that whilst the husband thought to
+     lie with his servant he in truth lay with his wife. Unknown
+     to the latter, he then caused his friend to participate in
+     the pleasure which rightly belonged to himself alone, and
+     thus made himself a cuckold without there being any guilt on
+     the part of his wife.</i> (1)
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In the county of Alletz (2) there lived a man named Bornet, who being
+      married to an upright and virtuous wife, had great regard for her honour
+      and reputation, as I believe is the case with all the husbands here
+      present in respect to their own wives. But although he desired that she
+      should be true to him, he was not willing that the same law should apply
+      to both, for he fell in love with his maid-servant, from whom he had
+      nothing to gain save the pleasure afforded by a diversity of viands.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  For a list of tales similar to this one, see <i>post</i>,
+     Appendix A.
+
+     2  Alletz, now Alais, a town of Lower Languedoc (department
+     of the Gard), lies on the Gardon, at the foot of the
+     Cevennes mountains. It was formerly a county, the title
+     having been held by Charles, Duke of Angoulême, natural son
+     of Charles IX.&mdash;M.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Now he had a neighbour of the same condition as his own, named Sandras, a
+      tabourer (3) and tailor by trade, and there was such friendship between
+      them that, excepting Bornet&rsquo;s wife, they had all things in common. It thus
+      happened that Bornet told his friend of the enterprise he had in hand
+      against the maid-servant; and Sandras not only approved of it, but gave
+      all the assistance he could to further its accomplishment, hoping that he
+      himself might share in the spoil.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3 Tabourers are still to be found in some towns of Lower
+     Languedoc and in most of those of Provence, where they
+     perambulate the streets playing their instruments. They are
+     in great request at all the country weddings and other
+     festive gatherings, as their instruments supply the
+     necessary accompaniment to the ancient Provençal dance, the
+     <i>farandole</i>.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The maid-servant, however, was loth to consent, and finding herself hard
+      pressed, she went to her mistress, told her of the matter, and begged
+      leave to go home to her kinsfolk, since she could no longer endure to live
+      in such torment. Her mistress, who had great love for her husband and had
+      often suspected him, was well pleased to have him thus at a disadvantage,
+      and to be able to show that she had doubted him justly. Accordingly, she
+      said to the servant&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Remain, my girl, but lead my husband on by degrees, and at last make an
+      appointment to lie with him in my closet. Do not fail to tell me on what
+      night he is to come, and see that no one knows anything about it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The maid-servant did all that her mistress had commanded her, and her
+      master in great content went to tell the good news to his friend. The
+      latter then begged that, since he had been concerned in the business, he
+      might have part in the result. This was promised him, and, when the
+      appointed hour was come, the master went to lie, as he thought, with the
+      maid-servant; but his wife, yielding up the authority of commanding for
+      the pleasure of obeying, had put herself in the servant&rsquo;s place, and she
+      received him, not in the manner of a wife, but after the fashion of a
+      frightened maid. This she did so well that her husband suspected nothing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I cannot tell you which of the two was the better pleased, he at the
+      thought that he was deceiving his wife, or she at really deceiving her
+      husband. When he had remained with her, not as long as he wished, but
+      according to his powers, which were those of a man who had long been
+      married, he went out of doors, found his friend, who was much younger and
+      lustier than himself, and told him gleefully that he had never met with
+      better fortune. &ldquo;You know what you promised me,&rdquo; said his friend to him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Go quickly then,&rdquo; replied the husband, &ldquo;for she may get up, or my wife
+      have need of her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The friend went off and found the supposed maid-servant, who, thinking her
+      husband had returned, denied him nothing that he asked of her, or rather
+      took, for he durst not speak. He remained with her much longer than her
+      husband had done, whereat she was greatly astonished, for she had not been
+      wont to pass such nights. Nevertheless, she endured it all with patience,
+      comforting herself with the thought of what she would say to him on the
+      morrow, and of the ridicule that she would cast upon him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Towards daybreak the man rose from beside her, and toying with her as he
+      was going away, snatched from her finger the ring with which her husband
+      had espoused her, and which the women of that part of the country guard
+      with great superstition. She who keeps it till her death is held in high
+      honour, while she who chances to lose it, is thought lightly of as a
+      person who has given her faith to some other than her husband.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The wife, however, was very glad to have it taken, thinking it would be a
+      sure proof of how she had deceived her husband. When the friend returned,
+      the husband asked him how he had fared. He replied that he was of the same
+      opinion as himself, and that he would have remained longer had he not
+      feared to be surprised by daybreak. Then they both went to the friend&rsquo;s
+      house to take as long a rest as they could. In the morning, while they
+      were dressing, the husband perceived the ring that his friend had on his
+      finger, and saw that it was exactly like the one he had given to his wife
+      at their marriage. He thereupon asked his friend from whom he had received
+      the ring, and when he heard he had snatched it from the servant&rsquo;s finger,
+      he was confounded and began to strike his head against the wall, saying&mdash;&ldquo;Ah!
+      good Lord! have I made myself a cuckold without my wife knowing anything
+      about it?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Perhaps,&rdquo; said his friend in order to comfort him, &ldquo;your wife gives her
+      ring into the maid&rsquo;s keeping at night-time.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The husband made no reply, but took himself home, where he found his wife
+      fairer, more gaily dressed, and merrier than usual, like one who rejoiced
+      at having saved her maid&rsquo;s conscience, and tested her husband to the full,
+      at no greater cost than a night&rsquo;s sleep. Seeing her so cheerful, the
+      husband said to himself&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If she knew of my adventure she would not show me such a pleasant
+      countenance.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, whilst speaking to her of various matters, he took her by the hand,
+      and on noticing that she no longer wore the ring, which she had never been
+      accustomed to remove from her finger, he was quite overcome.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What have you done with your ring?&rdquo; he asked her in a trembling voice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She, well pleased that he gave her an opportunity to say what she desired,
+      replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;O wickedest of men! From whom do you imagine you took it? You thought it
+      was from my maid-servant, for love of whom you expended more than twice as
+      much of your substance as you ever did for me. The first time you came to
+      bed I thought you as much in love as it was possible to be; but after you
+      had gone out and were come back again, you seemed to be a very devil.
+      Wretch! think how blind you must have been to bestow such praises on my
+      person and lustiness, which you have long enjoyed without holding them in
+      any great esteem. &lsquo;Twas, therefore, not the maid-servant&rsquo;s beauty that
+      made the pleasure so delightful to you, but the grievous sin of lust which
+      so consumes your heart and so clouds your reason that in the frenzy of
+      your love for the servant you would, I believe, have taken a she-goat in a
+      nightcap for a comely girl! Now, husband, it is time to amend your life,
+      and, knowing me to be your wife, and an honest woman, to be as content
+      with me as you were when you took me for a pitiful strumpet. What I did
+      was to turn you from your evil ways, so that in your old age we might live
+      together in true love and repose of conscience. If you purpose to continue
+      your past life, I had rather be severed from you than daily see before my
+      eyes the ruin of your soul, body, and estate. But if you will acknowledge
+      the evil of your ways, and resolve to live in fear of God and obedience to
+      His commandments, I will forget all your past sins, as I trust God will
+      forget my ingratitude in not loving Him as I ought to do.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      If ever man was reduced to despair it was this unhappy husband. Not only
+      had he abandoned this sensible, fair, and chaste wife for a woman who did
+      not love him, but, worse than this, he had without her knowledge made her
+      a strumpet by causing another man to participate in the leasure which
+      should have been for himself alone; and thus he had made himself horns of
+      everlasting derision. However, seeing his wife in such wrath by reason of
+      the love he had borne his maid-servant, he took care not to tell her of
+      the evil trick that he had played her; and entreating her forgiveness,
+      with promises of full amendment of his former evil life, he gave her back
+      the ring which he had recovered from his friend. He entreated the latter
+      not to reveal his shame; but, as what is whispered in the ear is always
+      proclaimed from the housetop, the truth, after a time, became known, and
+      men called him cuckold without imputing any shame to his wife.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It seems to me, ladies, that if all those who have committed like
+      offences against their wives were to be punished in the same way, Hircan
+      and Saffredent would have great cause for fear.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, Longarine,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;are none in the company married save
+      Hircan and I?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, indeed there are others,&rdquo; she replied, &ldquo;but none who would play a
+      similar trick.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Whence did you learn,&rdquo; asked Saffredent, &ldquo;that we ever solicited our
+      wives&rsquo; maid-servants?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If the ladies who are in question,&rdquo; said Longarine, &ldquo;were willing to
+      speak the truth, we should certainly hear of maid-servants dismissed
+      without notice.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;you are a most worthy lady! You promised to make
+      the company laugh, and yet are angering these two poor gentlemen.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Tis all one,&rdquo; said Longarine: &ldquo;so long as they do not draw their swords,
+      their anger will only serve to increase our laughter.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A pretty business indeed!&rdquo; said Hircan. &ldquo;Why, if our wives chose to
+      believe this lady, she would embroil the seemliest household in the
+      company.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am well aware before whom I speak,&rdquo; said Longarine. &ldquo;Your wives are so
+      sensible and bear you so much love, that if you were to give them horns as
+      big as those of a deer, they would nevertheless try to persuade themselves
+      and every one else that they were chaplets of roses.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At this the company, and even those concerned, laughed so heartily that
+      their talk came to an end. However, Dagoucin, who had not yet uttered a
+      word, could not help saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Men are very unreasonable when, having enough to content themselves with
+      at home, they go in search of something else. I have often seen people
+      who, not content with sufficiency, have aimed at bettering themselves, and
+      have fallen into a worse position than they were in before. Such persons
+      receive no pity, for fickleness is always blamed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But what say you to those who have not found their other half?&rdquo; asked
+      Simontault. &ldquo;Do you call it fickleness to seek it wherever it may be
+      found?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since it is impossible,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;for a man to know the
+      whereabouts of that other half with whom there would be such perfect union
+      that one would not differ from the other, he should remain steadfast
+      wherever love has attached him. And whatsoever may happen, he should
+      change neither in heart nor in desire. If she whom you love be the image
+      of yourself, and there be but one will between you, it is yourself you
+      love, and not her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dagoucin,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;you are falling into error. You speak as though
+      we should love women without being loved in return.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Hircan,&rdquo; replied Dagoucin, &ldquo;I hold that if our love be based on the
+      beauty, grace, love, and favour of a woman, and our purpose be pleasure,
+      honour, or profit, such love cannot long endure; for when the foundation
+      on which it rests is gone, the love itself departs from us. But I am
+      firmly of opinion that he who loves with no other end or desire than to
+      love well, will sooner yield up his soul in death than suffer his great
+      love to leave his heart.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In faith,&rdquo; said Simontault, &ldquo;I do not believe that you have ever been in
+      love. If you had felt the flame like other men, you would not now be
+      picturing to us Plato&rsquo;s <i>Republic</i>, which may be described in writing
+      but not be put into practice.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay, I have been in love,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;and am so still, and shall
+      continue so as long as I live. But I am in such fear lest the
+      manifestation of this love should impair its perfection, that I shrink
+      from declaring it even to her from whom I would fain have the like
+      affection. I dare not even think of it lest my eyes should reveal it, for
+      the more I keep my flame secret and hidden, the more does my pleasure
+      increase at knowing that my love is perfect.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For all that,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;I believe that you would willingly have
+      love in return.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do not deny it,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;but even were I beloved as much as I
+      love, my love would not be increased any more than it could be lessened,
+      were it not returned with equal warmth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Upon this Parlamente, who suspected this fantasy of Dagoucin&rsquo;s, said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Take care, Dagoucin; I have known others besides you who preferred to die
+      rather than speak.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Such persons, madam;&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;I deem very happy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Doubtless,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;and worthy of a place among the innocents
+      of whom the Church sings:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &lsquo;<i>Non loquendo sed moriendo confessi sunt</i>.&rsquo; (4)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     4  From the ritual for the Feast of the Holy Innocents.&mdash;M.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      I have heard much of such timid lovers, but I have never yet seen one die.
+      And since I myself have escaped death after all the troubles I have borne,
+      I do not think that any one can die of love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah, Saffredent!&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;how do you expect to be loved since
+      those who are of your opinion never die? Yet have I known a goodly number
+      who have died of no other ailment than perfect love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you know such stories,&rdquo; said Longarine, &ldquo;I give you my vote to tell
+      us a pleasant one, which shall be the ninth of to-day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To the end,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;that signs and miracles may lead you to put
+      faith in what I have said, I will relate to you something which happened
+      less than three years ago.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0005" id="linkimage-0005">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/012.jpg" width="100%" alt="012.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0006" id="linkimage-0006">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/013a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="013a.jpg the Dying Gentleman Receiving The Embraces Of His Sweetheart " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Dying Gentleman receiving the Embraces of his Sweetheart]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0007" id="linkimage-0007">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/013.jpg" width="100%" alt="013.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE IX</i>.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>The perfect love borne by a gentleman to a damsel, being too deeply
+      concealed and disregarded, brought about his death, to the great regret of
+      his sweetheart</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Between Dauphiné and Provence there lived a gentleman who was far richer
+      in virtue, comeliness, and honour than in other possessions, and who was
+      greatly in love with a certain damsel. I will not mention her name, out of
+      consideration for her kinsfolk, who are of good and illustrious descent;
+      but you may rest assured that my story is a true one. As he was not of
+      such noble birth as herself, he durst not reveal his affection, for the
+      love he bore her was so great and perfect that he would rather have died
+      than have desired aught to her dishonour. Seeing that he was so greatly
+      beneath her, he had no hope of marrying her; in his love, therefore, his
+      only purpose was to love her with all his strength and as perfectly as he
+      was able. This he did for so long a time that at last she had some
+      knowledge of it; and, seeing that the love he bore her was so full of
+      virtue and of good intent, she felt honoured by it, and showed him in turn
+      so much favour that he, who sought nothing better than this, was well
+      contented.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But malice, which is the enemy of all peace, could not suffer this
+      honourable and happy life to last, and certain persons spoke to the
+      maiden&rsquo;s mother of their amazement at this gentleman being thought so much
+      of in her house. They said that they suspected him of coming there more on
+      account of her daughter than of aught else, adding that he had often been
+      seen in converse with her. The mother, who doubted the gentleman&rsquo;s honour
+      as little as that of any of her own children, was much distressed on
+      hearing that his presence was taken in bad part, and, dreading lest
+      malicious tongues should cause a scandal, she entreated that he would not
+      for some time frequent her house as he had been wont to do. He found this
+      hard to bear, for he knew that his honourable conversation with her
+      daughter did not deserve such estrangement. Nevertheless, in order to
+      silence evil gossip, he withdrew until the rumours had ceased; then he
+      returned as before, his absence having in no wise lessened his love.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day, however, whilst he was in the house, he heard some talk of
+      marrying the damsel to a gentleman who did not seem to him to be so very
+      rich that he should be entitled to take his mistress from him. So he began
+      to pluck up courage, and engaged his friends to speak for him, believing
+      that, if the choice were left to the damsel, she would prefer him to his
+      rival. Nevertheless, the mother and kinsfolk chose the other suitor,
+      because he was much richer; whereupon the poor gentleman, knowing his
+      sweetheart to be as little pleased as himself, gave way to such sorrow,
+      that by degrees, and without any other distemper, he became greatly
+      changed, seeming as though he had covered the comeliness of his face with
+      the mask of that death, to which hour by hour he was joyously hastening.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile, he could not refrain from going as often as was possible to
+      converse with her whom he so greatly loved. But at last, when strength
+      failed him, he was constrained to keep his bed; yet he would not have his
+      sweetheart know of this, lest he should cast part of his grief on her. And
+      giving himself up to despair and sadness, he was no longer able to eat,
+      drink, sleep, or rest, so that it became impossible to recognise him by
+      reason of his leanness and strangely altered features.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Some one brought the news of this to his sweetheart&rsquo;s mother, who was a
+      lady full of charity, and who had, moreover, such a liking for the
+      gentleman, that if all the kinsfolk had been of the same opinion as
+      herself and her daughter, his merits would have been preferred to the
+      possessions of the other. But the kinsfolk on the father&rsquo;s side would not
+      hear of it. However, the lady went with her daughter to see the unhappy
+      gentleman, and found him more dead than alive. Perceiving that the end of
+      his life was at hand, he had that morning confessed and received the Holy
+      Sacrament, thinking to die without seeing anybody more. But although he
+      was at death&rsquo;s door, when he saw her who for him was the resurrection and
+      the life come in, he felt so strengthened that he started up in bed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What motive,&rdquo; said he to the lady, &ldquo;has inclined you to come and see one
+      who already has a foot in the grave, and of whose death you are yourself
+      the cause?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How is it possible,&rdquo; said the lady, &ldquo;that the death of one whom we like
+      so well can be brought about by our fault? Tell me, I pray, why you speak
+      in this manner?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;I concealed my love for your daughter as long as I
+      was able; and my kinsfolk, in speaking of a marriage between myself and
+      her, made known more than I desired, since I have thereby had the
+      misfortune to lose all hope; not, indeed, in regard to my own pleasure,
+      but because I know that she will never have such fair treatment and so
+      much love from any other as she would have had from me. Her loss of the
+      best and most loving friend she has in the world causes me more affliction
+      than the loss of my own life, which I desired to preserve for her sake
+      only. But since it cannot in any wise be of service to her, the loss of it
+      is to me great gain.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Hearing these words, the lady and her daughter sought to comfort him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Take courage, my friend,&rdquo; said the mother. &ldquo;I pledge you my word that, if
+      God gives you back your health, my daughter shall have no other husband
+      but you. See, she is here present, and I charge her to promise you the
+      same.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The daughter, weeping, strove to assure him of what her mother promised.
+      He well knew, however, that even if his health were restored he would
+      still lose his sweetheart, and that these fair words were only uttered in
+      order somewhat to revive him. Accordingly, he told them that had they
+      spoken to him thus three months before, he would have been the lustiest
+      and happiest gentleman in France; but that their aid came so late, it
+      could bring him neither belief nor hope. Then, seeing that they strove to
+      make him believe them, he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, since, on account of my feeble state, you promise me a blessing
+      which, even though you would yourselves have it so, can never be mine, I
+      will entreat of you a much smaller one, for which, however, I was never
+      yet bold enough to ask.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      They immediately vowed that they would grant it, and bade him ask boldly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I entreat you,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;to place in my arms her whom you promise me for
+      my wife, and to bid her embrace and kiss me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The daughter, who was unaccustomed to such familiarity, sought to make
+      some difficulty, but her mother straightly commanded her, seeing that the
+      gentleman no longer had the feelings or vigour of a living man. Being thus
+      commanded, the girl went up to the poor sufferer&rsquo;s bedside, saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you, sweetheart, be of good cheer.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, as well as he could, the dying man stretched forth his arms, wherein
+      flesh and blood alike were lacking, and with all the strength remaining in
+      his bones embraced her who was the cause of his death. And kissing her
+      with his pale cold lips, he held her thus as long as he was able. Then he
+      said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The love I have borne you has been so great and honourable, that,
+      excepting in marriage, I have never desired of you any other favour than
+      the one you are granting me now, for lack of which and with which I shall
+      cheerfully yield up my spirit to God. He is perfect love and charity. He
+      knows the greatness of my love and the purity of my desire, and I beseech
+      Him, while I hold my desire within my arms, to receive my spirit into His
+      own.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words he again took her in his arms, and with such exceeding
+      ardour that his enfeebled heart, unable to endure the effort, was deprived
+      of all its faculties and life; for joy caused it so to swell that the soul
+      was severed from its abode and took flight to its Creator.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And even when the poor body had lain a long time without life, and was
+      thus unable to retain its hold, the love which the damsel had always
+      concealed was made manifest in such a fashion that her mother and the dead
+      man&rsquo;s servants had much ado to separate her from her lover. However, the
+      girl, who, though living, was in a worse condition than if she had been
+      dead, was by force removed at last out of the gentleman&rsquo;s arms. To him
+      they gave honourable burial; and the crowning point of the ceremony was
+      the weeping and lamentation of the unhappy damsel, who having concealed
+      her love during his lifetime, made it all the more manifest after his
+      death, as though she wished to atone for the wrong that she had done him.
+      And I have heard that although she was given a husband to comfort her, she
+      has never since had joy in her heart. (1)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  By an expression made use of by Dagoucin (see <i>ante</i>),
+     Queen Margaret gives us to understand that the incidents
+     here related occurred three years prior to the writing of
+     the story. It may be pointed out, however, that there is
+     considerable analogy between the conclusion of this tale and
+     the death of Geffroy Rudel de Blaye, one of the earliest
+     troubadours whose name has been handed down to us. Geffroy,
+     who lived at the close of the twelfth century, became so
+     madly enamoured of the charms of the Countess of Tripoli,
+     after merely hearing an account of her moral and physical
+     perfections, that, although in failing health, he embarked
+     for Africa to see her. On reaching the port of Tripoli, he
+     no longer had sufficient strength to leave the vessel,
+     whereupon the Countess, touched by his love, visited him on
+     board, taking his hand and giving him a kindly greeting.
+     Geffroy could scarcely say a few words of thanks; his
+     emotion was so acute that he died upon the spot. See J. de
+     Nostredame&rsquo;s <i>Vies des plus Célèbres et Anciens Poëtes
+     Provençaux</i>(Lyons, 1575, p. 25); Raynouard&rsquo;s <i>Choix des
+     Poésies des Troubadours</i> (vol. v. p. 165); and also
+     Raynouard&rsquo;s <i>Histoire Littéraire de la France</i> (vol. xiv. p.
+     559).&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What think you of that, gentlemen, you who would not believe what I said?
+      Is not this example sufficient to make you confess that perfect love, when
+      concealed and disregarded, may bring folks to the grave? There is not one
+      among you but knows the kinsfolk on the one and the other side, (2) and so
+      you cannot doubt the story, although nobody would be disposed to believe
+      it unless he had some experience in the matter.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2  This certainly points to the conclusion that the tale is
+     founded upon fact, and not, as M. Leroux de Lincy suggests,
+     borrowed from the story of Geffroy Rudel de Blaye. It will
+     have been observed (<i>ante</i>) that the Queen of Navarre
+     curiously enough lays the scene of her narrative between
+     Provence and Dauphiné. These two provinces bordered upon one
+     another, excepting upon one point where they were separated
+     by the so-called Comtat Venaissin or Papal state of Avignon.
+     Here, therefore, the incidents of the story, if authentic,
+     would probably have occurred. The story may be compared with
+     Tale L. (<i>post</i>).&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      When the ladies heard this they all had tears in their eyes, but Hircan
+      said to them&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He was the greatest fool I ever heard of. By your faith, now, I ask you,
+      is it reasonable that we should die for women who are made only for us, or
+      that we should be afraid to ask them for what God has commanded them to
+      give us? I do not speak for myself nor for any who are married. I myself
+      have all that I want or more; but I say it for such men as are in need. To
+      my thinking, they must be fools to fear those whom they should rather make
+      afraid. Do you not perceive how greatly this poor damsel regretted her
+      folly? Since she embraced the gentleman&rsquo;s dead body&mdash;an action
+      repugnant to human nature&mdash;she would not have refused him while he
+      was alive had he then trusted as much to boldness as he trusted to pity
+      when he lay upon his death-bed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nevertheless,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;the gentleman most plainly showed that he
+      bore her an honourable love, and for this he will ever be worthy of all
+      praise. Chastity in a lover&rsquo;s heart is something divine rather than
+      human.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;in support of Hircan&rsquo;s opinion, which is also
+      mine, I pray you believe that Fortune favours the bold, and that there is
+      no man loved by a lady but may at last, in whole or in part, obtain from
+      her what he desires, provided he seek it with wisdom and passion. But
+      ignorance and foolish fear cause men to lose many a good chance; and then
+      they impute their loss to their mistress&rsquo;s virtue, which they have never
+      verified with so much as the tip of the finger. A fortress was never well
+      assailed but it was taken.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;I am amazed that you two should dare to talk in
+      this way. Those whom you have loved owe you but little thanks, or else
+      your courting has been carried on in such evil places that you deem all
+      women to be alike.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For myself, madam,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;I have been so unfortunate that I
+      am unable to boast; but I impute my bad luck less to the virtue of the
+      ladies than to my own fault, in not conducting my enterprises with
+      sufficient prudence and sagacity. In support of my opinion I will cite no
+      other authority than the old woman in the <i>Romance of the Rose</i>, who
+      says&mdash;
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;Of all, fair sirs, it truly may be said,
+     Woman for man and man for woman&rsquo;s made.&rsquo; (3)
+
+     3  From John de Mehun&rsquo;s continuation of the poem.&mdash;M. 2
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Accordingly I shall always believe that if love once enters a woman&rsquo;s
+      heart, her lover will have fair fortune, provided he be not a simpleton.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;if I were to name to you a very loving woman who
+      was greatly sought after, beset and importuned, and who, like a virtuous
+      lady, proved victorious over her heart, flesh, love and lover, would you
+      believe this true thing possible?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I would.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;you must all be hard of belief if you do not
+      believe this story.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;since I have given an example to show how the
+      love of a virtuous gentleman lasted even until death, I pray you, if you
+      know any such story to the honour of a lady, to tell it to us, and so end
+      this day. And be not afraid to speak at length, for there is yet time to
+      relate many a pleasant matter.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then, since I am to wind up the day,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;I will make no
+      long preamble, for my story is so beautiful and true that I long to have
+      you know it as well as I do myself. Although I was not an actual witness
+      of the events, they were told to me by one of my best and dearest friends
+      in praise of the man whom of all the world he had loved the most. But he
+      charged me, should I ever chance to relate them, to change the names of
+      the persons. Apart, therefore, from the names of persons and places the
+      story is wholly true.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0008" id="linkimage-0008">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/024.jpg" width="100%" alt="024.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0009" id="linkimage-0009">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/025a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="025a.jpg the Countess Asking an Explanation from Amadour " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Countess asking an Explanation from Amadour]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0010" id="linkimage-0010">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/025.jpg" width="100%" alt="025.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE X</i>.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>Florida, after virtuously resisting Amadour, who had assailed her
+      honour almost to the last extremity, repaired, upon her husbands death, to
+      the convent of Jesus, and there took the veil</i>. (1)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  This tale appears to be a combination of fact and fiction.
+     Although Queen Margaret states that she has changed the
+     names of the persons, and also of the places where the
+     incidents happened, several historical events are certainly
+     brought into the narrative, the scene of which is laid in
+     Spain during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. M. Le Roux
+     de Lincy is of opinion, however, that Margaret really refers
+     to some affair at the Court of Charles VIII. or Louis XII.,
+     and he remarks that there is great similarity between the
+     position of the Countess of Aranda, left a widow at an early
+     age with a son and a daughter, and that of Louise of Savoy
+     with her two children. M. Lacroix and M. Dillaye believe the
+     hero and heroine to be Admiral de Bonnivet and Margaret. It
+     has often been suspected that the latter regarded her
+     brother&rsquo;s favourite with affection until after the attempt
+     related in Tale IV.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In the county of Aranda, (2) in Aragon, there lived a lady who, while
+      still very young, was left a widow, with a son and a daughter, by the
+      Count of Aranda, the name of the daughter being Florida. This lady strove
+      to bring up her children in all the virtues and qualities which beseem
+      lords and gentlemen, so that her house was reputed to be one of the most
+      honourable in all the Spains. She often went to Toledo, where the King of
+      Spain dwelt, and when she came to Saragossa, which was not far from her
+      house, she would remain a long while with the Queen and the Court, by whom
+      she was held in as high esteem as any lady could be.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2 Aranda, in the valley of the Duero, between Burgos
+     and Madrid, is one of the most ancient towns in Spain, but of
+     miserable aspect, although a large trade is carried on there
+     in cheap red wines. (Ferdinand and Isabella resided for some
+     time at Aranda.&mdash;Ed.)
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Going one day, according to her custom, to visit the King, then at his
+      castle of La Jasserye, (3) at Saragossa, this lady passed through a
+      village belonging to the Viceroy of Catalonia, (4) who, by reason of the
+      great wars between the kings of France and Spain, had not been wont to
+      stir from the frontier at Perpignan. But for the time being there was
+      peace, so that the Viceroy and all his captains had come to do homage to
+      the King. The Viceroy, learning that the Countess of Aranda was passing
+      through his domain, went to meet her, not only for the sake of the ancient
+      friendship he bore her, but in order to do her honour as a kinswoman of
+      the King&rsquo;s.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  This castle is called La Jafferie in Boaistuau&rsquo;s edition
+     of 1558, and several learned commentators have speculated as
+     to which is the correct spelling. Not one of them seems to
+     have been aware that in the immediate vicinity of Saragossa
+     there still stands an old castle called El Jaferia or
+     Aljaferia, which, after being the residence of the Moorish
+     sovereigns, became that of the Spanish kings of Aragon. It
+     has of modern times been transformed into barracks.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     4  Henry of Aragon, Duke of Segorbe and Count of Ribagorce,
+     was Viceroy of Catalonia at this period. He was called the
+     Infante of Fortune, on account of his father having died
+     before his birth in 1445.&mdash;B. J.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Now he had in his train many honourable gentlemen, who, in the long waging
+      of war, had gained such great honour and renown that all who saw them and
+      consorted with them deemed themselves fortunate. Among others there was
+      one named Amadour, who, although but eighteen or nineteen years old, was
+      possessed of such well-assured grace and of such excellent understanding
+      that he would have been chosen from a thousand to hold a public office. It
+      is true that this excellence of understanding was accompanied by such rare
+      and winsome beauty that none could look at him without pleasure. And if
+      his comeliness was of the choicest, it was so hard pressed by his speech
+      that one knew not whether to give the greatest honour to his grace, his
+      beauty, or the excellence of his conversation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What caused him, however, to be still more highly esteemed was his great
+      daring, which was no whit diminished by his youth. He had already shown in
+      many places what he could do, so that not only the Spains, but France and
+      Italy also made great account of his merits. For in all the wars in which
+      he had taken part he had never spared himself, and when his country was at
+      peace he would go in quest of wars in foreign lands, where he was loved
+      and honoured by both friend and foe.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This gentleman, for the love he bore his commander, had come to the domain
+      where the Countess of Aranda had arrived, and remarking the beauty and
+      grace of her daughter Florida, who was then only twelve years old, he
+      thought to himself that she was the fairest maiden he had ever seen, and
+      that if he could win her favour it would give him greater satisfaction
+      than all the wealth and pleasure he might obtain from another. After
+      looking at her for a long time he resolved to love her, although his
+      reason told him that what he desired was impossible by reason of her
+      lineage as well as of her age, which was such that she could not yet
+      understand any amorous discourse. In spite of this, he fortified himself
+      with hope, and reflected that time and patience might bring his efforts to
+      a happy issue. And from that moment the kindly love, which of itself alone
+      had entered Amadour&rsquo;s heart, assured him of all favour and the means of
+      attaining his end.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To overcome the greatest difficulty before him, which consisted in the
+      remoteness of his own home and the few opportunities he would have of
+      seeing Florida again, he resolved to get married. This was contrary to
+      what he had determined whilst with the ladies of Barcelona and Perpignan,
+      in which places he was in such favour that little or nothing was refused
+      him; and, indeed, by reason of the wars, he had dwelt so long on the
+      frontiers that, although he was born near Toledo, he seemed rather a
+      Catalan than a Castillan. He came of a rich and honourable house, but
+      being a younger son, he was without patrimony; and thus it was that Love
+      and Fortune, seeing him neglected by his kin, determined to make him their
+      masterpiece, endowing him with such qualities as might obtain what the
+      laws of the land had refused him. He was of much experience in the art of
+      war, and was so beloved by all lords and princes that he refused their
+      favours more frequently than he had occasion to seek them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Countess, of whom I have spoken, arrived then at Saragossa and was
+      well received by the King and all his Court. The Governor of Catalonia
+      often came to visit her, and Amadour failed not to accompany him that he
+      might have the pleasure of merely seeing Florida, for he had no
+      opportunity of speaking with her. In order to establish himself in this
+      goodly company he paid his addresses to the daughter of an old knight, his
+      neighbour. This maiden was named Avanturada, and was so intimate with
+      Florida that she knew all the secrets of her heart. Amadour, as much for
+      the worth which he found in Avanturada as for the three thousand ducats a
+      year which formed her dowry, determined to address her as a suitor, and
+      she willingly gave ear to him. But as he was poor and her father was rich,
+      she feared that the latter would never consent to the marriage except at
+      the instance of the Countess of Aranda. She therefore had recourse to the
+      lady Florida and said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You have seen, madam, that Castilian gentleman who often talks to me. I
+      believe that all his aim is to have me in marriage. You know, however,
+      what kind of father I have; he will never consent to the match unless he
+      be earnestly entreated by the Countess and you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, who loved the damsel as herself, assured her that she would lay
+      the matter to heart as though it were for her own benefit; and Avanturada
+      then ventured so far as to present Amadour to her. He was like to swoon
+      for joy on kissing Florida&rsquo;s hand, and although he was accounted the
+      readiest speaker in Spain, yet in her presence he became dumb. At this she
+      was greatly surprised, for, although she was only twelve years old, she
+      had already often heard it said that there was no man in Spain who could
+      speak better or with more grace. So, finding that he said nothing to her,
+      she herself spoke.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Senor Amadour,&rdquo; she began, &ldquo;the renown you enjoy throughout all the
+      Spains has made you known to everybody here, and all are desirous of
+      affording you pleasure. If therefore I can in any way do this, you may
+      dispose of me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour was in such rapture at sight of the lady&rsquo;s beauty that he could
+      scarcely utter his thanks. However, although Florida was astonished to
+      find that he made no further reply, she imputed it rather to some whim
+      than to the power of love; and so she withdrew, without saying anything
+      more.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who perceived the qualities which even in earliest youth were
+      beginning to show themselves in Florida, now said to her whom he desired
+      to marry&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not be surprised if I lost the power of utterance in presence of the
+      lady Florida. I was so astonished at finding such qualities and such
+      sensible speech in one so very young that I knew not what to say to her.
+      But I pray you, Avanturada, you who know her secrets, tell me if she does
+      not of necessity possess the hearts of all the gentlemen of the Court. Any
+      who know her and do not love her must be stones or brutes.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Avanturada, who already loved Amadour more than any other man in the
+      world, could conceal nothing from him, but told him that Florida was loved
+      by every one. However, by reason of the custom of the country, few spoke
+      to her, and only two had as yet made any show of love towards her. These
+      were two princes of Spain, and they desired to marry her, one being the
+      son of the Infante of Fortune (5) and the other the young Duke of Cardona.
+      (6)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     5  M. Lacroix asserts that the Infante of Fortune left no son
+     by his wife, Guyomare de Castro y Norogna; whereas M. Le
+     Roux de Lincy contends that he had a son&mdash;Alfonso of Aragon&mdash;
+     who in 1506 was proposed as a husband for Crazy Jane.
+     Alfonso would therefore probably be the prince referred to
+     by Margaret.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     6  Cardona, a fortified town on the river Cardoner, at a few
+     miles from Barcelona, was a county in the time of Ferdinand
+     and Isabella, and was raised by them to the rank of a duchy
+     in favour of Ramon Folch I. To-day it has between two and
+     three thousand inhabitants, and is chiefly noted for its
+     strongly built castillo. The young Duke spoken of by Queen
+     Margaret would be Ramon Folch&rsquo;s son, who was also named
+     Ramon.&mdash;B. J. and Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you,&rdquo; said Amadour, &ldquo;tell me which of them you think she loves the
+      most.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;She is so discreet,&rdquo; said Avanturada, &ldquo;that on no account would she
+      confess to having any wish but her mother&rsquo;s. Nevertheless, as far as can
+      be judged, she likes the son of the Infante of Fortune far more than she
+      likes the young Duke of Cardona. But her mother would rather have her at
+      Cardona, for then she would not be so far away. I hold you for a man of
+      good understanding, and, if you are so minded, you may judge of her choice
+      this very day, for the son of the Infante of Fortune, who is one of the
+      handsomest and most accomplished princes in Christendom, is being brought
+      up at this Court. If we damsels could decide the marriage by our opinions,
+      he would be sure of having the Lady Florida, for they would make the
+      comeliest couple in all Spain. You must know that, although they are both
+      young, she being but twelve and he but fifteen, it is now three years
+      since their love for each other first began; and if you would secure her
+      favour, I advise you to become his friend and follower.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour was well pleased to find that Florida loved something, hoping that
+      in time he might gain the place not of husband but of lover. He had no
+      fear in regard to her virtue, but was rather afraid lest she should be
+      insensible to love. After this conversation he began to consort with the
+      son of the Infante of Fortune, and readily gained his favour, being well
+      skilled in all the pastimes that the young Prince was fond of, especially
+      in the handling of horses, in the practice of all kinds of weapons, and
+      indeed in every diversion and pastime befitting a young man.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      However, war broke out again in Languedoc, and it was necessary that
+      Amadour should return thither with the Governor. This he did, but not
+      without great regret, since he could in no wise contrive to return to
+      where he might see Florida. Accordingly, when he was setting forth, he
+      spoke to a brother of his, who was majordomo to the Queen of Spain, and
+      told him of the good match he had found in the Countess of Aranda&rsquo;s house,
+      in the person of Avanturada; entreating him, in his absence, to do all
+      that he could to bring about the marriage, by employing his credit with
+      the King, the Queen, and all his friends. The majordomo, who was attached
+      to his brother, not only by reason of their kinship, but on account of
+      Amadour&rsquo;s excellent qualities, promised to do his best. This he did in
+      such wise that the avaricious old father forgot his own nature to ponder
+      over the qualities of Amadour, as pictured to him by the Countess of
+      Aranda, and especially by the fair Florida, as well as by the young Count
+      of Aranda, who was now beginning to grow up, and to esteem people of
+      merit. When the marriage had been agreed upon by the kinsfolk, the Queen&rsquo;s
+      majordomo sent for his brother, there being at that time a truce between
+      the two kings. (7)
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile, the King of Spain withdrew to Madrid to avoid the bad air which
+      prevailed in divers places, and, by the advice of his Council, as well as
+      at the request of the Countess of Aranda, he consented to the marriage of
+      the young Count with the heiress Duchess of Medina Celi. (8) He did this
+      no less for their contentment and the union of the two houses than for the
+      affection he bore the Countess of Aranda; and he caused the marriage to be
+      celebrated at the castle of Madrid. (9)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     7  There had been a truce in 1497, but Queen Margaret
+     probably alludes to that of four months&rsquo; duration towards
+     the close of 1503.&mdash;B.J.
+
+     8  Felix-Maria, widow of the Duke of Feria, and elder sister
+     of Luis Francisco de la Cerda, ninth of the name. She became
+     heiress to the titles and estates of the house of Medina-
+     Celi upon her brother&rsquo;s death. If, however, Queen Margaret
+     is really describing some incident in her own life, she must
+     refer to Louis XII.&lsquo;s daughter, Claude, married in 1514 to
+     Francis I.&mdash;D.
+
+     9  The castle here referred to was the Moorish Alcazar,
+     destroyed by fire in 1734. The previous statement that King
+     Ferdinand withdrew to Madrid on account of the bad air
+     prevailing in other places is borne out by the fact that the
+     town enjoyed a most delightful climate prior to the
+     destruction of the forests which surrounded it.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Amadour was present at this wedding, and succeeded so well in furthering
+      his own union, that he married Avanturada, whose affection for him was far
+      greater than his was for her. But this marriage furnished him with a very
+      convenient cloak, and gave him an excuse for resorting to the place where
+      his spirit ever dwelt. After he was married he became very bold and
+      familiar in the Countess of Aranda&rsquo;s household, so that he was no more
+      distrusted than if he had been a woman. And although he was now only
+      twenty-two years of age, he showed such good sense that the Countess of
+      Aranda informed him of all her affairs, and bade her son consult with him
+      and follow his counsel.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having gained their esteem thus far, Amadour comported himself so
+      prudently and calmly that even the lady he loved was not aware of his
+      affection for her. By reason, however, of the love she bore his wife, to
+      whom she was more attached than to any other woman, she concealed none of
+      her thoughts from him, and was pleased to tell him of all her love for the
+      son of the Infante of Fortune. Although Amadour&rsquo;s sole aim was to win her
+      entirely for himself, he continually spoke to her of the Prince; indeed,
+      he cared not what might be the subject of their converse, provided only
+      that he could talk to her for a long time. However, he had not remained a
+      month in this society after his marriage when he was constrained to return
+      to the war, and he was absent for more than two years without returning to
+      see his wife, who continued to live in the place where she had been
+      brought up.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile Amadour often wrote to her, but his letters were for the most
+      part messages to Florida, who on her side never failed to return them, and
+      would with her own hand add some pleasant words to the letters which
+      Avanturada wrote. It was on this account that the husband of the latter
+      wrote to her very frequently; yet of all this Florida knew nothing except
+      that she loved Amadour as if he had been her brother. Several times during
+      the course of five years did Amadour return and go away again; yet so
+      short was his stay that he did not see Florida for two months altogether.
+      Nevertheless, in spite of distance and length of absence, his love
+      continued to increase.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At last it happened that he made a journey to see his wife, and found the
+      Countess far removed from the Court, for the King of Spain was gone into
+      Andalusia, (10) taking with him the young Count of Aranda, who was already
+      beginning to bear arms.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     10  There had been a revolt at Granada in 1499, and in the
+     following year the Moors rose in the Alpujarras, whereupon
+     King Ferdinand marched against them in person.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Thus the Countess had withdrawn to a country-house belonging to her on the
+      frontiers of Aragon and Navarre. She was well pleased on seeing Amadour,
+      who had now been away for nearly three years. He was made welcome by all,
+      and the Countess commanded that he should be treated like her own son.
+      Whilst he was with her she informed him of all the affairs of her
+      household, leaving most of them to his judgment. And so much credit did he
+      win in her house that wherever he visited all doors were opened to him,
+      and, indeed, people held his prudence in such high esteem that he was
+      trusted in all things as though he had been an angel or a saint.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, by reason of the love she bore his wife and himself, sought him
+      out wherever he went. She had no suspicion of his purpose, and was
+      unrestrained in her manners, for her heart was free from love, save that
+      she felt great contentment whenever she was near Amadour. To more than
+      this she gave not a thought.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, however, had a hard task to escape the observation of those who
+      knew by experience how to distinguish a lover&rsquo;s looks from another man&rsquo;s;
+      for when Florida, thinking no evil, came and spoke familiarly to him, the
+      fire that was hidden in his heart so consumed him that he could not keep
+      the colour from rising to his face or sparks of flame from darting from
+      his eyes. Thus, in order that none might be any the wiser, he began to pay
+      court to a very beautiful lady named Paulina, a woman so famed for beauty
+      in her day that few men who saw her escaped from her toils.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This Paulina had heard how Amadour had made love at Barcelona and
+      Perpignan, insomuch that he had gained the affection of the highest and
+      most beautiful ladies in the land, especially that of a certain Countess
+      of Palamos, who was esteemed the first for beauty among all the ladies of
+      Spain; and she told him that she greatly pitied him, since, after so much
+      good fortune, he had married such an ugly wife. Amadour, who well
+      understood by these words that she had a mind to supply his need, made her
+      the fairest speeches he could devise, seeking to conceal the truth by
+      persuading her of a falsehood. But she, being subtle and experienced in
+      love, was not to be put off with mere words; and feeling sure that his
+      heart was not to be satisfied with such love as she could give him, she
+      suspected he wished to make her serve as a cloak, and so kept close watch
+      upon his eyes. These, however, knew so well how to dissemble, that she had
+      nothing to guide her but the barest suspicion.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Nevertheless, her observation sorely troubled Amadour; for Florida, who
+      was ignorant of all these wiles, often spoke to him before Paulina in such
+      a familiar fashion that he had to make wondrous efforts to compel his eyes
+      to belie his heart. To avoid unpleasant consequences, he one day, while
+      leaning against a window, spoke thus to Florida&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you, sweetheart, counsel me whether it is better for a man to
+      speak or die?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida forthwith replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I shall always counsel my friends to speak and not to die. There are few
+      words that cannot be mended, but life once lost can never be regained.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Will you promise me, then,&rdquo; said Amadour, &ldquo;that you will not be
+      displeased by what I wish to tell you, nor yet alarmed at it, until you
+      have heard me to the end?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Say what you will,&rdquo; she replied; &ldquo;if you alarm me, none can reassure me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For two reasons,&rdquo; he then began, &ldquo;I have hitherto been unwilling to tell
+      you of the great affection that I feel for you. First, I wished to prove
+      it to you by long service, and secondly, I feared that you might deem it
+      presumption in me, who am but a simple gentleman, to address myself to one
+      upon whom it is not fitting that I should look. And even though I were of
+      royal station like your own, your heart, in its loyalty, would suffer none
+      save the son of the Infante of Fortune, who has won it, to speak to you of
+      love. But just as in a great war necessity compels men to devastate their
+      own possessions and to destroy their corn in the blade, that the enemy may
+      derive no profit therefrom, so do I risk anticipating the fruit which I
+      had hoped to gather in season, lest your enemies and mine profit by it to
+      your detriment. Know, then, that from your earliest youth I have devoted
+      myself to your service and have ever striven to win your favour. For this
+      purpose alone I married her whom I thought you loved best, and, being
+      acquainted with the love you bear to the son of the Infante of Fortune, I
+      have striven to serve him and consort with him, as you yourself know. I
+      have sought with all my power for everything that I thought could give you
+      pleasure. You see that I have won the esteem of your mother, the Countess,
+      and of your brother, the Count, and of all you love, so that I am regarded
+      here, not as a dependant, but as one of the family. All my efforts for
+      five years past have had no other end than that I might spend my whole
+      life near you.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Understand that I am not one of those who would by these means seek to
+      obtain from you any favour or pleasure otherwise than virtuous. I know
+      that I cannot marry you, and even if I could, I would not do so in face of
+      the love you bear him whom I would fain see your husband. And as for
+      loving you with a vicious love like those who hope that long service will
+      bring them a reward to the dishonour of a lady, that is far from my
+      purpose. I would rather see you dead than know that you were less worthy
+      of being loved, or that your virtue had diminished for the sake of any
+      pleasure to me. For the end and reward of my service I ask but one thing,
+      namely, that you will be so faithful a mistress to me, as never to take
+      your favour from me, and that you will suffer me to continue as I now am,
+      trusting in me more than in any other, and accepting from me the assurance
+      that if for your honour&rsquo;s sake, or for aught concerning you, you ever have
+      need of a gentleman&rsquo;s life, I will gladly place mine at your disposal. You
+      may be sure also that whatever I may do that is honourable and virtuous,
+      will be done solely for love of you. If for the sake of ladies less worthy
+      than you I have ever done anything that has been considered of account, be
+      sure that, for a mistress like yourself, my enterprise will so increase,
+      that things I heretofore found impossible will become very easy to me. If,
+      however, you will not accept me as wholly yours, I am resolved to lay
+      aside my arms and to renounce the valour which has failed to help me in my
+      need. So I pray you grant me my just request, for your honour and
+      conscience cannot refuse it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The maiden, hearing these unwonted words, began to change colour and to
+      cast down her eyes like a woman in alarm. However, being sensible and
+      discreet, she replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you already have what you ask of me, Amadour, why make me such a
+      long harangue? I fear me lest beneath your honourable words there be some
+      hidden guile to deceive my ignorance and youth, and I am sorely perplexed
+      what to reply. Were I to refuse the honourable love you offer, I should do
+      contrary to what I have hitherto done, for I have always trusted you more
+      than any other man in the world. Neither my conscience nor my honour
+      oppose your request, nor yet the love I bear the son of the Infante of
+      Fortune, for that is founded on marriage, to which you do not aspire. I
+      know of nothing that should hinder me from answering you according to your
+      desire, if it be not a fear arising from the small need you have for
+      talking to me in this wise; for if what you ask is already yours, why
+      speak of it so ardently?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who was at no loss for an answer, then said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam, you speak very discreetly, and you honour me so greatly by the
+      trust which you say you have in me, that if I were not satisfied with such
+      good fortune I should be quite unworthy of it. But consider, madam, that
+      he who would build an edifice to last for ever must be careful to have a
+      sure and stable foundation. In the same way I, wishing to continue for
+      ever in your service, must not only take care to have the means of
+      remaining near to you, but also to prevent any one from knowing of the
+      great affection that I bear you. Although it is honourable enough to be
+      everywhere proclaimed, yet those who know nothing of lovers&rsquo; hearts often
+      judge contrary to the truth, and thence come reports as mischievous as
+      though they were true. I have been prompted to say this, and led to
+      declare my love to you, because Paulina, feeling in her heart that I
+      cannot love her, holds me in suspicion and does nought but watch my face
+      wherever I may be. Hence, when you come and speak to me so familiarly in
+      her presence, I am in great fear lest I should make some sign on which she
+      may ground her judgment, and should so fall into that which I am anxious
+      to avoid. For this reason I am lead to entreat you not to come and speak
+      to me so suddenly before her or before others whom you know to be equally
+      malicious, for I would rather die than have any living creature know the
+      truth. Were I not so regardful of your honour, I should not have sought
+      this converse with you, for I hold myself sufficiently happy in the love
+      and trust you bear me, and I ask nothing more save that they may
+      continue.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, who could not have been better pleased, began to be sensible of
+      an unwonted feeling in her heart. She saw how honourable were the reasons
+      which he laid before her; and she told him that virtue and honour replied
+      for her, and that she granted him his request. Amadour&rsquo;s joy at this no
+      true lover can doubt.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, however, gave more heed to his counsel than he desired, for she
+      became timid not only in presence of Paulina but elsewhere, and ceased to
+      seek him out as she had been accustomed to do. While they were thus
+      separated she took Amadour&rsquo;s constant converse with Paulina in bad part,
+      for, seeing that the latter was beautiful, she could not believe that
+      Amadour did not love her. To beguile her sorrow she conversed continually
+      with Avanturada, who was beginning to feel very jealous of her husband and
+      Paulina, and often complained of them to Florida, who comforted her as
+      well as she could, being herself smitten with the same disease. Amadour
+      soon perceived the change in Florida&rsquo;s demeanour, and forthwith thought
+      that she was keeping aloof from him not merely by his own advice, but also
+      on account of some bitter fancies of her own.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day, when they were coming from vespers at a monastery, he spoke to
+      her, and asked&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What countenance is this you show me, madam?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That which I believe you desire,&rdquo; replied Florida.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thereupon, suspecting the truth, and desiring to know whether he was
+      right, he said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have used my time so well, madam, that Paulina no longer has any
+      suspicion of you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You could not do better,&rdquo; she replied, &ldquo;both for yourself and for me.
+      While giving pleasure to yourself you bring me honour.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour gathered from this speech that she believed he took pleasure in
+      conversing with Paulina, and so great was his despair that he could not
+      refrain from saying angrily to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In truth, madam, you begin betimes to torment your lover and pelt him
+      with hard words. I do not think I ever had a more irksome task than to be
+      obliged to hold converse with a lady I do not love. But since you take
+      what I have done to serve you in bad part, I will never speak to her
+      again, happen what may. And that I may hide my wrath as I have hidden my
+      joy, I will betake me to some place in the neighbourhood, and there wait
+      till your caprice has passed away. I hope, however, I shall there receive
+      tidings from my captain and be called back to the war, where I will remain
+      long enough to show you that nothing but yourself has kept me here.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So saying, he forthwith departed without waiting for her reply.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida felt the greatest vexation and sorrow imaginable; and love,
+      meeting with opposition, began to put forth its mighty strength. She
+      perceived that she had been in the wrong, and wrote continually to Amadour
+      entreating him to return, which he did after a few days, when his anger
+      had abated.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I cannot undertake to tell you minutely all that they said to each other
+      in order to destroy this jealousy. But at all events he won the victory,
+      and she promised him that not only would she never believe he loved
+      Paulina, but that she would ever be convinced he found it an intolerable
+      martyrdom to speak either to Paulina or to any one else except to do
+      herself a service.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When love had conquered this first suspicion, and while the two lovers
+      were beginning to take fresh pleasure in conversing together, news came
+      that the King of Spain was sending all his army to Salces. (11)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     11  Salces, a village about fifteen miles north of Perpignan,
+     noted for its formidable fortress, still existing and
+     commanding a pass through the Corbière Mountains, which in
+     the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries separated France from
+     Roussillon, then belonging to Spain. The French burnt the
+     village and demolished the fort of Salces in 1496, but the
+     latter was rebuilt by the Spaniards in the most massive
+     style. The walls of the fort are 66 feet thick at the base
+     and 54 feet thick at the summit. When Queen Margaret
+     returned from Spain in 152,5 she reached France by the pass
+     of Salces. (See vol. i. p. xlvi.).&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, accustomed ever to be the first in battle, failed not to seize
+      this opportunity of winning renown; but in truth he set forth with
+      unwonted regret, both on account of the pleasure he was losing and because
+      he feared that he might find a change on his return. He knew that Florida,
+      who was now fifteen or sixteen years old, was sought in marriage by many
+      great princes and lords, and he reflected that if she were married during
+      his absence he might have no further opportunity of seeing her, unless,
+      indeed, the Countess of Aranda gave her his wife, Avanturada, as a
+      companion. However, by skilful management with his friends, he obtained a
+      promise from both mother and daughter that wherever Florida might go after
+      her marriage thither should his wife, Avanturada, accompany her. Although
+      it was proposed to marry Florida in Portugal, it was nevertheless resolved
+      that Avanturada should never leave her. With this assurance, yet not
+      without unspeakable regret, Amadour went away and left his wife with the
+      Countess.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Florida found herself alone after his departure, she set about doing
+      such good and virtuous works as she hoped might win her the reputation
+      that belongs to the most perfect women, and might prove her to be worthy
+      of such a lover as Amadour. He having arrived at Barcelona, was there
+      welcomed by the ladies as of old; but they found a greater change in him
+      than they believed it possible for marriage to effect in any man. He
+      seemed to be vexed by the sight of things he had formerly desired; and
+      even the Countess of Palamos, whom he had loved exceedingly, could not
+      persuade him to visit her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour remained at Barcelona as short a time as possible, for he was
+      impatient to reach Salces, where he alone was now awaited. When he
+      arrived, there began between the two kings that great and cruel war which
+      I do not purpose to describe. (12) Neither will I recount the noble deeds
+      that were done by Amadour, for then my story would take up an entire day;
+      but you must know that he won renown far above all his comrades. The Duke
+      of Najera (13) having arrived at Perpignan in command of two thousand men,
+      requested Amadour to be his lieutenant, and so well did Amadour fulfil his
+      duty with this band, that in every skirmish the only cry was &ldquo;Najera!&rdquo;
+       (14)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     12  In 1503 the French, under Marshals de Rieux and de Gié,
+     again besieged Salces, which had a garrison of 1200 men. The
+     latter opposed a vigorous defence during two months, and
+     upon the arrival of the old Duke of Alba with an army of
+     succour the siege had to be raised.&mdash;B. J.
+
+     13  Pedro Manriquez de Lara, Count of Trevigno, created Duke
+     of Najera by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1501.&mdash;B. J.
+
+     14  The Duke&rsquo;s war-cry, repeated by his followers as a
+     rallying signal in the <i>mêlée</i>. War-cries varied greatly.
+     &ldquo;Montjoie St. Denis&rdquo; was that of the kings of France, and
+     &ldquo;Passavant le meilleur&rdquo; (the best to the front) that of the
+     Counts of Champagne. In other instances the war-cry
+     consisted of a single word, &ldquo;Bigorre&rdquo; being that of the
+     kings of Navarre, and &ldquo;Flanders&rdquo; that of the Princess of
+     Beaujeu. When the war-cry was merely a name, as in the case
+     of the Duke of Najera, it belonged to the head of the
+     family.&mdash;D.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Now it came to pass that the King of Tunis, who for a long time had been
+      at war with the Spaniards, heard that the kings of France and Spain were
+      warring with each other on the frontiers of Perpignan and Narbonne, and
+      bethought himself that he could have no better opportunity of vexing the
+      King of Spain. Accordingly, he sent a great number of light galleys and
+      other vessels to plunder and destroy all such badly-guarded places as they
+      could find on the coasts of Spain. (15)The people of Barcelona seeing a
+      great fleet passing in front of their town, sent word of the matter to the
+      Viceroy, who was at Salces, and he forthwith despatched the Duke of Najera
+      to Palamos. (16) When the Moors saw that place so well guarded, they made
+      a feint of passing on; but returning at midnight, they landed a large
+      number of men, and the Duke of Najera, being surprised by the enemy, was
+      taken prisoner.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     15  The above two sentences, deficient in the MS. followed by
+     M. Le Roux de Lincy, have been borrowed from MS. No. 1520
+     (Bib. Nat.). It was in 1503 that a Moorish flotilla ravaged
+     the coast of Catalonia.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     16  The village of Palamos, on the shores of the
+     Mediterranean, south of Cape Bagur, and within fifteen miles
+     from Gerona.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who was on the alert and heard the din, forthwith assembled as
+      many of his men as possible, and defended himself so stoutly that the
+      enemy, in spite of their numbers, were for a long time unable to prevail
+      against him. But at last, hearing that the Duke of Najera was taken, and
+      that the Turks had resolved to set fire to Palamos and burn him in the
+      house which he was holding against them, he thought it better to yield
+      than to cause the destruction of the brave men who were with him. He also
+      hoped that by paying a ransom he might yet see Florida again. Accordingly,
+      he gave himself up to a Turk named Dorlin, a governor of the King of
+      Tunis, who brought him to his master. By the latter he was well received
+      and still better guarded; for the King deemed that in him he held the
+      Achilles of all the Spains.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thus Amadour continued for two years in the service of the King of Tunis.
+      The news of the captures having reached Spain, the kinsfolk of the Duke of
+      Najera were in great sorrow; but those who held the country&rsquo;s honour dear
+      deemed Amadour the greater loss. The rumour came to the house of the
+      Countess of Aranda, where the hapless Avanturada at that time lay
+      grievously sick. The Countess, who had great misgivings as to the
+      affection which Amadour bore to her daughter, though she suffered it and
+      concealed it for the sake of the merits she perceived in him, took Florida
+      apart and told her the mournful tidings. Florida, who was well able to
+      dissemble, replied that it was a great loss to the entire household, and
+      that above all she pitied his poor wife, who was herself so ill.
+      Nevertheless, seeing that her mother wept exceedingly, she shed a few
+      tears to bear her company; for she feared that if she dissembled too far
+      the feint might be discovered. From that time the Countess often spoke to
+      her of Amadour, but never could she surprise a look to guide her judgment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I will pass over the pilgrimages, prayers, supplications, and fasts which
+      Florida regularly performed to ensure the safety of Amadour. As soon as he
+      had arrived at Tunis, he failed not to send tidings of himself to his
+      friends, and by a trusty messenger he apprised Florida that he was in good
+      health, and had hopes of seeing her again. This was the only consolation
+      the poor lady had in her grief, and you may be sure that, since she was
+      permitted to write, she did so with all diligence, so that Amadour had no
+      lack of her letters to comfort him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Countess of Aranda was about this time commanded to repair to
+      Saragossa, where the King had arrived; and here she found the young Duke
+      of Cardona, who so pressed the King and Queen that they begged the
+      Countess to give him their daughter in marriage. (17) The Countess
+      consented, for she was unwilling to disobey them in anything, and moreover
+      she considered that her daughter, being so young, could have no will of
+      her own.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     17  The Spanish historians state that in 1513 the King, to
+     put an end to a quarrel between the Count of Aranda and the
+     Count of Ribagorce, charged Father John of Estuniga,
+     Provincial of the Order of St. Francis, to negotiate a
+     reconciliation between them, based on the marriage of the
+     eldest daughter of the Count of Aranda with the eldest son
+     of the Count of Ribagorce. The latter refusing his consent,
+     was banished from the kingdom.&mdash;D.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      When all was settled, she told Florida that she had chosen for her the
+      match which seemed most suitable. Florida, knowing that when a thing is
+      once done there is small room for counsel, replied that God was to be
+      praised for all things; and, finding her mother look coldly upon her, she
+      sought rather to obey her than to take pity on herself. It scarcely
+      comforted her in her sorrows to learn that the son of the Infante of
+      Fortune was sick even to death; but never, either in presence of her
+      mother or of any one else, did she show any sign of grief. So strongly did
+      she constrain herself, that her tears, driven perforce back into her
+      heart, caused so great a loss of blood from the nose that her life was
+      endangered; and, that she might be restored to health, she was given in
+      marriage to one whom she would willingly have exchanged for death.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After the marriage Florida departed with her husband to the duchy of
+      Cardona, taking with her Avanturada, whom she privately acquainted with
+      her sorrow, both as regards her mother&rsquo;s harshness and her own regret at
+      having lost the son of the Infante of Fortune; but she never spoke of her
+      regret for Amadour except to console his wife.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This young lady then resolved to keep God and honour before her eyes. So
+      well did she conceal her grief, that none of her friends perceived that
+      her husband was displeasing to her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In this way she spent a long time, living a life that was worse than
+      death, as she failed not to inform her lover Amadour, who, knowing the
+      virtue and greatness of her heart, as well as the love that she had borne
+      to the son of the Infante of Fortune, thought it impossible that she could
+      live long, and mourned for her as for one that was more than dead. This
+      sorrow was an increase to his former grief, and forgetting his own
+      distress in that which he knew his sweetheart was enduring, he would
+      willingly have continued all his life the slave he was if Florida could
+      thereby have had a husband after her own heart. He learnt from a friend
+      whom he had gained at the Court of Tunis that the King, wishing to keep
+      him if only he could make a good Turk of him, intended to give him his
+      choice between impalement and the renunciation of his faith. Thereupon he
+      so addressed himself to his master, the governor who had taken him
+      prisoner, that he persuaded him to release him on parole. His master
+      named, however, a much higher ransom than he thought could be raised by a
+      man of such little wealth, and then, without speaking to the King, he let
+      him go.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Amadour reached the Court of the King of Spain, he stayed there but a
+      short time, and then, in order to seek his ransom among his friends, he
+      repaired to Barcelona, whither the young Duke of Cardona, his mother, and
+      Florida had gone on business. As soon as Avanturada heard that her husband
+      was returned, she told the news to Florida, who rejoiced as though for
+      love of her friend. Fearing, however, that her joy at seeing Amadour might
+      make her change her countenance, and that those who did not know her might
+      think wrongly of her, she remained at a window in order to see him coming
+      from afar. As soon as she perceived him she went down by a dark staircase,
+      so that none could see whether she changed colour, and embracing Amadour,
+      led him to her room, and thence to her mother-in-law, who had never seen
+      him. He had not been there for two days before he was loved as much as he
+      had been in the household of the Countess of Aranda.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I leave you to imagine the conversation that he and Florida had together,
+      and how she complained to him of the misfortunes that had come to her in
+      his absence. After shedding many tears of sorrow, both for having been
+      married against her will and also for having lost one she loved so dearly
+      without any hope of seeing him again, she resolved to take consolation
+      from the love and trust she had towards Amadour. Though she durst not
+      declare the truth, he suspected it, and lost neither time nor opportunity
+      to show her how much he loved her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Just when Florida was all but persuaded to receive him, not as a lover,
+      but as a true and perfect friend, a misfortune came to pass, for the King
+      summoned Amadour to him concerning some important matter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      His wife was so grieved on hearing these tidings that she swooned, and
+      falling down a staircase on which she was standing, was so hurt that she
+      never rose again. Florida having by this death lost all her consolation,
+      mourned like one who felt herself bereft of friends and kin. But Amadour
+      grieved still more; for on the one part he lost one of the best wives that
+      ever lived, and on the other the means of ever seeing Florida again. This
+      caused him such sorrow that he was near coming by a sudden death. The old
+      Duchess of Cardona visited him incessantly, reciting the arguments of
+      philosophers why he should endure his loss with patience. But all was of
+      no avail; for if on the one hand his wife&rsquo;s death afflicted him, on the
+      other his love increased his martyrdom. Having no longer any excuse to
+      stay when his wife was buried, and his master again summoned him, his
+      despair was such that he was like to lose his reason.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, who thinking to comfort him, was herself the cause of his
+      greatest grief, spent a whole afternoon in the most gracious converse with
+      him in order to lessen his sorrow, and assured him that she would find
+      means to see him oftener than he thought. Then, as he was to depart on the
+      following morning, and was so weak that he could scarcely stir from his
+      bed, he prayed her to come and see him in the evening after every one else
+      had left him. This she promised to do, not knowing that love in extremity
+      is void of reason.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour altogether despaired of ever again seeing her whom he had loved so
+      long, and from whom he had received no other treatment than I have
+      described. Racked by secret passion and by despair at losing all means of
+      consorting with her, he resolved to play at double or quits, and either
+      lose her altogether or else wholly win her, and so pay himself in an hour
+      the reward which he thought he had deserved. Accordingly he had his bed
+      curtained in such a manner that those who came into the room could not see
+      him; and he complained so much more than he had done previously that all
+      the people of the house thought he had not twenty-four hours to live.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After every one else had visited him, Florida, at the request of her
+      husband himself, came in the evening, hoping to comfort him by declaring
+      her affection and by telling him that, so far as honour allowed, she was
+      willing to love him. She sat down on a chair beside the head of his bed,
+      and began her consolation by weeping with him. Amadour, seeing her filled
+      with such sorrow, thought that in her distress he might the more readily
+      achieve his purpose, and raised himself up in the bed. Florida, thinking
+      that he was too weak to do this, sought to prevent him, but he threw
+      himself on his knees before her saying, &ldquo;Must I lose sight of you for
+      ever?&rdquo; Then he fell into her arms like one exhausted. The hapless Florida
+      embraced him and supported him for a long time, doing all she could to
+      comfort him. But what she offered him to cure his pain only increased it;
+      and while feigning to be half dead, he, without saying a word, strove to
+      obtain that which the honour of ladies forbids.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Florida perceived his evil purpose, in which she could hardly believe
+      after all his honourable conversation, she asked him what he sought to do.
+      Amadour, fearing her reply, which he knew could not be otherwise than
+      chaste and virtuous, said nothing, but pursued his attempt with all the
+      strength that he could muster. Florida, greatly astonished, suspected
+      rather that he had lost his senses than that he was really bent upon her
+      dishonour, and called out to a gentleman whom she knew to be in the room;
+      whereupon Amadour in extreme despair flung himself back upon his bed so
+      suddenly that the gentleman thought him dead.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, who had risen from her chair, then said to the gentleman&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Go quickly for some strong vinegar.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This the gentleman did, whereupon Florida said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What madness, Amadour, has mounted to your brain? What was it you thought
+      and wished to do?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who had lost all reason in the vehemence of his love, replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Does so long a service merit so cruel a reward?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what of the honour of which you have so often preached to me?&rdquo; said
+      Florida.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah! madam,&rdquo; said Amadour, &ldquo;it would be impossible to hold your honour
+      more dear than I have held it. Before you were married, I was able so to
+      subdue my heart that you knew nothing of my desires, but now that you are
+      wedded and your honour may be shielded, do I wrong you in asking for what
+      is mine? By the strength of my love I have won you. He who first possessed
+      your heart had so little desire for your person that he deserved to lose
+      both. He who now owns your person is not worthy to have your heart, and
+      hence even your person does not properly belong to him. But for five or
+      six years I have for your sake borne many pains and woes, which must show
+      you that your body and heart belong to me alone. Think not to defend
+      yourself by speaking of conscience, for when love constrains body and
+      heart sin is never imputed. Those who are driven by frenzy so far as to
+      slay themselves cannot sin, for passion leaves no room for reason; and if
+      the passion of love be more intolerable than any other, and more blinding
+      to the senses, what sin could you fasten upon one who yields to the
+      conduct of such indomitable power? I am going away, and have no hope of
+      ever seeing you again; but if before my departure I could have of you that
+      assurance which the greatness of my love deserves, I should be
+      strengthened sufficiently to endure in patience the sorrows of a long
+      separation. If you will not grant me my request you will ere long learn
+      that your harshness has brought me to a miserable and a cruel death.&rdquo; (18)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     18  The passage commencing &ldquo;Those who are driven&rdquo; and ending
+     &ldquo;a cruel death&rdquo; is deficient in the earlier editions of the
+     <i>Heptameron</i>, which give the following in place of it: &ldquo;Do
+     not doubt but what those who have felt the power of love
+     will cast the blame on you who have so robbed me of my
+     liberty and dazzled my senses with your divine graces, that
+     not knowing what to do henceforth, I am constrained to go
+     away without the hope of ever seeing you again; certain,
+     however, that wherever I may be, you will still have part of
+     my heart, which will ever remain yours, be I on land, on the
+     sea, or in the hands of my most cruel enemies.&rdquo; The above is
+     one of various instances of the liberty taken by Boaistuau
+     and Gruget with Margaret&rsquo;s text.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Florida was not less grieved than astonished to hear these words from one
+      whom she had never imagined capable of such discourse, and, weeping, she
+      thus replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Alas, Amadour, is this the honourable converse that we used to have
+      together while I was young? Is this the honour or conscience which many a
+      time you counselled me to value more than life? Have you forgotten both
+      the worthy examples you set before me of virtuous ladies who withstood
+      unholy love, and also your own contempt for erring women? I cannot believe
+      you so changed, Amadour, that regard for God, your own conscience, and my
+      honour is wholly dead within you. But if it indeed be as you say, I praise
+      the divine goodness which has prevented the misfortune into which I was
+      about to fall, and has revealed to me by your own words the heart of which
+      I was so ignorant. Having lost the son of the Infante of Fortune, not only
+      by my marriage, but also, as is known to me, by reason of his love for
+      another, and finding myself wedded to a man whom, strive as I may, I
+      cannot love, I resolved to set heart and affection entirely on loving you.
+      This love I built upon that virtue which I had so often perceived in you,
+      and to which by your own assistance I think I have attained&mdash;I mean
+      the virtue of loving one&rsquo;s honour and conscience more than life. I came
+      hither thinking to make this rock of virtue a sure foundation of love. But
+      you have in a moment shown me, Amadour, that instead of a pure and cleanly
+      rock, this foundation would have been one of shifting sand or filthy mire;
+      and although a great part of the house in which I hoped always to dwell
+      had already been raised, you have suddenly demolished it. Lay aside,
+      therefore, any hope you had concerning me, and make up your mind not to
+      seek me by look or word wherever I may be, or to hope that I shall ever be
+      able or willing to change my resolve. It is with the deepest sorrow that I
+      tell you this, though had I gone so far as to swear eternal love with you,
+      I know that my heart could not have lived through this meeting. Even now I
+      am so confounded to find myself deceived, that I am sure my life will be
+      either short or sad. With these words I bid you farewell, and for ever.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I will not try to describe to you the grief that Amadour felt on hearing
+      this speech. It is impossible not only to describe it, but even to
+      conceive it, except indeed to such as have experienced the like. Seeing
+      that with this cruel conclusion she was about to leave him, he seized her
+      by the arm, knowing full well that, if he did not remove her evil opinion
+      of him, he would lose her for ever. Accordingly he dissembled his looks as
+      well as he could, and said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;During my whole life, madam, I have desired to love a woman of virtue,
+      and having found so few of them, I was minded to put you to proof, and so
+      discover whether you were as well worthy of esteem as of love. Now I know
+      for certain that you are; and therefore I give praise to God, who has
+      inclined my heart to the love of such great perfection. I entreat you to
+      pardon my mad and foolhardy attempt, seeing that the issue of it has
+      turned to your honour and to my great satisfaction.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida was beginning to learn through him the deceitfulness of men; and,
+      just as she had formerly found it difficult to believe in evil where it
+      existed, so did she now find it even more difficult to believe in virtue
+      where there was none.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Would to God you spoke the truth,&rdquo; she said to him; &ldquo;but I am not so
+      ignorant as not to know by my experience in marriage that the blindness of
+      strong passion led you to act as you did. Had God given me a loose rein I
+      am sure that you would not have drawn bridle. Those who go in quest of
+      virtue are wont to take a different road to yours. But enough; if I have
+      been too hasty in crediting you with some goodness, it is time I learned
+      the truth, by which I am now delivered out of your hands.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So saying, Florida left the room. As long as the night lasted she did
+      nought but weep; for the change that had taken place caused her intense
+      grief, and her heart had much ado to hold out against the sorrowing of
+      love. Although, guided by reason, she had resolved to love no more, yet
+      the heart, which cannot be subdued, would in no wise permit this. Thus she
+      was unable to love him less than before, and knowing that love had been
+      the cause of his offence, she made up her mind to satisfy love by
+      continuing to love him with her whole heart, and to obey honour by never
+      giving any sign of her affection either to him or to any one else.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the morning Amadour departed in the distress that I have described.
+      Nevertheless his heart, which was so lofty that there was none like it in
+      the world, suffered him not to despair, but prompted him to new devices
+      for seeing Florida again and winning her favour. So as he proceeded to the
+      King of Spain, who was then at Toledo, he took his way through the county
+      of Aranda, where he arrived very late one evening, and found the Countess
+      in great sadness on account of the absence of her daughter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When she saw Amadour she kissed and embraced him as though he had been her
+      own son, and this no less for the love she herself bore him as for that
+      which she suspected he had for Florida. She asked minutely for news of her
+      daughter, and he told her what he could, though not the entire truth.
+      However, he confessed the love which existed between them, and which
+      Florida had always concealed; and he begged the Countess to aid him in
+      hearing often of Florida, and to take her as speedily as possible to
+      Aranda.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At daybreak he went on his way, and when he had despatched his business
+      with the King he left for the war. So sad was he and so changed in every
+      way that ladies, captains, and acquaintances alike could scarcely
+      recognise him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He now wore nothing but black, and this of a heavier pile than was needful
+      as mourning for his dead wife; but indeed her death served only as a cloak
+      for the sorrow that was in his heart. Thus Amadour spent three or four
+      years without returning to Court.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Countess of Aranda hearing that Florida was changed and that it was
+      pitiful to see her, sent for her, hoping that she would return home. The
+      contrary, however, happened. When Florida learned that Amadour had told
+      her mother of their love, and that she, although so discreet and virtuous,
+      had approved of it, she was in extraordinary perplexity. On the one hand
+      she perceived that if her mother, who had such great esteem for Amadour,
+      were told the truth some mischief might befall the latter; and this even
+      to save her life she would not have brought to pass, for she felt strong
+      enough to punish his folly herself without calling on her kinsfolk for
+      assistance. On the other hand she saw that, if she concealed the evil she
+      knew of him, she would be constrained by her mother and all her friends to
+      speak to him and show him favour, and this she feared would only
+      strengthen his evil purpose. However, as he was a long way off, she kept
+      her own counsel, and wrote to him whenever the Countess commanded her.
+      Still her letters were such that he could see they were written more out
+      of obedience than goodwill; and the grief he felt in reading them was as
+      great as his joy had been in reading the earlier ones.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At the end of two or three years, when he had performed so many noble
+      deeds that all the paper in Spain could not contain the records of them,
+      (19) he conceived a very skilful device, not indeed to win Florida&rsquo;s
+      heart, which he looked upon as lost, but to gain the victory over his
+      enemy, since such she had shown herself to be. He put aside all the
+      promptings of reason and even the fear of death, and at the risk of his
+      life resolved to act in the following way. He persuaded the chief Governor
+      (20) to send him on an embassy to the King concerning some secret attempt
+      against Leucate; (21) and he procured a command to take counsel with the
+      Countess of Aranda about the matter before communicating it to the King.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     19  Margaret, perhaps, wrote &ldquo;All the paper of Spain could
+     not contain them,&rdquo; simply because Spanish paper was then of
+     very small size. Paper-making had, however, been almost
+     monopolised by Spain until the end of the thirteenth
+     century, the cotton used in the manufacture being imported
+     from the East.&mdash;M.
+
+     20  The Viceroy of Catalonia.&mdash;D.
+
+     21  Leucate, now a village, but said to have been a
+     flourishing town in the fourteenth century, lies near the
+     Mediterranean, at a few miles from Salces, and gives its
+     name to a large salt-water lake. Formerly fortified, it was
+     repeatedly besieged and burnt by the Spaniards; notably by
+     the Duke of Alba in 1503, after he had relieved Salces.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Then he came post haste to the county of Aranda, where he knew Florida to
+      be, and secretly sent a friend to inform the Countess of his coming,
+      praying her to keep it secret, and to grant him audience at nightfall
+      without the knowledge of any one.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Countess, who was very pleased at his coming, spoke of it to Florida,
+      and sent her to undress in her husband&rsquo;s room, that she might be ready
+      when sent for after every one was gone to bed. Florida had not yet
+      recovered from her first alarm, but she said nothing of it to her mother,
+      and withdrew to an oratory in order to commend herself to Our Lord. While
+      she was praying that her heart might be preserved from all evil affection,
+      she remembered that Amadour had often praised her beauty, and that in
+      spite of long illness it had not been impaired. Being, therefore, more
+      willing to injure her beauty than suffer it to kindle an evil flame in the
+      heart of an honourable gentleman, she took a stone which lay in the chapel
+      and struck herself a grievous blow on the face so that her mouth, nose,
+      and eyes were quite disfigured. Then, in order that no one might suspect
+      it to be of her own doing, she let herself fall upon her face on leaving
+      the chapel when summoned by the Countess, and cried out loudly. The
+      Countess coming thither found her in this pitiful state, and forthwith
+      caused her face to be dressed and bandaged.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then the Countess led her to her own apartment, and begged her to go to
+      her room and entertain Amadour until she herself had got rid of her
+      company. This Florida did, thinking that there were others with him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But when she found herself alone with him, and the door closed upon her,
+      she was as greatly troubled as he was pleased. He thought that, by love or
+      violence, he would now have what he desired; so he spoke to her, and
+      finding that she made the same reply as before, and that even to save her
+      life she would not change her resolve, he was beside himself with despair.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Before God, Florida,&rdquo; he said to her, &ldquo;your scruples shall not rob me of
+      the fruits of my labour. Since love, patience, and humble entreaty are of
+      no avail, I will spare no strength of mine to gain the boon, upon which
+      all its existence depends.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida saw that his eyes and countenance were altered exceedingly, so
+      that his complexion, naturally the fairest in the world, was now as red as
+      fire, and his look, usually so gentle and pleasant, had become as horrible
+      and furious as though fierce flames were blazing in his heart and face. In
+      his frenzy he seized her delicate, weak hands in his own strong, powerful
+      ones; and she, finding herself in such bondage that she could neither
+      defend herself nor fly, thought that her only chance was to try whether he
+      had not retained some traces of his former love, for the sake of which he
+      might forego his cruelty. She therefore said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you now look upon me, Amadour, in the light of an enemy, I entreat
+      you, by that pure love which I once thought was in your heart, to hearken
+      to me before you put me to torture.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Seeing that he became attentive, she continued&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Alas! Amadour, what can prompt you to seek after a thing that can afford
+      you no satisfaction, and thus afflict me with the profoundest grief? You
+      made trial of my inclinations in the days of my youth and earliest beauty,
+      and they perhaps served to excuse your passion; but I am amazed that now,
+      when I am old, and ugly, and sorrow-stricken, you should seek for what you
+      know you can never find. I am sure you do not doubt that my mind is as it
+      used to be, and so by force alone can you obtain what you desire. If you
+      observe the condition of my face, and lay aside the memory of the beauty
+      that once you saw in it, you will have no inclination to draw any nearer;
+      and if you still retain within you any remnants of your past love, it is
+      impossible that pity will not subdue your frenzy. To this pity, which I
+      have often found in you, I appeal with prayers for mercy. Suffer me to
+      live in peace, and in that honour which by your own counsel I have
+      resolved to preserve. But if the love you once bore me is now turned to
+      hate, and you desire, in vengeance rather than in love, to make me the
+      unhappiest woman alive, I protest to you that it shall not be so. You will
+      force me against my will to make your evil purpose known to her who thinks
+      so highly of you; and you may be sure that, when she learns it, your life
+      will not be safe.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      But Amadour interrupted her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If I must die,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I shall be the sooner rid of my torment. The
+      disfigurement of your face, which I believe is of your own seeking, shall
+      not restrain me from making you mine. Though I could have nothing but your
+      bones, I would yet hold them close to me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When Florida saw that prayers, reasoning, and tears were alike of no
+      avail, and that while he cruelly pursued his evil purpose she lacked the
+      strength to resist him, she summoned the aid which she dreaded as greatly
+      as death, and in a sad and piteous voice called as loudly as she could
+      upon her mother. The Countess, hearing her daughter&rsquo;s cries, had grave
+      misgivings of the truth, and hastened into the room with all possible
+      speed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who was not so ready to die as he affirmed, desisted promptly
+      from his enterprise; and when the lady opened the door she found him close
+      beside it, and Florida some distance from him. &ldquo;Amadour,&rdquo; said the
+      Countess, &ldquo;what is the matter? Tell me the truth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who was never at a loss for invention, replied with a pale and
+      daunted face&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Alas! madam, what change is this in the lady Florida? I was never so
+      astonished before, for, as I have told you, I thought I had a share in her
+      favour; but I now see clearly that I have lost it all. While she was being
+      brought up by you, she was, I think, no less discreet or virtuous than she
+      is at present; however, she had then no qualms of conscience about
+      speaking with any one. But now, when I sought to look at her, she would
+      not suffer me to do so. When I saw this behaviour on her part I thought I
+      must be dreaming, and asked her for her hand to kiss it after the manner
+      of the country. This she utterly refused me. I acknowledge, madam, that
+      then I acted wrongfully, and I entreat your pardon for it; for I took her
+      hand, as it were by force, and kissed it. I asked nothing more of her, but
+      I believe that she intends my death, for she called out to you as you
+      know. Why she did this I cannot tell, unless indeed she feared that I had
+      some other purpose in view. Nevertheless, madam, be this as it may, I
+      confess that I am in the wrong; for although she ought to love all who are
+      devoted to you, fortune wills it that I, who am of all most attached to
+      her, am banished from her good graces. Still, I shall ever continue the
+      same both to you and to her; and I entreat you to continue me in your good
+      favour since, by no fault of my own, I have now lost hers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Countess, who partly believed and partly suspected him, went up to her
+      daughter and asked&mdash;&ldquo;Why did you call me so loudly?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida replied that she had felt afraid; and, although the Countess
+      questioned her minutely on many points, she would give no other reply.
+      Finding that she had escaped from her enemy she deemed him sufficiently
+      punished by the failure of his attempt.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After the Countess had had a long conversation with Amadour, she suffered
+      him to speak again in her presence with Florida, to see how he would
+      behave. He said but little, save that he thanked her for not having
+      confessed the truth to her mother, and begged that since she had expelled
+      him from her heart, she would at least allow no other to take his place.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If my voice had not been my only means of defending myself,&rdquo; she replied,
+      &ldquo;it would never have been heard; and from me you shall have no worse
+      punishment, if you do not force me to it by troubling me again as you have
+      done. Do not fear that I can ever love another; since I have not found the
+      good I wished for in a heart that I considered to be the most virtuous in
+      the world, I do not expect to find it in any man. This evil fortune will
+      henceforth free me of all the passion that love can give.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words she bade him farewell.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Her mother, who had been watching her face, was unable to form any
+      opinion; though from that time forth she clearly saw that her daughter had
+      lost all affection for Amadour. She imagined her so devoid of reason as to
+      hate everything that she herself loved; and from that hour she warred with
+      her in a strange way, spending seven years without speaking to her except
+      in anger, all which she did at Amadour&rsquo;s request.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile, on account of her mother&rsquo;s harsh treatment, Florida&rsquo;s former
+      dread of being with her husband was changed into a desire of never leaving
+      him. Seeing, however, that all her efforts were useless, she resolved to
+      deceive Amadour, and laying aside her coldness for a day or two, she
+      advised him to pay court to a lady who, she said, had been speaking of
+      their love.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This lady lived with the Queen of Spain, and was called Loretta. Amadour
+      believed the story, and, thinking that he might in this way regain
+      Florida&rsquo;s good graces, he made love to Loretta, who was the wife of a
+      captain, one of the viceroys of the King of Spain. She, in her pleasure at
+      having gained such a lover, showed so much elation that the affair was
+      rumoured abroad. Even the Countess of Aranda, who was at Court, had
+      knowledge of it, and thenceforward treated Florida less harshly than
+      before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day Florida heard that the captain, Loretta&rsquo;s husband, had grown
+      jealous, and was resolved to kill Amadour in one way or another as best he
+      might. In spite of her altered treatment of Amadour, Florida did not
+      desire that evil should befall him, and so she immediately informed him of
+      what she had heard. He was quite ready to hark back again to his first
+      love, and thereupon told her that, if she would grant him three hours of
+      her conversation every day, he would never again speak to Loretta. But
+      this she would not grant. &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Amadour, &ldquo;if you will not give me
+      life, why prevent me from dying, unless indeed you hope to make me suffer
+      more pain during life than any death could cause? But though death shun
+      me, I will seek it until I find it; then only shall I have rest.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      While they were on this footing, news came that the King of Granada (22)
+      was entering upon a great war against the King of Spain. The latter,
+      therefore, sent the Prince, his son, (23) to the war, and with him the
+      Constable of Castille and the Duke of Alba, (24) two old and prudent
+      lords. The Duke of Cardona and the Count of Aranda were unwilling to
+      remain behind, and prayed the King to give them some command. This he did
+      as befitted their rank, and gave them into the safe keeping of Amadour,
+      who performed such extraordinary deeds during the war, that they seemed to
+      be acts as much of despair as of bravery.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     22  The last King of Granada was Mahomed Boabdil, dethroned
+     in 1493. The title may have been assumed, however, by the
+     leader of an insurrection.&mdash;D.
+
+     23  As Ferdinand and Isabella had no son, the reference must
+     be to their daughter&rsquo;s husband, Philip the Fair of Austria,
+     son of the Emperor Maximilian I. and father of Charles V.&mdash;
+     B. J.
+
+     24  Frederick of Toledo, Marquis of Coria and Duke of Alba,
+     generally called the old Duke of Alba to distinguish him
+     from his son.&mdash;B. J.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Coming now to the point of my story, I have to relate how his overboldness
+      was proved by his death. The Moors had made a show of offering battle, and
+      finding the Christian army very numerous had feigned a retreat. The
+      Spaniards started in pursuit, but the old Constable and the Duke of Alba,
+      who suspected the trickery of the Moors, restrained the Prince of Spain
+      against his will from crossing the river. The Count of Aranda, however,
+      and the Duke of Cardona crossed, although it was forbidden; and when the
+      Moors saw that they were pursued by only a few men they faced about again.
+      The Duke of Cardona was struck down and killed with a blow of a scimitar,
+      and the Count of Aranda was so grievously wounded that he was left for
+      dead. Thereupon Amadour came up filled with rage and fury, and bursting
+      through the throng, caused the two bodies to be taken up and carried to
+      the camp of the Prince, who mourned for them as for his own brothers. On
+      examining their wounds the Count of Aranda was found to be still alive,
+      and was sent in a litter to his home, where he lay ill for a long time. On
+      the other hand, the Duke&rsquo;s body was sent back to Cardona.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile Amadour, having made this effort to rescue the two bodies, had
+      thought so little of his own safety that he found himself surrounded by a
+      large number of Moors. Not desiring his person to be captured any more
+      than he had captured that of his mistress, nor to break his faith with God
+      as he had broken faith with her&mdash;for he knew that, if he were taken
+      to the King of Granada, he must either die a cruel death or renounce
+      Christianity&mdash;he resolved to withhold from his enemies the glory
+      either of his death or capture. So kissing the cross of his sword and
+      commending his body and soul to God, he dealt himself such a thrust as to
+      be past all help.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thus died the unhappy Amadour, lamented as deeply as his virtues deserved.
+      The news spread through the whole of Spain; and the rumour of it came to
+      Florida, who was at Barcelona, where her husband had formerly commanded
+      that he should be buried. She gave him an honourable funeral, (25) and
+      then, without saying anything to her mother or mother-in-law, she became a
+      nun in the Convent of Jesus, taking for husband and lover Him who had
+      delivered her from such a violent love as that of Amadour&rsquo;s, and from such
+      great affliction as she had endured in the company of her husband. Thus
+      were all her affections directed to the perfect loving of God; and, after
+      living for a long time as a nun, she yielded up her soul with gladness,
+      like that of the bride when she goes forth to meet the bridegroom.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     25  The Franciscan monastery of the little village cf
+     Bellpuig, near Lerida, contains the tomb of Ramon de
+     Cardona, termed one of the marvels of Catalonia on account
+     of the admirable sculptures adorning it. One of the
+     beautiful white marble bas-reliefs shows a number of galleys
+     drawn up in line of battle, whilst some smaller boats are
+     conveying parties of armed men to a river-bank on which the
+     Moors are awaiting them in hostile array. On the frieze of
+     an arch the Spaniards and Moors are shown fighting, many of
+     the former retreating towards the water. An inscription
+     records that the tomb was raised to the best of husbands by
+     Isabella, his unhappy spouse.
+
+     Margaret gives the name of Florida to the wife of the Duke
+     whom she mentions, but it should be borne in mind that she
+     has systematically mingled fact with fiction throughout this
+     story; and that she was alluding to the Duke buried at
+     Bellpuig seems evident from an examination of the bas-
+     reliefs mentioned above. Ramon de Cardona was, however, a
+     more important personage than she pictures him. He became
+     Charles V.&lsquo;s viceroy in Naples, and did not die till 1520,
+     whereas Margaret&rsquo;s story appears to end in or about 1513.
+     Possibly she saw the tomb when in Spain.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am well aware, ladies, that this long tale may have been wearisome to
+      some among you, but had I told it as it was told to me it would have been
+      longer still. Take example, I beg you, by the virtue of Florida, but be
+      somewhat less cruel; and think not so well of any man that, when you are
+      undeceived, you occasion him a cruel death and yourselves a life of
+      sorrow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Having had a long and fair hearing Parlamente said to Hircan&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you not think that this lady was pressed to extremities and that she
+      held out virtuously?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Hircan; &ldquo;a woman can make no more feeble resistance than to cry
+      out. If she had been in a place where none could hear her I do not know
+      how she would have fared. And if Amadour had had more love and less fear
+      he would not have desisted from his attempt for so little. So this story
+      will not cause me to change my firm opinion that no man ever perfectly
+      loved a lady, or was loved by her, that he did not prove successful if
+      only he went the right way to work. Nevertheless, I must praise Amadour
+      for having in part done his duty.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What duty?&rdquo; asked Oisille. &ldquo;Do you call it a lover&rsquo;s duty to try and take
+      his mistress by force when he owes her all reverence and submission?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Here Saffredent took up the discourse.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;when our mistresses hold their state in chamber or
+      hall, seated at their ease as though they were our judges, we lead them to
+      the dance in fear; we wait upon them with all diligence and anticipate
+      their commands; and we are so afraid of offending them and so desirous of
+      doing them service that those who see us pity us, and often deem us more
+      witless than brutes. They account us dull and void of understanding, and
+      give praise to the ladies, whose faces are so imperious and their speech
+      so fair that they make themselves feared, loved, and honoured by those who
+      only know them outwardly. But when we are together in private, and love
+      alone can judge our behaviour, we know full well that they are women and
+      we are men. Then is the name &lsquo;mistress&rsquo; changed to &lsquo;sweetheart,&rsquo; and the
+      &lsquo;slave&rsquo; becomes a &lsquo;lover.&rsquo; As the proverb says&mdash;&lsquo;By service true and
+      loyalty, do servants rise to mastery.&rsquo; They have honour equally with men,
+      who can give it to them and can take it away; and seeing us suffer in
+      patience, they should reward us when they can do so without hurt to their
+      honour.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You do not speak of that true honour,&rdquo; said Longarine, &ldquo;which is the
+      greatest happiness this world can give. If every one calls me a virtuous
+      woman, and I myself know the contrary, the praise I receive only increases
+      my shame and puts me in secret to still greater confusion. In the same
+      way, if people condemn me and I know that I am innocent, their
+      condemnation will only make me the better pleased with myself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In spite of what you all have said,&rdquo; interposed Geburon, &ldquo;it seems to me
+      that Amadour was as noble and virtuous a knight as ever lived, and I think
+      I can recognise him under his feigned name. Since Parlamente would not
+      name him, neither will I. But you may rest assured that, if he be the man
+      whom I have in mind, his heart never knew fear, nor was ever void of love
+      and bravery.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The day has been spent so pleasantly,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;that if the others
+      are like it I think our talk will make the time pass quickly by. But see
+      where the sun is, and listen to the abbey bell, which has long been
+      calling us to vespers. I did not mention this to you before, for I was
+      more inclined to hear the end of the story than to go to prayers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At these words they all rose, and when they reached the abbey they found
+      that the monks had been waiting for them a full hour and more. After
+      vespers they went to supper, and during the whole evening they conversed
+      about the stories they had heard, all of them searching every corner of
+      their memories to try and make the second day as pleasant as the first.
+      And after playing many games in the meadow they went to bed, and so made a
+      glad and happy ending of the first day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0011" id="linkimage-0011">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/083.jpg" width="100%" alt="083.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      SECOND DAY.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>On the Second Day is recounted the first conceit <br /> that presents
+      itself to each</i>. <a name="link2H_PROL" id="link2H_PROL">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      PROLOGUE.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      On the morrow they rose in great eagerness to return to the place where
+      they had had so much pleasure on the previous day. Each one was ready with
+      a tale, and was impatient for the telling of it. They listened to the
+      reading of Madame Oisille, and then heard mass, all commending themselves
+      to God, and praying Him to grant them speech and grace for the continuance
+      of their fellowship. Afterwards they went to dinner, reminding one another
+      the while of many stories of the past.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After dinner, they rested in their apartments, and at the appointed time
+      returned to the meadow, where day and season alike seemed favourable to
+      their plans. They all sat down on the natural seat afforded by the green
+      sward, and Parlamente said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yesterday I told the tenth and last tale; it is therefore for me to
+      choose who shall begin to-day. Madame Oisille was the first of the ladies
+      to speak, as being the oldest and wisest, and so I now give my vote to the
+      youngest&mdash;I do not also say the flightiest&mdash;for I am sure that
+      if we all follow her leading we shall not delay vespers so long as we did
+      yesterday. Wherefore, Nomerfide, you shall lead us, but I beg that you
+      will not cause us to begin our second day in tears.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There was no need to make that request,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;for one of our
+      number has made me choose a tale which has taken such a hold on me that I
+      can tell no other; and should it occasion sadness in you, your natures
+      must be melancholy ones indeed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0012" id="linkimage-0012">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/089.jpg" width="100%" alt="089.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XI.</i> (A).
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>Madame de Roncex, while at the monastery of the Grey Friars
+     at Thouars, (1) was constrained to go in great haste to a
+     certain place, and, not looking to see whether the seats
+     were clean, sat down in a filthy spot and befouled both her
+     person and clothes; whereupon crying out for assistance, in
+     the hope that some woman would come and cleanse her, she was
+     waited on by men, who beheld her in the worst plight in
+     which a woman could be found</i>. (2)
+
+     1  In the department of the Deux-Sèvres.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     2  This story, given in Boaistuau&rsquo;s version of Margaret&rsquo;s
+     tales, and to be found in most of the MS. copies of the
+     <i>Heptameron</i> at the &lsquo;Paris Bibliothèque Nationale&rsquo;, was not
+     included in the edition issued by Gruget, who replaced it by
+     a story called <i>The jests made by a Grey Friar</i>, for which
+     see <i>post</i>, p. 95 <i>et seq</i>.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In the household of Madame de la Trémoille there was a lady named Roncex,
+      who one day, when her mistress had gone to visit the monastery of the Grey
+      Friars, found herself in great need to go to a certain place whither her
+      maid could not go in her stead. She took with her a girl named La Mothe to
+      keep her company, but being modest and unwilling to be seen, left her in
+      the room, and went alone into a darksome privy, a place used in common by
+      all the friars, who had given such a good account therein of all their
+      victuals, that seat and floor, and in sooth the whole place, were thickly
+      covered with the must of Bacchus and Ceres that had passed through the
+      friars&rsquo; bellies.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The unhappy lady, who was so hard pressed that she had scarcely time to
+      lift her dress, chanced to sit down in the foulest, dirtiest spot in the
+      whole place, where she found herself stuck fast as though with glue, her
+      poor hips, garments, and feet being so contaminated that she durst not
+      take a step or turn on any side, for fear lest she should meet with
+      something worse. Thereupon she began to call out as loudly as she could&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;La Mothe, my child, I am ruined and undone!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The poor girl, who had formerly heard tell of the wickedness of the Grey
+      Friars, and imagined that some of them were hidden there and were trying
+      to take her mistress by force, thereupon ran off as hard as she could,
+      saying to every one she met&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come and help Madame de Roncex; the Grey Friars are trying to ravish her
+      in yonder privy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      They thereupon hastened thither with all speed, and found the unhappy lady
+      crying out for assistance, longing for some woman to come and cleanse her,
+      and with her back parts all uncovered, for she feared to touch them with
+      her garments lest these also should be defiled.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentlemen, coming in at her cries, beheld this fine sight, but could
+      see nought of the Grey Friars, unless it were their ordure clinging to her
+      hips; nor did this pass without laughter on their part and great shame on
+      hers, for instead of having women to cleanse her, she was waited on by
+      men, who saw her naked, and in the sorriest plight in which a woman could
+      be found. For this reason, on perceiving them, she soiled what was still
+      clean, by dropping her garments in order to cover herself, forgetting the
+      filth that she was in for the shame she felt at sight of the men. And when
+      she had come out of that foul place it was necessary to strip her naked
+      and change all her garments before she could leave the monastery. She was
+      minded to be angry with La Mothe for the aid that she had brought her, but
+      finding that the poor girl had thought her in a yet more evil plight, she
+      put aside her wrath and laughed like the rest. (3)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  It is impossible to identify the lady mentioned in this
+     story, her name being spelt in so many ways in the various
+     MSS. of the <i>Heptameron</i>. It is given as Roncex in the copy
+     here followed, as Roubex in a copy that belonged to Louis
+     XVIII., and as Roncci in the De Thou MS., whilst Boaistuau
+     printed it as Roucey. The Madame de la Trémoille, alluded to
+     at the outset, is believed by Lacroix and Dillaye to have
+     been Anne de Laval (daughter of Guy XV., Count of Laval, and
+     of Charlotte of Aragon, Princess of Tarento), who married
+     Francis de la Trémoille, Viscount of Thouars, in 1521, and
+     was by her mother a cousin of Queen Margaret. Possibly,
+     however, the reference is to Gabrielle de Bourbon, wife of
+     Louis II. de la Trémoille, a lady of exemplary piety, who
+     erected the beautiful Renaissance chapel of the château of
+     Thouars.&mdash;L. &amp; Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think, ladies,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;that this story has proved neither
+      long nor melancholy, and that I have given you what you expected.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At this the company laughed heartily, and Oisille said&mdash;&ldquo;The story is
+      indeed nasty and unclean, yet, knowing the persons who fared in this
+      manner, we cannot consider it unwelcome. Gladly would I have seen the
+      faces of La Mothe and of the lady to whom she brought such timely aid. But
+      now,&rdquo; she added to Nomerfide, &ldquo;since you have finished so soon, give your
+      vote to some one whose thoughts are of a graver turn.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you desire me to atone for my fault,&rdquo; answered Nomerfide, &ldquo;I give
+      my vote to Dagoucin, whose discretion is such that he would die rather
+      than say anything foolish.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Dagoucin then thanked her for the esteem in which she held his good sense,
+      and thus began&mdash;&ldquo;The story I am minded to relate is intended to show
+      you how love blinds the greatest and most honourable hearts, and how hard
+      it is to overcome wickedness by any kindness whatsoever.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0013" id="linkimage-0013">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/093.jpg" width="100%" alt="093.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0014" id="linkimage-0014">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/095a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="095a.jpg the Grey Friar Telling his Tales " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Grey Friar telling his Tales]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0015" id="linkimage-0015">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/095.jpg" width="100%" alt="095.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XI.</i> (B).
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>Of the jests made by a Grey Friar in his sermons</i>. (1)
+
+     1  See <i>ante</i>, p. 89, note 2, <i>and post</i>. Appendix B.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Near the town of Bléré in Touraine there is a village called St.
+      Martin-le-Beau, whither a Grey Friar belonging to the monastery at Tours
+      was summoned to preach during the seasons of Advent and Lent. This friar,
+      who was more garrulous than learned, and now and then found himself at a
+      loss for matter to eke out his hour, would thereupon begin telling tales
+      which more or less agreeably satisfied the good villagers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One Holy Thursday he preached about the Paschal Lamb, and while speaking
+      of how it was eaten at night, seeing that there were present at the
+      preaching some handsome young ladies of Amboise, who were newly arrived to
+      keep Easter at the village, and to stay there for a few days afterwards,
+      he wished to surpass himself, and thereupon asked all the women-folk
+      whether they knew what it was to eat raw flesh at night. &ldquo;I will tell you
+      what it is, ladies,&rdquo; he said, whereat the young men of Amboise, who had
+      just arrived with their wives, sisters, and nieces, and who had no
+      knowledge of the pilgrim&rsquo;s humour, began to be scandalised; though on
+      listening further their indignation gave place to laughter, even when he
+      said that to eat the lamb it was needful to have one&rsquo;s loins girt, one&rsquo;s
+      feet in one&rsquo;s shoes, and one&rsquo;s hand on one&rsquo;s staff.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The friar, seeing them laugh at this, and guessing the reason, immediately
+      corrected himself. &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to have shoes on one&rsquo;s feet and a
+      staff in one&rsquo;s hand; &lsquo;tis all one.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      That this sally was received with laughter you will readily believe. Even
+      the ladies could not refrain from merriment, and for them he added other
+      diverting sayings. Then finding the time was nearly up, and wishing the
+      ladies to be well pleased with him when they departed, he said to them&mdash;&ldquo;Now,
+      fair ladies, when you are chatting presently with your gossips, you will
+      be asking one another: &lsquo;Who, pray, is this Master Friar, that speaks out
+      so boldly? He must be a brisk fellow.&rsquo; I will tell you, ladies, yes, I
+      will tell you, and be not astonished if I speak out boldly, for I am of
+      Anjou, at your service.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words he ended his sermon, leaving his hearers more disposed to
+      laugh at his foolish speeches than to weep in memory of our Lord&rsquo;s Passion
+      which was then being commemorated.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The other sermons that he preached during the festival had much the same
+      value. You are aware that these friars never fail to go begging for their
+      Easter eggs, and receive not only eggs, but many other things, such as
+      linen, yarn, chitterlings, hams, chines, and similar trifles. So when
+      Easter Tuesday came, and the friar was making those exhortations to
+      charity of which such folks as he are no niggards, he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am bound to thank you, ladies, for the liberality you have shown to our
+      poor monastery, and yet I cannot forbear telling you that you have
+      hitherto not duly considered the nature of our wants. You have for the
+      most part given us chitterlings, but of these we ourselves have no lack.
+      God be praised, our monastery is indeed full of them. What then can we do
+      with so many? I will tell you. My advice, ladies, is that you should mix
+      your hams with our chitterlings; in this way you would bestow fine alms.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, continuing his sermon, he brought into it certain scandalous matter,
+      and, whilst discoursing upon it somewhat bluntly and quoting sundry
+      examples, he said in apparent amazement&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly, ladies and gentlemen of Saint-Martin, I am greatly astonished that
+      you should be scandalised so unreasonably at what is less than nothing,
+      and should tell tales of me wherever you go, saying: &lsquo;It is a big
+      business; who could have thought that the father would have got his
+      landlady&rsquo;s daughter with child?&rsquo; A monk get a girl with child!&rdquo; he
+      continued; &ldquo;forsooth, what a wonder! But hark you, fair ladies, would you
+      not rather have had cause for wonderment, had the girl acted thus by the
+      monk?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Such, ladies, was the wholesome food on which this worshipful shepherd
+      fed the Lord&rsquo;s flock. And so brazen was he, that after committing the sin,
+      he spake openly of it in the pulpit, where nought should be said that
+      tends to aught but the edification of one&rsquo;s neighbour, and above all to
+      the glory of God.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;he was a master monk&mdash;I should have liked
+      him nearly as well as Brother Anjibaut, who gets credit for all the jests
+      that are spoken in merry company.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For my part, I can see nothing laughable in such mockery,&rdquo; said Oisille,
+      &ldquo;especially in such a place.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You forget, madam,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;that at that time, though it was not
+      so very long ago, the good villagers, and indeed most of the dwellers in
+      the large towns, who think themselves cleverer than other people, had
+      greater regard for such preachers as he than for those who purely and
+      simply preached the holy Gospel to them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;However that may be,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;he was not wrong in asking for hams
+      in exchange for chitterlings, for in hams there is far more eating. And
+      even if some devout creature had understood him amphibologically, as I
+      believe he wished to be understood, neither he nor his brethren would have
+      fared badly any more than the wench that had her bag full.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But how impudent of him,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;to pervert the meaning of the
+      text to suit his fancy, thinking that he had to do with beasts like
+      himself, and shamelessly trying to entice the poor little women so that he
+      might teach them how to eat raw flesh at night.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;True,&rdquo; said Simontault; &ldquo;but you forget that he saw before him those
+      young tripe-sellers of Amboise in whose tub he would fain have washed his
+      &mdash;&mdash;&mdash; shall I name it? No, but you understand me&mdash;and
+      have treated them to a taste of it, not roasted, but stirring and
+      frisking, so as to please them the more.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Softly, softly, Simontault,&rdquo; said Parlamente; &ldquo;you forget yourself. Have
+      you laid aside your accustomed modesty to don it only in time of
+      necessity?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, madam, no,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;&lsquo;twas the unworthy monk that led me astray.
+      Wherefore, that we may return to the matter in hand, I beg Nomerfide, who
+      caused my offence, to give her vote to some one who will make the company
+      forget our common fault.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you include me in your transgression,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;I will
+      choose one who will atone for our failings, that is Dagoucin. He is so
+      discreet that to save his life he would not say a foolish thing.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0016" id="linkimage-0016">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/100.jpg" width="100%" alt="100.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0017" id="linkimage-0017">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/101a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="101a.jpg the Gentleman Killing The Duke " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Gentleman killing the Duke]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0018" id="linkimage-0018">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/101.jpg" width="100%" alt="101.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XII</i>.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>The Duke of Florence, having continually failed to make
+     known to a certain lady the love he bore her, confided in
+     her brother, and begged his assistance that he might attain
+     his ends. This, after many remonstrances, the brother agreed
+     to give, but it was a lip-promise only, for at the moment
+     when the Duke was expecting to vanquish her whom he had
+     deemed invincible, the gentleman slew him in his bed, in
+     this fashion freeing his country from a tyrant, and saving
+     both his own life and the honour of his house</i>. (1)
+
+     1  The basis of this story is historical. The event here
+     described&mdash;one of the most famous in the annals of
+     Florence&mdash;furnished Alfred de Musset with the subject of his
+     play <i>Lorenzaccio</i>, and served as the foundation of <i>The
+     Traitor</i>, considered to be Shirley&rsquo;s highest achievement as
+     a dramatic poet. As Queen Margaret&rsquo;s narrative contains
+     various errors of fact, Sismondi&rsquo;s account of the affair, as
+     borrowed by him from the best Italian historians, is given
+     in the Appendix, C&mdash;Eu.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Ten years ago there reigned in the city of Florence a Duke of the house of
+      Medici who had married the Emperor&rsquo;s natural daughter, Margaret. (2) She
+      was still so young that the marriage could not be lawfully consummated,
+      and, waiting till she should be of a riper age, the Duke treated her with
+      great gentleness, and to spare her, made love to various ladies of the
+      city, whom he was wont to visit at night, whilst his wife was sleeping.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2  The Duke here referred to was Alexander de&rsquo; Medici, first
+     Duke of Florence, in which city he was born in 1510. His
+     mother, a slave named Anna, was the wife of a Florentine
+     coachman, but Lorenzo II. de&rsquo; Medici, one of this woman&rsquo;s
+     lovers, acknowledged him as his offspring, though, according
+     to some accounts, his real father was one of the popes,
+     Clement VII. or Julius II. After the Emperor Charles V. had
+     made himself master of Florence in 1530, he confided the
+     governorship of the city to Alexander, upon whom he bestowed
+     the title of Duke. Two years later Alexander threw off the
+     imperial control, and soon afterwards embarked on a career
+     of debauchery and crime. In 1536, Charles V., being desirous
+     of obtaining the support of Florence against France, treated
+     with Alexander, and gave him the hand of his illegitimate
+     daughter, Margaret. The latter&mdash;whose mother was Margaret
+     van Gheenst, a Flemish damsel of noble birth&mdash;was at that
+     time barely fourteen, having been born at Brussels in 1522.
+     The Queen of Navarre&rsquo;s statements concerning the
+     youthfulness of the Duchess are thus corroborated by fact.
+     After the death of Alexander de&rsquo; Medici, his widow was
+     married to Octavius Farnese, Duke of Parma, who was then
+     only twelve years old, but by whom she eventually became the
+     mother of the celebrated Alexander Farnese. Margaret of
+     Austria occupies a prominent place in the history of the
+     Netherlands, which she governed during a lengthy period for
+     her brother Philip II. She died in retirement at Ortonna in
+     Italy in 1586.&mdash;L. and Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Among these there was one very beautiful, discreet, and honourable lady,
+      sister to a gentleman whom the Duke loved even as himself, and to whom he
+      gave such authority in his household that his orders were feared and
+      obeyed equally with the Duke&rsquo;s own. And moreover the Duke had no secrets
+      that he did not share with this gentleman, so that the latter might have
+      been called his second-self. (3)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  The gentleman here mentioned was the Duke&rsquo;s cousin,
+     Lorenzo di Pier-Francesco de&rsquo; Medici, commonly called
+     Lorenzino on account of his short stature. He was born at
+     Florence in 1514, and, being the eldest member of the junior
+     branch of the Medici family, it had been decided by the
+     Emperor Charles V. that he should succeed to the Dukedom of
+     Florence, if Alexander died without issue. Lorenzino
+     cultivated letters, and is said to have possessed
+     considerable wit, but, on the other hand, instead of being a
+     high-minded man, as Queen Margaret pictures him, he was a
+     thorough profligate, and willingly lent a hand in
+     Alexander&rsquo;s scandalous amours. The heroine of this story is
+     erroneously described as Lorenzino&rsquo;s sister; in point of
+     fact she was his aunt, Catherine Ginori. See Appendix, C.&mdash;
+     Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Finding the gentleman&rsquo;s sister to be a lady of such exemplary virtue that
+      he was unable to declare his passion to her, though he sought all possible
+      opportunities for doing so, the Duke at last came to his favourite and
+      said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If there were anything in this world, my friend, that I might be
+      unwilling to do for you, I should hesitate to tell you what is in my mind,
+      and still more to beg your assistance. But such is the affection I bear
+      you that had I wife, mother, or daughter who could avail to save your
+      life, I would sacrifice them rather than allow you to die in torment. I
+      believe that your love for me is the counterpart of mine for you, and that
+      if I, who am your master, bear you so much affection, you, on your part,
+      can have no less for me. I will therefore tell you a secret, the keeping
+      of which has brought me to the condition you see. I have no hope of any
+      improvement except it be through death or else the service which you are
+      in a position to render me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      On hearing these words from the Duke, and seeing his face unfeignedly
+      bathed in tears, the gentleman felt such great pity for him that he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sir, I am your creature: all the wealth and honour that I am possessed of
+      in this world come from you. You may speak to me as to your own soul, in
+      the certainty that all that it be in my power to do is at your command.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Thereupon the Duke began to tell him of the love he bore his sister, a
+      love so deep and strong that he feared he could not live much longer
+      unless, by the gentleman&rsquo;s help, he succeeded in satisfying his desire. He
+      was well aware that neither prayers nor presents would be of any avail
+      with the lady, wherefore he begged the gentleman&mdash;if he cared for his
+      master&rsquo;s life as much as he, his master, cared for his&mdash;to devise
+      some means of procuring him the good fortune which, without such
+      assistance, he could never hope to obtain.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The brother, who loved his sister and the honour of his house far more
+      than the Duke&rsquo;s pleasure, endeavoured to remonstrate with him, entreating
+      that he might be employed for any other purpose save the cruel task of
+      soliciting the dishonour of his own kin, and declaring that the rendering
+      of such a service was contrary alike to his inclinations and his honour.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Inflamed with excessive wrath, the Duke raised his hand to his mouth and
+      bit his nails.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he in a fury, &ldquo;since I find that you have no friendship for
+      me, I know what I have to do.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman, who was acquainted with his master&rsquo;s cruelty, felt afraid,
+      and answered&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My lord, since such is your pleasure, I will speak to her, and tell you
+      her reply.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you show concern for my life, I shall show it for yours,&rdquo; replied the
+      Duke, and thereupon he went away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman well understood the meaning of these words, and spent a day
+      or two without seeing the Duke, considering what he should do. On the one
+      hand he was confronted by the duty he owed his master, and the wealth and
+      honours he had received from him; on the other by the honour of his house,
+      and the fair fame and chastity of his sister. He well knew that she would
+      never submit to such infamy unless through his own treachery she were
+      overcome by violence, so unnatural a deed that if it were committed he and
+      his kindred would be disgraced for ever. In this dilemma he decided that
+      he would sooner die than so ill use his sister, who was one of the noblest
+      women in all Italy, and ought rather to deliver his country of this tyrant
+      who, abusing his power, sought to cast such a slur upon his family; for he
+      felt sure that if the Duke were suffered to live, neither his own life nor
+      the lives of his kindred would be safe. So without speaking of the matter
+      to his sister or to any living creature, he determined to save his life
+      and vindicate his honour at one and the same time. Accordingly, when a
+      couple of days had gone by, he went to the Duke and told him that with
+      infinite difficulty he had so wrought upon his sister that she had at last
+      consented to do his will, provided that the matter were kept secret, and
+      none but he, her brother, knew of it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Duke, who was longing for these tidings, readily believed them, and
+      embracing the ambassador, promised him anything that he might ask. He
+      begged him to put his scheme quickly into execution, and they agreed
+      together upon the time when this should be done. The Duke was in great
+      joy, as may well be imagined; and on the arrival of that wished-for night
+      when he hoped to vanquish her whom he had deemed invincible, he retired
+      early, accompanied only by the lady&rsquo;s brother, and failed not to attire
+      himself in a perfumed shirt and head-gear. Then, when every one was gone
+      to rest, he went with the gentleman to the lady&rsquo;s abode, where he was
+      conducted into a well-appointed apartment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having undressed him and put him to bed, the gentleman said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My lord, I will now go and fetch you one who will assuredly not enter
+      this room without blushing; but I hope that before morning she will have
+      lost all fear of you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Leaving the Duke, he then went to his own room, where he found one of his
+      servants, to whom he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Are you brave enough to follow me to a place where I desire to avenge
+      myself upon my greatest living enemy?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The other, who was ignorant of his master&rsquo;s purpose, replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, sir, though it were the Duke himself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Thereupon the gentleman led him away in such haste as to leave him no time
+      to take any weapon except a poignard that he was wearing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Duke, on hearing the gentleman coming back again, thought that he was
+      bringing the loved one with him, and, opening his eyes, drew back the
+      curtains in order to see and welcome the joy for which he had so long been
+      waiting. But instead of seeing her who, so he hoped, was to preserve his
+      life, he beheld something intended to take his life away, that is, a naked
+      sword which the gentleman had drawn, and with which he smote the Duke. The
+      latter was wearing nothing but his shirt, and lacked weapons, though not
+      courage, for sitting up in the bed he seized the gentleman round the body,
+      saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is this the way you keep your promise?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, armed as he was only with his teeth and nails, he bit the
+      gentleman&rsquo;s thumb, and wrestled with him so stoutly that they both fell
+      down beside the bed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman, not feeling altogether confident, called to his servant,
+      who, finding the Duke and his master so closely twined together that he
+      could not tell the one from the other, dragged them both by the feet into
+      the middle of the room, and then tried to cut the Duke&rsquo;s throat with his
+      poignard. The Duke defended himself until he was so exhausted through loss
+      of blood that he could do no more, whereupon the gentleman and his servant
+      lifted him upon the bed and finished him with their daggers. They then
+      drew the curtain and went away, leaving the dead body shut up in the room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having vanquished his great enemy, by whose death he hoped to free his
+      country, the gentleman reflected that his work would be incomplete unless
+      he treated five or six of the Duke&rsquo;s kindred in the same fashion. The
+      servant, however, who was neither a dare-devil nor a fool, said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think, sir, that you have done enough for the present, and that it
+      would be better to think of saving your own life than of taking the lives
+      of others, for should we be as long in making away with each of them as we
+      were in the case of the Duke, daylight would overtake our enterprise
+      before we could complete it, even should we find our enemies unarmed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Cowed by his guilty conscience, the gentleman followed the advice of his
+      servant, and taking him alone with him, repaired to a Bishop (4) whose
+      office it was to have the city gates opened, and to give orders to the
+      guard-posts.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     4  Probably Cardinal Cybo, Alexander&rsquo;s chief minister, who
+     according to Sismondi, was the first to discover the
+     murder.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have,&rdquo; said the gentleman to the Bishop, &ldquo;this evening received tidings
+      that one of my brothers is at the point of death. I have just asked leave
+      of the Duke to go to him, and he has granted it me; and I beg you to send
+      orders that the guards may furnish me with two good horses, and that the
+      gatekeeper may let me through.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Bishop, who regarded the gentleman&rsquo;s request in the same light as an
+      order from his master the Duke, forthwith gave him a note, by means of
+      which the gate was opened for him, and horses supplied to him as he had
+      requested; but instead of going to see his brother he betook himself
+      straight to Venice, where he had himself cured of the bites that he had
+      received from the Duke, and then passed over into Turkey. (5)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     5  On leaving Florence, Lorenzo repaired first to Bologna
+     and then to Venice, where he informed Philip Strozzi of how
+     he had rid his country of the tyrant. After embracing him in
+     a transport, and calling him the Tuscan Brutus, Strozzi
+     asked the murderer&rsquo;s sisters, Laudamina and Magdalen de&rsquo;
+     Medici, in marriage for his own sons, Peter and Robert. From
+     Venice Lorenzino issued a <i>mémoire justificatif</i>, full of
+     quibbles and paradoxes, in which he tried to explain his
+     lack of energy after the murder by the indifference shown by
+     the Florentines. He took no part in the various enterprises
+     directed against Cosmo de&rsquo; Medici, who had succeeded
+     Alexander at Florence. Indeed his chief concern was for his
+     own safety, which was threatened alike by Cosmo and the
+     Emperor Charles V., and to escape their emissaries he
+     proceeded to Turkey, and thence to France, ultimately
+     returning to Venice, where, despite all his precautions
+     against danger, he was assassinated in 1547, together with
+     his uncle, Soderini, by some spadassins in the pay of Cosmo
+     I.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In the morning, finding that their master delayed his return so long, all
+      the Duke&rsquo;s servants suspected, rightly enough, that he had gone to see
+      some lady; but at last, as he still failed to return, they began seeking
+      him on all sides. The poor Duchess, who was beginning to love him dearly,
+      was sorely distressed on learning that he could not be found; and as the
+      gentleman to whom he bore so much affection was likewise nowhere to be
+      seen, some went to his house in quest of him. They found blood on the
+      threshold of the gentleman&rsquo;s room, which they entered, but he was not
+      there, nor could any servant or other person give any tidings of him.
+      Following the blood-stains, however, the Duke&rsquo;s servants came at last to
+      the room in which their master lay. The door of it was locked, but this
+      they soon broke open, and on seeing the floor covered with blood they drew
+      back the bed-curtain, and found the unhappy Duke&rsquo;s body lying in the bed,
+      sleeping the sleep from which one cannot awaken.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      You may imagine the mourning of these poor servants as they carried the
+      body to the palace, whither came the Bishop, who told them how the
+      gentleman had departed with all speed during the night under pretence of
+      going to see his brother. And by this it was clearly shown that it was he
+      who had committed the murder. And it was further proved that his poor
+      sister had known nothing whatever of the matter. For her part, albeit she
+      was astounded by what had happened, she could but love her brother the
+      more, seeing that he had not shrunk from risking his life in order to save
+      her from so cruel a tyrant. And so honourable and virtuous was the life
+      that she continued leading, that although she was reduced to poverty by
+      the confiscation of the family property, both she and her sister found as
+      honourable and wealthy husbands as there were in all Italy, and lived ever
+      afterwards in high and good repute.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This, ladies, is a story that should make you dread that little god who
+      delights in tormenting Prince and peasant, strong and weak, and so far
+      blinds them that they lose all thought of God and conscience, and even of
+      their own lives. And greatly should Princes and those in authority fear to
+      offend such as are less than they; for there is no man but can wreak
+      injury when it pleases God to take vengeance on a sinner, nor any man so
+      great that he can do hurt to one who is in God&rsquo;s care.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This tale was commended by all in the company, (6) but it gave rise to
+      different opinions among them, for whilst some maintained that the
+      gentleman had done his duty in saving his own life and his sister&rsquo;s
+      honour, as well as in ridding his country of such a tyrant, others denied
+      this, and said it was rank ingratitude to slay one who had bestowed on him
+      such wealth and station. The ladies declared that the gentleman was a good
+      brother and a worthy citizen; the men, on the contrary, that he was a
+      treacherous and wicked servant.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     6  In MS. No. 1520 (Bib. Nat.) this sentence begins: &ldquo;The
+     tale was attentively listened to by all,&rdquo; &amp;c.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      And pleasant was it to hear the reasons which were brought forward on both
+      sides; but the ladies, as is their wont, spoke as much from passion as
+      from judgment, saying that the Duke was so well worthy of death that he
+      who struck him down was a happy man indeed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then Dagoucin, seeing what a controversy he had set on foot, said to them&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In God&rsquo;s name, ladies, do not quarrel about a thing that is past and
+      gone. Take care rather that your own charms do not occasion more cruel
+      murders than the one which I have related.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;La belle Dame sans Mercy,&rsquo;&rdquo; (7) replied Parlamente, &ldquo;has taught us to
+      say that but few die of so pleasing an ailment.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     7  <i>La belle Dame sans Merci</i> (The Pitiless Beauty) is one
+     of Alain Chartier&rsquo;s best known poems. It is written in the
+     form of a dialogue between a lady and her lover: the former
+     having obstinately refused to take compassion on the
+     sufferings of her admirer, the latter is said to have died
+     of despair. The lines alluded to by Margaret are spoken by
+     the lady, and are to the following effect&mdash;&ldquo;So graceful a
+     malady seldom puts men to death; yet the sooner to obtain
+     comfort, it is fitting one should say that it did. Some
+     complain and worry greatly who have not really felt the most
+     bitter affliction; and if indeed Love doth cause such great
+     torment, surely it were better there should be but one
+     sufferer rather than two.&rdquo; The poem, as here quoted, will be
+     found in André Duchesne&rsquo;s edition of the <i>OEuvres de Maistre
+     Alain Chartier</i>, Paris, 1617, p. 502.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Would to God, madam,&rdquo; answered Dagoucin, &ldquo;that all the ladies in this
+      company knew how false that saying is. I think they would then scarcely
+      wish to be called pitiless, or to imitate that unbelieving beauty who
+      suffered a worthy lover to die for lack of a gracious answer to his suit.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;you would have us risk honour and conscience to
+      save the life of a man who says he loves us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is not my meaning,&rdquo; replied Dagoucin, &ldquo;for he who loves with a
+      perfect love would be even more afraid of hurting his lady&rsquo;s honour than
+      would she herself. I therefore think that an honourable and graceful
+      response, such as is called for by perfect and seemly love, must tend to
+      the increase of honour and the satisfaction of conscience, for no true
+      lover could seek the contrary.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is always the end of your speeches,&rdquo; said Ennasuite; &ldquo;they begin
+      with honour and end with the contrary. However, if all the gentlemen
+      present will tell the truth of the matter, I am ready to believe them on
+      their oaths.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Hircan swore that for his own part he had never loved any woman but his
+      own wife, and even with her had no desire to be guilty of any gross
+      offence against God.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Simontault declared the same, and added that he had often wished all women
+      were froward excepting his own wife.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Geburon to him, &ldquo;you deserve that your wife should be what
+      you would have the others. For my own part, I can swear to you that I once
+      loved a woman so dearly that I would rather have died than have led her to
+      do anything that might have diminished my esteem for her. My love for her
+      was so founded upon her virtues, that for no advantage that I might have
+      had of her would I have seen them blemished.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At this Saffredent burst out laughing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Geburon,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I thought that your wife&rsquo;s affection and your own
+      good sense would have guarded you from the danger of falling in love
+      elsewhere, but I see that I was mistaken, for you still use the very
+      phrases with which we are wont to beguile the most subtle of women, and to
+      obtain a hearing from the most discreet. For who would close her ears
+      against us when we begin our discourse by talking of honour and virtue?
+      (8) But if we were to show them our hearts just as they are, there is many
+      a man now welcome among the ladies whom they would reckon of but little
+      account. But we hide the devil in our natures under the most angelic form
+      we can devise, and in this disguise receive many favours before we are
+      found out. And perhaps we lead the ladies&rsquo; hearts so far forward, that
+      when they come upon vice while believing themselves on the high road to
+      virtue, they have neither opportunity nor ability to draw back again.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     8  This sentence is borrowed from MS. No. 1520 (Bib. Nat.)&mdash;
+     L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;I thought you a different man than your words
+      would show you to be, and fancied that virtue was more pleasing to you
+      than pleasure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What!&rdquo; said Saffredent. &ldquo;Is there any virtue greater than that of loving
+      in the way that God commands? It seems to me that it is much better to
+      love one woman as a woman than to adore a number of women as though they
+      were so many idols. For my part, I am firmly of opinion that use is better
+      than abuse.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The ladies, however, all sided with Geburon, and would not allow
+      Saffredent to continue, whereupon he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am well content to say no more on this subject of love, for I have been
+      so badly treated with regard to it that I will never return to it again.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is your own maliciousness,&rdquo; said Longarine, &ldquo;that has occasioned your
+      bad treatment; for what virtuous woman would have you for a lover after
+      what you have told us?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Those who did not consider me unwelcome,&rdquo; answered Saffredent, &ldquo;would not
+      care to exchange their virtue for yours. But let us say no more about it,
+      that my anger may offend neither myself nor others. Let us see to whom
+      Dagoucin will give his vote.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I give it to Parlamente,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;for I believe that she must
+      know better than any one else the nature of honourable and perfect love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since I have been chosen to tell the third tale,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;I
+      will tell you something that happened to a lady who has always been one of
+      my best friends, and whose thoughts have never been hidden from me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0019" id="linkimage-0019">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/117.jpg" width="100%" alt="117.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0020" id="linkimage-0020">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/119a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="119a.jpg the Sea-captain Talking to The Lady " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Sea-captain talking to the Lady]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0021" id="linkimage-0021">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/119.jpg" width="100%" alt="119.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XIII</i>.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>A sea-captain, being greatly in love with a lady, sent her a diamond;
+      but she despatched it to his wife, whom he had long neglected, and in this
+      wise so atoned for his conduct that his wife was reconciled to him in
+      perfect affection</i>. (1)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1   M. Le Roux de Lincy believes that this story has some
+     historical basis, and, Louise of Savoy being termed the
+     Regent, he assigns the earlier incidents to the year 1524.
+     But Louise was Regent, for the first time, in 1515, and we
+     incline to the belief that Queen Margaret alludes to this
+     earlier period. Note the reference to a Court journey to
+     Normandy (post, p. 136), which was probably the journey that
+     Francis I. and his mother are known to have made to Rouen
+     and Alençon in the autumn of 1517. See vol. i. p. xxviii.&mdash;
+     Ed. 2  119
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In the household of the Lady-Regent, mother of King Francis, there was a
+      very pious lady married to a gentleman of like mind with herself, and,
+      albeit her husband was old and she was young and pretty, she served and
+      loved him as though he had been the handsomest and youngest man in the
+      world. So that she might give him no cause for sorrow, she set herself to
+      live as though she were of the same age as himself, eschewing all such
+      company, dress, dances, and amusements as young women are wont to love,
+      and finding all her pleasure and recreation in the service of God; on
+      which account her husband so loved and trusted her, that she ruled him and
+      his household as she would.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day it happened that the gentleman told his wife that from his youth
+      up he had desired to make a journey to Jerusalem, and asked her what she
+      thought of it. She, whose only wish was to please him, replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since God has withheld children from us, sweetheart, and has granted us
+      sufficient wealth, I would willingly use some portion of it in making this
+      sacred journey with you, for indeed, whether you go thither or elsewhere,
+      I am resolved never to leave you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At this the good man was so pleased, that it seemed to him as though he
+      were already on Mount Calvary.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      While they were deliberating on this matter, there came to the Court a
+      gentleman, the Captain of a galley, who had often served in the wars
+      against the Turks, (2) and was now soliciting the King of France to
+      undertake an expedition against one of their cities, which might yield
+      great advantage to Christendom. The old gentleman inquired of him
+      concerning this expedition, and after hearing what he intended to do,
+      asked him whether, on the completion of this business, he would make
+      another journey to Jerusalem, whither he himself and his wife had a great
+      desire to go. The Captain was well pleased on hearing of this laudable
+      desire, and he promised to conduct them thither, and to keep the matter
+      secret.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2   M. Paul Lacroix, who believes that the heroine of this
+     tale is Margaret herself (she is described as telling it
+     under the name of Parlamente), is also of opinion that the
+     gentleman referred to is the Baron de Malleville, a knight
+     of Malta, who was killed at Beyrout during an expedition
+     against the Turks, and whose death was recounted in verse by
+     Clement Marot (<i>OEuvres</i>, 1731, vol. ii. p. 452-455).
+     Margaret&rsquo;s gentleman, however, is represented as being
+     married, whereas M. de Malleville, as a knight of Malta, was
+     necessarily a bachelor. Marot, moreover, calls Malleville a
+     Parisian, whereas the gentleman in the tale belonged to
+     Normandy (see <i>post</i>, p. 136).&mdash;B. J. and L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The old gentleman was all impatience to find his wife and tell her of what
+      he had done. She was as anxious to make the journey as her husband, and on
+      that account often spoke about it to the Captain, who, paying more
+      attention to her person than her words, fell so deeply in love with her,
+      that when speaking to her of the voyages he had made, he often confused
+      the port of Marseilles with the Archipelago, and said &ldquo;horse&rdquo; when he
+      meant to say &ldquo;ship,&rdquo; like one distracted and bereft of sense. Her
+      character, however, was such that he durst not give any token of the
+      truth, and concealment kindled such fires in his heart that he often fell
+      sick, when the lady showed as much solicitude for him as for the cross and
+      guide of her road, (3) sending to inquire after him so often that the
+      anxiety she showed cured him without the aid of any other medicine.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  This may simply be an allusion to wayside crosses which
+     serve to guide travellers on their road. M. de Montaiglon
+     points out, however, that in the alphabets used for teaching
+     children in the olden time, the letter A was always preceded
+     by a cross, and that the child, in reciting, invariably
+     began: &ldquo;The cross of God, A, B, C, D,&rdquo; &amp;c. In a like way, a
+     cross figured at the beginning of the guide-books of the
+     time, as a symbol inviting the traveller to pray, and
+     reminding him upon whom he should rely amid the perils of
+     his journey. The best known French guide-book of the
+     sixteenth century is Charles Estienne&rsquo;s <i>Guide des Chemins
+     de France</i>.&mdash;M. and Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Several persons who knew that this Captain had been more renowned for
+      valour and jollity than for piety, were amazed that he should have become
+      so intimate with this lady, and seeing that he had changed in every
+      respect, and frequented churches, sermons, and confessions, they suspected
+      that this was only in order to win the lady&rsquo;s favour, and could not
+      refrain from hinting as much to him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Captain feared that if the lady should hear any such talk he would be
+      banished from her presence, and accordingly he told her husband and
+      herself that he was on the point of being despatched on his journey by the
+      King, and had much to tell them, but that for the sake of greater secrecy
+      he did not desire to speak to them in the presence of others, for which
+      reason he begged them to send for him when they had both retired for the
+      night. The gentleman deemed this to be good advice, and did not fail to go
+      to bed early every evening, and to make his wife also undress. When all
+      their servants had left them, they used to send for the Captain, and talk
+      with him about the journey to Jerusalem, in the midst of which the old
+      gentleman would oft-times fall asleep with his mind full of pious
+      thoughts. When the Captain saw the old gentleman asleep in bed, and found
+      himself on a chair near her whom he deemed the fairest and noblest woman
+      in the world, his heart was so rent between his desires and his dread of
+      speaking that he often lost the power of speech. In order that she might
+      not perceive this, he would force himself to talk of the holy places of
+      Jerusalem where there were such signs of the great love that Jesus Christ
+      bore us; and he would speak of this love, using it as a cloak for his own,
+      and looking at the lady with sighs and tears which she never understood.
+      By reason of his devout countenance she indeed believed him to be a very
+      holy man, and begged of him to tell her what his life had been, and how he
+      had come to love God in that way.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He told her that he was a poor gentleman, who, to arrive at riches and
+      honour, had disregarded his conscience in marrying a woman who was too
+      close akin to him, and this on account of the wealth she possessed, albeit
+      she was ugly and old, and he loved her not; and when he had drawn all her
+      money from her, he had gone to seek his fortune at sea, and had so
+      prospered by his toil, that he had now come to an honourable estate. But
+      since he had made his hearer&rsquo;s acquaintance, she, by reason of her pious
+      converse and good example, had changed all his manner of life, and should
+      he return from his present enterprise he was wholly resolved to take her
+      husband and herself to Jerusalem, that he might thereby partly atone for
+      his grievous sins which he had now put from him; save that he had not yet
+      made reparation to his wife, with whom, however, he hoped that he might
+      soon be reconciled.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady was well pleased with this discourse, and especially rejoiced at
+      having drawn such a man to the love and fear of God. And thus, until the
+      Captain departed from the Court, their long conversations together were
+      continued every evening without his ever venturing to declare himself.
+      However, he made the lady a present of a crucifix of Our Lady of Pity, (4)
+      beseeching her to think of him whenever she looked upon it.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     4   &ldquo;Our Lady of Pity&rdquo; is the designation usually applied to
+     the Virgin when she is shown seated with the corpse of
+     Christ on her knees. Michael Angelo&rsquo;s famous group at St.
+     Peter&rsquo;s is commonly known by this name. In the present
+     instance, however, Queen Margaret undoubtedly refers to a
+     crucifix showing the Virgin at the foot of the Cross,
+     contemplating her son&rsquo;s sufferings. Such crucifixes were
+     formerly not uncommon.&mdash;M.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The hour of his departure arrived, and when he had taken leave of the
+      husband, who was falling asleep, and came to bid his lady farewell, he
+      beheld tears standing in her eyes by reason of the honourable affection
+      which she entertained for him. The sight of these rendered his passion for
+      her so unendurable that, not daring to say anything concerning it, he
+      almost fainted, and broke out into an exceeding sweat, so that he seemed
+      to weep not only with his eyes, but with his entire body. And thus he
+      departed without speaking, leaving the lady in great astonishment, for she
+      had never before seen such tokens of regret. Nevertheless she did not
+      change in her good opinion of him, and followed him with her prayers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After a month had gone by, however, as the lady was returning to her
+      house, she met a gentleman who handed her a letter from the Captain, and
+      begged her to read it in private.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He told her how he had seen the Captain embark, fully resolved to
+      accomplish whatever might be pleasing to the King and of advantage to
+      Christianity. For his own part, the gentleman added, he was straightway
+      going back to Marseilles to set the Captain&rsquo;s affairs in order.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady withdrew to a window by herself, and opening the letter, found it
+      to consist of two sheets of paper, covered on either side with writing
+      which formed the following epistle:&mdash;
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &ldquo;Concealment long and silence have, alas!
+     Brought me all comfortless to such a pass,
+     That now, perforce, I must, to ease my grief,
+     Either speak out, or seek in death relief.
+     Wherefore the tale I long have left untold
+     I now, in lonely friendlessness grown bold,
+     Send unto thee, for I must strive to say
+     My love, or else prepare myself to slay.
+     And though my eyes no longer may behold
+     The sweet, who in her hand my life doth hold,
+     Whose glance sufficed to make my heart rejoice,
+     The while my ear did listen to her voice,&mdash;
+     These words at least shall meet her beauteous eyes,
+     And tell her all the plaintive, clamorous cries
+     Pent in my heart, to which I must give breath,
+     Since longer silence could but bring me death.
+     And yet, at first, I was in truth full fain
+     To blot the words I&rsquo;d written out again,
+     Fearing, forsooth, I might offend thine ear
+     With foolish phrases which, when thou wast near,
+     I dared not utter; and &lsquo;Indeed,&rsquo; said I,
+     &lsquo;Far better pine in silence, aye, and die,
+     Than save myself by bringing her annoy
+     For whose sweet sake grim death itself were joy.&rsquo;
+     And yet, thought I, my death some pain might give
+     To her for whom I would be strong, and live:
+     For have I not, fair lady, promised plain,
+     My journey ended, to return again
+     And guide thee and thy spouse to where he now
+     Doth yearn to call on God from Sion&rsquo;s brow?
+     And none would lead thee thither should I die.
+     If I were dead, methinks I see thee sigh
+     In sore distress, for then thou couldst not start
+     Upon that journey, dear unto thy heart.
+     So I will live, and, in a little space,
+     Return to lead thee to the sacred place.
+     Aye, I will live, though death a boon would be
+     Only to be refused for sake of thee.
+     But if I live, I needs must straight remove
+     The burden from my heart, and speak my love,
+     That love more loyal, tender, deep, and true,
+     Than, ever yet, the fondest lover knew.
+     And now, bold words about to wing your flight,
+     What will ye say when ye have reached her sight?
+     Declare her all the love that fills my heart?
+     Too weak ye are to tell its thousandth part!
+     Can ye at least not say that her clear eyes
+     Have torn my hapless heart forth in such wise,
+     That like a hollow tree I pine and wither
+     Unless hers give me back some life and vigour?
+     Ye feeble words! ye cannot even tell
+     How easily her eyes a heart compel;
+     Nor can ye praise her speech in language fit,
+     So weak and dull ye are, so void of wit.
+     Yet there are some things I would have you name&mdash;
+     How mute and foolish I oft time became
+     When all her grace and virtue I beheld;
+     How from my &lsquo;raptured eyes tears slowly welled
+     The tears of hopeless love; how my tongue strayed
+     From fond and wooing speech, so sore afraid,
+     That all my discourse was of time and tide,
+     And of the stars which up in Heav&rsquo;n abide.
+     O words, alas! ye lack the skill to tell
+     The dire confusion that upon me fell,
+     Whilst love thus wracked me; nor can ye disclose
+     My love&rsquo;s immensity, its pains and woes.
+     Yet, though, for all, your powers be too weak,
+     Perchance, some little, ye are fit to speak&mdash;
+     Say to her thus: &ldquo;Twas fear lest thou shouldst chide
+     That drove me, e&rsquo;en so long, my love to hide,
+     And yet, forsooth, it might have openly
+     Been told to God in Heaven, as unto thee,
+     Based as it is upon thy virtue&mdash;thought
+     That to my torments frequent balm hath brought,
+     For who, indeed, could ever deem it sin
+     To seek the owner of all worth to win?
+     Deserving rather of our blame were he
+     Who having seen thee undisturbed could be.&rsquo;
+     None such was I, for, straightway stricken sore,
+     My heart bowed low to Love, the conqueror.
+     And ah! no false and fleeting love is mine,
+     Such as for painted beauty feigns to pine;
+     Nor doth my passion, although deep and strong,
+     Seek its own wicked pleasure in thy wrong.
+     Nay; on this journey I would rather die
+     Than know that thou hadst fallen, and that I
+     Had wrought thy shame and foully brought to harm
+     The virtue which thy heart wraps round thy form.
+     &lsquo;Tis thy perfection that I love in thee,
+     Nought that might lessen it could ever be
+     Desire of mine&mdash;indeed, the nobler thou,
+     The greater were the love I to thee vow.
+     I do not seek an ardent flame to quench
+     In lustful dalliance with some merry wench,
+     Pure is my heart, &lsquo;neath reason&rsquo;s calm control
+     Set on a lady of such lofty soul,
+     That neither God above nor angel bright,
+     But seeing her, would echo my delight.
+     And if of thee I may not be beloved,
+     What matter, shouldst thou deem that I have proved
+     The truest lover that did ever live?
+     And this I know thou wilt, one day, believe,
+     For time, in rolling by, shall show to thee
+     No change in my heart&rsquo;s faith and loyalty.
+     And though for this thou mayst make no return,
+     Yet pleased am I with love for thee to burn,
+     And seek no recompense, pursue no end,
+     Save, that to thee, I meekly recommend
+     My soul and body, which I here consign
+     In sacrifice to Love&rsquo;s consuming shrine.
+     If then in safety I sail back the main
+     To thee, still artless, I&rsquo;ll return again;
+     And if I die, then there will die with me
+     A lover such as none again shall see.
+     So Ocean now doth carry far away
+     The truest lover seen for many a day;
+     His body &lsquo;tis that journeys o&rsquo;er the wave,
+     But not his heart, for that is now thy slave,
+     And from thy side can never wrested be,
+     Nor of its own accord return to me.
+     Ah! could I with me o&rsquo;er the treach&rsquo;rous brine
+     Take aught of that pure, guileless heart of thine,
+     No doubt should I then feel of victory,
+     Whereof the glory would belong to thee.
+     But now, whatever fortune may befall,
+     I&rsquo;ve cast the die; and having told thee all,
+     Abide thereby, and vow my constancy&mdash;
+     Emblem of which, herein, a diamond see,
+     By whose great firmness and whose pure glow
+     The strength and pureness of my love thou&rsquo;lt know.
+     Let it, I pray, thy fair white finger press,
+     And thou wilt deal me more than happiness.
+     And, diamond, speak and say: &lsquo;To thee I come
+     From thy fond lover, who afar doth roam,
+     And strives by dint of glorious deeds to rise
+     To the high level of the good and wise,
+     Hoping some day that haven to attain,
+     Where thy sweet favours shall reward his pain.&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      The lady read the letter through, and was the more astonished at the
+      Captain&rsquo;s passion as she had never before suspected it. She looked at the
+      cutting of the diamond, which was a large and beautiful one, set in a ring
+      of black enamel, and she was in great doubt as to what she ought to do
+      with it. After pondering upon the matter throughout the night, she was
+      glad to find that since there was no messenger, she had no occasion to
+      send any answer to the Captain, who, she reflected, was being sufficiently
+      tried by those matters of the King, his master, which he had in hand,
+      without being angered by the unfavourable reply which she was resolved to
+      make to him, though she delayed it until his return. However, she found
+      herself greatly perplexed with regard to the diamond, for she had never
+      been wont to adorn herself at the expense of any but her husband. For this
+      reason, being a woman of excellent understanding, she determined to draw
+      from the ring some profit to the Captain&rsquo;s conscience. She therefore
+      despatched one of her servants to the Captain&rsquo;s wife with the following
+      letter, which was written as though it came from a nun of Tarascon:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;MADAM,&mdash;Your husband passed this way but a short time before he
+      embarked, and after he had confessed himself and received his Creator like
+      a good Christian, he spoke to me of something which he had upon his
+      conscience, namely, his sorrow at not having loved you as he should have
+      done. And on departing, he prayed and besought me to send you this letter,
+      with the diamond which goes with it, and which he begs of you to keep for
+      his sake, assuring you that if God bring him back again in health and
+      strength, you shall be better treated than ever woman was before. And this
+      stone of steadfastness shall be the pledge thereof.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I beg you to remember him in your prayers; in mine he will have a place
+      as long as I live.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This letter, being finished and signed with the name of a nun, was sent by
+      the lady to the Captain&rsquo;s wife. And as may be readily believed, when the
+      excellent old woman saw the letter and the ring, she wept for joy and
+      sorrow at being loved and esteemed by her good husband when she could no
+      longer see him. She kissed the ring a thousand times and more, watering it
+      with her tears, and blessing God for having restored her husband&rsquo;s
+      affection to her at the end of her days, when she had long looked upon it
+      as lost. Nor did she fail to thank the nun who had given her so much
+      happiness, but sent her the fairest reply that she could devise. This the
+      messenger brought back with all speed to his mistress, who could not read
+      it, nor listen to what her servant told her, without much laughter. And so
+      pleased was she at having got rid of the diamond in so profitable a
+      fashion as to bring about a reconciliation between the husband and wife,
+      that she was as happy as though she had gained a kingdom.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A short time afterwards tidings came of the defeat and death of the poor
+      Captain, and of how he had been abandoned by those who ought to have
+      succoured him, and how his enterprise had been revealed by the Rhodians
+      who should have kept it secret, so that he and all who landed with him, to
+      the number of eighty, had been slain, among them being a gentleman named
+      John, and a Turk to whom the lady of my story had stood godmother, both of
+      them having been given by her to the Captain that he might take them with
+      him on his journey. The first named of these had died beside the Captain,
+      whilst the Turk, wounded by arrows in fifteen places, had saved himself by
+      swimming to the French ships.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was through him alone that the truth of the whole affair became known.
+      A certain gentleman whom the poor Captain had taken to be his friend and
+      comrade, and whose interests he had advanced with the King and the highest
+      nobles of France, had, it appeared, stood out to sea with his ships as
+      soon as the Captain landed; and the Captain, finding that his expedition
+      had been betrayed, and that four thousand Turks were at hand, had
+      thereupon endeavoured to retreat, as was his duty. But the gentleman in
+      whom he put such great trust perceived that his friend&rsquo;s death would leave
+      the sole command and profit of that great armament to himself, and
+      accordingly pointed out to the officers that it would not be right to risk
+      the King&rsquo;s vessels or the lives of the many brave men on board them in
+      order to save less than a hundred persons, an opinion which was shared by
+      all those of the officers that possessed but little courage.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So the Captain, finding that the more he called to the ships the farther
+      they drew away from his assistance, faced round at last upon the Turks;
+      and, albeit he was up to his knees in sand, he did such deeds of arms and
+      valour that it seemed as though he alone would defeat all his enemies, an
+      issue which his traitorous comrade feared far more than he desired it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But at last, in spite of all that he could do, the Captain received so
+      many wounds from the arrows of those who durst not approach within
+      bowshot, that he began to lose all his blood, whereupon the Turks,
+      perceiving the weakness of these true Christians, charged upon them
+      furiously with their scimitars; but the Christians, so long as God gave
+      them strength and life, defended themselves to the bitter end.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then the Captain called to the gentleman named John, whom his lady love
+      had given him, and to the Turk as well, and thrusting the point of his
+      sword into the ground, fell upon his knees beside it, and embraced and
+      kissed the cross, (5) saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lord, receive into Thy hands the soul of one who has not spared his life
+      to exalt Thy name.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     5  As is well known, before swords were made with shell and
+     stool hilts, the two guards combined with the handle and
+     blade formed a cross. Bayard, when dying, raised his sword
+     to gaze upon this cross, and numerous instances, similar to
+     that mentioned above by Queen Margaret, may be found in the
+     old <i>Chansons de Geste</i>.&mdash;M.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman called John, seeing that his master&rsquo;s life was ebbing away
+      as he uttered these words, thought to aid him, and took him into his arms,
+      together with the sword which he was holding. But a Turk who was behind
+      them cut through both his thighs, whereupon he cried out, &ldquo;Come, Captain,
+      let us away to Paradise to see Him for whose sake we die,&rdquo; and in this
+      wise he shared the poor Captain&rsquo;s death even as he had shared his life.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Turk, seeing that he could be of no service to either of them, and
+      being himself wounded by arrows in fifteen places, made off towards the
+      ships, and requested to be taken on board. But although of all the eighty
+      he was the only one who had escaped, the Captain&rsquo;s traitorous comrade
+      refused his prayer. Nevertheless, being an exceeding good swimmer, he
+      threw himself into the sea, and exerted himself so well that he was at
+      last received on board a small vessel, where in a short time he was cured
+      of his wounds. And it was by means of this poor foreigner that the truth
+      became fully known, to the honour of the Captain and the shame of his
+      comrade, whom the King and all the honourable people who heard the tidings
+      deemed guilty of such wickedness toward God and man that there was no
+      death howsoever cruel which he did not deserve. But when he returned he
+      told so many lies, and gave so many gifts, that not only did he escape
+      punishment, but even received the office of the man whose unworthy servant
+      he had been.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When the pitiful tidings reached the Court, the Lady-Regent, who held the
+      Captain in high esteem, mourned for him exceedingly, as did the King and
+      all the honourable people who had known him. And when the lady whom he had
+      loved the best heard of his strange, sad, and Christian death, she changed
+      the chiding she had resolved to give him into tears and lamentations, in
+      which her husband kept her company, all hopes of their journey to
+      Jerusalem being now frustrated.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I must not forget to say that on the very day when the two gentlemen were
+      killed, a damsel in the lady&rsquo;s service, who loved the gentleman called
+      John better than herself, came and told her mistress that she had seen her
+      lover ir a dream; he had appeared to her clad in white, and had bidden her
+      farewell, telling her that he was going to Paradise with his Captain. And
+      when the damsel heard that her dream had come true, she made such
+      lamentation that her mistress had enough to do to comfort her. (6)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     6  The Queen of Navarre was a firm believer in the truth and
+     premonitory character of dreams, and according to her
+     biographers she, herself, had several singular ones, two of
+     which are referred to in the Memoir prefixed to the present
+     work (vol. i. pp. lxxxiii. and Ixxxvii.). In some of her
+     letters, moreover, she relates that Francis I., when under
+     the walls of Pavia, on three successive nights beheld his
+     little daughter Charlotte (then dying at Lyons) appear to
+     him in a dream, and on each occasion repeat the words,
+     &ldquo;Farewell, my King, I am going to Paradise.&rdquo;&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      A short time afterwards the Court journeyed into Normandy, to which
+      province the Captain had belonged. His wife was not remiss in coming to
+      pay homage to the Lady-Regent, and in order that she might be presented to
+      her, she had recourse to the same lady whom her husband had so dearly
+      loved.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And while they were waiting in a church for the appointed hour, she began
+      bewailing and praising her husband, saying among other things to the lady&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Alas, madam! my misfortune is the greatest that ever befell a woman, for
+      just when he was loving me more than he had ever done, God took him from
+      me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So saying, and with many tears, she showed the ring which she wore on her
+      finger as a token of her husband&rsquo;s perfect love, whereat the other lady,
+      finding that her deception had resulted in such a happy issue, was,
+      despite her sorrow for the Captain&rsquo;s death, so moved to laughter, that she
+      would not present the widow to the Regent, but committed her to the charge
+      of another lady, and withdrew into a side chapel, where she satisfied her
+      inclination to laugh.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think, ladies, that those who receive such gifts ought to seek to use
+      them to as good a purpose as did this worthy lady. They would find that
+      benefactions bring joy to those who bestow them. And we must not charge
+      this lady with deceit, but esteem her good sense which turned to good that
+      which in itself was worthless.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you mean to say,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;that a fine diamond, costing two
+      hundred crowns, is worthless? I can assure you that if it had fallen into
+      my hands, neither his wife nor his relations would have seen aught of it.
+      Nothing is more wholly one&rsquo;s own than a gift. The gentleman was dead, no
+      one knew anything about the matter, and she might well have spared the
+      poor old woman so much sorrow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By my word,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;you are right. There are women who, to make
+      themselves appear of better heart than others, do things that are clearly
+      contrary to their notions, for we all know that women are the most
+      avaricious of beings, yet their vanity often surpasses their avarice, and
+      constrains their hearts to actions that they would rather not perform. My
+      belief is that the lady who gave the diamond away in this fashion was
+      unworthy to wear it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Softly, softly,&rdquo; said Oisille; &ldquo;I believe I know who she is, and I
+      therefore beg that you will not condemn her unheard.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;I do not condemn her at all; but if the gentleman
+      was as virtuous as you say, it were an honour to have such a lover, and to
+      wear his ring; but perhaps some one less worthy of being loved than he
+      held her so fast by the finger that the ring could not be put on.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;she might well have kept it, seeing that no one
+      knew anything about it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What!&rdquo; said Geburon; &ldquo;are all things lawful to those who love, provided
+      no one knows anything about them?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By my word,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;the only misdeed that I have ever seen
+      punished is foolishness. There is never a murderer, robber, or adulterer
+      condemned by the courts or blamed by his fellows, if only he be as cunning
+      as he is wicked. Oft-time, however, a bad man&rsquo;s wickedness so blinds him
+      that he becomes a fool; and thus, as I have just said, it is the foolish
+      only that are punished, not the vicious.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may say what you please,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;only God can judge the
+      lady&rsquo;s heart; but for my part, I think that her action was a very
+      honourable and virtuous one. (7) However, to put an end to the debate, I
+      pray you, Parlamente, to give some one your vote.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     7  In our opinion this sentence disposes of Miss Mary
+     Robinson&rsquo;s supposition (<i>The Fortunate Lovers</i>, London,
+     1887, p. 159) that Oisille (i.e., Louise of Savoy) is the
+     real heroine of this tale. Queen Margaret would hardly have
+     represented her commending her own action. If any one of the
+     narrators of the <i>Heptameron</i> be the heroine of the story,
+     the presumptions are in favour of Longarine (La Dame de
+     Lonray), Margaret&rsquo;s bosom friend, whose silence during the
+     after-converse is significant.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I give it willingly,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;to Simontault, for after two such
+      mournful tales we must have one that will not make us weep.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I thank you,&rdquo; said Simontault. &ldquo;In giving me your vote you have all but
+      told me that I am a jester. It is a name that is extremely distasteful to
+      me, and in revenge I will show you that there are women who with certain
+      persons, or for a certain time, make a great pretence of being chaste, but
+      the end shows them in their real colours, as you will see by this true
+      story.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0022" id="linkimage-0022">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/140.jpg" width="100%" alt="140.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0023" id="linkimage-0023">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/141a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="141a.jpg Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0024" id="linkimage-0024">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/141.jpg" width="100%" alt="141.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XIV</i>.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>The Lord of Bonnivet, desiring to revenge himself upon a
+     Milanese lady for her cruelty, made the acquaintance of an
+     Italian gentleman whom she loved, but to whom she had never
+     granted anything save fair words and assurances of
+     affection. To accomplish his purpose he gave this gentleman
+     such good advice that the lady granted him what he had so
+     long sought, and this the gentleman made known to Bonnivet,
+     who, having cut both hair and beard, and dressed himself in
+     clothes like those of the other, went at midnight and put
+     his vengeance into execution. Then the lady, having learnt
+     from him the plan that he had devised to win her, promised
+     to desist from loving those of her own nation, and to hold
+     fast to him</i>.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      At the time when the Grand-Master of Chaumont was Governor of the Duchy of
+      Milan, (1) there lived there a gentleman called the Lord of Bonnivet, who
+      by reason of his merits was afterwards made Admiral of France. Being
+      greatly liked by the Grand-Master and every one else on account of the
+      qualities he possessed, he was a welcome guest at the banquets where the
+      ladies of Milan assembled, and was regarded by them with more favour than
+      ever fell to a Frenchman&rsquo;s lot, either before or since; and this as much
+      on account of his handsome countenance, grace of manner, and pleasant
+      converse, as by reason of the renown which he had gained among all as
+      being one of the most skilful and valorous soldiers of his time. (2)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1   M. de Lincy is of opinion that the incidents recorded in
+     this story took place between 1501 and 1503; but according
+     to M. Lacroix, the Grand-Master of Chaumont did not become
+     Governor of the Milanese till 1506. This personage, to whom
+     Queen Margaret frequently alludes in her tales, was Charles
+     d&rsquo;Amboise, nephew of the famous Cardinal d&rsquo;Amboise, minister
+     to Louis XII. In turn admiral and marshal, Governor of
+     Paris, and Grand-Master, in France, of the Order of St. John
+     of Jerusalem, he figured prominently in the Italian wars of
+     the time, and notably at the battle of Aignadel. In 1510 he
+     commanded the troops which fought on behalf of the Duke of
+     Ferrara against the Emperor and Pope Julius II., and the
+     latter having excommunicated him for bearing arms against
+     the Holy See, his mind is said to have become unhinged. He
+     died at Correggio in February 1511, when only thirty-eight
+     years of age, some biographers asserting that he was
+     poisoned, whilst others contend that he fell from a bridge
+     during a military expedition. Whilst on his death-bed, he
+     sent messengers to the Pope, begging that the decree of
+     excommunication against him might be annulled, but before
+     the Papal absolution arrived he had expired. The name of
+     Chaumont, by which he is generally known, is that of an
+     estate he possessed, between Blois and Amboise, on the
+     Loire. The reputation he enjoyed of being one of the
+     handsomest men of his time was well deserved, if one may
+     judge by a painting at the Louvre which is said to be his
+     portrait. This picture, long ascribed to Leonardo da Vinci,
+     and supposed to represent Charles VIII. of France, has been
+     identified as the work of Andreas Solario, who executed
+     numerous paintings for Cardinal d&rsquo;Amboise at the famous
+     château of Gaillon.&mdash;L. M. and Eu.
+
+     2  Some particulars concerning William Gouffier, Lord of
+     Bonnivet, have been given in vol. i. (Tale IV. n. 3). It
+     may here be mentioned that the domain whence he derived the
+     name by which he is generally known was in the neighbourhood
+     of Poitiers, around the village of Vendeuvre, where he built
+     himself a vast château, destroyed at the close of the
+     eighteenth century. Some fragments of the sculptured work
+     adorning it, remarkable for their elegance of design and
+     delicacy of workmanship, are in the Poitiers Museum. It is
+     not unlikely that the incidents related in Tale IV. occurred
+     at this château; or else at that of Oiron, another domain of
+     the Gouffiers, between Loudun and Bressuire. In the chapel
+     of Oiron were buried Bonnivet, his mother, his brother
+     Artus, and his nephew Claud. Their tombs, large marble
+     mausoleums of Italian workmanship, surmounted by recumbent
+     statues, were opened and mutilated by the Huguenots in 1568,
+     when the bones they contained were scattered to the winds.
+     Bon-nivet&rsquo;s statue is probably the most damaged of the four.
+     The château of Oiron, with its marble staircases, quaint
+     frescoes, sculptured medallions, &amp;c, testifies to the great
+     wealth possessed by the Gouffier family, and justifies the
+     cynical motto assumed by Bonnivet&rsquo;s nephew: &ldquo;Others have
+     beaten the bushes, but we have the birds.&rdquo;&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      One day during the carnival, when he was among the maskers, he danced with
+      one of the most beautiful and bravely attired ladies to be found in the
+      whole city; and whenever a pause occurred in the music of the hautboys, he
+      did not fail to address her with love speeches, in which he excelled all
+      others. But she (3) having no favourable reply to give him, suddenly
+      checked his discourse by assuring him that she neither loved nor ever
+      would love any man but her husband, and that he must by no means expect
+      that she would listen to him.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  This lady may perhaps be the &ldquo;Sennora Clerice&rdquo; (Clarissa)
+     of whom Brantôme writes as follows in his <i>Capitaines
+     François</i>:&mdash;&ldquo;It was Bonnivet alone who advised King Francis
+     to cross the mountains and follow M. de Bourbon, and in this
+     he had less his master&rsquo;s advantage and service at heart than
+     his desire to return and see a great and most beautiful lady
+     of Milan, whom he had made his mistress some years
+     previously.... It is said that this was the &lsquo;Sennora
+     Clerice,&rsquo; then accounted one of the most beautiful ladies of
+     Italy.... A great lady of the time, from whom I heard this
+     story, told me that he, Bonnivet, had commended this lady
+     Clerice to the King so highly as to make him desirous of
+     seeing and winning her; and this was the principal cause of
+     this expedition of the King&rsquo;s.&rdquo;&mdash;Lalanne&rsquo;s <i>OEuvres de
+     Brantôme</i>, vol. ii. p. 167-8.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman, however, would not take this answer for a refusal, and
+      continued to press his suit with great energy until mid-Lent. But he found
+      her still firm in her declaration that she would love neither himself nor
+      another, which he could not believe, however, seeing how ill-favoured was
+      her husband, and how great her own beauty. Convinced that she was
+      practising dissimulation, he resolved, on his own side, to have recourse
+      to deception, and accordingly he ceased to urge his suit, and inquired so
+      closely concerning her manner of life that he discovered she was in love
+      with a most discreet and honourable Italian gentleman.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Little by little the Lord of Bonnivet insinuated himself into the
+      friendship of this gentleman, and did so with so much discretion and
+      skill, that the other remained ignorant of his motive, and became so much
+      attached to him that, after the lady of his heart, there was no one in the
+      world whom he loved more. In order that he might pluck his secret from his
+      breast, the Lord of Bonnivet pretended to tell him his own, declaring that
+      he loved a certain lady to whom he had in truth never given a thought, and
+      begging that he would keep the matter secret, and that they might have but
+      one heart and one mind together. Wishing to show in return a like
+      affection, the poor Italian gentleman thereupon proceeded to disclose at
+      length the love that he bore the lady on whom Bonnivet wished to be
+      revenged; and after this they would meet somewhere once every day in order
+      to recount the favours that had befallen them during the past four and
+      twenty hours; with this difference, however, that one lied, and the other
+      spoke the truth. And the Italian confessed that he had loved this lady for
+      three years, but had never obtained anything of her save fair words and
+      the assurance of her love.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bonnivet then gave him all the advice that he could to enable him to
+      attain his end, and to such good purpose that in a few days the lady
+      consented to grant all that was sought of her. It only remained to devise
+      a plan for their meeting, and through the counsels of Bonnivet this was
+      soon accomplished. And so one day before supper the Italian said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am more beholden to you, sir, than to any other man living, for, thanks
+      to your good advice, I expect to obtain to-night that which I have coveted
+      so many years.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you, my friend,&rdquo; thereupon said Bonnivet, &ldquo;tell me the manner of
+      your undertaking, so that if there be any risk in it, or craft required, I
+      may serve you in all friendship.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Italian gentleman then began to tell him that the lady had devised a
+      means of having the principal door of the house left open that night,
+      availing herself as a pretext of the illness of one of her brothers for
+      whose requirements it was necessary to send into the town at all hours. He
+      might enter the courtyard, but he was to be careful not to go up by the
+      principal staircase. Instead of this he was to take a small flight on his
+      right hand, and enter the first gallery he came to, into which the rooms
+      of the lady&rsquo;s father-in-law and brothers-in-law opened; and he was to
+      choose the third door from the head of the stairs, and if on trying it
+      gently he found that it was locked, he was to go away again, for in that
+      case he might be sure that her husband had returned, though not expected
+      back for two days. If, however, he found that the door was open, he was to
+      enter softly, and boldly bolt it behind him, for in that case there would
+      be none but herself in the room. And above all, he was to get himself felt
+      shoes, in order that he might make no noise, and he was to be careful not
+      to come earlier than two hours after midnight, for her brothers-in-law,
+      who were fond of play, never went to bed until after one of the clock.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Go, my friend,&rdquo; replied Bonnivet, &ldquo;and may God be with you and preserve
+      you from mischief. If my company can be of any service to you, I am wholly
+      at your disposal.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Italian gentleman thanked him warmly, but said that in an affair of
+      this nature he could not be too much alone; and thereupon he went away to
+      set about his preparations.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bonnivet, on his part, did not go to sleep, for he saw that the time had
+      come for revenging himself upon his cruel love. Going home betimes, he had
+      his beard trimmed to the same length and breadth as the Italian&rsquo;s, and
+      also had his hair cut, so that, on touching him, no difference between
+      himself and his rival might be perceived. Nor did he forget the felt
+      shoes, nor garments such as the Italian was wont to wear. Being greatly
+      liked by the lady&rsquo;s father-in-law, he was not afraid to go to the house at
+      an early hour, for he made up his mind that if he were perceived, he would
+      go straight to the chamber of the old gentleman, with whom he had some
+      business on hand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      About midnight he entered the lady&rsquo;s house, and although there were a good
+      many persons going to and fro, he passed them unnoticed and thus reached
+      the gallery. Trying the first two doors, he found them shut; the third,
+      however, was not, and he softly pushed it open. And having thus entered
+      the lady&rsquo;s room, he immediately bolted the door behind him. He found that
+      the whole chamber was hung with white linen, the floor and ceiling also
+      being covered with the same; and there was a bed draped with cloth so fine
+      and soft and so handsomely embroidered in white, that nothing better were
+      possible. And in the bed lay the lady alone, wearing her cap and
+      night-gown, and covered with pearls and gems. This, before he was himself
+      perceived by her, he was able to see by peeping round the curtain; for
+      there was a large wax candle burning, which made the room as bright as
+      day. And fearful lest he should be recognised by her, he first of all put
+      out the light. Then he undressed himself and got into bed beside her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady, taking him to be the Italian who had so long loved her, gave him
+      the best possible reception; but he, not forgetting that he was there in
+      another&rsquo;s stead, was careful not to say a single word. His only thought
+      was to execute his vengeance at the cost of her honour and chastity
+      without being beholden to her for any boon. And although this was contrary
+      to her intention, the lady was so well pleased with this vengeance that
+      she deemed him rewarded for all she thought he had endured. At last it
+      struck one of the clock, and it was time to say good-bye. Then, in the
+      lowest tones he could employ, he asked her if she were as well pleased
+      with him as he was with her. She, believing him to be her lover, said that
+      she was not merely pleased but amazed at the greatness of his love, which
+      had kept him an hour without answering her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then he began to laugh aloud, and said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now, madam, will you refuse me another time, as you have hitherto been
+      wont to do?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady, recognising him by his speech and laughter, was in such despair
+      with grief and shame, that she called him villain, traitor, and deceiver a
+      thousand times over, and tried to throw herself out of bed to search for a
+      knife in order to kill herself, since she was so unfortunate as to have
+      lost her honour through a man whom she did not love, and who to be
+      revenged on her might publish the matter to the whole world.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But he held her fast in his arms, and in fair soft words declared that he
+      would <i>love</i> her more than her lover, and would so carefully conceal
+      all that affected her honour that she should never be brought to reproach.
+      This the poor foolish thing believed, and on hearing from him the plan
+      that he had devised and the pains that he had taken to win her, she swore
+      to him that she would love him better than the other, who had not been
+      able to keep her secret. She now knew, said she, how false was the repute
+      in which the French were held; they were more sensible, persevering, and
+      discreet than the Italians; wherefore she would henceforward lay aside the
+      erroneous opinions of her nation and hold fast to him. But she earnestly
+      entreated him not to show himself for some time at any entertainment or in
+      any place where she might be unless he were masked; for she was sure she
+      should feel so much ashamed that her countenance would betray her to every
+      one.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This he promised to do, and he then begged that she would give her lover a
+      good welcome when he came at two o&rsquo;clock, getting rid of him afterwards by
+      degrees. This she was very loth to do, and but for the love she bore to
+      Bonnivet would on no account have consented. However, when bidding her
+      farewell, he gave her so much cause for satisfaction that she would fain
+      have had him stay with her some time longer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having risen and donned his garments again, he departed, leaving the door
+      of the room slightly open, as he had found it. And as it was now nearly
+      two o&rsquo;clock, and he was afraid of meeting the Italian gentleman, he
+      withdrew to the top of the staircase, whence he not long afterwards saw
+      the other pass by and enter the lady&rsquo;s room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      For his own part, he then betook himself home to rest, in such wise that
+      at nine of the clock on the following morning he was still in bed. While
+      he was rising, there arrived the Italian gentleman, who did not fail to
+      recount his fortune, which had not been so great as he had hoped; for on
+      entering the lady&rsquo;s chamber, said he, he had found her out of bed, wearing
+      her dressing-gown, and in a high fever, with her pulse beating quick and
+      her countenance aflame, and a perspiration beginning to break out upon
+      her. She had therefore begged him to go away forthwith, for fearing a
+      mishap, she had not ventured to summon her women, and was in consequence
+      so ill that she had more need to think of death than of love, and to be
+      told of God than of Cupid. She was distressed, she added, that he should
+      have run such risk for her sake, since she was wholly unable to grant what
+      he sought in a world she was so soon to leave. He had felt so astonished
+      and unhappy on hearing this that all his fire and joy had been changed to
+      ice and sadness, and he had immediately gone away. However, he had sent at
+      daybreak to inquire about her, and had heard that she was indeed very ill.
+      While recounting his griefs he wept so piteously that it seemed as though
+      his soul must melt away in his tears.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bonnivet, who was as much inclined to laugh as the other was to weep,
+      comforted him as well as he could, telling him that affections of long
+      duration always had a difficult beginning, and that Love was causing him
+      this delay only that he might afterwards have the greater joy. And so the
+      two gentlemen parted. The lady remained in bed for some days, and on
+      regaining her health dismissed her first suitor, alleging as her reason
+      the fear of death that had beset her and the prickings of her conscience.
+      But she held fast to my lord Bonnivet, whose love, as is usual, lasted no
+      longer than the field flowers bloom.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think, ladies, that the gentleman&rsquo;s craftiness was a match for the
+      hypocrisy of the lady, who, after playing the prude so long, showed
+      herself such a wanton in the end.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may say what you please about women,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;but the
+      gentleman played an evil trick. Is it allowable that if a lady loves one
+      man, another may obtain her by craft?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may be sure,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;that when such mares are for sale they
+      are of necessity carried off by the last and highest bidder. Do not
+      imagine that wooers take such great pains for the ladies&rsquo; sakes. It is for
+      their own sakes and their own pleasure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By my word,&rdquo; said Longarine, &ldquo;I believe you; for, truth to tell, all the
+      lovers that I have ever had have always begun their speeches by talking
+      about me, declaring that they cherished my life, welfare, and honour; but
+      in the end they only thought of themselves, caring for nought but their
+      own pleasure and vanity. The best plan, therefore, is to dismiss them as
+      soon as the first portion of their discourse is ended; for when they come
+      to the second, there is not so much credit in refusing them, seeing that
+      vice when recognised must needs be rejected.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So as soon as a man opens his mouth,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;we ought to refuse
+      him, without knowing what he is going to say?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; replied Parlamente, &ldquo;my friend does not mean that. We know that at
+      first a woman should never appear to understand what the man desires, or
+      even to believe him when he has declared what it is; but when he comes to
+      strong protestations, I think it were better for ladies to leave him on
+      the road rather than continue to the end of the journey with him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That may be,&rdquo; said Nomerfide; &ldquo;but are we to believe that they love us
+      for evil? Is it not a sin to judge our neighbours?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may believe what you please,&rdquo; said Oisille; &ldquo;but there is so much
+      cause for fearing it to be true, that as soon as you perceive the faintest
+      spark, you should flee from this fire, lest it should burn up your heart
+      before you even know it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;the laws you lay down are over harsh. If women,
+      whom gentleness beseems so well, were minded to prove as rigorous as you
+      would have them be, we men, on our part, would exchange our gentle
+      entreaties for craft and force.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In my opinion,&rdquo; said Simontault, &ldquo;the best advice is that each should
+      follow his natural bent. Whether he love or not, let him do so without
+      dissimulation.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Would to God,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;that such a rule would bring as much
+      honour as it would give pleasure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Dagoucin, however, could not refrain from saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Those who would rather die than make their desire known could not comply
+      with your law.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Die!&rdquo; thereupon said Hircan; &ldquo;the good knight has yet to be born that
+      would die for the publishing of such a matter. But let us cease talking of
+      what is impossible, and see to whom Simontault will give his vote.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I give it,&rdquo; said Simontault, &ldquo;to Longarine, for I observed her just now
+      talking to herself. I imagine that she was recalling some excellent
+      matter, and she is not wont to conceal the truth, whether it be against
+      man or woman.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you deem me so truthful,&rdquo; replied Longarine, &ldquo;I will tell you a
+      tale which, though it be not so much to the praise of women as I could
+      wish it to be, will yet show you that there are some possessed of as much
+      spirit, wit, and craft as men. If my tale be somewhat long, you will bear
+      with it in patience.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0025" id="linkimage-0025">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/155.jpg" width="100%" alt="155.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0026" id="linkimage-0026">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/157a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="157a.jpg the Lady Taking Oath As to Her Conduct " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Lady taking Oath as to her Conduct]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0027" id="linkimage-0027">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/157.jpg" width="100%" alt="157.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XV</i>.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>Through the favour of King Francis, a simple gentleman of
+     the Court married a very rich woman, of whom, however, as
+     much by reason of her extreme youth as of the bestowal of
+     his own heart elsewhere, he made but little account;
+     whereat, after trying every plan to please him, she was so
+     moved with resentment and overcome by despair, that she
+     resolved to console herself with another for the indignities
+     which she endured from her husband.</i> (1)
+
+     1  The incidents referred to in this story must have
+     occurred between 1515 and 1543, during the reign of Francis
+     I.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      At the Court of King Francis the First there was a gentleman whose name I
+      know right well, but will not mention. He was poor, having less than five
+      hundred livres a year, but he was so well liked by the King for his many
+      qualities that he at last married a lady of such wealth that a great lord
+      would have been pleased to take her. As she was still very young, he
+      begged one of the greatest ladies of the Court to receive her into her
+      household, and this the lady very willingly did.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now this gentleman was so courteous, so handsome, and so full of grace
+      that he was held in great regard by all the ladies of the Court, and among
+      the rest by one whom the King loved, and who was neither so young nor so
+      handsome as his own wife. And by reason of the great love that the
+      gentleman bore this lady, he made such little account of his wife, that he
+      slept scarcely one night in the year with her, and, what she found still
+      harder to endure, he never spoke to her or showed her any sign of love.
+      And although he enjoyed her fortune, he allowed her so small a share in
+      it, that she was not dressed as was fitting for one of her station, or as
+      she herself desired. The lady with whom she abode would often reproach the
+      gentleman for this, saying to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your wife is handsome, rich, and of a good family, yet you make no more
+      account of her than if she were the opposite. In her extreme youth and
+      childishness she has hitherto submitted to your neglect; but I fear me
+      that when she finds herself grown-up and handsome, her mirror and some one
+      that loves you not will so set before her eyes that beauty by which you
+      set so little store, that resentment will lead her to do what she durst
+      not think of had you treated her well.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman, however, having bestowed his heart elsewhere, made light of
+      what the lady said, and notwithstanding her admonitions, continued to lead
+      the same life as before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But when two or three years had gone by, his wife became one of the most
+      beautiful women ever seen in France, so that she was reputed to have no
+      equal at the Court. And the more she felt herself worthy of being loved,
+      the more distressed she was to find that her husband paid no attention to
+      her; and so great became her affliction that, but for the consolations of
+      her mistress, she had well-nigh been in despair. After trying every
+      possible means to please her husband, she reflected that his inclinations
+      must needs be directed elsewhere, for otherwise he could not but respond
+      to the deep love that she bore him. Thereupon she made such skilful
+      inquiries that she discovered the truth, namely, that he was every night
+      so fully occupied in another quarter that he could give no thought to his
+      wife or to his conscience.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having thus obtained certain knowledge of the manner of life he led, she
+      fell into such deep melancholy, that she would not dress herself otherwise
+      than in black or attend any place of entertainment. Her mistress, who
+      perceived this, did all that in her lay to draw her from such a mood, but
+      could not. And although her husband was made acquainted with her state, he
+      showed himself more inclined to make light of it than to relieve it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      You are aware, ladies, that just as extreme joy will give occasion to
+      tears, so extreme grief finds an outlet in some joy. In this wise it
+      happened that a great lord who was near akin to the lady&rsquo;s mistress, and
+      who often visited her, hearing one day of the strange fashion in which she
+      was treated by her husband, pitied her so deeply that he desired to try to
+      console her; and on speaking to her, found her so handsome, so sensible,
+      and so virtuous, that he became far more desirous of winning her favour
+      than of talking to her about her husband, unless it were to show her what
+      little cause she had to love him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady, finding that, though forsaken by the man who ought to have loved
+      her, she was on the other hand loved and sought after by so handsome a
+      Prince, deemed herself very fortunate in having thus won his favour. And
+      although she still desired to preserve her honour, she took great pleasure
+      in talking to him and in reflecting that she was loved and prized, for
+      these were two things for which, so to speak, she hungered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This friendship continued for some time, until it came to the knowledge of
+      the King, who had so much regard for the lady&rsquo;s husband that he was
+      unwilling he should be put to any shame or vexation. He therefore
+      earnestly begged the Prince to forego his inclinations, threatening him
+      with his displeasure should he continue to press his suit.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Prince, who set the favour of the King above all the ladies in the
+      world, promised for his sake to lay aside the enterprise, and to go that
+      very evening and bid the lady farewell. This he did as soon as he knew
+      that she had retired to her own apartments, over which was the room of the
+      gentleman, her husband. And the husband being that evening at his window,
+      saw the Prince going into his wife&rsquo;s room beneath. The Prince saw him
+      also, but went in for all that, and in bidding farewell to her whose love
+      was but beginning, pleaded as his sole reason the King&rsquo;s command.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After many tears and lamentations and regrets, which lasted until an hour
+      after midnight, the lady finally said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I praise God, my lord, that it pleases Him you should lose your love for
+      me, since it is so slight and weak that you are able to take it up and lay
+      it down at the command of man. For my own part, I have never asked
+      mistress or husband or even myself for permission to love you; Love, aided
+      by your good looks and courtesy, gained such dominion over me that I could
+      recognise no God or King save him. But since your heart is not so full of
+      true love that fear may not find room in it, you can be no perfect lover,
+      and I will love none that is imperfect so perfectly as I had resolved to
+      love you. Farewell, then, my lord, seeing that you are too timorous to
+      deserve a love as frank as mine.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Prince went away in tears, and looking back he again noticed the
+      husband, who was still at the window, and had thus seen him go in and come
+      out again. Accordingly he told him on the morrow why he had gone to see
+      his wife, and of the command that the King had laid upon him, whereat the
+      gentleman was well pleased, and gave thanks to the King.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      However, finding that his wife was becoming more beautiful every day,
+      whilst he himself was growing old and less handsome than before, he began
+      to change his tactics, and to play the part which he had for a long time
+      imposed upon his wife, bestowing some attention upon her and seeking her
+      more frequently than had been his wont. But the more she was sought by him
+      the more was he shunned by her; for she desired to pay him back some part
+      of the grief that he had caused her by his indifference.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Moreover, being unwilling to forego so soon the pleasure that love was
+      beginning to afford her, she addressed herself to a young gentleman, who
+      was so very handsome, well-spoken, and graceful that he was loved by all
+      the ladies of the Court. And by complaining to him of the manner in which
+      she had been treated, she lured him to take pity upon her, so that he left
+      nothing untried in his attempts to comfort her. She, on her part, to
+      console herself for the loss of the Prince who had forsaken her, set
+      herself to love this gentleman so heartily that she came to forget her
+      former grief, and to think of nothing but the skilful conduct of her new
+      amour, in which she succeeded so well that her mistress perceived nought
+      of it, for she was careful not to speak to her lover in her mistress&rsquo;s
+      presence. When she wished to talk with him she would betake herself to the
+      rooms of some ladies who lived at the Court, amongst whom was one that her
+      husband made a show of being in love with.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now one dark evening she stole away after supper, without taking any
+      companion with her, and repaired to the apartment belonging to these
+      ladies, where she found the man whom she loved better than herself. She
+      sat down beside him, and leaning upon a table they conversed together
+      while pretending to read in the same book. Some one whom her husband had
+      set to watch then went and reported to him whither his wife was gone.
+      Being a prudent man, he said nothing, but as quickly as possible betook
+      himself to the room, where he found his wife reading the book. Pretending,
+      however, not to see her, he went straight to speak to the other ladies,
+      who were in another part of the room. But when his poor wife found herself
+      discovered by him in the company of a gentleman to whom she had never
+      spoken in his presence, she was in such confusion that she quite lost her
+      wits; and being unable to pass along the bench, she leaped upon the table
+      and fled as though her husband were pursuing her with a drawn sword. And
+      then she went in search of her mistress, who was just about to withdraw to
+      her own apartments.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When her mistress was undressed, and she herself had retired, one of her
+      women brought her word that her husband was inquiring for her. She
+      answered plainly that she would not go, for he was so harsh and strange
+      that she dreaded lest he should do her some harm.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At last, however, for fear of worse, she consented to go. Her husband said
+      not a word to her until they were in bed together, when being unable to
+      dissemble so well as he, she began to weep. And when he asked her the
+      cause of this, she told him that she was afraid lest he should be angry at
+      having found her reading in company with a gentleman.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He then replied that he had never forbidden her to speak to a man, and did
+      not take it ill that she had done so; but he did indeed take it ill that
+      she had run from him as though she had done something deserving of
+      censure, and her flight and nothing else had led him to think that she was
+      in love with the gentleman. He therefore commanded her never to speak to
+      him again in public or in private, and assured her that the first time she
+      did so he would slay her without mercy or compassion. She very readily
+      promised to obey, and made up her mind not to be so foolish another time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But things are desired all the more for being forbidden, and it was not
+      long before the poor woman had forgotten her husband&rsquo;s threats and her own
+      promises. That very same evening she sent to the gentleman, begging him to
+      visit her at night. But the husband, who was so tormented by jealousy that
+      he could not sleep, and who had heard say that the gentleman visited his
+      wife at night, wrapped himself in a cloak, and taking a valet with him,
+      went to his wife&rsquo;s apartment and knocked at the door. She, not in the
+      least expecting him, got up alone, put on furred slippers and a
+      dressing-gown which were lying close at hand, and finding that the three
+      or four women whom she had with her were asleep, went forth from her room
+      and straight to the door at which she had heard the knocking. On her
+      asking, &ldquo;Who is there?&rdquo; she received in answer the name of her lover; but
+      to be still more certain, she opened a little wicket, saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you be the man you say you are, show me your hand, and I shall
+      recognise it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And when she touched her husband&rsquo;s hand she knew who it was, and quickly
+      shutting the wicket, cried out&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ha, sir! it is your hand.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The husband replied in great wrath&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes; it is the hand that will keep faith with you. Do not fail,
+      therefore, to come when I send for you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words he went away to his own apartment, whilst she, more dead
+      than alive, went back into her room, and cried out aloud to her
+      servant-women, &ldquo;Get up, my friends; you have slept only too well for me,
+      for thinking to trick you, I have myself been tricked.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words she swooned away in the middle of the room. The women
+      rose at her cry, and were so astonished at seeing their mistress stretched
+      upon the floor, as well as at hearing the words, she had uttered, that
+      they were at their wits&rsquo; end, and sought in haste for remedies to restore
+      her. When she was able to speak, she said to them&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You see before you, my friends, the most unhappy creature in the world.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And thereupon she went on to tell them the whole adventure, and begged of
+      them to help her, for she counted her life as good as lost.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      While they were seeking to comfort her, a valet came with orders that she
+      was to repair to her husband instantly. Thereupon, clinging to two of her
+      women, she began to weep and wail, begging them not to suffer her to go,
+      for she was sure she would be killed. But the valet assured her to the
+      contrary, offering to pledge his life that she should receive no hurt.
+      Seeing that she lacked all means of resistance, she at last threw herself
+      into the servant&rsquo;s arms, and said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since it may not be otherwise, you must e&rsquo;en carry this hapless body to
+      its death.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Half fainting in her distress, she was then at once borne by the valet to
+      his master&rsquo;s apartment. When she reached it, she fell at her husband&rsquo;s
+      feet, and said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I beseech you, sir, have pity on me, and I swear to you by the faith I
+      owe to God that I will tell you the whole truth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Fore God you shall,&rdquo; he replied, like one beside himself, and forthwith
+      he drove all the servants from the room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having always found his wife very devout, he felt sure that she would not
+      dare to forswear herself on the Holy Cross. He therefore sent for a very
+      beautiful crucifix that belonged to him, and when they were alone
+      together, he made her swear upon it that she would return true replies to
+      his questions. Already, however, she had recovered from her first dread of
+      death, and taking courage, she resolved that if she was to die she would
+      make no concealment of the truth, but at the same time would say nothing
+      that might injure the gentleman she loved. Accordingly, having heard all
+      the questions that her husband had to put to her, she replied as follows&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have no desire, sir, either to justify myself or to lessen to you the
+      love that I have borne to the gentleman you suspect; for if I did, you
+      could not and you should not believe me. Nevertheless, I desire to tell
+      you the cause of this affection. Know, then, sir, that never did wife love
+      husband more than I loved you, and that from the time I wedded you until I
+      reached my present age, no other passion ever found its way into my heart.
+      You will remember that while I was still a child, my parents wished to
+      marry me to one richer and more highly born than yourself, but they could
+      never gain my consent to this from the moment I had once spoken to you. In
+      spite of all their objections I held fast to you, and gave as little heed
+      to your poverty as to their remonstrances. You cannot but know what
+      treatment I have had at your hands hitherto, and the fashion in which you
+      have loved and honoured me; and this has caused me so much grief and
+      discontent that but for the succour of the lady with whom you placed me, I
+      should have been in despair. But at last, finding myself fully grown and
+      deemed beautiful by all but you, I began to feel the wrong you did me so
+      keenly that the love I had for you changed into hate, and the desire of
+      obeying you into one for revenge. In this despairing condition I was found
+      by a Prince who, being more anxious to obey the King than Love, forsook me
+      just as I was beginning to feel my pangs assuaged by an honourable
+      affection. When the Prince had left me, I lighted upon this present
+      gentleman; and he had no need to entreat me, for his good looks,
+      nobleness, grace, and virtue are well worthy of being sought after and
+      courted by all women of sound understanding. At my instance, not at his
+      own, he has loved me in all virtue, so that never has he sought from me
+      aught that honour might refuse. And although I have but little cause to
+      love you, and so might be absolved from being loyal and true to you, my
+      love of God and of my honour has hitherto sufficed to keep me from doing
+      aught that would call for confession or shame. I will not deny that I went
+      into a closet as often as I could to speak with him, under pretence of
+      going thither to say my prayers, for I have never trusted the conduct of
+      this matter to any one, whether man or woman. Further, I will not deny
+      that when in so secret a place and safe from all suspicion I have kissed
+      him with more goodwill than I kiss you. But as I look to God for mercy, no
+      other familiarity has passed between us; he has never urged me to it, nor
+      has my heart ever desired it; for I was so glad at seeing him that
+      methought the world contained no greater pleasure.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And now, sir, will you, who are the sole cause of my misfortune, take
+      vengeance for conduct of which you have yourself long since set me an
+      example, with, indeed, this difference, that in your case you thought
+      nought of either honour or conscience; for you know and I know too that
+      the woman you love does not rest content with what God and reason enjoin.
+      And albeit the law of man deals great dishonour to wives who love other
+      men than their husbands, the law of God does not exempt from punishment
+      the husbands who love other women than their wives. And if my offences are
+      to be weighed against yours, you are more to blame than I, for you are a
+      wise and experienced man, and of an age to know and to shun evil, whilst I
+      am young and have no experience of the might and power of love. You have a
+      wife who desires you, honours you, and loves you more than her own life;
+      while I have a husband who avoids me, hates me, and rates me as lightly as
+      he would a servant maid. You are in love with a woman who is already old,
+      of meagre figure, and less fair than I; whilst I love a gentleman younger,
+      handsomer, and more amiable than you. You love the wife of one of the best
+      friends you have in the world, the mistress, moreover, of your King and
+      master, so that you offend against the friendship that is due to the
+      first, and the respect that is due to the second; whereas I am in love
+      with a gentleman whose only tie is his love for me. Judge then fairly
+      which of us two is the more worthy of punishment or pardon: you, a man of
+      wisdom and experience, who through no provocation on my part have acted
+      thus ill not only towards me, but towards the King, to whom you are so
+      greatly indebted; or I, who am young and ignorant, who am slighted and
+      despised by you, and loved by the handsomest and most worshipful gentleman
+      in France, a gentleman whom I have loved in despair of ever being loved by
+      you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When the husband heard her utter these truths with so fair a countenance,
+      and with such a bold and graceful assurance as clearly testified that she
+      neither dreaded nor deserved any punishment, he was overcome with
+      astonishment, and could find nothing to reply except that a man&rsquo;s honour
+      and a woman&rsquo;s were not the same thing. However, since she swore to him
+      that there had been nothing between herself and her lover but what she had
+      told him, he was not minded to treat her ill, provided she would act so no
+      more, and that they both put away the memory of the past. To this she
+      agreed, and they went to bed in harmony together.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Next morning an old damosel who was in great fear for her mistress&rsquo;s life
+      came to her at her rising, and asked&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, madam, and how do you fare?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I would have you know,&rdquo; said her mistress, laughing, &ldquo;that there is not a
+      better husband than mine, for he believed me on my oath.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And so five or six days passed by.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile the husband had such care of his wife that he caused a watch to
+      be kept on her both night and day. But for all his care he could not
+      prevent her from again speaking with her lover in a dark and suspicious
+      place. However, she contrived matters with such secrecy that no one,
+      whether man or woman, could ever learn the truth, though a rumour was
+      started by some serving-man about a gentleman and a lady whom he had found
+      in a stable underneath the rooms belonging to the mistress of the lady in
+      question. At this her husband&rsquo;s suspicions were so great that he resolved
+      to slay the gentleman, and gathered together a large number of his
+      relations and friends to kill him if he was anywhere to be found. But the
+      chief among his kinsmen was so great a friend of the gentleman whom they
+      sought, that instead of surprising him he gave him warning of all that was
+      being contrived against him, for which reason the other, being greatly
+      liked by the whole Court, was always so well attended that he had no fear
+      of his enemy&rsquo;s power, and could not be taken unawares and attacked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      However, he betook himself to a church to meet his lady&rsquo;s mistress, who
+      had heard nothing of all that had passed, for the lovers had never spoken
+      together in her presence. But the gentleman now informed her of the
+      suspicion and ill-will borne him by the lady&rsquo;s husband, and told her that
+      although he was guiltless he had nevertheless resolved to go on a long
+      journey in order to check the rumours, which were beginning greatly to
+      increase. The Princess, his lady&rsquo;s mistress, was much astonished on
+      hearing this tale, and protested that the husband was much in the wrong to
+      suspect so virtuous a wife, and one in whom she had ever found all worth
+      and honour. Nevertheless, considering the husband&rsquo;s authority, and in
+      order to quell these evil reports, she advised him to absent himself for a
+      time, assuring him that for her part she would never believe such foolish
+      suspicions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Both the gentleman and the lady, who was present, were well pleased at
+      thus preserving the favour and good opinion of the Princess, who further
+      advised the gentleman to speak with the husband before his departure. He
+      did as he was counselled, and meeting with the husband in a gallery close
+      to the King&rsquo;s apartment, he assumed a bold countenance, and said to him
+      with all the respect due to one of high rank&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All my life, sir, I have desired to do you service, and my only reward is
+      to hear that last evening you lay in wait to kill me. I pray you, sir,
+      reflect that while you have more authority and power than I have, I am
+      nevertheless a gentleman even as you are. It would be grievous to me to
+      lose my life for naught. I pray you also reflect that you have a wife of
+      great virtue, and if any man pretend the contrary I will tell him that he
+      has foully lied. For my part, I can think of nothing that I have done to
+      cause you to wish me ill. If, therefore, it please you, I will remain your
+      faithful servant; if not, I am that of the King, and with that I may well
+      be content.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The husband replied that he had in truth somewhat suspected him, but he
+      deemed him so gallant a man that he would rather have his friendship than
+      his enmity; and bidding him farewell, cap in hand, he embraced him like a
+      dear friend. You may imagine what was said by those who, the evening
+      before, had been charged to kill the gentleman, when they beheld such
+      tokens of respect and friendship. And many and diverse were the remarks
+      that each one made.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In this manner the gentleman departed, and as he had far less money than
+      good looks, his mistress delivered to him a ring that her husband had
+      given her of the value of three thousand crowns; and this he pledged for
+      fifteen hundred.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Some time after he was gone, the husband came to the Princess, his wife&rsquo;s
+      mistress, and prayed her to grant his wife leave to go and dwell for a
+      while with one of his sisters. This the Princess thought very strange, and
+      so begged him to tell her the reasons of his request, that he told her
+      part of them, but not all. When the young lady had taken leave of her
+      mistress and of the whole Court without shedding any tears or showing the
+      least sign of grief, she departed on her journey to the place whither her
+      husband desired her to go, travelling under the care of a gentleman who
+      had been charged to guard her closely, and above all not to suffer her to
+      speak on the road to her suspected lover.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She knew of these instructions, and every day was wont to cause false
+      alarms, scoffing at her custodians and their lack of care. Thus one day,
+      on leaving her lodging, she fell in with a Grey Friar on horseback, with
+      whom, being herself on her palfrey, she talked on the road the whole time
+      from the dinner to the supper hour. And when she was a quarter of a league
+      from the place where she was to lodge that night, she said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Here, father, are two crowns which I give you for the consolation you
+      have afforded me this afternoon. They are wrapped in paper, for I well
+      know that you would not venture to touch them. (2) And I beg you to leave
+      the road as soon as you have parted from me, and to take care that you are
+      not seen by those who are with me. I say this for your own welfare, and
+      because I feel myself beholden to you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2  The Grey Friars belonging to a mendicant order were
+     prohibited from demanding or accepting money; it was only
+     allowable for them to receive gifts in kind, mainly edible
+     produce. It was for this reason that the lady gave the friar
+     the two crowns wrapped in paper, knowing that he ought not
+     to touch the coins.&mdash;M. See also vol. i. p. 98, note 3.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The friar, well pleased with the two crowns, set off across the fields at
+      full gallop; and when he was some distance away the lady said aloud to her
+      attendants&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may well deem yourselves good servants and diligent guards. He as to
+      whom you were to be so careful has been speaking to me the whole day, and
+      you have suffered him to do so. Your good master, who puts so much trust
+      in you, should give you the stick rather than give you wages.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When the gentleman who had charge of her heard these words he was so angry
+      that he could not reply, but calling two others to him, set spurs to his
+      horse, and rode so hard that he at last reached the friar, who on
+      perceiving his pursuers had fled as fast as he could. However, the poor
+      fellow was caught, being less well mounted than they were. He was quite
+      ignorant of what it all meant, and cried them mercy, taking off his hood
+      in order that he might entreat them with bareheaded humility. Thereupon
+      they realised that he was not the man whom they sought, and that their
+      mistress had been mocking them. And this she did with even better effect
+      upon their return to her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are fitting fellows,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;to receive ladies in your charge.
+      You suffer them to talk to any stranger, and then, believing whatever they
+      may say, you go and insult the ministers of God.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After all these jests they arrived at the place that her husband had
+      commanded, and here her two sisters-in-law, with the husband of one of
+      them, kept her in great subjection.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the meanwhile her husband had heard how his ring had been pledged for
+      fifteen hundred crowns, whereat he was exceedingly wrathful, and in order
+      to save his wife&rsquo;s honour and to get back the ring, he bade his sisters
+      tell her to redeem it, he himself paying the fifteen hundred crowns.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She cared nought for the ring since her lover had the money, but she wrote
+      to him saying that she was compelled by her husband to redeem it, and in
+      order that he might not suppose she was doing this through any lessening
+      of her affection, she sent him a diamond which her mistress had given,
+      her, and which she liked better than any ring she had.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thereupon the gentleman forwarded her the merchant&rsquo;s bond right willingly;
+      deeming himself fortunate in having fifteen hundred crowns and a diamond,
+      (3) and at being still assured of his lady&rsquo;s favour. However, as long as
+      the husband lived, he had no means of communing with her save by writing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When the husband died, expecting to find her still what she had promised
+      him to be, he came in all haste to ask her in marriage; but he found that
+      his long absence had gained him a rival who was loved better than himself.
+      His sorrow at this was so great that he henceforth shunned the
+      companionship of ladies and sought out scenes of danger, and so at last
+      died in as high repute as any young man could have. (4)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  The gentleman deemed it only natural that the woman he
+     honoured with his love should present him with money. In the
+     seventeenth century similar opinions were held, if one may
+     judge by some passages in Dancourt&rsquo;s comedies, and by the
+     presents which the Duchess of Cleveland made to Henry
+     Jerrayn and John Churchill, afterwards Duke of Marlborough,
+     as chronicled in the <i>Memoirs of the Count de Gramont</i>.&mdash;M.
+
+     4  Brantôme tells a somewhat similar tale to this in his
+     <i>Vies des Dames Galantes</i> (Dis. I.): &ldquo;I knew,&rdquo; he writes,
+     &ldquo;two ladies of the Court, sisters-in-law to one another, one
+     of whom was married to a courtier, high in favour and very
+     skilful, but who did not make as much account of his wife as
+     by reason of her birth he should have done, for he spoke to
+     her in public as he might have spoken to a savage, and
+     treated her most harshly. She patiently endured this for
+     some time, until indeed her husband lost some of his credit,
+     when, watching for and taking the opportunity, she quickly
+     repaid him for all the disdain that he had shown her. And
+     her sister-in-law imitated her and did likewise; for having
+     been married when of a young and tender age, her husband
+     made no more account of her than if she had been a little
+     girl.... But she, advancing in years, feeling her heart beat
+     and becoming conscious of her beauty, paid him back in the
+     same coin, and made him a present of a fine pair of horns,
+     by way of interest for the past&rdquo;&mdash;Lalanne&rsquo;s <i>OEuvres de
+     Brantôme</i>, vol. ix. p. 157.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In this tale, ladies, I have tried, without sparing our own sex, to show
+      husbands that wives of spirit yield rather to vengeful wrath than to the
+      sweetness of love. The lady of whom I have told you withstood the latter
+      for a great while, but in the end succumbed to despair. Nevertheless, no
+      woman of virtue should yield as she did, for, happen what may, no excuse
+      can be found for doing wrong. The greater the temptations, the more
+      virtuous should one show oneself, by resisting and overcoming evil with
+      good, instead of returning evil for evil; and this all the more because
+      the evil we think to do to another often recoils upon ourselves. Happy are
+      those women who display the heavenly virtues of chastity, gentleness,
+      meekness, and long-suffering.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It seems to me, Longarine,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;that the lady of whom you have
+      spoken was impelled by resentment rather than by love; for had she loved
+      the gentleman as greatly as she appeared to do, she would not have
+      forsaken him for another. She may therefore be called resentful,
+      vindictive, obstinate, and fickle.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is all very well for you to talk in that way,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;but
+      you do not know the heartbreak of loving without return.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is true,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;that I have had but little experience in that
+      way. If I am shown the slightest disfavour, I forthwith forego lady and
+      love together.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;is well enough for you who love only your own
+      pleasure; but a virtuous wife cannot thus forsake her husband.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yet,&rdquo; returned Simontault, &ldquo;the lady in the story forgot for a while that
+      she was a woman. No man could have taken a more signal revenge.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It does not follow,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;because one woman lacks discretion
+      that all the rest are the same.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nevertheless,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;you are all women, as any one would find
+      who looked carefully, despite all the fine clothes you may wear.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If we were to listen to you,&rdquo; said Nomerlide, &ldquo;we should spend the day in
+      disputes. For my part, I am so impatient to hear another tale, that I beg
+      Longarine to give some one her vote.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Longarine looked at Geburon and said:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you know anything about a virtuous woman, I pray you set it forth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since I am to do what I can,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;I will tell you a tale of
+      something that happened in the city of Milan.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0028" id="linkimage-0028">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/182.jpg" width="100%" alt="182.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0029" id="linkimage-0029">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/183a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="183a.jpg the Gentleman Discovering The Trick " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Gentleman discovering the Trick]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0030" id="linkimage-0030">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/183.jpg" width="100%" alt="183.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XVI</i>.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>A lady of Milan, widow of an Italian Count, had resolved never again to
+      marry or to love. But for three years she was so earnestly wooed by a
+      French gentleman, that after repeated proof of the steadfastness of his
+      love, she granted him what he had so greatly desired, and they vowed to
+      each other everlasting affection</i>. (l)
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the days of the Grand Master of Chaumont, (2) there lived a lady who
+      was reckoned one of the most honourable women that there were at that time
+      in the city of Milan. She had married an Italian Count, and being left a
+      widow, lived in the house of her brothers-in-law, refusing to hear speak
+      of another marriage. And so discreetly and piously did she demean herself
+      that there was none in the Duchy, whether French or Italian, but held her
+      in high esteem.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  According to M. de Lincy, who points out that Bonnivet
+     must be the hero of the adventure here related, the
+     incidents referred to would have occurred at Milan between
+     1501 and 1503; but in M. Lacroix&rsquo;s opinion they would be
+     posterior to 1506.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     2  See <i>ante</i>, note 1 to Tale XIV.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      One day when her brothers and sisters-in-law offered an entertainment to
+      the Grand Master of Chaumont, this widow lady was obliged to be present,
+      though she made it her rule not to attend such gatherings when held in
+      other places. And when the Frenchmen saw her, they were all admiration for
+      her beauty and grace, especially one among them whose name I shall not
+      mention; for it will suffice for you to know that there was no Frenchman
+      in Italy more worthy of love than he, for he was endowed with all the
+      beauties and graces that a gentleman could have. And though he saw that
+      the lady wore black crape, and remained with several old women in a corner
+      apart from the young ones, yet, having never known what it was to fear
+      either man or woman, he set himself to converse with her, taking off his
+      mask, and leaving the dance in order to remain in her company.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Throughout the whole of the evening he did not cease talking to her and to
+      the old women, and found more pleasure in doing so than if he had been
+      with the most youthful and bravely attired ladies of the Court. So much,
+      indeed, was this the case, that when the hour came to withdraw he seemed
+      to have not yet had time even to sit down. And although he only spoke to
+      the lady on such common matters as were suited to such company, she knew
+      very well that he desired to win her favour, and this she resolved to
+      guard against by all means in her power, so that he was never afterwards
+      able to see her at any banquet or assembly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He inquired about the manner of her life, and found that she often went to
+      churches and convents; whereupon he kept such good watch that she could
+      never visit them so secretly but he was there before her. And he would
+      remain in the church as long as he had the happiness to see her, and all
+      the time that she was present would gaze at her so affectionately that she
+      could not remain in ignorance of the love he bore her. In order to avoid
+      him, she resolved to feign illness for a time, and to hear mass in her own
+      house; and at this the gentleman was most sorely grieved, for he had no
+      other means of seeing her than at church.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thinking that she had cured him of his habit, she at last returned to the
+      churches as before, but love quickly brought tidings of this to the French
+      gentleman, who then renewed his habits of devotion. He feared, however,
+      that she might again throw some hindrance in his way, and that he might
+      not have time to tell her what he would; and so one morning, when she
+      thought herself well concealed in a chapel, he placed himself at the end
+      of the altar at which she was hearing mass; and seeing that she was but
+      scantily attended, he turned towards her just as the priest was elevating
+      the host, and in a soft and loving voice said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;May I be sent to perdition, madam, by Him whom the priest has now in his
+      hands, if you are not causing my death. Though you take from me all means
+      of speaking with you, you cannot be ignorant of my desire; my wearied eyes
+      and my deathly face must make the truth apparent to you.&rdquo; (3)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  The Queen of Navarre is known to have had a considerable
+     knowledge of the Italian language, and it is therefore quite
+     possible that she was acquainted with the story of
+     Poliphilus and Polia, which, although no French translation
+     of it appeared until 1554, had been issued at Venice as
+     early as 1499. In any case, however, there is a curious
+     similarity between the speech of the French gentleman given
+     above and the discourse which Poliphilus addresses to Polia
+     when he finds her saying her prayers in the temple. A
+     considerable portion of the Italian story is in keeping with
+     the character of the <i>Heptameron</i> tales.&mdash;M.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The lady pretended not to understand him, and replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;God&rsquo;s name should not thus be taken in vain; but the poets say that the
+      gods laugh at the oaths and lies of lovers, and so women who regard their
+      honour should not show themselves credulous or compassionate.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words she rose up and returned home.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman&rsquo;s anger at these words may well be imagined by such as have
+      experienced the like fortune. But having no lack of spirit, he held it
+      better to have received this unfavourable reply than to have failed in
+      declaring his love, to which he held fast during three years, losing
+      neither time nor opportunity in wooing her by letters and in other ways.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      For three years, however, she vouchsafed him no reply, but shunned him as
+      the wolf shuns the hound that is to take him; and this she did through
+      fear for her honour and fair fame, and not because she hated him. He
+      perceived this so clearly that he pursued her more eagerly than ever; and
+      at last, after many refusals, troubles, tortures and despairs, the lady
+      took pity upon him for the greatness and steadfastness of his love, and so
+      granted him what he had so greatly desired and so long awaited.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When they had agreed concerning the means to be employed, the French
+      gentleman failed not to repair to her house, although in doing so he
+      placed his life in great danger, seeing that she and her relations lived
+      all together.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      However, being as skilful as he was handsome, he contrived the matter so
+      prudently that he was able to enter the lady&rsquo;s room at the hour which she
+      had appointed, and found her there all alone, lying in a beautiful bed;
+      but as he was hasting to put off his clothes in order to join her, he
+      heard a great whispering at the door, and a noise of swords scraping
+      against the wall.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then the widow said to him, with the face of one nigh to death&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now is your life and my honour in as great danger as well can be, for I
+      hear my brothers outside seeking you to slay you. I pray you, therefore,
+      hide yourself under this bed, and when they fail to find you I shall have
+      reason to be angry with them for alarming me without just cause.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman, who had never yet known fear, replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what, pray, are your brothers that they should frighten a man of
+      mettle? If the whole breed of them were there together, I am sure they
+      would not tarry for the fourth thrust of my sword. Do you, therefore, rest
+      quietly in bed, and leave the guarding of this door to me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then he wrapped his cloak about his arm, took his drawn sword in his hand,
+      and opened the door so that he might have a closer view of the swords that
+      he had heard. When the door was opened, he saw two serving-women, who,
+      holding a sword in each hand, had raised this alarm.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; they said to him, &ldquo;forgive us. We were commanded by our mistress to
+      act in this manner, but you shall be hindered by us no more.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Seeing that they were women, the gentleman could do no more than bid them
+      go to the devil, and shut the door in their faces. Then he got into bed to
+      the lady with all imaginable speed, his passion for her being in no wise
+      diminished by fear; and forgetting to inquire the reason of this skirmish,
+      he thought only of satisfying his desire.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But when daybreak was drawing nigh, he begged his mistress to tell him why
+      she had treated him so ill, both in making him wait so long, and in having
+      played this last trick upon him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My intention,&rdquo; she answered, laughing, &ldquo;had been never to love again, and
+      I had observed it from the time I became a widow; but, after you had
+      spoken to me at the entertainment, your worth led me to change my resolve,
+      and to love you as much as you loved me. It is true that honour, which had
+      ever guided me, would not suffer me to be led by love to do aught to the
+      disparagement of my reputation. But as the poor hind when wounded unto
+      death thinks by change of place to change the pain it carries with it, so
+      did I go from church to church thinking to flee from him whom I carried in
+      my heart, and the proof of whose perfect devotion has reconciled honour
+      and love. However, that I might be the more certain that I was giving my
+      heart and love to a true man, I desired to make this last proof by means
+      of my serving-women. And I vow to you that had I found you so timorous as
+      to hide beneath my bed, either for fear of your life or for any other
+      reason, I was resolved to rise and go into another room and never see you
+      more. But since I have found that you are possessed of more beauty, and
+      grace, and virtue, and valour than rumour had given you, and that fear has
+      no power over your heart, nor can cool one whit the love you bear me, I am
+      resolved to cleave to you for the remainder of my days. I feel sure that I
+      could not place life and honour in better hands than those of one whom I
+      deem unmatched in every virtue.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And, just as though the human will could be unchangeable, they vowed and
+      promised what was not in their power, namely, perpetual affection. For
+      this is a thing that can neither spring up nor abide in the heart of man,
+      as only those ladies know who have had experience of how long such
+      feelings last. (4)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     4  In Boaistuau&rsquo;s edition of the <i>Heptameron</i> the final part
+     of the above sentence is given as follows: &ldquo;And those women
+     that have had experience of it know this, and also how long
+     such fancies last.&rdquo; An extract from Brantôme in connection
+     with the story will be found in the Appendix to this volume,
+     D.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So, ladies, if you are wise, you will beware of us even as the stag, had
+      he understanding, would beware of the hunter; for our glory, happiness,
+      and delight is to see you captured in order to rob you of that which is
+      more precious to you than life.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, Geburon,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;since when have you turned preacher? I can
+      remember a time when you did not talk after that fashion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is quite true,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;that I have just spoken contrary to
+      what I have always said my life long; but since my teeth are no longer
+      able to chew venison, I warn the hapless deer to beware of the hunters, in
+      order that I may atone in my old age for all the mischief which I sought
+      to do in my youth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We thank you, Geburon,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;for warning us to our profit,
+      but for all that we do not feel very greatly beholden to you. You never
+      spoke in that way to one you truly loved, and this is a proof that you
+      have little love for us, and, moreover, would not have us loved.
+      Nevertheless, we hold ourselves as discreet and as virtuous as the ladies
+      whom you so long pursued in your youth. But old folk are commonly vain
+      enough to think that they have been wiser in their time than those who
+      come after them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, Nomerfide,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;will you believe that I have told you
+      the truth when the faithlessness of one of your lovers has made you
+      acquainted with the evil nature of men?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It seems to me,&rdquo; said Oisille to Geburon, &ldquo;that the gentleman whom you
+      praise so highly for his boldness ought rather to be praised for the
+      ardour of his love. So strong is this passion, that it impels the most
+      cowardly to embark on enterprises about which the bravest would think
+      twice.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If, madam,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;he&rsquo;had not deemed the Italians to be better
+      at talking than acting, me-thinks he had reason to be afraid.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;if he had not had in his heart the fire that
+      consumes fear.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you do not deem the boldness of this gentleman altogether worthy of
+      praise,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;you doubtless know of some one else more deserving
+      of commendation.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;the gentleman in the story deserves praise, but I do
+      know of one who is more worthy of being admired.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you, madam,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;if that be so, take my place and tell
+      us the tale.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If,&rdquo; began Oisille, &ldquo;a man who showed such boldness against the Milanese
+      to save his own life and his mistress&rsquo;s honour is to be esteemed so very
+      brave, what shall be said of one who, without any need for it, and from
+      pure and simple valour, performed the deed of which I will now tell you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0031" id="linkimage-0031">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/193.jpg" width="100%" alt="193.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0032" id="linkimage-0032">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/195a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="195a.jpg the King Showing his Sword " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The King showing his Sword]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0033" id="linkimage-0033">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/195.jpg" width="100%" alt="195.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XVII</i>.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>King Francis, being urged to banish Count William, who was said to have
+      received money to bring about his death, did not suffer it to appear that
+      he had any inkling of the scheme, but played the Count so shrewd a trick
+      that he himself took leave of the King and went into banishment</i>. (1)
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To the town of Dijon, in the Duchy of Burgundy, there came a German Count
+      to take service with King Francis. He was named William, (2) and was of
+      the House of Saxony, which is so closely allied with that of Savoy that
+      formerly they were but one. This Count, who was held for as handsome and
+      valiant a gentleman as Germany ever knew, was right well received by the
+      King, who not only took him into his service, but kept him close to
+      himself as a groom of the chamber.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  The incidents of this story are historical. Francis I. is
+     known to have sojourned at Dijon in June and July 1521.&mdash;L.
+
+     2  This is William, eldest son of Wolfgang von Furstemberg,
+     chamberlain to Maximilian I., and privy counsellor to Philip
+     of Austria.&mdash;B. J. Various particulars concerning him are
+     given in the Appendix to this volume, E.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Now the Lord de la Trémoille, (3) Governor of Burgundy, an old knight and
+      a loyal servant to the King, was ever jealous and anxious for his master&rsquo;s
+      safety, and was wont to have spies at all points to learn what the King&rsquo;s
+      enemies were doing; and so prudently did he contrive matters, that but few
+      things were hidden from him. Among his informations there came to him one
+      day a letter from a friend telling him that Count William had received a
+      sum of money, with promise of more, for putting the King to death in any
+      such manner as he might find possible. (4)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  This is Louis II., Sire de la Trémoille, Viscount of
+     Thouars and Prince of Talmont, born in 1460. The son of
+     Louis I. de la Trémoille and of Margaret d&rsquo;Amboise, he
+     became one of the most remarkable men of his time. Favoured
+     by Anne de Beaujeu, who arranged his marriage with Gabrielle
+     de Bourbon, he commanded the royal troops at the battle of
+     St. Aubin du Cormier, in Brittany (1488), at which the
+     rebellious Duke of Orleans (afterwards Louis XII.) and the
+     Prince of Orange, with a large number of the nobles, their
+     partisans, were made prisoners. They were all invited to La
+     Trémoille&rsquo;s table after the engagement, and, according to
+     Godefroi&rsquo;s Latin history of Louis XII., at the close of the
+     repast two Franciscan monks entered the hall, whereupon La
+     Trémoille rose and said: &ldquo;Princes, I refer your judgments to
+     the King, but as for you, Knights, who have broken your
+     faith and falsified your knightly oath, you shall pay for
+     your crime with your heads. If you have any remorse on your
+     consciences, here are monks who will shrive you.&rdquo; The hall
+     resounded with lamentations, but the unhappy nobles were
+     promptly dragged into the courtyard, and there put to death;
+     both Orleans and Orange being too terror-stricken to
+     intercede for them. When the former came to the throne, he
+     forgave La Trémoille for his conduct in this affair, and
+     showed him great favour, appointing him Governor of Burgundy
+     in 1501. La Trémoille also became Admiral of Guienne and
+     Brittany, and figured conspicuously in the various Italian
+     campaigns of the period. He was killed at Pavia in 1525.
+     Jean Bouchet, a contemporary, wrote a curious life of this
+     remarkable man, entitled <i>Panegyric du Chevalier sans
+     reproche</i>. It will be found in Michaud and Poujoulat&rsquo;s
+     <i>Collection de Mitnoires</i>,&mdash;L. and Ed.
+
+     4  It has been suggested that the instigator of this plot
+     was Charles V.&lsquo;s famous minister, Cardinal Granvelle.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The Lord de la Trémoille failed not to give speedy notice of the affair to
+      the King, and further made it known to the King&rsquo;s mother, Louise of Savoy,
+      who, forgetting that she and this German were akin, begged the King to
+      banish him forthwith. But the King bade her speak no more of it, saying
+      that it was impossible so upright and honourable a gentleman would
+      undertake so vile a deed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Some time afterwards a second warning arrived in confirmation of the
+      first, and the Governor, burning with love for his master, sought
+      permission either to banish the Count or else take him in hand in some
+      other fashion; but the King charged him expressly to keep the affair
+      secret, being persuaded that he might discover the truth by some other
+      means.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day when going a-hunting, the King, as his sole weapon, buckled on the
+      finest sword it were possible to see, and took Count William along with
+      him, desiring that he would follow him close. After hunting the stag for
+      some time, seeing that all his people save the Count were far off, he
+      turned out of all the roads and tracks, till he found himself alone with
+      the Count in the deepest part of the forest, (5) when, drawing his sword,
+      he said:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Think you that this sword be handsome and trusty?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     5  This may be either the forest of Argilly or that of
+     Mondragon, both in the vicinity of Dijon.&mdash;ED.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The Count took it by the point, and answered that he had never seen one
+      that he liked better.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are right,&rdquo; said the King; &ldquo;and I think that, if a gentleman had
+      resolved to slay me, he would think twice before he attacked me if he knew
+      the strength of my arm, the stoutness-of my heart, and the excellence of
+      this sword. Yet, for all that, I should count him but a craven scoundrel
+      if, when we were face to face and alone, he durst not execute what he had
+      dared to undertake.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sire,&rdquo; replied Count William, with astonished countenance, &ldquo;the
+      wickedness of the undertaking would be very great, but the folly of
+      seeking to execute it would be no less.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The King laughed, sheathed his sword again, and hearing the hunt hard by,
+      spurred after it with all speed. When he reached his train he spoke to
+      none of what had passed, but he felt convinced that, although Count
+      William was as brave and ready a gentleman as might be, he was not the man
+      to carry out so high an enterprise.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      However, Count William, fearing that he had been discovered or was at
+      least suspected, repaired the next morning to Robertet, Secretary for the
+      King&rsquo;s Finances, (6) and told him that he had considered the privileges
+      and pay offered him to continue in the King&rsquo;s service, and that they would
+      not suffice to support him for half the year. Unless therefore it pleased
+      the King to give him double, he would be forced to depart; and he
+      accordingly begged the said Robertet to acquaint him as soon as might be
+      with the will of the King. To this the Secretary replied that he could not
+      better advance the business than by going to the King straightway; and he
+      undertook the mission right willingly, for he had seen the warnings that
+      the Governor had received.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     6  This is Florimond Robertet, the first of that family of
+     statesmen who served the French crown from Charles VIII. to
+     Henri III. It was Charles VIII. who appointed Florimond
+     Treasurer of France and Secretary of Finances, offices in
+     which he displayed great skill and honesty. Louis XII., who
+     confirmed him in his functions, habitually consulted him on
+     important political affairs. He acquired considerable
+     wealth, and was often called &ldquo;the great baron,&rdquo; after the
+     barony of Alluye, which he possessed in Le Perche. One of
+     the curiosities of Blois is the Hôtel d&rsquo;Alluye, a house of
+     semi-Moorish style, erected by Robertet at the close of the
+     fifteenth century. Another of his residences was the château
+     of Bury, near Blois, where he set up Michael Angelo&rsquo;s famous
+     bronze statue of David, presented to him by the city of
+     Florence, and the fate of which has furnished material for
+     so much speculation. Under Francis I. Robertet enjoyed the
+     same credit as during the two previous reigns. Fleuranges
+     declares that no one else was so intimate with the King, and
+     commends him as being the most experienced and competent
+     statesman of the times. According to the <i>Journal d&rsquo;un
+     Bourgeois de Paris</i>, Robertet died &ldquo;at the Palais (de
+     Justice) in Paris, of which he was concierge,&rdquo; on November
+     29, 1527. Francis repeatedly visited him during his illness,
+     and, on his death, ordered that his remains should lie in
+     state, and be interred with great pomp and ceremony. Clement
+     Marot&rsquo;s works contain a poem, four hundred lines in length,
+     celebrating Robertet&rsquo;s virtues and talents.&mdash;L., B. J., and
+     Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      As soon, therefore, as the King was awake he failed not to lay the matter
+      before him in the presence of the Lord de la Trémoille and the Admiral de
+      Bonnivet, who were ignorant of the trick that the King had played the
+      Count the day before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then the King laughed, and said to them&mdash;&ldquo;You desired to banish Count
+      William, and you see he is banishing himself. Wherefore, tell him that if
+      he be not content with the establishment which he accepted on entering my
+      service, and which many men of good families have deemed themselves
+      fortunate to have, he must e&rsquo;en seek a better fortune elsewhere. For my
+      part, I will in no wise hinder him, but shall be well pleased if he can
+      find some condition wherein to live according to his deserts.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Robertet was as prompt to bear this answer to the Count as he had been to
+      prefer his request to the King. The Count replied that with the King&rsquo;s
+      permission he was resolved to depart, and, like one whom fear urges to
+      flight, he did not tarry even four and twenty hours; but, just as the King
+      was sitting down to table, came to take leave of him, feigning much sorrow
+      that his need should force him from the Royal presence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He also went to take leave of the King&rsquo;s mother, who parted from him no
+      less joyfully than she had formerly received him as a kinsman and friend.
+      And thus he returned to his own country; and the King, seeing his mother
+      and courtiers in amazement at his sudden departure, told them of the
+      fright he had given him, saying that, even if the Count were innocent of
+      that which was laid against him, his fear had been sufficiently great to
+      constrain him to leave a master whose temper he had not yet come to know.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For my part, ladies, I can see no reason why the King should have been
+      moved to risk himself thus against so famous a captain, except that,
+      forsaking the company and places where Kings find no inferiors ready to
+      give them battle, he desired to place himself on an equal footing with one
+      whom he suspected to be his enemy; and this that he might have the
+      satisfaction of testing the stoutness and valour of his own heart.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Without a doubt,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;he was in the right; for all the
+      praise of man cannot so well satisfy a noble heart as its own particular
+      knowledge and experience of the virtues that God has placed in it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The ancients,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;long ago showed us that to reach the Temple
+      of Fame it was necessary to pass through the Temple of Virtue, and I, who
+      am acquainted with the two persons in your tale, know right well that the
+      King is indeed one of the most valiant men in his kingdom.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By my word,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;at the time when Count William came to France,
+      I should have feared his [the King&rsquo;s] sword more than those of the four
+      most accomplished Italian gentlemen at Court.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We well know,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;that he is too famous for our praises to
+      equal his merit, and that the day would be spent before we each could say
+      all the good we think of him. And so, madam, I pray you, give your vote to
+      one who will tell us some further good of men, if such there be.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then said Oisille to Hircan&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It seems to me that, as you are so wont to speak ill of women, you will
+      find it easy to tell us some good story in praise of a man. I therefore
+      give you my vote.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That can I easily do,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;for but a little while since I was
+      told a story in praise of a gentleman whose love, constancy and patience
+      are so meritorious that I must not suffer them to be forgotten.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0034" id="linkimage-0034">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/203.jpg" width="100%" alt="203.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0035" id="linkimage-0035">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/205a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="205a.jpg the Student Escaping The Temptation " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Student escaping the Temptation]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0036" id="linkimage-0036">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/205.jpg" width="100%" alt="205.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XVIII</i>.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>A young student of noble birth, being smitten with love for
+     a very beautiful lady, subdued both love and himself in
+     order to achieve his end, and this in spite of many such
+     temptations as might have sufficed to make him break his
+     promise. And so all his woes were turned to joy by a reward
+     suitable to his constant, patient, loyal and perfect love</i>.
+     (1)
+
+     1  This story seems to be based on fact, being corroborated
+     in its main lines by Brantôme, but there is nothing in the
+     narrative to admit of the personages referred to being
+     identified.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In one of the goodly towns of the kingdom of France there dwelt a nobleman
+      of good birth, who attended the schools that he might learn how virtue and
+      honour are to be acquired among virtuous men. But although he was so
+      accomplished that at the age of seventeen or eighteen years he was, as it
+      were, both precept and example to others, Love failed not to add his
+      lesson to the rest; and, that he might be the better hearkened to and
+      received, concealed himself in the face and the eyes of the fairest lady
+      in the whole country round, who had come to the city in order to advance a
+      suit-at-law. But before Love sought to vanquish the gentleman by means of
+      this lady&rsquo;s beauty, he had first won her heart by letting her see the
+      perfections of this young lord; for in good looks, grace, sense and
+      excellence of speech he was surpassed by none.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      You, who know what speedy way is made by the fire of love when once it
+      fastens on the heart and fancy, will readily imagine that between two
+      subjects so perfect as these it knew little pause until it had them at its
+      will, and had so filled them with its clear light, that thought, wish and
+      speech were all aflame with it. Youth, begetting fear in the young lord,
+      led him to urge his suit with all the gentleness imaginable; but she,
+      being conquered by love, had no need of force to win her. Nevertheless,
+      shame, which tarries with ladies as long as it can, for some time
+      restrained her from declaring her mind. But at last the heart&rsquo;s fortress,
+      which is honour&rsquo;s abode, was shattered in such sort that the poor lady
+      consented to that which she had never been minded to refuse.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In order, however, to make trial of her lover&rsquo;s patience, constancy and
+      love, she only granted him what he sought on a very hard condition,
+      assuring him that if he fulfilled it she would love him perfectly for
+      ever; whereas, if he failed in it, he would certainly never win her as
+      long as he lived. And the condition was this:&mdash;she would be willing
+      to talk with him, both being in bed together, clad in their linen only,
+      but he was to ask nothing more from her than words and kisses.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He, thinking there was no joy to be compared to that which she promised
+      him, agreed to the proposal, and that evening the promise was kept; in
+      such wise that, despite all the caresses she bestowed on him and the
+      temptations that beset him, he would not break his oath. And albeit his
+      torment seemed to him no less than that of Purgatory, yet was his love so
+      great and his hope so strong, sure as he felt of the ceaseless continuance
+      of the love he had thus painfully won, that he preserved his patience and
+      rose from beside her without having done anything contrary to her
+      expressed wish. (2)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2  Brantôme&rsquo;s <i>Dames Galantes</i> contains an anecdote which is
+     very similar in character to this tale: &ldquo;I have heard
+     speak,&rdquo; he writes, &ldquo;of a very beautiful and honourable lady,
+     who gave her lover an assignation to sleep with her, on the
+     condition that he should not touch her... and he actually
+     obeyed her, remaining in a state of ecstasy, temptation and
+     continence the whole night long; whereat she was so well
+     pleased with him that some time afterwards she consented to
+     become his mistress, giving as her reason that she had
+     wished to prove his love by his obedience to her
+     injunctions; and on this account she afterwards loved him
+     the more, for she felt sure that he was capable of even a
+     greater feat than this, though it were a very great one.&rdquo;&mdash;
+     Lalanne&rsquo;s <i>OEuvres de Brantôme</i>, vol. ix. pp. 6, 7.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The lady was, I think, more astonished than pleased by such virtue; and
+      giving no heed to the honour, patience and faithfulness her lover had
+      shown in the keeping of his oath, she forthwith suspected that his love
+      was not so great as she had thought, or else that he had found her less
+      pleasing than he had expected.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She therefore resolved, before keeping her promise, to make a further
+      trial of the love he bore her; and to this end she begged him to talk to a
+      girl in her service, who was younger than herself and very beautiful,
+      bidding him make love speeches to her, so that those who saw him come so
+      often to the house might think that it was for the sake of this damsel and
+      not of herself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The young lord, feeling sure that his own love was returned in equal
+      measure, was wholly obedient to her commands, and for love of her
+      compelled himself to make love to the girl; and she, finding him so
+      handsome and well-spoken, believed his lies more than other truth, and
+      loved him as much as though she herself were greatly loved by him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The mistress finding that matters were thus well advanced, albeit the
+      young lord did not cease to claim her promise, granted him permission to
+      come and see her at one hour after midnight, saying that after having so
+      fully tested the love and obedience he had shown towards her, it was but
+      just that he should be rewarded for his long patience. Of the lover&rsquo;s joy
+      on hearing this you need have no doubt, and he failed not to arrive at the
+      appointed time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But the lady, still wishing to try the strength of his love, had said to
+      her beautiful damsel&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am well aware of the love a certain nobleman bears to you, and I think
+      you are no less in love with him; and I feel so much pity for you both,
+      that I have resolved to afford you time and place that you may converse
+      together at your ease.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The damsel was so enchanted that she could not conceal her longings, but
+      answered that she would not fail to be present.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In obedience, therefore, to her mistress&rsquo;s counsel and command, she
+      undressed herself and lay down on a handsome bed, in a room the door of
+      which the lady left half-open, whilst within she set a light so that the
+      maiden&rsquo;s beauty might be clearly seen. Then she herself pretended to go
+      away, but hid herself near to the bed so carefully that she could not be
+      seen.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Her poor lover, thinking to find her according to her promise, failed not
+      to enter the room as softly as he could, at the appointed hour; and after
+      he had shut the door and put off his garments and fur shoes, he got into
+      the bed, where he looked to find what he desired. But no sooner did he put
+      out his arms to embrace her whom he believed to be his mistress, than the
+      poor girl, believing him entirely her own, had her arms round his neck,
+      speaking to him the while in such loving words and with so beautiful a
+      countenance, that there is not a hermit so holy but he would have
+      forgotten his beads for love of her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But when the gentleman recognised her with both eye and ear, and found he
+      was not with her for whose sake he had so greatly suffered, the love that
+      had made him get so quickly into the bed, made him rise from it still more
+      quickly. And in anger equally with mistress and damsel, he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Neither your folly nor the malice of her who put you there can make me
+      other than I am. But do you try to be an honest woman, for you shall never
+      lose that good name through me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So saying he rushed out of the room in the greatest wrath imaginable, and
+      it was long before he returned to see his mistress. However love, which is
+      never without hope, assured him that the greater and more manifest his
+      constancy was proved to be by all these trials, the longer and more
+      delightful would be his bliss.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady, who had seen and heard all that passed, was so delighted and
+      amazed at beholding the depth and constancy of his love, that she was
+      impatient to see him again in order to ask his forgiveness for the sorrow
+      that she had caused him to endure. And as soon as she could meet with him,
+      she failed not to address him in such excellent and pleasant words, that
+      he not only forgot all his troubles but even deemed them very fortunate,
+      seeing that their issue was to the glory of his constancy and the perfect
+      assurance of his love, the fruit of which he enjoyed from that time forth
+      as fully as he could desire, without either hindrance or vexation. (3)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  In reference to this story, Montaigne says in his Essay
+     on Cruelty: &ldquo;Such as have sensuality to encounter, willingly
+     make use of this argument, that when it is at the height it
+     subjects us to that degree that a man&rsquo;s reason can have no
+     access... wherein they conceive that the pleasure doth so
+     transport us that our reason cannot perform its office
+     whilst we are so benumbed and extacied in delight.... But I
+     know that a man may triumph over the utmost effort of this
+     pleasure: I have experienced it in myself, and have not
+     found Venus so imperious a goddess as many&mdash;and some more
+     reformed than I&mdash;declare. I do not consider it as a miracle,
+     as the Queen of Navarre does in one of the Tales of her
+     <i>Heptameron</i> (which is a marvellous pretty book of the
+     kind), nor for a thing of extreme difficulty to pass over
+     whole nights, where a man has all the convenience and
+     liberty he can desire, with a long-coveted mistress, and yet
+     be just to his faith first given to satisfy himself with
+     kisses and innocent embraces only, without pressing any
+     further.&rdquo;&mdash;Cotton&rsquo;s &ldquo;Montaigne&rsquo;s Essays&rdquo;, London, 1743, vol
+     ii. pp. 109-10.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you, ladies, find me if you can a woman who has ever shown herself
+      as constant, patient and true as was this man. They who have experienced
+      the like temptations deem those in the pictures of Saint Antony very small
+      in comparison; for one who can remain chaste and patient in spite of
+      beauty, love, opportunity and leisure, will have virtue enough to vanquish
+      every devil.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Tis a pity,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;that he did not address his love to a woman
+      possessing as much virtue as he possessed himself. Their amour would then
+      have been the most perfect and honourable that was ever heard of.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But prithee tell me,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;which of the two trials do you deem
+      the harder?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think the last,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;for resentment is the strongest of
+      all temptations.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Longarine said she thought that the first was the most arduous to sustain,
+      since to keep his promise it was needful he should subdue both love and
+      himself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is all very well for you to talk,&rdquo; said Simontault, &ldquo;it is for us who
+      know the truth of the matter to say what we think of it. For my own part,
+      I think he was stupid the first time and witless the second; for I make no
+      doubt that, while he was keeping his promise, to his mistress, she was put
+      to as much trouble as himself, if not more. She had him take the oath only
+      in order to make herself out a more virtuous woman than she really was;
+      she must have well known that strong love will not be bound by commandment
+      or oath, or aught else on earth, and she simply sought to give a show of
+      virtue to her vice, as though she could be won only through heroic
+      virtues. And the second time he was witless to leave a woman who loved
+      him, and who was worth more than his pledged mistress, especially when his
+      displeasure at the trick played upon him had been a sound excuse.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Here Dagoucin put in that he was of the contrary opinion, and held that
+      the gentleman had on the first occasion shown himself constant, patient
+      and true, and on the second occasion loyal and perfect in his love.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And how can we tell,&rdquo; asked Saffredent, &ldquo;that he was not one of those
+      that a certain chapter calls <i>de frigidis et malificiatis?</i>&rdquo; (4)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     4  This is an allusion to the penalties pronounced by
+     several ecclesiastical Councils, and specified in the
+     Capitularies, against those who endeavoured to suspend the
+     procreative faculties of their enemies by resorting to
+     magic. On this matter Baluze&rsquo;s collection of Capitularies
+     (vol. i.) may be consulted. The &ldquo;chapter&rdquo; referred to by
+     Margaret is evidently chapter xv. (book vi.) of the
+     Decretals of Pope Boniface VIII., which bears the title of
+     <i>De frigidis et maleficiatis</i>, and which is alluded to by
+     Rabelais in <i>Pantagruel</i>. The belief in the practices in
+     question dates back to ancient times, and was shared by
+     Plato and Pliny, the latter of whom says that to guard
+     against any spell of the kind some wolf fat should be rubbed
+     upon the threshold and door jambs of one&rsquo;s bed-chamber. In
+     the sixteenth century sorcery of this description was so
+     generally believed in, in some parts of France, that
+     Cardinal du Perron inserted special prayers against it in
+     the ritual. Some particulars on the subject will be found in
+     the <i>Admirables Secrets du Petit Albert</i>, and also in a
+     <i>Traité d&rsquo;Enchantement</i>, published at La Rochelle in 1591,
+     which gives details concerning certain practices alleged to
+     take place on the solemnisation of marriage among those of
+     the Reformed Church.&mdash;D. and L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To complete his eulogy, Hircan ought to have told us how he comported
+      himself when he obtained what he wanted, and then we should have been able
+      to judge whether it was virtue or impotence that made him observe so much
+      discretion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may be sure,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;that had he told me this I should have
+      concealed it as little as I did the rest. Nevertheless, from seeing his
+      person and knowing his temper, I shall ever hold that his conduct was due
+      to the power of love rather than to any impotence or coldness.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, if he was such as you say,&rdquo; said Simontault, &ldquo;he ought to have
+      broken his oath; for, had the lady been angered by such a trifle, it would
+      have been easy to appease her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;perhaps she would not then have consented.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And pray,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;would it not have been easy enough to compel
+      her, since she had herself given him the opportunity?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By Our Lady!&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;how you run on! Is that the way to win the
+      favour of a lady who is accounted virtuous and discreet?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In my opinion,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;the highest honour that can be paid to
+      a woman from whom such things are desired is to take her by force, for
+      there is not the pettiest damsel among them but seeks to be long
+      entreated. Some indeed there are who must receive many gifts before they
+      are won, whilst there are others so stupid that hardly any device or craft
+      can enable one to win them, and with these one must needs be ever thinking
+      of some means or other. But when you have to do with a woman who is too
+      clever to be deceived, and too virtuous to be gained by words or gifts, is
+      there not good reason to employ any means whatever that may be at your
+      disposal to vanquish her? When you hear it said that a man has taken a
+      woman by force, you may be sure that the woman has left him hopeless of
+      any other means succeeding, and you should not think any the worse of a
+      man who has risked his life in order to give scope to his love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Geburon burst out laughing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In my day,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I have seen besieged places stormed because it was
+      impossible to bring the garrison to a parley either by money or by
+      threats; &lsquo;tis said that a place which begins to treat is half taken.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may think,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;that every love on earth is based upon
+      such follies as these, but there are those who have loved, and who have
+      long persevered in their love, with very different aims.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you know a story of that kind,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;I will give place to you
+      for the telling of it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do know one,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;and I will very willingly relate it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0037" id="linkimage-0037">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/216.jpg" width="100%" alt="216.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_APPE" id="link2H_APPE">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      APPENDIX.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      A. (Tale VIII., Page i.)
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Tales of a similar character to this will be found in the following works
+      written prior to Margaret&rsquo;s time:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Legrand d&rsquo;Aussy&rsquo;s collection of <i>Fabliaux ou Contes du XIIème et XIIIème
+      siècles</i> (vol. iii.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Boccaccio&rsquo;s <i>Decameron</i> (day viii., story iv.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Enguerrand d&rsquo;Oisy&rsquo;s <i>Le Meunier d&rsquo;Aleu</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Poggio&rsquo;s <i>Facetio ( Vir sibi cornua promovens)</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Sacchetti&rsquo;s <i>Novelle</i> (vol. ii., No. ccvi.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Morlini&rsquo;s <i>Novelle</i> (No. lxxix.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <i>Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles</i> (story ix.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Malespini&rsquo;s <i>Ducento Novelle</i> (part ii., No. xcvi.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Of the foregoing, says M. de Montaiglon, Margaret could only have been
+      acquainted with the <i>Decameron</i>, the <i>Cent Nouvelles</i>, and
+      Poggio&rsquo;s <i>Facetio</i>, which had been translated into French by Tardix
+      (see Nos. cv. and ex. of that translation).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A similar story in Latin verse is also contained in a fourteenth century
+      MS. at Monte Cassino. See <i>I codici e le arti a Monte Cassino</i>, by D.
+      Andrea Caravita (vol. ii. p. 289).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Since Margaret&rsquo;s time stories of the same character have appeared in the
+      following works:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Melander&rsquo;s <i>Jocondia</i> (p. 298).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Phil. Béroalde&rsquo;s <i>Contes Latins</i> (see <i>Poggii Imitationes</i>,
+      Noel&rsquo;s éd., vol. ii. p. 245).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Guicciardini&rsquo;s <i>Hore di Recreazione</i> (p. 103).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      J. Bouchet&rsquo;s <i>Serées</i> (No. 8; Roybet&rsquo;s éd., vol. ii. p. 115).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Gabrielle Chapuys&rsquo; <i>Facétieuses Journées</i> (p. 213).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      La Fontaine&rsquo;s <i>Contes</i> (book v., No. viii.:<i> Les Quiproquo</i>). <i>Le
+      Passe-Temps Agréable</i> (p. 27).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Moreover, a song written on the same subject will be found, says M. de
+      Lincy, on folio 44 of the <i>Premier Recueil de toutes les chansons
+      nouvelles</i> (Troyes, Nicholas du Ruau, 1590). It is there called &ldquo;The
+      facetious and recreative story of a certain labourer of a village near
+      Paris, who, thinking that he was enjoying his servant, lay with his wife.&rdquo;
+       This song was reprinted in various other collections of the sixteenth and
+      seventeenth centuries.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      B (Tale XL (B.), Page 95.)
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      An anecdote in keeping with this story will be found in Brantôme&rsquo;s
+      miscellaneous works (Petitot&rsquo;s éd., vol. viii. pp. 382-4). The author of
+      <i>Les Dames Galantes</i>, after alluding to his aunt Louise de Bourdeille&mdash;who
+      was brought up at Court by Anne of Brittany&mdash;proceeds to say:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A certain Grey Friar, who habitually preached before the Queen, fell so
+      deeply in love with Mademoiselle de Bourdeille that he completely lost his
+      wits, and sometimes in his sermons, whilst speaking of the beauty of the
+      holy virgins of past times, he would so forget himself as to say some
+      words respecting the beauty of my said aunt, not to mention the soft
+      glances which he cast at her. And sometimes, whilst in the Queen&rsquo;s room,
+      he would take great pleasure in discoursing to her, not with words of love
+      however, for he would have incurred a whipping, but with other covert
+      words which tended towards love. My aunt in no wise approved of his
+      discourses, and made some mention of them to her own and her companions&rsquo;
+      governess. The Queen heard of the matter and could not believe it, on
+      account of this man&rsquo;s cloth and holiness. For this reason she kept silent
+      until a certain Good Friday, when, in accordance with custom, this friar
+      preached before her on the Holy Passion. The ladies and the maids,
+      including my aunt, being seated as was their wont before the reverend
+      father, in full view of him, he, as though giving out the text and introit
+      of his sermon, began to say: &lsquo;It is for you, lovely humanity, it is for
+      you that I suffer this day. Thus on a certain occasion spake our Lord
+      Jesus Christ.&rsquo; Then proceeding with his sermon the friar chronicled all
+      the sufferings and afflictions which Jesus endured for mankind at His
+      death upon the Cross, and these he compared to the sufferings that he
+      himself endured on account of my aunt; but in such covert, such disguised
+      words that even the most enlightened might have failed to understand their
+      meaning. Queen Anne, however, who was very expert both in mind and
+      judgment, laid hold of this, and took counsel as to the real meaning of
+      the sermon, both with certain lords and ladies and certain learned men who
+      were there present. They all pronounced the sermon to be most scandalous,
+      and the Grey Friar most deserving of punishment; for which reason he was
+      secretly chastised and whipped, and then driven away, without any scandal
+      being made. Such was the Queen&rsquo;s reply to the amours of this Grey Friar;
+      and thus was my aunt well avenged on him for the way in which he had so
+      often importuned her. In those times it was not allowable, under divers
+      penalties, either to contradict or to refuse to speak to such people, who,
+      so it was thought, conversed only of God and the salvation of the soul.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In Mérimée&rsquo;s Chronique de Charles IX., there will be found a facetious
+      sermon by another Grey Friar; this, however, is less in keeping with the
+      <i>Heptameron</i>, than with the character of the discourses delivered by
+      the preachers of the League.&mdash;M.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      C. (Tale XII., Page 101.)
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      The following account of the assassination of Alexander de&rsquo; Medici is
+      taken from Sismondi&rsquo;s <i>Histoire des Républiques Italiennes du Moyen Age</i>,
+      Paris, 1826, vol. xvi. p. 95 et seq.:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But few months had elapsed since Alexander&rsquo;s marriage, and he had
+      employed them in his wonted debauchery, carrying depravity and dishonour
+      alternately into the convents and noblest abodes of Florence, when, on
+      January 6, 1537, he was assassinated by the man whom, of all men, he the
+      least mistrusted. This was his cousin, Lorenzino de&rsquo; Medici.... Lorenzino
+      had already helped Alexander to seduce several women of noble birth; and
+      to facilitate his assignations had often lent him his house, which
+      adjoined the ducal residence in the Via Larga. He engaged to bring the
+      Duke the wife of Leonardo Ginori&mdash;sister to his own mother, but much
+      younger than she was. Alexander had long been struck with this lady&rsquo;s
+      beauty, but so far she had virtuously repulsed him. After supper, however,
+      on the day of the feast of the Epiphany, when the Carnival begins,
+      Lorenzino informed the Duke that if he would repair to his house,
+      unaccompanied and observing the greatest secrecy, he would find Catherine
+      Ginori there. Alexander accepted the assignation, dismissed all his
+      guards, rid himself of all those who wished to keep a watch upon him, and
+      entered Lorenzino&rsquo;s house without being perceived. He was tired and wished
+      to rest awhile, but before throwing himself on the bed he unbuckled his
+      sword, and Lorenzino, on taking it from him to hang it at the head of the
+      bedstead, wound the belt around the hilt in such a fashion that the weapon
+      could not be easily drawn from its scabbard. After telling the Duke to
+      rest whilst he went to fetch his aunt, he went away, locking the door of
+      the room behind him; but returned shortly afterwards with a spadassin,
+      nicknamed Scoronconcolo, whom he had previously engaged, for the purpose,
+      he said, of ridding him of a great personage of the Court whose name he
+      had prudently not given. In fact Lorenzino had carried his design to the
+      very point of execution without taking a single person into his
+      confidence. On returning into the room, followed by Scoronconcolo, he
+      called to the Duke: &lsquo;Are you asleep, my lord?&rsquo; and at the same moment
+      transpierced him with a short sword which he was carrying. Alexander,
+      although mortally wounded, tried to resist his murderer, whereupon
+      Lorenzino, to prevent him from crying out, thrust two of his fingers into
+      his mouth, at the same time exclaiming: &lsquo;Be not afraid, my lord.&rsquo;
+      Alexander, it appears, bit his assailant&rsquo;s fingers with all the strength
+      of his jaws, and holding him in a tight embrace, rolled with him about the
+      bed, so that Scoronconcolo was unable to strike the one without striking
+      the other. He endeavoured to get at the Duke from between Lorenzino&rsquo;s
+      legs, but only succeeded in piercing the mattress, till at last he
+      remembered that he had a knife about him, and drove it into the Duke&rsquo;s
+      throat, turning it round and round until he eventually killed him. (1)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  Bened. Varchi, lib. xv.; Bern. Segni, 1. vii.; Filippo de
+     Nerli, 1. xii.; Gio. Batt. Adriani, 1. i.; Scipione
+     Ammirato, 1. xxxi.; Pauli Jovii. Hist. 1. xxxviii.; Istorie
+     di Marco Guazzo, fol. 159.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lorenzino failed to reap the fruits of the crime, which he had planned
+      with so much skill and such profound secrecy. By the life he had led, he
+      had aroused the distrust of all honest folks, he had no friends to whom he
+      could apply for advice or help, he had no party behind him, he had never
+      been known to display that zeal for liberty which he subsequently
+      affected. Although he was the first of the Medici in the order of
+      succession, no one thought of him. For his own part, he only thought of
+      ensuring his safety. He locked the door of the room, taking the key away
+      with him, and having obtained an order for the city gates to be opened,
+      and for post-horses to be provided for him, under pretence that he had
+      just learned that his brother was ill, in the country, he started for
+      Bologna, whence he proceeded to Venice, accompanied by Scoronconcolo.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      D. (Tale XVI., Page 183.)
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      With reference to this story Brantôme writes as follows in the Sixth
+      Discourse of his <i>Vies des Dames Galantes</i>:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In the hundred stories of Queen Margaret of Navarre we have a very fine
+      tale of that lady of Milan who, having one night given an assignation to
+      the late M. de Bonnivet, afterwards Admiral of France, posted her maids
+      with drawn swords on the stairs so that they might make a noise there;
+      which they did right well, in obedience to the orders of their mistress,
+      who for her part feigned great affright, saying that her brothers-in-law
+      must have remarked something amiss, that she herself was lost, and that
+      he, Bonnivet, ought to hide under the bed or behind the hangings. But M.
+      de Bonnivet, without evincing any fear, wrapped his cape round his arm,
+      and taking his sword replied: &lsquo;Well, where are these brave brothers who
+      want to frighten me, or do me harm? When they see me they will not even
+      dare to look at the point of my sword.&rsquo; Then opening the door he rushed
+      out, and just as he was about to charge down the staircase he espied the
+      women making all this noise; and they, taking fright at sight of him,
+      began to cry out and confess everything. M. de Bonnivet, seeing that it
+      was nothing more serious, left them, bidding them betake themselves to the
+      devil; and then, returning into the room, he closed the door after him and
+      went to find his lady, who began to laugh and embrace him, and confess to
+      him that it was a trick devised by herself, assuring him that if he had
+      behaved as a poltroon, and had not thus displayed the valour which he was
+      said to possess, he should never have had her favours.... She was one of
+      the most beautiful women of Milan, and he had had a deal of trouble to win
+      her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I knew a brave gentleman who, one day at Rome, was alone with a pretty
+      Roman lady&mdash;her husband being away&mdash;and she gave him a similar
+      alarm, causing one of her women to come in hastily to warn her that her
+      husband had returned from the country. The lady, feigning astonishment,
+      begged the gentleman to hide himself in a closet, as otherwise she would
+      be lost. &lsquo;No, no,&rsquo; said the gentleman; &lsquo;I would not do that for all the
+      wealth in the world; if he comes I will kill him.&rsquo; And as he seized upon
+      his sword the lady began to laugh and confess that she had contrived this
+      to try him so as to see how he would act, and if he would defend her well
+      should her husband seek to do her any harm.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I also knew a very beautiful lady who suddenly left a lover she had,
+      because she did not find him brave, and took another who did not resemble
+      him, but who was extremely feared and redoubted on account of his sword,
+      he being one of the best swordsmen that could then be found.&rdquo;&mdash;Lalanne&rsquo;s
+      <i>OEuvres de Brantôme</i>, vol. ix. pp. 388-90.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      E. (Tale XVII., Page 195.)
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Brantome, in the Thirtieth Discourse of his <i>Capitaines Étrangers</i>,
+      writes of Furstemberg as follows:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Count William von Furstemberg was accounted a good and valiant captain,
+      and would have been more highly esteemed had he not been deficient in
+      faith, over greedy and too much addicted to pillage, as he showed once in
+      France, when he passed along with his troops; for after his passage there
+      was nothing left. He served King Francis for the space of six or seven
+      years [not more than six.&mdash;Ed.] with some five companies always
+      numbering from six to seven thousand men; however, after this long term of
+      services, or rather ravages and pillage, he was suspected of having
+      designs against the King&rsquo;s person, as I have elsewhere related, and those
+      who would learn more of the matter will find the story in the hundred
+      tales of Queen Margaret of Navarre, wherein the valour, generosity and
+      magnanimity of that great King are clearly shown. The other, in great
+      fear, left his service and entered that of the Emperor (Charles V.). If he
+      had not been related to Madame la Régente (Louise of Savoy), through the
+      House of Saxony, whence sprang that of Savoy, he would possibly have met
+      with the fate he merited, had the King been minded to it; but on this
+      occasion the King wished to show his magnanimity rather than have him put
+      to death by the officers of justice. Again the King pardoned him when, on
+      the arrival of the Emperor at St. Dizier in Champagne, he was taken,
+      sounding the river Marne, (2) which he had on other occasions well
+      reconnoitred, in coming to or on leaving France with his troops. He was on
+      this occasion merely sent to the Bastille, and got quit for a ransom of
+      30,000 crowns. Some great captains said and opined that he ought not to
+      have been thus treated as a prisoner of war but as a real vile spy, for he
+      had professedly acted as such; and they said, moreover, that he got off
+      too cheaply at such a ransom, which did not represent the smallest of the
+      larcenies that he had perpetrated in France.&rdquo;&mdash;Lalanne&rsquo;s <i>OEuvres
+      de Brantôme</i>, vol. i. pp. 349-50.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Prior to this affair Furstemberg apparently showed some regret for his
+      earlier schemes against Francis I., for Queen Margaret, writing to her
+      brother in 1536, remarked:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Count William has asked me to write and tell you that there is a great
+      difference between the shameful purgatory of Italy and the glorious
+      paradise of this camp, (3) and he spoke to me of his past misdeeds, which
+      I would rather he should speak of to you,&rdquo; &amp;c.&mdash;Génin&rsquo;s <i>Lettres
+      de Marguerite</i>, p. 321.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2  This occurred in September 1544. From an unpublished MS.
+     in the public library at Rheims it appears that Furstemberg
+     was wearing a disguise when captured. The Emperor had sent
+     him forward expressly to sound the river. Another
+     unpublished MS. at the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (<i>anc.
+     fol.</i> 8561. f. 22), gives some particulars of his operations
+     about this time.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     3  That of Avignon. See vol. i. p. liv.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In a poetic epistle sent by Margaret to Francis I. in January 1543, to
+      celebrate the New Year, there is an allusion to a &ldquo;Conte Guillaume,&rdquo; whom
+      Messrs. de Lincy and Montaiglon conjecture to be Furstemberg, though other
+      commentators think that the Queen refers to William Poyet, the dishonest
+      chancellor, who was sent to the Bastille in 1542 for peculation. We share,
+      however, the opinion of Messrs. de Lincy and Montaiglon, as in various
+      contemporary MSS. which we have referred to, we have frequently found
+      Furstemberg alluded to as &ldquo;Conte&rdquo; and &ldquo;Comte Guillaume,&rdquo; without any
+      mention of his surname. The passage in Margaret&rsquo;s epistle alluded to above
+      may be thus rendered in prose:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;God, fighting for the King in every spot, curses his enemies and brings
+      them to shame and ruin, so that none hold them of account; as witness
+      &lsquo;Compte [&ldquo;Conte&rdquo; in the MS.] Guillaume,&rsquo; who, in serving the King and the
+      kingdom, became rich, feared and highly esteemed. Now, however, a
+      fugitive, poor and contemned, he may well meditate as to whence came his
+      honours, who it was that maintained him wealthy, happy and feared; and
+      thus it is that all the King&rsquo;s enemies are cursed by God in Paradise.&rdquo;&mdash;<i>Les
+      Marguerites de la Marguerite</i>, 1873, vol. ii. p. 203.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Apropos of Furstemberg the following entry occurs in M. de Laborde&rsquo;s <i>Comptes
+      des Bâtiments du Roi</i> (vol. ii. p. 229):&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Paid to Francis de Cadenet, doctor to Count William of Furstemberg, as a
+      gift and favour for his services, 30 crowns, value 67 livres 10 sols.&rdquo;&mdash;L.,
+      M. and Ed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      END OF VOL. II. <br />
+    </p>
+     <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto" cellpadding="4" border="3">
+      <tbody>
+        <tr>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17701/17701-h/17701-h.htm">Volume
+            I.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17703/17703-h/17703-h.htm">Volume
+            III.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17704/17704-h/17704-h.htm">Volume
+            IV.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17705/17705-h/17705-h.htm">Volume
+            V.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+        </tr>
+      </tbody>
+    </table>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II.
+(of V.), by Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
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+  </body>
+</html>
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@@ -0,0 +1,5868 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II. (of
+V.), by Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II. (of V.)
+
+Author: Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
+
+Illustrator: Freudenberg and Dunker
+
+Translator: George Saintsbury: From The Authentic Text
+Of M. Le Roux De Lincy With An Essay Upon The Heptameron by the Translator
+
+Release Date: February 7, 2006 [EBook #17702]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALES OF THE HEPTAMERON ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE TALES OF
+
+THE HEPTAMERON
+
+OF
+
+Margaret, Queen of Navarre
+
+_Newly Translated into English from the Authentic Text_
+
+OF M. LE ROUX DE LINCY WITH
+
+AN ESSAY UPON THE HEPTAMERON
+
+BY
+
+GEORGE SAINTSBURY, M.A.
+
+Also the Original Seventy-three Full Page Engravings
+
+
+
+Designed by S. FREUDENBERG
+
+And One Hundred and Fifty Head and Tail Pieces
+
+By DUNKER
+
+_IN FIVE VOLUMES_
+
+VOLUME THE SECOND
+
+LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY OF ENGLISH BIBLIOPHILISTS
+
+MDCCCXCIV
+
+
+[Illustration: Frontispiece]
+
+[Margaret, Queen of Navarre, from a crayon drawing by Clouet, preserved
+at the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris]
+
+[Illustration: Titlepage]
+
+
+
+CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.
+
+
+FIRST DAY--Continued.
+
+Tale VIII. The misadventure of Bornet, who, planning with a friend of
+his that both should lie with a serving-woman, discovers too late that
+they have had to do with his own wife.
+
+Tale IX. The evil fortune of a gentleman of Dauphine, who dies of
+despair because he cannot marry a damsel nobler and richer than himself.
+
+Tale X. The Spanish story of Florida, who, after withstanding the love
+of a gentleman named Amadour for many years, eventually becomes a nun.
+
+
+_SECOND DAY_.
+
+Prologue
+
+Tale XI. (A). Mishap of the Lady de Roncex in the Grey Friars' Convent
+at Thouars.
+
+Tale XI. (B). Facetious discourse of a Friar of Touraine.
+
+Tale XII. Story of Alexander de' Medici, Duke of Florence, whom his
+cousin, Lorenzino de' Medici, slew in order to save his sister's honour.
+
+Tale XIII. Praiseworthy artifice of a lady to whom a sea Captain sent
+a letter and diamond ring, and who, by forwarding them to the Captain's
+wife as though they had been intended for her, united husband and wife
+once more in all affection.
+
+Tale XIV. The Lord of Bonnivet, after furthering the love entertained
+by an Italian gentleman for a lady of Milan, finds means to take
+the other's place and so supplant him with the lady who had formerly
+rejected himself.
+
+Tale XV. The troubles and evil fortune of a virtuous lady who, after
+being long neglected by her husband, becomes the object of his jealousy.
+
+Tale XVI. Story of a Milanese Countess, who, after long rejecting the
+love of a French gentleman, rewards him at last for his faithfulness,
+but not until she has put his courage to the proof.
+
+Tale XVII. The noble manner in which King Francis the First shows Count
+William of Furstemberg that he knows of the plans laid by him against
+his life, and so compels him to do justice upon himself and to leave
+France.
+
+XVIII. A young gentleman scholar at last wins a lady's love, after
+enduring successfully two trials that she had made of him.
+
+
+Appendix to Vol. II
+
+
+
+
+PAGE ENGRAVINGS CONTAINED IN VOLUME II.
+
+
+Tale VIII. Bornet's Concern on discovering that his Wife is without her
+Ring.
+
+Tale IX. The Dying Gentleman receiving the Embraces of his Sweetheart.
+
+Tale X. The Countess asking an Explanation from Amadour.
+
+Tale XI. (B). The Grey Friar telling his Tales.
+
+Tale XII. The Gentleman killing the Duke.
+
+Tale XIII. The Sea-captain talking to the Lady.
+
+Tale XIV. Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan.
+
+Tale XV. The Lady taking Oath as to her Conduct.
+
+Tale XVI. The Gentleman discovering the Trick.
+
+Tale XVII. The King showing his Sword.
+
+Tale XVIII. The Student escaping the Temptation.
+
+
+[Illustration: 001a.jpg Bornet's Concern on discovering that his Wife is
+without her Ring]
+
+[Bornet's Concern on discovering that his Wife is without her Ring]
+
+[Illustration: 001.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE VIII_.
+
+     _A certain Bornet, less loyal to his wife than she to him,
+     desired to lie with his maidservant, and made his enterprise
+     known to a friend, who, hoping to share in the spoil, so
+     aided and abetted him, that whilst the husband thought to
+     lie with his servant he in truth lay with his wife. Unknown
+     to the latter, he then caused his friend to participate in
+     the pleasure which rightly belonged to himself alone, and
+     thus made himself a cuckold without there being any guilt on
+     the part of his wife._ (1)
+
+In the county of Alletz (2) there lived a man named Bornet, who being
+married to an upright and virtuous wife, had great regard for her honour
+and reputation, as I believe is the case with all the husbands here
+present in respect to their own wives. But although he desired that she
+should be true to him, he was not willing that the same law should apply
+to both, for he fell in love with his maid-servant, from whom he had
+nothing to gain save the pleasure afforded by a diversity of viands.
+
+     1  For a list of tales similar to this one, see _post_,
+     Appendix A.
+
+     2  Alletz, now Alais, a town of Lower Languedoc (department
+     of the Gard), lies on the Gardon, at the foot of the
+     Cevennes mountains. It was formerly a county, the title
+     having been held by Charles, Duke of Angouleme, natural son
+     of Charles IX.--M.
+
+Now he had a neighbour of the same condition as his own, named Sandras,
+a tabourer (3) and tailor by trade, and there was such friendship
+between them that, excepting Bornet's wife, they had all things in
+common. It thus happened that Bornet told his friend of the enterprise
+he had in hand against the maid-servant; and Sandras not only
+approved of it, but gave all the assistance he could to further its
+accomplishment, hoping that he himself might share in the spoil.
+
+     3 Tabourers are still to be found in some towns of Lower
+     Languedoc and in most of those of Provence, where they
+     perambulate the streets playing their instruments. They are
+     in great request at all the country weddings and other
+     festive gatherings, as their instruments supply the
+     necessary accompaniment to the ancient Provencal dance, the
+     _farandole_.--Ed.
+
+The maid-servant, however, was loth to consent, and finding herself hard
+pressed, she went to her mistress, told her of the matter, and begged
+leave to go home to her kinsfolk, since she could no longer endure to
+live in such torment. Her mistress, who had great love for her husband
+and had often suspected him, was well pleased to have him thus at a
+disadvantage, and to be able to show that she had doubted him justly.
+Accordingly, she said to the servant--
+
+"Remain, my girl, but lead my husband on by degrees, and at last make an
+appointment to lie with him in my closet. Do not fail to tell me on what
+night he is to come, and see that no one knows anything about it."
+
+The maid-servant did all that her mistress had commanded her, and her
+master in great content went to tell the good news to his friend. The
+latter then begged that, since he had been concerned in the business,
+he might have part in the result. This was promised him, and, when the
+appointed hour was come, the master went to lie, as he thought, with the
+maid-servant; but his wife, yielding up the authority of commanding for
+the pleasure of obeying, had put herself in the servant's place, and she
+received him, not in the manner of a wife, but after the fashion of
+a frightened maid. This she did so well that her husband suspected
+nothing.
+
+I cannot tell you which of the two was the better pleased, he at the
+thought that he was deceiving his wife, or she at really deceiving her
+husband. When he had remained with her, not as long as he wished, but
+according to his powers, which were those of a man who had long been
+married, he went out of doors, found his friend, who was much younger
+and lustier than himself, and told him gleefully that he had never met
+with better fortune. "You know what you promised me," said his friend to
+him.
+
+"Go quickly then," replied the husband, "for she may get up, or my wife
+have need of her."
+
+The friend went off and found the supposed maid-servant, who, thinking
+her husband had returned, denied him nothing that he asked of her, or
+rather took, for he durst not speak. He remained with her much longer
+than her husband had done, whereat she was greatly astonished, for she
+had not been wont to pass such nights. Nevertheless, she endured it all
+with patience, comforting herself with the thought of what she would say
+to him on the morrow, and of the ridicule that she would cast upon him.
+
+Towards daybreak the man rose from beside her, and toying with her as he
+was going away, snatched from her finger the ring with which her husband
+had espoused her, and which the women of that part of the country guard
+with great superstition. She who keeps it till her death is held in high
+honour, while she who chances to lose it, is thought lightly of as a
+person who has given her faith to some other than her husband.
+
+The wife, however, was very glad to have it taken, thinking it would
+be a sure proof of how she had deceived her husband. When the friend
+returned, the husband asked him how he had fared. He replied that he was
+of the same opinion as himself, and that he would have remained longer
+had he not feared to be surprised by daybreak. Then they both went to
+the friend's house to take as long a rest as they could. In the morning,
+while they were dressing, the husband perceived the ring that his friend
+had on his finger, and saw that it was exactly like the one he had given
+to his wife at their marriage. He thereupon asked his friend from whom
+he had received the ring, and when he heard he had snatched it from the
+servant's finger, he was confounded and began to strike his head against
+the wall, saying--"Ah! good Lord! have I made myself a cuckold without
+my wife knowing anything about it?"
+
+"Perhaps," said his friend in order to comfort him, "your wife gives her
+ring into the maid's keeping at night-time."
+
+The husband made no reply, but took himself home, where he found his
+wife fairer, more gaily dressed, and merrier than usual, like one who
+rejoiced at having saved her maid's conscience, and tested her husband
+to the full, at no greater cost than a night's sleep. Seeing her so
+cheerful, the husband said to himself--
+
+"If she knew of my adventure she would not show me such a pleasant
+countenance."
+
+Then, whilst speaking to her of various matters, he took her by the
+hand, and on noticing that she no longer wore the ring, which she had
+never been accustomed to remove from her finger, he was quite overcome.
+
+"What have you done with your ring?" he asked her in a trembling voice.
+
+She, well pleased that he gave her an opportunity to say what she
+desired, replied--
+
+"O wickedest of men! From whom do you imagine you took it? You thought
+it was from my maid-servant, for love of whom you expended more than
+twice as much of your substance as you ever did for me. The first time
+you came to bed I thought you as much in love as it was possible to be;
+but after you had gone out and were come back again, you seemed to be
+a very devil. Wretch! think how blind you must have been to bestow such
+praises on my person and lustiness, which you have long enjoyed
+without holding them in any great esteem. 'Twas, therefore, not the
+maid-servant's beauty that made the pleasure so delightful to you, but
+the grievous sin of lust which so consumes your heart and so clouds
+your reason that in the frenzy of your love for the servant you would,
+I believe, have taken a she-goat in a nightcap for a comely girl! Now,
+husband, it is time to amend your life, and, knowing me to be your wife,
+and an honest woman, to be as content with me as you were when you took
+me for a pitiful strumpet. What I did was to turn you from your evil
+ways, so that in your old age we might live together in true love and
+repose of conscience. If you purpose to continue your past life, I had
+rather be severed from you than daily see before my eyes the ruin of
+your soul, body, and estate. But if you will acknowledge the evil of
+your ways, and resolve to live in fear of God and obedience to His
+commandments, I will forget all your past sins, as I trust God will
+forget my ingratitude in not loving Him as I ought to do."
+
+If ever man was reduced to despair it was this unhappy husband. Not only
+had he abandoned this sensible, fair, and chaste wife for a woman who
+did not love him, but, worse than this, he had without her knowledge
+made her a strumpet by causing another man to participate in the leasure
+which should have been for himself alone; and thus he had made himself
+horns of everlasting derision. However, seeing his wife in such wrath
+by reason of the love he had borne his maid-servant, he took care not
+to tell her of the evil trick that he had played her; and entreating her
+forgiveness, with promises of full amendment of his former evil life,
+he gave her back the ring which he had recovered from his friend. He
+entreated the latter not to reveal his shame; but, as what is whispered
+in the ear is always proclaimed from the housetop, the truth, after
+a time, became known, and men called him cuckold without imputing any
+shame to his wife.
+
+"It seems to me, ladies, that if all those who have committed like
+offences against their wives were to be punished in the same way, Hircan
+and Saffredent would have great cause for fear."
+
+"Why, Longarine," said Saffredent, "are none in the company married save
+Hircan and I?"
+
+"Yes, indeed there are others," she replied, "but none who would play a
+similar trick."
+
+"Whence did you learn," asked Saffredent, "that we ever solicited our
+wives' maid-servants?"
+
+"If the ladies who are in question," said Longarine, "were willing to
+speak the truth, we should certainly hear of maid-servants dismissed
+without notice."
+
+"Truly," said Geburon, "you are a most worthy lady! You promised to make
+the company laugh, and yet are angering these two poor gentlemen."
+
+"Tis all one," said Longarine: "so long as they do not draw their
+swords, their anger will only serve to increase our laughter."
+
+"A pretty business indeed!" said Hircan. "Why, if our wives chose to
+believe this lady, she would embroil the seemliest household in the
+company."
+
+"I am well aware before whom I speak," said Longarine. "Your wives are
+so sensible and bear you so much love, that if you were to give them
+horns as big as those of a deer, they would nevertheless try to persuade
+themselves and every one else that they were chaplets of roses."
+
+At this the company, and even those concerned, laughed so heartily that
+their talk came to an end. However, Dagoucin, who had not yet uttered a
+word, could not help saying--
+
+"Men are very unreasonable when, having enough to content themselves
+with at home, they go in search of something else. I have often seen
+people who, not content with sufficiency, have aimed at bettering
+themselves, and have fallen into a worse position than they were in
+before. Such persons receive no pity, for fickleness is always blamed."
+
+"But what say you to those who have not found their other half?" asked
+Simontault. "Do you call it fickleness to seek it wherever it may be
+found?"
+
+"Since it is impossible," said Dagoucin, "for a man to know the
+whereabouts of that other half with whom there would be such perfect
+union that one would not differ from the other, he should remain
+steadfast wherever love has attached him. And whatsoever may happen, he
+should change neither in heart nor in desire. If she whom you love be
+the image of yourself, and there be but one will between you, it is
+yourself you love, and not her."
+
+"Dagoucin," said Hircan, "you are falling into error. You speak as
+though we should love women without being loved in return."
+
+"Hircan," replied Dagoucin, "I hold that if our love be based on the
+beauty, grace, love, and favour of a woman, and our purpose be pleasure,
+honour, or profit, such love cannot long endure; for when the foundation
+on which it rests is gone, the love itself departs from us. But I am
+firmly of opinion that he who loves with no other end or desire than to
+love well, will sooner yield up his soul in death than suffer his great
+love to leave his heart."
+
+"In faith," said Simontault, "I do not believe that you have ever been
+in love. If you had felt the flame like other men, you would not now be
+picturing to us Plato's _Republic_, which may be described in writing
+but not be put into practice."
+
+"Nay, I have been in love," said Dagoucin, "and am so still, and
+shall continue so as long as I live. But I am in such fear lest the
+manifestation of this love should impair its perfection, that I shrink
+from declaring it even to her from whom I would fain have the like
+affection. I dare not even think of it lest my eyes should reveal
+it, for the more I keep my flame secret and hidden, the more does my
+pleasure increase at knowing that my love is perfect."
+
+"For all that," said Geburon, "I believe that you would willingly have
+love in return."
+
+"I do not deny it," said Dagoucin, "but even were I beloved as much as I
+love, my love would not be increased any more than it could be lessened,
+were it not returned with equal warmth."
+
+Upon this Parlamente, who suspected this fantasy of Dagoucin's, said--
+
+"Take care, Dagoucin; I have known others besides you who preferred to
+die rather than speak."
+
+"Such persons, madam;" said Dagoucin, "I deem very happy."
+
+"Doubtless," said Saffredent, "and worthy of a place among the innocents
+of whom the Church sings:
+
+'_Non loquendo sed moriendo confessi sunt_.' (4)
+
+     4  From the ritual for the Feast of the Holy Innocents.--M.
+
+I have heard much of such timid lovers, but I have never yet seen one
+die. And since I myself have escaped death after all the troubles I have
+borne, I do not think that any one can die of love."
+
+"Ah, Saffredent!" said Dagoucin, "how do you expect to be loved since
+those who are of your opinion never die? Yet have I known a goodly
+number who have died of no other ailment than perfect love."
+
+"Since you know such stories," said Longarine, "I give you my vote to
+tell us a pleasant one, which shall be the ninth of to-day."
+
+"To the end," said Dagoucin, "that signs and miracles may lead you to
+put faith in what I have said, I will relate to you something which
+happened less than three years ago."
+
+
+[Illustration: 012.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 013a.jpg The Dying Gentleman receiving the Embraces of
+his Sweetheart]
+
+[The Dying Gentleman receiving the Embraces of his Sweetheart]
+
+[Illustration: 013.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE IX_.
+
+_The perfect love borne by a gentleman to a damsel, being too deeply
+concealed and disregarded, brought about his death, to the great regret
+of his sweetheart_.
+
+Between Dauphine and Provence there lived a gentleman who was far richer
+in virtue, comeliness, and honour than in other possessions, and who was
+greatly in love with a certain damsel. I will not mention her name,
+out of consideration for her kinsfolk, who are of good and illustrious
+descent; but you may rest assured that my story is a true one. As he was
+not of such noble birth as herself, he durst not reveal his affection,
+for the love he bore her was so great and perfect that he would rather
+have died than have desired aught to her dishonour. Seeing that he was
+so greatly beneath her, he had no hope of marrying her; in his love,
+therefore, his only purpose was to love her with all his strength and
+as perfectly as he was able. This he did for so long a time that at last
+she had some knowledge of it; and, seeing that the love he bore her
+was so full of virtue and of good intent, she felt honoured by it, and
+showed him in turn so much favour that he, who sought nothing better
+than this, was well contented.
+
+But malice, which is the enemy of all peace, could not suffer this
+honourable and happy life to last, and certain persons spoke to the
+maiden's mother of their amazement at this gentleman being thought so
+much of in her house. They said that they suspected him of coming there
+more on account of her daughter than of aught else, adding that he
+had often been seen in converse with her. The mother, who doubted the
+gentleman's honour as little as that of any of her own children, was
+much distressed on hearing that his presence was taken in bad part, and,
+dreading lest malicious tongues should cause a scandal, she entreated
+that he would not for some time frequent her house as he had been wont
+to do. He found this hard to bear, for he knew that his honourable
+conversation with her daughter did not deserve such estrangement.
+Nevertheless, in order to silence evil gossip, he withdrew until the
+rumours had ceased; then he returned as before, his absence having in no
+wise lessened his love.
+
+One day, however, whilst he was in the house, he heard some talk of
+marrying the damsel to a gentleman who did not seem to him to be so very
+rich that he should be entitled to take his mistress from him. So he
+began to pluck up courage, and engaged his friends to speak for him,
+believing that, if the choice were left to the damsel, she would prefer
+him to his rival. Nevertheless, the mother and kinsfolk chose the
+other suitor, because he was much richer; whereupon the poor gentleman,
+knowing his sweetheart to be as little pleased as himself, gave way to
+such sorrow, that by degrees, and without any other distemper, he became
+greatly changed, seeming as though he had covered the comeliness of his
+face with the mask of that death, to which hour by hour he was joyously
+hastening.
+
+Meanwhile, he could not refrain from going as often as was possible to
+converse with her whom he so greatly loved. But at last, when strength
+failed him, he was constrained to keep his bed; yet he would not have
+his sweetheart know of this, lest he should cast part of his grief on
+her. And giving himself up to despair and sadness, he was no longer able
+to eat, drink, sleep, or rest, so that it became impossible to recognise
+him by reason of his leanness and strangely altered features.
+
+Some one brought the news of this to his sweetheart's mother, who was
+a lady full of charity, and who had, moreover, such a liking for the
+gentleman, that if all the kinsfolk had been of the same opinion as
+herself and her daughter, his merits would have been preferred to the
+possessions of the other. But the kinsfolk on the father's side would
+not hear of it. However, the lady went with her daughter to see the
+unhappy gentleman, and found him more dead than alive. Perceiving that
+the end of his life was at hand, he had that morning confessed and
+received the Holy Sacrament, thinking to die without seeing anybody
+more. But although he was at death's door, when he saw her who for him
+was the resurrection and the life come in, he felt so strengthened that
+he started up in bed.
+
+"What motive," said he to the lady, "has inclined you to come and see
+one who already has a foot in the grave, and of whose death you are
+yourself the cause?"
+
+"How is it possible," said the lady, "that the death of one whom we
+like so well can be brought about by our fault? Tell me, I pray, why you
+speak in this manner?"
+
+"Madam," he replied, "I concealed my love for your daughter as long as I
+was able; and my kinsfolk, in speaking of a marriage between myself
+and her, made known more than I desired, since I have thereby had the
+misfortune to lose all hope; not, indeed, in regard to my own pleasure,
+but because I know that she will never have such fair treatment and so
+much love from any other as she would have had from me. Her loss of
+the best and most loving friend she has in the world causes me more
+affliction than the loss of my own life, which I desired to preserve for
+her sake only. But since it cannot in any wise be of service to her, the
+loss of it is to me great gain."
+
+Hearing these words, the lady and her daughter sought to comfort him.
+
+"Take courage, my friend," said the mother. "I pledge you my word that,
+if God gives you back your health, my daughter shall have no other
+husband but you. See, she is here present, and I charge her to promise
+you the same."
+
+The daughter, weeping, strove to assure him of what her mother promised.
+He well knew, however, that even if his health were restored he would
+still lose his sweetheart, and that these fair words were only uttered
+in order somewhat to revive him. Accordingly, he told them that had they
+spoken to him thus three months before, he would have been the lustiest
+and happiest gentleman in France; but that their aid came so late, it
+could bring him neither belief nor hope. Then, seeing that they strove
+to make him believe them, he said--
+
+"Well, since, on account of my feeble state, you promise me a blessing
+which, even though you would yourselves have it so, can never be mine, I
+will entreat of you a much smaller one, for which, however, I was never
+yet bold enough to ask."
+
+They immediately vowed that they would grant it, and bade him ask
+boldly.
+
+"I entreat you," he said, "to place in my arms her whom you promise me
+for my wife, and to bid her embrace and kiss me."
+
+The daughter, who was unaccustomed to such familiarity, sought to make
+some difficulty, but her mother straightly commanded her, seeing that
+the gentleman no longer had the feelings or vigour of a living man.
+Being thus commanded, the girl went up to the poor sufferer's bedside,
+saying--
+
+"I pray you, sweetheart, be of good cheer."
+
+Then, as well as he could, the dying man stretched forth his arms,
+wherein flesh and blood alike were lacking, and with all the strength
+remaining in his bones embraced her who was the cause of his death. And
+kissing her with his pale cold lips, he held her thus as long as he was
+able. Then he said to her--
+
+"The love I have borne you has been so great and honourable, that,
+excepting in marriage, I have never desired of you any other favour
+than the one you are granting me now, for lack of which and with which
+I shall cheerfully yield up my spirit to God. He is perfect love and
+charity. He knows the greatness of my love and the purity of my desire,
+and I beseech Him, while I hold my desire within my arms, to receive my
+spirit into His own."
+
+With these words he again took her in his arms, and with such exceeding
+ardour that his enfeebled heart, unable to endure the effort, was
+deprived of all its faculties and life; for joy caused it so to swell
+that the soul was severed from its abode and took flight to its Creator.
+
+And even when the poor body had lain a long time without life, and was
+thus unable to retain its hold, the love which the damsel had always
+concealed was made manifest in such a fashion that her mother and
+the dead man's servants had much ado to separate her from her lover.
+However, the girl, who, though living, was in a worse condition than if
+she had been dead, was by force removed at last out of the gentleman's
+arms. To him they gave honourable burial; and the crowning point of
+the ceremony was the weeping and lamentation of the unhappy damsel,
+who having concealed her love during his lifetime, made it all the more
+manifest after his death, as though she wished to atone for the wrong
+that she had done him. And I have heard that although she was given a
+husband to comfort her, she has never since had joy in her heart. (1)
+
+     1  By an expression made use of by Dagoucin (see _ante_),
+     Queen Margaret gives us to understand that the incidents
+     here related occurred three years prior to the writing of
+     the story. It may be pointed out, however, that there is
+     considerable analogy between the conclusion of this tale and
+     the death of Geffroy Rudel de Blaye, one of the earliest
+     troubadours whose name has been handed down to us. Geffroy,
+     who lived at the close of the twelfth century, became so
+     madly enamoured of the charms of the Countess of Tripoli,
+     after merely hearing an account of her moral and physical
+     perfections, that, although in failing health, he embarked
+     for Africa to see her. On reaching the port of Tripoli, he
+     no longer had sufficient strength to leave the vessel,
+     whereupon the Countess, touched by his love, visited him on
+     board, taking his hand and giving him a kindly greeting.
+     Geffroy could scarcely say a few words of thanks; his
+     emotion was so acute that he died upon the spot. See J. de
+     Nostredame's _Vies des plus Celebres et Anciens Poetes
+     Provencaux_(Lyons, 1575, p. 25); Raynouard's _Choix des
+     Poesies des Troubadours_ (vol. v. p. 165); and also
+     Raynouard's _Histoire Litteraire de la France_ (vol. xiv. p.
+     559).--L.
+
+"What think you of that, gentlemen, you who would not believe what I
+said? Is not this example sufficient to make you confess that perfect
+love, when concealed and disregarded, may bring folks to the grave?
+There is not one among you but knows the kinsfolk on the one and the
+other side, (2) and so you cannot doubt the story, although nobody would
+be disposed to believe it unless he had some experience in the matter."
+
+     2  This certainly points to the conclusion that the tale is
+     founded upon fact, and not, as M. Leroux de Lincy suggests,
+     borrowed from the story of Geffroy Rudel de Blaye. It will
+     have been observed (_ante_) that the Queen of Navarre
+     curiously enough lays the scene of her narrative between
+     Provence and Dauphine. These two provinces bordered upon one
+     another, excepting upon one point where they were separated
+     by the so-called Comtat Venaissin or Papal state of Avignon.
+     Here, therefore, the incidents of the story, if authentic,
+     would probably have occurred. The story may be compared with
+     Tale L. (_post_).--Ed.
+
+When the ladies heard this they all had tears in their eyes, but Hircan
+said to them--
+
+"He was the greatest fool I ever heard of. By your faith, now, I ask
+you, is it reasonable that we should die for women who are made only for
+us, or that we should be afraid to ask them for what God has commanded
+them to give us? I do not speak for myself nor for any who are married.
+I myself have all that I want or more; but I say it for such men as
+are in need. To my thinking, they must be fools to fear those whom they
+should rather make afraid. Do you not perceive how greatly this poor
+damsel regretted her folly? Since she embraced the gentleman's dead
+body--an action repugnant to human nature--she would not have refused
+him while he was alive had he then trusted as much to boldness as he
+trusted to pity when he lay upon his death-bed."
+
+"Nevertheless," said Oisille, "the gentleman most plainly showed that he
+bore her an honourable love, and for this he will ever be worthy of
+all praise. Chastity in a lover's heart is something divine rather than
+human."
+
+"Madam," said Saffredent, "in support of Hircan's opinion, which is also
+mine, I pray you believe that Fortune favours the bold, and that there
+is no man loved by a lady but may at last, in whole or in part, obtain
+from her what he desires, provided he seek it with wisdom and passion.
+But ignorance and foolish fear cause men to lose many a good chance; and
+then they impute their loss to their mistress's virtue, which they have
+never verified with so much as the tip of the finger. A fortress was
+never well assailed but it was taken."
+
+"Nay," said Parlamente, "I am amazed that you two should dare to talk in
+this way. Those whom you have loved owe you but little thanks, or else
+your courting has been carried on in such evil places that you deem all
+women to be alike."
+
+"For myself, madam," said Saffredent, "I have been so unfortunate that
+I am unable to boast; but I impute my bad luck less to the virtue of
+the ladies than to my own fault, in not conducting my enterprises with
+sufficient prudence and sagacity. In support of my opinion I will cite
+no other authority than the old woman in the _Romance of the Rose_, who
+says--
+
+     'Of all, fair sirs, it truly may be said,
+     Woman for man and man for woman's made.' (3)
+
+     3  From John de Mehun's continuation of the poem.--M. 2
+
+Accordingly I shall always believe that if love once enters a
+woman's heart, her lover will have fair fortune, provided he be not a
+simpleton."
+
+"Well," said Parlamente, "if I were to name to you a very loving woman
+who was greatly sought after, beset and importuned, and who, like a
+virtuous lady, proved victorious over her heart, flesh, love and lover,
+would you believe this true thing possible?"
+
+"Yes," said he, "I would."
+
+"Then," said Parlamente, "you must all be hard of belief if you do not
+believe this story."
+
+"Madam," said Dagoucin, "since I have given an example to show how the
+love of a virtuous gentleman lasted even until death, I pray you, if you
+know any such story to the honour of a lady, to tell it to us, and so
+end this day. And be not afraid to speak at length, for there is yet
+time to relate many a pleasant matter."
+
+"Then, since I am to wind up the day," said Parlamente, "I will make no
+long preamble, for my story is so beautiful and true that I long to have
+you know it as well as I do myself. Although I was not an actual witness
+of the events, they were told to me by one of my best and dearest
+friends in praise of the man whom of all the world he had loved the
+most. But he charged me, should I ever chance to relate them, to change
+the names of the persons. Apart, therefore, from the names of persons
+and places the story is wholly true."
+
+[Illustration: 024.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 025a.jpg The Countess asking an Explanation from Amadour]
+
+[The Countess asking an Explanation from Amadour]
+
+[Illustration: 025.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE X_.
+
+_Florida, after virtuously resisting Amadour, who had assailed her
+honour almost to the last extremity, repaired, upon her husbands death,
+to the convent of Jesus, and there took the veil_. (1)
+
+     1  This tale appears to be a combination of fact and fiction.
+     Although Queen Margaret states that she has changed the
+     names of the persons, and also of the places where the
+     incidents happened, several historical events are certainly
+     brought into the narrative, the scene of which is laid in
+     Spain during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. M. Le Roux
+     de Lincy is of opinion, however, that Margaret really refers
+     to some affair at the Court of Charles VIII. or Louis XII.,
+     and he remarks that there is great similarity between the
+     position of the Countess of Aranda, left a widow at an early
+     age with a son and a daughter, and that of Louise of Savoy
+     with her two children. M. Lacroix and M. Dillaye believe the
+     hero and heroine to be Admiral de Bonnivet and Margaret. It
+     has often been suspected that the latter regarded her
+     brother's favourite with affection until after the attempt
+     related in Tale IV.--Ed.
+
+In the county of Aranda, (2) in Aragon, there lived a lady who, while
+still very young, was left a widow, with a son and a daughter, by the
+Count of Aranda, the name of the daughter being Florida. This lady
+strove to bring up her children in all the virtues and qualities which
+beseem lords and gentlemen, so that her house was reputed to be one of
+the most honourable in all the Spains. She often went to Toledo, where
+the King of Spain dwelt, and when she came to Saragossa, which was not
+far from her house, she would remain a long while with the Queen and the
+Court, by whom she was held in as high esteem as any lady could be.
+
+     2 Aranda, in the valley of the Duero, between Burgos
+     and Madrid, is one of the most ancient towns in Spain, but of
+     miserable aspect, although a large trade is carried on there
+     in cheap red wines. (Ferdinand and Isabella resided for some
+     time at Aranda.--Ed.)
+
+Going one day, according to her custom, to visit the King, then at his
+castle of La Jasserye, (3) at Saragossa, this lady passed through a
+village belonging to the Viceroy of Catalonia, (4) who, by reason of the
+great wars between the kings of France and Spain, had not been wont to
+stir from the frontier at Perpignan. But for the time being there was
+peace, so that the Viceroy and all his captains had come to do homage to
+the King. The Viceroy, learning that the Countess of Aranda was passing
+through his domain, went to meet her, not only for the sake of the
+ancient friendship he bore her, but in order to do her honour as a
+kinswoman of the King's.
+
+     3  This castle is called La Jafferie in Boaistuau's edition
+     of 1558, and several learned commentators have speculated as
+     to which is the correct spelling. Not one of them seems to
+     have been aware that in the immediate vicinity of Saragossa
+     there still stands an old castle called El Jaferia or
+     Aljaferia, which, after being the residence of the Moorish
+     sovereigns, became that of the Spanish kings of Aragon. It
+     has of modern times been transformed into barracks.--Ed.
+
+     4  Henry of Aragon, Duke of Segorbe and Count of Ribagorce,
+     was Viceroy of Catalonia at this period. He was called the
+     Infante of Fortune, on account of his father having died
+     before his birth in 1445.--B. J.
+
+Now he had in his train many honourable gentlemen, who, in the long
+waging of war, had gained such great honour and renown that all who saw
+them and consorted with them deemed themselves fortunate. Among others
+there was one named Amadour, who, although but eighteen or nineteen
+years old, was possessed of such well-assured grace and of such
+excellent understanding that he would have been chosen from a
+thousand to hold a public office. It is true that this excellence of
+understanding was accompanied by such rare and winsome beauty that none
+could look at him without pleasure. And if his comeliness was of the
+choicest, it was so hard pressed by his speech that one knew not whether
+to give the greatest honour to his grace, his beauty, or the excellence
+of his conversation.
+
+What caused him, however, to be still more highly esteemed was his great
+daring, which was no whit diminished by his youth. He had already shown
+in many places what he could do, so that not only the Spains, but France
+and Italy also made great account of his merits. For in all the wars
+in which he had taken part he had never spared himself, and when his
+country was at peace he would go in quest of wars in foreign lands,
+where he was loved and honoured by both friend and foe.
+
+This gentleman, for the love he bore his commander, had come to the
+domain where the Countess of Aranda had arrived, and remarking the
+beauty and grace of her daughter Florida, who was then only twelve years
+old, he thought to himself that she was the fairest maiden he had ever
+seen, and that if he could win her favour it would give him greater
+satisfaction than all the wealth and pleasure he might obtain from
+another. After looking at her for a long time he resolved to love her,
+although his reason told him that what he desired was impossible by
+reason of her lineage as well as of her age, which was such that she
+could not yet understand any amorous discourse. In spite of this, he
+fortified himself with hope, and reflected that time and patience might
+bring his efforts to a happy issue. And from that moment the kindly
+love, which of itself alone had entered Amadour's heart, assured him of
+all favour and the means of attaining his end.
+
+To overcome the greatest difficulty before him, which consisted in the
+remoteness of his own home and the few opportunities he would have of
+seeing Florida again, he resolved to get married. This was contrary
+to what he had determined whilst with the ladies of Barcelona and
+Perpignan, in which places he was in such favour that little or nothing
+was refused him; and, indeed, by reason of the wars, he had dwelt so
+long on the frontiers that, although he was born near Toledo, he seemed
+rather a Catalan than a Castillan. He came of a rich and honourable
+house, but being a younger son, he was without patrimony; and thus it
+was that Love and Fortune, seeing him neglected by his kin, determined
+to make him their masterpiece, endowing him with such qualities as
+might obtain what the laws of the land had refused him. He was of
+much experience in the art of war, and was so beloved by all lords
+and princes that he refused their favours more frequently than he had
+occasion to seek them.
+
+The Countess, of whom I have spoken, arrived then at Saragossa and was
+well received by the King and all his Court. The Governor of Catalonia
+often came to visit her, and Amadour failed not to accompany him that
+he might have the pleasure of merely seeing Florida, for he had no
+opportunity of speaking with her. In order to establish himself in this
+goodly company he paid his addresses to the daughter of an old knight,
+his neighbour. This maiden was named Avanturada, and was so intimate
+with Florida that she knew all the secrets of her heart. Amadour,
+as much for the worth which he found in Avanturada as for the three
+thousand ducats a year which formed her dowry, determined to address her
+as a suitor, and she willingly gave ear to him. But as he was poor and
+her father was rich, she feared that the latter would never consent
+to the marriage except at the instance of the Countess of Aranda. She
+therefore had recourse to the lady Florida and said to her--
+
+"You have seen, madam, that Castilian gentleman who often talks to me.
+I believe that all his aim is to have me in marriage. You know, however,
+what kind of father I have; he will never consent to the match unless he
+be earnestly entreated by the Countess and you."
+
+Florida, who loved the damsel as herself, assured her that she would
+lay the matter to heart as though it were for her own benefit; and
+Avanturada then ventured so far as to present Amadour to her. He was
+like to swoon for joy on kissing Florida's hand, and although he was
+accounted the readiest speaker in Spain, yet in her presence he became
+dumb. At this she was greatly surprised, for, although she was only
+twelve years old, she had already often heard it said that there was no
+man in Spain who could speak better or with more grace. So, finding that
+he said nothing to her, she herself spoke.
+
+"Senor Amadour," she began, "the renown you enjoy throughout all the
+Spains has made you known to everybody here, and all are desirous of
+affording you pleasure. If therefore I can in any way do this, you may
+dispose of me."
+
+Amadour was in such rapture at sight of the lady's beauty that he could
+scarcely utter his thanks. However, although Florida was astonished to
+find that he made no further reply, she imputed it rather to some whim
+than to the power of love; and so she withdrew, without saying anything
+more.
+
+Amadour, who perceived the qualities which even in earliest youth were
+beginning to show themselves in Florida, now said to her whom he desired
+to marry--
+
+"Do not be surprised if I lost the power of utterance in presence of
+the lady Florida. I was so astonished at finding such qualities and such
+sensible speech in one so very young that I knew not what to say to her.
+But I pray you, Avanturada, you who know her secrets, tell me if she
+does not of necessity possess the hearts of all the gentlemen of the
+Court. Any who know her and do not love her must be stones or brutes."
+
+Avanturada, who already loved Amadour more than any other man in the
+world, could conceal nothing from him, but told him that Florida was
+loved by every one. However, by reason of the custom of the country, few
+spoke to her, and only two had as yet made any show of love towards
+her. These were two princes of Spain, and they desired to marry her, one
+being the son of the Infante of Fortune (5) and the other the young Duke
+of Cardona. (6)
+
+     5  M. Lacroix asserts that the Infante of Fortune left no son
+     by his wife, Guyomare de Castro y Norogna; whereas M. Le
+     Roux de Lincy contends that he had a son--Alfonso of Aragon--
+     who in 1506 was proposed as a husband for Crazy Jane.
+     Alfonso would therefore probably be the prince referred to
+     by Margaret.--Ed.
+
+     6  Cardona, a fortified town on the river Cardoner, at a few
+     miles from Barcelona, was a county in the time of Ferdinand
+     and Isabella, and was raised by them to the rank of a duchy
+     in favour of Ramon Folch I. To-day it has between two and
+     three thousand inhabitants, and is chiefly noted for its
+     strongly built castillo. The young Duke spoken of by Queen
+     Margaret would be Ramon Folch's son, who was also named
+     Ramon.--B. J. and Ed.
+
+"I pray you," said Amadour, "tell me which of them you think she loves
+the most."
+
+"She is so discreet," said Avanturada, "that on no account would she
+confess to having any wish but her mother's. Nevertheless, as far as can
+be judged, she likes the son of the Infante of Fortune far more than she
+likes the young Duke of Cardona. But her mother would rather have her at
+Cardona, for then she would not be so far away. I hold you for a man
+of good understanding, and, if you are so minded, you may judge of her
+choice this very day, for the son of the Infante of Fortune, who is one
+of the handsomest and most accomplished princes in Christendom, is being
+brought up at this Court. If we damsels could decide the marriage by our
+opinions, he would be sure of having the Lady Florida, for they would
+make the comeliest couple in all Spain. You must know that, although
+they are both young, she being but twelve and he but fifteen, it is
+now three years since their love for each other first began; and if
+you would secure her favour, I advise you to become his friend and
+follower."
+
+Amadour was well pleased to find that Florida loved something, hoping
+that in time he might gain the place not of husband but of lover. He had
+no fear in regard to her virtue, but was rather afraid lest she should
+be insensible to love. After this conversation he began to consort with
+the son of the Infante of Fortune, and readily gained his favour, being
+well skilled in all the pastimes that the young Prince was fond of,
+especially in the handling of horses, in the practice of all kinds of
+weapons, and indeed in every diversion and pastime befitting a young
+man.
+
+However, war broke out again in Languedoc, and it was necessary that
+Amadour should return thither with the Governor. This he did, but not
+without great regret, since he could in no wise contrive to return to
+where he might see Florida. Accordingly, when he was setting forth, he
+spoke to a brother of his, who was majordomo to the Queen of Spain,
+and told him of the good match he had found in the Countess of Aranda's
+house, in the person of Avanturada; entreating him, in his absence,
+to do all that he could to bring about the marriage, by employing his
+credit with the King, the Queen, and all his friends. The majordomo, who
+was attached to his brother, not only by reason of their kinship, but on
+account of Amadour's excellent qualities, promised to do his best. This
+he did in such wise that the avaricious old father forgot his own nature
+to ponder over the qualities of Amadour, as pictured to him by the
+Countess of Aranda, and especially by the fair Florida, as well as by
+the young Count of Aranda, who was now beginning to grow up, and to
+esteem people of merit. When the marriage had been agreed upon by the
+kinsfolk, the Queen's majordomo sent for his brother, there being at
+that time a truce between the two kings. (7)
+
+Meanwhile, the King of Spain withdrew to Madrid to avoid the bad air
+which prevailed in divers places, and, by the advice of his Council, as
+well as at the request of the Countess of Aranda, he consented to the
+marriage of the young Count with the heiress Duchess of Medina Celi.
+(8) He did this no less for their contentment and the union of the two
+houses than for the affection he bore the Countess of Aranda; and he
+caused the marriage to be celebrated at the castle of Madrid. (9)
+
+     7  There had been a truce in 1497, but Queen Margaret
+     probably alludes to that of four months' duration towards
+     the close of 1503.--B.J.
+
+     8  Felix-Maria, widow of the Duke of Feria, and elder sister
+     of Luis Francisco de la Cerda, ninth of the name. She became
+     heiress to the titles and estates of the house of Medina-
+     Celi upon her brother's death. If, however, Queen Margaret
+     is really describing some incident in her own life, she must
+     refer to Louis XII.'s daughter, Claude, married in 1514 to
+     Francis I.--D.
+
+     9  The castle here referred to was the Moorish Alcazar,
+     destroyed by fire in 1734. The previous statement that King
+     Ferdinand withdrew to Madrid on account of the bad air
+     prevailing in other places is borne out by the fact that the
+     town enjoyed a most delightful climate prior to the
+     destruction of the forests which surrounded it.--Ed.
+
+Amadour was present at this wedding, and succeeded so well in furthering
+his own union, that he married Avanturada, whose affection for him was
+far greater than his was for her. But this marriage furnished him with a
+very convenient cloak, and gave him an excuse for resorting to the place
+where his spirit ever dwelt. After he was married he became very bold
+and familiar in the Countess of Aranda's household, so that he was no
+more distrusted than if he had been a woman. And although he was
+now only twenty-two years of age, he showed such good sense that the
+Countess of Aranda informed him of all her affairs, and bade her son
+consult with him and follow his counsel.
+
+Having gained their esteem thus far, Amadour comported himself so
+prudently and calmly that even the lady he loved was not aware of his
+affection for her. By reason, however, of the love she bore his wife, to
+whom she was more attached than to any other woman, she concealed none
+of her thoughts from him, and was pleased to tell him of all her love
+for the son of the Infante of Fortune. Although Amadour's sole aim was
+to win her entirely for himself, he continually spoke to her of
+the Prince; indeed, he cared not what might be the subject of their
+converse, provided only that he could talk to her for a long time.
+However, he had not remained a month in this society after his marriage
+when he was constrained to return to the war, and he was absent for more
+than two years without returning to see his wife, who continued to live
+in the place where she had been brought up.
+
+Meanwhile Amadour often wrote to her, but his letters were for the most
+part messages to Florida, who on her side never failed to return them,
+and would with her own hand add some pleasant words to the letters which
+Avanturada wrote. It was on this account that the husband of the latter
+wrote to her very frequently; yet of all this Florida knew nothing
+except that she loved Amadour as if he had been her brother. Several
+times during the course of five years did Amadour return and go away
+again; yet so short was his stay that he did not see Florida for two
+months altogether. Nevertheless, in spite of distance and length of
+absence, his love continued to increase.
+
+At last it happened that he made a journey to see his wife, and found
+the Countess far removed from the Court, for the King of Spain was gone
+into Andalusia, (10) taking with him the young Count of Aranda, who was
+already beginning to bear arms.
+
+     10  There had been a revolt at Granada in 1499, and in the
+     following year the Moors rose in the Alpujarras, whereupon
+     King Ferdinand marched against them in person.--L.
+
+Thus the Countess had withdrawn to a country-house belonging to her
+on the frontiers of Aragon and Navarre. She was well pleased on seeing
+Amadour, who had now been away for nearly three years. He was made
+welcome by all, and the Countess commanded that he should be treated
+like her own son. Whilst he was with her she informed him of all the
+affairs of her household, leaving most of them to his judgment. And so
+much credit did he win in her house that wherever he visited all doors
+were opened to him, and, indeed, people held his prudence in such high
+esteem that he was trusted in all things as though he had been an angel
+or a saint.
+
+Florida, by reason of the love she bore his wife and himself, sought
+him out wherever he went. She had no suspicion of his purpose, and was
+unrestrained in her manners, for her heart was free from love, save that
+she felt great contentment whenever she was near Amadour. To more than
+this she gave not a thought.
+
+Amadour, however, had a hard task to escape the observation of those
+who knew by experience how to distinguish a lover's looks from another
+man's; for when Florida, thinking no evil, came and spoke familiarly to
+him, the fire that was hidden in his heart so consumed him that he could
+not keep the colour from rising to his face or sparks of flame from
+darting from his eyes. Thus, in order that none might be any the wiser,
+he began to pay court to a very beautiful lady named Paulina, a woman
+so famed for beauty in her day that few men who saw her escaped from her
+toils.
+
+This Paulina had heard how Amadour had made love at Barcelona and
+Perpignan, insomuch that he had gained the affection of the highest and
+most beautiful ladies in the land, especially that of a certain Countess
+of Palamos, who was esteemed the first for beauty among all the ladies
+of Spain; and she told him that she greatly pitied him, since, after so
+much good fortune, he had married such an ugly wife. Amadour, who well
+understood by these words that she had a mind to supply his need, made
+her the fairest speeches he could devise, seeking to conceal the truth
+by persuading her of a falsehood. But she, being subtle and experienced
+in love, was not to be put off with mere words; and feeling sure that
+his heart was not to be satisfied with such love as she could give him,
+she suspected he wished to make her serve as a cloak, and so kept close
+watch upon his eyes. These, however, knew so well how to dissemble, that
+she had nothing to guide her but the barest suspicion.
+
+Nevertheless, her observation sorely troubled Amadour; for Florida, who
+was ignorant of all these wiles, often spoke to him before Paulina in
+such a familiar fashion that he had to make wondrous efforts to compel
+his eyes to belie his heart. To avoid unpleasant consequences, he one
+day, while leaning against a window, spoke thus to Florida--
+
+"I pray you, sweetheart, counsel me whether it is better for a man to
+speak or die?"
+
+Florida forthwith replied--
+
+"I shall always counsel my friends to speak and not to die. There
+are few words that cannot be mended, but life once lost can never be
+regained."
+
+"Will you promise me, then," said Amadour, "that you will not be
+displeased by what I wish to tell you, nor yet alarmed at it, until you
+have heard me to the end?"
+
+"Say what you will," she replied; "if you alarm me, none can reassure
+me."
+
+"For two reasons," he then began, "I have hitherto been unwilling to
+tell you of the great affection that I feel for you. First, I wished to
+prove it to you by long service, and secondly, I feared that you might
+deem it presumption in me, who am but a simple gentleman, to address
+myself to one upon whom it is not fitting that I should look. And
+even though I were of royal station like your own, your heart, in its
+loyalty, would suffer none save the son of the Infante of Fortune,
+who has won it, to speak to you of love. But just as in a great war
+necessity compels men to devastate their own possessions and to destroy
+their corn in the blade, that the enemy may derive no profit therefrom,
+so do I risk anticipating the fruit which I had hoped to gather in
+season, lest your enemies and mine profit by it to your detriment.
+Know, then, that from your earliest youth I have devoted myself to your
+service and have ever striven to win your favour. For this purpose alone
+I married her whom I thought you loved best, and, being acquainted with
+the love you bear to the son of the Infante of Fortune, I have striven
+to serve him and consort with him, as you yourself know. I have sought
+with all my power for everything that I thought could give you pleasure.
+You see that I have won the esteem of your mother, the Countess, and
+of your brother, the Count, and of all you love, so that I am regarded
+here, not as a dependant, but as one of the family. All my efforts for
+five years past have had no other end than that I might spend my whole
+life near you.
+
+"Understand that I am not one of those who would by these means seek to
+obtain from you any favour or pleasure otherwise than virtuous. I know
+that I cannot marry you, and even if I could, I would not do so in face
+of the love you bear him whom I would fain see your husband. And as for
+loving you with a vicious love like those who hope that long service
+will bring them a reward to the dishonour of a lady, that is far from my
+purpose. I would rather see you dead than know that you were less worthy
+of being loved, or that your virtue had diminished for the sake of
+any pleasure to me. For the end and reward of my service I ask but one
+thing, namely, that you will be so faithful a mistress to me, as never
+to take your favour from me, and that you will suffer me to continue as
+I now am, trusting in me more than in any other, and accepting from me
+the assurance that if for your honour's sake, or for aught concerning
+you, you ever have need of a gentleman's life, I will gladly place mine
+at your disposal. You may be sure also that whatever I may do that is
+honourable and virtuous, will be done solely for love of you. If for the
+sake of ladies less worthy than you I have ever done anything that has
+been considered of account, be sure that, for a mistress like yourself,
+my enterprise will so increase, that things I heretofore found
+impossible will become very easy to me. If, however, you will not accept
+me as wholly yours, I am resolved to lay aside my arms and to renounce
+the valour which has failed to help me in my need. So I pray you grant
+me my just request, for your honour and conscience cannot refuse it."
+
+The maiden, hearing these unwonted words, began to change colour and to
+cast down her eyes like a woman in alarm. However, being sensible and
+discreet, she replied--
+
+"Since you already have what you ask of me, Amadour, why make me such
+a long harangue? I fear me lest beneath your honourable words there be
+some hidden guile to deceive my ignorance and youth, and I am sorely
+perplexed what to reply. Were I to refuse the honourable love you offer,
+I should do contrary to what I have hitherto done, for I have always
+trusted you more than any other man in the world. Neither my conscience
+nor my honour oppose your request, nor yet the love I bear the son of
+the Infante of Fortune, for that is founded on marriage, to which you do
+not aspire. I know of nothing that should hinder me from answering you
+according to your desire, if it be not a fear arising from the small
+need you have for talking to me in this wise; for if what you ask is
+already yours, why speak of it so ardently?"
+
+Amadour, who was at no loss for an answer, then said to her--
+
+"Madam, you speak very discreetly, and you honour me so greatly by the
+trust which you say you have in me, that if I were not satisfied with
+such good fortune I should be quite unworthy of it. But consider, madam,
+that he who would build an edifice to last for ever must be careful
+to have a sure and stable foundation. In the same way I, wishing to
+continue for ever in your service, must not only take care to have the
+means of remaining near to you, but also to prevent any one from knowing
+of the great affection that I bear you. Although it is honourable enough
+to be everywhere proclaimed, yet those who know nothing of lovers'
+hearts often judge contrary to the truth, and thence come reports as
+mischievous as though they were true. I have been prompted to say this,
+and led to declare my love to you, because Paulina, feeling in her heart
+that I cannot love her, holds me in suspicion and does nought but watch
+my face wherever I may be. Hence, when you come and speak to me so
+familiarly in her presence, I am in great fear lest I should make some
+sign on which she may ground her judgment, and should so fall into that
+which I am anxious to avoid. For this reason I am lead to entreat you
+not to come and speak to me so suddenly before her or before others whom
+you know to be equally malicious, for I would rather die than have any
+living creature know the truth. Were I not so regardful of your honour,
+I should not have sought this converse with you, for I hold myself
+sufficiently happy in the love and trust you bear me, and I ask nothing
+more save that they may continue."
+
+Florida, who could not have been better pleased, began to be sensible
+of an unwonted feeling in her heart. She saw how honourable were the
+reasons which he laid before her; and she told him that virtue and
+honour replied for her, and that she granted him his request. Amadour's
+joy at this no true lover can doubt.
+
+Florida, however, gave more heed to his counsel than he desired, for she
+became timid not only in presence of Paulina but elsewhere, and ceased
+to seek him out as she had been accustomed to do. While they were thus
+separated she took Amadour's constant converse with Paulina in bad part,
+for, seeing that the latter was beautiful, she could not believe
+that Amadour did not love her. To beguile her sorrow she conversed
+continually with Avanturada, who was beginning to feel very jealous of
+her husband and Paulina, and often complained of them to Florida, who
+comforted her as well as she could, being herself smitten with the same
+disease. Amadour soon perceived the change in Florida's demeanour, and
+forthwith thought that she was keeping aloof from him not merely by his
+own advice, but also on account of some bitter fancies of her own.
+
+One day, when they were coming from vespers at a monastery, he spoke to
+her, and asked--
+
+"What countenance is this you show me, madam?"
+
+"That which I believe you desire," replied Florida.
+
+Thereupon, suspecting the truth, and desiring to know whether he was
+right, he said to her--
+
+"I have used my time so well, madam, that Paulina no longer has any
+suspicion of you."
+
+"You could not do better," she replied, "both for yourself and for me.
+While giving pleasure to yourself you bring me honour."
+
+Amadour gathered from this speech that she believed he took pleasure in
+conversing with Paulina, and so great was his despair that he could not
+refrain from saying angrily to her--
+
+"In truth, madam, you begin betimes to torment your lover and pelt him
+with hard words. I do not think I ever had a more irksome task than to
+be obliged to hold converse with a lady I do not love. But since you
+take what I have done to serve you in bad part, I will never speak
+to her again, happen what may. And that I may hide my wrath as I have
+hidden my joy, I will betake me to some place in the neighbourhood, and
+there wait till your caprice has passed away. I hope, however, I shall
+there receive tidings from my captain and be called back to the war,
+where I will remain long enough to show you that nothing but yourself
+has kept me here."
+
+So saying, he forthwith departed without waiting for her reply.
+
+Florida felt the greatest vexation and sorrow imaginable; and love,
+meeting with opposition, began to put forth its mighty strength. She
+perceived that she had been in the wrong, and wrote continually to
+Amadour entreating him to return, which he did after a few days, when
+his anger had abated.
+
+I cannot undertake to tell you minutely all that they said to each other
+in order to destroy this jealousy. But at all events he won the victory,
+and she promised him that not only would she never believe he loved
+Paulina, but that she would ever be convinced he found it an intolerable
+martyrdom to speak either to Paulina or to any one else except to do
+herself a service.
+
+When love had conquered this first suspicion, and while the two lovers
+were beginning to take fresh pleasure in conversing together, news came
+that the King of Spain was sending all his army to Salces. (11)
+
+     11  Salces, a village about fifteen miles north of Perpignan,
+     noted for its formidable fortress, still existing and
+     commanding a pass through the Corbiere Mountains, which in
+     the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries separated France from
+     Roussillon, then belonging to Spain. The French burnt the
+     village and demolished the fort of Salces in 1496, but the
+     latter was rebuilt by the Spaniards in the most massive
+     style. The walls of the fort are 66 feet thick at the base
+     and 54 feet thick at the summit. When Queen Margaret
+     returned from Spain in 152,5 she reached France by the pass
+     of Salces. (See vol. i. p. xlvi.).--Ed.
+
+Amadour, accustomed ever to be the first in battle, failed not to seize
+this opportunity of winning renown; but in truth he set forth with
+unwonted regret, both on account of the pleasure he was losing and
+because he feared that he might find a change on his return. He knew
+that Florida, who was now fifteen or sixteen years old, was sought in
+marriage by many great princes and lords, and he reflected that if she
+were married during his absence he might have no further opportunity of
+seeing her, unless, indeed, the Countess of Aranda gave her his wife,
+Avanturada, as a companion. However, by skilful management with his
+friends, he obtained a promise from both mother and daughter that
+wherever Florida might go after her marriage thither should his wife,
+Avanturada, accompany her. Although it was proposed to marry Florida
+in Portugal, it was nevertheless resolved that Avanturada should never
+leave her. With this assurance, yet not without unspeakable regret,
+Amadour went away and left his wife with the Countess.
+
+When Florida found herself alone after his departure, she set about
+doing such good and virtuous works as she hoped might win her the
+reputation that belongs to the most perfect women, and might prove her
+to be worthy of such a lover as Amadour. He having arrived at Barcelona,
+was there welcomed by the ladies as of old; but they found a greater
+change in him than they believed it possible for marriage to effect in
+any man. He seemed to be vexed by the sight of things he had
+formerly desired; and even the Countess of Palamos, whom he had loved
+exceedingly, could not persuade him to visit her.
+
+Amadour remained at Barcelona as short a time as possible, for he was
+impatient to reach Salces, where he alone was now awaited. When he
+arrived, there began between the two kings that great and cruel war
+which I do not purpose to describe. (12) Neither will I recount the
+noble deeds that were done by Amadour, for then my story would take up
+an entire day; but you must know that he won renown far above all his
+comrades. The Duke of Najera (13) having arrived at Perpignan in command
+of two thousand men, requested Amadour to be his lieutenant, and so well
+did Amadour fulfil his duty with this band, that in every skirmish the
+only cry was "Najera!" (14)
+
+     12  In 1503 the French, under Marshals de Rieux and de Gie,
+     again besieged Salces, which had a garrison of 1200 men. The
+     latter opposed a vigorous defence during two months, and
+     upon the arrival of the old Duke of Alba with an army of
+     succour the siege had to be raised.--B. J.
+
+     13  Pedro Manriquez de Lara, Count of Trevigno, created Duke
+     of Najera by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1501.--B. J.
+
+     14  The Duke's war-cry, repeated by his followers as a
+     rallying signal in the _melee_. War-cries varied greatly.
+     "Montjoie St. Denis" was that of the kings of France, and
+     "Passavant le meilleur" (the best to the front) that of the
+     Counts of Champagne. In other instances the war-cry
+     consisted of a single word, "Bigorre" being that of the
+     kings of Navarre, and "Flanders" that of the Princess of
+     Beaujeu. When the war-cry was merely a name, as in the case
+     of the Duke of Najera, it belonged to the head of the
+     family.--D.
+
+Now it came to pass that the King of Tunis, who for a long time had been
+at war with the Spaniards, heard that the kings of France and Spain were
+warring with each other on the frontiers of Perpignan and Narbonne, and
+bethought himself that he could have no better opportunity of vexing the
+King of Spain. Accordingly, he sent a great number of light galleys and
+other vessels to plunder and destroy all such badly-guarded places as
+they could find on the coasts of Spain. (15)The people of Barcelona
+seeing a great fleet passing in front of their town, sent word of the
+matter to the Viceroy, who was at Salces, and he forthwith despatched
+the Duke of Najera to Palamos. (16) When the Moors saw that place
+so well guarded, they made a feint of passing on; but returning at
+midnight, they landed a large number of men, and the Duke of Najera,
+being surprised by the enemy, was taken prisoner.
+
+     15  The above two sentences, deficient in the MS. followed by
+     M. Le Roux de Lincy, have been borrowed from MS. No. 1520
+     (Bib. Nat.). It was in 1503 that a Moorish flotilla ravaged
+     the coast of Catalonia.--Ed.
+
+     16  The village of Palamos, on the shores of the
+     Mediterranean, south of Cape Bagur, and within fifteen miles
+     from Gerona.--Ed.
+
+Amadour, who was on the alert and heard the din, forthwith assembled as
+many of his men as possible, and defended himself so stoutly that the
+enemy, in spite of their numbers, were for a long time unable to prevail
+against him. But at last, hearing that the Duke of Najera was taken, and
+that the Turks had resolved to set fire to Palamos and burn him in the
+house which he was holding against them, he thought it better to yield
+than to cause the destruction of the brave men who were with him. He
+also hoped that by paying a ransom he might yet see Florida again.
+Accordingly, he gave himself up to a Turk named Dorlin, a governor of
+the King of Tunis, who brought him to his master. By the latter he was
+well received and still better guarded; for the King deemed that in him
+he held the Achilles of all the Spains.
+
+Thus Amadour continued for two years in the service of the King of
+Tunis. The news of the captures having reached Spain, the kinsfolk
+of the Duke of Najera were in great sorrow; but those who held the
+country's honour dear deemed Amadour the greater loss. The rumour came
+to the house of the Countess of Aranda, where the hapless Avanturada at
+that time lay grievously sick. The Countess, who had great misgivings as
+to the affection which Amadour bore to her daughter, though she suffered
+it and concealed it for the sake of the merits she perceived in him,
+took Florida apart and told her the mournful tidings. Florida, who was
+well able to dissemble, replied that it was a great loss to the entire
+household, and that above all she pitied his poor wife, who was herself
+so ill. Nevertheless, seeing that her mother wept exceedingly, she shed
+a few tears to bear her company; for she feared that if she dissembled
+too far the feint might be discovered. From that time the Countess often
+spoke to her of Amadour, but never could she surprise a look to guide
+her judgment.
+
+I will pass over the pilgrimages, prayers, supplications, and fasts
+which Florida regularly performed to ensure the safety of Amadour.
+As soon as he had arrived at Tunis, he failed not to send tidings of
+himself to his friends, and by a trusty messenger he apprised Florida
+that he was in good health, and had hopes of seeing her again. This was
+the only consolation the poor lady had in her grief, and you may be sure
+that, since she was permitted to write, she did so with all diligence,
+so that Amadour had no lack of her letters to comfort him.
+
+The Countess of Aranda was about this time commanded to repair to
+Saragossa, where the King had arrived; and here she found the young
+Duke of Cardona, who so pressed the King and Queen that they begged
+the Countess to give him their daughter in marriage. (17) The Countess
+consented, for she was unwilling to disobey them in anything, and
+moreover she considered that her daughter, being so young, could have no
+will of her own.
+
+     17  The Spanish historians state that in 1513 the King, to
+     put an end to a quarrel between the Count of Aranda and the
+     Count of Ribagorce, charged Father John of Estuniga,
+     Provincial of the Order of St. Francis, to negotiate a
+     reconciliation between them, based on the marriage of the
+     eldest daughter of the Count of Aranda with the eldest son
+     of the Count of Ribagorce. The latter refusing his consent,
+     was banished from the kingdom.--D.
+
+When all was settled, she told Florida that she had chosen for her the
+match which seemed most suitable. Florida, knowing that when a thing is
+once done there is small room for counsel, replied that God was to be
+praised for all things; and, finding her mother look coldly upon her,
+she sought rather to obey her than to take pity on herself. It scarcely
+comforted her in her sorrows to learn that the son of the Infante of
+Fortune was sick even to death; but never, either in presence of her
+mother or of any one else, did she show any sign of grief. So strongly
+did she constrain herself, that her tears, driven perforce back into her
+heart, caused so great a loss of blood from the nose that her life was
+endangered; and, that she might be restored to health, she was given in
+marriage to one whom she would willingly have exchanged for death.
+
+After the marriage Florida departed with her husband to the duchy of
+Cardona, taking with her Avanturada, whom she privately acquainted with
+her sorrow, both as regards her mother's harshness and her own regret
+at having lost the son of the Infante of Fortune; but she never spoke of
+her regret for Amadour except to console his wife.
+
+This young lady then resolved to keep God and honour before her eyes. So
+well did she conceal her grief, that none of her friends perceived that
+her husband was displeasing to her.
+
+In this way she spent a long time, living a life that was worse than
+death, as she failed not to inform her lover Amadour, who, knowing the
+virtue and greatness of her heart, as well as the love that she had
+borne to the son of the Infante of Fortune, thought it impossible that
+she could live long, and mourned for her as for one that was more than
+dead. This sorrow was an increase to his former grief, and forgetting
+his own distress in that which he knew his sweetheart was enduring, he
+would willingly have continued all his life the slave he was if Florida
+could thereby have had a husband after her own heart. He learnt from a
+friend whom he had gained at the Court of Tunis that the King, wishing
+to keep him if only he could make a good Turk of him, intended to give
+him his choice between impalement and the renunciation of his faith.
+Thereupon he so addressed himself to his master, the governor who had
+taken him prisoner, that he persuaded him to release him on parole. His
+master named, however, a much higher ransom than he thought could be
+raised by a man of such little wealth, and then, without speaking to the
+King, he let him go.
+
+When Amadour reached the Court of the King of Spain, he stayed there but
+a short time, and then, in order to seek his ransom among his friends,
+he repaired to Barcelona, whither the young Duke of Cardona, his mother,
+and Florida had gone on business. As soon as Avanturada heard that her
+husband was returned, she told the news to Florida, who rejoiced as
+though for love of her friend. Fearing, however, that her joy at seeing
+Amadour might make her change her countenance, and that those who did
+not know her might think wrongly of her, she remained at a window in
+order to see him coming from afar. As soon as she perceived him she went
+down by a dark staircase, so that none could see whether she changed
+colour, and embracing Amadour, led him to her room, and thence to her
+mother-in-law, who had never seen him. He had not been there for two
+days before he was loved as much as he had been in the household of the
+Countess of Aranda.
+
+I leave you to imagine the conversation that he and Florida had
+together, and how she complained to him of the misfortunes that had come
+to her in his absence. After shedding many tears of sorrow, both for
+having been married against her will and also for having lost one she
+loved so dearly without any hope of seeing him again, she resolved to
+take consolation from the love and trust she had towards Amadour. Though
+she durst not declare the truth, he suspected it, and lost neither time
+nor opportunity to show her how much he loved her.
+
+Just when Florida was all but persuaded to receive him, not as a lover,
+but as a true and perfect friend, a misfortune came to pass, for the
+King summoned Amadour to him concerning some important matter.
+
+His wife was so grieved on hearing these tidings that she swooned, and
+falling down a staircase on which she was standing, was so hurt that she
+never rose again. Florida having by this death lost all her consolation,
+mourned like one who felt herself bereft of friends and kin. But Amadour
+grieved still more; for on the one part he lost one of the best wives
+that ever lived, and on the other the means of ever seeing Florida
+again. This caused him such sorrow that he was near coming by a sudden
+death. The old Duchess of Cardona visited him incessantly, reciting the
+arguments of philosophers why he should endure his loss with patience.
+But all was of no avail; for if on the one hand his wife's death
+afflicted him, on the other his love increased his martyrdom. Having no
+longer any excuse to stay when his wife was buried, and his master again
+summoned him, his despair was such that he was like to lose his reason.
+
+Florida, who thinking to comfort him, was herself the cause of his
+greatest grief, spent a whole afternoon in the most gracious converse
+with him in order to lessen his sorrow, and assured him that she would
+find means to see him oftener than he thought. Then, as he was to depart
+on the following morning, and was so weak that he could scarcely stir
+from his bed, he prayed her to come and see him in the evening after
+every one else had left him. This she promised to do, not knowing that
+love in extremity is void of reason.
+
+Amadour altogether despaired of ever again seeing her whom he had loved
+so long, and from whom he had received no other treatment than I have
+described. Racked by secret passion and by despair at losing all means
+of consorting with her, he resolved to play at double or quits, and
+either lose her altogether or else wholly win her, and so pay himself in
+an hour the reward which he thought he had deserved. Accordingly he had
+his bed curtained in such a manner that those who came into the room
+could not see him; and he complained so much more than he had done
+previously that all the people of the house thought he had not
+twenty-four hours to live.
+
+After every one else had visited him, Florida, at the request of her
+husband himself, came in the evening, hoping to comfort him by declaring
+her affection and by telling him that, so far as honour allowed, she was
+willing to love him. She sat down on a chair beside the head of his
+bed, and began her consolation by weeping with him. Amadour, seeing her
+filled with such sorrow, thought that in her distress he might the more
+readily achieve his purpose, and raised himself up in the bed. Florida,
+thinking that he was too weak to do this, sought to prevent him, but he
+threw himself on his knees before her saying, "Must I lose sight of you
+for ever?" Then he fell into her arms like one exhausted. The hapless
+Florida embraced him and supported him for a long time, doing all she
+could to comfort him. But what she offered him to cure his pain only
+increased it; and while feigning to be half dead, he, without saying a
+word, strove to obtain that which the honour of ladies forbids.
+
+When Florida perceived his evil purpose, in which she could hardly
+believe after all his honourable conversation, she asked him what he
+sought to do. Amadour, fearing her reply, which he knew could not
+be otherwise than chaste and virtuous, said nothing, but pursued his
+attempt with all the strength that he could muster. Florida, greatly
+astonished, suspected rather that he had lost his senses than that he
+was really bent upon her dishonour, and called out to a gentleman whom
+she knew to be in the room; whereupon Amadour in extreme despair flung
+himself back upon his bed so suddenly that the gentleman thought him
+dead.
+
+Florida, who had risen from her chair, then said to the gentleman--
+
+"Go quickly for some strong vinegar."
+
+This the gentleman did, whereupon Florida said--
+
+"What madness, Amadour, has mounted to your brain? What was it you
+thought and wished to do?"
+
+Amadour, who had lost all reason in the vehemence of his love, replied--
+
+"Does so long a service merit so cruel a reward?"
+
+"And what of the honour of which you have so often preached to me?" said
+Florida.
+
+"Ah! madam," said Amadour, "it would be impossible to hold your honour
+more dear than I have held it. Before you were married, I was able so
+to subdue my heart that you knew nothing of my desires, but now that you
+are wedded and your honour may be shielded, do I wrong you in asking for
+what is mine? By the strength of my love I have won you. He who first
+possessed your heart had so little desire for your person that he
+deserved to lose both. He who now owns your person is not worthy to have
+your heart, and hence even your person does not properly belong to him.
+But for five or six years I have for your sake borne many pains and
+woes, which must show you that your body and heart belong to me alone.
+Think not to defend yourself by speaking of conscience, for when love
+constrains body and heart sin is never imputed. Those who are driven by
+frenzy so far as to slay themselves cannot sin, for passion leaves no
+room for reason; and if the passion of love be more intolerable than any
+other, and more blinding to the senses, what sin could you fasten upon
+one who yields to the conduct of such indomitable power? I am going
+away, and have no hope of ever seeing you again; but if before my
+departure I could have of you that assurance which the greatness of
+my love deserves, I should be strengthened sufficiently to endure in
+patience the sorrows of a long separation. If you will not grant me my
+request you will ere long learn that your harshness has brought me to a
+miserable and a cruel death." (18)
+
+     18  The passage commencing "Those who are driven" and ending
+     "a cruel death" is deficient in the earlier editions of the
+     _Heptameron_, which give the following in place of it: "Do
+     not doubt but what those who have felt the power of love
+     will cast the blame on you who have so robbed me of my
+     liberty and dazzled my senses with your divine graces, that
+     not knowing what to do henceforth, I am constrained to go
+     away without the hope of ever seeing you again; certain,
+     however, that wherever I may be, you will still have part of
+     my heart, which will ever remain yours, be I on land, on the
+     sea, or in the hands of my most cruel enemies." The above is
+     one of various instances of the liberty taken by Boaistuau
+     and Gruget with Margaret's text.--Ed.
+
+Florida was not less grieved than astonished to hear these words from
+one whom she had never imagined capable of such discourse, and, weeping,
+she thus replied--
+
+"Alas, Amadour, is this the honourable converse that we used to have
+together while I was young? Is this the honour or conscience which many
+a time you counselled me to value more than life? Have you forgotten
+both the worthy examples you set before me of virtuous ladies who
+withstood unholy love, and also your own contempt for erring women? I
+cannot believe you so changed, Amadour, that regard for God, your own
+conscience, and my honour is wholly dead within you. But if it indeed
+be as you say, I praise the divine goodness which has prevented the
+misfortune into which I was about to fall, and has revealed to me by
+your own words the heart of which I was so ignorant. Having lost the
+son of the Infante of Fortune, not only by my marriage, but also, as
+is known to me, by reason of his love for another, and finding myself
+wedded to a man whom, strive as I may, I cannot love, I resolved to set
+heart and affection entirely on loving you. This love I built upon that
+virtue which I had so often perceived in you, and to which by your own
+assistance I think I have attained--I mean the virtue of loving one's
+honour and conscience more than life. I came hither thinking to make
+this rock of virtue a sure foundation of love. But you have in a
+moment shown me, Amadour, that instead of a pure and cleanly rock, this
+foundation would have been one of shifting sand or filthy mire; and
+although a great part of the house in which I hoped always to dwell
+had already been raised, you have suddenly demolished it. Lay aside,
+therefore, any hope you had concerning me, and make up your mind not to
+seek me by look or word wherever I may be, or to hope that I shall ever
+be able or willing to change my resolve. It is with the deepest sorrow
+that I tell you this, though had I gone so far as to swear eternal
+love with you, I know that my heart could not have lived through this
+meeting. Even now I am so confounded to find myself deceived, that I
+am sure my life will be either short or sad. With these words I bid you
+farewell, and for ever."
+
+I will not try to describe to you the grief that Amadour felt on hearing
+this speech. It is impossible not only to describe it, but even to
+conceive it, except indeed to such as have experienced the like. Seeing
+that with this cruel conclusion she was about to leave him, he seized
+her by the arm, knowing full well that, if he did not remove her evil
+opinion of him, he would lose her for ever. Accordingly he dissembled
+his looks as well as he could, and said--
+
+"During my whole life, madam, I have desired to love a woman of virtue,
+and having found so few of them, I was minded to put you to proof, and
+so discover whether you were as well worthy of esteem as of love. Now I
+know for certain that you are; and therefore I give praise to God, who
+has inclined my heart to the love of such great perfection. I entreat
+you to pardon my mad and foolhardy attempt, seeing that the issue of it
+has turned to your honour and to my great satisfaction."
+
+Florida was beginning to learn through him the deceitfulness of men;
+and, just as she had formerly found it difficult to believe in evil
+where it existed, so did she now find it even more difficult to believe
+in virtue where there was none.
+
+"Would to God you spoke the truth," she said to him; "but I am not so
+ignorant as not to know by my experience in marriage that the blindness
+of strong passion led you to act as you did. Had God given me a loose
+rein I am sure that you would not have drawn bridle. Those who go in
+quest of virtue are wont to take a different road to yours. But enough;
+if I have been too hasty in crediting you with some goodness, it is time
+I learned the truth, by which I am now delivered out of your hands."
+
+So saying, Florida left the room. As long as the night lasted she did
+nought but weep; for the change that had taken place caused her intense
+grief, and her heart had much ado to hold out against the sorrowing of
+love. Although, guided by reason, she had resolved to love no more, yet
+the heart, which cannot be subdued, would in no wise permit this. Thus
+she was unable to love him less than before, and knowing that love had
+been the cause of his offence, she made up her mind to satisfy love by
+continuing to love him with her whole heart, and to obey honour by never
+giving any sign of her affection either to him or to any one else.
+
+In the morning Amadour departed in the distress that I have described.
+Nevertheless his heart, which was so lofty that there was none like
+it in the world, suffered him not to despair, but prompted him to
+new devices for seeing Florida again and winning her favour. So as he
+proceeded to the King of Spain, who was then at Toledo, he took his way
+through the county of Aranda, where he arrived very late one evening,
+and found the Countess in great sadness on account of the absence of her
+daughter.
+
+When she saw Amadour she kissed and embraced him as though he had been
+her own son, and this no less for the love she herself bore him as for
+that which she suspected he had for Florida. She asked minutely for news
+of her daughter, and he told her what he could, though not the entire
+truth. However, he confessed the love which existed between them, and
+which Florida had always concealed; and he begged the Countess to aid
+him in hearing often of Florida, and to take her as speedily as possible
+to Aranda.
+
+At daybreak he went on his way, and when he had despatched his business
+with the King he left for the war. So sad was he and so changed in
+every way that ladies, captains, and acquaintances alike could scarcely
+recognise him.
+
+He now wore nothing but black, and this of a heavier pile than was
+needful as mourning for his dead wife; but indeed her death served only
+as a cloak for the sorrow that was in his heart. Thus Amadour spent
+three or four years without returning to Court.
+
+The Countess of Aranda hearing that Florida was changed and that it was
+pitiful to see her, sent for her, hoping that she would return home. The
+contrary, however, happened. When Florida learned that Amadour had
+told her mother of their love, and that she, although so discreet and
+virtuous, had approved of it, she was in extraordinary perplexity. On
+the one hand she perceived that if her mother, who had such great esteem
+for Amadour, were told the truth some mischief might befall the latter;
+and this even to save her life she would not have brought to pass, for
+she felt strong enough to punish his folly herself without calling on
+her kinsfolk for assistance. On the other hand she saw that, if she
+concealed the evil she knew of him, she would be constrained by her
+mother and all her friends to speak to him and show him favour, and this
+she feared would only strengthen his evil purpose. However, as he was
+a long way off, she kept her own counsel, and wrote to him whenever the
+Countess commanded her. Still her letters were such that he could see
+they were written more out of obedience than goodwill; and the grief
+he felt in reading them was as great as his joy had been in reading the
+earlier ones.
+
+At the end of two or three years, when he had performed so many noble
+deeds that all the paper in Spain could not contain the records of them,
+(19) he conceived a very skilful device, not indeed to win Florida's
+heart, which he looked upon as lost, but to gain the victory over his
+enemy, since such she had shown herself to be. He put aside all the
+promptings of reason and even the fear of death, and at the risk of
+his life resolved to act in the following way. He persuaded the chief
+Governor (20) to send him on an embassy to the King concerning some
+secret attempt against Leucate; (21) and he procured a command to
+take counsel with the Countess of Aranda about the matter before
+communicating it to the King.
+
+     19  Margaret, perhaps, wrote "All the paper of Spain could
+     not contain them," simply because Spanish paper was then of
+     very small size. Paper-making had, however, been almost
+     monopolised by Spain until the end of the thirteenth
+     century, the cotton used in the manufacture being imported
+     from the East.--M.
+
+     20  The Viceroy of Catalonia.--D.
+
+     21  Leucate, now a village, but said to have been a
+     flourishing town in the fourteenth century, lies near the
+     Mediterranean, at a few miles from Salces, and gives its
+     name to a large salt-water lake. Formerly fortified, it was
+     repeatedly besieged and burnt by the Spaniards; notably by
+     the Duke of Alba in 1503, after he had relieved Salces.--Ed.
+
+Then he came post haste to the county of Aranda, where he knew Florida
+to be, and secretly sent a friend to inform the Countess of his coming,
+praying her to keep it secret, and to grant him audience at nightfall
+without the knowledge of any one.
+
+The Countess, who was very pleased at his coming, spoke of it to
+Florida, and sent her to undress in her husband's room, that she might
+be ready when sent for after every one was gone to bed. Florida had not
+yet recovered from her first alarm, but she said nothing of it to her
+mother, and withdrew to an oratory in order to commend herself to Our
+Lord. While she was praying that her heart might be preserved from
+all evil affection, she remembered that Amadour had often praised her
+beauty, and that in spite of long illness it had not been impaired.
+Being, therefore, more willing to injure her beauty than suffer it to
+kindle an evil flame in the heart of an honourable gentleman, she took a
+stone which lay in the chapel and struck herself a grievous blow on the
+face so that her mouth, nose, and eyes were quite disfigured. Then,
+in order that no one might suspect it to be of her own doing, she let
+herself fall upon her face on leaving the chapel when summoned by the
+Countess, and cried out loudly. The Countess coming thither found her
+in this pitiful state, and forthwith caused her face to be dressed and
+bandaged.
+
+Then the Countess led her to her own apartment, and begged her to go
+to her room and entertain Amadour until she herself had got rid of her
+company. This Florida did, thinking that there were others with him.
+
+But when she found herself alone with him, and the door closed upon her,
+she was as greatly troubled as he was pleased. He thought that, by love
+or violence, he would now have what he desired; so he spoke to her, and
+finding that she made the same reply as before, and that even to save
+her life she would not change her resolve, he was beside himself with
+despair.
+
+"Before God, Florida," he said to her, "your scruples shall not rob me
+of the fruits of my labour. Since love, patience, and humble entreaty
+are of no avail, I will spare no strength of mine to gain the boon, upon
+which all its existence depends."
+
+Florida saw that his eyes and countenance were altered exceedingly, so
+that his complexion, naturally the fairest in the world, was now as red
+as fire, and his look, usually so gentle and pleasant, had become as
+horrible and furious as though fierce flames were blazing in his heart
+and face. In his frenzy he seized her delicate, weak hands in his own
+strong, powerful ones; and she, finding herself in such bondage that she
+could neither defend herself nor fly, thought that her only chance was
+to try whether he had not retained some traces of his former love, for
+the sake of which he might forego his cruelty. She therefore said to
+him--
+
+"If you now look upon me, Amadour, in the light of an enemy, I entreat
+you, by that pure love which I once thought was in your heart, to
+hearken to me before you put me to torture."
+
+Seeing that he became attentive, she continued--
+
+"Alas! Amadour, what can prompt you to seek after a thing that can
+afford you no satisfaction, and thus afflict me with the profoundest
+grief? You made trial of my inclinations in the days of my youth and
+earliest beauty, and they perhaps served to excuse your passion; but I
+am amazed that now, when I am old, and ugly, and sorrow-stricken, you
+should seek for what you know you can never find. I am sure you do not
+doubt that my mind is as it used to be, and so by force alone can you
+obtain what you desire. If you observe the condition of my face, and lay
+aside the memory of the beauty that once you saw in it, you will have no
+inclination to draw any nearer; and if you still retain within you any
+remnants of your past love, it is impossible that pity will not subdue
+your frenzy. To this pity, which I have often found in you, I appeal
+with prayers for mercy. Suffer me to live in peace, and in that honour
+which by your own counsel I have resolved to preserve. But if the love
+you once bore me is now turned to hate, and you desire, in vengeance
+rather than in love, to make me the unhappiest woman alive, I protest to
+you that it shall not be so. You will force me against my will to make
+your evil purpose known to her who thinks so highly of you; and you may
+be sure that, when she learns it, your life will not be safe."
+
+But Amadour interrupted her.
+
+"If I must die," he said, "I shall be the sooner rid of my torment.
+The disfigurement of your face, which I believe is of your own seeking,
+shall not restrain me from making you mine. Though I could have nothing
+but your bones, I would yet hold them close to me."
+
+When Florida saw that prayers, reasoning, and tears were alike of no
+avail, and that while he cruelly pursued his evil purpose she lacked
+the strength to resist him, she summoned the aid which she dreaded as
+greatly as death, and in a sad and piteous voice called as loudly as she
+could upon her mother. The Countess, hearing her daughter's cries,
+had grave misgivings of the truth, and hastened into the room with all
+possible speed.
+
+Amadour, who was not so ready to die as he affirmed, desisted promptly
+from his enterprise; and when the lady opened the door she found him
+close beside it, and Florida some distance from him. "Amadour," said the
+Countess, "what is the matter? Tell me the truth."
+
+Amadour, who was never at a loss for invention, replied with a pale and
+daunted face--
+
+"Alas! madam, what change is this in the lady Florida? I was never so
+astonished before, for, as I have told you, I thought I had a share in
+her favour; but I now see clearly that I have lost it all. While she was
+being brought up by you, she was, I think, no less discreet or virtuous
+than she is at present; however, she had then no qualms of conscience
+about speaking with any one. But now, when I sought to look at her, she
+would not suffer me to do so. When I saw this behaviour on her part I
+thought I must be dreaming, and asked her for her hand to kiss it after
+the manner of the country. This she utterly refused me. I acknowledge,
+madam, that then I acted wrongfully, and I entreat your pardon for it;
+for I took her hand, as it were by force, and kissed it. I asked nothing
+more of her, but I believe that she intends my death, for she called out
+to you as you know. Why she did this I cannot tell, unless indeed she
+feared that I had some other purpose in view. Nevertheless, madam, be
+this as it may, I confess that I am in the wrong; for although she ought
+to love all who are devoted to you, fortune wills it that I, who am of
+all most attached to her, am banished from her good graces. Still, I
+shall ever continue the same both to you and to her; and I entreat you
+to continue me in your good favour since, by no fault of my own, I have
+now lost hers."
+
+The Countess, who partly believed and partly suspected him, went up to
+her daughter and asked--"Why did you call me so loudly?"
+
+Florida replied that she had felt afraid; and, although the Countess
+questioned her minutely on many points, she would give no other reply.
+Finding that she had escaped from her enemy she deemed him sufficiently
+punished by the failure of his attempt.
+
+After the Countess had had a long conversation with Amadour, she
+suffered him to speak again in her presence with Florida, to see how
+he would behave. He said but little, save that he thanked her for not
+having confessed the truth to her mother, and begged that since she had
+expelled him from her heart, she would at least allow no other to take
+his place.
+
+"If my voice had not been my only means of defending myself," she
+replied, "it would never have been heard; and from me you shall have no
+worse punishment, if you do not force me to it by troubling me again as
+you have done. Do not fear that I can ever love another; since I have
+not found the good I wished for in a heart that I considered to be the
+most virtuous in the world, I do not expect to find it in any man. This
+evil fortune will henceforth free me of all the passion that love can
+give."
+
+With these words she bade him farewell.
+
+Her mother, who had been watching her face, was unable to form any
+opinion; though from that time forth she clearly saw that her daughter
+had lost all affection for Amadour. She imagined her so devoid of reason
+as to hate everything that she herself loved; and from that hour she
+warred with her in a strange way, spending seven years without speaking
+to her except in anger, all which she did at Amadour's request.
+
+Meanwhile, on account of her mother's harsh treatment, Florida's former
+dread of being with her husband was changed into a desire of never
+leaving him. Seeing, however, that all her efforts were useless, she
+resolved to deceive Amadour, and laying aside her coldness for a day
+or two, she advised him to pay court to a lady who, she said, had been
+speaking of their love.
+
+This lady lived with the Queen of Spain, and was called Loretta. Amadour
+believed the story, and, thinking that he might in this way regain
+Florida's good graces, he made love to Loretta, who was the wife of a
+captain, one of the viceroys of the King of Spain. She, in her pleasure
+at having gained such a lover, showed so much elation that the affair
+was rumoured abroad. Even the Countess of Aranda, who was at Court, had
+knowledge of it, and thenceforward treated Florida less harshly than
+before.
+
+One day Florida heard that the captain, Loretta's husband, had grown
+jealous, and was resolved to kill Amadour in one way or another as best
+he might. In spite of her altered treatment of Amadour, Florida did not
+desire that evil should befall him, and so she immediately informed
+him of what she had heard. He was quite ready to hark back again to his
+first love, and thereupon told her that, if she would grant him three
+hours of her conversation every day, he would never again speak to
+Loretta. But this she would not grant. "Then," said Amadour, "if you
+will not give me life, why prevent me from dying, unless indeed you hope
+to make me suffer more pain during life than any death could cause? But
+though death shun me, I will seek it until I find it; then only shall I
+have rest."
+
+While they were on this footing, news came that the King of Granada (22)
+was entering upon a great war against the King of Spain. The latter,
+therefore, sent the Prince, his son, (23) to the war, and with him the
+Constable of Castille and the Duke of Alba, (24) two old and prudent
+lords. The Duke of Cardona and the Count of Aranda were unwilling to
+remain behind, and prayed the King to give them some command. This
+he did as befitted their rank, and gave them into the safe keeping of
+Amadour, who performed such extraordinary deeds during the war, that
+they seemed to be acts as much of despair as of bravery.
+
+     22  The last King of Granada was Mahomed Boabdil, dethroned
+     in 1493. The title may have been assumed, however, by the
+     leader of an insurrection.--D.
+
+     23  As Ferdinand and Isabella had no son, the reference must
+     be to their daughter's husband, Philip the Fair of Austria,
+     son of the Emperor Maximilian I. and father of Charles V.--
+     B. J.
+
+     24  Frederick of Toledo, Marquis of Coria and Duke of Alba,
+     generally called the old Duke of Alba to distinguish him
+     from his son.--B. J.
+
+Coming now to the point of my story, I have to relate how his
+overboldness was proved by his death. The Moors had made a show of
+offering battle, and finding the Christian army very numerous had
+feigned a retreat. The Spaniards started in pursuit, but the old
+Constable and the Duke of Alba, who suspected the trickery of the Moors,
+restrained the Prince of Spain against his will from crossing the river.
+The Count of Aranda, however, and the Duke of Cardona crossed, although
+it was forbidden; and when the Moors saw that they were pursued by only
+a few men they faced about again. The Duke of Cardona was struck down
+and killed with a blow of a scimitar, and the Count of Aranda was so
+grievously wounded that he was left for dead. Thereupon Amadour came up
+filled with rage and fury, and bursting through the throng, caused the
+two bodies to be taken up and carried to the camp of the Prince, who
+mourned for them as for his own brothers. On examining their wounds the
+Count of Aranda was found to be still alive, and was sent in a litter
+to his home, where he lay ill for a long time. On the other hand, the
+Duke's body was sent back to Cardona.
+
+Meanwhile Amadour, having made this effort to rescue the two bodies, had
+thought so little of his own safety that he found himself surrounded by
+a large number of Moors. Not desiring his person to be captured any more
+than he had captured that of his mistress, nor to break his faith with
+God as he had broken faith with her--for he knew that, if he were taken
+to the King of Granada, he must either die a cruel death or renounce
+Christianity--he resolved to withhold from his enemies the glory
+either of his death or capture. So kissing the cross of his sword and
+commending his body and soul to God, he dealt himself such a thrust as
+to be past all help.
+
+Thus died the unhappy Amadour, lamented as deeply as his virtues
+deserved. The news spread through the whole of Spain; and the rumour of
+it came to Florida, who was at Barcelona, where her husband had formerly
+commanded that he should be buried. She gave him an honourable funeral,
+(25) and then, without saying anything to her mother or mother-in-law,
+she became a nun in the Convent of Jesus, taking for husband and lover
+Him who had delivered her from such a violent love as that of Amadour's,
+and from such great affliction as she had endured in the company of her
+husband. Thus were all her affections directed to the perfect loving of
+God; and, after living for a long time as a nun, she yielded up her soul
+with gladness, like that of the bride when she goes forth to meet the
+bridegroom.
+
+     25  The Franciscan monastery of the little village cf
+     Bellpuig, near Lerida, contains the tomb of Ramon de
+     Cardona, termed one of the marvels of Catalonia on account
+     of the admirable sculptures adorning it. One of the
+     beautiful white marble bas-reliefs shows a number of galleys
+     drawn up in line of battle, whilst some smaller boats are
+     conveying parties of armed men to a river-bank on which the
+     Moors are awaiting them in hostile array. On the frieze of
+     an arch the Spaniards and Moors are shown fighting, many of
+     the former retreating towards the water. An inscription
+     records that the tomb was raised to the best of husbands by
+     Isabella, his unhappy spouse.
+
+     Margaret gives the name of Florida to the wife of the Duke
+     whom she mentions, but it should be borne in mind that she
+     has systematically mingled fact with fiction throughout this
+     story; and that she was alluding to the Duke buried at
+     Bellpuig seems evident from an examination of the bas-
+     reliefs mentioned above. Ramon de Cardona was, however, a
+     more important personage than she pictures him. He became
+     Charles V.'s viceroy in Naples, and did not die till 1520,
+     whereas Margaret's story appears to end in or about 1513.
+     Possibly she saw the tomb when in Spain.--Ed.
+
+"I am well aware, ladies, that this long tale may have been wearisome
+to some among you, but had I told it as it was told to me it would have
+been longer still. Take example, I beg you, by the virtue of Florida,
+but be somewhat less cruel; and think not so well of any man that, when
+you are undeceived, you occasion him a cruel death and yourselves a life
+of sorrow."
+
+Having had a long and fair hearing Parlamente said to Hircan--
+
+"Do you not think that this lady was pressed to extremities and that she
+held out virtuously?"
+
+"No," said Hircan; "a woman can make no more feeble resistance than to
+cry out. If she had been in a place where none could hear her I do not
+know how she would have fared. And if Amadour had had more love and less
+fear he would not have desisted from his attempt for so little. So
+this story will not cause me to change my firm opinion that no man
+ever perfectly loved a lady, or was loved by her, that he did not prove
+successful if only he went the right way to work. Nevertheless, I must
+praise Amadour for having in part done his duty."
+
+"What duty?" asked Oisille. "Do you call it a lover's duty to try
+and take his mistress by force when he owes her all reverence and
+submission?"
+
+Here Saffredent took up the discourse.
+
+"Madam," he said, "when our mistresses hold their state in chamber or
+hall, seated at their ease as though they were our judges, we lead
+them to the dance in fear; we wait upon them with all diligence and
+anticipate their commands; and we are so afraid of offending them and so
+desirous of doing them service that those who see us pity us, and often
+deem us more witless than brutes. They account us dull and void of
+understanding, and give praise to the ladies, whose faces are so
+imperious and their speech so fair that they make themselves feared,
+loved, and honoured by those who only know them outwardly. But when we
+are together in private, and love alone can judge our behaviour, we
+know full well that they are women and we are men. Then is the name
+'mistress' changed to 'sweetheart,' and the 'slave' becomes a 'lover.'
+As the proverb says--'By service true and loyalty, do servants rise to
+mastery.' They have honour equally with men, who can give it to them and
+can take it away; and seeing us suffer in patience, they should reward
+us when they can do so without hurt to their honour."
+
+"You do not speak of that true honour," said Longarine, "which is the
+greatest happiness this world can give. If every one calls me a virtuous
+woman, and I myself know the contrary, the praise I receive only
+increases my shame and puts me in secret to still greater confusion. In
+the same way, if people condemn me and I know that I am innocent, their
+condemnation will only make me the better pleased with myself."
+
+"In spite of what you all have said," interposed Geburon, "it seems to
+me that Amadour was as noble and virtuous a knight as ever lived, and I
+think I can recognise him under his feigned name. Since Parlamente would
+not name him, neither will I. But you may rest assured that, if he be
+the man whom I have in mind, his heart never knew fear, nor was ever
+void of love and bravery."
+
+"The day has been spent so pleasantly," said Oisille, "that if the
+others are like it I think our talk will make the time pass quickly by.
+But see where the sun is, and listen to the abbey bell, which has long
+been calling us to vespers. I did not mention this to you before, for I
+was more inclined to hear the end of the story than to go to prayers."
+
+At these words they all rose, and when they reached the abbey they found
+that the monks had been waiting for them a full hour and more. After
+vespers they went to supper, and during the whole evening they conversed
+about the stories they had heard, all of them searching every corner of
+their memories to try and make the second day as pleasant as the first.
+And after playing many games in the meadow they went to bed, and so made
+a glad and happy ending of the first day.
+
+
+[Illustration: 083.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+
+
+
+SECOND DAY.
+
+_On the Second Day is recounted the first conceit that presents itself
+to each_.
+
+
+
+
+PROLOGUE.
+
+On the morrow they rose in great eagerness to return to the place where
+they had had so much pleasure on the previous day. Each one was ready
+with a tale, and was impatient for the telling of it. They listened
+to the reading of Madame Oisille, and then heard mass, all commending
+themselves to God, and praying Him to grant them speech and grace for
+the continuance of their fellowship. Afterwards they went to dinner,
+reminding one another the while of many stories of the past.
+
+After dinner, they rested in their apartments, and at the appointed time
+returned to the meadow, where day and season alike seemed favourable to
+their plans. They all sat down on the natural seat afforded by the green
+sward, and Parlamente said--
+
+"Yesterday I told the tenth and last tale; it is therefore for me to
+choose who shall begin to-day. Madame Oisille was the first of the
+ladies to speak, as being the oldest and wisest, and so I now give my
+vote to the youngest--I do not also say the flightiest--for I am sure
+that if we all follow her leading we shall not delay vespers so long
+as we did yesterday. Wherefore, Nomerfide, you shall lead us, but I beg
+that you will not cause us to begin our second day in tears."
+
+"There was no need to make that request," said Nomerfide, "for one of
+our number has made me choose a tale which has taken such a hold on me
+that I can tell no other; and should it occasion sadness in you, your
+natures must be melancholy ones indeed."
+
+[Illustration: 089.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XI._ (A).
+
+     _Madame de Roncex, while at the monastery of the Grey Friars
+     at Thouars, (1) was constrained to go in great haste to a
+     certain place, and, not looking to see whether the seats
+     were clean, sat down in a filthy spot and befouled both her
+     person and clothes; whereupon crying out for assistance, in
+     the hope that some woman would come and cleanse her, she was
+     waited on by men, who beheld her in the worst plight in
+     which a woman could be found_. (2)
+
+     1  In the department of the Deux-Sevres.--Ed.
+
+     2  This story, given in Boaistuau's version of Margaret's
+     tales, and to be found in most of the MS. copies of the
+     _Heptameron_ at the 'Paris Bibliotheque Nationale', was not
+     included in the edition issued by Gruget, who replaced it by
+     a story called _The jests made by a Grey Friar_, for which
+     see _post_, p. 95 _et seq_.--Ed.
+
+In the household of Madame de la Tremoille there was a lady named
+Roncex, who one day, when her mistress had gone to visit the monastery
+of the Grey Friars, found herself in great need to go to a certain place
+whither her maid could not go in her stead. She took with her a girl
+named La Mothe to keep her company, but being modest and unwilling to
+be seen, left her in the room, and went alone into a darksome privy,
+a place used in common by all the friars, who had given such a good
+account therein of all their victuals, that seat and floor, and in sooth
+the whole place, were thickly covered with the must of Bacchus and Ceres
+that had passed through the friars' bellies.
+
+The unhappy lady, who was so hard pressed that she had scarcely time to
+lift her dress, chanced to sit down in the foulest, dirtiest spot in the
+whole place, where she found herself stuck fast as though with glue, her
+poor hips, garments, and feet being so contaminated that she durst not
+take a step or turn on any side, for fear lest she should meet with
+something worse. Thereupon she began to call out as loudly as she
+could--
+
+"La Mothe, my child, I am ruined and undone!"
+
+The poor girl, who had formerly heard tell of the wickedness of the Grey
+Friars, and imagined that some of them were hidden there and were trying
+to take her mistress by force, thereupon ran off as hard as she could,
+saying to every one she met--
+
+"Come and help Madame de Roncex; the Grey Friars are trying to ravish
+her in yonder privy."
+
+They thereupon hastened thither with all speed, and found the unhappy
+lady crying out for assistance, longing for some woman to come and
+cleanse her, and with her back parts all uncovered, for she feared to
+touch them with her garments lest these also should be defiled.
+
+The gentlemen, coming in at her cries, beheld this fine sight, but could
+see nought of the Grey Friars, unless it were their ordure clinging to
+her hips; nor did this pass without laughter on their part and great
+shame on hers, for instead of having women to cleanse her, she was
+waited on by men, who saw her naked, and in the sorriest plight in which
+a woman could be found. For this reason, on perceiving them, she
+soiled what was still clean, by dropping her garments in order to cover
+herself, forgetting the filth that she was in for the shame she felt at
+sight of the men. And when she had come out of that foul place it was
+necessary to strip her naked and change all her garments before she
+could leave the monastery. She was minded to be angry with La Mothe for
+the aid that she had brought her, but finding that the poor girl had
+thought her in a yet more evil plight, she put aside her wrath and
+laughed like the rest. (3)
+
+     3  It is impossible to identify the lady mentioned in this
+     story, her name being spelt in so many ways in the various
+     MSS. of the _Heptameron_. It is given as Roncex in the copy
+     here followed, as Roubex in a copy that belonged to Louis
+     XVIII., and as Roncci in the De Thou MS., whilst Boaistuau
+     printed it as Roucey. The Madame de la Tremoille, alluded to
+     at the outset, is believed by Lacroix and Dillaye to have
+     been Anne de Laval (daughter of Guy XV., Count of Laval, and
+     of Charlotte of Aragon, Princess of Tarento), who married
+     Francis de la Tremoille, Viscount of Thouars, in 1521, and
+     was by her mother a cousin of Queen Margaret. Possibly,
+     however, the reference is to Gabrielle de Bourbon, wife of
+     Louis II. de la Tremoille, a lady of exemplary piety, who
+     erected the beautiful Renaissance chapel of the chateau of
+     Thouars.--L. & Ed.
+
+"I think, ladies," said Nomerfide, "that this story has proved neither
+long nor melancholy, and that I have given you what you expected."
+
+At this the company laughed heartily, and Oisille said--"The story is
+indeed nasty and unclean, yet, knowing the persons who fared in this
+manner, we cannot consider it unwelcome. Gladly would I have seen the
+faces of La Mothe and of the lady to whom she brought such timely aid.
+But now," she added to Nomerfide, "since you have finished so soon, give
+your vote to some one whose thoughts are of a graver turn."
+
+"Since you desire me to atone for my fault," answered Nomerfide, "I give
+my vote to Dagoucin, whose discretion is such that he would die rather
+than say anything foolish."
+
+Dagoucin then thanked her for the esteem in which she held his good
+sense, and thus began--"The story I am minded to relate is intended to
+show you how love blinds the greatest and most honourable hearts, and
+how hard it is to overcome wickedness by any kindness whatsoever."
+
+[Illustration: 093.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 095a.jpg The Grey Friar telling his Tales]
+
+[The Grey Friar telling his Tales]
+
+[Illustration: 095.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XI._ (B).
+
+     _Of the jests made by a Grey Friar in his sermons_. (1)
+
+     1  See _ante_, p. 89, note 2, _and post_. Appendix B.
+
+Near the town of Blere in Touraine there is a village called St.
+Martin-le-Beau, whither a Grey Friar belonging to the monastery at
+Tours was summoned to preach during the seasons of Advent and Lent.
+This friar, who was more garrulous than learned, and now and then found
+himself at a loss for matter to eke out his hour, would thereupon begin
+telling tales which more or less agreeably satisfied the good villagers.
+
+One Holy Thursday he preached about the Paschal Lamb, and while speaking
+of how it was eaten at night, seeing that there were present at the
+preaching some handsome young ladies of Amboise, who were newly
+arrived to keep Easter at the village, and to stay there for a few days
+afterwards, he wished to surpass himself, and thereupon asked all the
+women-folk whether they knew what it was to eat raw flesh at night. "I
+will tell you what it is, ladies," he said, whereat the young men of
+Amboise, who had just arrived with their wives, sisters, and nieces, and
+who had no knowledge of the pilgrim's humour, began to be scandalised;
+though on listening further their indignation gave place to laughter,
+even when he said that to eat the lamb it was needful to have one's
+loins girt, one's feet in one's shoes, and one's hand on one's staff.
+
+The friar, seeing them laugh at this, and guessing the reason,
+immediately corrected himself. "Well," said he, "to have shoes on one's
+feet and a staff in one's hand; 'tis all one."
+
+That this sally was received with laughter you will readily believe.
+Even the ladies could not refrain from merriment, and for them he
+added other diverting sayings. Then finding the time was nearly up, and
+wishing the ladies to be well pleased with him when they departed, he
+said to them--"Now, fair ladies, when you are chatting presently with
+your gossips, you will be asking one another: 'Who, pray, is this Master
+Friar, that speaks out so boldly? He must be a brisk fellow.' I will
+tell you, ladies, yes, I will tell you, and be not astonished if I speak
+out boldly, for I am of Anjou, at your service."
+
+With these words he ended his sermon, leaving his hearers more disposed
+to laugh at his foolish speeches than to weep in memory of our Lord's
+Passion which was then being commemorated.
+
+The other sermons that he preached during the festival had much the
+same value. You are aware that these friars never fail to go begging
+for their Easter eggs, and receive not only eggs, but many other things,
+such as linen, yarn, chitterlings, hams, chines, and similar trifles. So
+when Easter Tuesday came, and the friar was making those exhortations to
+charity of which such folks as he are no niggards, he said--
+
+"I am bound to thank you, ladies, for the liberality you have shown to
+our poor monastery, and yet I cannot forbear telling you that you have
+hitherto not duly considered the nature of our wants. You have for the
+most part given us chitterlings, but of these we ourselves have no lack.
+God be praised, our monastery is indeed full of them. What then can we
+do with so many? I will tell you. My advice, ladies, is that you should
+mix your hams with our chitterlings; in this way you would bestow fine
+alms."
+
+Then, continuing his sermon, he brought into it certain scandalous
+matter, and, whilst discoursing upon it somewhat bluntly and quoting
+sundry examples, he said in apparent amazement--
+
+"Truly, ladies and gentlemen of Saint-Martin, I am greatly astonished
+that you should be scandalised so unreasonably at what is less than
+nothing, and should tell tales of me wherever you go, saying: 'It is a
+big business; who could have thought that the father would have got
+his landlady's daughter with child?' A monk get a girl with child!" he
+continued; "forsooth, what a wonder! But hark you, fair ladies, would
+you not rather have had cause for wonderment, had the girl acted thus by
+the monk?"
+
+"Such, ladies, was the wholesome food on which this worshipful shepherd
+fed the Lord's flock. And so brazen was he, that after committing the
+sin, he spake openly of it in the pulpit, where nought should be said
+that tends to aught but the edification of one's neighbour, and above
+all to the glory of God."
+
+"Truly," said Saffredent, "he was a master monk--I should have liked
+him nearly as well as Brother Anjibaut, who gets credit for all the
+jests that are spoken in merry company."
+
+"For my part, I can see nothing laughable in such mockery," said
+Oisille, "especially in such a place."
+
+"You forget, madam," said Nomerfide, "that at that time, though it
+was not so very long ago, the good villagers, and indeed most of the
+dwellers in the large towns, who think themselves cleverer than other
+people, had greater regard for such preachers as he than for those who
+purely and simply preached the holy Gospel to them."
+
+"However that may be," said Hircan, "he was not wrong in asking for hams
+in exchange for chitterlings, for in hams there is far more eating. And
+even if some devout creature had understood him amphibologically, as I
+believe he wished to be understood, neither he nor his brethren would
+have fared badly any more than the wench that had her bag full."
+
+"But how impudent of him," said Oisille, "to pervert the meaning of
+the text to suit his fancy, thinking that he had to do with beasts like
+himself, and shamelessly trying to entice the poor little women so that
+he might teach them how to eat raw flesh at night."
+
+"True," said Simontault; "but you forget that he saw before him those
+young tripe-sellers of Amboise in whose tub he would fain have washed
+his ------ shall I name it? No, but you understand me--and have treated
+them to a taste of it, not roasted, but stirring and frisking, so as to
+please them the more."
+
+"Softly, softly, Simontault," said Parlamente; "you forget yourself.
+Have you laid aside your accustomed modesty to don it only in time of
+necessity?"
+
+"No, madam, no," said he; "'twas the unworthy monk that led me astray.
+Wherefore, that we may return to the matter in hand, I beg Nomerfide,
+who caused my offence, to give her vote to some one who will make the
+company forget our common fault."
+
+"Since you include me in your transgression," said Nomerfide, "I will
+choose one who will atone for our failings, that is Dagoucin. He is so
+discreet that to save his life he would not say a foolish thing."
+
+[Illustration: 100.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 101a.jpg The Gentleman killing the Duke]
+
+[The Gentleman killing the Duke]
+
+[Illustration: 101.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XII_.
+
+     _The Duke of Florence, having continually failed to make
+     known to a certain lady the love he bore her, confided in
+     her brother, and begged his assistance that he might attain
+     his ends. This, after many remonstrances, the brother agreed
+     to give, but it was a lip-promise only, for at the moment
+     when the Duke was expecting to vanquish her whom he had
+     deemed invincible, the gentleman slew him in his bed, in
+     this fashion freeing his country from a tyrant, and saving
+     both his own life and the honour of his house_. (1)
+
+     1  The basis of this story is historical. The event here
+     described--one of the most famous in the annals of
+     Florence--furnished Alfred de Musset with the subject of his
+     play _Lorenzaccio_, and served as the foundation of _The
+     Traitor_, considered to be Shirley's highest achievement as
+     a dramatic poet. As Queen Margaret's narrative contains
+     various errors of fact, Sismondi's account of the affair, as
+     borrowed by him from the best Italian historians, is given
+     in the Appendix, C--Eu.
+
+Ten years ago there reigned in the city of Florence a Duke of the house
+of Medici who had married the Emperor's natural daughter, Margaret.
+(2) She was still so young that the marriage could not be lawfully
+consummated, and, waiting till she should be of a riper age, the Duke
+treated her with great gentleness, and to spare her, made love to
+various ladies of the city, whom he was wont to visit at night, whilst
+his wife was sleeping.
+
+     2  The Duke here referred to was Alexander de' Medici, first
+     Duke of Florence, in which city he was born in 1510. His
+     mother, a slave named Anna, was the wife of a Florentine
+     coachman, but Lorenzo II. de' Medici, one of this woman's
+     lovers, acknowledged him as his offspring, though, according
+     to some accounts, his real father was one of the popes,
+     Clement VII. or Julius II. After the Emperor Charles V. had
+     made himself master of Florence in 1530, he confided the
+     governorship of the city to Alexander, upon whom he bestowed
+     the title of Duke. Two years later Alexander threw off the
+     imperial control, and soon afterwards embarked on a career
+     of debauchery and crime. In 1536, Charles V., being desirous
+     of obtaining the support of Florence against France, treated
+     with Alexander, and gave him the hand of his illegitimate
+     daughter, Margaret. The latter--whose mother was Margaret
+     van Gheenst, a Flemish damsel of noble birth--was at that
+     time barely fourteen, having been born at Brussels in 1522.
+     The Queen of Navarre's statements concerning the
+     youthfulness of the Duchess are thus corroborated by fact.
+     After the death of Alexander de' Medici, his widow was
+     married to Octavius Farnese, Duke of Parma, who was then
+     only twelve years old, but by whom she eventually became the
+     mother of the celebrated Alexander Farnese. Margaret of
+     Austria occupies a prominent place in the history of the
+     Netherlands, which she governed during a lengthy period for
+     her brother Philip II. She died in retirement at Ortonna in
+     Italy in 1586.--L. and Ed.
+
+Among these there was one very beautiful, discreet, and honourable lady,
+sister to a gentleman whom the Duke loved even as himself, and to whom
+he gave such authority in his household that his orders were feared and
+obeyed equally with the Duke's own. And moreover the Duke had no secrets
+that he did not share with this gentleman, so that the latter might have
+been called his second-self. (3)
+
+     3  The gentleman here mentioned was the Duke's cousin,
+     Lorenzo di Pier-Francesco de' Medici, commonly called
+     Lorenzino on account of his short stature. He was born at
+     Florence in 1514, and, being the eldest member of the junior
+     branch of the Medici family, it had been decided by the
+     Emperor Charles V. that he should succeed to the Dukedom of
+     Florence, if Alexander died without issue. Lorenzino
+     cultivated letters, and is said to have possessed
+     considerable wit, but, on the other hand, instead of being a
+     high-minded man, as Queen Margaret pictures him, he was a
+     thorough profligate, and willingly lent a hand in
+     Alexander's scandalous amours. The heroine of this story is
+     erroneously described as Lorenzino's sister; in point of
+     fact she was his aunt, Catherine Ginori. See Appendix, C.--
+     Ed.
+
+Finding the gentleman's sister to be a lady of such exemplary virtue
+that he was unable to declare his passion to her, though he sought
+all possible opportunities for doing so, the Duke at last came to his
+favourite and said to him--
+
+"If there were anything in this world, my friend, that I might be
+unwilling to do for you, I should hesitate to tell you what is in my
+mind, and still more to beg your assistance. But such is the affection
+I bear you that had I wife, mother, or daughter who could avail to
+save your life, I would sacrifice them rather than allow you to die in
+torment. I believe that your love for me is the counterpart of mine for
+you, and that if I, who am your master, bear you so much affection,
+you, on your part, can have no less for me. I will therefore tell you a
+secret, the keeping of which has brought me to the condition you see. I
+have no hope of any improvement except it be through death or else the
+service which you are in a position to render me."
+
+On hearing these words from the Duke, and seeing his face unfeignedly
+bathed in tears, the gentleman felt such great pity for him that he
+said--
+
+"Sir, I am your creature: all the wealth and honour that I am possessed
+of in this world come from you. You may speak to me as to your own
+soul, in the certainty that all that it be in my power to do is at your
+command."
+
+Thereupon the Duke began to tell him of the love he bore his sister,
+a love so deep and strong that he feared he could not live much longer
+unless, by the gentleman's help, he succeeded in satisfying his desire.
+He was well aware that neither prayers nor presents would be of any
+avail with the lady, wherefore he begged the gentleman--if he cared for
+his master's life as much as he, his master, cared for his--to devise
+some means of procuring him the good fortune which, without such
+assistance, he could never hope to obtain.
+
+The brother, who loved his sister and the honour of his house far
+more than the Duke's pleasure, endeavoured to remonstrate with him,
+entreating that he might be employed for any other purpose save the
+cruel task of soliciting the dishonour of his own kin, and declaring
+that the rendering of such a service was contrary alike to his
+inclinations and his honour.
+
+Inflamed with excessive wrath, the Duke raised his hand to his mouth and
+bit his nails.
+
+"Well," said he in a fury, "since I find that you have no friendship for
+me, I know what I have to do."
+
+The gentleman, who was acquainted with his master's cruelty, felt
+afraid, and answered--
+
+"My lord, since such is your pleasure, I will speak to her, and tell you
+her reply."
+
+"If you show concern for my life, I shall show it for yours," replied
+the Duke, and thereupon he went away.
+
+The gentleman well understood the meaning of these words, and spent a
+day or two without seeing the Duke, considering what he should do. On
+the one hand he was confronted by the duty he owed his master, and the
+wealth and honours he had received from him; on the other by the honour
+of his house, and the fair fame and chastity of his sister. He well
+knew that she would never submit to such infamy unless through his own
+treachery she were overcome by violence, so unnatural a deed that if it
+were committed he and his kindred would be disgraced for ever. In this
+dilemma he decided that he would sooner die than so ill use his sister,
+who was one of the noblest women in all Italy, and ought rather to
+deliver his country of this tyrant who, abusing his power, sought to
+cast such a slur upon his family; for he felt sure that if the Duke
+were suffered to live, neither his own life nor the lives of his kindred
+would be safe. So without speaking of the matter to his sister or to any
+living creature, he determined to save his life and vindicate his honour
+at one and the same time. Accordingly, when a couple of days had gone
+by, he went to the Duke and told him that with infinite difficulty he
+had so wrought upon his sister that she had at last consented to do his
+will, provided that the matter were kept secret, and none but he, her
+brother, knew of it.
+
+The Duke, who was longing for these tidings, readily believed them, and
+embracing the ambassador, promised him anything that he might ask. He
+begged him to put his scheme quickly into execution, and they agreed
+together upon the time when this should be done. The Duke was in great
+joy, as may well be imagined; and on the arrival of that wished-for
+night when he hoped to vanquish her whom he had deemed invincible, he
+retired early, accompanied only by the lady's brother, and failed not to
+attire himself in a perfumed shirt and head-gear. Then, when every one
+was gone to rest, he went with the gentleman to the lady's abode, where
+he was conducted into a well-appointed apartment.
+
+Having undressed him and put him to bed, the gentleman said--
+
+"My lord, I will now go and fetch you one who will assuredly not enter
+this room without blushing; but I hope that before morning she will have
+lost all fear of you."
+
+Leaving the Duke, he then went to his own room, where he found one of
+his servants, to whom he said--
+
+"Are you brave enough to follow me to a place where I desire to avenge
+myself upon my greatest living enemy?"
+
+The other, who was ignorant of his master's purpose, replied--
+
+"Yes, sir, though it were the Duke himself."
+
+Thereupon the gentleman led him away in such haste as to leave him no
+time to take any weapon except a poignard that he was wearing.
+
+The Duke, on hearing the gentleman coming back again, thought that he
+was bringing the loved one with him, and, opening his eyes, drew back
+the curtains in order to see and welcome the joy for which he had so
+long been waiting. But instead of seeing her who, so he hoped, was to
+preserve his life, he beheld something intended to take his life away,
+that is, a naked sword which the gentleman had drawn, and with which he
+smote the Duke. The latter was wearing nothing but his shirt, and lacked
+weapons, though not courage, for sitting up in the bed he seized the
+gentleman round the body, saying--
+
+"Is this the way you keep your promise?"
+
+Then, armed as he was only with his teeth and nails, he bit the
+gentleman's thumb, and wrestled with him so stoutly that they both fell
+down beside the bed.
+
+The gentleman, not feeling altogether confident, called to his servant,
+who, finding the Duke and his master so closely twined together that
+he could not tell the one from the other, dragged them both by the feet
+into the middle of the room, and then tried to cut the Duke's throat
+with his poignard. The Duke defended himself until he was so exhausted
+through loss of blood that he could do no more, whereupon the gentleman
+and his servant lifted him upon the bed and finished him with their
+daggers. They then drew the curtain and went away, leaving the dead body
+shut up in the room.
+
+Having vanquished his great enemy, by whose death he hoped to free
+his country, the gentleman reflected that his work would be incomplete
+unless he treated five or six of the Duke's kindred in the same fashion.
+The servant, however, who was neither a dare-devil nor a fool, said to
+him--
+
+"I think, sir, that you have done enough for the present, and that it
+would be better to think of saving your own life than of taking the
+lives of others, for should we be as long in making away with each of
+them as we were in the case of the Duke, daylight would overtake our
+enterprise before we could complete it, even should we find our enemies
+unarmed."
+
+Cowed by his guilty conscience, the gentleman followed the advice of his
+servant, and taking him alone with him, repaired to a Bishop (4) whose
+office it was to have the city gates opened, and to give orders to the
+guard-posts.
+
+     4  Probably Cardinal Cybo, Alexander's chief minister, who
+     according to Sismondi, was the first to discover the
+     murder.--Ed.
+
+"I have," said the gentleman to the Bishop, "this evening received
+tidings that one of my brothers is at the point of death. I have just
+asked leave of the Duke to go to him, and he has granted it me; and
+I beg you to send orders that the guards may furnish me with two good
+horses, and that the gatekeeper may let me through."
+
+The Bishop, who regarded the gentleman's request in the same light as an
+order from his master the Duke, forthwith gave him a note, by means of
+which the gate was opened for him, and horses supplied to him as he had
+requested; but instead of going to see his brother he betook himself
+straight to Venice, where he had himself cured of the bites that he had
+received from the Duke, and then passed over into Turkey. (5)
+
+     5  On leaving Florence, Lorenzo repaired first to Bologna
+     and then to Venice, where he informed Philip Strozzi of how
+     he had rid his country of the tyrant. After embracing him in
+     a transport, and calling him the Tuscan Brutus, Strozzi
+     asked the murderer's sisters, Laudamina and Magdalen de'
+     Medici, in marriage for his own sons, Peter and Robert. From
+     Venice Lorenzino issued a _memoire justificatif_, full of
+     quibbles and paradoxes, in which he tried to explain his
+     lack of energy after the murder by the indifference shown by
+     the Florentines. He took no part in the various enterprises
+     directed against Cosmo de' Medici, who had succeeded
+     Alexander at Florence. Indeed his chief concern was for his
+     own safety, which was threatened alike by Cosmo and the
+     Emperor Charles V., and to escape their emissaries he
+     proceeded to Turkey, and thence to France, ultimately
+     returning to Venice, where, despite all his precautions
+     against danger, he was assassinated in 1547, together with
+     his uncle, Soderini, by some spadassins in the pay of Cosmo
+     I.--Ed.
+
+In the morning, finding that their master delayed his return so long,
+all the Duke's servants suspected, rightly enough, that he had gone to
+see some lady; but at last, as he still failed to return, they began
+seeking him on all sides. The poor Duchess, who was beginning to love
+him dearly, was sorely distressed on learning that he could not be
+found; and as the gentleman to whom he bore so much affection was
+likewise nowhere to be seen, some went to his house in quest of him.
+They found blood on the threshold of the gentleman's room, which they
+entered, but he was not there, nor could any servant or other person
+give any tidings of him. Following the blood-stains, however, the Duke's
+servants came at last to the room in which their master lay. The door
+of it was locked, but this they soon broke open, and on seeing the floor
+covered with blood they drew back the bed-curtain, and found the unhappy
+Duke's body lying in the bed, sleeping the sleep from which one cannot
+awaken.
+
+You may imagine the mourning of these poor servants as they carried
+the body to the palace, whither came the Bishop, who told them how the
+gentleman had departed with all speed during the night under pretence of
+going to see his brother. And by this it was clearly shown that it was
+he who had committed the murder. And it was further proved that his poor
+sister had known nothing whatever of the matter. For her part, albeit
+she was astounded by what had happened, she could but love her brother
+the more, seeing that he had not shrunk from risking his life in order
+to save her from so cruel a tyrant. And so honourable and virtuous was
+the life that she continued leading, that although she was reduced to
+poverty by the confiscation of the family property, both she and her
+sister found as honourable and wealthy husbands as there were in all
+Italy, and lived ever afterwards in high and good repute.
+
+"This, ladies, is a story that should make you dread that little god who
+delights in tormenting Prince and peasant, strong and weak, and so far
+blinds them that they lose all thought of God and conscience, and even
+of their own lives. And greatly should Princes and those in authority
+fear to offend such as are less than they; for there is no man but can
+wreak injury when it pleases God to take vengeance on a sinner, nor any
+man so great that he can do hurt to one who is in God's care."
+
+This tale was commended by all in the company, (6) but it gave rise
+to different opinions among them, for whilst some maintained that the
+gentleman had done his duty in saving his own life and his sister's
+honour, as well as in ridding his country of such a tyrant, others
+denied this, and said it was rank ingratitude to slay one who had
+bestowed on him such wealth and station. The ladies declared that the
+gentleman was a good brother and a worthy citizen; the men, on the
+contrary, that he was a treacherous and wicked servant.
+
+     6  In MS. No. 1520 (Bib. Nat.) this sentence begins: "The
+     tale was attentively listened to by all," &c.--L.
+
+And pleasant was it to hear the reasons which were brought forward on
+both sides; but the ladies, as is their wont, spoke as much from passion
+as from judgment, saying that the Duke was so well worthy of death that
+he who struck him down was a happy man indeed.
+
+Then Dagoucin, seeing what a controversy he had set on foot, said to
+them--
+
+"In God's name, ladies, do not quarrel about a thing that is past and
+gone. Take care rather that your own charms do not occasion more cruel
+murders than the one which I have related."
+
+"'La belle Dame sans Mercy,'" (7) replied Parlamente, "has taught us to
+say that but few die of so pleasing an ailment."
+
+     7  _La belle Dame sans Merci_ (The Pitiless Beauty) is one
+     of Alain Chartier's best known poems. It is written in the
+     form of a dialogue between a lady and her lover: the former
+     having obstinately refused to take compassion on the
+     sufferings of her admirer, the latter is said to have died
+     of despair. The lines alluded to by Margaret are spoken by
+     the lady, and are to the following effect--"So graceful a
+     malady seldom puts men to death; yet the sooner to obtain
+     comfort, it is fitting one should say that it did. Some
+     complain and worry greatly who have not really felt the most
+     bitter affliction; and if indeed Love doth cause such great
+     torment, surely it were better there should be but one
+     sufferer rather than two." The poem, as here quoted, will be
+     found in Andre Duchesne's edition of the _OEuvres de Maistre
+     Alain Chartier_, Paris, 1617, p. 502.--L.
+
+"Would to God, madam," answered Dagoucin, "that all the ladies in this
+company knew how false that saying is. I think they would then scarcely
+wish to be called pitiless, or to imitate that unbelieving beauty who
+suffered a worthy lover to die for lack of a gracious answer to his
+suit."
+
+"So," said Parlamente, "you would have us risk honour and conscience to
+save the life of a man who says he loves us."
+
+"That is not my meaning," replied Dagoucin, "for he who loves with a
+perfect love would be even more afraid of hurting his lady's honour than
+would she herself. I therefore think that an honourable and graceful
+response, such as is called for by perfect and seemly love, must tend to
+the increase of honour and the satisfaction of conscience, for no true
+lover could seek the contrary."
+
+"That is always the end of your speeches," said Ennasuite; "they begin
+with honour and end with the contrary. However, if all the gentlemen
+present will tell the truth of the matter, I am ready to believe them on
+their oaths."
+
+Hircan swore that for his own part he had never loved any woman but
+his own wife, and even with her had no desire to be guilty of any gross
+offence against God.
+
+Simontault declared the same, and added that he had often wished all
+women were froward excepting his own wife.
+
+"Truly," said Geburon to him, "you deserve that your wife should be what
+you would have the others. For my own part, I can swear to you that I
+once loved a woman so dearly that I would rather have died than have led
+her to do anything that might have diminished my esteem for her. My love
+for her was so founded upon her virtues, that for no advantage that I
+might have had of her would I have seen them blemished."
+
+At this Saffredent burst out laughing.
+
+"Geburon," he said, "I thought that your wife's affection and your own
+good sense would have guarded you from the danger of falling in love
+elsewhere, but I see that I was mistaken, for you still use the very
+phrases with which we are wont to beguile the most subtle of women, and
+to obtain a hearing from the most discreet. For who would close her ears
+against us when we begin our discourse by talking of honour and virtue?
+(8) But if we were to show them our hearts just as they are, there is
+many a man now welcome among the ladies whom they would reckon of but
+little account. But we hide the devil in our natures under the most
+angelic form we can devise, and in this disguise receive many favours
+before we are found out. And perhaps we lead the ladies' hearts so far
+forward, that when they come upon vice while believing themselves on the
+high road to virtue, they have neither opportunity nor ability to draw
+back again."
+
+     8  This sentence is borrowed from MS. No. 1520 (Bib. Nat.)--
+     L.
+
+"Truly," said Geburon, "I thought you a different man than your words
+would show you to be, and fancied that virtue was more pleasing to you
+than pleasure."
+
+"What!" said Saffredent. "Is there any virtue greater than that of
+loving in the way that God commands? It seems to me that it is much
+better to love one woman as a woman than to adore a number of women as
+though they were so many idols. For my part, I am firmly of opinion that
+use is better than abuse."
+
+The ladies, however, all sided with Geburon, and would not allow
+Saffredent to continue, whereupon he said--
+
+"I am well content to say no more on this subject of love, for I have
+been so badly treated with regard to it that I will never return to it
+again."
+
+"It is your own maliciousness," said Longarine, "that has occasioned
+your bad treatment; for what virtuous woman would have you for a lover
+after what you have told us?"
+
+"Those who did not consider me unwelcome," answered Saffredent, "would
+not care to exchange their virtue for yours. But let us say no more
+about it, that my anger may offend neither myself nor others. Let us see
+to whom Dagoucin will give his vote."
+
+"I give it to Parlamente," said Dagoucin, "for I believe that she must
+know better than any one else the nature of honourable and perfect
+love."
+
+"Since I have been chosen to tell the third tale," said Parlamente, "I
+will tell you something that happened to a lady who has always been one
+of my best friends, and whose thoughts have never been hidden from me."
+
+[Illustration: 117.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 119a.jpg The Sea-captain talking to the Lady]
+
+[The Sea-captain talking to the Lady]
+
+[Illustration: 119.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XIII_.
+
+_A sea-captain, being greatly in love with a lady, sent her a diamond;
+but she despatched it to his wife, whom he had long neglected, and in
+this wise so atoned for his conduct that his wife was reconciled to him
+in perfect affection_. (1)
+
+     1   M. Le Roux de Lincy believes that this story has some
+     historical basis, and, Louise of Savoy being termed the
+     Regent, he assigns the earlier incidents to the year 1524.
+     But Louise was Regent, for the first time, in 1515, and we
+     incline to the belief that Queen Margaret alludes to this
+     earlier period. Note the reference to a Court journey to
+     Normandy (post, p. 136), which was probably the journey that
+     Francis I. and his mother are known to have made to Rouen
+     and Alencon in the autumn of 1517. See vol. i. p. xxviii.--
+     Ed. 2  119
+
+In the household of the Lady-Regent, mother of King Francis, there was
+a very pious lady married to a gentleman of like mind with herself, and,
+albeit her husband was old and she was young and pretty, she served and
+loved him as though he had been the handsomest and youngest man in the
+world. So that she might give him no cause for sorrow, she set herself
+to live as though she were of the same age as himself, eschewing all
+such company, dress, dances, and amusements as young women are wont to
+love, and finding all her pleasure and recreation in the service of God;
+on which account her husband so loved and trusted her, that she ruled
+him and his household as she would.
+
+One day it happened that the gentleman told his wife that from his youth
+up he had desired to make a journey to Jerusalem, and asked her what she
+thought of it. She, whose only wish was to please him, replied--
+
+"Since God has withheld children from us, sweetheart, and has granted
+us sufficient wealth, I would willingly use some portion of it in making
+this sacred journey with you, for indeed, whether you go thither or
+elsewhere, I am resolved never to leave you."
+
+At this the good man was so pleased, that it seemed to him as though he
+were already on Mount Calvary.
+
+While they were deliberating on this matter, there came to the Court
+a gentleman, the Captain of a galley, who had often served in the wars
+against the Turks, (2) and was now soliciting the King of France to
+undertake an expedition against one of their cities, which might yield
+great advantage to Christendom. The old gentleman inquired of him
+concerning this expedition, and after hearing what he intended to do,
+asked him whether, on the completion of this business, he would make
+another journey to Jerusalem, whither he himself and his wife had a
+great desire to go. The Captain was well pleased on hearing of this
+laudable desire, and he promised to conduct them thither, and to keep
+the matter secret.
+
+     2   M. Paul Lacroix, who believes that the heroine of this
+     tale is Margaret herself (she is described as telling it
+     under the name of Parlamente), is also of opinion that the
+     gentleman referred to is the Baron de Malleville, a knight
+     of Malta, who was killed at Beyrout during an expedition
+     against the Turks, and whose death was recounted in verse by
+     Clement Marot (_OEuvres_, 1731, vol. ii. p. 452-455).
+     Margaret's gentleman, however, is represented as being
+     married, whereas M. de Malleville, as a knight of Malta, was
+     necessarily a bachelor. Marot, moreover, calls Malleville a
+     Parisian, whereas the gentleman in the tale belonged to
+     Normandy (see _post_, p. 136).--B. J. and L.
+
+The old gentleman was all impatience to find his wife and tell her of
+what he had done. She was as anxious to make the journey as her husband,
+and on that account often spoke about it to the Captain, who, paying
+more attention to her person than her words, fell so deeply in love
+with her, that when speaking to her of the voyages he had made, he often
+confused the port of Marseilles with the Archipelago, and said "horse"
+when he meant to say "ship," like one distracted and bereft of sense.
+Her character, however, was such that he durst not give any token of
+the truth, and concealment kindled such fires in his heart that he often
+fell sick, when the lady showed as much solicitude for him as for the
+cross and guide of her road, (3) sending to inquire after him so often
+that the anxiety she showed cured him without the aid of any other
+medicine.
+
+     3  This may simply be an allusion to wayside crosses which
+     serve to guide travellers on their road. M. de Montaiglon
+     points out, however, that in the alphabets used for teaching
+     children in the olden time, the letter A was always preceded
+     by a cross, and that the child, in reciting, invariably
+     began: "The cross of God, A, B, C, D," &c. In a like way, a
+     cross figured at the beginning of the guide-books of the
+     time, as a symbol inviting the traveller to pray, and
+     reminding him upon whom he should rely amid the perils of
+     his journey. The best known French guide-book of the
+     sixteenth century is Charles Estienne's _Guide des Chemins
+     de France_.--M. and Ed.
+
+Several persons who knew that this Captain had been more renowned for
+valour and jollity than for piety, were amazed that he should have
+become so intimate with this lady, and seeing that he had changed in
+every respect, and frequented churches, sermons, and confessions, they
+suspected that this was only in order to win the lady's favour, and
+could not refrain from hinting as much to him.
+
+The Captain feared that if the lady should hear any such talk he would
+be banished from her presence, and accordingly he told her husband and
+herself that he was on the point of being despatched on his journey by
+the King, and had much to tell them, but that for the sake of greater
+secrecy he did not desire to speak to them in the presence of others,
+for which reason he begged them to send for him when they had both
+retired for the night. The gentleman deemed this to be good advice, and
+did not fail to go to bed early every evening, and to make his wife also
+undress. When all their servants had left them, they used to send for
+the Captain, and talk with him about the journey to Jerusalem, in the
+midst of which the old gentleman would oft-times fall asleep with his
+mind full of pious thoughts. When the Captain saw the old gentleman
+asleep in bed, and found himself on a chair near her whom he deemed the
+fairest and noblest woman in the world, his heart was so rent between
+his desires and his dread of speaking that he often lost the power
+of speech. In order that she might not perceive this, he would force
+himself to talk of the holy places of Jerusalem where there were such
+signs of the great love that Jesus Christ bore us; and he would speak of
+this love, using it as a cloak for his own, and looking at the lady
+with sighs and tears which she never understood. By reason of his devout
+countenance she indeed believed him to be a very holy man, and begged of
+him to tell her what his life had been, and how he had come to love God
+in that way.
+
+He told her that he was a poor gentleman, who, to arrive at riches and
+honour, had disregarded his conscience in marrying a woman who was too
+close akin to him, and this on account of the wealth she possessed,
+albeit she was ugly and old, and he loved her not; and when he had drawn
+all her money from her, he had gone to seek his fortune at sea, and had
+so prospered by his toil, that he had now come to an honourable estate.
+But since he had made his hearer's acquaintance, she, by reason of her
+pious converse and good example, had changed all his manner of life, and
+should he return from his present enterprise he was wholly resolved to
+take her husband and herself to Jerusalem, that he might thereby partly
+atone for his grievous sins which he had now put from him; save that he
+had not yet made reparation to his wife, with whom, however, he hoped
+that he might soon be reconciled.
+
+The lady was well pleased with this discourse, and especially rejoiced
+at having drawn such a man to the love and fear of God. And thus, until
+the Captain departed from the Court, their long conversations together
+were continued every evening without his ever venturing to declare
+himself. However, he made the lady a present of a crucifix of Our Lady
+of Pity, (4) beseeching her to think of him whenever she looked upon it.
+
+     4   "Our Lady of Pity" is the designation usually applied to
+     the Virgin when she is shown seated with the corpse of
+     Christ on her knees. Michael Angelo's famous group at St.
+     Peter's is commonly known by this name. In the present
+     instance, however, Queen Margaret undoubtedly refers to a
+     crucifix showing the Virgin at the foot of the Cross,
+     contemplating her son's sufferings. Such crucifixes were
+     formerly not uncommon.--M.
+
+The hour of his departure arrived, and when he had taken leave of the
+husband, who was falling asleep, and came to bid his lady farewell, he
+beheld tears standing in her eyes by reason of the honourable affection
+which she entertained for him. The sight of these rendered his passion
+for her so unendurable that, not daring to say anything concerning it,
+he almost fainted, and broke out into an exceeding sweat, so that he
+seemed to weep not only with his eyes, but with his entire body.
+And thus he departed without speaking, leaving the lady in great
+astonishment, for she had never before seen such tokens of regret.
+Nevertheless she did not change in her good opinion of him, and followed
+him with her prayers.
+
+After a month had gone by, however, as the lady was returning to her
+house, she met a gentleman who handed her a letter from the Captain, and
+begged her to read it in private.
+
+He told her how he had seen the Captain embark, fully resolved to
+accomplish whatever might be pleasing to the King and of advantage to
+Christianity. For his own part, the gentleman added, he was straightway
+going back to Marseilles to set the Captain's affairs in order.
+
+The lady withdrew to a window by herself, and opening the letter,
+found it to consist of two sheets of paper, covered on either side with
+writing which formed the following epistle:--
+
+     "Concealment long and silence have, alas!
+     Brought me all comfortless to such a pass,
+     That now, perforce, I must, to ease my grief,
+     Either speak out, or seek in death relief.
+     Wherefore the tale I long have left untold
+     I now, in lonely friendlessness grown bold,
+     Send unto thee, for I must strive to say
+     My love, or else prepare myself to slay.
+     And though my eyes no longer may behold
+     The sweet, who in her hand my life doth hold,
+     Whose glance sufficed to make my heart rejoice,
+     The while my ear did listen to her voice,--
+     These words at least shall meet her beauteous eyes,
+     And tell her all the plaintive, clamorous cries
+     Pent in my heart, to which I must give breath,
+     Since longer silence could but bring me death.
+     And yet, at first, I was in truth full fain
+     To blot the words I'd written out again,
+     Fearing, forsooth, I might offend thine ear
+     With foolish phrases which, when thou wast near,
+     I dared not utter; and 'Indeed,' said I,
+     'Far better pine in silence, aye, and die,
+     Than save myself by bringing her annoy
+     For whose sweet sake grim death itself were joy.'
+     And yet, thought I, my death some pain might give
+     To her for whom I would be strong, and live:
+     For have I not, fair lady, promised plain,
+     My journey ended, to return again
+     And guide thee and thy spouse to where he now
+     Doth yearn to call on God from Sion's brow?
+     And none would lead thee thither should I die.
+     If I were dead, methinks I see thee sigh
+     In sore distress, for then thou couldst not start
+     Upon that journey, dear unto thy heart.
+     So I will live, and, in a little space,
+     Return to lead thee to the sacred place.
+     Aye, I will live, though death a boon would be
+     Only to be refused for sake of thee.
+     But if I live, I needs must straight remove
+     The burden from my heart, and speak my love,
+     That love more loyal, tender, deep, and true,
+     Than, ever yet, the fondest lover knew.
+     And now, bold words about to wing your flight,
+     What will ye say when ye have reached her sight?
+     Declare her all the love that fills my heart?
+     Too weak ye are to tell its thousandth part!
+     Can ye at least not say that her clear eyes
+     Have torn my hapless heart forth in such wise,
+     That like a hollow tree I pine and wither
+     Unless hers give me back some life and vigour?
+     Ye feeble words! ye cannot even tell
+     How easily her eyes a heart compel;
+     Nor can ye praise her speech in language fit,
+     So weak and dull ye are, so void of wit.
+     Yet there are some things I would have you name--
+     How mute and foolish I oft time became
+     When all her grace and virtue I beheld;
+     How from my 'raptured eyes tears slowly welled
+     The tears of hopeless love; how my tongue strayed
+     From fond and wooing speech, so sore afraid,
+     That all my discourse was of time and tide,
+     And of the stars which up in Heav'n abide.
+     O words, alas! ye lack the skill to tell
+     The dire confusion that upon me fell,
+     Whilst love thus wracked me; nor can ye disclose
+     My love's immensity, its pains and woes.
+     Yet, though, for all, your powers be too weak,
+     Perchance, some little, ye are fit to speak--
+     Say to her thus: "Twas fear lest thou shouldst chide
+     That drove me, e'en so long, my love to hide,
+     And yet, forsooth, it might have openly
+     Been told to God in Heaven, as unto thee,
+     Based as it is upon thy virtue--thought
+     That to my torments frequent balm hath brought,
+     For who, indeed, could ever deem it sin
+     To seek the owner of all worth to win?
+     Deserving rather of our blame were he
+     Who having seen thee undisturbed could be.'
+     None such was I, for, straightway stricken sore,
+     My heart bowed low to Love, the conqueror.
+     And ah! no false and fleeting love is mine,
+     Such as for painted beauty feigns to pine;
+     Nor doth my passion, although deep and strong,
+     Seek its own wicked pleasure in thy wrong.
+     Nay; on this journey I would rather die
+     Than know that thou hadst fallen, and that I
+     Had wrought thy shame and foully brought to harm
+     The virtue which thy heart wraps round thy form.
+     'Tis thy perfection that I love in thee,
+     Nought that might lessen it could ever be
+     Desire of mine--indeed, the nobler thou,
+     The greater were the love I to thee vow.
+     I do not seek an ardent flame to quench
+     In lustful dalliance with some merry wench,
+     Pure is my heart, 'neath reason's calm control
+     Set on a lady of such lofty soul,
+     That neither God above nor angel bright,
+     But seeing her, would echo my delight.
+     And if of thee I may not be beloved,
+     What matter, shouldst thou deem that I have proved
+     The truest lover that did ever live?
+     And this I know thou wilt, one day, believe,
+     For time, in rolling by, shall show to thee
+     No change in my heart's faith and loyalty.
+     And though for this thou mayst make no return,
+     Yet pleased am I with love for thee to burn,
+     And seek no recompense, pursue no end,
+     Save, that to thee, I meekly recommend
+     My soul and body, which I here consign
+     In sacrifice to Love's consuming shrine.
+     If then in safety I sail back the main
+     To thee, still artless, I'll return again;
+     And if I die, then there will die with me
+     A lover such as none again shall see.
+     So Ocean now doth carry far away
+     The truest lover seen for many a day;
+     His body 'tis that journeys o'er the wave,
+     But not his heart, for that is now thy slave,
+     And from thy side can never wrested be,
+     Nor of its own accord return to me.
+     Ah! could I with me o'er the treach'rous brine
+     Take aught of that pure, guileless heart of thine,
+     No doubt should I then feel of victory,
+     Whereof the glory would belong to thee.
+     But now, whatever fortune may befall,
+     I've cast the die; and having told thee all,
+     Abide thereby, and vow my constancy--
+     Emblem of which, herein, a diamond see,
+     By whose great firmness and whose pure glow
+     The strength and pureness of my love thou'lt know.
+     Let it, I pray, thy fair white finger press,
+     And thou wilt deal me more than happiness.
+     And, diamond, speak and say: 'To thee I come
+     From thy fond lover, who afar doth roam,
+     And strives by dint of glorious deeds to rise
+     To the high level of the good and wise,
+     Hoping some day that haven to attain,
+     Where thy sweet favours shall reward his pain."
+
+The lady read the letter through, and was the more astonished at the
+Captain's passion as she had never before suspected it. She looked at
+the cutting of the diamond, which was a large and beautiful one, set in
+a ring of black enamel, and she was in great doubt as to what she ought
+to do with it. After pondering upon the matter throughout the night, she
+was glad to find that since there was no messenger, she had no occasion
+to send any answer to the Captain, who, she reflected, was being
+sufficiently tried by those matters of the King, his master, which he
+had in hand, without being angered by the unfavourable reply which she
+was resolved to make to him, though she delayed it until his return.
+However, she found herself greatly perplexed with regard to the diamond,
+for she had never been wont to adorn herself at the expense of any but
+her husband. For this reason, being a woman of excellent understanding,
+she determined to draw from the ring some profit to the Captain's
+conscience. She therefore despatched one of her servants to the
+Captain's wife with the following letter, which was written as though it
+came from a nun of Tarascon:--
+
+"MADAM,--Your husband passed this way but a short time before he
+embarked, and after he had confessed himself and received his Creator
+like a good Christian, he spoke to me of something which he had upon his
+conscience, namely, his sorrow at not having loved you as he should
+have done. And on departing, he prayed and besought me to send you this
+letter, with the diamond which goes with it, and which he begs of you
+to keep for his sake, assuring you that if God bring him back again in
+health and strength, you shall be better treated than ever woman was
+before. And this stone of steadfastness shall be the pledge thereof.
+
+"I beg you to remember him in your prayers; in mine he will have a place
+as long as I live."
+
+This letter, being finished and signed with the name of a nun, was sent
+by the lady to the Captain's wife. And as may be readily believed, when
+the excellent old woman saw the letter and the ring, she wept for joy
+and sorrow at being loved and esteemed by her good husband when she
+could no longer see him. She kissed the ring a thousand times and more,
+watering it with her tears, and blessing God for having restored her
+husband's affection to her at the end of her days, when she had long
+looked upon it as lost. Nor did she fail to thank the nun who had given
+her so much happiness, but sent her the fairest reply that she could
+devise. This the messenger brought back with all speed to his mistress,
+who could not read it, nor listen to what her servant told her, without
+much laughter. And so pleased was she at having got rid of the diamond
+in so profitable a fashion as to bring about a reconciliation between
+the husband and wife, that she was as happy as though she had gained a
+kingdom.
+
+A short time afterwards tidings came of the defeat and death of the poor
+Captain, and of how he had been abandoned by those who ought to have
+succoured him, and how his enterprise had been revealed by the Rhodians
+who should have kept it secret, so that he and all who landed with him,
+to the number of eighty, had been slain, among them being a gentleman
+named John, and a Turk to whom the lady of my story had stood godmother,
+both of them having been given by her to the Captain that he might take
+them with him on his journey. The first named of these had died beside
+the Captain, whilst the Turk, wounded by arrows in fifteen places, had
+saved himself by swimming to the French ships.
+
+It was through him alone that the truth of the whole affair became
+known. A certain gentleman whom the poor Captain had taken to be his
+friend and comrade, and whose interests he had advanced with the King
+and the highest nobles of France, had, it appeared, stood out to sea
+with his ships as soon as the Captain landed; and the Captain, finding
+that his expedition had been betrayed, and that four thousand Turks were
+at hand, had thereupon endeavoured to retreat, as was his duty. But the
+gentleman in whom he put such great trust perceived that his friend's
+death would leave the sole command and profit of that great armament to
+himself, and accordingly pointed out to the officers that it would not
+be right to risk the King's vessels or the lives of the many brave men
+on board them in order to save less than a hundred persons, an opinion
+which was shared by all those of the officers that possessed but little
+courage.
+
+So the Captain, finding that the more he called to the ships the farther
+they drew away from his assistance, faced round at last upon the Turks;
+and, albeit he was up to his knees in sand, he did such deeds of arms
+and valour that it seemed as though he alone would defeat all his
+enemies, an issue which his traitorous comrade feared far more than he
+desired it.
+
+But at last, in spite of all that he could do, the Captain received
+so many wounds from the arrows of those who durst not approach within
+bowshot, that he began to lose all his blood, whereupon the Turks,
+perceiving the weakness of these true Christians, charged upon them
+furiously with their scimitars; but the Christians, so long as God gave
+them strength and life, defended themselves to the bitter end.
+
+Then the Captain called to the gentleman named John, whom his lady love
+had given him, and to the Turk as well, and thrusting the point of his
+sword into the ground, fell upon his knees beside it, and embraced and
+kissed the cross, (5) saying--
+
+"Lord, receive into Thy hands the soul of one who has not spared his
+life to exalt Thy name."
+
+     5  As is well known, before swords were made with shell and
+     stool hilts, the two guards combined with the handle and
+     blade formed a cross. Bayard, when dying, raised his sword
+     to gaze upon this cross, and numerous instances, similar to
+     that mentioned above by Queen Margaret, may be found in the
+     old _Chansons de Geste_.--M.
+
+The gentleman called John, seeing that his master's life was ebbing away
+as he uttered these words, thought to aid him, and took him into his
+arms, together with the sword which he was holding. But a Turk who was
+behind them cut through both his thighs, whereupon he cried out, "Come,
+Captain, let us away to Paradise to see Him for whose sake we die," and
+in this wise he shared the poor Captain's death even as he had shared
+his life.
+
+The Turk, seeing that he could be of no service to either of them, and
+being himself wounded by arrows in fifteen places, made off towards
+the ships, and requested to be taken on board. But although of all the
+eighty he was the only one who had escaped, the Captain's traitorous
+comrade refused his prayer. Nevertheless, being an exceeding good
+swimmer, he threw himself into the sea, and exerted himself so well that
+he was at last received on board a small vessel, where in a short time
+he was cured of his wounds. And it was by means of this poor foreigner
+that the truth became fully known, to the honour of the Captain and the
+shame of his comrade, whom the King and all the honourable people who
+heard the tidings deemed guilty of such wickedness toward God and man
+that there was no death howsoever cruel which he did not deserve. But
+when he returned he told so many lies, and gave so many gifts, that not
+only did he escape punishment, but even received the office of the man
+whose unworthy servant he had been.
+
+When the pitiful tidings reached the Court, the Lady-Regent, who held
+the Captain in high esteem, mourned for him exceedingly, as did the King
+and all the honourable people who had known him. And when the lady whom
+he had loved the best heard of his strange, sad, and Christian death,
+she changed the chiding she had resolved to give him into tears and
+lamentations, in which her husband kept her company, all hopes of their
+journey to Jerusalem being now frustrated.
+
+I must not forget to say that on the very day when the two gentlemen
+were killed, a damsel in the lady's service, who loved the gentleman
+called John better than herself, came and told her mistress that she had
+seen her lover ir a dream; he had appeared to her clad in white, and had
+bidden her farewell, telling her that he was going to Paradise with his
+Captain. And when the damsel heard that her dream had come true, she
+made such lamentation that her mistress had enough to do to comfort her.
+(6)
+
+     6  The Queen of Navarre was a firm believer in the truth and
+     premonitory character of dreams, and according to her
+     biographers she, herself, had several singular ones, two of
+     which are referred to in the Memoir prefixed to the present
+     work (vol. i. pp. lxxxiii. and Ixxxvii.). In some of her
+     letters, moreover, she relates that Francis I., when under
+     the walls of Pavia, on three successive nights beheld his
+     little daughter Charlotte (then dying at Lyons) appear to
+     him in a dream, and on each occasion repeat the words,
+     "Farewell, my King, I am going to Paradise."--Ed.
+
+A short time afterwards the Court journeyed into Normandy, to which
+province the Captain had belonged. His wife was not remiss in coming to
+pay homage to the Lady-Regent, and in order that she might be presented
+to her, she had recourse to the same lady whom her husband had so dearly
+loved.
+
+And while they were waiting in a church for the appointed hour, she
+began bewailing and praising her husband, saying among other things to
+the lady--
+
+"Alas, madam! my misfortune is the greatest that ever befell a woman,
+for just when he was loving me more than he had ever done, God took him
+from me."
+
+So saying, and with many tears, she showed the ring which she wore on
+her finger as a token of her husband's perfect love, whereat the other
+lady, finding that her deception had resulted in such a happy issue,
+was, despite her sorrow for the Captain's death, so moved to laughter,
+that she would not present the widow to the Regent, but committed her to
+the charge of another lady, and withdrew into a side chapel, where she
+satisfied her inclination to laugh.
+
+"I think, ladies, that those who receive such gifts ought to seek to use
+them to as good a purpose as did this worthy lady. They would find that
+benefactions bring joy to those who bestow them. And we must not charge
+this lady with deceit, but esteem her good sense which turned to good
+that which in itself was worthless."
+
+"Do you mean to say," said Nomerfide, "that a fine diamond, costing two
+hundred crowns, is worthless? I can assure you that if it had fallen
+into my hands, neither his wife nor his relations would have seen aught
+of it. Nothing is more wholly one's own than a gift. The gentleman was
+dead, no one knew anything about the matter, and she might well have
+spared the poor old woman so much sorrow."
+
+"By my word," said Hircan, "you are right. There are women who, to
+make themselves appear of better heart than others, do things that are
+clearly contrary to their notions, for we all know that women are
+the most avaricious of beings, yet their vanity often surpasses their
+avarice, and constrains their hearts to actions that they would rather
+not perform. My belief is that the lady who gave the diamond away in
+this fashion was unworthy to wear it."
+
+"Softly, softly," said Oisille; "I believe I know who she is, and I
+therefore beg that you will not condemn her unheard."
+
+"Madam," said Hircan, "I do not condemn her at all; but if the gentleman
+was as virtuous as you say, it were an honour to have such a lover, and
+to wear his ring; but perhaps some one less worthy of being loved than
+he held her so fast by the finger that the ring could not be put on."
+
+"Truly," said Ennasuite, "she might well have kept it, seeing that no
+one knew anything about it."
+
+"What!" said Geburon; "are all things lawful to those who love, provided
+no one knows anything about them?"
+
+"By my word," said Saffredent, "the only misdeed that I have ever seen
+punished is foolishness. There is never a murderer, robber, or adulterer
+condemned by the courts or blamed by his fellows, if only he be as
+cunning as he is wicked. Oft-time, however, a bad man's wickedness so
+blinds him that he becomes a fool; and thus, as I have just said, it is
+the foolish only that are punished, not the vicious."
+
+"You may say what you please," said Oisille, "only God can judge the
+lady's heart; but for my part, I think that her action was a very
+honourable and virtuous one. (7) However, to put an end to the debate, I
+pray you, Parlamente, to give some one your vote."
+
+     7  In our opinion this sentence disposes of Miss Mary
+     Robinson's supposition (_The Fortunate Lovers_, London,
+     1887, p. 159) that Oisille (i.e., Louise of Savoy) is the
+     real heroine of this tale. Queen Margaret would hardly have
+     represented her commending her own action. If any one of the
+     narrators of the _Heptameron_ be the heroine of the story,
+     the presumptions are in favour of Longarine (La Dame de
+     Lonray), Margaret's bosom friend, whose silence during the
+     after-converse is significant.--Ed.
+
+"I give it willingly," she said, "to Simontault, for after two such
+mournful tales we must have one that will not make us weep."
+
+"I thank you," said Simontault. "In giving me your vote you have all but
+told me that I am a jester. It is a name that is extremely distasteful
+to me, and in revenge I will show you that there are women who with
+certain persons, or for a certain time, make a great pretence of being
+chaste, but the end shows them in their real colours, as you will see by
+this true story."
+
+[Illustration: 140.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 141a.jpg Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan]
+
+[Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan]
+
+[Illustration: 141.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XIV_.
+
+     _The Lord of Bonnivet, desiring to revenge himself upon a
+     Milanese lady for her cruelty, made the acquaintance of an
+     Italian gentleman whom she loved, but to whom she had never
+     granted anything save fair words and assurances of
+     affection. To accomplish his purpose he gave this gentleman
+     such good advice that the lady granted him what he had so
+     long sought, and this the gentleman made known to Bonnivet,
+     who, having cut both hair and beard, and dressed himself in
+     clothes like those of the other, went at midnight and put
+     his vengeance into execution. Then the lady, having learnt
+     from him the plan that he had devised to win her, promised
+     to desist from loving those of her own nation, and to hold
+     fast to him_.
+
+At the time when the Grand-Master of Chaumont was Governor of the Duchy
+of Milan, (1) there lived there a gentleman called the Lord of Bonnivet,
+who by reason of his merits was afterwards made Admiral of France. Being
+greatly liked by the Grand-Master and every one else on account of the
+qualities he possessed, he was a welcome guest at the banquets where
+the ladies of Milan assembled, and was regarded by them with more favour
+than ever fell to a Frenchman's lot, either before or since; and this
+as much on account of his handsome countenance, grace of manner, and
+pleasant converse, as by reason of the renown which he had gained among
+all as being one of the most skilful and valorous soldiers of his time.
+(2)
+
+     1   M. de Lincy is of opinion that the incidents recorded in
+     this story took place between 1501 and 1503; but according
+     to M. Lacroix, the Grand-Master of Chaumont did not become
+     Governor of the Milanese till 1506. This personage, to whom
+     Queen Margaret frequently alludes in her tales, was Charles
+     d'Amboise, nephew of the famous Cardinal d'Amboise, minister
+     to Louis XII. In turn admiral and marshal, Governor of
+     Paris, and Grand-Master, in France, of the Order of St. John
+     of Jerusalem, he figured prominently in the Italian wars of
+     the time, and notably at the battle of Aignadel. In 1510 he
+     commanded the troops which fought on behalf of the Duke of
+     Ferrara against the Emperor and Pope Julius II., and the
+     latter having excommunicated him for bearing arms against
+     the Holy See, his mind is said to have become unhinged. He
+     died at Correggio in February 1511, when only thirty-eight
+     years of age, some biographers asserting that he was
+     poisoned, whilst others contend that he fell from a bridge
+     during a military expedition. Whilst on his death-bed, he
+     sent messengers to the Pope, begging that the decree of
+     excommunication against him might be annulled, but before
+     the Papal absolution arrived he had expired. The name of
+     Chaumont, by which he is generally known, is that of an
+     estate he possessed, between Blois and Amboise, on the
+     Loire. The reputation he enjoyed of being one of the
+     handsomest men of his time was well deserved, if one may
+     judge by a painting at the Louvre which is said to be his
+     portrait. This picture, long ascribed to Leonardo da Vinci,
+     and supposed to represent Charles VIII. of France, has been
+     identified as the work of Andreas Solario, who executed
+     numerous paintings for Cardinal d'Amboise at the famous
+     chateau of Gaillon.--L. M. and Eu.
+
+     2  Some particulars concerning William Gouffier, Lord of
+     Bonnivet, have been given in vol. i. (Tale IV. n. 3). It
+     may here be mentioned that the domain whence he derived the
+     name by which he is generally known was in the neighbourhood
+     of Poitiers, around the village of Vendeuvre, where he built
+     himself a vast chateau, destroyed at the close of the
+     eighteenth century. Some fragments of the sculptured work
+     adorning it, remarkable for their elegance of design and
+     delicacy of workmanship, are in the Poitiers Museum. It is
+     not unlikely that the incidents related in Tale IV. occurred
+     at this chateau; or else at that of Oiron, another domain of
+     the Gouffiers, between Loudun and Bressuire. In the chapel
+     of Oiron were buried Bonnivet, his mother, his brother
+     Artus, and his nephew Claud. Their tombs, large marble
+     mausoleums of Italian workmanship, surmounted by recumbent
+     statues, were opened and mutilated by the Huguenots in 1568,
+     when the bones they contained were scattered to the winds.
+     Bon-nivet's statue is probably the most damaged of the four.
+     The chateau of Oiron, with its marble staircases, quaint
+     frescoes, sculptured medallions, &c, testifies to the great
+     wealth possessed by the Gouffier family, and justifies the
+     cynical motto assumed by Bonnivet's nephew: "Others have
+     beaten the bushes, but we have the birds."--Ed.
+
+One day during the carnival, when he was among the maskers, he danced
+with one of the most beautiful and bravely attired ladies to be found
+in the whole city; and whenever a pause occurred in the music of the
+hautboys, he did not fail to address her with love speeches, in which he
+excelled all others. But she (3) having no favourable reply to give him,
+suddenly checked his discourse by assuring him that she neither loved
+nor ever would love any man but her husband, and that he must by no
+means expect that she would listen to him.
+
+     3  This lady may perhaps be the "Sennora Clerice" (Clarissa)
+     of whom Brantome writes as follows in his _Capitaines
+     Francois_:--"It was Bonnivet alone who advised King Francis
+     to cross the mountains and follow M. de Bourbon, and in this
+     he had less his master's advantage and service at heart than
+     his desire to return and see a great and most beautiful lady
+     of Milan, whom he had made his mistress some years
+     previously.... It is said that this was the 'Sennora
+     Clerice,' then accounted one of the most beautiful ladies of
+     Italy.... A great lady of the time, from whom I heard this
+     story, told me that he, Bonnivet, had commended this lady
+     Clerice to the King so highly as to make him desirous of
+     seeing and winning her; and this was the principal cause of
+     this expedition of the King's."--Lalanne's _OEuvres de
+     Brantome_, vol. ii. p. 167-8.--L.
+
+The gentleman, however, would not take this answer for a refusal, and
+continued to press his suit with great energy until mid-Lent. But he
+found her still firm in her declaration that she would love neither
+himself nor another, which he could not believe, however, seeing how
+ill-favoured was her husband, and how great her own beauty. Convinced
+that she was practising dissimulation, he resolved, on his own side, to
+have recourse to deception, and accordingly he ceased to urge his suit,
+and inquired so closely concerning her manner of life that he discovered
+she was in love with a most discreet and honourable Italian gentleman.
+
+Little by little the Lord of Bonnivet insinuated himself into the
+friendship of this gentleman, and did so with so much discretion and
+skill, that the other remained ignorant of his motive, and became so
+much attached to him that, after the lady of his heart, there was no one
+in the world whom he loved more. In order that he might pluck his secret
+from his breast, the Lord of Bonnivet pretended to tell him his own,
+declaring that he loved a certain lady to whom he had in truth never
+given a thought, and begging that he would keep the matter secret, and
+that they might have but one heart and one mind together. Wishing to
+show in return a like affection, the poor Italian gentleman thereupon
+proceeded to disclose at length the love that he bore the lady on whom
+Bonnivet wished to be revenged; and after this they would meet somewhere
+once every day in order to recount the favours that had befallen them
+during the past four and twenty hours; with this difference, however,
+that one lied, and the other spoke the truth. And the Italian confessed
+that he had loved this lady for three years, but had never obtained
+anything of her save fair words and the assurance of her love.
+
+Bonnivet then gave him all the advice that he could to enable him to
+attain his end, and to such good purpose that in a few days the lady
+consented to grant all that was sought of her. It only remained to
+devise a plan for their meeting, and through the counsels of Bonnivet
+this was soon accomplished. And so one day before supper the Italian
+said to him--
+
+"I am more beholden to you, sir, than to any other man living, for,
+thanks to your good advice, I expect to obtain to-night that which I
+have coveted so many years."
+
+"I pray you, my friend," thereupon said Bonnivet, "tell me the manner of
+your undertaking, so that if there be any risk in it, or craft required,
+I may serve you in all friendship."
+
+The Italian gentleman then began to tell him that the lady had devised
+a means of having the principal door of the house left open that night,
+availing herself as a pretext of the illness of one of her brothers for
+whose requirements it was necessary to send into the town at all hours.
+He might enter the courtyard, but he was to be careful not to go up by
+the principal staircase. Instead of this he was to take a small flight
+on his right hand, and enter the first gallery he came to, into which
+the rooms of the lady's father-in-law and brothers-in-law opened; and
+he was to choose the third door from the head of the stairs, and if on
+trying it gently he found that it was locked, he was to go away again,
+for in that case he might be sure that her husband had returned, though
+not expected back for two days. If, however, he found that the door was
+open, he was to enter softly, and boldly bolt it behind him, for in that
+case there would be none but herself in the room. And above all, he was
+to get himself felt shoes, in order that he might make no noise, and he
+was to be careful not to come earlier than two hours after midnight,
+for her brothers-in-law, who were fond of play, never went to bed until
+after one of the clock.
+
+"Go, my friend," replied Bonnivet, "and may God be with you and preserve
+you from mischief. If my company can be of any service to you, I am
+wholly at your disposal."
+
+The Italian gentleman thanked him warmly, but said that in an affair of
+this nature he could not be too much alone; and thereupon he went away
+to set about his preparations.
+
+Bonnivet, on his part, did not go to sleep, for he saw that the time had
+come for revenging himself upon his cruel love. Going home betimes, he
+had his beard trimmed to the same length and breadth as the Italian's,
+and also had his hair cut, so that, on touching him, no difference
+between himself and his rival might be perceived. Nor did he forget the
+felt shoes, nor garments such as the Italian was wont to wear. Being
+greatly liked by the lady's father-in-law, he was not afraid to go to
+the house at an early hour, for he made up his mind that if he were
+perceived, he would go straight to the chamber of the old gentleman,
+with whom he had some business on hand.
+
+About midnight he entered the lady's house, and although there were a
+good many persons going to and fro, he passed them unnoticed and thus
+reached the gallery. Trying the first two doors, he found them shut; the
+third, however, was not, and he softly pushed it open. And having thus
+entered the lady's room, he immediately bolted the door behind him. He
+found that the whole chamber was hung with white linen, the floor and
+ceiling also being covered with the same; and there was a bed draped
+with cloth so fine and soft and so handsomely embroidered in white, that
+nothing better were possible. And in the bed lay the lady alone, wearing
+her cap and night-gown, and covered with pearls and gems. This, before
+he was himself perceived by her, he was able to see by peeping round the
+curtain; for there was a large wax candle burning, which made the room
+as bright as day. And fearful lest he should be recognised by her, he
+first of all put out the light. Then he undressed himself and got into
+bed beside her.
+
+The lady, taking him to be the Italian who had so long loved her, gave
+him the best possible reception; but he, not forgetting that he was
+there in another's stead, was careful not to say a single word. His
+only thought was to execute his vengeance at the cost of her honour and
+chastity without being beholden to her for any boon. And although this
+was contrary to her intention, the lady was so well pleased with this
+vengeance that she deemed him rewarded for all she thought he had
+endured. At last it struck one of the clock, and it was time to say
+good-bye. Then, in the lowest tones he could employ, he asked her if she
+were as well pleased with him as he was with her. She, believing him
+to be her lover, said that she was not merely pleased but amazed at the
+greatness of his love, which had kept him an hour without answering her.
+
+Then he began to laugh aloud, and said to her--
+
+"Now, madam, will you refuse me another time, as you have hitherto been
+wont to do?"
+
+The lady, recognising him by his speech and laughter, was in such
+despair with grief and shame, that she called him villain, traitor, and
+deceiver a thousand times over, and tried to throw herself out of bed
+to search for a knife in order to kill herself, since she was so
+unfortunate as to have lost her honour through a man whom she did not
+love, and who to be revenged on her might publish the matter to the
+whole world.
+
+But he held her fast in his arms, and in fair soft words declared that
+he would _love_ her more than her lover, and would so carefully conceal
+all that affected her honour that she should never be brought to
+reproach. This the poor foolish thing believed, and on hearing from him
+the plan that he had devised and the pains that he had taken to win her,
+she swore to him that she would love him better than the other, who had
+not been able to keep her secret. She now knew, said she, how false
+was the repute in which the French were held; they were more sensible,
+persevering, and discreet than the Italians; wherefore she would
+henceforward lay aside the erroneous opinions of her nation and hold
+fast to him. But she earnestly entreated him not to show himself for
+some time at any entertainment or in any place where she might be unless
+he were masked; for she was sure she should feel so much ashamed that
+her countenance would betray her to every one.
+
+This he promised to do, and he then begged that she would give her
+lover a good welcome when he came at two o'clock, getting rid of him
+afterwards by degrees. This she was very loth to do, and but for the
+love she bore to Bonnivet would on no account have consented. However,
+when bidding her farewell, he gave her so much cause for satisfaction
+that she would fain have had him stay with her some time longer.
+
+Having risen and donned his garments again, he departed, leaving the
+door of the room slightly open, as he had found it. And as it was now
+nearly two o'clock, and he was afraid of meeting the Italian gentleman,
+he withdrew to the top of the staircase, whence he not long afterwards
+saw the other pass by and enter the lady's room.
+
+For his own part, he then betook himself home to rest, in such wise that
+at nine of the clock on the following morning he was still in bed. While
+he was rising, there arrived the Italian gentleman, who did not fail to
+recount his fortune, which had not been so great as he had hoped; for
+on entering the lady's chamber, said he, he had found her out of bed,
+wearing her dressing-gown, and in a high fever, with her pulse beating
+quick and her countenance aflame, and a perspiration beginning to break
+out upon her. She had therefore begged him to go away forthwith, for
+fearing a mishap, she had not ventured to summon her women, and was
+in consequence so ill that she had more need to think of death than
+of love, and to be told of God than of Cupid. She was distressed, she
+added, that he should have run such risk for her sake, since she was
+wholly unable to grant what he sought in a world she was so soon to
+leave. He had felt so astonished and unhappy on hearing this that
+all his fire and joy had been changed to ice and sadness, and he had
+immediately gone away. However, he had sent at daybreak to inquire about
+her, and had heard that she was indeed very ill. While recounting his
+griefs he wept so piteously that it seemed as though his soul must melt
+away in his tears.
+
+Bonnivet, who was as much inclined to laugh as the other was to weep,
+comforted him as well as he could, telling him that affections of long
+duration always had a difficult beginning, and that Love was causing him
+this delay only that he might afterwards have the greater joy. And so
+the two gentlemen parted. The lady remained in bed for some days, and on
+regaining her health dismissed her first suitor, alleging as her
+reason the fear of death that had beset her and the prickings of her
+conscience. But she held fast to my lord Bonnivet, whose love, as is
+usual, lasted no longer than the field flowers bloom.
+
+"I think, ladies, that the gentleman's craftiness was a match for the
+hypocrisy of the lady, who, after playing the prude so long, showed
+herself such a wanton in the end."
+
+"You may say what you please about women," said Ennasuite, "but the
+gentleman played an evil trick. Is it allowable that if a lady loves one
+man, another may obtain her by craft?"
+
+"You may be sure," said Geburon, "that when such mares are for sale
+they are of necessity carried off by the last and highest bidder. Do not
+imagine that wooers take such great pains for the ladies' sakes. It is
+for their own sakes and their own pleasure."
+
+"By my word," said Longarine, "I believe you; for, truth to tell, all
+the lovers that I have ever had have always begun their speeches by
+talking about me, declaring that they cherished my life, welfare, and
+honour; but in the end they only thought of themselves, caring for
+nought but their own pleasure and vanity. The best plan, therefore,
+is to dismiss them as soon as the first portion of their discourse is
+ended; for when they come to the second, there is not so much credit in
+refusing them, seeing that vice when recognised must needs be rejected."
+
+"So as soon as a man opens his mouth," said Ennasuite, "we ought to
+refuse him, without knowing what he is going to say?"
+
+"Nay," replied Parlamente, "my friend does not mean that. We know that
+at first a woman should never appear to understand what the man desires,
+or even to believe him when he has declared what it is; but when he
+comes to strong protestations, I think it were better for ladies to
+leave him on the road rather than continue to the end of the journey
+with him."
+
+"That may be," said Nomerfide; "but are we to believe that they love us
+for evil? Is it not a sin to judge our neighbours?"
+
+"You may believe what you please," said Oisille; "but there is so
+much cause for fearing it to be true, that as soon as you perceive the
+faintest spark, you should flee from this fire, lest it should burn up
+your heart before you even know it."
+
+"Truly," said Hircan, "the laws you lay down are over harsh. If women,
+whom gentleness beseems so well, were minded to prove as rigorous as
+you would have them be, we men, on our part, would exchange our gentle
+entreaties for craft and force."
+
+"In my opinion," said Simontault, "the best advice is that each should
+follow his natural bent. Whether he love or not, let him do so without
+dissimulation."
+
+"Would to God," said Saffredent, "that such a rule would bring as much
+honour as it would give pleasure."
+
+Dagoucin, however, could not refrain from saying--
+
+"Those who would rather die than make their desire known could not
+comply with your law."
+
+"Die!" thereupon said Hircan; "the good knight has yet to be born that
+would die for the publishing of such a matter. But let us cease talking
+of what is impossible, and see to whom Simontault will give his vote."
+
+"I give it," said Simontault, "to Longarine, for I observed her just
+now talking to herself. I imagine that she was recalling some excellent
+matter, and she is not wont to conceal the truth, whether it be against
+man or woman."
+
+"Since you deem me so truthful," replied Longarine, "I will tell you a
+tale which, though it be not so much to the praise of women as I could
+wish it to be, will yet show you that there are some possessed of as
+much spirit, wit, and craft as men. If my tale be somewhat long, you
+will bear with it in patience."
+
+[Illustration: 155.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 157a.jpg The Lady taking Oath as to her Conduct]
+
+[The Lady taking Oath as to her Conduct]
+
+[Illustration: 157.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XV_.
+
+     _Through the favour of King Francis, a simple gentleman of
+     the Court married a very rich woman, of whom, however, as
+     much by reason of her extreme youth as of the bestowal of
+     his own heart elsewhere, he made but little account;
+     whereat, after trying every plan to please him, she was so
+     moved with resentment and overcome by despair, that she
+     resolved to console herself with another for the indignities
+     which she endured from her husband._ (1)
+
+     1  The incidents referred to in this story must have
+     occurred between 1515 and 1543, during the reign of Francis
+     I.--L.
+
+At the Court of King Francis the First there was a gentleman whose name
+I know right well, but will not mention. He was poor, having less than
+five hundred livres a year, but he was so well liked by the King for
+his many qualities that he at last married a lady of such wealth that
+a great lord would have been pleased to take her. As she was still very
+young, he begged one of the greatest ladies of the Court to receive her
+into her household, and this the lady very willingly did.
+
+Now this gentleman was so courteous, so handsome, and so full of grace
+that he was held in great regard by all the ladies of the Court, and
+among the rest by one whom the King loved, and who was neither so young
+nor so handsome as his own wife. And by reason of the great love that
+the gentleman bore this lady, he made such little account of his wife,
+that he slept scarcely one night in the year with her, and, what she
+found still harder to endure, he never spoke to her or showed her any
+sign of love. And although he enjoyed her fortune, he allowed her so
+small a share in it, that she was not dressed as was fitting for one
+of her station, or as she herself desired. The lady with whom she abode
+would often reproach the gentleman for this, saying to him--
+
+"Your wife is handsome, rich, and of a good family, yet you make no more
+account of her than if she were the opposite. In her extreme youth and
+childishness she has hitherto submitted to your neglect; but I fear me
+that when she finds herself grown-up and handsome, her mirror and some
+one that loves you not will so set before her eyes that beauty by which
+you set so little store, that resentment will lead her to do what she
+durst not think of had you treated her well."
+
+The gentleman, however, having bestowed his heart elsewhere, made light
+of what the lady said, and notwithstanding her admonitions, continued to
+lead the same life as before.
+
+But when two or three years had gone by, his wife became one of the most
+beautiful women ever seen in France, so that she was reputed to have no
+equal at the Court. And the more she felt herself worthy of being loved,
+the more distressed she was to find that her husband paid no
+attention to her; and so great became her affliction that, but for the
+consolations of her mistress, she had well-nigh been in despair. After
+trying every possible means to please her husband, she reflected that
+his inclinations must needs be directed elsewhere, for otherwise he
+could not but respond to the deep love that she bore him. Thereupon she
+made such skilful inquiries that she discovered the truth, namely, that
+he was every night so fully occupied in another quarter that he could
+give no thought to his wife or to his conscience.
+
+Having thus obtained certain knowledge of the manner of life he led,
+she fell into such deep melancholy, that she would not dress herself
+otherwise than in black or attend any place of entertainment. Her
+mistress, who perceived this, did all that in her lay to draw her from
+such a mood, but could not. And although her husband was made acquainted
+with her state, he showed himself more inclined to make light of it than
+to relieve it.
+
+You are aware, ladies, that just as extreme joy will give occasion to
+tears, so extreme grief finds an outlet in some joy. In this wise it
+happened that a great lord who was near akin to the lady's mistress, and
+who often visited her, hearing one day of the strange fashion in which
+she was treated by her husband, pitied her so deeply that he desired to
+try to console her; and on speaking to her, found her so handsome, so
+sensible, and so virtuous, that he became far more desirous of winning
+her favour than of talking to her about her husband, unless it were to
+show her what little cause she had to love him.
+
+The lady, finding that, though forsaken by the man who ought to have
+loved her, she was on the other hand loved and sought after by so
+handsome a Prince, deemed herself very fortunate in having thus won his
+favour. And although she still desired to preserve her honour, she took
+great pleasure in talking to him and in reflecting that she was loved
+and prized, for these were two things for which, so to speak, she
+hungered.
+
+This friendship continued for some time, until it came to the knowledge
+of the King, who had so much regard for the lady's husband that he
+was unwilling he should be put to any shame or vexation. He therefore
+earnestly begged the Prince to forego his inclinations, threatening him
+with his displeasure should he continue to press his suit.
+
+The Prince, who set the favour of the King above all the ladies in the
+world, promised for his sake to lay aside the enterprise, and to go that
+very evening and bid the lady farewell. This he did as soon as he knew
+that she had retired to her own apartments, over which was the room of
+the gentleman, her husband. And the husband being that evening at his
+window, saw the Prince going into his wife's room beneath. The Prince
+saw him also, but went in for all that, and in bidding farewell to her
+whose love was but beginning, pleaded as his sole reason the King's
+command.
+
+After many tears and lamentations and regrets, which lasted until an
+hour after midnight, the lady finally said--
+
+"I praise God, my lord, that it pleases Him you should lose your love
+for me, since it is so slight and weak that you are able to take it up
+and lay it down at the command of man. For my own part, I have never
+asked mistress or husband or even myself for permission to love you;
+Love, aided by your good looks and courtesy, gained such dominion over
+me that I could recognise no God or King save him. But since your heart
+is not so full of true love that fear may not find room in it, you can
+be no perfect lover, and I will love none that is imperfect so perfectly
+as I had resolved to love you. Farewell, then, my lord, seeing that you
+are too timorous to deserve a love as frank as mine."
+
+The Prince went away in tears, and looking back he again noticed the
+husband, who was still at the window, and had thus seen him go in and
+come out again. Accordingly he told him on the morrow why he had gone
+to see his wife, and of the command that the King had laid upon him,
+whereat the gentleman was well pleased, and gave thanks to the King.
+
+However, finding that his wife was becoming more beautiful every day,
+whilst he himself was growing old and less handsome than before, he
+began to change his tactics, and to play the part which he had for a
+long time imposed upon his wife, bestowing some attention upon her and
+seeking her more frequently than had been his wont. But the more she was
+sought by him the more was he shunned by her; for she desired to pay him
+back some part of the grief that he had caused her by his indifference.
+
+Moreover, being unwilling to forego so soon the pleasure that love was
+beginning to afford her, she addressed herself to a young gentleman, who
+was so very handsome, well-spoken, and graceful that he was loved by
+all the ladies of the Court. And by complaining to him of the manner in
+which she had been treated, she lured him to take pity upon her, so
+that he left nothing untried in his attempts to comfort her. She, on
+her part, to console herself for the loss of the Prince who had forsaken
+her, set herself to love this gentleman so heartily that she came to
+forget her former grief, and to think of nothing but the skilful conduct
+of her new amour, in which she succeeded so well that her mistress
+perceived nought of it, for she was careful not to speak to her lover
+in her mistress's presence. When she wished to talk with him she would
+betake herself to the rooms of some ladies who lived at the Court,
+amongst whom was one that her husband made a show of being in love with.
+
+Now one dark evening she stole away after supper, without taking any
+companion with her, and repaired to the apartment belonging to these
+ladies, where she found the man whom she loved better than herself. She
+sat down beside him, and leaning upon a table they conversed together
+while pretending to read in the same book. Some one whom her husband had
+set to watch then went and reported to him whither his wife was gone.
+Being a prudent man, he said nothing, but as quickly as possible
+betook himself to the room, where he found his wife reading the book.
+Pretending, however, not to see her, he went straight to speak to the
+other ladies, who were in another part of the room. But when his poor
+wife found herself discovered by him in the company of a gentleman to
+whom she had never spoken in his presence, she was in such confusion
+that she quite lost her wits; and being unable to pass along the bench,
+she leaped upon the table and fled as though her husband were pursuing
+her with a drawn sword. And then she went in search of her mistress, who
+was just about to withdraw to her own apartments.
+
+When her mistress was undressed, and she herself had retired, one of
+her women brought her word that her husband was inquiring for her. She
+answered plainly that she would not go, for he was so harsh and strange
+that she dreaded lest he should do her some harm.
+
+At last, however, for fear of worse, she consented to go. Her husband
+said not a word to her until they were in bed together, when being
+unable to dissemble so well as he, she began to weep. And when he asked
+her the cause of this, she told him that she was afraid lest he should
+be angry at having found her reading in company with a gentleman.
+
+He then replied that he had never forbidden her to speak to a man, and
+did not take it ill that she had done so; but he did indeed take it ill
+that she had run from him as though she had done something deserving of
+censure, and her flight and nothing else had led him to think that she
+was in love with the gentleman. He therefore commanded her never to
+speak to him again in public or in private, and assured her that the
+first time she did so he would slay her without mercy or compassion. She
+very readily promised to obey, and made up her mind not to be so foolish
+another time.
+
+But things are desired all the more for being forbidden, and it was not
+long before the poor woman had forgotten her husband's threats and her
+own promises. That very same evening she sent to the gentleman, begging
+him to visit her at night. But the husband, who was so tormented
+by jealousy that he could not sleep, and who had heard say that the
+gentleman visited his wife at night, wrapped himself in a cloak, and
+taking a valet with him, went to his wife's apartment and knocked at the
+door. She, not in the least expecting him, got up alone, put on furred
+slippers and a dressing-gown which were lying close at hand, and finding
+that the three or four women whom she had with her were asleep, went
+forth from her room and straight to the door at which she had heard the
+knocking. On her asking, "Who is there?" she received in answer the name
+of her lover; but to be still more certain, she opened a little wicket,
+saying--
+
+"If you be the man you say you are, show me your hand, and I shall
+recognise it."
+
+And when she touched her husband's hand she knew who it was, and quickly
+shutting the wicket, cried out--
+
+"Ha, sir! it is your hand."
+
+The husband replied in great wrath--
+
+"Yes; it is the hand that will keep faith with you. Do not fail,
+therefore, to come when I send for you."
+
+With these words he went away to his own apartment, whilst she, more
+dead than alive, went back into her room, and cried out aloud to her
+servant-women, "Get up, my friends; you have slept only too well for me,
+for thinking to trick you, I have myself been tricked."
+
+With these words she swooned away in the middle of the room. The
+women rose at her cry, and were so astonished at seeing their mistress
+stretched upon the floor, as well as at hearing the words, she had
+uttered, that they were at their wits' end, and sought in haste for
+remedies to restore her. When she was able to speak, she said to them--
+
+"You see before you, my friends, the most unhappy creature in the
+world."
+
+And thereupon she went on to tell them the whole adventure, and begged
+of them to help her, for she counted her life as good as lost.
+
+While they were seeking to comfort her, a valet came with orders that
+she was to repair to her husband instantly. Thereupon, clinging to two
+of her women, she began to weep and wail, begging them not to suffer her
+to go, for she was sure she would be killed. But the valet assured her
+to the contrary, offering to pledge his life that she should receive no
+hurt. Seeing that she lacked all means of resistance, she at last threw
+herself into the servant's arms, and said to him--
+
+"Since it may not be otherwise, you must e'en carry this hapless body to
+its death."
+
+Half fainting in her distress, she was then at once borne by the
+valet to his master's apartment. When she reached it, she fell at her
+husband's feet, and said to him--
+
+"I beseech you, sir, have pity on me, and I swear to you by the faith I
+owe to God that I will tell you the whole truth."
+
+"'Fore God you shall," he replied, like one beside himself, and
+forthwith he drove all the servants from the room.
+
+Having always found his wife very devout, he felt sure that she would
+not dare to forswear herself on the Holy Cross. He therefore sent for a
+very beautiful crucifix that belonged to him, and when they were alone
+together, he made her swear upon it that she would return true replies
+to his questions. Already, however, she had recovered from her first
+dread of death, and taking courage, she resolved that if she was to die
+she would make no concealment of the truth, but at the same time would
+say nothing that might injure the gentleman she loved. Accordingly,
+having heard all the questions that her husband had to put to her, she
+replied as follows--
+
+"I have no desire, sir, either to justify myself or to lessen to you the
+love that I have borne to the gentleman you suspect; for if I did, you
+could not and you should not believe me. Nevertheless, I desire to tell
+you the cause of this affection. Know, then, sir, that never did wife
+love husband more than I loved you, and that from the time I wedded you
+until I reached my present age, no other passion ever found its way into
+my heart. You will remember that while I was still a child, my parents
+wished to marry me to one richer and more highly born than yourself,
+but they could never gain my consent to this from the moment I had once
+spoken to you. In spite of all their objections I held fast to you,
+and gave as little heed to your poverty as to their remonstrances. You
+cannot but know what treatment I have had at your hands hitherto, and
+the fashion in which you have loved and honoured me; and this has caused
+me so much grief and discontent that but for the succour of the lady
+with whom you placed me, I should have been in despair. But at last,
+finding myself fully grown and deemed beautiful by all but you, I began
+to feel the wrong you did me so keenly that the love I had for you
+changed into hate, and the desire of obeying you into one for revenge.
+In this despairing condition I was found by a Prince who, being more
+anxious to obey the King than Love, forsook me just as I was beginning
+to feel my pangs assuaged by an honourable affection. When the Prince
+had left me, I lighted upon this present gentleman; and he had no need
+to entreat me, for his good looks, nobleness, grace, and virtue are
+well worthy of being sought after and courted by all women of sound
+understanding. At my instance, not at his own, he has loved me in all
+virtue, so that never has he sought from me aught that honour might
+refuse. And although I have but little cause to love you, and so might
+be absolved from being loyal and true to you, my love of God and of my
+honour has hitherto sufficed to keep me from doing aught that would call
+for confession or shame. I will not deny that I went into a closet as
+often as I could to speak with him, under pretence of going thither to
+say my prayers, for I have never trusted the conduct of this matter to
+any one, whether man or woman. Further, I will not deny that when in so
+secret a place and safe from all suspicion I have kissed him with more
+goodwill than I kiss you. But as I look to God for mercy, no other
+familiarity has passed between us; he has never urged me to it, nor has
+my heart ever desired it; for I was so glad at seeing him that methought
+the world contained no greater pleasure.
+
+"And now, sir, will you, who are the sole cause of my misfortune, take
+vengeance for conduct of which you have yourself long since set me an
+example, with, indeed, this difference, that in your case you thought
+nought of either honour or conscience; for you know and I know too
+that the woman you love does not rest content with what God and reason
+enjoin. And albeit the law of man deals great dishonour to wives who
+love other men than their husbands, the law of God does not exempt from
+punishment the husbands who love other women than their wives. And if my
+offences are to be weighed against yours, you are more to blame than
+I, for you are a wise and experienced man, and of an age to know and
+to shun evil, whilst I am young and have no experience of the might and
+power of love. You have a wife who desires you, honours you, and loves
+you more than her own life; while I have a husband who avoids me, hates
+me, and rates me as lightly as he would a servant maid. You are in love
+with a woman who is already old, of meagre figure, and less fair than I;
+whilst I love a gentleman younger, handsomer, and more amiable than you.
+You love the wife of one of the best friends you have in the world, the
+mistress, moreover, of your King and master, so that you offend against
+the friendship that is due to the first, and the respect that is due to
+the second; whereas I am in love with a gentleman whose only tie is his
+love for me. Judge then fairly which of us two is the more worthy of
+punishment or pardon: you, a man of wisdom and experience, who through
+no provocation on my part have acted thus ill not only towards me, but
+towards the King, to whom you are so greatly indebted; or I, who am
+young and ignorant, who am slighted and despised by you, and loved by
+the handsomest and most worshipful gentleman in France, a gentleman whom
+I have loved in despair of ever being loved by you."
+
+When the husband heard her utter these truths with so fair a
+countenance, and with such a bold and graceful assurance as clearly
+testified that she neither dreaded nor deserved any punishment, he was
+overcome with astonishment, and could find nothing to reply except that
+a man's honour and a woman's were not the same thing. However, since she
+swore to him that there had been nothing between herself and her lover
+but what she had told him, he was not minded to treat her ill, provided
+she would act so no more, and that they both put away the memory of the
+past. To this she agreed, and they went to bed in harmony together.
+
+Next morning an old damosel who was in great fear for her mistress's
+life came to her at her rising, and asked--
+
+"Well, madam, and how do you fare?"
+
+"I would have you know," said her mistress, laughing, "that there is not
+a better husband than mine, for he believed me on my oath."
+
+And so five or six days passed by.
+
+Meanwhile the husband had such care of his wife that he caused a watch
+to be kept on her both night and day. But for all his care he could not
+prevent her from again speaking with her lover in a dark and suspicious
+place. However, she contrived matters with such secrecy that no one,
+whether man or woman, could ever learn the truth, though a rumour was
+started by some serving-man about a gentleman and a lady whom he had
+found in a stable underneath the rooms belonging to the mistress of the
+lady in question. At this her husband's suspicions were so great that he
+resolved to slay the gentleman, and gathered together a large number of
+his relations and friends to kill him if he was anywhere to be found.
+But the chief among his kinsmen was so great a friend of the gentleman
+whom they sought, that instead of surprising him he gave him warning of
+all that was being contrived against him, for which reason the other,
+being greatly liked by the whole Court, was always so well attended that
+he had no fear of his enemy's power, and could not be taken unawares and
+attacked.
+
+However, he betook himself to a church to meet his lady's mistress,
+who had heard nothing of all that had passed, for the lovers had never
+spoken together in her presence. But the gentleman now informed her of
+the suspicion and ill-will borne him by the lady's husband, and told her
+that although he was guiltless he had nevertheless resolved to go on a
+long journey in order to check the rumours, which were beginning greatly
+to increase. The Princess, his lady's mistress, was much astonished on
+hearing this tale, and protested that the husband was much in the wrong
+to suspect so virtuous a wife, and one in whom she had ever found all
+worth and honour. Nevertheless, considering the husband's authority, and
+in order to quell these evil reports, she advised him to absent himself
+for a time, assuring him that for her part she would never believe such
+foolish suspicions.
+
+Both the gentleman and the lady, who was present, were well pleased at
+thus preserving the favour and good opinion of the Princess, who further
+advised the gentleman to speak with the husband before his departure.
+He did as he was counselled, and meeting with the husband in a gallery
+close to the King's apartment, he assumed a bold countenance, and said
+to him with all the respect due to one of high rank--
+
+"All my life, sir, I have desired to do you service, and my only reward
+is to hear that last evening you lay in wait to kill me. I pray you,
+sir, reflect that while you have more authority and power than I have, I
+am nevertheless a gentleman even as you are. It would be grievous to me
+to lose my life for naught. I pray you also reflect that you have a wife
+of great virtue, and if any man pretend the contrary I will tell him
+that he has foully lied. For my part, I can think of nothing that I have
+done to cause you to wish me ill. If, therefore, it please you, I will
+remain your faithful servant; if not, I am that of the King, and with
+that I may well be content."
+
+The husband replied that he had in truth somewhat suspected him, but
+he deemed him so gallant a man that he would rather have his friendship
+than his enmity; and bidding him farewell, cap in hand, he embraced
+him like a dear friend. You may imagine what was said by those who, the
+evening before, had been charged to kill the gentleman, when they beheld
+such tokens of respect and friendship. And many and diverse were the
+remarks that each one made.
+
+In this manner the gentleman departed, and as he had far less money than
+good looks, his mistress delivered to him a ring that her husband had
+given her of the value of three thousand crowns; and this he pledged for
+fifteen hundred.
+
+Some time after he was gone, the husband came to the Princess, his
+wife's mistress, and prayed her to grant his wife leave to go and dwell
+for a while with one of his sisters. This the Princess thought very
+strange, and so begged him to tell her the reasons of his request, that
+he told her part of them, but not all. When the young lady had taken
+leave of her mistress and of the whole Court without shedding any tears
+or showing the least sign of grief, she departed on her journey to the
+place whither her husband desired her to go, travelling under the care
+of a gentleman who had been charged to guard her closely, and above all
+not to suffer her to speak on the road to her suspected lover.
+
+She knew of these instructions, and every day was wont to cause false
+alarms, scoffing at her custodians and their lack of care. Thus one day,
+on leaving her lodging, she fell in with a Grey Friar on horseback, with
+whom, being herself on her palfrey, she talked on the road the whole
+time from the dinner to the supper hour. And when she was a quarter of
+a league from the place where she was to lodge that night, she said to
+him--
+
+"Here, father, are two crowns which I give you for the consolation you
+have afforded me this afternoon. They are wrapped in paper, for I well
+know that you would not venture to touch them. (2) And I beg you to
+leave the road as soon as you have parted from me, and to take care
+that you are not seen by those who are with me. I say this for your own
+welfare, and because I feel myself beholden to you."
+
+     2  The Grey Friars belonging to a mendicant order were
+     prohibited from demanding or accepting money; it was only
+     allowable for them to receive gifts in kind, mainly edible
+     produce. It was for this reason that the lady gave the friar
+     the two crowns wrapped in paper, knowing that he ought not
+     to touch the coins.--M. See also vol. i. p. 98, note 3.
+
+The friar, well pleased with the two crowns, set off across the fields
+at full gallop; and when he was some distance away the lady said aloud
+to her attendants--
+
+"You may well deem yourselves good servants and diligent guards. He as
+to whom you were to be so careful has been speaking to me the whole day,
+and you have suffered him to do so. Your good master, who puts so much
+trust in you, should give you the stick rather than give you wages."
+
+When the gentleman who had charge of her heard these words he was so
+angry that he could not reply, but calling two others to him, set spurs
+to his horse, and rode so hard that he at last reached the friar, who on
+perceiving his pursuers had fled as fast as he could. However, the poor
+fellow was caught, being less well mounted than they were. He was quite
+ignorant of what it all meant, and cried them mercy, taking off his hood
+in order that he might entreat them with bareheaded humility. Thereupon
+they realised that he was not the man whom they sought, and that their
+mistress had been mocking them. And this she did with even better effect
+upon their return to her.
+
+"You are fitting fellows," said she, "to receive ladies in your charge.
+You suffer them to talk to any stranger, and then, believing whatever
+they may say, you go and insult the ministers of God."
+
+After all these jests they arrived at the place that her husband had
+commanded, and here her two sisters-in-law, with the husband of one of
+them, kept her in great subjection.
+
+In the meanwhile her husband had heard how his ring had been pledged
+for fifteen hundred crowns, whereat he was exceedingly wrathful, and in
+order to save his wife's honour and to get back the ring, he bade his
+sisters tell her to redeem it, he himself paying the fifteen hundred
+crowns.
+
+She cared nought for the ring since her lover had the money, but she
+wrote to him saying that she was compelled by her husband to redeem it,
+and in order that he might not suppose she was doing this through any
+lessening of her affection, she sent him a diamond which her mistress
+had given, her, and which she liked better than any ring she had.
+
+Thereupon the gentleman forwarded her the merchant's bond right
+willingly; deeming himself fortunate in having fifteen hundred crowns
+and a diamond, (3) and at being still assured of his lady's favour.
+However, as long as the husband lived, he had no means of communing with
+her save by writing.
+
+When the husband died, expecting to find her still what she had promised
+him to be, he came in all haste to ask her in marriage; but he found
+that his long absence had gained him a rival who was loved better than
+himself. His sorrow at this was so great that he henceforth shunned the
+companionship of ladies and sought out scenes of danger, and so at last
+died in as high repute as any young man could have. (4)
+
+     3  The gentleman deemed it only natural that the woman he
+     honoured with his love should present him with money. In the
+     seventeenth century similar opinions were held, if one may
+     judge by some passages in Dancourt's comedies, and by the
+     presents which the Duchess of Cleveland made to Henry
+     Jerrayn and John Churchill, afterwards Duke of Marlborough,
+     as chronicled in the _Memoirs of the Count de Gramont_.--M.
+
+     4  Brantome tells a somewhat similar tale to this in his
+     _Vies des Dames Galantes_ (Dis. I.): "I knew," he writes,
+     "two ladies of the Court, sisters-in-law to one another, one
+     of whom was married to a courtier, high in favour and very
+     skilful, but who did not make as much account of his wife as
+     by reason of her birth he should have done, for he spoke to
+     her in public as he might have spoken to a savage, and
+     treated her most harshly. She patiently endured this for
+     some time, until indeed her husband lost some of his credit,
+     when, watching for and taking the opportunity, she quickly
+     repaid him for all the disdain that he had shown her. And
+     her sister-in-law imitated her and did likewise; for having
+     been married when of a young and tender age, her husband
+     made no more account of her than if she had been a little
+     girl.... But she, advancing in years, feeling her heart beat
+     and becoming conscious of her beauty, paid him back in the
+     same coin, and made him a present of a fine pair of horns,
+     by way of interest for the past"--Lalanne's _OEuvres de
+     Brantome_, vol. ix. p. 157.--L.
+
+"In this tale, ladies, I have tried, without sparing our own sex, to
+show husbands that wives of spirit yield rather to vengeful wrath than
+to the sweetness of love. The lady of whom I have told you withstood
+the latter for a great while, but in the end succumbed to despair.
+Nevertheless, no woman of virtue should yield as she did, for, happen
+what may, no excuse can be found for doing wrong. The greater the
+temptations, the more virtuous should one show oneself, by resisting and
+overcoming evil with good, instead of returning evil for evil; and this
+all the more because the evil we think to do to another often recoils
+upon ourselves. Happy are those women who display the heavenly virtues
+of chastity, gentleness, meekness, and long-suffering."
+
+"It seems to me, Longarine," said Hircan, "that the lady of whom you
+have spoken was impelled by resentment rather than by love; for had she
+loved the gentleman as greatly as she appeared to do, she would not
+have forsaken him for another. She may therefore be called resentful,
+vindictive, obstinate, and fickle."
+
+"It is all very well for you to talk in that way," said Ennasuite, "but
+you do not know the heartbreak of loving without return."
+
+"It is true," said Hircan, "that I have had but little experience in
+that way. If I am shown the slightest disfavour, I forthwith forego lady
+and love together."
+
+"That," said Parlamente, "is well enough for you who love only your own
+pleasure; but a virtuous wife cannot thus forsake her husband."
+
+"Yet," returned Simontault, "the lady in the story forgot for a while
+that she was a woman. No man could have taken a more signal revenge."
+
+"It does not follow," said Oisille, "because one woman lacks discretion
+that all the rest are the same."
+
+"Nevertheless," said Saffredent, "you are all women, as any one would
+find who looked carefully, despite all the fine clothes you may wear."
+
+"If we were to listen to you," said Nomerlide, "we should spend the day
+in disputes. For my part, I am so impatient to hear another tale, that I
+beg Longarine to give some one her vote."
+
+Longarine looked at Geburon and said:--
+
+"If you know anything about a virtuous woman, I pray you set it forth."
+
+"Since I am to do what I can," said Geburon, "I will tell you a tale of
+something that happened in the city of Milan."
+
+[Illustration: 182.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 183a.jpg The Gentleman discovering the Trick]
+
+[The Gentleman discovering the Trick]
+
+[Illustration: 183.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XVI_.
+
+_A lady of Milan, widow of an Italian Count, had resolved never again
+to marry or to love. But for three years she was so earnestly wooed by a
+French gentleman, that after repeated proof of the steadfastness of his
+love, she granted him what he had so greatly desired, and they vowed to
+each other everlasting affection_. (l)
+
+In the days of the Grand Master of Chaumont, (2) there lived a lady who
+was reckoned one of the most honourable women that there were at that
+time in the city of Milan. She had married an Italian Count, and being
+left a widow, lived in the house of her brothers-in-law, refusing to
+hear speak of another marriage. And so discreetly and piously did she
+demean herself that there was none in the Duchy, whether French or
+Italian, but held her in high esteem.
+
+     1  According to M. de Lincy, who points out that Bonnivet
+     must be the hero of the adventure here related, the
+     incidents referred to would have occurred at Milan between
+     1501 and 1503; but in M. Lacroix's opinion they would be
+     posterior to 1506.--Ed.
+
+     2  See _ante_, note 1 to Tale XIV.
+
+One day when her brothers and sisters-in-law offered an entertainment to
+the Grand Master of Chaumont, this widow lady was obliged to be present,
+though she made it her rule not to attend such gatherings when held in
+other places. And when the Frenchmen saw her, they were all admiration
+for her beauty and grace, especially one among them whose name I shall
+not mention; for it will suffice for you to know that there was no
+Frenchman in Italy more worthy of love than he, for he was endowed with
+all the beauties and graces that a gentleman could have. And though he
+saw that the lady wore black crape, and remained with several old women
+in a corner apart from the young ones, yet, having never known what it
+was to fear either man or woman, he set himself to converse with her,
+taking off his mask, and leaving the dance in order to remain in her
+company.
+
+Throughout the whole of the evening he did not cease talking to her and
+to the old women, and found more pleasure in doing so than if he had
+been with the most youthful and bravely attired ladies of the Court. So
+much, indeed, was this the case, that when the hour came to withdraw he
+seemed to have not yet had time even to sit down. And although he only
+spoke to the lady on such common matters as were suited to such company,
+she knew very well that he desired to win her favour, and this she
+resolved to guard against by all means in her power, so that he was
+never afterwards able to see her at any banquet or assembly.
+
+He inquired about the manner of her life, and found that she often went
+to churches and convents; whereupon he kept such good watch that she
+could never visit them so secretly but he was there before her. And he
+would remain in the church as long as he had the happiness to see
+her, and all the time that she was present would gaze at her so
+affectionately that she could not remain in ignorance of the love he
+bore her. In order to avoid him, she resolved to feign illness for a
+time, and to hear mass in her own house; and at this the gentleman was
+most sorely grieved, for he had no other means of seeing her than at
+church.
+
+Thinking that she had cured him of his habit, she at last returned to
+the churches as before, but love quickly brought tidings of this to the
+French gentleman, who then renewed his habits of devotion. He feared,
+however, that she might again throw some hindrance in his way, and that
+he might not have time to tell her what he would; and so one morning,
+when she thought herself well concealed in a chapel, he placed himself
+at the end of the altar at which she was hearing mass; and seeing that
+she was but scantily attended, he turned towards her just as the priest
+was elevating the host, and in a soft and loving voice said to her--
+
+"May I be sent to perdition, madam, by Him whom the priest has now in
+his hands, if you are not causing my death. Though you take from me
+all means of speaking with you, you cannot be ignorant of my desire; my
+wearied eyes and my deathly face must make the truth apparent to you."
+(3)
+
+     3  The Queen of Navarre is known to have had a considerable
+     knowledge of the Italian language, and it is therefore quite
+     possible that she was acquainted with the story of
+     Poliphilus and Polia, which, although no French translation
+     of it appeared until 1554, had been issued at Venice as
+     early as 1499. In any case, however, there is a curious
+     similarity between the speech of the French gentleman given
+     above and the discourse which Poliphilus addresses to Polia
+     when he finds her saying her prayers in the temple. A
+     considerable portion of the Italian story is in keeping with
+     the character of the _Heptameron_ tales.--M.
+
+The lady pretended not to understand him, and replied--
+
+"God's name should not thus be taken in vain; but the poets say that
+the gods laugh at the oaths and lies of lovers, and so women who regard
+their honour should not show themselves credulous or compassionate."
+
+With these words she rose up and returned home.
+
+The gentleman's anger at these words may well be imagined by such as
+have experienced the like fortune. But having no lack of spirit, he held
+it better to have received this unfavourable reply than to have failed
+in declaring his love, to which he held fast during three years, losing
+neither time nor opportunity in wooing her by letters and in other ways.
+
+For three years, however, she vouchsafed him no reply, but shunned
+him as the wolf shuns the hound that is to take him; and this she did
+through fear for her honour and fair fame, and not because she hated
+him. He perceived this so clearly that he pursued her more eagerly than
+ever; and at last, after many refusals, troubles, tortures and despairs,
+the lady took pity upon him for the greatness and steadfastness of his
+love, and so granted him what he had so greatly desired and so long
+awaited.
+
+When they had agreed concerning the means to be employed, the French
+gentleman failed not to repair to her house, although in doing so he
+placed his life in great danger, seeing that she and her relations lived
+all together.
+
+However, being as skilful as he was handsome, he contrived the matter
+so prudently that he was able to enter the lady's room at the hour which
+she had appointed, and found her there all alone, lying in a beautiful
+bed; but as he was hasting to put off his clothes in order to join her,
+he heard a great whispering at the door, and a noise of swords scraping
+against the wall.
+
+Then the widow said to him, with the face of one nigh to death--
+
+"Now is your life and my honour in as great danger as well can be, for I
+hear my brothers outside seeking you to slay you. I pray you, therefore,
+hide yourself under this bed, and when they fail to find you I shall
+have reason to be angry with them for alarming me without just cause."
+
+The gentleman, who had never yet known fear, replied--
+
+"And what, pray, are your brothers that they should frighten a man of
+mettle? If the whole breed of them were there together, I am sure they
+would not tarry for the fourth thrust of my sword. Do you, therefore,
+rest quietly in bed, and leave the guarding of this door to me."
+
+Then he wrapped his cloak about his arm, took his drawn sword in his
+hand, and opened the door so that he might have a closer view of
+the swords that he had heard. When the door was opened, he saw two
+serving-women, who, holding a sword in each hand, had raised this alarm.
+
+"Sir," they said to him, "forgive us. We were commanded by our mistress
+to act in this manner, but you shall be hindered by us no more."
+
+Seeing that they were women, the gentleman could do no more than bid
+them go to the devil, and shut the door in their faces. Then he got into
+bed to the lady with all imaginable speed, his passion for her being in
+no wise diminished by fear; and forgetting to inquire the reason of this
+skirmish, he thought only of satisfying his desire.
+
+But when daybreak was drawing nigh, he begged his mistress to tell him
+why she had treated him so ill, both in making him wait so long, and in
+having played this last trick upon him.
+
+"My intention," she answered, laughing, "had been never to love again,
+and I had observed it from the time I became a widow; but, after you
+had spoken to me at the entertainment, your worth led me to change
+my resolve, and to love you as much as you loved me. It is true that
+honour, which had ever guided me, would not suffer me to be led by love
+to do aught to the disparagement of my reputation. But as the poor hind
+when wounded unto death thinks by change of place to change the pain it
+carries with it, so did I go from church to church thinking to flee from
+him whom I carried in my heart, and the proof of whose perfect devotion
+has reconciled honour and love. However, that I might be the more
+certain that I was giving my heart and love to a true man, I desired to
+make this last proof by means of my serving-women. And I vow to you that
+had I found you so timorous as to hide beneath my bed, either for fear
+of your life or for any other reason, I was resolved to rise and go into
+another room and never see you more. But since I have found that you are
+possessed of more beauty, and grace, and virtue, and valour than rumour
+had given you, and that fear has no power over your heart, nor can cool
+one whit the love you bear me, I am resolved to cleave to you for the
+remainder of my days. I feel sure that I could not place life and
+honour in better hands than those of one whom I deem unmatched in every
+virtue."
+
+And, just as though the human will could be unchangeable, they vowed and
+promised what was not in their power, namely, perpetual affection. For
+this is a thing that can neither spring up nor abide in the heart of
+man, as only those ladies know who have had experience of how long such
+feelings last. (4)
+
+     4  In Boaistuau's edition of the _Heptameron_ the final part
+     of the above sentence is given as follows: "And those women
+     that have had experience of it know this, and also how long
+     such fancies last." An extract from Brantome in connection
+     with the story will be found in the Appendix to this volume,
+     D.
+
+"So, ladies, if you are wise, you will beware of us even as the stag,
+had he understanding, would beware of the hunter; for our glory,
+happiness, and delight is to see you captured in order to rob you of
+that which is more precious to you than life."
+
+"Why, Geburon," said Hircan, "since when have you turned preacher? I can
+remember a time when you did not talk after that fashion."
+
+"It is quite true," said Geburon, "that I have just spoken contrary to
+what I have always said my life long; but since my teeth are no longer
+able to chew venison, I warn the hapless deer to beware of the hunters,
+in order that I may atone in my old age for all the mischief which I
+sought to do in my youth."
+
+"We thank you, Geburon," said Nomerfide, "for warning us to our profit,
+but for all that we do not feel very greatly beholden to you. You never
+spoke in that way to one you truly loved, and this is a proof that
+you have little love for us, and, moreover, would not have us loved.
+Nevertheless, we hold ourselves as discreet and as virtuous as the
+ladies whom you so long pursued in your youth. But old folk are commonly
+vain enough to think that they have been wiser in their time than those
+who come after them."
+
+"Well, Nomerfide," said Geburon, "will you believe that I have told
+you the truth when the faithlessness of one of your lovers has made you
+acquainted with the evil nature of men?"
+
+"It seems to me," said Oisille to Geburon, "that the gentleman whom you
+praise so highly for his boldness ought rather to be praised for the
+ardour of his love. So strong is this passion, that it impels the most
+cowardly to embark on enterprises about which the bravest would think
+twice."
+
+"If, madam," said Saffredent, "he'had not deemed the Italians to be
+better at talking than acting, me-thinks he had reason to be afraid."
+
+"Yes," said Oisille, "if he had not had in his heart the fire that
+consumes fear."
+
+"Since you do not deem the boldness of this gentleman altogether worthy
+of praise," said Hircan, "you doubtless know of some one else more
+deserving of commendation."
+
+"Nay," said Oisille, "the gentleman in the story deserves praise, but I
+do know of one who is more worthy of being admired."
+
+"I pray you, madam," said Geburon, "if that be so, take my place and
+tell us the tale."
+
+"If," began Oisille, "a man who showed such boldness against the
+Milanese to save his own life and his mistress's honour is to be
+esteemed so very brave, what shall be said of one who, without any need
+for it, and from pure and simple valour, performed the deed of which I
+will now tell you?"
+
+[Illustration: 193.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 195a.jpg The King showing his Sword]
+
+[The King showing his Sword]
+
+[Illustration: 195.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XVII_.
+
+_King Francis, being urged to banish Count William, who was said to have
+received money to bring about his death, did not suffer it to appear
+that he had any inkling of the scheme, but played the Count so shrewd a
+trick that he himself took leave of the King and went into banishment_.
+(1)
+
+To the town of Dijon, in the Duchy of Burgundy, there came a German
+Count to take service with King Francis. He was named William, (2) and
+was of the House of Saxony, which is so closely allied with that of
+Savoy that formerly they were but one. This Count, who was held for as
+handsome and valiant a gentleman as Germany ever knew, was right well
+received by the King, who not only took him into his service, but kept
+him close to himself as a groom of the chamber.
+
+     1  The incidents of this story are historical. Francis I. is
+     known to have sojourned at Dijon in June and July 1521.--L.
+
+     2  This is William, eldest son of Wolfgang von Furstemberg,
+     chamberlain to Maximilian I., and privy counsellor to Philip
+     of Austria.--B. J. Various particulars concerning him are
+     given in the Appendix to this volume, E.
+
+Now the Lord de la Tremoille, (3) Governor of Burgundy, an old knight
+and a loyal servant to the King, was ever jealous and anxious for his
+master's safety, and was wont to have spies at all points to learn what
+the King's enemies were doing; and so prudently did he contrive matters,
+that but few things were hidden from him. Among his informations there
+came to him one day a letter from a friend telling him that Count
+William had received a sum of money, with promise of more, for putting
+the King to death in any such manner as he might find possible. (4)
+
+     3  This is Louis II., Sire de la Tremoille, Viscount of
+     Thouars and Prince of Talmont, born in 1460. The son of
+     Louis I. de la Tremoille and of Margaret d'Amboise, he
+     became one of the most remarkable men of his time. Favoured
+     by Anne de Beaujeu, who arranged his marriage with Gabrielle
+     de Bourbon, he commanded the royal troops at the battle of
+     St. Aubin du Cormier, in Brittany (1488), at which the
+     rebellious Duke of Orleans (afterwards Louis XII.) and the
+     Prince of Orange, with a large number of the nobles, their
+     partisans, were made prisoners. They were all invited to La
+     Tremoille's table after the engagement, and, according to
+     Godefroi's Latin history of Louis XII., at the close of the
+     repast two Franciscan monks entered the hall, whereupon La
+     Tremoille rose and said: "Princes, I refer your judgments to
+     the King, but as for you, Knights, who have broken your
+     faith and falsified your knightly oath, you shall pay for
+     your crime with your heads. If you have any remorse on your
+     consciences, here are monks who will shrive you." The hall
+     resounded with lamentations, but the unhappy nobles were
+     promptly dragged into the courtyard, and there put to death;
+     both Orleans and Orange being too terror-stricken to
+     intercede for them. When the former came to the throne, he
+     forgave La Tremoille for his conduct in this affair, and
+     showed him great favour, appointing him Governor of Burgundy
+     in 1501. La Tremoille also became Admiral of Guienne and
+     Brittany, and figured conspicuously in the various Italian
+     campaigns of the period. He was killed at Pavia in 1525.
+     Jean Bouchet, a contemporary, wrote a curious life of this
+     remarkable man, entitled _Panegyric du Chevalier sans
+     reproche_. It will be found in Michaud and Poujoulat's
+     _Collection de Mitnoires_,--L. and Ed.
+
+     4  It has been suggested that the instigator of this plot
+     was Charles V.'s famous minister, Cardinal Granvelle.--Ed.
+
+The Lord de la Tremoille failed not to give speedy notice of the affair
+to the King, and further made it known to the King's mother, Louise of
+Savoy, who, forgetting that she and this German were akin, begged the
+King to banish him forthwith. But the King bade her speak no more of
+it, saying that it was impossible so upright and honourable a gentleman
+would undertake so vile a deed.
+
+Some time afterwards a second warning arrived in confirmation of the
+first, and the Governor, burning with love for his master, sought
+permission either to banish the Count or else take him in hand in some
+other fashion; but the King charged him expressly to keep the affair
+secret, being persuaded that he might discover the truth by some other
+means.
+
+One day when going a-hunting, the King, as his sole weapon, buckled on
+the finest sword it were possible to see, and took Count William along
+with him, desiring that he would follow him close. After hunting the
+stag for some time, seeing that all his people save the Count were far
+off, he turned out of all the roads and tracks, till he found himself
+alone with the Count in the deepest part of the forest, (5) when,
+drawing his sword, he said:--
+
+"Think you that this sword be handsome and trusty?"
+
+     5  This may be either the forest of Argilly or that of
+     Mondragon, both in the vicinity of Dijon.--ED.
+
+The Count took it by the point, and answered that he had never seen one
+that he liked better.
+
+"You are right," said the King; "and I think that, if a gentleman had
+resolved to slay me, he would think twice before he attacked me if
+he knew the strength of my arm, the stoutness-of my heart, and the
+excellence of this sword. Yet, for all that, I should count him but a
+craven scoundrel if, when we were face to face and alone, he durst not
+execute what he had dared to undertake."
+
+"Sire," replied Count William, with astonished countenance, "the
+wickedness of the undertaking would be very great, but the folly of
+seeking to execute it would be no less."
+
+The King laughed, sheathed his sword again, and hearing the hunt hard
+by, spurred after it with all speed. When he reached his train he spoke
+to none of what had passed, but he felt convinced that, although Count
+William was as brave and ready a gentleman as might be, he was not the
+man to carry out so high an enterprise.
+
+However, Count William, fearing that he had been discovered or was at
+least suspected, repaired the next morning to Robertet, Secretary
+for the King's Finances, (6) and told him that he had considered the
+privileges and pay offered him to continue in the King's service, and
+that they would not suffice to support him for half the year. Unless
+therefore it pleased the King to give him double, he would be forced to
+depart; and he accordingly begged the said Robertet to acquaint him
+as soon as might be with the will of the King. To this the Secretary
+replied that he could not better advance the business than by going to
+the King straightway; and he undertook the mission right willingly, for
+he had seen the warnings that the Governor had received.
+
+     6  This is Florimond Robertet, the first of that family of
+     statesmen who served the French crown from Charles VIII. to
+     Henri III. It was Charles VIII. who appointed Florimond
+     Treasurer of France and Secretary of Finances, offices in
+     which he displayed great skill and honesty. Louis XII., who
+     confirmed him in his functions, habitually consulted him on
+     important political affairs. He acquired considerable
+     wealth, and was often called "the great baron," after the
+     barony of Alluye, which he possessed in Le Perche. One of
+     the curiosities of Blois is the Hotel d'Alluye, a house of
+     semi-Moorish style, erected by Robertet at the close of the
+     fifteenth century. Another of his residences was the chateau
+     of Bury, near Blois, where he set up Michael Angelo's famous
+     bronze statue of David, presented to him by the city of
+     Florence, and the fate of which has furnished material for
+     so much speculation. Under Francis I. Robertet enjoyed the
+     same credit as during the two previous reigns. Fleuranges
+     declares that no one else was so intimate with the King, and
+     commends him as being the most experienced and competent
+     statesman of the times. According to the _Journal d'un
+     Bourgeois de Paris_, Robertet died "at the Palais (de
+     Justice) in Paris, of which he was concierge," on November
+     29, 1527. Francis repeatedly visited him during his illness,
+     and, on his death, ordered that his remains should lie in
+     state, and be interred with great pomp and ceremony. Clement
+     Marot's works contain a poem, four hundred lines in length,
+     celebrating Robertet's virtues and talents.--L., B. J., and
+     Ed.
+
+As soon, therefore, as the King was awake he failed not to lay the
+matter before him in the presence of the Lord de la Tremoille and the
+Admiral de Bonnivet, who were ignorant of the trick that the King had
+played the Count the day before.
+
+Then the King laughed, and said to them--"You desired to banish Count
+William, and you see he is banishing himself. Wherefore, tell him
+that if he be not content with the establishment which he accepted on
+entering my service, and which many men of good families have deemed
+themselves fortunate to have, he must e'en seek a better fortune
+elsewhere. For my part, I will in no wise hinder him, but shall be well
+pleased if he can find some condition wherein to live according to his
+deserts."
+
+Robertet was as prompt to bear this answer to the Count as he had been
+to prefer his request to the King. The Count replied that with the
+King's permission he was resolved to depart, and, like one whom fear
+urges to flight, he did not tarry even four and twenty hours; but,
+just as the King was sitting down to table, came to take leave of him,
+feigning much sorrow that his need should force him from the Royal
+presence.
+
+He also went to take leave of the King's mother, who parted from him
+no less joyfully than she had formerly received him as a kinsman and
+friend. And thus he returned to his own country; and the King, seeing
+his mother and courtiers in amazement at his sudden departure, told
+them of the fright he had given him, saying that, even if the Count
+were innocent of that which was laid against him, his fear had been
+sufficiently great to constrain him to leave a master whose temper he
+had not yet come to know.
+
+"For my part, ladies, I can see no reason why the King should have been
+moved to risk himself thus against so famous a captain, except that,
+forsaking the company and places where Kings find no inferiors ready to
+give them battle, he desired to place himself on an equal footing with
+one whom he suspected to be his enemy; and this that he might have the
+satisfaction of testing the stoutness and valour of his own heart."
+
+"Without a doubt," said Parlamente, "he was in the right; for all the
+praise of man cannot so well satisfy a noble heart as its own particular
+knowledge and experience of the virtues that God has placed in it."
+
+"The ancients," said Geburon, "long ago showed us that to reach the
+Temple of Fame it was necessary to pass through the Temple of Virtue,
+and I, who am acquainted with the two persons in your tale, know
+right well that the King is indeed one of the most valiant men in his
+kingdom."
+
+"By my word," said Hircan, "at the time when Count William came to
+France, I should have feared his [the King's] sword more than those of
+the four most accomplished Italian gentlemen at Court."
+
+"We well know," said Ennasuite, "that he is too famous for our praises
+to equal his merit, and that the day would be spent before we each could
+say all the good we think of him. And so, madam, I pray you, give your
+vote to one who will tell us some further good of men, if such there
+be."
+
+Then said Oisille to Hircan--
+
+"It seems to me that, as you are so wont to speak ill of women, you will
+find it easy to tell us some good story in praise of a man. I therefore
+give you my vote."
+
+"That can I easily do," said Hircan, "for but a little while since I was
+told a story in praise of a gentleman whose love, constancy and patience
+are so meritorious that I must not suffer them to be forgotten."
+
+[Illustration: 203.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+[Illustration: 205a.jpg The Student escaping the Temptation]
+
+[The Student escaping the Temptation]
+
+[Illustration: 205.jpg Page Image]
+
+
+
+
+_TALE XVIII_.
+
+     _A young student of noble birth, being smitten with love for
+     a very beautiful lady, subdued both love and himself in
+     order to achieve his end, and this in spite of many such
+     temptations as might have sufficed to make him break his
+     promise. And so all his woes were turned to joy by a reward
+     suitable to his constant, patient, loyal and perfect love_.
+     (1)
+
+     1  This story seems to be based on fact, being corroborated
+     in its main lines by Brantome, but there is nothing in the
+     narrative to admit of the personages referred to being
+     identified.--Ed.
+
+In one of the goodly towns of the kingdom of France there dwelt a
+nobleman of good birth, who attended the schools that he might learn how
+virtue and honour are to be acquired among virtuous men. But although
+he was so accomplished that at the age of seventeen or eighteen years he
+was, as it were, both precept and example to others, Love failed not to
+add his lesson to the rest; and, that he might be the better hearkened
+to and received, concealed himself in the face and the eyes of the
+fairest lady in the whole country round, who had come to the city in
+order to advance a suit-at-law. But before Love sought to vanquish the
+gentleman by means of this lady's beauty, he had first won her heart by
+letting her see the perfections of this young lord; for in good looks,
+grace, sense and excellence of speech he was surpassed by none.
+
+You, who know what speedy way is made by the fire of love when once it
+fastens on the heart and fancy, will readily imagine that between two
+subjects so perfect as these it knew little pause until it had them at
+its will, and had so filled them with its clear light, that thought,
+wish and speech were all aflame with it. Youth, begetting fear in the
+young lord, led him to urge his suit with all the gentleness imaginable;
+but she, being conquered by love, had no need of force to win her.
+Nevertheless, shame, which tarries with ladies as long as it can,
+for some time restrained her from declaring her mind. But at last the
+heart's fortress, which is honour's abode, was shattered in such sort
+that the poor lady consented to that which she had never been minded to
+refuse.
+
+In order, however, to make trial of her lover's patience, constancy
+and love, she only granted him what he sought on a very hard condition,
+assuring him that if he fulfilled it she would love him perfectly for
+ever; whereas, if he failed in it, he would certainly never win her as
+long as he lived. And the condition was this:--she would be willing to
+talk with him, both being in bed together, clad in their linen only, but
+he was to ask nothing more from her than words and kisses.
+
+He, thinking there was no joy to be compared to that which she promised
+him, agreed to the proposal, and that evening the promise was kept; in
+such wise that, despite all the caresses she bestowed on him and the
+temptations that beset him, he would not break his oath. And albeit his
+torment seemed to him no less than that of Purgatory, yet was his
+love so great and his hope so strong, sure as he felt of the ceaseless
+continuance of the love he had thus painfully won, that he preserved his
+patience and rose from beside her without having done anything contrary
+to her expressed wish. (2)
+
+     2  Brantome's _Dames Galantes_ contains an anecdote which is
+     very similar in character to this tale: "I have heard
+     speak," he writes, "of a very beautiful and honourable lady,
+     who gave her lover an assignation to sleep with her, on the
+     condition that he should not touch her... and he actually
+     obeyed her, remaining in a state of ecstasy, temptation and
+     continence the whole night long; whereat she was so well
+     pleased with him that some time afterwards she consented to
+     become his mistress, giving as her reason that she had
+     wished to prove his love by his obedience to her
+     injunctions; and on this account she afterwards loved him
+     the more, for she felt sure that he was capable of even a
+     greater feat than this, though it were a very great one."--
+     Lalanne's _OEuvres de Brantome_, vol. ix. pp. 6, 7.--L.
+
+The lady was, I think, more astonished than pleased by such virtue; and
+giving no heed to the honour, patience and faithfulness her lover had
+shown in the keeping of his oath, she forthwith suspected that his love
+was not so great as she had thought, or else that he had found her less
+pleasing than he had expected.
+
+She therefore resolved, before keeping her promise, to make a further
+trial of the love he bore her; and to this end she begged him to
+talk to a girl in her service, who was younger than herself and very
+beautiful, bidding him make love speeches to her, so that those who saw
+him come so often to the house might think that it was for the sake of
+this damsel and not of herself.
+
+The young lord, feeling sure that his own love was returned in equal
+measure, was wholly obedient to her commands, and for love of her
+compelled himself to make love to the girl; and she, finding him so
+handsome and well-spoken, believed his lies more than other truth, and
+loved him as much as though she herself were greatly loved by him.
+
+The mistress finding that matters were thus well advanced, albeit the
+young lord did not cease to claim her promise, granted him permission to
+come and see her at one hour after midnight, saying that after having so
+fully tested the love and obedience he had shown towards her, it was but
+just that he should be rewarded for his long patience. Of the lover's
+joy on hearing this you need have no doubt, and he failed not to arrive
+at the appointed time.
+
+But the lady, still wishing to try the strength of his love, had said to
+her beautiful damsel--
+
+"I am well aware of the love a certain nobleman bears to you, and I
+think you are no less in love with him; and I feel so much pity for you
+both, that I have resolved to afford you time and place that you may
+converse together at your ease."
+
+The damsel was so enchanted that she could not conceal her longings, but
+answered that she would not fail to be present.
+
+In obedience, therefore, to her mistress's counsel and command, she
+undressed herself and lay down on a handsome bed, in a room the door of
+which the lady left half-open, whilst within she set a light so that the
+maiden's beauty might be clearly seen. Then she herself pretended to go
+away, but hid herself near to the bed so carefully that she could not be
+seen.
+
+Her poor lover, thinking to find her according to her promise, failed
+not to enter the room as softly as he could, at the appointed hour; and
+after he had shut the door and put off his garments and fur shoes, he
+got into the bed, where he looked to find what he desired. But no
+sooner did he put out his arms to embrace her whom he believed to be his
+mistress, than the poor girl, believing him entirely her own, had her
+arms round his neck, speaking to him the while in such loving words and
+with so beautiful a countenance, that there is not a hermit so holy but
+he would have forgotten his beads for love of her.
+
+But when the gentleman recognised her with both eye and ear, and found
+he was not with her for whose sake he had so greatly suffered, the love
+that had made him get so quickly into the bed, made him rise from it
+still more quickly. And in anger equally with mistress and damsel, he
+said--
+
+"Neither your folly nor the malice of her who put you there can make
+me other than I am. But do you try to be an honest woman, for you shall
+never lose that good name through me."
+
+So saying he rushed out of the room in the greatest wrath imaginable,
+and it was long before he returned to see his mistress. However love,
+which is never without hope, assured him that the greater and more
+manifest his constancy was proved to be by all these trials, the longer
+and more delightful would be his bliss.
+
+The lady, who had seen and heard all that passed, was so delighted and
+amazed at beholding the depth and constancy of his love, that she was
+impatient to see him again in order to ask his forgiveness for the
+sorrow that she had caused him to endure. And as soon as she could meet
+with him, she failed not to address him in such excellent and pleasant
+words, that he not only forgot all his troubles but even deemed
+them very fortunate, seeing that their issue was to the glory of his
+constancy and the perfect assurance of his love, the fruit of which he
+enjoyed from that time forth as fully as he could desire, without either
+hindrance or vexation. (3)
+
+     3  In reference to this story, Montaigne says in his Essay
+     on Cruelty: "Such as have sensuality to encounter, willingly
+     make use of this argument, that when it is at the height it
+     subjects us to that degree that a man's reason can have no
+     access... wherein they conceive that the pleasure doth so
+     transport us that our reason cannot perform its office
+     whilst we are so benumbed and extacied in delight.... But I
+     know that a man may triumph over the utmost effort of this
+     pleasure: I have experienced it in myself, and have not
+     found Venus so imperious a goddess as many--and some more
+     reformed than I--declare. I do not consider it as a miracle,
+     as the Queen of Navarre does in one of the Tales of her
+     _Heptameron_ (which is a marvellous pretty book of the
+     kind), nor for a thing of extreme difficulty to pass over
+     whole nights, where a man has all the convenience and
+     liberty he can desire, with a long-coveted mistress, and yet
+     be just to his faith first given to satisfy himself with
+     kisses and innocent embraces only, without pressing any
+     further."--Cotton's "Montaigne's Essays", London, 1743, vol
+     ii. pp. 109-10.
+
+"I pray you, ladies, find me if you can a woman who has ever shown
+herself as constant, patient and true as was this man. They who have
+experienced the like temptations deem those in the pictures of Saint
+Antony very small in comparison; for one who can remain chaste and
+patient in spite of beauty, love, opportunity and leisure, will have
+virtue enough to vanquish every devil."
+
+"Tis a pity," said Oisille, "that he did not address his love to a woman
+possessing as much virtue as he possessed himself. Their amour would
+then have been the most perfect and honourable that was ever heard of."
+
+"But prithee tell me," said Geburon, "which of the two trials do you
+deem the harder?"
+
+"I think the last," said Parlamente, "for resentment is the strongest of
+all temptations."
+
+Longarine said she thought that the first was the most arduous to
+sustain, since to keep his promise it was needful he should subdue both
+love and himself.
+
+"It is all very well for you to talk," said Simontault, "it is for us
+who know the truth of the matter to say what we think of it. For my own
+part, I think he was stupid the first time and witless the second; for
+I make no doubt that, while he was keeping his promise, to his mistress,
+she was put to as much trouble as himself, if not more. She had him take
+the oath only in order to make herself out a more virtuous woman than
+she really was; she must have well known that strong love will not be
+bound by commandment or oath, or aught else on earth, and she simply
+sought to give a show of virtue to her vice, as though she could be won
+only through heroic virtues. And the second time he was witless to leave
+a woman who loved him, and who was worth more than his pledged mistress,
+especially when his displeasure at the trick played upon him had been a
+sound excuse."
+
+Here Dagoucin put in that he was of the contrary opinion, and held that
+the gentleman had on the first occasion shown himself constant, patient
+and true, and on the second occasion loyal and perfect in his love.
+
+"And how can we tell," asked Saffredent, "that he was not one of those
+that a certain chapter calls _de frigidis et malificiatis?_" (4)
+
+     4  This is an allusion to the penalties pronounced by
+     several ecclesiastical Councils, and specified in the
+     Capitularies, against those who endeavoured to suspend the
+     procreative faculties of their enemies by resorting to
+     magic. On this matter Baluze's collection of Capitularies
+     (vol. i.) may be consulted. The "chapter" referred to by
+     Margaret is evidently chapter xv. (book vi.) of the
+     Decretals of Pope Boniface VIII., which bears the title of
+     _De frigidis et maleficiatis_, and which is alluded to by
+     Rabelais in _Pantagruel_. The belief in the practices in
+     question dates back to ancient times, and was shared by
+     Plato and Pliny, the latter of whom says that to guard
+     against any spell of the kind some wolf fat should be rubbed
+     upon the threshold and door jambs of one's bed-chamber. In
+     the sixteenth century sorcery of this description was so
+     generally believed in, in some parts of France, that
+     Cardinal du Perron inserted special prayers against it in
+     the ritual. Some particulars on the subject will be found in
+     the _Admirables Secrets du Petit Albert_, and also in a
+     _Traite d'Enchantement_, published at La Rochelle in 1591,
+     which gives details concerning certain practices alleged to
+     take place on the solemnisation of marriage among those of
+     the Reformed Church.--D. and L.
+
+"To complete his eulogy, Hircan ought to have told us how he comported
+himself when he obtained what he wanted, and then we should have been
+able to judge whether it was virtue or impotence that made him observe
+so much discretion."
+
+"You may be sure," said Hircan, "that had he told me this I should have
+concealed it as little as I did the rest. Nevertheless, from seeing his
+person and knowing his temper, I shall ever hold that his conduct was
+due to the power of love rather than to any impotence or coldness."
+
+"Well, if he was such as you say," said Simontault, "he ought to have
+broken his oath; for, had the lady been angered by such a trifle, it
+would have been easy to appease her."
+
+"Nay," said Ennasuite, "perhaps she would not then have consented."
+
+"And pray," said Saffredent, "would it not have been easy enough to
+compel her, since she had herself given him the opportunity?"
+
+"By Our Lady!" said Nomerfide, "how you run on! Is that the way to win
+the favour of a lady who is accounted virtuous and discreet?"
+
+"In my opinion," said Saffredent, "the highest honour that can be paid
+to a woman from whom such things are desired is to take her by force,
+for there is not the pettiest damsel among them but seeks to be long
+entreated. Some indeed there are who must receive many gifts before they
+are won, whilst there are others so stupid that hardly any device or
+craft can enable one to win them, and with these one must needs be ever
+thinking of some means or other. But when you have to do with a woman
+who is too clever to be deceived, and too virtuous to be gained by words
+or gifts, is there not good reason to employ any means whatever that may
+be at your disposal to vanquish her? When you hear it said that a man
+has taken a woman by force, you may be sure that the woman has left him
+hopeless of any other means succeeding, and you should not think any
+the worse of a man who has risked his life in order to give scope to his
+love."
+
+Geburon burst out laughing.
+
+"In my day," said he, "I have seen besieged places stormed because it
+was impossible to bring the garrison to a parley either by money or by
+threats; 'tis said that a place which begins to treat is half taken."
+
+"You may think," said Ennasuite, "that every love on earth is based upon
+such follies as these, but there are those who have loved, and who have
+long persevered in their love, with very different aims."
+
+"If you know a story of that kind," said Hircan, "I will give place to
+you for the telling of it."
+
+"I do know one," said Ennasuite, "and I will very willingly relate it."
+
+[Illustration: 216.jpg Tailpiece]
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+
+
+
+A. (Tale VIII., Page i.)
+
+Tales of a similar character to this will be found in the following
+works written prior to Margaret's time:--
+
+Legrand d'Aussy's collection of _Fabliaux ou Contes du XIIeme et XIIIeme
+siecles_ (vol. iii.).
+
+Boccaccio's _Decameron_ (day viii., story iv.).
+
+Enguerrand d'Oisy's _Le Meunier d'Aleu_.
+
+Poggio's _Facetio ( Vir sibi cornua promovens)_.
+
+Sacchetti's _Novelle_ (vol. ii., No. ccvi.).
+
+Morlini's _Novelle_ (No. lxxix.).
+
+_Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles_ (story ix.).
+
+Malespini's _Ducento Novelle_ (part ii., No. xcvi.).
+
+Of the foregoing, says M. de Montaiglon, Margaret could only have been
+acquainted with the _Decameron_, the _Cent Nouvelles_, and Poggio's
+_Facetio_, which had been translated into French by Tardix (see Nos. cv.
+and ex. of that translation).
+
+A similar story in Latin verse is also contained in a fourteenth century
+MS. at Monte Cassino. See _I codici e le arti a Monte Cassino_, by D.
+Andrea Caravita (vol. ii. p. 289).
+
+Since Margaret's time stories of the same character have appeared in the
+following works:--
+
+Melander's _Jocondia_ (p. 298).
+
+Phil. Beroalde's _Contes Latins_ (see _Poggii Imitationes_, Noel's ed.,
+vol. ii. p. 245).
+
+Guicciardini's _Hore di Recreazione_ (p. 103).
+
+J. Bouchet's _Serees_ (No. 8; Roybet's ed., vol. ii. p. 115).
+
+Gabrielle Chapuys' _Facetieuses Journees_ (p. 213).
+
+La Fontaine's _Contes_ (book v., No. viii.:_ Les Quiproquo_). _Le
+Passe-Temps Agreable_ (p. 27).
+
+Moreover, a song written on the same subject will be found, says M.
+de Lincy, on folio 44 of the _Premier Recueil de toutes les chansons
+nouvelles_ (Troyes, Nicholas du Ruau, 1590). It is there called "The
+facetious and recreative story of a certain labourer of a village near
+Paris, who, thinking that he was enjoying his servant, lay with his
+wife." This song was reprinted in various other collections of the
+sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
+
+
+
+
+B (Tale XL (B.), Page 95.)
+
+An anecdote in keeping with this story will be found in Brantome's
+miscellaneous works (Petitot's ed., vol. viii. pp. 382-4). The author
+of _Les Dames Galantes_, after alluding to his aunt Louise de
+Bourdeille--who was brought up at Court by Anne of Brittany--proceeds to
+say:--
+
+"A certain Grey Friar, who habitually preached before the Queen, fell so
+deeply in love with Mademoiselle de Bourdeille that he completely lost
+his wits, and sometimes in his sermons, whilst speaking of the beauty
+of the holy virgins of past times, he would so forget himself as to say
+some words respecting the beauty of my said aunt, not to mention the
+soft glances which he cast at her. And sometimes, whilst in the Queen's
+room, he would take great pleasure in discoursing to her, not with words
+of love however, for he would have incurred a whipping, but with other
+covert words which tended towards love. My aunt in no wise approved
+of his discourses, and made some mention of them to her own and her
+companions' governess. The Queen heard of the matter and could not
+believe it, on account of this man's cloth and holiness. For this reason
+she kept silent until a certain Good Friday, when, in accordance with
+custom, this friar preached before her on the Holy Passion. The ladies
+and the maids, including my aunt, being seated as was their wont before
+the reverend father, in full view of him, he, as though giving out the
+text and introit of his sermon, began to say: 'It is for you, lovely
+humanity, it is for you that I suffer this day. Thus on a certain
+occasion spake our Lord Jesus Christ.' Then proceeding with his sermon
+the friar chronicled all the sufferings and afflictions which Jesus
+endured for mankind at His death upon the Cross, and these he compared
+to the sufferings that he himself endured on account of my aunt; but in
+such covert, such disguised words that even the most enlightened might
+have failed to understand their meaning. Queen Anne, however, who was
+very expert both in mind and judgment, laid hold of this, and took
+counsel as to the real meaning of the sermon, both with certain lords
+and ladies and certain learned men who were there present. They all
+pronounced the sermon to be most scandalous, and the Grey Friar most
+deserving of punishment; for which reason he was secretly chastised and
+whipped, and then driven away, without any scandal being made. Such was
+the Queen's reply to the amours of this Grey Friar; and thus was my aunt
+well avenged on him for the way in which he had so often importuned her.
+In those times it was not allowable, under divers penalties, either to
+contradict or to refuse to speak to such people, who, so it was thought,
+conversed only of God and the salvation of the soul."
+
+In Merimee's Chronique de Charles IX., there will be found a facetious
+sermon by another Grey Friar; this, however, is less in keeping with the
+_Heptameron_, than with the character of the discourses delivered by the
+preachers of the League.--M.
+
+
+
+
+C. (Tale XII., Page 101.)
+
+The following account of the assassination of Alexander de' Medici is
+taken from Sismondi's _Histoire des Republiques Italiennes du Moyen
+Age_, Paris, 1826, vol. xvi. p. 95 et seq.:--
+
+"But few months had elapsed since Alexander's marriage, and he had
+employed them in his wonted debauchery, carrying depravity and dishonour
+alternately into the convents and noblest abodes of Florence, when, on
+January 6, 1537, he was assassinated by the man whom, of all men, he
+the least mistrusted. This was his cousin, Lorenzino de' Medici....
+Lorenzino had already helped Alexander to seduce several women of noble
+birth; and to facilitate his assignations had often lent him his house,
+which adjoined the ducal residence in the Via Larga. He engaged to bring
+the Duke the wife of Leonardo Ginori--sister to his own mother, but much
+younger than she was. Alexander had long been struck with this lady's
+beauty, but so far she had virtuously repulsed him. After supper,
+however, on the day of the feast of the Epiphany, when the Carnival
+begins, Lorenzino informed the Duke that if he would repair to his
+house, unaccompanied and observing the greatest secrecy, he would find
+Catherine Ginori there. Alexander accepted the assignation, dismissed
+all his guards, rid himself of all those who wished to keep a watch upon
+him, and entered Lorenzino's house without being perceived. He was tired
+and wished to rest awhile, but before throwing himself on the bed he
+unbuckled his sword, and Lorenzino, on taking it from him to hang it
+at the head of the bedstead, wound the belt around the hilt in such a
+fashion that the weapon could not be easily drawn from its scabbard.
+After telling the Duke to rest whilst he went to fetch his aunt, he
+went away, locking the door of the room behind him; but returned shortly
+afterwards with a spadassin, nicknamed Scoronconcolo, whom he had
+previously engaged, for the purpose, he said, of ridding him of a great
+personage of the Court whose name he had prudently not given. In fact
+Lorenzino had carried his design to the very point of execution without
+taking a single person into his confidence. On returning into the room,
+followed by Scoronconcolo, he called to the Duke: 'Are you asleep, my
+lord?' and at the same moment transpierced him with a short sword which
+he was carrying. Alexander, although mortally wounded, tried to resist
+his murderer, whereupon Lorenzino, to prevent him from crying out,
+thrust two of his fingers into his mouth, at the same time exclaiming:
+'Be not afraid, my lord.' Alexander, it appears, bit his assailant's
+fingers with all the strength of his jaws, and holding him in a tight
+embrace, rolled with him about the bed, so that Scoronconcolo was unable
+to strike the one without striking the other. He endeavoured to get at
+the Duke from between Lorenzino's legs, but only succeeded in piercing
+the mattress, till at last he remembered that he had a knife about him,
+and drove it into the Duke's throat, turning it round and round until he
+eventually killed him. (1)
+
+     1  Bened. Varchi, lib. xv.; Bern. Segni, 1. vii.; Filippo de
+     Nerli, 1. xii.; Gio. Batt. Adriani, 1. i.; Scipione
+     Ammirato, 1. xxxi.; Pauli Jovii. Hist. 1. xxxviii.; Istorie
+     di Marco Guazzo, fol. 159.
+
+"Lorenzino failed to reap the fruits of the crime, which he had planned
+with so much skill and such profound secrecy. By the life he had led, he
+had aroused the distrust of all honest folks, he had no friends to whom
+he could apply for advice or help, he had no party behind him, he had
+never been known to display that zeal for liberty which he subsequently
+affected. Although he was the first of the Medici in the order of
+succession, no one thought of him. For his own part, he only thought of
+ensuring his safety. He locked the door of the room, taking the key away
+with him, and having obtained an order for the city gates to be opened,
+and for post-horses to be provided for him, under pretence that he had
+just learned that his brother was ill, in the country, he started for
+Bologna, whence he proceeded to Venice, accompanied by Scoronconcolo."
+
+
+
+
+D. (Tale XVI., Page 183.)
+
+With reference to this story Brantome writes as follows in the Sixth
+Discourse of his _Vies des Dames Galantes_:--
+
+"In the hundred stories of Queen Margaret of Navarre we have a very fine
+tale of that lady of Milan who, having one night given an assignation to
+the late M. de Bonnivet, afterwards Admiral of France, posted her maids
+with drawn swords on the stairs so that they might make a noise there;
+which they did right well, in obedience to the orders of their mistress,
+who for her part feigned great affright, saying that her brothers-in-law
+must have remarked something amiss, that she herself was lost, and that
+he, Bonnivet, ought to hide under the bed or behind the hangings. But M.
+de Bonnivet, without evincing any fear, wrapped his cape round his arm,
+and taking his sword replied: 'Well, where are these brave brothers who
+want to frighten me, or do me harm? When they see me they will not even
+dare to look at the point of my sword.' Then opening the door he rushed
+out, and just as he was about to charge down the staircase he espied the
+women making all this noise; and they, taking fright at sight of him,
+began to cry out and confess everything. M. de Bonnivet, seeing that it
+was nothing more serious, left them, bidding them betake themselves to
+the devil; and then, returning into the room, he closed the door after
+him and went to find his lady, who began to laugh and embrace him, and
+confess to him that it was a trick devised by herself, assuring him that
+if he had behaved as a poltroon, and had not thus displayed the valour
+which he was said to possess, he should never have had her favours....
+She was one of the most beautiful women of Milan, and he had had a deal
+of trouble to win her.
+
+"I knew a brave gentleman who, one day at Rome, was alone with a pretty
+Roman lady--her husband being away--and she gave him a similar alarm,
+causing one of her women to come in hastily to warn her that her husband
+had returned from the country. The lady, feigning astonishment, begged
+the gentleman to hide himself in a closet, as otherwise she would be
+lost. 'No, no,' said the gentleman; 'I would not do that for all the
+wealth in the world; if he comes I will kill him.' And as he seized upon
+his sword the lady began to laugh and confess that she had contrived
+this to try him so as to see how he would act, and if he would defend
+her well should her husband seek to do her any harm.
+
+"I also knew a very beautiful lady who suddenly left a lover she
+had, because she did not find him brave, and took another who did not
+resemble him, but who was extremely feared and redoubted on account
+of his sword, he being one of the best swordsmen that could then be
+found."--Lalanne's _OEuvres de Brantome_, vol. ix. pp. 388-90.
+
+
+
+
+E. (Tale XVII., Page 195.)
+
+Brantome, in the Thirtieth Discourse of his _Capitaines Etrangers_,
+writes of Furstemberg as follows:--
+
+"Count William von Furstemberg was accounted a good and valiant captain,
+and would have been more highly esteemed had he not been deficient in
+faith, over greedy and too much addicted to pillage, as he showed once
+in France, when he passed along with his troops; for after his passage
+there was nothing left. He served King Francis for the space of six or
+seven years [not more than six.--Ed.] with some five companies always
+numbering from six to seven thousand men; however, after this long term
+of services, or rather ravages and pillage, he was suspected of having
+designs against the King's person, as I have elsewhere related, and
+those who would learn more of the matter will find the story in
+the hundred tales of Queen Margaret of Navarre, wherein the valour,
+generosity and magnanimity of that great King are clearly shown. The
+other, in great fear, left his service and entered that of the Emperor
+(Charles V.). If he had not been related to Madame la Regente (Louise
+of Savoy), through the House of Saxony, whence sprang that of Savoy,
+he would possibly have met with the fate he merited, had the King
+been minded to it; but on this occasion the King wished to show his
+magnanimity rather than have him put to death by the officers of
+justice. Again the King pardoned him when, on the arrival of the Emperor
+at St. Dizier in Champagne, he was taken, sounding the river Marne, (2)
+which he had on other occasions well reconnoitred, in coming to or on
+leaving France with his troops. He was on this occasion merely sent to
+the Bastille, and got quit for a ransom of 30,000 crowns. Some great
+captains said and opined that he ought not to have been thus treated as
+a prisoner of war but as a real vile spy, for he had professedly acted
+as such; and they said, moreover, that he got off too cheaply at such
+a ransom, which did not represent the smallest of the larcenies that he
+had perpetrated in France."--Lalanne's _OEuvres de Brantome_, vol. i.
+pp. 349-50.
+
+Prior to this affair Furstemberg apparently showed some regret for his
+earlier schemes against Francis I., for Queen Margaret, writing to her
+brother in 1536, remarked:--
+
+"Count William has asked me to write and tell you that there is a great
+difference between the shameful purgatory of Italy and the glorious
+paradise of this camp, (3) and he spoke to me of his past misdeeds,
+which I would rather he should speak of to you," &c.--Genin's _Lettres
+de Marguerite_, p. 321.
+
+     2  This occurred in September 1544. From an unpublished MS.
+     in the public library at Rheims it appears that Furstemberg
+     was wearing a disguise when captured. The Emperor had sent
+     him forward expressly to sound the river. Another
+     unpublished MS. at the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris (_anc.
+     fol._ 8561. f. 22), gives some particulars of his operations
+     about this time.--Ed.
+
+     3  That of Avignon. See vol. i. p. liv.--Ed.
+
+In a poetic epistle sent by Margaret to Francis I. in January 1543, to
+celebrate the New Year, there is an allusion to a "Conte Guillaume,"
+whom Messrs. de Lincy and Montaiglon conjecture to be Furstemberg,
+though other commentators think that the Queen refers to William Poyet,
+the dishonest chancellor, who was sent to the Bastille in 1542 for
+peculation. We share, however, the opinion of Messrs. de Lincy and
+Montaiglon, as in various contemporary MSS. which we have referred to,
+we have frequently found Furstemberg alluded to as "Conte" and
+"Comte Guillaume," without any mention of his surname. The passage in
+Margaret's epistle alluded to above may be thus rendered in prose:--
+
+"God, fighting for the King in every spot, curses his enemies and brings
+them to shame and ruin, so that none hold them of account; as witness
+'Compte ["Conte" in the MS.] Guillaume,' who, in serving the King and
+the kingdom, became rich, feared and highly esteemed. Now, however, a
+fugitive, poor and contemned, he may well meditate as to whence came his
+honours, who it was that maintained him wealthy, happy and feared;
+and thus it is that all the King's enemies are cursed by God in
+Paradise."--_Les Marguerites de la Marguerite_, 1873, vol. ii. p. 203.
+
+Apropos of Furstemberg the following entry occurs in M. de Laborde's
+_Comptes des Batiments du Roi_ (vol. ii. p. 229):--
+
+"Paid to Francis de Cadenet, doctor to Count William of Furstemberg,
+as a gift and favour for his services, 30 crowns, value 67 livres 10
+sols."--L., M. and Ed.
+
+
+END OF VOL. II.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II.
+(of V.), by Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
+
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+    <title>
+      The Heptameron, Volume II.
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve">
+
+    body { margin:5%; background:#faebd7; text-align:justify}
+    P { text-indent: 2em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; }
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+    .toc2      { margin-left: 20%;}
+    div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; }
+    pre     { font-family: Times; font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;}
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+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II. (of
+V.), by Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. II. (of V.)
+
+Author: Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
+
+Illustrator: Freudenberg and Dunker
+
+Translator: George Saintsbury: From The Authentic Text
+Of M. Le Roux De Lincy With An Essay Upon The Heptameron by the Translator
+
+Release Date: February 7, 2006 [EBook #17702]
+Last Updated: September 9, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALES OF THE HEPTAMERON ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img alt="cover (92K)" src="images/cover.jpg" width="100%" />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img alt="spines (63K)" src="images/spines.jpg" width="100%" />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <h1>
+      THE TALES OF<br /> THE HEPTAMERON<br /> <br /> OF<br /> <br /> Margaret, Queen
+      of Navarre
+    </h1>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <h3>
+      <i>Newly Translated into English from the Authentic Text</i> <br /> <br />
+      OF M. LE ROUX DE LINCY WITH <br /> <br /> AN ESSAY UPON THE HEPTAMERON <br />
+      BY <br /> GEORGE SAINTSBURY, M.A. <br /> <br /> Also the Original
+      Seventy-three Full Page Engravings <br /> Designed by S. FREUDENBERG <br />
+      <br /> And One Hundred and Fifty Head and Tail Pieces <br /> By DUNKER<br />
+      <br /> <i>IN FIVE VOLUMES</i>
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <h2>
+      VOLUME THE SECOND
+    </h2>
+    <h4>
+      LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY OF ENGLISH BIBLIOPHILISTS <br /> MDCCCXCIV
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+     <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto" cellpadding="4" border="3">
+      <tbody>
+        <tr>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17701/17701-h/17701-h.htm">Volume
+            I.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17703/17703-h/17703-h.htm">Volume
+            III.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17704/17704-h/17704-h.htm">Volume
+            IV.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17705/17705-h/17705-h.htm">Volume
+            V.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+        </tr>
+      </tbody>
+    </table>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br /> <a name="linkimage-0001" id="linkimage-0001">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="100%" alt="Frontispiece " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [Margaret, Queen of Navarre, from a crayon drawing by Clouet, preserved at
+      the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0002" id="linkimage-0002">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/titlepage.jpg" width="100%" alt="Titlepage " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <blockquote>
+      <h2>
+        Contents
+      </h2>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> <i><b>FIRST DAY, Continued</b></i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> <i>TALE VIII</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> <i>TALE IX</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> <i>TALE X</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> <b>SECOND DAY.</b> </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_PROL"> PROLOGUE. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> <i>TALE XI.</i> (A). </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> <i>TALE XI.</i> (B). </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> <i>TALE XII</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> <i>TALE XIII</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> <i>TALE XIV</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> <i>TALE XV</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> <i>TALE XVI</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> <i>TALE XVII</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> <i>TALE XVIII</i>. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_APPE"> <b>APPENDIX.</b> </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> A. (Tale VIII., Page i.) </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> B (Tale XL (B.), Page 95.) </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> C. (Tale XII., Page 101.) </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> D. (Tale XVI., Page 183.) </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> E. (Tale XVII., Page 195.) </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br /> <br />
+      </p>
+      <hr />
+      <p>
+        <br /> <br />
+      </p>
+      <h2>
+        List of Illustrations
+      </h2>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0001"> Frontispiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0002"> Titlepage </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0003"> 001a.jpg Bornet&rsquo;s Concern on Discovering That
+        his Wife Is Without Her Ring </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0004"> 001.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0005"> 012.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0006"> 013a.jpg the Dying Gentleman Receiving The
+        Embraces Of His Sweetheart </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0007"> 013.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0008"> 024.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0009"> 025a.jpg the Countess Asking an Explanation
+        from Amadour </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0010"> 025.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0011"> 083.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0012"> 089.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0013"> 093.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0014"> 095a.jpg the Grey Friar Telling his Tales
+        </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0015"> 095.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0016"> 100.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0017"> 101a.jpg the Gentleman Killing The Duke </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0018"> 101.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0019"> 117.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0020"> 119a.jpg the Sea-captain Talking to The Lady
+        </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0021"> 119.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0022"> 140.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0023"> 141a.jpg Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0024"> 141.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0025"> 155.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0026"> 157a.jpg the Lady Taking Oath As to Her
+        Conduct </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0027"> 157.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0028"> 182.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0029"> 183a.jpg the Gentleman Discovering The Trick
+        </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0030"> 183.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0031"> 193.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0032"> 195a.jpg the King Showing his Sword </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0033"> 195.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0034"> 203.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0035"> 205a.jpg the Student Escaping The Temptation
+        </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0036"> 205.jpg Page Image </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#linkimage-0037"> 216.jpg Tailpiece </a>
+      </p>
+    </blockquote>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_TOC" id="link2H_TOC">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      DETAILED CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.
+    </h2>
+    <blockquote>
+      <p>
+        <i><b>FIRST DAY&mdash;Continued.</b></i> <br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0002">Tale
+        VIII.</a> The misadventure of Bornet, who, planning with a friend of
+        <br /> his that both should lie with a serving-woman, discovers too late
+        that <br /> they have had to do with his own wife. <br /><br /> <a
+        href="#link2H_4_0003">Tale IX.</a> The evil fortune of a gentleman of
+        Dauphiné, who dies of <br /> despair because he cannot marry a damsel
+        nobler and richer than himself. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0004">Tale
+        X.</a> The Spanish story of Florida, who, after withstanding the love
+        <br /> of a gentleman named Amadour for many years, eventually becomes a
+        nun. <br /><br /> <br /> <i><b>SECOND DAY</b></i>. <br /> Prologue <br /><br />
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0007">Tale XI. (A).</a> Mishap of the Lady de Roncex
+        in the Grey Friars&rsquo; Convent <br /> at Thouars. <br /><br /> <a
+        href="#link2H_4_0008">Tale XI. (B)</a>. Facetious discourse of a Friar
+        of Touraine. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0009">Tale XII.</a> Story of
+        Alexander de&rsquo; Medici, Duke of Florence, whom his <br /> cousin, Lorenzino
+        de&rsquo; Medici, slew in order to save his sister&rsquo;s honour. <br /><br /> <a
+        href="#link2H_4_0010">Tale XIII.</a> Praiseworthy artifice of a lady to
+        whom a sea Captain sent <br /> a letter and diamond ring, and who, by
+        forwarding them to the Captain&rsquo;s <br /> wife as though they had been
+        intended for her, united husband and wife <br /> once more in all
+        affection. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0011">Tale XIV.</a> The Lord of
+        Bonnivet, after furthering the love entertained <br /> by an Italian
+        gentleman for a lady of Milan, finds means to take <br /> the other&rsquo;s
+        place and so supplant him with the lady who had formerly <br /> rejected
+        himself. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0012">Tale XV.</a> The troubles
+        and evil fortune of a virtuous lady who, after <br /> being long
+        neglected by her husband, becomes the object of his jealousy. <br /><br />
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0013">Tale XVI.</a> Story of a Milanese Countess,
+        who, after long rejecting the <br /> love of a French gentleman, rewards
+        him at last for his faithfulness, <br /> but not until she has put his
+        courage to the proof. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0014">Tale XVII.</a>
+        The noble manner in which King Francis the First shows Count <br />
+        William of Furstemberg that he knows of the plans laid by him against
+        <br /> his life, and so compels him to do justice upon himself and to
+        leave <br /> France. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0015">Tale XVIII.</a>
+        A young gentleman scholar at last wins a lady&rsquo;s love, after <br />
+        enduring successfully two trials that she had made of him. <br /><br /> <b><a
+        href="#link2H_APPE">Appendix to Vol. II</a></b> <br />
+      </p>
+    </blockquote>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br /> <a name="linkimage-0003" id="linkimage-0003">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/001a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="001a.jpg Bornet&rsquo;s Concern on Discovering That his Wife Is Without Her Ring " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [Bornet&rsquo;s Concern on discovering that his Wife is without her Ring]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0004" id="linkimage-0004">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/001.jpg" width="100%" alt="001.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE VIII</i>.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>A certain Bornet, less loyal to his wife than she to him,
+     desired to lie with his maidservant, and made his enterprise
+     known to a friend, who, hoping to share in the spoil, so
+     aided and abetted him, that whilst the husband thought to
+     lie with his servant he in truth lay with his wife. Unknown
+     to the latter, he then caused his friend to participate in
+     the pleasure which rightly belonged to himself alone, and
+     thus made himself a cuckold without there being any guilt on
+     the part of his wife.</i> (1)
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In the county of Alletz (2) there lived a man named Bornet, who being
+      married to an upright and virtuous wife, had great regard for her honour
+      and reputation, as I believe is the case with all the husbands here
+      present in respect to their own wives. But although he desired that she
+      should be true to him, he was not willing that the same law should apply
+      to both, for he fell in love with his maid-servant, from whom he had
+      nothing to gain save the pleasure afforded by a diversity of viands.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  For a list of tales similar to this one, see <i>post</i>,
+     Appendix A.
+
+     2  Alletz, now Alais, a town of Lower Languedoc (department
+     of the Gard), lies on the Gardon, at the foot of the
+     Cevennes mountains. It was formerly a county, the title
+     having been held by Charles, Duke of Angoulême, natural son
+     of Charles IX.&mdash;M.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Now he had a neighbour of the same condition as his own, named Sandras, a
+      tabourer (3) and tailor by trade, and there was such friendship between
+      them that, excepting Bornet&rsquo;s wife, they had all things in common. It thus
+      happened that Bornet told his friend of the enterprise he had in hand
+      against the maid-servant; and Sandras not only approved of it, but gave
+      all the assistance he could to further its accomplishment, hoping that he
+      himself might share in the spoil.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3 Tabourers are still to be found in some towns of Lower
+     Languedoc and in most of those of Provence, where they
+     perambulate the streets playing their instruments. They are
+     in great request at all the country weddings and other
+     festive gatherings, as their instruments supply the
+     necessary accompaniment to the ancient Provençal dance, the
+     <i>farandole</i>.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The maid-servant, however, was loth to consent, and finding herself hard
+      pressed, she went to her mistress, told her of the matter, and begged
+      leave to go home to her kinsfolk, since she could no longer endure to live
+      in such torment. Her mistress, who had great love for her husband and had
+      often suspected him, was well pleased to have him thus at a disadvantage,
+      and to be able to show that she had doubted him justly. Accordingly, she
+      said to the servant&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Remain, my girl, but lead my husband on by degrees, and at last make an
+      appointment to lie with him in my closet. Do not fail to tell me on what
+      night he is to come, and see that no one knows anything about it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The maid-servant did all that her mistress had commanded her, and her
+      master in great content went to tell the good news to his friend. The
+      latter then begged that, since he had been concerned in the business, he
+      might have part in the result. This was promised him, and, when the
+      appointed hour was come, the master went to lie, as he thought, with the
+      maid-servant; but his wife, yielding up the authority of commanding for
+      the pleasure of obeying, had put herself in the servant&rsquo;s place, and she
+      received him, not in the manner of a wife, but after the fashion of a
+      frightened maid. This she did so well that her husband suspected nothing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I cannot tell you which of the two was the better pleased, he at the
+      thought that he was deceiving his wife, or she at really deceiving her
+      husband. When he had remained with her, not as long as he wished, but
+      according to his powers, which were those of a man who had long been
+      married, he went out of doors, found his friend, who was much younger and
+      lustier than himself, and told him gleefully that he had never met with
+      better fortune. &ldquo;You know what you promised me,&rdquo; said his friend to him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Go quickly then,&rdquo; replied the husband, &ldquo;for she may get up, or my wife
+      have need of her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The friend went off and found the supposed maid-servant, who, thinking her
+      husband had returned, denied him nothing that he asked of her, or rather
+      took, for he durst not speak. He remained with her much longer than her
+      husband had done, whereat she was greatly astonished, for she had not been
+      wont to pass such nights. Nevertheless, she endured it all with patience,
+      comforting herself with the thought of what she would say to him on the
+      morrow, and of the ridicule that she would cast upon him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Towards daybreak the man rose from beside her, and toying with her as he
+      was going away, snatched from her finger the ring with which her husband
+      had espoused her, and which the women of that part of the country guard
+      with great superstition. She who keeps it till her death is held in high
+      honour, while she who chances to lose it, is thought lightly of as a
+      person who has given her faith to some other than her husband.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The wife, however, was very glad to have it taken, thinking it would be a
+      sure proof of how she had deceived her husband. When the friend returned,
+      the husband asked him how he had fared. He replied that he was of the same
+      opinion as himself, and that he would have remained longer had he not
+      feared to be surprised by daybreak. Then they both went to the friend&rsquo;s
+      house to take as long a rest as they could. In the morning, while they
+      were dressing, the husband perceived the ring that his friend had on his
+      finger, and saw that it was exactly like the one he had given to his wife
+      at their marriage. He thereupon asked his friend from whom he had received
+      the ring, and when he heard he had snatched it from the servant&rsquo;s finger,
+      he was confounded and began to strike his head against the wall, saying&mdash;&ldquo;Ah!
+      good Lord! have I made myself a cuckold without my wife knowing anything
+      about it?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Perhaps,&rdquo; said his friend in order to comfort him, &ldquo;your wife gives her
+      ring into the maid&rsquo;s keeping at night-time.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The husband made no reply, but took himself home, where he found his wife
+      fairer, more gaily dressed, and merrier than usual, like one who rejoiced
+      at having saved her maid&rsquo;s conscience, and tested her husband to the full,
+      at no greater cost than a night&rsquo;s sleep. Seeing her so cheerful, the
+      husband said to himself&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If she knew of my adventure she would not show me such a pleasant
+      countenance.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, whilst speaking to her of various matters, he took her by the hand,
+      and on noticing that she no longer wore the ring, which she had never been
+      accustomed to remove from her finger, he was quite overcome.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What have you done with your ring?&rdquo; he asked her in a trembling voice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She, well pleased that he gave her an opportunity to say what she desired,
+      replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;O wickedest of men! From whom do you imagine you took it? You thought it
+      was from my maid-servant, for love of whom you expended more than twice as
+      much of your substance as you ever did for me. The first time you came to
+      bed I thought you as much in love as it was possible to be; but after you
+      had gone out and were come back again, you seemed to be a very devil.
+      Wretch! think how blind you must have been to bestow such praises on my
+      person and lustiness, which you have long enjoyed without holding them in
+      any great esteem. &lsquo;Twas, therefore, not the maid-servant&rsquo;s beauty that
+      made the pleasure so delightful to you, but the grievous sin of lust which
+      so consumes your heart and so clouds your reason that in the frenzy of
+      your love for the servant you would, I believe, have taken a she-goat in a
+      nightcap for a comely girl! Now, husband, it is time to amend your life,
+      and, knowing me to be your wife, and an honest woman, to be as content
+      with me as you were when you took me for a pitiful strumpet. What I did
+      was to turn you from your evil ways, so that in your old age we might live
+      together in true love and repose of conscience. If you purpose to continue
+      your past life, I had rather be severed from you than daily see before my
+      eyes the ruin of your soul, body, and estate. But if you will acknowledge
+      the evil of your ways, and resolve to live in fear of God and obedience to
+      His commandments, I will forget all your past sins, as I trust God will
+      forget my ingratitude in not loving Him as I ought to do.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      If ever man was reduced to despair it was this unhappy husband. Not only
+      had he abandoned this sensible, fair, and chaste wife for a woman who did
+      not love him, but, worse than this, he had without her knowledge made her
+      a strumpet by causing another man to participate in the leasure which
+      should have been for himself alone; and thus he had made himself horns of
+      everlasting derision. However, seeing his wife in such wrath by reason of
+      the love he had borne his maid-servant, he took care not to tell her of
+      the evil trick that he had played her; and entreating her forgiveness,
+      with promises of full amendment of his former evil life, he gave her back
+      the ring which he had recovered from his friend. He entreated the latter
+      not to reveal his shame; but, as what is whispered in the ear is always
+      proclaimed from the housetop, the truth, after a time, became known, and
+      men called him cuckold without imputing any shame to his wife.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It seems to me, ladies, that if all those who have committed like
+      offences against their wives were to be punished in the same way, Hircan
+      and Saffredent would have great cause for fear.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, Longarine,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;are none in the company married save
+      Hircan and I?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, indeed there are others,&rdquo; she replied, &ldquo;but none who would play a
+      similar trick.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Whence did you learn,&rdquo; asked Saffredent, &ldquo;that we ever solicited our
+      wives&rsquo; maid-servants?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If the ladies who are in question,&rdquo; said Longarine, &ldquo;were willing to
+      speak the truth, we should certainly hear of maid-servants dismissed
+      without notice.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;you are a most worthy lady! You promised to make
+      the company laugh, and yet are angering these two poor gentlemen.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Tis all one,&rdquo; said Longarine: &ldquo;so long as they do not draw their swords,
+      their anger will only serve to increase our laughter.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A pretty business indeed!&rdquo; said Hircan. &ldquo;Why, if our wives chose to
+      believe this lady, she would embroil the seemliest household in the
+      company.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am well aware before whom I speak,&rdquo; said Longarine. &ldquo;Your wives are so
+      sensible and bear you so much love, that if you were to give them horns as
+      big as those of a deer, they would nevertheless try to persuade themselves
+      and every one else that they were chaplets of roses.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At this the company, and even those concerned, laughed so heartily that
+      their talk came to an end. However, Dagoucin, who had not yet uttered a
+      word, could not help saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Men are very unreasonable when, having enough to content themselves with
+      at home, they go in search of something else. I have often seen people
+      who, not content with sufficiency, have aimed at bettering themselves, and
+      have fallen into a worse position than they were in before. Such persons
+      receive no pity, for fickleness is always blamed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But what say you to those who have not found their other half?&rdquo; asked
+      Simontault. &ldquo;Do you call it fickleness to seek it wherever it may be
+      found?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since it is impossible,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;for a man to know the
+      whereabouts of that other half with whom there would be such perfect union
+      that one would not differ from the other, he should remain steadfast
+      wherever love has attached him. And whatsoever may happen, he should
+      change neither in heart nor in desire. If she whom you love be the image
+      of yourself, and there be but one will between you, it is yourself you
+      love, and not her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dagoucin,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;you are falling into error. You speak as though
+      we should love women without being loved in return.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Hircan,&rdquo; replied Dagoucin, &ldquo;I hold that if our love be based on the
+      beauty, grace, love, and favour of a woman, and our purpose be pleasure,
+      honour, or profit, such love cannot long endure; for when the foundation
+      on which it rests is gone, the love itself departs from us. But I am
+      firmly of opinion that he who loves with no other end or desire than to
+      love well, will sooner yield up his soul in death than suffer his great
+      love to leave his heart.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In faith,&rdquo; said Simontault, &ldquo;I do not believe that you have ever been in
+      love. If you had felt the flame like other men, you would not now be
+      picturing to us Plato&rsquo;s <i>Republic</i>, which may be described in writing
+      but not be put into practice.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay, I have been in love,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;and am so still, and shall
+      continue so as long as I live. But I am in such fear lest the
+      manifestation of this love should impair its perfection, that I shrink
+      from declaring it even to her from whom I would fain have the like
+      affection. I dare not even think of it lest my eyes should reveal it, for
+      the more I keep my flame secret and hidden, the more does my pleasure
+      increase at knowing that my love is perfect.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For all that,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;I believe that you would willingly have
+      love in return.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do not deny it,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;but even were I beloved as much as I
+      love, my love would not be increased any more than it could be lessened,
+      were it not returned with equal warmth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Upon this Parlamente, who suspected this fantasy of Dagoucin&rsquo;s, said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Take care, Dagoucin; I have known others besides you who preferred to die
+      rather than speak.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Such persons, madam;&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;I deem very happy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Doubtless,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;and worthy of a place among the innocents
+      of whom the Church sings:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &lsquo;<i>Non loquendo sed moriendo confessi sunt</i>.&rsquo; (4)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     4  From the ritual for the Feast of the Holy Innocents.&mdash;M.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      I have heard much of such timid lovers, but I have never yet seen one die.
+      And since I myself have escaped death after all the troubles I have borne,
+      I do not think that any one can die of love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah, Saffredent!&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;how do you expect to be loved since
+      those who are of your opinion never die? Yet have I known a goodly number
+      who have died of no other ailment than perfect love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you know such stories,&rdquo; said Longarine, &ldquo;I give you my vote to tell
+      us a pleasant one, which shall be the ninth of to-day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To the end,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;that signs and miracles may lead you to put
+      faith in what I have said, I will relate to you something which happened
+      less than three years ago.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0005" id="linkimage-0005">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/012.jpg" width="100%" alt="012.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0006" id="linkimage-0006">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/013a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="013a.jpg the Dying Gentleman Receiving The Embraces Of His Sweetheart " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Dying Gentleman receiving the Embraces of his Sweetheart]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0007" id="linkimage-0007">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/013.jpg" width="100%" alt="013.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE IX</i>.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>The perfect love borne by a gentleman to a damsel, being too deeply
+      concealed and disregarded, brought about his death, to the great regret of
+      his sweetheart</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Between Dauphiné and Provence there lived a gentleman who was far richer
+      in virtue, comeliness, and honour than in other possessions, and who was
+      greatly in love with a certain damsel. I will not mention her name, out of
+      consideration for her kinsfolk, who are of good and illustrious descent;
+      but you may rest assured that my story is a true one. As he was not of
+      such noble birth as herself, he durst not reveal his affection, for the
+      love he bore her was so great and perfect that he would rather have died
+      than have desired aught to her dishonour. Seeing that he was so greatly
+      beneath her, he had no hope of marrying her; in his love, therefore, his
+      only purpose was to love her with all his strength and as perfectly as he
+      was able. This he did for so long a time that at last she had some
+      knowledge of it; and, seeing that the love he bore her was so full of
+      virtue and of good intent, she felt honoured by it, and showed him in turn
+      so much favour that he, who sought nothing better than this, was well
+      contented.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But malice, which is the enemy of all peace, could not suffer this
+      honourable and happy life to last, and certain persons spoke to the
+      maiden&rsquo;s mother of their amazement at this gentleman being thought so much
+      of in her house. They said that they suspected him of coming there more on
+      account of her daughter than of aught else, adding that he had often been
+      seen in converse with her. The mother, who doubted the gentleman&rsquo;s honour
+      as little as that of any of her own children, was much distressed on
+      hearing that his presence was taken in bad part, and, dreading lest
+      malicious tongues should cause a scandal, she entreated that he would not
+      for some time frequent her house as he had been wont to do. He found this
+      hard to bear, for he knew that his honourable conversation with her
+      daughter did not deserve such estrangement. Nevertheless, in order to
+      silence evil gossip, he withdrew until the rumours had ceased; then he
+      returned as before, his absence having in no wise lessened his love.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day, however, whilst he was in the house, he heard some talk of
+      marrying the damsel to a gentleman who did not seem to him to be so very
+      rich that he should be entitled to take his mistress from him. So he began
+      to pluck up courage, and engaged his friends to speak for him, believing
+      that, if the choice were left to the damsel, she would prefer him to his
+      rival. Nevertheless, the mother and kinsfolk chose the other suitor,
+      because he was much richer; whereupon the poor gentleman, knowing his
+      sweetheart to be as little pleased as himself, gave way to such sorrow,
+      that by degrees, and without any other distemper, he became greatly
+      changed, seeming as though he had covered the comeliness of his face with
+      the mask of that death, to which hour by hour he was joyously hastening.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile, he could not refrain from going as often as was possible to
+      converse with her whom he so greatly loved. But at last, when strength
+      failed him, he was constrained to keep his bed; yet he would not have his
+      sweetheart know of this, lest he should cast part of his grief on her. And
+      giving himself up to despair and sadness, he was no longer able to eat,
+      drink, sleep, or rest, so that it became impossible to recognise him by
+      reason of his leanness and strangely altered features.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Some one brought the news of this to his sweetheart&rsquo;s mother, who was a
+      lady full of charity, and who had, moreover, such a liking for the
+      gentleman, that if all the kinsfolk had been of the same opinion as
+      herself and her daughter, his merits would have been preferred to the
+      possessions of the other. But the kinsfolk on the father&rsquo;s side would not
+      hear of it. However, the lady went with her daughter to see the unhappy
+      gentleman, and found him more dead than alive. Perceiving that the end of
+      his life was at hand, he had that morning confessed and received the Holy
+      Sacrament, thinking to die without seeing anybody more. But although he
+      was at death&rsquo;s door, when he saw her who for him was the resurrection and
+      the life come in, he felt so strengthened that he started up in bed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What motive,&rdquo; said he to the lady, &ldquo;has inclined you to come and see one
+      who already has a foot in the grave, and of whose death you are yourself
+      the cause?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How is it possible,&rdquo; said the lady, &ldquo;that the death of one whom we like
+      so well can be brought about by our fault? Tell me, I pray, why you speak
+      in this manner?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam,&rdquo; he replied, &ldquo;I concealed my love for your daughter as long as I
+      was able; and my kinsfolk, in speaking of a marriage between myself and
+      her, made known more than I desired, since I have thereby had the
+      misfortune to lose all hope; not, indeed, in regard to my own pleasure,
+      but because I know that she will never have such fair treatment and so
+      much love from any other as she would have had from me. Her loss of the
+      best and most loving friend she has in the world causes me more affliction
+      than the loss of my own life, which I desired to preserve for her sake
+      only. But since it cannot in any wise be of service to her, the loss of it
+      is to me great gain.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Hearing these words, the lady and her daughter sought to comfort him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Take courage, my friend,&rdquo; said the mother. &ldquo;I pledge you my word that, if
+      God gives you back your health, my daughter shall have no other husband
+      but you. See, she is here present, and I charge her to promise you the
+      same.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The daughter, weeping, strove to assure him of what her mother promised.
+      He well knew, however, that even if his health were restored he would
+      still lose his sweetheart, and that these fair words were only uttered in
+      order somewhat to revive him. Accordingly, he told them that had they
+      spoken to him thus three months before, he would have been the lustiest
+      and happiest gentleman in France; but that their aid came so late, it
+      could bring him neither belief nor hope. Then, seeing that they strove to
+      make him believe them, he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, since, on account of my feeble state, you promise me a blessing
+      which, even though you would yourselves have it so, can never be mine, I
+      will entreat of you a much smaller one, for which, however, I was never
+      yet bold enough to ask.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      They immediately vowed that they would grant it, and bade him ask boldly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I entreat you,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;to place in my arms her whom you promise me for
+      my wife, and to bid her embrace and kiss me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The daughter, who was unaccustomed to such familiarity, sought to make
+      some difficulty, but her mother straightly commanded her, seeing that the
+      gentleman no longer had the feelings or vigour of a living man. Being thus
+      commanded, the girl went up to the poor sufferer&rsquo;s bedside, saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you, sweetheart, be of good cheer.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, as well as he could, the dying man stretched forth his arms, wherein
+      flesh and blood alike were lacking, and with all the strength remaining in
+      his bones embraced her who was the cause of his death. And kissing her
+      with his pale cold lips, he held her thus as long as he was able. Then he
+      said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The love I have borne you has been so great and honourable, that,
+      excepting in marriage, I have never desired of you any other favour than
+      the one you are granting me now, for lack of which and with which I shall
+      cheerfully yield up my spirit to God. He is perfect love and charity. He
+      knows the greatness of my love and the purity of my desire, and I beseech
+      Him, while I hold my desire within my arms, to receive my spirit into His
+      own.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words he again took her in his arms, and with such exceeding
+      ardour that his enfeebled heart, unable to endure the effort, was deprived
+      of all its faculties and life; for joy caused it so to swell that the soul
+      was severed from its abode and took flight to its Creator.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And even when the poor body had lain a long time without life, and was
+      thus unable to retain its hold, the love which the damsel had always
+      concealed was made manifest in such a fashion that her mother and the dead
+      man&rsquo;s servants had much ado to separate her from her lover. However, the
+      girl, who, though living, was in a worse condition than if she had been
+      dead, was by force removed at last out of the gentleman&rsquo;s arms. To him
+      they gave honourable burial; and the crowning point of the ceremony was
+      the weeping and lamentation of the unhappy damsel, who having concealed
+      her love during his lifetime, made it all the more manifest after his
+      death, as though she wished to atone for the wrong that she had done him.
+      And I have heard that although she was given a husband to comfort her, she
+      has never since had joy in her heart. (1)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  By an expression made use of by Dagoucin (see <i>ante</i>),
+     Queen Margaret gives us to understand that the incidents
+     here related occurred three years prior to the writing of
+     the story. It may be pointed out, however, that there is
+     considerable analogy between the conclusion of this tale and
+     the death of Geffroy Rudel de Blaye, one of the earliest
+     troubadours whose name has been handed down to us. Geffroy,
+     who lived at the close of the twelfth century, became so
+     madly enamoured of the charms of the Countess of Tripoli,
+     after merely hearing an account of her moral and physical
+     perfections, that, although in failing health, he embarked
+     for Africa to see her. On reaching the port of Tripoli, he
+     no longer had sufficient strength to leave the vessel,
+     whereupon the Countess, touched by his love, visited him on
+     board, taking his hand and giving him a kindly greeting.
+     Geffroy could scarcely say a few words of thanks; his
+     emotion was so acute that he died upon the spot. See J. de
+     Nostredame&rsquo;s <i>Vies des plus Célèbres et Anciens Poëtes
+     Provençaux</i>(Lyons, 1575, p. 25); Raynouard&rsquo;s <i>Choix des
+     Poésies des Troubadours</i> (vol. v. p. 165); and also
+     Raynouard&rsquo;s <i>Histoire Littéraire de la France</i> (vol. xiv. p.
+     559).&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What think you of that, gentlemen, you who would not believe what I said?
+      Is not this example sufficient to make you confess that perfect love, when
+      concealed and disregarded, may bring folks to the grave? There is not one
+      among you but knows the kinsfolk on the one and the other side, (2) and so
+      you cannot doubt the story, although nobody would be disposed to believe
+      it unless he had some experience in the matter.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2  This certainly points to the conclusion that the tale is
+     founded upon fact, and not, as M. Leroux de Lincy suggests,
+     borrowed from the story of Geffroy Rudel de Blaye. It will
+     have been observed (<i>ante</i>) that the Queen of Navarre
+     curiously enough lays the scene of her narrative between
+     Provence and Dauphiné. These two provinces bordered upon one
+     another, excepting upon one point where they were separated
+     by the so-called Comtat Venaissin or Papal state of Avignon.
+     Here, therefore, the incidents of the story, if authentic,
+     would probably have occurred. The story may be compared with
+     Tale L. (<i>post</i>).&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      When the ladies heard this they all had tears in their eyes, but Hircan
+      said to them&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He was the greatest fool I ever heard of. By your faith, now, I ask you,
+      is it reasonable that we should die for women who are made only for us, or
+      that we should be afraid to ask them for what God has commanded them to
+      give us? I do not speak for myself nor for any who are married. I myself
+      have all that I want or more; but I say it for such men as are in need. To
+      my thinking, they must be fools to fear those whom they should rather make
+      afraid. Do you not perceive how greatly this poor damsel regretted her
+      folly? Since she embraced the gentleman&rsquo;s dead body&mdash;an action
+      repugnant to human nature&mdash;she would not have refused him while he
+      was alive had he then trusted as much to boldness as he trusted to pity
+      when he lay upon his death-bed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nevertheless,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;the gentleman most plainly showed that he
+      bore her an honourable love, and for this he will ever be worthy of all
+      praise. Chastity in a lover&rsquo;s heart is something divine rather than
+      human.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;in support of Hircan&rsquo;s opinion, which is also
+      mine, I pray you believe that Fortune favours the bold, and that there is
+      no man loved by a lady but may at last, in whole or in part, obtain from
+      her what he desires, provided he seek it with wisdom and passion. But
+      ignorance and foolish fear cause men to lose many a good chance; and then
+      they impute their loss to their mistress&rsquo;s virtue, which they have never
+      verified with so much as the tip of the finger. A fortress was never well
+      assailed but it was taken.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;I am amazed that you two should dare to talk in
+      this way. Those whom you have loved owe you but little thanks, or else
+      your courting has been carried on in such evil places that you deem all
+      women to be alike.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For myself, madam,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;I have been so unfortunate that I
+      am unable to boast; but I impute my bad luck less to the virtue of the
+      ladies than to my own fault, in not conducting my enterprises with
+      sufficient prudence and sagacity. In support of my opinion I will cite no
+      other authority than the old woman in the <i>Romance of the Rose</i>, who
+      says&mdash;
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;Of all, fair sirs, it truly may be said,
+     Woman for man and man for woman&rsquo;s made.&rsquo; (3)
+
+     3  From John de Mehun&rsquo;s continuation of the poem.&mdash;M. 2
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Accordingly I shall always believe that if love once enters a woman&rsquo;s
+      heart, her lover will have fair fortune, provided he be not a simpleton.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;if I were to name to you a very loving woman who
+      was greatly sought after, beset and importuned, and who, like a virtuous
+      lady, proved victorious over her heart, flesh, love and lover, would you
+      believe this true thing possible?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I would.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;you must all be hard of belief if you do not
+      believe this story.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;since I have given an example to show how the
+      love of a virtuous gentleman lasted even until death, I pray you, if you
+      know any such story to the honour of a lady, to tell it to us, and so end
+      this day. And be not afraid to speak at length, for there is yet time to
+      relate many a pleasant matter.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then, since I am to wind up the day,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;I will make no
+      long preamble, for my story is so beautiful and true that I long to have
+      you know it as well as I do myself. Although I was not an actual witness
+      of the events, they were told to me by one of my best and dearest friends
+      in praise of the man whom of all the world he had loved the most. But he
+      charged me, should I ever chance to relate them, to change the names of
+      the persons. Apart, therefore, from the names of persons and places the
+      story is wholly true.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0008" id="linkimage-0008">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/024.jpg" width="100%" alt="024.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0009" id="linkimage-0009">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/025a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="025a.jpg the Countess Asking an Explanation from Amadour " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Countess asking an Explanation from Amadour]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0010" id="linkimage-0010">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/025.jpg" width="100%" alt="025.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE X</i>.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>Florida, after virtuously resisting Amadour, who had assailed her
+      honour almost to the last extremity, repaired, upon her husbands death, to
+      the convent of Jesus, and there took the veil</i>. (1)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  This tale appears to be a combination of fact and fiction.
+     Although Queen Margaret states that she has changed the
+     names of the persons, and also of the places where the
+     incidents happened, several historical events are certainly
+     brought into the narrative, the scene of which is laid in
+     Spain during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. M. Le Roux
+     de Lincy is of opinion, however, that Margaret really refers
+     to some affair at the Court of Charles VIII. or Louis XII.,
+     and he remarks that there is great similarity between the
+     position of the Countess of Aranda, left a widow at an early
+     age with a son and a daughter, and that of Louise of Savoy
+     with her two children. M. Lacroix and M. Dillaye believe the
+     hero and heroine to be Admiral de Bonnivet and Margaret. It
+     has often been suspected that the latter regarded her
+     brother&rsquo;s favourite with affection until after the attempt
+     related in Tale IV.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In the county of Aranda, (2) in Aragon, there lived a lady who, while
+      still very young, was left a widow, with a son and a daughter, by the
+      Count of Aranda, the name of the daughter being Florida. This lady strove
+      to bring up her children in all the virtues and qualities which beseem
+      lords and gentlemen, so that her house was reputed to be one of the most
+      honourable in all the Spains. She often went to Toledo, where the King of
+      Spain dwelt, and when she came to Saragossa, which was not far from her
+      house, she would remain a long while with the Queen and the Court, by whom
+      she was held in as high esteem as any lady could be.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2 Aranda, in the valley of the Duero, between Burgos
+     and Madrid, is one of the most ancient towns in Spain, but of
+     miserable aspect, although a large trade is carried on there
+     in cheap red wines. (Ferdinand and Isabella resided for some
+     time at Aranda.&mdash;Ed.)
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Going one day, according to her custom, to visit the King, then at his
+      castle of La Jasserye, (3) at Saragossa, this lady passed through a
+      village belonging to the Viceroy of Catalonia, (4) who, by reason of the
+      great wars between the kings of France and Spain, had not been wont to
+      stir from the frontier at Perpignan. But for the time being there was
+      peace, so that the Viceroy and all his captains had come to do homage to
+      the King. The Viceroy, learning that the Countess of Aranda was passing
+      through his domain, went to meet her, not only for the sake of the ancient
+      friendship he bore her, but in order to do her honour as a kinswoman of
+      the King&rsquo;s.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  This castle is called La Jafferie in Boaistuau&rsquo;s edition
+     of 1558, and several learned commentators have speculated as
+     to which is the correct spelling. Not one of them seems to
+     have been aware that in the immediate vicinity of Saragossa
+     there still stands an old castle called El Jaferia or
+     Aljaferia, which, after being the residence of the Moorish
+     sovereigns, became that of the Spanish kings of Aragon. It
+     has of modern times been transformed into barracks.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     4  Henry of Aragon, Duke of Segorbe and Count of Ribagorce,
+     was Viceroy of Catalonia at this period. He was called the
+     Infante of Fortune, on account of his father having died
+     before his birth in 1445.&mdash;B. J.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Now he had in his train many honourable gentlemen, who, in the long waging
+      of war, had gained such great honour and renown that all who saw them and
+      consorted with them deemed themselves fortunate. Among others there was
+      one named Amadour, who, although but eighteen or nineteen years old, was
+      possessed of such well-assured grace and of such excellent understanding
+      that he would have been chosen from a thousand to hold a public office. It
+      is true that this excellence of understanding was accompanied by such rare
+      and winsome beauty that none could look at him without pleasure. And if
+      his comeliness was of the choicest, it was so hard pressed by his speech
+      that one knew not whether to give the greatest honour to his grace, his
+      beauty, or the excellence of his conversation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What caused him, however, to be still more highly esteemed was his great
+      daring, which was no whit diminished by his youth. He had already shown in
+      many places what he could do, so that not only the Spains, but France and
+      Italy also made great account of his merits. For in all the wars in which
+      he had taken part he had never spared himself, and when his country was at
+      peace he would go in quest of wars in foreign lands, where he was loved
+      and honoured by both friend and foe.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This gentleman, for the love he bore his commander, had come to the domain
+      where the Countess of Aranda had arrived, and remarking the beauty and
+      grace of her daughter Florida, who was then only twelve years old, he
+      thought to himself that she was the fairest maiden he had ever seen, and
+      that if he could win her favour it would give him greater satisfaction
+      than all the wealth and pleasure he might obtain from another. After
+      looking at her for a long time he resolved to love her, although his
+      reason told him that what he desired was impossible by reason of her
+      lineage as well as of her age, which was such that she could not yet
+      understand any amorous discourse. In spite of this, he fortified himself
+      with hope, and reflected that time and patience might bring his efforts to
+      a happy issue. And from that moment the kindly love, which of itself alone
+      had entered Amadour&rsquo;s heart, assured him of all favour and the means of
+      attaining his end.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To overcome the greatest difficulty before him, which consisted in the
+      remoteness of his own home and the few opportunities he would have of
+      seeing Florida again, he resolved to get married. This was contrary to
+      what he had determined whilst with the ladies of Barcelona and Perpignan,
+      in which places he was in such favour that little or nothing was refused
+      him; and, indeed, by reason of the wars, he had dwelt so long on the
+      frontiers that, although he was born near Toledo, he seemed rather a
+      Catalan than a Castillan. He came of a rich and honourable house, but
+      being a younger son, he was without patrimony; and thus it was that Love
+      and Fortune, seeing him neglected by his kin, determined to make him their
+      masterpiece, endowing him with such qualities as might obtain what the
+      laws of the land had refused him. He was of much experience in the art of
+      war, and was so beloved by all lords and princes that he refused their
+      favours more frequently than he had occasion to seek them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Countess, of whom I have spoken, arrived then at Saragossa and was
+      well received by the King and all his Court. The Governor of Catalonia
+      often came to visit her, and Amadour failed not to accompany him that he
+      might have the pleasure of merely seeing Florida, for he had no
+      opportunity of speaking with her. In order to establish himself in this
+      goodly company he paid his addresses to the daughter of an old knight, his
+      neighbour. This maiden was named Avanturada, and was so intimate with
+      Florida that she knew all the secrets of her heart. Amadour, as much for
+      the worth which he found in Avanturada as for the three thousand ducats a
+      year which formed her dowry, determined to address her as a suitor, and
+      she willingly gave ear to him. But as he was poor and her father was rich,
+      she feared that the latter would never consent to the marriage except at
+      the instance of the Countess of Aranda. She therefore had recourse to the
+      lady Florida and said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You have seen, madam, that Castilian gentleman who often talks to me. I
+      believe that all his aim is to have me in marriage. You know, however,
+      what kind of father I have; he will never consent to the match unless he
+      be earnestly entreated by the Countess and you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, who loved the damsel as herself, assured her that she would lay
+      the matter to heart as though it were for her own benefit; and Avanturada
+      then ventured so far as to present Amadour to her. He was like to swoon
+      for joy on kissing Florida&rsquo;s hand, and although he was accounted the
+      readiest speaker in Spain, yet in her presence he became dumb. At this she
+      was greatly surprised, for, although she was only twelve years old, she
+      had already often heard it said that there was no man in Spain who could
+      speak better or with more grace. So, finding that he said nothing to her,
+      she herself spoke.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Senor Amadour,&rdquo; she began, &ldquo;the renown you enjoy throughout all the
+      Spains has made you known to everybody here, and all are desirous of
+      affording you pleasure. If therefore I can in any way do this, you may
+      dispose of me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour was in such rapture at sight of the lady&rsquo;s beauty that he could
+      scarcely utter his thanks. However, although Florida was astonished to
+      find that he made no further reply, she imputed it rather to some whim
+      than to the power of love; and so she withdrew, without saying anything
+      more.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who perceived the qualities which even in earliest youth were
+      beginning to show themselves in Florida, now said to her whom he desired
+      to marry&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not be surprised if I lost the power of utterance in presence of the
+      lady Florida. I was so astonished at finding such qualities and such
+      sensible speech in one so very young that I knew not what to say to her.
+      But I pray you, Avanturada, you who know her secrets, tell me if she does
+      not of necessity possess the hearts of all the gentlemen of the Court. Any
+      who know her and do not love her must be stones or brutes.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Avanturada, who already loved Amadour more than any other man in the
+      world, could conceal nothing from him, but told him that Florida was loved
+      by every one. However, by reason of the custom of the country, few spoke
+      to her, and only two had as yet made any show of love towards her. These
+      were two princes of Spain, and they desired to marry her, one being the
+      son of the Infante of Fortune (5) and the other the young Duke of Cardona.
+      (6)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     5  M. Lacroix asserts that the Infante of Fortune left no son
+     by his wife, Guyomare de Castro y Norogna; whereas M. Le
+     Roux de Lincy contends that he had a son&mdash;Alfonso of Aragon&mdash;
+     who in 1506 was proposed as a husband for Crazy Jane.
+     Alfonso would therefore probably be the prince referred to
+     by Margaret.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     6  Cardona, a fortified town on the river Cardoner, at a few
+     miles from Barcelona, was a county in the time of Ferdinand
+     and Isabella, and was raised by them to the rank of a duchy
+     in favour of Ramon Folch I. To-day it has between two and
+     three thousand inhabitants, and is chiefly noted for its
+     strongly built castillo. The young Duke spoken of by Queen
+     Margaret would be Ramon Folch&rsquo;s son, who was also named
+     Ramon.&mdash;B. J. and Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you,&rdquo; said Amadour, &ldquo;tell me which of them you think she loves the
+      most.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;She is so discreet,&rdquo; said Avanturada, &ldquo;that on no account would she
+      confess to having any wish but her mother&rsquo;s. Nevertheless, as far as can
+      be judged, she likes the son of the Infante of Fortune far more than she
+      likes the young Duke of Cardona. But her mother would rather have her at
+      Cardona, for then she would not be so far away. I hold you for a man of
+      good understanding, and, if you are so minded, you may judge of her choice
+      this very day, for the son of the Infante of Fortune, who is one of the
+      handsomest and most accomplished princes in Christendom, is being brought
+      up at this Court. If we damsels could decide the marriage by our opinions,
+      he would be sure of having the Lady Florida, for they would make the
+      comeliest couple in all Spain. You must know that, although they are both
+      young, she being but twelve and he but fifteen, it is now three years
+      since their love for each other first began; and if you would secure her
+      favour, I advise you to become his friend and follower.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour was well pleased to find that Florida loved something, hoping that
+      in time he might gain the place not of husband but of lover. He had no
+      fear in regard to her virtue, but was rather afraid lest she should be
+      insensible to love. After this conversation he began to consort with the
+      son of the Infante of Fortune, and readily gained his favour, being well
+      skilled in all the pastimes that the young Prince was fond of, especially
+      in the handling of horses, in the practice of all kinds of weapons, and
+      indeed in every diversion and pastime befitting a young man.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      However, war broke out again in Languedoc, and it was necessary that
+      Amadour should return thither with the Governor. This he did, but not
+      without great regret, since he could in no wise contrive to return to
+      where he might see Florida. Accordingly, when he was setting forth, he
+      spoke to a brother of his, who was majordomo to the Queen of Spain, and
+      told him of the good match he had found in the Countess of Aranda&rsquo;s house,
+      in the person of Avanturada; entreating him, in his absence, to do all
+      that he could to bring about the marriage, by employing his credit with
+      the King, the Queen, and all his friends. The majordomo, who was attached
+      to his brother, not only by reason of their kinship, but on account of
+      Amadour&rsquo;s excellent qualities, promised to do his best. This he did in
+      such wise that the avaricious old father forgot his own nature to ponder
+      over the qualities of Amadour, as pictured to him by the Countess of
+      Aranda, and especially by the fair Florida, as well as by the young Count
+      of Aranda, who was now beginning to grow up, and to esteem people of
+      merit. When the marriage had been agreed upon by the kinsfolk, the Queen&rsquo;s
+      majordomo sent for his brother, there being at that time a truce between
+      the two kings. (7)
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile, the King of Spain withdrew to Madrid to avoid the bad air which
+      prevailed in divers places, and, by the advice of his Council, as well as
+      at the request of the Countess of Aranda, he consented to the marriage of
+      the young Count with the heiress Duchess of Medina Celi. (8) He did this
+      no less for their contentment and the union of the two houses than for the
+      affection he bore the Countess of Aranda; and he caused the marriage to be
+      celebrated at the castle of Madrid. (9)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     7  There had been a truce in 1497, but Queen Margaret
+     probably alludes to that of four months&rsquo; duration towards
+     the close of 1503.&mdash;B.J.
+
+     8  Felix-Maria, widow of the Duke of Feria, and elder sister
+     of Luis Francisco de la Cerda, ninth of the name. She became
+     heiress to the titles and estates of the house of Medina-
+     Celi upon her brother&rsquo;s death. If, however, Queen Margaret
+     is really describing some incident in her own life, she must
+     refer to Louis XII.&lsquo;s daughter, Claude, married in 1514 to
+     Francis I.&mdash;D.
+
+     9  The castle here referred to was the Moorish Alcazar,
+     destroyed by fire in 1734. The previous statement that King
+     Ferdinand withdrew to Madrid on account of the bad air
+     prevailing in other places is borne out by the fact that the
+     town enjoyed a most delightful climate prior to the
+     destruction of the forests which surrounded it.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Amadour was present at this wedding, and succeeded so well in furthering
+      his own union, that he married Avanturada, whose affection for him was far
+      greater than his was for her. But this marriage furnished him with a very
+      convenient cloak, and gave him an excuse for resorting to the place where
+      his spirit ever dwelt. After he was married he became very bold and
+      familiar in the Countess of Aranda&rsquo;s household, so that he was no more
+      distrusted than if he had been a woman. And although he was now only
+      twenty-two years of age, he showed such good sense that the Countess of
+      Aranda informed him of all her affairs, and bade her son consult with him
+      and follow his counsel.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having gained their esteem thus far, Amadour comported himself so
+      prudently and calmly that even the lady he loved was not aware of his
+      affection for her. By reason, however, of the love she bore his wife, to
+      whom she was more attached than to any other woman, she concealed none of
+      her thoughts from him, and was pleased to tell him of all her love for the
+      son of the Infante of Fortune. Although Amadour&rsquo;s sole aim was to win her
+      entirely for himself, he continually spoke to her of the Prince; indeed,
+      he cared not what might be the subject of their converse, provided only
+      that he could talk to her for a long time. However, he had not remained a
+      month in this society after his marriage when he was constrained to return
+      to the war, and he was absent for more than two years without returning to
+      see his wife, who continued to live in the place where she had been
+      brought up.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile Amadour often wrote to her, but his letters were for the most
+      part messages to Florida, who on her side never failed to return them, and
+      would with her own hand add some pleasant words to the letters which
+      Avanturada wrote. It was on this account that the husband of the latter
+      wrote to her very frequently; yet of all this Florida knew nothing except
+      that she loved Amadour as if he had been her brother. Several times during
+      the course of five years did Amadour return and go away again; yet so
+      short was his stay that he did not see Florida for two months altogether.
+      Nevertheless, in spite of distance and length of absence, his love
+      continued to increase.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At last it happened that he made a journey to see his wife, and found the
+      Countess far removed from the Court, for the King of Spain was gone into
+      Andalusia, (10) taking with him the young Count of Aranda, who was already
+      beginning to bear arms.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     10  There had been a revolt at Granada in 1499, and in the
+     following year the Moors rose in the Alpujarras, whereupon
+     King Ferdinand marched against them in person.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Thus the Countess had withdrawn to a country-house belonging to her on the
+      frontiers of Aragon and Navarre. She was well pleased on seeing Amadour,
+      who had now been away for nearly three years. He was made welcome by all,
+      and the Countess commanded that he should be treated like her own son.
+      Whilst he was with her she informed him of all the affairs of her
+      household, leaving most of them to his judgment. And so much credit did he
+      win in her house that wherever he visited all doors were opened to him,
+      and, indeed, people held his prudence in such high esteem that he was
+      trusted in all things as though he had been an angel or a saint.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, by reason of the love she bore his wife and himself, sought him
+      out wherever he went. She had no suspicion of his purpose, and was
+      unrestrained in her manners, for her heart was free from love, save that
+      she felt great contentment whenever she was near Amadour. To more than
+      this she gave not a thought.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, however, had a hard task to escape the observation of those who
+      knew by experience how to distinguish a lover&rsquo;s looks from another man&rsquo;s;
+      for when Florida, thinking no evil, came and spoke familiarly to him, the
+      fire that was hidden in his heart so consumed him that he could not keep
+      the colour from rising to his face or sparks of flame from darting from
+      his eyes. Thus, in order that none might be any the wiser, he began to pay
+      court to a very beautiful lady named Paulina, a woman so famed for beauty
+      in her day that few men who saw her escaped from her toils.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This Paulina had heard how Amadour had made love at Barcelona and
+      Perpignan, insomuch that he had gained the affection of the highest and
+      most beautiful ladies in the land, especially that of a certain Countess
+      of Palamos, who was esteemed the first for beauty among all the ladies of
+      Spain; and she told him that she greatly pitied him, since, after so much
+      good fortune, he had married such an ugly wife. Amadour, who well
+      understood by these words that she had a mind to supply his need, made her
+      the fairest speeches he could devise, seeking to conceal the truth by
+      persuading her of a falsehood. But she, being subtle and experienced in
+      love, was not to be put off with mere words; and feeling sure that his
+      heart was not to be satisfied with such love as she could give him, she
+      suspected he wished to make her serve as a cloak, and so kept close watch
+      upon his eyes. These, however, knew so well how to dissemble, that she had
+      nothing to guide her but the barest suspicion.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Nevertheless, her observation sorely troubled Amadour; for Florida, who
+      was ignorant of all these wiles, often spoke to him before Paulina in such
+      a familiar fashion that he had to make wondrous efforts to compel his eyes
+      to belie his heart. To avoid unpleasant consequences, he one day, while
+      leaning against a window, spoke thus to Florida&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you, sweetheart, counsel me whether it is better for a man to
+      speak or die?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida forthwith replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I shall always counsel my friends to speak and not to die. There are few
+      words that cannot be mended, but life once lost can never be regained.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Will you promise me, then,&rdquo; said Amadour, &ldquo;that you will not be
+      displeased by what I wish to tell you, nor yet alarmed at it, until you
+      have heard me to the end?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Say what you will,&rdquo; she replied; &ldquo;if you alarm me, none can reassure me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For two reasons,&rdquo; he then began, &ldquo;I have hitherto been unwilling to tell
+      you of the great affection that I feel for you. First, I wished to prove
+      it to you by long service, and secondly, I feared that you might deem it
+      presumption in me, who am but a simple gentleman, to address myself to one
+      upon whom it is not fitting that I should look. And even though I were of
+      royal station like your own, your heart, in its loyalty, would suffer none
+      save the son of the Infante of Fortune, who has won it, to speak to you of
+      love. But just as in a great war necessity compels men to devastate their
+      own possessions and to destroy their corn in the blade, that the enemy may
+      derive no profit therefrom, so do I risk anticipating the fruit which I
+      had hoped to gather in season, lest your enemies and mine profit by it to
+      your detriment. Know, then, that from your earliest youth I have devoted
+      myself to your service and have ever striven to win your favour. For this
+      purpose alone I married her whom I thought you loved best, and, being
+      acquainted with the love you bear to the son of the Infante of Fortune, I
+      have striven to serve him and consort with him, as you yourself know. I
+      have sought with all my power for everything that I thought could give you
+      pleasure. You see that I have won the esteem of your mother, the Countess,
+      and of your brother, the Count, and of all you love, so that I am regarded
+      here, not as a dependant, but as one of the family. All my efforts for
+      five years past have had no other end than that I might spend my whole
+      life near you.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Understand that I am not one of those who would by these means seek to
+      obtain from you any favour or pleasure otherwise than virtuous. I know
+      that I cannot marry you, and even if I could, I would not do so in face of
+      the love you bear him whom I would fain see your husband. And as for
+      loving you with a vicious love like those who hope that long service will
+      bring them a reward to the dishonour of a lady, that is far from my
+      purpose. I would rather see you dead than know that you were less worthy
+      of being loved, or that your virtue had diminished for the sake of any
+      pleasure to me. For the end and reward of my service I ask but one thing,
+      namely, that you will be so faithful a mistress to me, as never to take
+      your favour from me, and that you will suffer me to continue as I now am,
+      trusting in me more than in any other, and accepting from me the assurance
+      that if for your honour&rsquo;s sake, or for aught concerning you, you ever have
+      need of a gentleman&rsquo;s life, I will gladly place mine at your disposal. You
+      may be sure also that whatever I may do that is honourable and virtuous,
+      will be done solely for love of you. If for the sake of ladies less worthy
+      than you I have ever done anything that has been considered of account, be
+      sure that, for a mistress like yourself, my enterprise will so increase,
+      that things I heretofore found impossible will become very easy to me. If,
+      however, you will not accept me as wholly yours, I am resolved to lay
+      aside my arms and to renounce the valour which has failed to help me in my
+      need. So I pray you grant me my just request, for your honour and
+      conscience cannot refuse it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The maiden, hearing these unwonted words, began to change colour and to
+      cast down her eyes like a woman in alarm. However, being sensible and
+      discreet, she replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you already have what you ask of me, Amadour, why make me such a
+      long harangue? I fear me lest beneath your honourable words there be some
+      hidden guile to deceive my ignorance and youth, and I am sorely perplexed
+      what to reply. Were I to refuse the honourable love you offer, I should do
+      contrary to what I have hitherto done, for I have always trusted you more
+      than any other man in the world. Neither my conscience nor my honour
+      oppose your request, nor yet the love I bear the son of the Infante of
+      Fortune, for that is founded on marriage, to which you do not aspire. I
+      know of nothing that should hinder me from answering you according to your
+      desire, if it be not a fear arising from the small need you have for
+      talking to me in this wise; for if what you ask is already yours, why
+      speak of it so ardently?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who was at no loss for an answer, then said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam, you speak very discreetly, and you honour me so greatly by the
+      trust which you say you have in me, that if I were not satisfied with such
+      good fortune I should be quite unworthy of it. But consider, madam, that
+      he who would build an edifice to last for ever must be careful to have a
+      sure and stable foundation. In the same way I, wishing to continue for
+      ever in your service, must not only take care to have the means of
+      remaining near to you, but also to prevent any one from knowing of the
+      great affection that I bear you. Although it is honourable enough to be
+      everywhere proclaimed, yet those who know nothing of lovers&rsquo; hearts often
+      judge contrary to the truth, and thence come reports as mischievous as
+      though they were true. I have been prompted to say this, and led to
+      declare my love to you, because Paulina, feeling in her heart that I
+      cannot love her, holds me in suspicion and does nought but watch my face
+      wherever I may be. Hence, when you come and speak to me so familiarly in
+      her presence, I am in great fear lest I should make some sign on which she
+      may ground her judgment, and should so fall into that which I am anxious
+      to avoid. For this reason I am lead to entreat you not to come and speak
+      to me so suddenly before her or before others whom you know to be equally
+      malicious, for I would rather die than have any living creature know the
+      truth. Were I not so regardful of your honour, I should not have sought
+      this converse with you, for I hold myself sufficiently happy in the love
+      and trust you bear me, and I ask nothing more save that they may
+      continue.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, who could not have been better pleased, began to be sensible of
+      an unwonted feeling in her heart. She saw how honourable were the reasons
+      which he laid before her; and she told him that virtue and honour replied
+      for her, and that she granted him his request. Amadour&rsquo;s joy at this no
+      true lover can doubt.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, however, gave more heed to his counsel than he desired, for she
+      became timid not only in presence of Paulina but elsewhere, and ceased to
+      seek him out as she had been accustomed to do. While they were thus
+      separated she took Amadour&rsquo;s constant converse with Paulina in bad part,
+      for, seeing that the latter was beautiful, she could not believe that
+      Amadour did not love her. To beguile her sorrow she conversed continually
+      with Avanturada, who was beginning to feel very jealous of her husband and
+      Paulina, and often complained of them to Florida, who comforted her as
+      well as she could, being herself smitten with the same disease. Amadour
+      soon perceived the change in Florida&rsquo;s demeanour, and forthwith thought
+      that she was keeping aloof from him not merely by his own advice, but also
+      on account of some bitter fancies of her own.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day, when they were coming from vespers at a monastery, he spoke to
+      her, and asked&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What countenance is this you show me, madam?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That which I believe you desire,&rdquo; replied Florida.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thereupon, suspecting the truth, and desiring to know whether he was
+      right, he said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have used my time so well, madam, that Paulina no longer has any
+      suspicion of you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You could not do better,&rdquo; she replied, &ldquo;both for yourself and for me.
+      While giving pleasure to yourself you bring me honour.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour gathered from this speech that she believed he took pleasure in
+      conversing with Paulina, and so great was his despair that he could not
+      refrain from saying angrily to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In truth, madam, you begin betimes to torment your lover and pelt him
+      with hard words. I do not think I ever had a more irksome task than to be
+      obliged to hold converse with a lady I do not love. But since you take
+      what I have done to serve you in bad part, I will never speak to her
+      again, happen what may. And that I may hide my wrath as I have hidden my
+      joy, I will betake me to some place in the neighbourhood, and there wait
+      till your caprice has passed away. I hope, however, I shall there receive
+      tidings from my captain and be called back to the war, where I will remain
+      long enough to show you that nothing but yourself has kept me here.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So saying, he forthwith departed without waiting for her reply.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida felt the greatest vexation and sorrow imaginable; and love,
+      meeting with opposition, began to put forth its mighty strength. She
+      perceived that she had been in the wrong, and wrote continually to Amadour
+      entreating him to return, which he did after a few days, when his anger
+      had abated.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I cannot undertake to tell you minutely all that they said to each other
+      in order to destroy this jealousy. But at all events he won the victory,
+      and she promised him that not only would she never believe he loved
+      Paulina, but that she would ever be convinced he found it an intolerable
+      martyrdom to speak either to Paulina or to any one else except to do
+      herself a service.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When love had conquered this first suspicion, and while the two lovers
+      were beginning to take fresh pleasure in conversing together, news came
+      that the King of Spain was sending all his army to Salces. (11)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     11  Salces, a village about fifteen miles north of Perpignan,
+     noted for its formidable fortress, still existing and
+     commanding a pass through the Corbière Mountains, which in
+     the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries separated France from
+     Roussillon, then belonging to Spain. The French burnt the
+     village and demolished the fort of Salces in 1496, but the
+     latter was rebuilt by the Spaniards in the most massive
+     style. The walls of the fort are 66 feet thick at the base
+     and 54 feet thick at the summit. When Queen Margaret
+     returned from Spain in 152,5 she reached France by the pass
+     of Salces. (See vol. i. p. xlvi.).&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, accustomed ever to be the first in battle, failed not to seize
+      this opportunity of winning renown; but in truth he set forth with
+      unwonted regret, both on account of the pleasure he was losing and because
+      he feared that he might find a change on his return. He knew that Florida,
+      who was now fifteen or sixteen years old, was sought in marriage by many
+      great princes and lords, and he reflected that if she were married during
+      his absence he might have no further opportunity of seeing her, unless,
+      indeed, the Countess of Aranda gave her his wife, Avanturada, as a
+      companion. However, by skilful management with his friends, he obtained a
+      promise from both mother and daughter that wherever Florida might go after
+      her marriage thither should his wife, Avanturada, accompany her. Although
+      it was proposed to marry Florida in Portugal, it was nevertheless resolved
+      that Avanturada should never leave her. With this assurance, yet not
+      without unspeakable regret, Amadour went away and left his wife with the
+      Countess.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Florida found herself alone after his departure, she set about doing
+      such good and virtuous works as she hoped might win her the reputation
+      that belongs to the most perfect women, and might prove her to be worthy
+      of such a lover as Amadour. He having arrived at Barcelona, was there
+      welcomed by the ladies as of old; but they found a greater change in him
+      than they believed it possible for marriage to effect in any man. He
+      seemed to be vexed by the sight of things he had formerly desired; and
+      even the Countess of Palamos, whom he had loved exceedingly, could not
+      persuade him to visit her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour remained at Barcelona as short a time as possible, for he was
+      impatient to reach Salces, where he alone was now awaited. When he
+      arrived, there began between the two kings that great and cruel war which
+      I do not purpose to describe. (12) Neither will I recount the noble deeds
+      that were done by Amadour, for then my story would take up an entire day;
+      but you must know that he won renown far above all his comrades. The Duke
+      of Najera (13) having arrived at Perpignan in command of two thousand men,
+      requested Amadour to be his lieutenant, and so well did Amadour fulfil his
+      duty with this band, that in every skirmish the only cry was &ldquo;Najera!&rdquo;
+       (14)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     12  In 1503 the French, under Marshals de Rieux and de Gié,
+     again besieged Salces, which had a garrison of 1200 men. The
+     latter opposed a vigorous defence during two months, and
+     upon the arrival of the old Duke of Alba with an army of
+     succour the siege had to be raised.&mdash;B. J.
+
+     13  Pedro Manriquez de Lara, Count of Trevigno, created Duke
+     of Najera by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1501.&mdash;B. J.
+
+     14  The Duke&rsquo;s war-cry, repeated by his followers as a
+     rallying signal in the <i>mêlée</i>. War-cries varied greatly.
+     &ldquo;Montjoie St. Denis&rdquo; was that of the kings of France, and
+     &ldquo;Passavant le meilleur&rdquo; (the best to the front) that of the
+     Counts of Champagne. In other instances the war-cry
+     consisted of a single word, &ldquo;Bigorre&rdquo; being that of the
+     kings of Navarre, and &ldquo;Flanders&rdquo; that of the Princess of
+     Beaujeu. When the war-cry was merely a name, as in the case
+     of the Duke of Najera, it belonged to the head of the
+     family.&mdash;D.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Now it came to pass that the King of Tunis, who for a long time had been
+      at war with the Spaniards, heard that the kings of France and Spain were
+      warring with each other on the frontiers of Perpignan and Narbonne, and
+      bethought himself that he could have no better opportunity of vexing the
+      King of Spain. Accordingly, he sent a great number of light galleys and
+      other vessels to plunder and destroy all such badly-guarded places as they
+      could find on the coasts of Spain. (15)The people of Barcelona seeing a
+      great fleet passing in front of their town, sent word of the matter to the
+      Viceroy, who was at Salces, and he forthwith despatched the Duke of Najera
+      to Palamos. (16) When the Moors saw that place so well guarded, they made
+      a feint of passing on; but returning at midnight, they landed a large
+      number of men, and the Duke of Najera, being surprised by the enemy, was
+      taken prisoner.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     15  The above two sentences, deficient in the MS. followed by
+     M. Le Roux de Lincy, have been borrowed from MS. No. 1520
+     (Bib. Nat.). It was in 1503 that a Moorish flotilla ravaged
+     the coast of Catalonia.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     16  The village of Palamos, on the shores of the
+     Mediterranean, south of Cape Bagur, and within fifteen miles
+     from Gerona.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who was on the alert and heard the din, forthwith assembled as
+      many of his men as possible, and defended himself so stoutly that the
+      enemy, in spite of their numbers, were for a long time unable to prevail
+      against him. But at last, hearing that the Duke of Najera was taken, and
+      that the Turks had resolved to set fire to Palamos and burn him in the
+      house which he was holding against them, he thought it better to yield
+      than to cause the destruction of the brave men who were with him. He also
+      hoped that by paying a ransom he might yet see Florida again. Accordingly,
+      he gave himself up to a Turk named Dorlin, a governor of the King of
+      Tunis, who brought him to his master. By the latter he was well received
+      and still better guarded; for the King deemed that in him he held the
+      Achilles of all the Spains.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thus Amadour continued for two years in the service of the King of Tunis.
+      The news of the captures having reached Spain, the kinsfolk of the Duke of
+      Najera were in great sorrow; but those who held the country&rsquo;s honour dear
+      deemed Amadour the greater loss. The rumour came to the house of the
+      Countess of Aranda, where the hapless Avanturada at that time lay
+      grievously sick. The Countess, who had great misgivings as to the
+      affection which Amadour bore to her daughter, though she suffered it and
+      concealed it for the sake of the merits she perceived in him, took Florida
+      apart and told her the mournful tidings. Florida, who was well able to
+      dissemble, replied that it was a great loss to the entire household, and
+      that above all she pitied his poor wife, who was herself so ill.
+      Nevertheless, seeing that her mother wept exceedingly, she shed a few
+      tears to bear her company; for she feared that if she dissembled too far
+      the feint might be discovered. From that time the Countess often spoke to
+      her of Amadour, but never could she surprise a look to guide her judgment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I will pass over the pilgrimages, prayers, supplications, and fasts which
+      Florida regularly performed to ensure the safety of Amadour. As soon as he
+      had arrived at Tunis, he failed not to send tidings of himself to his
+      friends, and by a trusty messenger he apprised Florida that he was in good
+      health, and had hopes of seeing her again. This was the only consolation
+      the poor lady had in her grief, and you may be sure that, since she was
+      permitted to write, she did so with all diligence, so that Amadour had no
+      lack of her letters to comfort him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Countess of Aranda was about this time commanded to repair to
+      Saragossa, where the King had arrived; and here she found the young Duke
+      of Cardona, who so pressed the King and Queen that they begged the
+      Countess to give him their daughter in marriage. (17) The Countess
+      consented, for she was unwilling to disobey them in anything, and moreover
+      she considered that her daughter, being so young, could have no will of
+      her own.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     17  The Spanish historians state that in 1513 the King, to
+     put an end to a quarrel between the Count of Aranda and the
+     Count of Ribagorce, charged Father John of Estuniga,
+     Provincial of the Order of St. Francis, to negotiate a
+     reconciliation between them, based on the marriage of the
+     eldest daughter of the Count of Aranda with the eldest son
+     of the Count of Ribagorce. The latter refusing his consent,
+     was banished from the kingdom.&mdash;D.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      When all was settled, she told Florida that she had chosen for her the
+      match which seemed most suitable. Florida, knowing that when a thing is
+      once done there is small room for counsel, replied that God was to be
+      praised for all things; and, finding her mother look coldly upon her, she
+      sought rather to obey her than to take pity on herself. It scarcely
+      comforted her in her sorrows to learn that the son of the Infante of
+      Fortune was sick even to death; but never, either in presence of her
+      mother or of any one else, did she show any sign of grief. So strongly did
+      she constrain herself, that her tears, driven perforce back into her
+      heart, caused so great a loss of blood from the nose that her life was
+      endangered; and, that she might be restored to health, she was given in
+      marriage to one whom she would willingly have exchanged for death.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After the marriage Florida departed with her husband to the duchy of
+      Cardona, taking with her Avanturada, whom she privately acquainted with
+      her sorrow, both as regards her mother&rsquo;s harshness and her own regret at
+      having lost the son of the Infante of Fortune; but she never spoke of her
+      regret for Amadour except to console his wife.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This young lady then resolved to keep God and honour before her eyes. So
+      well did she conceal her grief, that none of her friends perceived that
+      her husband was displeasing to her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In this way she spent a long time, living a life that was worse than
+      death, as she failed not to inform her lover Amadour, who, knowing the
+      virtue and greatness of her heart, as well as the love that she had borne
+      to the son of the Infante of Fortune, thought it impossible that she could
+      live long, and mourned for her as for one that was more than dead. This
+      sorrow was an increase to his former grief, and forgetting his own
+      distress in that which he knew his sweetheart was enduring, he would
+      willingly have continued all his life the slave he was if Florida could
+      thereby have had a husband after her own heart. He learnt from a friend
+      whom he had gained at the Court of Tunis that the King, wishing to keep
+      him if only he could make a good Turk of him, intended to give him his
+      choice between impalement and the renunciation of his faith. Thereupon he
+      so addressed himself to his master, the governor who had taken him
+      prisoner, that he persuaded him to release him on parole. His master
+      named, however, a much higher ransom than he thought could be raised by a
+      man of such little wealth, and then, without speaking to the King, he let
+      him go.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Amadour reached the Court of the King of Spain, he stayed there but a
+      short time, and then, in order to seek his ransom among his friends, he
+      repaired to Barcelona, whither the young Duke of Cardona, his mother, and
+      Florida had gone on business. As soon as Avanturada heard that her husband
+      was returned, she told the news to Florida, who rejoiced as though for
+      love of her friend. Fearing, however, that her joy at seeing Amadour might
+      make her change her countenance, and that those who did not know her might
+      think wrongly of her, she remained at a window in order to see him coming
+      from afar. As soon as she perceived him she went down by a dark staircase,
+      so that none could see whether she changed colour, and embracing Amadour,
+      led him to her room, and thence to her mother-in-law, who had never seen
+      him. He had not been there for two days before he was loved as much as he
+      had been in the household of the Countess of Aranda.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I leave you to imagine the conversation that he and Florida had together,
+      and how she complained to him of the misfortunes that had come to her in
+      his absence. After shedding many tears of sorrow, both for having been
+      married against her will and also for having lost one she loved so dearly
+      without any hope of seeing him again, she resolved to take consolation
+      from the love and trust she had towards Amadour. Though she durst not
+      declare the truth, he suspected it, and lost neither time nor opportunity
+      to show her how much he loved her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Just when Florida was all but persuaded to receive him, not as a lover,
+      but as a true and perfect friend, a misfortune came to pass, for the King
+      summoned Amadour to him concerning some important matter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      His wife was so grieved on hearing these tidings that she swooned, and
+      falling down a staircase on which she was standing, was so hurt that she
+      never rose again. Florida having by this death lost all her consolation,
+      mourned like one who felt herself bereft of friends and kin. But Amadour
+      grieved still more; for on the one part he lost one of the best wives that
+      ever lived, and on the other the means of ever seeing Florida again. This
+      caused him such sorrow that he was near coming by a sudden death. The old
+      Duchess of Cardona visited him incessantly, reciting the arguments of
+      philosophers why he should endure his loss with patience. But all was of
+      no avail; for if on the one hand his wife&rsquo;s death afflicted him, on the
+      other his love increased his martyrdom. Having no longer any excuse to
+      stay when his wife was buried, and his master again summoned him, his
+      despair was such that he was like to lose his reason.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, who thinking to comfort him, was herself the cause of his
+      greatest grief, spent a whole afternoon in the most gracious converse with
+      him in order to lessen his sorrow, and assured him that she would find
+      means to see him oftener than he thought. Then, as he was to depart on the
+      following morning, and was so weak that he could scarcely stir from his
+      bed, he prayed her to come and see him in the evening after every one else
+      had left him. This she promised to do, not knowing that love in extremity
+      is void of reason.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour altogether despaired of ever again seeing her whom he had loved so
+      long, and from whom he had received no other treatment than I have
+      described. Racked by secret passion and by despair at losing all means of
+      consorting with her, he resolved to play at double or quits, and either
+      lose her altogether or else wholly win her, and so pay himself in an hour
+      the reward which he thought he had deserved. Accordingly he had his bed
+      curtained in such a manner that those who came into the room could not see
+      him; and he complained so much more than he had done previously that all
+      the people of the house thought he had not twenty-four hours to live.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After every one else had visited him, Florida, at the request of her
+      husband himself, came in the evening, hoping to comfort him by declaring
+      her affection and by telling him that, so far as honour allowed, she was
+      willing to love him. She sat down on a chair beside the head of his bed,
+      and began her consolation by weeping with him. Amadour, seeing her filled
+      with such sorrow, thought that in her distress he might the more readily
+      achieve his purpose, and raised himself up in the bed. Florida, thinking
+      that he was too weak to do this, sought to prevent him, but he threw
+      himself on his knees before her saying, &ldquo;Must I lose sight of you for
+      ever?&rdquo; Then he fell into her arms like one exhausted. The hapless Florida
+      embraced him and supported him for a long time, doing all she could to
+      comfort him. But what she offered him to cure his pain only increased it;
+      and while feigning to be half dead, he, without saying a word, strove to
+      obtain that which the honour of ladies forbids.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Florida perceived his evil purpose, in which she could hardly believe
+      after all his honourable conversation, she asked him what he sought to do.
+      Amadour, fearing her reply, which he knew could not be otherwise than
+      chaste and virtuous, said nothing, but pursued his attempt with all the
+      strength that he could muster. Florida, greatly astonished, suspected
+      rather that he had lost his senses than that he was really bent upon her
+      dishonour, and called out to a gentleman whom she knew to be in the room;
+      whereupon Amadour in extreme despair flung himself back upon his bed so
+      suddenly that the gentleman thought him dead.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida, who had risen from her chair, then said to the gentleman&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Go quickly for some strong vinegar.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This the gentleman did, whereupon Florida said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What madness, Amadour, has mounted to your brain? What was it you thought
+      and wished to do?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who had lost all reason in the vehemence of his love, replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Does so long a service merit so cruel a reward?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what of the honour of which you have so often preached to me?&rdquo; said
+      Florida.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah! madam,&rdquo; said Amadour, &ldquo;it would be impossible to hold your honour
+      more dear than I have held it. Before you were married, I was able so to
+      subdue my heart that you knew nothing of my desires, but now that you are
+      wedded and your honour may be shielded, do I wrong you in asking for what
+      is mine? By the strength of my love I have won you. He who first possessed
+      your heart had so little desire for your person that he deserved to lose
+      both. He who now owns your person is not worthy to have your heart, and
+      hence even your person does not properly belong to him. But for five or
+      six years I have for your sake borne many pains and woes, which must show
+      you that your body and heart belong to me alone. Think not to defend
+      yourself by speaking of conscience, for when love constrains body and
+      heart sin is never imputed. Those who are driven by frenzy so far as to
+      slay themselves cannot sin, for passion leaves no room for reason; and if
+      the passion of love be more intolerable than any other, and more blinding
+      to the senses, what sin could you fasten upon one who yields to the
+      conduct of such indomitable power? I am going away, and have no hope of
+      ever seeing you again; but if before my departure I could have of you that
+      assurance which the greatness of my love deserves, I should be
+      strengthened sufficiently to endure in patience the sorrows of a long
+      separation. If you will not grant me my request you will ere long learn
+      that your harshness has brought me to a miserable and a cruel death.&rdquo; (18)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     18  The passage commencing &ldquo;Those who are driven&rdquo; and ending
+     &ldquo;a cruel death&rdquo; is deficient in the earlier editions of the
+     <i>Heptameron</i>, which give the following in place of it: &ldquo;Do
+     not doubt but what those who have felt the power of love
+     will cast the blame on you who have so robbed me of my
+     liberty and dazzled my senses with your divine graces, that
+     not knowing what to do henceforth, I am constrained to go
+     away without the hope of ever seeing you again; certain,
+     however, that wherever I may be, you will still have part of
+     my heart, which will ever remain yours, be I on land, on the
+     sea, or in the hands of my most cruel enemies.&rdquo; The above is
+     one of various instances of the liberty taken by Boaistuau
+     and Gruget with Margaret&rsquo;s text.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Florida was not less grieved than astonished to hear these words from one
+      whom she had never imagined capable of such discourse, and, weeping, she
+      thus replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Alas, Amadour, is this the honourable converse that we used to have
+      together while I was young? Is this the honour or conscience which many a
+      time you counselled me to value more than life? Have you forgotten both
+      the worthy examples you set before me of virtuous ladies who withstood
+      unholy love, and also your own contempt for erring women? I cannot believe
+      you so changed, Amadour, that regard for God, your own conscience, and my
+      honour is wholly dead within you. But if it indeed be as you say, I praise
+      the divine goodness which has prevented the misfortune into which I was
+      about to fall, and has revealed to me by your own words the heart of which
+      I was so ignorant. Having lost the son of the Infante of Fortune, not only
+      by my marriage, but also, as is known to me, by reason of his love for
+      another, and finding myself wedded to a man whom, strive as I may, I
+      cannot love, I resolved to set heart and affection entirely on loving you.
+      This love I built upon that virtue which I had so often perceived in you,
+      and to which by your own assistance I think I have attained&mdash;I mean
+      the virtue of loving one&rsquo;s honour and conscience more than life. I came
+      hither thinking to make this rock of virtue a sure foundation of love. But
+      you have in a moment shown me, Amadour, that instead of a pure and cleanly
+      rock, this foundation would have been one of shifting sand or filthy mire;
+      and although a great part of the house in which I hoped always to dwell
+      had already been raised, you have suddenly demolished it. Lay aside,
+      therefore, any hope you had concerning me, and make up your mind not to
+      seek me by look or word wherever I may be, or to hope that I shall ever be
+      able or willing to change my resolve. It is with the deepest sorrow that I
+      tell you this, though had I gone so far as to swear eternal love with you,
+      I know that my heart could not have lived through this meeting. Even now I
+      am so confounded to find myself deceived, that I am sure my life will be
+      either short or sad. With these words I bid you farewell, and for ever.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      I will not try to describe to you the grief that Amadour felt on hearing
+      this speech. It is impossible not only to describe it, but even to
+      conceive it, except indeed to such as have experienced the like. Seeing
+      that with this cruel conclusion she was about to leave him, he seized her
+      by the arm, knowing full well that, if he did not remove her evil opinion
+      of him, he would lose her for ever. Accordingly he dissembled his looks as
+      well as he could, and said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;During my whole life, madam, I have desired to love a woman of virtue,
+      and having found so few of them, I was minded to put you to proof, and so
+      discover whether you were as well worthy of esteem as of love. Now I know
+      for certain that you are; and therefore I give praise to God, who has
+      inclined my heart to the love of such great perfection. I entreat you to
+      pardon my mad and foolhardy attempt, seeing that the issue of it has
+      turned to your honour and to my great satisfaction.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida was beginning to learn through him the deceitfulness of men; and,
+      just as she had formerly found it difficult to believe in evil where it
+      existed, so did she now find it even more difficult to believe in virtue
+      where there was none.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Would to God you spoke the truth,&rdquo; she said to him; &ldquo;but I am not so
+      ignorant as not to know by my experience in marriage that the blindness of
+      strong passion led you to act as you did. Had God given me a loose rein I
+      am sure that you would not have drawn bridle. Those who go in quest of
+      virtue are wont to take a different road to yours. But enough; if I have
+      been too hasty in crediting you with some goodness, it is time I learned
+      the truth, by which I am now delivered out of your hands.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So saying, Florida left the room. As long as the night lasted she did
+      nought but weep; for the change that had taken place caused her intense
+      grief, and her heart had much ado to hold out against the sorrowing of
+      love. Although, guided by reason, she had resolved to love no more, yet
+      the heart, which cannot be subdued, would in no wise permit this. Thus she
+      was unable to love him less than before, and knowing that love had been
+      the cause of his offence, she made up her mind to satisfy love by
+      continuing to love him with her whole heart, and to obey honour by never
+      giving any sign of her affection either to him or to any one else.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the morning Amadour departed in the distress that I have described.
+      Nevertheless his heart, which was so lofty that there was none like it in
+      the world, suffered him not to despair, but prompted him to new devices
+      for seeing Florida again and winning her favour. So as he proceeded to the
+      King of Spain, who was then at Toledo, he took his way through the county
+      of Aranda, where he arrived very late one evening, and found the Countess
+      in great sadness on account of the absence of her daughter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When she saw Amadour she kissed and embraced him as though he had been her
+      own son, and this no less for the love she herself bore him as for that
+      which she suspected he had for Florida. She asked minutely for news of her
+      daughter, and he told her what he could, though not the entire truth.
+      However, he confessed the love which existed between them, and which
+      Florida had always concealed; and he begged the Countess to aid him in
+      hearing often of Florida, and to take her as speedily as possible to
+      Aranda.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At daybreak he went on his way, and when he had despatched his business
+      with the King he left for the war. So sad was he and so changed in every
+      way that ladies, captains, and acquaintances alike could scarcely
+      recognise him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He now wore nothing but black, and this of a heavier pile than was needful
+      as mourning for his dead wife; but indeed her death served only as a cloak
+      for the sorrow that was in his heart. Thus Amadour spent three or four
+      years without returning to Court.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Countess of Aranda hearing that Florida was changed and that it was
+      pitiful to see her, sent for her, hoping that she would return home. The
+      contrary, however, happened. When Florida learned that Amadour had told
+      her mother of their love, and that she, although so discreet and virtuous,
+      had approved of it, she was in extraordinary perplexity. On the one hand
+      she perceived that if her mother, who had such great esteem for Amadour,
+      were told the truth some mischief might befall the latter; and this even
+      to save her life she would not have brought to pass, for she felt strong
+      enough to punish his folly herself without calling on her kinsfolk for
+      assistance. On the other hand she saw that, if she concealed the evil she
+      knew of him, she would be constrained by her mother and all her friends to
+      speak to him and show him favour, and this she feared would only
+      strengthen his evil purpose. However, as he was a long way off, she kept
+      her own counsel, and wrote to him whenever the Countess commanded her.
+      Still her letters were such that he could see they were written more out
+      of obedience than goodwill; and the grief he felt in reading them was as
+      great as his joy had been in reading the earlier ones.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At the end of two or three years, when he had performed so many noble
+      deeds that all the paper in Spain could not contain the records of them,
+      (19) he conceived a very skilful device, not indeed to win Florida&rsquo;s
+      heart, which he looked upon as lost, but to gain the victory over his
+      enemy, since such she had shown herself to be. He put aside all the
+      promptings of reason and even the fear of death, and at the risk of his
+      life resolved to act in the following way. He persuaded the chief Governor
+      (20) to send him on an embassy to the King concerning some secret attempt
+      against Leucate; (21) and he procured a command to take counsel with the
+      Countess of Aranda about the matter before communicating it to the King.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     19  Margaret, perhaps, wrote &ldquo;All the paper of Spain could
+     not contain them,&rdquo; simply because Spanish paper was then of
+     very small size. Paper-making had, however, been almost
+     monopolised by Spain until the end of the thirteenth
+     century, the cotton used in the manufacture being imported
+     from the East.&mdash;M.
+
+     20  The Viceroy of Catalonia.&mdash;D.
+
+     21  Leucate, now a village, but said to have been a
+     flourishing town in the fourteenth century, lies near the
+     Mediterranean, at a few miles from Salces, and gives its
+     name to a large salt-water lake. Formerly fortified, it was
+     repeatedly besieged and burnt by the Spaniards; notably by
+     the Duke of Alba in 1503, after he had relieved Salces.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Then he came post haste to the county of Aranda, where he knew Florida to
+      be, and secretly sent a friend to inform the Countess of his coming,
+      praying her to keep it secret, and to grant him audience at nightfall
+      without the knowledge of any one.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Countess, who was very pleased at his coming, spoke of it to Florida,
+      and sent her to undress in her husband&rsquo;s room, that she might be ready
+      when sent for after every one was gone to bed. Florida had not yet
+      recovered from her first alarm, but she said nothing of it to her mother,
+      and withdrew to an oratory in order to commend herself to Our Lord. While
+      she was praying that her heart might be preserved from all evil affection,
+      she remembered that Amadour had often praised her beauty, and that in
+      spite of long illness it had not been impaired. Being, therefore, more
+      willing to injure her beauty than suffer it to kindle an evil flame in the
+      heart of an honourable gentleman, she took a stone which lay in the chapel
+      and struck herself a grievous blow on the face so that her mouth, nose,
+      and eyes were quite disfigured. Then, in order that no one might suspect
+      it to be of her own doing, she let herself fall upon her face on leaving
+      the chapel when summoned by the Countess, and cried out loudly. The
+      Countess coming thither found her in this pitiful state, and forthwith
+      caused her face to be dressed and bandaged.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then the Countess led her to her own apartment, and begged her to go to
+      her room and entertain Amadour until she herself had got rid of her
+      company. This Florida did, thinking that there were others with him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But when she found herself alone with him, and the door closed upon her,
+      she was as greatly troubled as he was pleased. He thought that, by love or
+      violence, he would now have what he desired; so he spoke to her, and
+      finding that she made the same reply as before, and that even to save her
+      life she would not change her resolve, he was beside himself with despair.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Before God, Florida,&rdquo; he said to her, &ldquo;your scruples shall not rob me of
+      the fruits of my labour. Since love, patience, and humble entreaty are of
+      no avail, I will spare no strength of mine to gain the boon, upon which
+      all its existence depends.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida saw that his eyes and countenance were altered exceedingly, so
+      that his complexion, naturally the fairest in the world, was now as red as
+      fire, and his look, usually so gentle and pleasant, had become as horrible
+      and furious as though fierce flames were blazing in his heart and face. In
+      his frenzy he seized her delicate, weak hands in his own strong, powerful
+      ones; and she, finding herself in such bondage that she could neither
+      defend herself nor fly, thought that her only chance was to try whether he
+      had not retained some traces of his former love, for the sake of which he
+      might forego his cruelty. She therefore said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you now look upon me, Amadour, in the light of an enemy, I entreat
+      you, by that pure love which I once thought was in your heart, to hearken
+      to me before you put me to torture.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Seeing that he became attentive, she continued&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Alas! Amadour, what can prompt you to seek after a thing that can afford
+      you no satisfaction, and thus afflict me with the profoundest grief? You
+      made trial of my inclinations in the days of my youth and earliest beauty,
+      and they perhaps served to excuse your passion; but I am amazed that now,
+      when I am old, and ugly, and sorrow-stricken, you should seek for what you
+      know you can never find. I am sure you do not doubt that my mind is as it
+      used to be, and so by force alone can you obtain what you desire. If you
+      observe the condition of my face, and lay aside the memory of the beauty
+      that once you saw in it, you will have no inclination to draw any nearer;
+      and if you still retain within you any remnants of your past love, it is
+      impossible that pity will not subdue your frenzy. To this pity, which I
+      have often found in you, I appeal with prayers for mercy. Suffer me to
+      live in peace, and in that honour which by your own counsel I have
+      resolved to preserve. But if the love you once bore me is now turned to
+      hate, and you desire, in vengeance rather than in love, to make me the
+      unhappiest woman alive, I protest to you that it shall not be so. You will
+      force me against my will to make your evil purpose known to her who thinks
+      so highly of you; and you may be sure that, when she learns it, your life
+      will not be safe.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      But Amadour interrupted her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If I must die,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I shall be the sooner rid of my torment. The
+      disfigurement of your face, which I believe is of your own seeking, shall
+      not restrain me from making you mine. Though I could have nothing but your
+      bones, I would yet hold them close to me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When Florida saw that prayers, reasoning, and tears were alike of no
+      avail, and that while he cruelly pursued his evil purpose she lacked the
+      strength to resist him, she summoned the aid which she dreaded as greatly
+      as death, and in a sad and piteous voice called as loudly as she could
+      upon her mother. The Countess, hearing her daughter&rsquo;s cries, had grave
+      misgivings of the truth, and hastened into the room with all possible
+      speed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who was not so ready to die as he affirmed, desisted promptly
+      from his enterprise; and when the lady opened the door she found him close
+      beside it, and Florida some distance from him. &ldquo;Amadour,&rdquo; said the
+      Countess, &ldquo;what is the matter? Tell me the truth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amadour, who was never at a loss for invention, replied with a pale and
+      daunted face&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Alas! madam, what change is this in the lady Florida? I was never so
+      astonished before, for, as I have told you, I thought I had a share in her
+      favour; but I now see clearly that I have lost it all. While she was being
+      brought up by you, she was, I think, no less discreet or virtuous than she
+      is at present; however, she had then no qualms of conscience about
+      speaking with any one. But now, when I sought to look at her, she would
+      not suffer me to do so. When I saw this behaviour on her part I thought I
+      must be dreaming, and asked her for her hand to kiss it after the manner
+      of the country. This she utterly refused me. I acknowledge, madam, that
+      then I acted wrongfully, and I entreat your pardon for it; for I took her
+      hand, as it were by force, and kissed it. I asked nothing more of her, but
+      I believe that she intends my death, for she called out to you as you
+      know. Why she did this I cannot tell, unless indeed she feared that I had
+      some other purpose in view. Nevertheless, madam, be this as it may, I
+      confess that I am in the wrong; for although she ought to love all who are
+      devoted to you, fortune wills it that I, who am of all most attached to
+      her, am banished from her good graces. Still, I shall ever continue the
+      same both to you and to her; and I entreat you to continue me in your good
+      favour since, by no fault of my own, I have now lost hers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Countess, who partly believed and partly suspected him, went up to her
+      daughter and asked&mdash;&ldquo;Why did you call me so loudly?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Florida replied that she had felt afraid; and, although the Countess
+      questioned her minutely on many points, she would give no other reply.
+      Finding that she had escaped from her enemy she deemed him sufficiently
+      punished by the failure of his attempt.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After the Countess had had a long conversation with Amadour, she suffered
+      him to speak again in her presence with Florida, to see how he would
+      behave. He said but little, save that he thanked her for not having
+      confessed the truth to her mother, and begged that since she had expelled
+      him from her heart, she would at least allow no other to take his place.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If my voice had not been my only means of defending myself,&rdquo; she replied,
+      &ldquo;it would never have been heard; and from me you shall have no worse
+      punishment, if you do not force me to it by troubling me again as you have
+      done. Do not fear that I can ever love another; since I have not found the
+      good I wished for in a heart that I considered to be the most virtuous in
+      the world, I do not expect to find it in any man. This evil fortune will
+      henceforth free me of all the passion that love can give.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words she bade him farewell.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Her mother, who had been watching her face, was unable to form any
+      opinion; though from that time forth she clearly saw that her daughter had
+      lost all affection for Amadour. She imagined her so devoid of reason as to
+      hate everything that she herself loved; and from that hour she warred with
+      her in a strange way, spending seven years without speaking to her except
+      in anger, all which she did at Amadour&rsquo;s request.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile, on account of her mother&rsquo;s harsh treatment, Florida&rsquo;s former
+      dread of being with her husband was changed into a desire of never leaving
+      him. Seeing, however, that all her efforts were useless, she resolved to
+      deceive Amadour, and laying aside her coldness for a day or two, she
+      advised him to pay court to a lady who, she said, had been speaking of
+      their love.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This lady lived with the Queen of Spain, and was called Loretta. Amadour
+      believed the story, and, thinking that he might in this way regain
+      Florida&rsquo;s good graces, he made love to Loretta, who was the wife of a
+      captain, one of the viceroys of the King of Spain. She, in her pleasure at
+      having gained such a lover, showed so much elation that the affair was
+      rumoured abroad. Even the Countess of Aranda, who was at Court, had
+      knowledge of it, and thenceforward treated Florida less harshly than
+      before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day Florida heard that the captain, Loretta&rsquo;s husband, had grown
+      jealous, and was resolved to kill Amadour in one way or another as best he
+      might. In spite of her altered treatment of Amadour, Florida did not
+      desire that evil should befall him, and so she immediately informed him of
+      what she had heard. He was quite ready to hark back again to his first
+      love, and thereupon told her that, if she would grant him three hours of
+      her conversation every day, he would never again speak to Loretta. But
+      this she would not grant. &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Amadour, &ldquo;if you will not give me
+      life, why prevent me from dying, unless indeed you hope to make me suffer
+      more pain during life than any death could cause? But though death shun
+      me, I will seek it until I find it; then only shall I have rest.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      While they were on this footing, news came that the King of Granada (22)
+      was entering upon a great war against the King of Spain. The latter,
+      therefore, sent the Prince, his son, (23) to the war, and with him the
+      Constable of Castille and the Duke of Alba, (24) two old and prudent
+      lords. The Duke of Cardona and the Count of Aranda were unwilling to
+      remain behind, and prayed the King to give them some command. This he did
+      as befitted their rank, and gave them into the safe keeping of Amadour,
+      who performed such extraordinary deeds during the war, that they seemed to
+      be acts as much of despair as of bravery.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     22  The last King of Granada was Mahomed Boabdil, dethroned
+     in 1493. The title may have been assumed, however, by the
+     leader of an insurrection.&mdash;D.
+
+     23  As Ferdinand and Isabella had no son, the reference must
+     be to their daughter&rsquo;s husband, Philip the Fair of Austria,
+     son of the Emperor Maximilian I. and father of Charles V.&mdash;
+     B. J.
+
+     24  Frederick of Toledo, Marquis of Coria and Duke of Alba,
+     generally called the old Duke of Alba to distinguish him
+     from his son.&mdash;B. J.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Coming now to the point of my story, I have to relate how his overboldness
+      was proved by his death. The Moors had made a show of offering battle, and
+      finding the Christian army very numerous had feigned a retreat. The
+      Spaniards started in pursuit, but the old Constable and the Duke of Alba,
+      who suspected the trickery of the Moors, restrained the Prince of Spain
+      against his will from crossing the river. The Count of Aranda, however,
+      and the Duke of Cardona crossed, although it was forbidden; and when the
+      Moors saw that they were pursued by only a few men they faced about again.
+      The Duke of Cardona was struck down and killed with a blow of a scimitar,
+      and the Count of Aranda was so grievously wounded that he was left for
+      dead. Thereupon Amadour came up filled with rage and fury, and bursting
+      through the throng, caused the two bodies to be taken up and carried to
+      the camp of the Prince, who mourned for them as for his own brothers. On
+      examining their wounds the Count of Aranda was found to be still alive,
+      and was sent in a litter to his home, where he lay ill for a long time. On
+      the other hand, the Duke&rsquo;s body was sent back to Cardona.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile Amadour, having made this effort to rescue the two bodies, had
+      thought so little of his own safety that he found himself surrounded by a
+      large number of Moors. Not desiring his person to be captured any more
+      than he had captured that of his mistress, nor to break his faith with God
+      as he had broken faith with her&mdash;for he knew that, if he were taken
+      to the King of Granada, he must either die a cruel death or renounce
+      Christianity&mdash;he resolved to withhold from his enemies the glory
+      either of his death or capture. So kissing the cross of his sword and
+      commending his body and soul to God, he dealt himself such a thrust as to
+      be past all help.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thus died the unhappy Amadour, lamented as deeply as his virtues deserved.
+      The news spread through the whole of Spain; and the rumour of it came to
+      Florida, who was at Barcelona, where her husband had formerly commanded
+      that he should be buried. She gave him an honourable funeral, (25) and
+      then, without saying anything to her mother or mother-in-law, she became a
+      nun in the Convent of Jesus, taking for husband and lover Him who had
+      delivered her from such a violent love as that of Amadour&rsquo;s, and from such
+      great affliction as she had endured in the company of her husband. Thus
+      were all her affections directed to the perfect loving of God; and, after
+      living for a long time as a nun, she yielded up her soul with gladness,
+      like that of the bride when she goes forth to meet the bridegroom.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     25  The Franciscan monastery of the little village cf
+     Bellpuig, near Lerida, contains the tomb of Ramon de
+     Cardona, termed one of the marvels of Catalonia on account
+     of the admirable sculptures adorning it. One of the
+     beautiful white marble bas-reliefs shows a number of galleys
+     drawn up in line of battle, whilst some smaller boats are
+     conveying parties of armed men to a river-bank on which the
+     Moors are awaiting them in hostile array. On the frieze of
+     an arch the Spaniards and Moors are shown fighting, many of
+     the former retreating towards the water. An inscription
+     records that the tomb was raised to the best of husbands by
+     Isabella, his unhappy spouse.
+
+     Margaret gives the name of Florida to the wife of the Duke
+     whom she mentions, but it should be borne in mind that she
+     has systematically mingled fact with fiction throughout this
+     story; and that she was alluding to the Duke buried at
+     Bellpuig seems evident from an examination of the bas-
+     reliefs mentioned above. Ramon de Cardona was, however, a
+     more important personage than she pictures him. He became
+     Charles V.&lsquo;s viceroy in Naples, and did not die till 1520,
+     whereas Margaret&rsquo;s story appears to end in or about 1513.
+     Possibly she saw the tomb when in Spain.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am well aware, ladies, that this long tale may have been wearisome to
+      some among you, but had I told it as it was told to me it would have been
+      longer still. Take example, I beg you, by the virtue of Florida, but be
+      somewhat less cruel; and think not so well of any man that, when you are
+      undeceived, you occasion him a cruel death and yourselves a life of
+      sorrow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Having had a long and fair hearing Parlamente said to Hircan&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you not think that this lady was pressed to extremities and that she
+      held out virtuously?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Hircan; &ldquo;a woman can make no more feeble resistance than to cry
+      out. If she had been in a place where none could hear her I do not know
+      how she would have fared. And if Amadour had had more love and less fear
+      he would not have desisted from his attempt for so little. So this story
+      will not cause me to change my firm opinion that no man ever perfectly
+      loved a lady, or was loved by her, that he did not prove successful if
+      only he went the right way to work. Nevertheless, I must praise Amadour
+      for having in part done his duty.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What duty?&rdquo; asked Oisille. &ldquo;Do you call it a lover&rsquo;s duty to try and take
+      his mistress by force when he owes her all reverence and submission?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Here Saffredent took up the discourse.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;when our mistresses hold their state in chamber or
+      hall, seated at their ease as though they were our judges, we lead them to
+      the dance in fear; we wait upon them with all diligence and anticipate
+      their commands; and we are so afraid of offending them and so desirous of
+      doing them service that those who see us pity us, and often deem us more
+      witless than brutes. They account us dull and void of understanding, and
+      give praise to the ladies, whose faces are so imperious and their speech
+      so fair that they make themselves feared, loved, and honoured by those who
+      only know them outwardly. But when we are together in private, and love
+      alone can judge our behaviour, we know full well that they are women and
+      we are men. Then is the name &lsquo;mistress&rsquo; changed to &lsquo;sweetheart,&rsquo; and the
+      &lsquo;slave&rsquo; becomes a &lsquo;lover.&rsquo; As the proverb says&mdash;&lsquo;By service true and
+      loyalty, do servants rise to mastery.&rsquo; They have honour equally with men,
+      who can give it to them and can take it away; and seeing us suffer in
+      patience, they should reward us when they can do so without hurt to their
+      honour.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You do not speak of that true honour,&rdquo; said Longarine, &ldquo;which is the
+      greatest happiness this world can give. If every one calls me a virtuous
+      woman, and I myself know the contrary, the praise I receive only increases
+      my shame and puts me in secret to still greater confusion. In the same
+      way, if people condemn me and I know that I am innocent, their
+      condemnation will only make me the better pleased with myself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In spite of what you all have said,&rdquo; interposed Geburon, &ldquo;it seems to me
+      that Amadour was as noble and virtuous a knight as ever lived, and I think
+      I can recognise him under his feigned name. Since Parlamente would not
+      name him, neither will I. But you may rest assured that, if he be the man
+      whom I have in mind, his heart never knew fear, nor was ever void of love
+      and bravery.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The day has been spent so pleasantly,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;that if the others
+      are like it I think our talk will make the time pass quickly by. But see
+      where the sun is, and listen to the abbey bell, which has long been
+      calling us to vespers. I did not mention this to you before, for I was
+      more inclined to hear the end of the story than to go to prayers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At these words they all rose, and when they reached the abbey they found
+      that the monks had been waiting for them a full hour and more. After
+      vespers they went to supper, and during the whole evening they conversed
+      about the stories they had heard, all of them searching every corner of
+      their memories to try and make the second day as pleasant as the first.
+      And after playing many games in the meadow they went to bed, and so made a
+      glad and happy ending of the first day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0011" id="linkimage-0011">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/083.jpg" width="100%" alt="083.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      SECOND DAY.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>On the Second Day is recounted the first conceit <br /> that presents
+      itself to each</i>. <a name="link2H_PROL" id="link2H_PROL">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      PROLOGUE.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      On the morrow they rose in great eagerness to return to the place where
+      they had had so much pleasure on the previous day. Each one was ready with
+      a tale, and was impatient for the telling of it. They listened to the
+      reading of Madame Oisille, and then heard mass, all commending themselves
+      to God, and praying Him to grant them speech and grace for the continuance
+      of their fellowship. Afterwards they went to dinner, reminding one another
+      the while of many stories of the past.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After dinner, they rested in their apartments, and at the appointed time
+      returned to the meadow, where day and season alike seemed favourable to
+      their plans. They all sat down on the natural seat afforded by the green
+      sward, and Parlamente said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yesterday I told the tenth and last tale; it is therefore for me to
+      choose who shall begin to-day. Madame Oisille was the first of the ladies
+      to speak, as being the oldest and wisest, and so I now give my vote to the
+      youngest&mdash;I do not also say the flightiest&mdash;for I am sure that
+      if we all follow her leading we shall not delay vespers so long as we did
+      yesterday. Wherefore, Nomerfide, you shall lead us, but I beg that you
+      will not cause us to begin our second day in tears.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There was no need to make that request,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;for one of our
+      number has made me choose a tale which has taken such a hold on me that I
+      can tell no other; and should it occasion sadness in you, your natures
+      must be melancholy ones indeed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0012" id="linkimage-0012">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/089.jpg" width="100%" alt="089.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XI.</i> (A).
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>Madame de Roncex, while at the monastery of the Grey Friars
+     at Thouars, (1) was constrained to go in great haste to a
+     certain place, and, not looking to see whether the seats
+     were clean, sat down in a filthy spot and befouled both her
+     person and clothes; whereupon crying out for assistance, in
+     the hope that some woman would come and cleanse her, she was
+     waited on by men, who beheld her in the worst plight in
+     which a woman could be found</i>. (2)
+
+     1  In the department of the Deux-Sèvres.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     2  This story, given in Boaistuau&rsquo;s version of Margaret&rsquo;s
+     tales, and to be found in most of the MS. copies of the
+     <i>Heptameron</i> at the &lsquo;Paris Bibliothèque Nationale&rsquo;, was not
+     included in the edition issued by Gruget, who replaced it by
+     a story called <i>The jests made by a Grey Friar</i>, for which
+     see <i>post</i>, p. 95 <i>et seq</i>.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In the household of Madame de la Trémoille there was a lady named Roncex,
+      who one day, when her mistress had gone to visit the monastery of the Grey
+      Friars, found herself in great need to go to a certain place whither her
+      maid could not go in her stead. She took with her a girl named La Mothe to
+      keep her company, but being modest and unwilling to be seen, left her in
+      the room, and went alone into a darksome privy, a place used in common by
+      all the friars, who had given such a good account therein of all their
+      victuals, that seat and floor, and in sooth the whole place, were thickly
+      covered with the must of Bacchus and Ceres that had passed through the
+      friars&rsquo; bellies.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The unhappy lady, who was so hard pressed that she had scarcely time to
+      lift her dress, chanced to sit down in the foulest, dirtiest spot in the
+      whole place, where she found herself stuck fast as though with glue, her
+      poor hips, garments, and feet being so contaminated that she durst not
+      take a step or turn on any side, for fear lest she should meet with
+      something worse. Thereupon she began to call out as loudly as she could&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;La Mothe, my child, I am ruined and undone!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The poor girl, who had formerly heard tell of the wickedness of the Grey
+      Friars, and imagined that some of them were hidden there and were trying
+      to take her mistress by force, thereupon ran off as hard as she could,
+      saying to every one she met&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come and help Madame de Roncex; the Grey Friars are trying to ravish her
+      in yonder privy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      They thereupon hastened thither with all speed, and found the unhappy lady
+      crying out for assistance, longing for some woman to come and cleanse her,
+      and with her back parts all uncovered, for she feared to touch them with
+      her garments lest these also should be defiled.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentlemen, coming in at her cries, beheld this fine sight, but could
+      see nought of the Grey Friars, unless it were their ordure clinging to her
+      hips; nor did this pass without laughter on their part and great shame on
+      hers, for instead of having women to cleanse her, she was waited on by
+      men, who saw her naked, and in the sorriest plight in which a woman could
+      be found. For this reason, on perceiving them, she soiled what was still
+      clean, by dropping her garments in order to cover herself, forgetting the
+      filth that she was in for the shame she felt at sight of the men. And when
+      she had come out of that foul place it was necessary to strip her naked
+      and change all her garments before she could leave the monastery. She was
+      minded to be angry with La Mothe for the aid that she had brought her, but
+      finding that the poor girl had thought her in a yet more evil plight, she
+      put aside her wrath and laughed like the rest. (3)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  It is impossible to identify the lady mentioned in this
+     story, her name being spelt in so many ways in the various
+     MSS. of the <i>Heptameron</i>. It is given as Roncex in the copy
+     here followed, as Roubex in a copy that belonged to Louis
+     XVIII., and as Roncci in the De Thou MS., whilst Boaistuau
+     printed it as Roucey. The Madame de la Trémoille, alluded to
+     at the outset, is believed by Lacroix and Dillaye to have
+     been Anne de Laval (daughter of Guy XV., Count of Laval, and
+     of Charlotte of Aragon, Princess of Tarento), who married
+     Francis de la Trémoille, Viscount of Thouars, in 1521, and
+     was by her mother a cousin of Queen Margaret. Possibly,
+     however, the reference is to Gabrielle de Bourbon, wife of
+     Louis II. de la Trémoille, a lady of exemplary piety, who
+     erected the beautiful Renaissance chapel of the château of
+     Thouars.&mdash;L. &amp; Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think, ladies,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;that this story has proved neither
+      long nor melancholy, and that I have given you what you expected.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At this the company laughed heartily, and Oisille said&mdash;&ldquo;The story is
+      indeed nasty and unclean, yet, knowing the persons who fared in this
+      manner, we cannot consider it unwelcome. Gladly would I have seen the
+      faces of La Mothe and of the lady to whom she brought such timely aid. But
+      now,&rdquo; she added to Nomerfide, &ldquo;since you have finished so soon, give your
+      vote to some one whose thoughts are of a graver turn.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you desire me to atone for my fault,&rdquo; answered Nomerfide, &ldquo;I give
+      my vote to Dagoucin, whose discretion is such that he would die rather
+      than say anything foolish.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Dagoucin then thanked her for the esteem in which she held his good sense,
+      and thus began&mdash;&ldquo;The story I am minded to relate is intended to show
+      you how love blinds the greatest and most honourable hearts, and how hard
+      it is to overcome wickedness by any kindness whatsoever.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0013" id="linkimage-0013">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/093.jpg" width="100%" alt="093.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0014" id="linkimage-0014">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/095a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="095a.jpg the Grey Friar Telling his Tales " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Grey Friar telling his Tales]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0015" id="linkimage-0015">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/095.jpg" width="100%" alt="095.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XI.</i> (B).
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>Of the jests made by a Grey Friar in his sermons</i>. (1)
+
+     1  See <i>ante</i>, p. 89, note 2, <i>and post</i>. Appendix B.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Near the town of Bléré in Touraine there is a village called St.
+      Martin-le-Beau, whither a Grey Friar belonging to the monastery at Tours
+      was summoned to preach during the seasons of Advent and Lent. This friar,
+      who was more garrulous than learned, and now and then found himself at a
+      loss for matter to eke out his hour, would thereupon begin telling tales
+      which more or less agreeably satisfied the good villagers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One Holy Thursday he preached about the Paschal Lamb, and while speaking
+      of how it was eaten at night, seeing that there were present at the
+      preaching some handsome young ladies of Amboise, who were newly arrived to
+      keep Easter at the village, and to stay there for a few days afterwards,
+      he wished to surpass himself, and thereupon asked all the women-folk
+      whether they knew what it was to eat raw flesh at night. &ldquo;I will tell you
+      what it is, ladies,&rdquo; he said, whereat the young men of Amboise, who had
+      just arrived with their wives, sisters, and nieces, and who had no
+      knowledge of the pilgrim&rsquo;s humour, began to be scandalised; though on
+      listening further their indignation gave place to laughter, even when he
+      said that to eat the lamb it was needful to have one&rsquo;s loins girt, one&rsquo;s
+      feet in one&rsquo;s shoes, and one&rsquo;s hand on one&rsquo;s staff.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The friar, seeing them laugh at this, and guessing the reason, immediately
+      corrected himself. &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;to have shoes on one&rsquo;s feet and a
+      staff in one&rsquo;s hand; &lsquo;tis all one.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      That this sally was received with laughter you will readily believe. Even
+      the ladies could not refrain from merriment, and for them he added other
+      diverting sayings. Then finding the time was nearly up, and wishing the
+      ladies to be well pleased with him when they departed, he said to them&mdash;&ldquo;Now,
+      fair ladies, when you are chatting presently with your gossips, you will
+      be asking one another: &lsquo;Who, pray, is this Master Friar, that speaks out
+      so boldly? He must be a brisk fellow.&rsquo; I will tell you, ladies, yes, I
+      will tell you, and be not astonished if I speak out boldly, for I am of
+      Anjou, at your service.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words he ended his sermon, leaving his hearers more disposed to
+      laugh at his foolish speeches than to weep in memory of our Lord&rsquo;s Passion
+      which was then being commemorated.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The other sermons that he preached during the festival had much the same
+      value. You are aware that these friars never fail to go begging for their
+      Easter eggs, and receive not only eggs, but many other things, such as
+      linen, yarn, chitterlings, hams, chines, and similar trifles. So when
+      Easter Tuesday came, and the friar was making those exhortations to
+      charity of which such folks as he are no niggards, he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am bound to thank you, ladies, for the liberality you have shown to our
+      poor monastery, and yet I cannot forbear telling you that you have
+      hitherto not duly considered the nature of our wants. You have for the
+      most part given us chitterlings, but of these we ourselves have no lack.
+      God be praised, our monastery is indeed full of them. What then can we do
+      with so many? I will tell you. My advice, ladies, is that you should mix
+      your hams with our chitterlings; in this way you would bestow fine alms.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, continuing his sermon, he brought into it certain scandalous matter,
+      and, whilst discoursing upon it somewhat bluntly and quoting sundry
+      examples, he said in apparent amazement&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly, ladies and gentlemen of Saint-Martin, I am greatly astonished that
+      you should be scandalised so unreasonably at what is less than nothing,
+      and should tell tales of me wherever you go, saying: &lsquo;It is a big
+      business; who could have thought that the father would have got his
+      landlady&rsquo;s daughter with child?&rsquo; A monk get a girl with child!&rdquo; he
+      continued; &ldquo;forsooth, what a wonder! But hark you, fair ladies, would you
+      not rather have had cause for wonderment, had the girl acted thus by the
+      monk?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Such, ladies, was the wholesome food on which this worshipful shepherd
+      fed the Lord&rsquo;s flock. And so brazen was he, that after committing the sin,
+      he spake openly of it in the pulpit, where nought should be said that
+      tends to aught but the edification of one&rsquo;s neighbour, and above all to
+      the glory of God.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;he was a master monk&mdash;I should have liked
+      him nearly as well as Brother Anjibaut, who gets credit for all the jests
+      that are spoken in merry company.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For my part, I can see nothing laughable in such mockery,&rdquo; said Oisille,
+      &ldquo;especially in such a place.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You forget, madam,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;that at that time, though it was not
+      so very long ago, the good villagers, and indeed most of the dwellers in
+      the large towns, who think themselves cleverer than other people, had
+      greater regard for such preachers as he than for those who purely and
+      simply preached the holy Gospel to them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;However that may be,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;he was not wrong in asking for hams
+      in exchange for chitterlings, for in hams there is far more eating. And
+      even if some devout creature had understood him amphibologically, as I
+      believe he wished to be understood, neither he nor his brethren would have
+      fared badly any more than the wench that had her bag full.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But how impudent of him,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;to pervert the meaning of the
+      text to suit his fancy, thinking that he had to do with beasts like
+      himself, and shamelessly trying to entice the poor little women so that he
+      might teach them how to eat raw flesh at night.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;True,&rdquo; said Simontault; &ldquo;but you forget that he saw before him those
+      young tripe-sellers of Amboise in whose tub he would fain have washed his
+      &mdash;&mdash;&mdash; shall I name it? No, but you understand me&mdash;and
+      have treated them to a taste of it, not roasted, but stirring and
+      frisking, so as to please them the more.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Softly, softly, Simontault,&rdquo; said Parlamente; &ldquo;you forget yourself. Have
+      you laid aside your accustomed modesty to don it only in time of
+      necessity?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, madam, no,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;&lsquo;twas the unworthy monk that led me astray.
+      Wherefore, that we may return to the matter in hand, I beg Nomerfide, who
+      caused my offence, to give her vote to some one who will make the company
+      forget our common fault.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you include me in your transgression,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;I will
+      choose one who will atone for our failings, that is Dagoucin. He is so
+      discreet that to save his life he would not say a foolish thing.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0016" id="linkimage-0016">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/100.jpg" width="100%" alt="100.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0017" id="linkimage-0017">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/101a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="101a.jpg the Gentleman Killing The Duke " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Gentleman killing the Duke]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0018" id="linkimage-0018">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/101.jpg" width="100%" alt="101.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XII</i>.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>The Duke of Florence, having continually failed to make
+     known to a certain lady the love he bore her, confided in
+     her brother, and begged his assistance that he might attain
+     his ends. This, after many remonstrances, the brother agreed
+     to give, but it was a lip-promise only, for at the moment
+     when the Duke was expecting to vanquish her whom he had
+     deemed invincible, the gentleman slew him in his bed, in
+     this fashion freeing his country from a tyrant, and saving
+     both his own life and the honour of his house</i>. (1)
+
+     1  The basis of this story is historical. The event here
+     described&mdash;one of the most famous in the annals of
+     Florence&mdash;furnished Alfred de Musset with the subject of his
+     play <i>Lorenzaccio</i>, and served as the foundation of <i>The
+     Traitor</i>, considered to be Shirley&rsquo;s highest achievement as
+     a dramatic poet. As Queen Margaret&rsquo;s narrative contains
+     various errors of fact, Sismondi&rsquo;s account of the affair, as
+     borrowed by him from the best Italian historians, is given
+     in the Appendix, C&mdash;Eu.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Ten years ago there reigned in the city of Florence a Duke of the house of
+      Medici who had married the Emperor&rsquo;s natural daughter, Margaret. (2) She
+      was still so young that the marriage could not be lawfully consummated,
+      and, waiting till she should be of a riper age, the Duke treated her with
+      great gentleness, and to spare her, made love to various ladies of the
+      city, whom he was wont to visit at night, whilst his wife was sleeping.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2  The Duke here referred to was Alexander de&rsquo; Medici, first
+     Duke of Florence, in which city he was born in 1510. His
+     mother, a slave named Anna, was the wife of a Florentine
+     coachman, but Lorenzo II. de&rsquo; Medici, one of this woman&rsquo;s
+     lovers, acknowledged him as his offspring, though, according
+     to some accounts, his real father was one of the popes,
+     Clement VII. or Julius II. After the Emperor Charles V. had
+     made himself master of Florence in 1530, he confided the
+     governorship of the city to Alexander, upon whom he bestowed
+     the title of Duke. Two years later Alexander threw off the
+     imperial control, and soon afterwards embarked on a career
+     of debauchery and crime. In 1536, Charles V., being desirous
+     of obtaining the support of Florence against France, treated
+     with Alexander, and gave him the hand of his illegitimate
+     daughter, Margaret. The latter&mdash;whose mother was Margaret
+     van Gheenst, a Flemish damsel of noble birth&mdash;was at that
+     time barely fourteen, having been born at Brussels in 1522.
+     The Queen of Navarre&rsquo;s statements concerning the
+     youthfulness of the Duchess are thus corroborated by fact.
+     After the death of Alexander de&rsquo; Medici, his widow was
+     married to Octavius Farnese, Duke of Parma, who was then
+     only twelve years old, but by whom she eventually became the
+     mother of the celebrated Alexander Farnese. Margaret of
+     Austria occupies a prominent place in the history of the
+     Netherlands, which she governed during a lengthy period for
+     her brother Philip II. She died in retirement at Ortonna in
+     Italy in 1586.&mdash;L. and Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Among these there was one very beautiful, discreet, and honourable lady,
+      sister to a gentleman whom the Duke loved even as himself, and to whom he
+      gave such authority in his household that his orders were feared and
+      obeyed equally with the Duke&rsquo;s own. And moreover the Duke had no secrets
+      that he did not share with this gentleman, so that the latter might have
+      been called his second-self. (3)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  The gentleman here mentioned was the Duke&rsquo;s cousin,
+     Lorenzo di Pier-Francesco de&rsquo; Medici, commonly called
+     Lorenzino on account of his short stature. He was born at
+     Florence in 1514, and, being the eldest member of the junior
+     branch of the Medici family, it had been decided by the
+     Emperor Charles V. that he should succeed to the Dukedom of
+     Florence, if Alexander died without issue. Lorenzino
+     cultivated letters, and is said to have possessed
+     considerable wit, but, on the other hand, instead of being a
+     high-minded man, as Queen Margaret pictures him, he was a
+     thorough profligate, and willingly lent a hand in
+     Alexander&rsquo;s scandalous amours. The heroine of this story is
+     erroneously described as Lorenzino&rsquo;s sister; in point of
+     fact she was his aunt, Catherine Ginori. See Appendix, C.&mdash;
+     Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Finding the gentleman&rsquo;s sister to be a lady of such exemplary virtue that
+      he was unable to declare his passion to her, though he sought all possible
+      opportunities for doing so, the Duke at last came to his favourite and
+      said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If there were anything in this world, my friend, that I might be
+      unwilling to do for you, I should hesitate to tell you what is in my mind,
+      and still more to beg your assistance. But such is the affection I bear
+      you that had I wife, mother, or daughter who could avail to save your
+      life, I would sacrifice them rather than allow you to die in torment. I
+      believe that your love for me is the counterpart of mine for you, and that
+      if I, who am your master, bear you so much affection, you, on your part,
+      can have no less for me. I will therefore tell you a secret, the keeping
+      of which has brought me to the condition you see. I have no hope of any
+      improvement except it be through death or else the service which you are
+      in a position to render me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      On hearing these words from the Duke, and seeing his face unfeignedly
+      bathed in tears, the gentleman felt such great pity for him that he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sir, I am your creature: all the wealth and honour that I am possessed of
+      in this world come from you. You may speak to me as to your own soul, in
+      the certainty that all that it be in my power to do is at your command.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Thereupon the Duke began to tell him of the love he bore his sister, a
+      love so deep and strong that he feared he could not live much longer
+      unless, by the gentleman&rsquo;s help, he succeeded in satisfying his desire. He
+      was well aware that neither prayers nor presents would be of any avail
+      with the lady, wherefore he begged the gentleman&mdash;if he cared for his
+      master&rsquo;s life as much as he, his master, cared for his&mdash;to devise
+      some means of procuring him the good fortune which, without such
+      assistance, he could never hope to obtain.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The brother, who loved his sister and the honour of his house far more
+      than the Duke&rsquo;s pleasure, endeavoured to remonstrate with him, entreating
+      that he might be employed for any other purpose save the cruel task of
+      soliciting the dishonour of his own kin, and declaring that the rendering
+      of such a service was contrary alike to his inclinations and his honour.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Inflamed with excessive wrath, the Duke raised his hand to his mouth and
+      bit his nails.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said he in a fury, &ldquo;since I find that you have no friendship for
+      me, I know what I have to do.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman, who was acquainted with his master&rsquo;s cruelty, felt afraid,
+      and answered&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My lord, since such is your pleasure, I will speak to her, and tell you
+      her reply.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you show concern for my life, I shall show it for yours,&rdquo; replied the
+      Duke, and thereupon he went away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman well understood the meaning of these words, and spent a day
+      or two without seeing the Duke, considering what he should do. On the one
+      hand he was confronted by the duty he owed his master, and the wealth and
+      honours he had received from him; on the other by the honour of his house,
+      and the fair fame and chastity of his sister. He well knew that she would
+      never submit to such infamy unless through his own treachery she were
+      overcome by violence, so unnatural a deed that if it were committed he and
+      his kindred would be disgraced for ever. In this dilemma he decided that
+      he would sooner die than so ill use his sister, who was one of the noblest
+      women in all Italy, and ought rather to deliver his country of this tyrant
+      who, abusing his power, sought to cast such a slur upon his family; for he
+      felt sure that if the Duke were suffered to live, neither his own life nor
+      the lives of his kindred would be safe. So without speaking of the matter
+      to his sister or to any living creature, he determined to save his life
+      and vindicate his honour at one and the same time. Accordingly, when a
+      couple of days had gone by, he went to the Duke and told him that with
+      infinite difficulty he had so wrought upon his sister that she had at last
+      consented to do his will, provided that the matter were kept secret, and
+      none but he, her brother, knew of it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Duke, who was longing for these tidings, readily believed them, and
+      embracing the ambassador, promised him anything that he might ask. He
+      begged him to put his scheme quickly into execution, and they agreed
+      together upon the time when this should be done. The Duke was in great
+      joy, as may well be imagined; and on the arrival of that wished-for night
+      when he hoped to vanquish her whom he had deemed invincible, he retired
+      early, accompanied only by the lady&rsquo;s brother, and failed not to attire
+      himself in a perfumed shirt and head-gear. Then, when every one was gone
+      to rest, he went with the gentleman to the lady&rsquo;s abode, where he was
+      conducted into a well-appointed apartment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having undressed him and put him to bed, the gentleman said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My lord, I will now go and fetch you one who will assuredly not enter
+      this room without blushing; but I hope that before morning she will have
+      lost all fear of you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Leaving the Duke, he then went to his own room, where he found one of his
+      servants, to whom he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Are you brave enough to follow me to a place where I desire to avenge
+      myself upon my greatest living enemy?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The other, who was ignorant of his master&rsquo;s purpose, replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, sir, though it were the Duke himself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Thereupon the gentleman led him away in such haste as to leave him no time
+      to take any weapon except a poignard that he was wearing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Duke, on hearing the gentleman coming back again, thought that he was
+      bringing the loved one with him, and, opening his eyes, drew back the
+      curtains in order to see and welcome the joy for which he had so long been
+      waiting. But instead of seeing her who, so he hoped, was to preserve his
+      life, he beheld something intended to take his life away, that is, a naked
+      sword which the gentleman had drawn, and with which he smote the Duke. The
+      latter was wearing nothing but his shirt, and lacked weapons, though not
+      courage, for sitting up in the bed he seized the gentleman round the body,
+      saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is this the way you keep your promise?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, armed as he was only with his teeth and nails, he bit the
+      gentleman&rsquo;s thumb, and wrestled with him so stoutly that they both fell
+      down beside the bed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman, not feeling altogether confident, called to his servant,
+      who, finding the Duke and his master so closely twined together that he
+      could not tell the one from the other, dragged them both by the feet into
+      the middle of the room, and then tried to cut the Duke&rsquo;s throat with his
+      poignard. The Duke defended himself until he was so exhausted through loss
+      of blood that he could do no more, whereupon the gentleman and his servant
+      lifted him upon the bed and finished him with their daggers. They then
+      drew the curtain and went away, leaving the dead body shut up in the room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having vanquished his great enemy, by whose death he hoped to free his
+      country, the gentleman reflected that his work would be incomplete unless
+      he treated five or six of the Duke&rsquo;s kindred in the same fashion. The
+      servant, however, who was neither a dare-devil nor a fool, said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think, sir, that you have done enough for the present, and that it
+      would be better to think of saving your own life than of taking the lives
+      of others, for should we be as long in making away with each of them as we
+      were in the case of the Duke, daylight would overtake our enterprise
+      before we could complete it, even should we find our enemies unarmed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Cowed by his guilty conscience, the gentleman followed the advice of his
+      servant, and taking him alone with him, repaired to a Bishop (4) whose
+      office it was to have the city gates opened, and to give orders to the
+      guard-posts.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     4  Probably Cardinal Cybo, Alexander&rsquo;s chief minister, who
+     according to Sismondi, was the first to discover the
+     murder.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have,&rdquo; said the gentleman to the Bishop, &ldquo;this evening received tidings
+      that one of my brothers is at the point of death. I have just asked leave
+      of the Duke to go to him, and he has granted it me; and I beg you to send
+      orders that the guards may furnish me with two good horses, and that the
+      gatekeeper may let me through.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Bishop, who regarded the gentleman&rsquo;s request in the same light as an
+      order from his master the Duke, forthwith gave him a note, by means of
+      which the gate was opened for him, and horses supplied to him as he had
+      requested; but instead of going to see his brother he betook himself
+      straight to Venice, where he had himself cured of the bites that he had
+      received from the Duke, and then passed over into Turkey. (5)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     5  On leaving Florence, Lorenzo repaired first to Bologna
+     and then to Venice, where he informed Philip Strozzi of how
+     he had rid his country of the tyrant. After embracing him in
+     a transport, and calling him the Tuscan Brutus, Strozzi
+     asked the murderer&rsquo;s sisters, Laudamina and Magdalen de&rsquo;
+     Medici, in marriage for his own sons, Peter and Robert. From
+     Venice Lorenzino issued a <i>mémoire justificatif</i>, full of
+     quibbles and paradoxes, in which he tried to explain his
+     lack of energy after the murder by the indifference shown by
+     the Florentines. He took no part in the various enterprises
+     directed against Cosmo de&rsquo; Medici, who had succeeded
+     Alexander at Florence. Indeed his chief concern was for his
+     own safety, which was threatened alike by Cosmo and the
+     Emperor Charles V., and to escape their emissaries he
+     proceeded to Turkey, and thence to France, ultimately
+     returning to Venice, where, despite all his precautions
+     against danger, he was assassinated in 1547, together with
+     his uncle, Soderini, by some spadassins in the pay of Cosmo
+     I.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In the morning, finding that their master delayed his return so long, all
+      the Duke&rsquo;s servants suspected, rightly enough, that he had gone to see
+      some lady; but at last, as he still failed to return, they began seeking
+      him on all sides. The poor Duchess, who was beginning to love him dearly,
+      was sorely distressed on learning that he could not be found; and as the
+      gentleman to whom he bore so much affection was likewise nowhere to be
+      seen, some went to his house in quest of him. They found blood on the
+      threshold of the gentleman&rsquo;s room, which they entered, but he was not
+      there, nor could any servant or other person give any tidings of him.
+      Following the blood-stains, however, the Duke&rsquo;s servants came at last to
+      the room in which their master lay. The door of it was locked, but this
+      they soon broke open, and on seeing the floor covered with blood they drew
+      back the bed-curtain, and found the unhappy Duke&rsquo;s body lying in the bed,
+      sleeping the sleep from which one cannot awaken.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      You may imagine the mourning of these poor servants as they carried the
+      body to the palace, whither came the Bishop, who told them how the
+      gentleman had departed with all speed during the night under pretence of
+      going to see his brother. And by this it was clearly shown that it was he
+      who had committed the murder. And it was further proved that his poor
+      sister had known nothing whatever of the matter. For her part, albeit she
+      was astounded by what had happened, she could but love her brother the
+      more, seeing that he had not shrunk from risking his life in order to save
+      her from so cruel a tyrant. And so honourable and virtuous was the life
+      that she continued leading, that although she was reduced to poverty by
+      the confiscation of the family property, both she and her sister found as
+      honourable and wealthy husbands as there were in all Italy, and lived ever
+      afterwards in high and good repute.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This, ladies, is a story that should make you dread that little god who
+      delights in tormenting Prince and peasant, strong and weak, and so far
+      blinds them that they lose all thought of God and conscience, and even of
+      their own lives. And greatly should Princes and those in authority fear to
+      offend such as are less than they; for there is no man but can wreak
+      injury when it pleases God to take vengeance on a sinner, nor any man so
+      great that he can do hurt to one who is in God&rsquo;s care.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This tale was commended by all in the company, (6) but it gave rise to
+      different opinions among them, for whilst some maintained that the
+      gentleman had done his duty in saving his own life and his sister&rsquo;s
+      honour, as well as in ridding his country of such a tyrant, others denied
+      this, and said it was rank ingratitude to slay one who had bestowed on him
+      such wealth and station. The ladies declared that the gentleman was a good
+      brother and a worthy citizen; the men, on the contrary, that he was a
+      treacherous and wicked servant.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     6  In MS. No. 1520 (Bib. Nat.) this sentence begins: &ldquo;The
+     tale was attentively listened to by all,&rdquo; &amp;c.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      And pleasant was it to hear the reasons which were brought forward on both
+      sides; but the ladies, as is their wont, spoke as much from passion as
+      from judgment, saying that the Duke was so well worthy of death that he
+      who struck him down was a happy man indeed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then Dagoucin, seeing what a controversy he had set on foot, said to them&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In God&rsquo;s name, ladies, do not quarrel about a thing that is past and
+      gone. Take care rather that your own charms do not occasion more cruel
+      murders than the one which I have related.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;La belle Dame sans Mercy,&rsquo;&rdquo; (7) replied Parlamente, &ldquo;has taught us to
+      say that but few die of so pleasing an ailment.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     7  <i>La belle Dame sans Merci</i> (The Pitiless Beauty) is one
+     of Alain Chartier&rsquo;s best known poems. It is written in the
+     form of a dialogue between a lady and her lover: the former
+     having obstinately refused to take compassion on the
+     sufferings of her admirer, the latter is said to have died
+     of despair. The lines alluded to by Margaret are spoken by
+     the lady, and are to the following effect&mdash;&ldquo;So graceful a
+     malady seldom puts men to death; yet the sooner to obtain
+     comfort, it is fitting one should say that it did. Some
+     complain and worry greatly who have not really felt the most
+     bitter affliction; and if indeed Love doth cause such great
+     torment, surely it were better there should be but one
+     sufferer rather than two.&rdquo; The poem, as here quoted, will be
+     found in André Duchesne&rsquo;s edition of the <i>OEuvres de Maistre
+     Alain Chartier</i>, Paris, 1617, p. 502.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Would to God, madam,&rdquo; answered Dagoucin, &ldquo;that all the ladies in this
+      company knew how false that saying is. I think they would then scarcely
+      wish to be called pitiless, or to imitate that unbelieving beauty who
+      suffered a worthy lover to die for lack of a gracious answer to his suit.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;you would have us risk honour and conscience to
+      save the life of a man who says he loves us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is not my meaning,&rdquo; replied Dagoucin, &ldquo;for he who loves with a
+      perfect love would be even more afraid of hurting his lady&rsquo;s honour than
+      would she herself. I therefore think that an honourable and graceful
+      response, such as is called for by perfect and seemly love, must tend to
+      the increase of honour and the satisfaction of conscience, for no true
+      lover could seek the contrary.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is always the end of your speeches,&rdquo; said Ennasuite; &ldquo;they begin
+      with honour and end with the contrary. However, if all the gentlemen
+      present will tell the truth of the matter, I am ready to believe them on
+      their oaths.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Hircan swore that for his own part he had never loved any woman but his
+      own wife, and even with her had no desire to be guilty of any gross
+      offence against God.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Simontault declared the same, and added that he had often wished all women
+      were froward excepting his own wife.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Geburon to him, &ldquo;you deserve that your wife should be what
+      you would have the others. For my own part, I can swear to you that I once
+      loved a woman so dearly that I would rather have died than have led her to
+      do anything that might have diminished my esteem for her. My love for her
+      was so founded upon her virtues, that for no advantage that I might have
+      had of her would I have seen them blemished.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At this Saffredent burst out laughing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Geburon,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I thought that your wife&rsquo;s affection and your own
+      good sense would have guarded you from the danger of falling in love
+      elsewhere, but I see that I was mistaken, for you still use the very
+      phrases with which we are wont to beguile the most subtle of women, and to
+      obtain a hearing from the most discreet. For who would close her ears
+      against us when we begin our discourse by talking of honour and virtue?
+      (8) But if we were to show them our hearts just as they are, there is many
+      a man now welcome among the ladies whom they would reckon of but little
+      account. But we hide the devil in our natures under the most angelic form
+      we can devise, and in this disguise receive many favours before we are
+      found out. And perhaps we lead the ladies&rsquo; hearts so far forward, that
+      when they come upon vice while believing themselves on the high road to
+      virtue, they have neither opportunity nor ability to draw back again.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     8  This sentence is borrowed from MS. No. 1520 (Bib. Nat.)&mdash;
+     L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;I thought you a different man than your words
+      would show you to be, and fancied that virtue was more pleasing to you
+      than pleasure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What!&rdquo; said Saffredent. &ldquo;Is there any virtue greater than that of loving
+      in the way that God commands? It seems to me that it is much better to
+      love one woman as a woman than to adore a number of women as though they
+      were so many idols. For my part, I am firmly of opinion that use is better
+      than abuse.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The ladies, however, all sided with Geburon, and would not allow
+      Saffredent to continue, whereupon he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am well content to say no more on this subject of love, for I have been
+      so badly treated with regard to it that I will never return to it again.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is your own maliciousness,&rdquo; said Longarine, &ldquo;that has occasioned your
+      bad treatment; for what virtuous woman would have you for a lover after
+      what you have told us?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Those who did not consider me unwelcome,&rdquo; answered Saffredent, &ldquo;would not
+      care to exchange their virtue for yours. But let us say no more about it,
+      that my anger may offend neither myself nor others. Let us see to whom
+      Dagoucin will give his vote.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I give it to Parlamente,&rdquo; said Dagoucin, &ldquo;for I believe that she must
+      know better than any one else the nature of honourable and perfect love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since I have been chosen to tell the third tale,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;I
+      will tell you something that happened to a lady who has always been one of
+      my best friends, and whose thoughts have never been hidden from me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0019" id="linkimage-0019">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/117.jpg" width="100%" alt="117.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0020" id="linkimage-0020">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/119a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="119a.jpg the Sea-captain Talking to The Lady " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Sea-captain talking to the Lady]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0021" id="linkimage-0021">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/119.jpg" width="100%" alt="119.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XIII</i>.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>A sea-captain, being greatly in love with a lady, sent her a diamond;
+      but she despatched it to his wife, whom he had long neglected, and in this
+      wise so atoned for his conduct that his wife was reconciled to him in
+      perfect affection</i>. (1)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1   M. Le Roux de Lincy believes that this story has some
+     historical basis, and, Louise of Savoy being termed the
+     Regent, he assigns the earlier incidents to the year 1524.
+     But Louise was Regent, for the first time, in 1515, and we
+     incline to the belief that Queen Margaret alludes to this
+     earlier period. Note the reference to a Court journey to
+     Normandy (post, p. 136), which was probably the journey that
+     Francis I. and his mother are known to have made to Rouen
+     and Alençon in the autumn of 1517. See vol. i. p. xxviii.&mdash;
+     Ed. 2  119
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In the household of the Lady-Regent, mother of King Francis, there was a
+      very pious lady married to a gentleman of like mind with herself, and,
+      albeit her husband was old and she was young and pretty, she served and
+      loved him as though he had been the handsomest and youngest man in the
+      world. So that she might give him no cause for sorrow, she set herself to
+      live as though she were of the same age as himself, eschewing all such
+      company, dress, dances, and amusements as young women are wont to love,
+      and finding all her pleasure and recreation in the service of God; on
+      which account her husband so loved and trusted her, that she ruled him and
+      his household as she would.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day it happened that the gentleman told his wife that from his youth
+      up he had desired to make a journey to Jerusalem, and asked her what she
+      thought of it. She, whose only wish was to please him, replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since God has withheld children from us, sweetheart, and has granted us
+      sufficient wealth, I would willingly use some portion of it in making this
+      sacred journey with you, for indeed, whether you go thither or elsewhere,
+      I am resolved never to leave you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At this the good man was so pleased, that it seemed to him as though he
+      were already on Mount Calvary.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      While they were deliberating on this matter, there came to the Court a
+      gentleman, the Captain of a galley, who had often served in the wars
+      against the Turks, (2) and was now soliciting the King of France to
+      undertake an expedition against one of their cities, which might yield
+      great advantage to Christendom. The old gentleman inquired of him
+      concerning this expedition, and after hearing what he intended to do,
+      asked him whether, on the completion of this business, he would make
+      another journey to Jerusalem, whither he himself and his wife had a great
+      desire to go. The Captain was well pleased on hearing of this laudable
+      desire, and he promised to conduct them thither, and to keep the matter
+      secret.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2   M. Paul Lacroix, who believes that the heroine of this
+     tale is Margaret herself (she is described as telling it
+     under the name of Parlamente), is also of opinion that the
+     gentleman referred to is the Baron de Malleville, a knight
+     of Malta, who was killed at Beyrout during an expedition
+     against the Turks, and whose death was recounted in verse by
+     Clement Marot (<i>OEuvres</i>, 1731, vol. ii. p. 452-455).
+     Margaret&rsquo;s gentleman, however, is represented as being
+     married, whereas M. de Malleville, as a knight of Malta, was
+     necessarily a bachelor. Marot, moreover, calls Malleville a
+     Parisian, whereas the gentleman in the tale belonged to
+     Normandy (see <i>post</i>, p. 136).&mdash;B. J. and L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The old gentleman was all impatience to find his wife and tell her of what
+      he had done. She was as anxious to make the journey as her husband, and on
+      that account often spoke about it to the Captain, who, paying more
+      attention to her person than her words, fell so deeply in love with her,
+      that when speaking to her of the voyages he had made, he often confused
+      the port of Marseilles with the Archipelago, and said &ldquo;horse&rdquo; when he
+      meant to say &ldquo;ship,&rdquo; like one distracted and bereft of sense. Her
+      character, however, was such that he durst not give any token of the
+      truth, and concealment kindled such fires in his heart that he often fell
+      sick, when the lady showed as much solicitude for him as for the cross and
+      guide of her road, (3) sending to inquire after him so often that the
+      anxiety she showed cured him without the aid of any other medicine.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  This may simply be an allusion to wayside crosses which
+     serve to guide travellers on their road. M. de Montaiglon
+     points out, however, that in the alphabets used for teaching
+     children in the olden time, the letter A was always preceded
+     by a cross, and that the child, in reciting, invariably
+     began: &ldquo;The cross of God, A, B, C, D,&rdquo; &amp;c. In a like way, a
+     cross figured at the beginning of the guide-books of the
+     time, as a symbol inviting the traveller to pray, and
+     reminding him upon whom he should rely amid the perils of
+     his journey. The best known French guide-book of the
+     sixteenth century is Charles Estienne&rsquo;s <i>Guide des Chemins
+     de France</i>.&mdash;M. and Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Several persons who knew that this Captain had been more renowned for
+      valour and jollity than for piety, were amazed that he should have become
+      so intimate with this lady, and seeing that he had changed in every
+      respect, and frequented churches, sermons, and confessions, they suspected
+      that this was only in order to win the lady&rsquo;s favour, and could not
+      refrain from hinting as much to him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Captain feared that if the lady should hear any such talk he would be
+      banished from her presence, and accordingly he told her husband and
+      herself that he was on the point of being despatched on his journey by the
+      King, and had much to tell them, but that for the sake of greater secrecy
+      he did not desire to speak to them in the presence of others, for which
+      reason he begged them to send for him when they had both retired for the
+      night. The gentleman deemed this to be good advice, and did not fail to go
+      to bed early every evening, and to make his wife also undress. When all
+      their servants had left them, they used to send for the Captain, and talk
+      with him about the journey to Jerusalem, in the midst of which the old
+      gentleman would oft-times fall asleep with his mind full of pious
+      thoughts. When the Captain saw the old gentleman asleep in bed, and found
+      himself on a chair near her whom he deemed the fairest and noblest woman
+      in the world, his heart was so rent between his desires and his dread of
+      speaking that he often lost the power of speech. In order that she might
+      not perceive this, he would force himself to talk of the holy places of
+      Jerusalem where there were such signs of the great love that Jesus Christ
+      bore us; and he would speak of this love, using it as a cloak for his own,
+      and looking at the lady with sighs and tears which she never understood.
+      By reason of his devout countenance she indeed believed him to be a very
+      holy man, and begged of him to tell her what his life had been, and how he
+      had come to love God in that way.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He told her that he was a poor gentleman, who, to arrive at riches and
+      honour, had disregarded his conscience in marrying a woman who was too
+      close akin to him, and this on account of the wealth she possessed, albeit
+      she was ugly and old, and he loved her not; and when he had drawn all her
+      money from her, he had gone to seek his fortune at sea, and had so
+      prospered by his toil, that he had now come to an honourable estate. But
+      since he had made his hearer&rsquo;s acquaintance, she, by reason of her pious
+      converse and good example, had changed all his manner of life, and should
+      he return from his present enterprise he was wholly resolved to take her
+      husband and herself to Jerusalem, that he might thereby partly atone for
+      his grievous sins which he had now put from him; save that he had not yet
+      made reparation to his wife, with whom, however, he hoped that he might
+      soon be reconciled.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady was well pleased with this discourse, and especially rejoiced at
+      having drawn such a man to the love and fear of God. And thus, until the
+      Captain departed from the Court, their long conversations together were
+      continued every evening without his ever venturing to declare himself.
+      However, he made the lady a present of a crucifix of Our Lady of Pity, (4)
+      beseeching her to think of him whenever she looked upon it.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     4   &ldquo;Our Lady of Pity&rdquo; is the designation usually applied to
+     the Virgin when she is shown seated with the corpse of
+     Christ on her knees. Michael Angelo&rsquo;s famous group at St.
+     Peter&rsquo;s is commonly known by this name. In the present
+     instance, however, Queen Margaret undoubtedly refers to a
+     crucifix showing the Virgin at the foot of the Cross,
+     contemplating her son&rsquo;s sufferings. Such crucifixes were
+     formerly not uncommon.&mdash;M.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The hour of his departure arrived, and when he had taken leave of the
+      husband, who was falling asleep, and came to bid his lady farewell, he
+      beheld tears standing in her eyes by reason of the honourable affection
+      which she entertained for him. The sight of these rendered his passion for
+      her so unendurable that, not daring to say anything concerning it, he
+      almost fainted, and broke out into an exceeding sweat, so that he seemed
+      to weep not only with his eyes, but with his entire body. And thus he
+      departed without speaking, leaving the lady in great astonishment, for she
+      had never before seen such tokens of regret. Nevertheless she did not
+      change in her good opinion of him, and followed him with her prayers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After a month had gone by, however, as the lady was returning to her
+      house, she met a gentleman who handed her a letter from the Captain, and
+      begged her to read it in private.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He told her how he had seen the Captain embark, fully resolved to
+      accomplish whatever might be pleasing to the King and of advantage to
+      Christianity. For his own part, the gentleman added, he was straightway
+      going back to Marseilles to set the Captain&rsquo;s affairs in order.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady withdrew to a window by herself, and opening the letter, found it
+      to consist of two sheets of paper, covered on either side with writing
+      which formed the following epistle:&mdash;
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &ldquo;Concealment long and silence have, alas!
+     Brought me all comfortless to such a pass,
+     That now, perforce, I must, to ease my grief,
+     Either speak out, or seek in death relief.
+     Wherefore the tale I long have left untold
+     I now, in lonely friendlessness grown bold,
+     Send unto thee, for I must strive to say
+     My love, or else prepare myself to slay.
+     And though my eyes no longer may behold
+     The sweet, who in her hand my life doth hold,
+     Whose glance sufficed to make my heart rejoice,
+     The while my ear did listen to her voice,&mdash;
+     These words at least shall meet her beauteous eyes,
+     And tell her all the plaintive, clamorous cries
+     Pent in my heart, to which I must give breath,
+     Since longer silence could but bring me death.
+     And yet, at first, I was in truth full fain
+     To blot the words I&rsquo;d written out again,
+     Fearing, forsooth, I might offend thine ear
+     With foolish phrases which, when thou wast near,
+     I dared not utter; and &lsquo;Indeed,&rsquo; said I,
+     &lsquo;Far better pine in silence, aye, and die,
+     Than save myself by bringing her annoy
+     For whose sweet sake grim death itself were joy.&rsquo;
+     And yet, thought I, my death some pain might give
+     To her for whom I would be strong, and live:
+     For have I not, fair lady, promised plain,
+     My journey ended, to return again
+     And guide thee and thy spouse to where he now
+     Doth yearn to call on God from Sion&rsquo;s brow?
+     And none would lead thee thither should I die.
+     If I were dead, methinks I see thee sigh
+     In sore distress, for then thou couldst not start
+     Upon that journey, dear unto thy heart.
+     So I will live, and, in a little space,
+     Return to lead thee to the sacred place.
+     Aye, I will live, though death a boon would be
+     Only to be refused for sake of thee.
+     But if I live, I needs must straight remove
+     The burden from my heart, and speak my love,
+     That love more loyal, tender, deep, and true,
+     Than, ever yet, the fondest lover knew.
+     And now, bold words about to wing your flight,
+     What will ye say when ye have reached her sight?
+     Declare her all the love that fills my heart?
+     Too weak ye are to tell its thousandth part!
+     Can ye at least not say that her clear eyes
+     Have torn my hapless heart forth in such wise,
+     That like a hollow tree I pine and wither
+     Unless hers give me back some life and vigour?
+     Ye feeble words! ye cannot even tell
+     How easily her eyes a heart compel;
+     Nor can ye praise her speech in language fit,
+     So weak and dull ye are, so void of wit.
+     Yet there are some things I would have you name&mdash;
+     How mute and foolish I oft time became
+     When all her grace and virtue I beheld;
+     How from my &lsquo;raptured eyes tears slowly welled
+     The tears of hopeless love; how my tongue strayed
+     From fond and wooing speech, so sore afraid,
+     That all my discourse was of time and tide,
+     And of the stars which up in Heav&rsquo;n abide.
+     O words, alas! ye lack the skill to tell
+     The dire confusion that upon me fell,
+     Whilst love thus wracked me; nor can ye disclose
+     My love&rsquo;s immensity, its pains and woes.
+     Yet, though, for all, your powers be too weak,
+     Perchance, some little, ye are fit to speak&mdash;
+     Say to her thus: &ldquo;Twas fear lest thou shouldst chide
+     That drove me, e&rsquo;en so long, my love to hide,
+     And yet, forsooth, it might have openly
+     Been told to God in Heaven, as unto thee,
+     Based as it is upon thy virtue&mdash;thought
+     That to my torments frequent balm hath brought,
+     For who, indeed, could ever deem it sin
+     To seek the owner of all worth to win?
+     Deserving rather of our blame were he
+     Who having seen thee undisturbed could be.&rsquo;
+     None such was I, for, straightway stricken sore,
+     My heart bowed low to Love, the conqueror.
+     And ah! no false and fleeting love is mine,
+     Such as for painted beauty feigns to pine;
+     Nor doth my passion, although deep and strong,
+     Seek its own wicked pleasure in thy wrong.
+     Nay; on this journey I would rather die
+     Than know that thou hadst fallen, and that I
+     Had wrought thy shame and foully brought to harm
+     The virtue which thy heart wraps round thy form.
+     &lsquo;Tis thy perfection that I love in thee,
+     Nought that might lessen it could ever be
+     Desire of mine&mdash;indeed, the nobler thou,
+     The greater were the love I to thee vow.
+     I do not seek an ardent flame to quench
+     In lustful dalliance with some merry wench,
+     Pure is my heart, &lsquo;neath reason&rsquo;s calm control
+     Set on a lady of such lofty soul,
+     That neither God above nor angel bright,
+     But seeing her, would echo my delight.
+     And if of thee I may not be beloved,
+     What matter, shouldst thou deem that I have proved
+     The truest lover that did ever live?
+     And this I know thou wilt, one day, believe,
+     For time, in rolling by, shall show to thee
+     No change in my heart&rsquo;s faith and loyalty.
+     And though for this thou mayst make no return,
+     Yet pleased am I with love for thee to burn,
+     And seek no recompense, pursue no end,
+     Save, that to thee, I meekly recommend
+     My soul and body, which I here consign
+     In sacrifice to Love&rsquo;s consuming shrine.
+     If then in safety I sail back the main
+     To thee, still artless, I&rsquo;ll return again;
+     And if I die, then there will die with me
+     A lover such as none again shall see.
+     So Ocean now doth carry far away
+     The truest lover seen for many a day;
+     His body &lsquo;tis that journeys o&rsquo;er the wave,
+     But not his heart, for that is now thy slave,
+     And from thy side can never wrested be,
+     Nor of its own accord return to me.
+     Ah! could I with me o&rsquo;er the treach&rsquo;rous brine
+     Take aught of that pure, guileless heart of thine,
+     No doubt should I then feel of victory,
+     Whereof the glory would belong to thee.
+     But now, whatever fortune may befall,
+     I&rsquo;ve cast the die; and having told thee all,
+     Abide thereby, and vow my constancy&mdash;
+     Emblem of which, herein, a diamond see,
+     By whose great firmness and whose pure glow
+     The strength and pureness of my love thou&rsquo;lt know.
+     Let it, I pray, thy fair white finger press,
+     And thou wilt deal me more than happiness.
+     And, diamond, speak and say: &lsquo;To thee I come
+     From thy fond lover, who afar doth roam,
+     And strives by dint of glorious deeds to rise
+     To the high level of the good and wise,
+     Hoping some day that haven to attain,
+     Where thy sweet favours shall reward his pain.&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      The lady read the letter through, and was the more astonished at the
+      Captain&rsquo;s passion as she had never before suspected it. She looked at the
+      cutting of the diamond, which was a large and beautiful one, set in a ring
+      of black enamel, and she was in great doubt as to what she ought to do
+      with it. After pondering upon the matter throughout the night, she was
+      glad to find that since there was no messenger, she had no occasion to
+      send any answer to the Captain, who, she reflected, was being sufficiently
+      tried by those matters of the King, his master, which he had in hand,
+      without being angered by the unfavourable reply which she was resolved to
+      make to him, though she delayed it until his return. However, she found
+      herself greatly perplexed with regard to the diamond, for she had never
+      been wont to adorn herself at the expense of any but her husband. For this
+      reason, being a woman of excellent understanding, she determined to draw
+      from the ring some profit to the Captain&rsquo;s conscience. She therefore
+      despatched one of her servants to the Captain&rsquo;s wife with the following
+      letter, which was written as though it came from a nun of Tarascon:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;MADAM,&mdash;Your husband passed this way but a short time before he
+      embarked, and after he had confessed himself and received his Creator like
+      a good Christian, he spoke to me of something which he had upon his
+      conscience, namely, his sorrow at not having loved you as he should have
+      done. And on departing, he prayed and besought me to send you this letter,
+      with the diamond which goes with it, and which he begs of you to keep for
+      his sake, assuring you that if God bring him back again in health and
+      strength, you shall be better treated than ever woman was before. And this
+      stone of steadfastness shall be the pledge thereof.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I beg you to remember him in your prayers; in mine he will have a place
+      as long as I live.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This letter, being finished and signed with the name of a nun, was sent by
+      the lady to the Captain&rsquo;s wife. And as may be readily believed, when the
+      excellent old woman saw the letter and the ring, she wept for joy and
+      sorrow at being loved and esteemed by her good husband when she could no
+      longer see him. She kissed the ring a thousand times and more, watering it
+      with her tears, and blessing God for having restored her husband&rsquo;s
+      affection to her at the end of her days, when she had long looked upon it
+      as lost. Nor did she fail to thank the nun who had given her so much
+      happiness, but sent her the fairest reply that she could devise. This the
+      messenger brought back with all speed to his mistress, who could not read
+      it, nor listen to what her servant told her, without much laughter. And so
+      pleased was she at having got rid of the diamond in so profitable a
+      fashion as to bring about a reconciliation between the husband and wife,
+      that she was as happy as though she had gained a kingdom.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A short time afterwards tidings came of the defeat and death of the poor
+      Captain, and of how he had been abandoned by those who ought to have
+      succoured him, and how his enterprise had been revealed by the Rhodians
+      who should have kept it secret, so that he and all who landed with him, to
+      the number of eighty, had been slain, among them being a gentleman named
+      John, and a Turk to whom the lady of my story had stood godmother, both of
+      them having been given by her to the Captain that he might take them with
+      him on his journey. The first named of these had died beside the Captain,
+      whilst the Turk, wounded by arrows in fifteen places, had saved himself by
+      swimming to the French ships.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was through him alone that the truth of the whole affair became known.
+      A certain gentleman whom the poor Captain had taken to be his friend and
+      comrade, and whose interests he had advanced with the King and the highest
+      nobles of France, had, it appeared, stood out to sea with his ships as
+      soon as the Captain landed; and the Captain, finding that his expedition
+      had been betrayed, and that four thousand Turks were at hand, had
+      thereupon endeavoured to retreat, as was his duty. But the gentleman in
+      whom he put such great trust perceived that his friend&rsquo;s death would leave
+      the sole command and profit of that great armament to himself, and
+      accordingly pointed out to the officers that it would not be right to risk
+      the King&rsquo;s vessels or the lives of the many brave men on board them in
+      order to save less than a hundred persons, an opinion which was shared by
+      all those of the officers that possessed but little courage.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So the Captain, finding that the more he called to the ships the farther
+      they drew away from his assistance, faced round at last upon the Turks;
+      and, albeit he was up to his knees in sand, he did such deeds of arms and
+      valour that it seemed as though he alone would defeat all his enemies, an
+      issue which his traitorous comrade feared far more than he desired it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But at last, in spite of all that he could do, the Captain received so
+      many wounds from the arrows of those who durst not approach within
+      bowshot, that he began to lose all his blood, whereupon the Turks,
+      perceiving the weakness of these true Christians, charged upon them
+      furiously with their scimitars; but the Christians, so long as God gave
+      them strength and life, defended themselves to the bitter end.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then the Captain called to the gentleman named John, whom his lady love
+      had given him, and to the Turk as well, and thrusting the point of his
+      sword into the ground, fell upon his knees beside it, and embraced and
+      kissed the cross, (5) saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lord, receive into Thy hands the soul of one who has not spared his life
+      to exalt Thy name.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     5  As is well known, before swords were made with shell and
+     stool hilts, the two guards combined with the handle and
+     blade formed a cross. Bayard, when dying, raised his sword
+     to gaze upon this cross, and numerous instances, similar to
+     that mentioned above by Queen Margaret, may be found in the
+     old <i>Chansons de Geste</i>.&mdash;M.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman called John, seeing that his master&rsquo;s life was ebbing away
+      as he uttered these words, thought to aid him, and took him into his arms,
+      together with the sword which he was holding. But a Turk who was behind
+      them cut through both his thighs, whereupon he cried out, &ldquo;Come, Captain,
+      let us away to Paradise to see Him for whose sake we die,&rdquo; and in this
+      wise he shared the poor Captain&rsquo;s death even as he had shared his life.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Turk, seeing that he could be of no service to either of them, and
+      being himself wounded by arrows in fifteen places, made off towards the
+      ships, and requested to be taken on board. But although of all the eighty
+      he was the only one who had escaped, the Captain&rsquo;s traitorous comrade
+      refused his prayer. Nevertheless, being an exceeding good swimmer, he
+      threw himself into the sea, and exerted himself so well that he was at
+      last received on board a small vessel, where in a short time he was cured
+      of his wounds. And it was by means of this poor foreigner that the truth
+      became fully known, to the honour of the Captain and the shame of his
+      comrade, whom the King and all the honourable people who heard the tidings
+      deemed guilty of such wickedness toward God and man that there was no
+      death howsoever cruel which he did not deserve. But when he returned he
+      told so many lies, and gave so many gifts, that not only did he escape
+      punishment, but even received the office of the man whose unworthy servant
+      he had been.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When the pitiful tidings reached the Court, the Lady-Regent, who held the
+      Captain in high esteem, mourned for him exceedingly, as did the King and
+      all the honourable people who had known him. And when the lady whom he had
+      loved the best heard of his strange, sad, and Christian death, she changed
+      the chiding she had resolved to give him into tears and lamentations, in
+      which her husband kept her company, all hopes of their journey to
+      Jerusalem being now frustrated.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I must not forget to say that on the very day when the two gentlemen were
+      killed, a damsel in the lady&rsquo;s service, who loved the gentleman called
+      John better than herself, came and told her mistress that she had seen her
+      lover ir a dream; he had appeared to her clad in white, and had bidden her
+      farewell, telling her that he was going to Paradise with his Captain. And
+      when the damsel heard that her dream had come true, she made such
+      lamentation that her mistress had enough to do to comfort her. (6)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     6  The Queen of Navarre was a firm believer in the truth and
+     premonitory character of dreams, and according to her
+     biographers she, herself, had several singular ones, two of
+     which are referred to in the Memoir prefixed to the present
+     work (vol. i. pp. lxxxiii. and Ixxxvii.). In some of her
+     letters, moreover, she relates that Francis I., when under
+     the walls of Pavia, on three successive nights beheld his
+     little daughter Charlotte (then dying at Lyons) appear to
+     him in a dream, and on each occasion repeat the words,
+     &ldquo;Farewell, my King, I am going to Paradise.&rdquo;&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      A short time afterwards the Court journeyed into Normandy, to which
+      province the Captain had belonged. His wife was not remiss in coming to
+      pay homage to the Lady-Regent, and in order that she might be presented to
+      her, she had recourse to the same lady whom her husband had so dearly
+      loved.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And while they were waiting in a church for the appointed hour, she began
+      bewailing and praising her husband, saying among other things to the lady&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Alas, madam! my misfortune is the greatest that ever befell a woman, for
+      just when he was loving me more than he had ever done, God took him from
+      me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So saying, and with many tears, she showed the ring which she wore on her
+      finger as a token of her husband&rsquo;s perfect love, whereat the other lady,
+      finding that her deception had resulted in such a happy issue, was,
+      despite her sorrow for the Captain&rsquo;s death, so moved to laughter, that she
+      would not present the widow to the Regent, but committed her to the charge
+      of another lady, and withdrew into a side chapel, where she satisfied her
+      inclination to laugh.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think, ladies, that those who receive such gifts ought to seek to use
+      them to as good a purpose as did this worthy lady. They would find that
+      benefactions bring joy to those who bestow them. And we must not charge
+      this lady with deceit, but esteem her good sense which turned to good that
+      which in itself was worthless.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you mean to say,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;that a fine diamond, costing two
+      hundred crowns, is worthless? I can assure you that if it had fallen into
+      my hands, neither his wife nor his relations would have seen aught of it.
+      Nothing is more wholly one&rsquo;s own than a gift. The gentleman was dead, no
+      one knew anything about the matter, and she might well have spared the
+      poor old woman so much sorrow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By my word,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;you are right. There are women who, to make
+      themselves appear of better heart than others, do things that are clearly
+      contrary to their notions, for we all know that women are the most
+      avaricious of beings, yet their vanity often surpasses their avarice, and
+      constrains their hearts to actions that they would rather not perform. My
+      belief is that the lady who gave the diamond away in this fashion was
+      unworthy to wear it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Softly, softly,&rdquo; said Oisille; &ldquo;I believe I know who she is, and I
+      therefore beg that you will not condemn her unheard.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Madam,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;I do not condemn her at all; but if the gentleman
+      was as virtuous as you say, it were an honour to have such a lover, and to
+      wear his ring; but perhaps some one less worthy of being loved than he
+      held her so fast by the finger that the ring could not be put on.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;she might well have kept it, seeing that no one
+      knew anything about it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What!&rdquo; said Geburon; &ldquo;are all things lawful to those who love, provided
+      no one knows anything about them?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By my word,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;the only misdeed that I have ever seen
+      punished is foolishness. There is never a murderer, robber, or adulterer
+      condemned by the courts or blamed by his fellows, if only he be as cunning
+      as he is wicked. Oft-time, however, a bad man&rsquo;s wickedness so blinds him
+      that he becomes a fool; and thus, as I have just said, it is the foolish
+      only that are punished, not the vicious.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may say what you please,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;only God can judge the
+      lady&rsquo;s heart; but for my part, I think that her action was a very
+      honourable and virtuous one. (7) However, to put an end to the debate, I
+      pray you, Parlamente, to give some one your vote.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     7  In our opinion this sentence disposes of Miss Mary
+     Robinson&rsquo;s supposition (<i>The Fortunate Lovers</i>, London,
+     1887, p. 159) that Oisille (i.e., Louise of Savoy) is the
+     real heroine of this tale. Queen Margaret would hardly have
+     represented her commending her own action. If any one of the
+     narrators of the <i>Heptameron</i> be the heroine of the story,
+     the presumptions are in favour of Longarine (La Dame de
+     Lonray), Margaret&rsquo;s bosom friend, whose silence during the
+     after-converse is significant.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I give it willingly,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;to Simontault, for after two such
+      mournful tales we must have one that will not make us weep.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I thank you,&rdquo; said Simontault. &ldquo;In giving me your vote you have all but
+      told me that I am a jester. It is a name that is extremely distasteful to
+      me, and in revenge I will show you that there are women who with certain
+      persons, or for a certain time, make a great pretence of being chaste, but
+      the end shows them in their real colours, as you will see by this true
+      story.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0022" id="linkimage-0022">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/140.jpg" width="100%" alt="140.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0023" id="linkimage-0023">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/141a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="141a.jpg Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0024" id="linkimage-0024">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/141.jpg" width="100%" alt="141.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XIV</i>.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>The Lord of Bonnivet, desiring to revenge himself upon a
+     Milanese lady for her cruelty, made the acquaintance of an
+     Italian gentleman whom she loved, but to whom she had never
+     granted anything save fair words and assurances of
+     affection. To accomplish his purpose he gave this gentleman
+     such good advice that the lady granted him what he had so
+     long sought, and this the gentleman made known to Bonnivet,
+     who, having cut both hair and beard, and dressed himself in
+     clothes like those of the other, went at midnight and put
+     his vengeance into execution. Then the lady, having learnt
+     from him the plan that he had devised to win her, promised
+     to desist from loving those of her own nation, and to hold
+     fast to him</i>.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      At the time when the Grand-Master of Chaumont was Governor of the Duchy of
+      Milan, (1) there lived there a gentleman called the Lord of Bonnivet, who
+      by reason of his merits was afterwards made Admiral of France. Being
+      greatly liked by the Grand-Master and every one else on account of the
+      qualities he possessed, he was a welcome guest at the banquets where the
+      ladies of Milan assembled, and was regarded by them with more favour than
+      ever fell to a Frenchman&rsquo;s lot, either before or since; and this as much
+      on account of his handsome countenance, grace of manner, and pleasant
+      converse, as by reason of the renown which he had gained among all as
+      being one of the most skilful and valorous soldiers of his time. (2)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1   M. de Lincy is of opinion that the incidents recorded in
+     this story took place between 1501 and 1503; but according
+     to M. Lacroix, the Grand-Master of Chaumont did not become
+     Governor of the Milanese till 1506. This personage, to whom
+     Queen Margaret frequently alludes in her tales, was Charles
+     d&rsquo;Amboise, nephew of the famous Cardinal d&rsquo;Amboise, minister
+     to Louis XII. In turn admiral and marshal, Governor of
+     Paris, and Grand-Master, in France, of the Order of St. John
+     of Jerusalem, he figured prominently in the Italian wars of
+     the time, and notably at the battle of Aignadel. In 1510 he
+     commanded the troops which fought on behalf of the Duke of
+     Ferrara against the Emperor and Pope Julius II., and the
+     latter having excommunicated him for bearing arms against
+     the Holy See, his mind is said to have become unhinged. He
+     died at Correggio in February 1511, when only thirty-eight
+     years of age, some biographers asserting that he was
+     poisoned, whilst others contend that he fell from a bridge
+     during a military expedition. Whilst on his death-bed, he
+     sent messengers to the Pope, begging that the decree of
+     excommunication against him might be annulled, but before
+     the Papal absolution arrived he had expired. The name of
+     Chaumont, by which he is generally known, is that of an
+     estate he possessed, between Blois and Amboise, on the
+     Loire. The reputation he enjoyed of being one of the
+     handsomest men of his time was well deserved, if one may
+     judge by a painting at the Louvre which is said to be his
+     portrait. This picture, long ascribed to Leonardo da Vinci,
+     and supposed to represent Charles VIII. of France, has been
+     identified as the work of Andreas Solario, who executed
+     numerous paintings for Cardinal d&rsquo;Amboise at the famous
+     château of Gaillon.&mdash;L. M. and Eu.
+
+     2  Some particulars concerning William Gouffier, Lord of
+     Bonnivet, have been given in vol. i. (Tale IV. n. 3). It
+     may here be mentioned that the domain whence he derived the
+     name by which he is generally known was in the neighbourhood
+     of Poitiers, around the village of Vendeuvre, where he built
+     himself a vast château, destroyed at the close of the
+     eighteenth century. Some fragments of the sculptured work
+     adorning it, remarkable for their elegance of design and
+     delicacy of workmanship, are in the Poitiers Museum. It is
+     not unlikely that the incidents related in Tale IV. occurred
+     at this château; or else at that of Oiron, another domain of
+     the Gouffiers, between Loudun and Bressuire. In the chapel
+     of Oiron were buried Bonnivet, his mother, his brother
+     Artus, and his nephew Claud. Their tombs, large marble
+     mausoleums of Italian workmanship, surmounted by recumbent
+     statues, were opened and mutilated by the Huguenots in 1568,
+     when the bones they contained were scattered to the winds.
+     Bon-nivet&rsquo;s statue is probably the most damaged of the four.
+     The château of Oiron, with its marble staircases, quaint
+     frescoes, sculptured medallions, &amp;c, testifies to the great
+     wealth possessed by the Gouffier family, and justifies the
+     cynical motto assumed by Bonnivet&rsquo;s nephew: &ldquo;Others have
+     beaten the bushes, but we have the birds.&rdquo;&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      One day during the carnival, when he was among the maskers, he danced with
+      one of the most beautiful and bravely attired ladies to be found in the
+      whole city; and whenever a pause occurred in the music of the hautboys, he
+      did not fail to address her with love speeches, in which he excelled all
+      others. But she (3) having no favourable reply to give him, suddenly
+      checked his discourse by assuring him that she neither loved nor ever
+      would love any man but her husband, and that he must by no means expect
+      that she would listen to him.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  This lady may perhaps be the &ldquo;Sennora Clerice&rdquo; (Clarissa)
+     of whom Brantôme writes as follows in his <i>Capitaines
+     François</i>:&mdash;&ldquo;It was Bonnivet alone who advised King Francis
+     to cross the mountains and follow M. de Bourbon, and in this
+     he had less his master&rsquo;s advantage and service at heart than
+     his desire to return and see a great and most beautiful lady
+     of Milan, whom he had made his mistress some years
+     previously.... It is said that this was the &lsquo;Sennora
+     Clerice,&rsquo; then accounted one of the most beautiful ladies of
+     Italy.... A great lady of the time, from whom I heard this
+     story, told me that he, Bonnivet, had commended this lady
+     Clerice to the King so highly as to make him desirous of
+     seeing and winning her; and this was the principal cause of
+     this expedition of the King&rsquo;s.&rdquo;&mdash;Lalanne&rsquo;s <i>OEuvres de
+     Brantôme</i>, vol. ii. p. 167-8.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman, however, would not take this answer for a refusal, and
+      continued to press his suit with great energy until mid-Lent. But he found
+      her still firm in her declaration that she would love neither himself nor
+      another, which he could not believe, however, seeing how ill-favoured was
+      her husband, and how great her own beauty. Convinced that she was
+      practising dissimulation, he resolved, on his own side, to have recourse
+      to deception, and accordingly he ceased to urge his suit, and inquired so
+      closely concerning her manner of life that he discovered she was in love
+      with a most discreet and honourable Italian gentleman.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Little by little the Lord of Bonnivet insinuated himself into the
+      friendship of this gentleman, and did so with so much discretion and
+      skill, that the other remained ignorant of his motive, and became so much
+      attached to him that, after the lady of his heart, there was no one in the
+      world whom he loved more. In order that he might pluck his secret from his
+      breast, the Lord of Bonnivet pretended to tell him his own, declaring that
+      he loved a certain lady to whom he had in truth never given a thought, and
+      begging that he would keep the matter secret, and that they might have but
+      one heart and one mind together. Wishing to show in return a like
+      affection, the poor Italian gentleman thereupon proceeded to disclose at
+      length the love that he bore the lady on whom Bonnivet wished to be
+      revenged; and after this they would meet somewhere once every day in order
+      to recount the favours that had befallen them during the past four and
+      twenty hours; with this difference, however, that one lied, and the other
+      spoke the truth. And the Italian confessed that he had loved this lady for
+      three years, but had never obtained anything of her save fair words and
+      the assurance of her love.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bonnivet then gave him all the advice that he could to enable him to
+      attain his end, and to such good purpose that in a few days the lady
+      consented to grant all that was sought of her. It only remained to devise
+      a plan for their meeting, and through the counsels of Bonnivet this was
+      soon accomplished. And so one day before supper the Italian said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am more beholden to you, sir, than to any other man living, for, thanks
+      to your good advice, I expect to obtain to-night that which I have coveted
+      so many years.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you, my friend,&rdquo; thereupon said Bonnivet, &ldquo;tell me the manner of
+      your undertaking, so that if there be any risk in it, or craft required, I
+      may serve you in all friendship.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Italian gentleman then began to tell him that the lady had devised a
+      means of having the principal door of the house left open that night,
+      availing herself as a pretext of the illness of one of her brothers for
+      whose requirements it was necessary to send into the town at all hours. He
+      might enter the courtyard, but he was to be careful not to go up by the
+      principal staircase. Instead of this he was to take a small flight on his
+      right hand, and enter the first gallery he came to, into which the rooms
+      of the lady&rsquo;s father-in-law and brothers-in-law opened; and he was to
+      choose the third door from the head of the stairs, and if on trying it
+      gently he found that it was locked, he was to go away again, for in that
+      case he might be sure that her husband had returned, though not expected
+      back for two days. If, however, he found that the door was open, he was to
+      enter softly, and boldly bolt it behind him, for in that case there would
+      be none but herself in the room. And above all, he was to get himself felt
+      shoes, in order that he might make no noise, and he was to be careful not
+      to come earlier than two hours after midnight, for her brothers-in-law,
+      who were fond of play, never went to bed until after one of the clock.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Go, my friend,&rdquo; replied Bonnivet, &ldquo;and may God be with you and preserve
+      you from mischief. If my company can be of any service to you, I am wholly
+      at your disposal.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Italian gentleman thanked him warmly, but said that in an affair of
+      this nature he could not be too much alone; and thereupon he went away to
+      set about his preparations.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bonnivet, on his part, did not go to sleep, for he saw that the time had
+      come for revenging himself upon his cruel love. Going home betimes, he had
+      his beard trimmed to the same length and breadth as the Italian&rsquo;s, and
+      also had his hair cut, so that, on touching him, no difference between
+      himself and his rival might be perceived. Nor did he forget the felt
+      shoes, nor garments such as the Italian was wont to wear. Being greatly
+      liked by the lady&rsquo;s father-in-law, he was not afraid to go to the house at
+      an early hour, for he made up his mind that if he were perceived, he would
+      go straight to the chamber of the old gentleman, with whom he had some
+      business on hand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      About midnight he entered the lady&rsquo;s house, and although there were a good
+      many persons going to and fro, he passed them unnoticed and thus reached
+      the gallery. Trying the first two doors, he found them shut; the third,
+      however, was not, and he softly pushed it open. And having thus entered
+      the lady&rsquo;s room, he immediately bolted the door behind him. He found that
+      the whole chamber was hung with white linen, the floor and ceiling also
+      being covered with the same; and there was a bed draped with cloth so fine
+      and soft and so handsomely embroidered in white, that nothing better were
+      possible. And in the bed lay the lady alone, wearing her cap and
+      night-gown, and covered with pearls and gems. This, before he was himself
+      perceived by her, he was able to see by peeping round the curtain; for
+      there was a large wax candle burning, which made the room as bright as
+      day. And fearful lest he should be recognised by her, he first of all put
+      out the light. Then he undressed himself and got into bed beside her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady, taking him to be the Italian who had so long loved her, gave him
+      the best possible reception; but he, not forgetting that he was there in
+      another&rsquo;s stead, was careful not to say a single word. His only thought
+      was to execute his vengeance at the cost of her honour and chastity
+      without being beholden to her for any boon. And although this was contrary
+      to her intention, the lady was so well pleased with this vengeance that
+      she deemed him rewarded for all she thought he had endured. At last it
+      struck one of the clock, and it was time to say good-bye. Then, in the
+      lowest tones he could employ, he asked her if she were as well pleased
+      with him as he was with her. She, believing him to be her lover, said that
+      she was not merely pleased but amazed at the greatness of his love, which
+      had kept him an hour without answering her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then he began to laugh aloud, and said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now, madam, will you refuse me another time, as you have hitherto been
+      wont to do?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady, recognising him by his speech and laughter, was in such despair
+      with grief and shame, that she called him villain, traitor, and deceiver a
+      thousand times over, and tried to throw herself out of bed to search for a
+      knife in order to kill herself, since she was so unfortunate as to have
+      lost her honour through a man whom she did not love, and who to be
+      revenged on her might publish the matter to the whole world.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But he held her fast in his arms, and in fair soft words declared that he
+      would <i>love</i> her more than her lover, and would so carefully conceal
+      all that affected her honour that she should never be brought to reproach.
+      This the poor foolish thing believed, and on hearing from him the plan
+      that he had devised and the pains that he had taken to win her, she swore
+      to him that she would love him better than the other, who had not been
+      able to keep her secret. She now knew, said she, how false was the repute
+      in which the French were held; they were more sensible, persevering, and
+      discreet than the Italians; wherefore she would henceforward lay aside the
+      erroneous opinions of her nation and hold fast to him. But she earnestly
+      entreated him not to show himself for some time at any entertainment or in
+      any place where she might be unless he were masked; for she was sure she
+      should feel so much ashamed that her countenance would betray her to every
+      one.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This he promised to do, and he then begged that she would give her lover a
+      good welcome when he came at two o&rsquo;clock, getting rid of him afterwards by
+      degrees. This she was very loth to do, and but for the love she bore to
+      Bonnivet would on no account have consented. However, when bidding her
+      farewell, he gave her so much cause for satisfaction that she would fain
+      have had him stay with her some time longer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having risen and donned his garments again, he departed, leaving the door
+      of the room slightly open, as he had found it. And as it was now nearly
+      two o&rsquo;clock, and he was afraid of meeting the Italian gentleman, he
+      withdrew to the top of the staircase, whence he not long afterwards saw
+      the other pass by and enter the lady&rsquo;s room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      For his own part, he then betook himself home to rest, in such wise that
+      at nine of the clock on the following morning he was still in bed. While
+      he was rising, there arrived the Italian gentleman, who did not fail to
+      recount his fortune, which had not been so great as he had hoped; for on
+      entering the lady&rsquo;s chamber, said he, he had found her out of bed, wearing
+      her dressing-gown, and in a high fever, with her pulse beating quick and
+      her countenance aflame, and a perspiration beginning to break out upon
+      her. She had therefore begged him to go away forthwith, for fearing a
+      mishap, she had not ventured to summon her women, and was in consequence
+      so ill that she had more need to think of death than of love, and to be
+      told of God than of Cupid. She was distressed, she added, that he should
+      have run such risk for her sake, since she was wholly unable to grant what
+      he sought in a world she was so soon to leave. He had felt so astonished
+      and unhappy on hearing this that all his fire and joy had been changed to
+      ice and sadness, and he had immediately gone away. However, he had sent at
+      daybreak to inquire about her, and had heard that she was indeed very ill.
+      While recounting his griefs he wept so piteously that it seemed as though
+      his soul must melt away in his tears.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bonnivet, who was as much inclined to laugh as the other was to weep,
+      comforted him as well as he could, telling him that affections of long
+      duration always had a difficult beginning, and that Love was causing him
+      this delay only that he might afterwards have the greater joy. And so the
+      two gentlemen parted. The lady remained in bed for some days, and on
+      regaining her health dismissed her first suitor, alleging as her reason
+      the fear of death that had beset her and the prickings of her conscience.
+      But she held fast to my lord Bonnivet, whose love, as is usual, lasted no
+      longer than the field flowers bloom.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think, ladies, that the gentleman&rsquo;s craftiness was a match for the
+      hypocrisy of the lady, who, after playing the prude so long, showed
+      herself such a wanton in the end.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may say what you please about women,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;but the
+      gentleman played an evil trick. Is it allowable that if a lady loves one
+      man, another may obtain her by craft?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may be sure,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;that when such mares are for sale they
+      are of necessity carried off by the last and highest bidder. Do not
+      imagine that wooers take such great pains for the ladies&rsquo; sakes. It is for
+      their own sakes and their own pleasure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By my word,&rdquo; said Longarine, &ldquo;I believe you; for, truth to tell, all the
+      lovers that I have ever had have always begun their speeches by talking
+      about me, declaring that they cherished my life, welfare, and honour; but
+      in the end they only thought of themselves, caring for nought but their
+      own pleasure and vanity. The best plan, therefore, is to dismiss them as
+      soon as the first portion of their discourse is ended; for when they come
+      to the second, there is not so much credit in refusing them, seeing that
+      vice when recognised must needs be rejected.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So as soon as a man opens his mouth,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;we ought to refuse
+      him, without knowing what he is going to say?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; replied Parlamente, &ldquo;my friend does not mean that. We know that at
+      first a woman should never appear to understand what the man desires, or
+      even to believe him when he has declared what it is; but when he comes to
+      strong protestations, I think it were better for ladies to leave him on
+      the road rather than continue to the end of the journey with him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That may be,&rdquo; said Nomerfide; &ldquo;but are we to believe that they love us
+      for evil? Is it not a sin to judge our neighbours?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may believe what you please,&rdquo; said Oisille; &ldquo;but there is so much
+      cause for fearing it to be true, that as soon as you perceive the faintest
+      spark, you should flee from this fire, lest it should burn up your heart
+      before you even know it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Truly,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;the laws you lay down are over harsh. If women,
+      whom gentleness beseems so well, were minded to prove as rigorous as you
+      would have them be, we men, on our part, would exchange our gentle
+      entreaties for craft and force.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In my opinion,&rdquo; said Simontault, &ldquo;the best advice is that each should
+      follow his natural bent. Whether he love or not, let him do so without
+      dissimulation.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Would to God,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;that such a rule would bring as much
+      honour as it would give pleasure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Dagoucin, however, could not refrain from saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Those who would rather die than make their desire known could not comply
+      with your law.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Die!&rdquo; thereupon said Hircan; &ldquo;the good knight has yet to be born that
+      would die for the publishing of such a matter. But let us cease talking of
+      what is impossible, and see to whom Simontault will give his vote.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I give it,&rdquo; said Simontault, &ldquo;to Longarine, for I observed her just now
+      talking to herself. I imagine that she was recalling some excellent
+      matter, and she is not wont to conceal the truth, whether it be against
+      man or woman.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you deem me so truthful,&rdquo; replied Longarine, &ldquo;I will tell you a
+      tale which, though it be not so much to the praise of women as I could
+      wish it to be, will yet show you that there are some possessed of as much
+      spirit, wit, and craft as men. If my tale be somewhat long, you will bear
+      with it in patience.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0025" id="linkimage-0025">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/155.jpg" width="100%" alt="155.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0026" id="linkimage-0026">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/157a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="157a.jpg the Lady Taking Oath As to Her Conduct " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Lady taking Oath as to her Conduct]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0027" id="linkimage-0027">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/157.jpg" width="100%" alt="157.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XV</i>.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>Through the favour of King Francis, a simple gentleman of
+     the Court married a very rich woman, of whom, however, as
+     much by reason of her extreme youth as of the bestowal of
+     his own heart elsewhere, he made but little account;
+     whereat, after trying every plan to please him, she was so
+     moved with resentment and overcome by despair, that she
+     resolved to console herself with another for the indignities
+     which she endured from her husband.</i> (1)
+
+     1  The incidents referred to in this story must have
+     occurred between 1515 and 1543, during the reign of Francis
+     I.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      At the Court of King Francis the First there was a gentleman whose name I
+      know right well, but will not mention. He was poor, having less than five
+      hundred livres a year, but he was so well liked by the King for his many
+      qualities that he at last married a lady of such wealth that a great lord
+      would have been pleased to take her. As she was still very young, he
+      begged one of the greatest ladies of the Court to receive her into her
+      household, and this the lady very willingly did.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now this gentleman was so courteous, so handsome, and so full of grace
+      that he was held in great regard by all the ladies of the Court, and among
+      the rest by one whom the King loved, and who was neither so young nor so
+      handsome as his own wife. And by reason of the great love that the
+      gentleman bore this lady, he made such little account of his wife, that he
+      slept scarcely one night in the year with her, and, what she found still
+      harder to endure, he never spoke to her or showed her any sign of love.
+      And although he enjoyed her fortune, he allowed her so small a share in
+      it, that she was not dressed as was fitting for one of her station, or as
+      she herself desired. The lady with whom she abode would often reproach the
+      gentleman for this, saying to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your wife is handsome, rich, and of a good family, yet you make no more
+      account of her than if she were the opposite. In her extreme youth and
+      childishness she has hitherto submitted to your neglect; but I fear me
+      that when she finds herself grown-up and handsome, her mirror and some one
+      that loves you not will so set before her eyes that beauty by which you
+      set so little store, that resentment will lead her to do what she durst
+      not think of had you treated her well.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman, however, having bestowed his heart elsewhere, made light of
+      what the lady said, and notwithstanding her admonitions, continued to lead
+      the same life as before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But when two or three years had gone by, his wife became one of the most
+      beautiful women ever seen in France, so that she was reputed to have no
+      equal at the Court. And the more she felt herself worthy of being loved,
+      the more distressed she was to find that her husband paid no attention to
+      her; and so great became her affliction that, but for the consolations of
+      her mistress, she had well-nigh been in despair. After trying every
+      possible means to please her husband, she reflected that his inclinations
+      must needs be directed elsewhere, for otherwise he could not but respond
+      to the deep love that she bore him. Thereupon she made such skilful
+      inquiries that she discovered the truth, namely, that he was every night
+      so fully occupied in another quarter that he could give no thought to his
+      wife or to his conscience.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having thus obtained certain knowledge of the manner of life he led, she
+      fell into such deep melancholy, that she would not dress herself otherwise
+      than in black or attend any place of entertainment. Her mistress, who
+      perceived this, did all that in her lay to draw her from such a mood, but
+      could not. And although her husband was made acquainted with her state, he
+      showed himself more inclined to make light of it than to relieve it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      You are aware, ladies, that just as extreme joy will give occasion to
+      tears, so extreme grief finds an outlet in some joy. In this wise it
+      happened that a great lord who was near akin to the lady&rsquo;s mistress, and
+      who often visited her, hearing one day of the strange fashion in which she
+      was treated by her husband, pitied her so deeply that he desired to try to
+      console her; and on speaking to her, found her so handsome, so sensible,
+      and so virtuous, that he became far more desirous of winning her favour
+      than of talking to her about her husband, unless it were to show her what
+      little cause she had to love him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady, finding that, though forsaken by the man who ought to have loved
+      her, she was on the other hand loved and sought after by so handsome a
+      Prince, deemed herself very fortunate in having thus won his favour. And
+      although she still desired to preserve her honour, she took great pleasure
+      in talking to him and in reflecting that she was loved and prized, for
+      these were two things for which, so to speak, she hungered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This friendship continued for some time, until it came to the knowledge of
+      the King, who had so much regard for the lady&rsquo;s husband that he was
+      unwilling he should be put to any shame or vexation. He therefore
+      earnestly begged the Prince to forego his inclinations, threatening him
+      with his displeasure should he continue to press his suit.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Prince, who set the favour of the King above all the ladies in the
+      world, promised for his sake to lay aside the enterprise, and to go that
+      very evening and bid the lady farewell. This he did as soon as he knew
+      that she had retired to her own apartments, over which was the room of the
+      gentleman, her husband. And the husband being that evening at his window,
+      saw the Prince going into his wife&rsquo;s room beneath. The Prince saw him
+      also, but went in for all that, and in bidding farewell to her whose love
+      was but beginning, pleaded as his sole reason the King&rsquo;s command.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After many tears and lamentations and regrets, which lasted until an hour
+      after midnight, the lady finally said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I praise God, my lord, that it pleases Him you should lose your love for
+      me, since it is so slight and weak that you are able to take it up and lay
+      it down at the command of man. For my own part, I have never asked
+      mistress or husband or even myself for permission to love you; Love, aided
+      by your good looks and courtesy, gained such dominion over me that I could
+      recognise no God or King save him. But since your heart is not so full of
+      true love that fear may not find room in it, you can be no perfect lover,
+      and I will love none that is imperfect so perfectly as I had resolved to
+      love you. Farewell, then, my lord, seeing that you are too timorous to
+      deserve a love as frank as mine.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The Prince went away in tears, and looking back he again noticed the
+      husband, who was still at the window, and had thus seen him go in and come
+      out again. Accordingly he told him on the morrow why he had gone to see
+      his wife, and of the command that the King had laid upon him, whereat the
+      gentleman was well pleased, and gave thanks to the King.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      However, finding that his wife was becoming more beautiful every day,
+      whilst he himself was growing old and less handsome than before, he began
+      to change his tactics, and to play the part which he had for a long time
+      imposed upon his wife, bestowing some attention upon her and seeking her
+      more frequently than had been his wont. But the more she was sought by him
+      the more was he shunned by her; for she desired to pay him back some part
+      of the grief that he had caused her by his indifference.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Moreover, being unwilling to forego so soon the pleasure that love was
+      beginning to afford her, she addressed herself to a young gentleman, who
+      was so very handsome, well-spoken, and graceful that he was loved by all
+      the ladies of the Court. And by complaining to him of the manner in which
+      she had been treated, she lured him to take pity upon her, so that he left
+      nothing untried in his attempts to comfort her. She, on her part, to
+      console herself for the loss of the Prince who had forsaken her, set
+      herself to love this gentleman so heartily that she came to forget her
+      former grief, and to think of nothing but the skilful conduct of her new
+      amour, in which she succeeded so well that her mistress perceived nought
+      of it, for she was careful not to speak to her lover in her mistress&rsquo;s
+      presence. When she wished to talk with him she would betake herself to the
+      rooms of some ladies who lived at the Court, amongst whom was one that her
+      husband made a show of being in love with.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now one dark evening she stole away after supper, without taking any
+      companion with her, and repaired to the apartment belonging to these
+      ladies, where she found the man whom she loved better than herself. She
+      sat down beside him, and leaning upon a table they conversed together
+      while pretending to read in the same book. Some one whom her husband had
+      set to watch then went and reported to him whither his wife was gone.
+      Being a prudent man, he said nothing, but as quickly as possible betook
+      himself to the room, where he found his wife reading the book. Pretending,
+      however, not to see her, he went straight to speak to the other ladies,
+      who were in another part of the room. But when his poor wife found herself
+      discovered by him in the company of a gentleman to whom she had never
+      spoken in his presence, she was in such confusion that she quite lost her
+      wits; and being unable to pass along the bench, she leaped upon the table
+      and fled as though her husband were pursuing her with a drawn sword. And
+      then she went in search of her mistress, who was just about to withdraw to
+      her own apartments.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When her mistress was undressed, and she herself had retired, one of her
+      women brought her word that her husband was inquiring for her. She
+      answered plainly that she would not go, for he was so harsh and strange
+      that she dreaded lest he should do her some harm.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At last, however, for fear of worse, she consented to go. Her husband said
+      not a word to her until they were in bed together, when being unable to
+      dissemble so well as he, she began to weep. And when he asked her the
+      cause of this, she told him that she was afraid lest he should be angry at
+      having found her reading in company with a gentleman.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He then replied that he had never forbidden her to speak to a man, and did
+      not take it ill that she had done so; but he did indeed take it ill that
+      she had run from him as though she had done something deserving of
+      censure, and her flight and nothing else had led him to think that she was
+      in love with the gentleman. He therefore commanded her never to speak to
+      him again in public or in private, and assured her that the first time she
+      did so he would slay her without mercy or compassion. She very readily
+      promised to obey, and made up her mind not to be so foolish another time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But things are desired all the more for being forbidden, and it was not
+      long before the poor woman had forgotten her husband&rsquo;s threats and her own
+      promises. That very same evening she sent to the gentleman, begging him to
+      visit her at night. But the husband, who was so tormented by jealousy that
+      he could not sleep, and who had heard say that the gentleman visited his
+      wife at night, wrapped himself in a cloak, and taking a valet with him,
+      went to his wife&rsquo;s apartment and knocked at the door. She, not in the
+      least expecting him, got up alone, put on furred slippers and a
+      dressing-gown which were lying close at hand, and finding that the three
+      or four women whom she had with her were asleep, went forth from her room
+      and straight to the door at which she had heard the knocking. On her
+      asking, &ldquo;Who is there?&rdquo; she received in answer the name of her lover; but
+      to be still more certain, she opened a little wicket, saying&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you be the man you say you are, show me your hand, and I shall
+      recognise it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And when she touched her husband&rsquo;s hand she knew who it was, and quickly
+      shutting the wicket, cried out&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ha, sir! it is your hand.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The husband replied in great wrath&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes; it is the hand that will keep faith with you. Do not fail,
+      therefore, to come when I send for you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words he went away to his own apartment, whilst she, more dead
+      than alive, went back into her room, and cried out aloud to her
+      servant-women, &ldquo;Get up, my friends; you have slept only too well for me,
+      for thinking to trick you, I have myself been tricked.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words she swooned away in the middle of the room. The women
+      rose at her cry, and were so astonished at seeing their mistress stretched
+      upon the floor, as well as at hearing the words, she had uttered, that
+      they were at their wits&rsquo; end, and sought in haste for remedies to restore
+      her. When she was able to speak, she said to them&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You see before you, my friends, the most unhappy creature in the world.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And thereupon she went on to tell them the whole adventure, and begged of
+      them to help her, for she counted her life as good as lost.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      While they were seeking to comfort her, a valet came with orders that she
+      was to repair to her husband instantly. Thereupon, clinging to two of her
+      women, she began to weep and wail, begging them not to suffer her to go,
+      for she was sure she would be killed. But the valet assured her to the
+      contrary, offering to pledge his life that she should receive no hurt.
+      Seeing that she lacked all means of resistance, she at last threw herself
+      into the servant&rsquo;s arms, and said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since it may not be otherwise, you must e&rsquo;en carry this hapless body to
+      its death.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Half fainting in her distress, she was then at once borne by the valet to
+      his master&rsquo;s apartment. When she reached it, she fell at her husband&rsquo;s
+      feet, and said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I beseech you, sir, have pity on me, and I swear to you by the faith I
+      owe to God that I will tell you the whole truth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Fore God you shall,&rdquo; he replied, like one beside himself, and forthwith
+      he drove all the servants from the room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Having always found his wife very devout, he felt sure that she would not
+      dare to forswear herself on the Holy Cross. He therefore sent for a very
+      beautiful crucifix that belonged to him, and when they were alone
+      together, he made her swear upon it that she would return true replies to
+      his questions. Already, however, she had recovered from her first dread of
+      death, and taking courage, she resolved that if she was to die she would
+      make no concealment of the truth, but at the same time would say nothing
+      that might injure the gentleman she loved. Accordingly, having heard all
+      the questions that her husband had to put to her, she replied as follows&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have no desire, sir, either to justify myself or to lessen to you the
+      love that I have borne to the gentleman you suspect; for if I did, you
+      could not and you should not believe me. Nevertheless, I desire to tell
+      you the cause of this affection. Know, then, sir, that never did wife love
+      husband more than I loved you, and that from the time I wedded you until I
+      reached my present age, no other passion ever found its way into my heart.
+      You will remember that while I was still a child, my parents wished to
+      marry me to one richer and more highly born than yourself, but they could
+      never gain my consent to this from the moment I had once spoken to you. In
+      spite of all their objections I held fast to you, and gave as little heed
+      to your poverty as to their remonstrances. You cannot but know what
+      treatment I have had at your hands hitherto, and the fashion in which you
+      have loved and honoured me; and this has caused me so much grief and
+      discontent that but for the succour of the lady with whom you placed me, I
+      should have been in despair. But at last, finding myself fully grown and
+      deemed beautiful by all but you, I began to feel the wrong you did me so
+      keenly that the love I had for you changed into hate, and the desire of
+      obeying you into one for revenge. In this despairing condition I was found
+      by a Prince who, being more anxious to obey the King than Love, forsook me
+      just as I was beginning to feel my pangs assuaged by an honourable
+      affection. When the Prince had left me, I lighted upon this present
+      gentleman; and he had no need to entreat me, for his good looks,
+      nobleness, grace, and virtue are well worthy of being sought after and
+      courted by all women of sound understanding. At my instance, not at his
+      own, he has loved me in all virtue, so that never has he sought from me
+      aught that honour might refuse. And although I have but little cause to
+      love you, and so might be absolved from being loyal and true to you, my
+      love of God and of my honour has hitherto sufficed to keep me from doing
+      aught that would call for confession or shame. I will not deny that I went
+      into a closet as often as I could to speak with him, under pretence of
+      going thither to say my prayers, for I have never trusted the conduct of
+      this matter to any one, whether man or woman. Further, I will not deny
+      that when in so secret a place and safe from all suspicion I have kissed
+      him with more goodwill than I kiss you. But as I look to God for mercy, no
+      other familiarity has passed between us; he has never urged me to it, nor
+      has my heart ever desired it; for I was so glad at seeing him that
+      methought the world contained no greater pleasure.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And now, sir, will you, who are the sole cause of my misfortune, take
+      vengeance for conduct of which you have yourself long since set me an
+      example, with, indeed, this difference, that in your case you thought
+      nought of either honour or conscience; for you know and I know too that
+      the woman you love does not rest content with what God and reason enjoin.
+      And albeit the law of man deals great dishonour to wives who love other
+      men than their husbands, the law of God does not exempt from punishment
+      the husbands who love other women than their wives. And if my offences are
+      to be weighed against yours, you are more to blame than I, for you are a
+      wise and experienced man, and of an age to know and to shun evil, whilst I
+      am young and have no experience of the might and power of love. You have a
+      wife who desires you, honours you, and loves you more than her own life;
+      while I have a husband who avoids me, hates me, and rates me as lightly as
+      he would a servant maid. You are in love with a woman who is already old,
+      of meagre figure, and less fair than I; whilst I love a gentleman younger,
+      handsomer, and more amiable than you. You love the wife of one of the best
+      friends you have in the world, the mistress, moreover, of your King and
+      master, so that you offend against the friendship that is due to the
+      first, and the respect that is due to the second; whereas I am in love
+      with a gentleman whose only tie is his love for me. Judge then fairly
+      which of us two is the more worthy of punishment or pardon: you, a man of
+      wisdom and experience, who through no provocation on my part have acted
+      thus ill not only towards me, but towards the King, to whom you are so
+      greatly indebted; or I, who am young and ignorant, who am slighted and
+      despised by you, and loved by the handsomest and most worshipful gentleman
+      in France, a gentleman whom I have loved in despair of ever being loved by
+      you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When the husband heard her utter these truths with so fair a countenance,
+      and with such a bold and graceful assurance as clearly testified that she
+      neither dreaded nor deserved any punishment, he was overcome with
+      astonishment, and could find nothing to reply except that a man&rsquo;s honour
+      and a woman&rsquo;s were not the same thing. However, since she swore to him
+      that there had been nothing between herself and her lover but what she had
+      told him, he was not minded to treat her ill, provided she would act so no
+      more, and that they both put away the memory of the past. To this she
+      agreed, and they went to bed in harmony together.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Next morning an old damosel who was in great fear for her mistress&rsquo;s life
+      came to her at her rising, and asked&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, madam, and how do you fare?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I would have you know,&rdquo; said her mistress, laughing, &ldquo;that there is not a
+      better husband than mine, for he believed me on my oath.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And so five or six days passed by.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Meanwhile the husband had such care of his wife that he caused a watch to
+      be kept on her both night and day. But for all his care he could not
+      prevent her from again speaking with her lover in a dark and suspicious
+      place. However, she contrived matters with such secrecy that no one,
+      whether man or woman, could ever learn the truth, though a rumour was
+      started by some serving-man about a gentleman and a lady whom he had found
+      in a stable underneath the rooms belonging to the mistress of the lady in
+      question. At this her husband&rsquo;s suspicions were so great that he resolved
+      to slay the gentleman, and gathered together a large number of his
+      relations and friends to kill him if he was anywhere to be found. But the
+      chief among his kinsmen was so great a friend of the gentleman whom they
+      sought, that instead of surprising him he gave him warning of all that was
+      being contrived against him, for which reason the other, being greatly
+      liked by the whole Court, was always so well attended that he had no fear
+      of his enemy&rsquo;s power, and could not be taken unawares and attacked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      However, he betook himself to a church to meet his lady&rsquo;s mistress, who
+      had heard nothing of all that had passed, for the lovers had never spoken
+      together in her presence. But the gentleman now informed her of the
+      suspicion and ill-will borne him by the lady&rsquo;s husband, and told her that
+      although he was guiltless he had nevertheless resolved to go on a long
+      journey in order to check the rumours, which were beginning greatly to
+      increase. The Princess, his lady&rsquo;s mistress, was much astonished on
+      hearing this tale, and protested that the husband was much in the wrong to
+      suspect so virtuous a wife, and one in whom she had ever found all worth
+      and honour. Nevertheless, considering the husband&rsquo;s authority, and in
+      order to quell these evil reports, she advised him to absent himself for a
+      time, assuring him that for her part she would never believe such foolish
+      suspicions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Both the gentleman and the lady, who was present, were well pleased at
+      thus preserving the favour and good opinion of the Princess, who further
+      advised the gentleman to speak with the husband before his departure. He
+      did as he was counselled, and meeting with the husband in a gallery close
+      to the King&rsquo;s apartment, he assumed a bold countenance, and said to him
+      with all the respect due to one of high rank&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All my life, sir, I have desired to do you service, and my only reward is
+      to hear that last evening you lay in wait to kill me. I pray you, sir,
+      reflect that while you have more authority and power than I have, I am
+      nevertheless a gentleman even as you are. It would be grievous to me to
+      lose my life for naught. I pray you also reflect that you have a wife of
+      great virtue, and if any man pretend the contrary I will tell him that he
+      has foully lied. For my part, I can think of nothing that I have done to
+      cause you to wish me ill. If, therefore, it please you, I will remain your
+      faithful servant; if not, I am that of the King, and with that I may well
+      be content.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The husband replied that he had in truth somewhat suspected him, but he
+      deemed him so gallant a man that he would rather have his friendship than
+      his enmity; and bidding him farewell, cap in hand, he embraced him like a
+      dear friend. You may imagine what was said by those who, the evening
+      before, had been charged to kill the gentleman, when they beheld such
+      tokens of respect and friendship. And many and diverse were the remarks
+      that each one made.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In this manner the gentleman departed, and as he had far less money than
+      good looks, his mistress delivered to him a ring that her husband had
+      given her of the value of three thousand crowns; and this he pledged for
+      fifteen hundred.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Some time after he was gone, the husband came to the Princess, his wife&rsquo;s
+      mistress, and prayed her to grant his wife leave to go and dwell for a
+      while with one of his sisters. This the Princess thought very strange, and
+      so begged him to tell her the reasons of his request, that he told her
+      part of them, but not all. When the young lady had taken leave of her
+      mistress and of the whole Court without shedding any tears or showing the
+      least sign of grief, she departed on her journey to the place whither her
+      husband desired her to go, travelling under the care of a gentleman who
+      had been charged to guard her closely, and above all not to suffer her to
+      speak on the road to her suspected lover.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She knew of these instructions, and every day was wont to cause false
+      alarms, scoffing at her custodians and their lack of care. Thus one day,
+      on leaving her lodging, she fell in with a Grey Friar on horseback, with
+      whom, being herself on her palfrey, she talked on the road the whole time
+      from the dinner to the supper hour. And when she was a quarter of a league
+      from the place where she was to lodge that night, she said to him&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Here, father, are two crowns which I give you for the consolation you
+      have afforded me this afternoon. They are wrapped in paper, for I well
+      know that you would not venture to touch them. (2) And I beg you to leave
+      the road as soon as you have parted from me, and to take care that you are
+      not seen by those who are with me. I say this for your own welfare, and
+      because I feel myself beholden to you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2  The Grey Friars belonging to a mendicant order were
+     prohibited from demanding or accepting money; it was only
+     allowable for them to receive gifts in kind, mainly edible
+     produce. It was for this reason that the lady gave the friar
+     the two crowns wrapped in paper, knowing that he ought not
+     to touch the coins.&mdash;M. See also vol. i. p. 98, note 3.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The friar, well pleased with the two crowns, set off across the fields at
+      full gallop; and when he was some distance away the lady said aloud to her
+      attendants&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may well deem yourselves good servants and diligent guards. He as to
+      whom you were to be so careful has been speaking to me the whole day, and
+      you have suffered him to do so. Your good master, who puts so much trust
+      in you, should give you the stick rather than give you wages.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When the gentleman who had charge of her heard these words he was so angry
+      that he could not reply, but calling two others to him, set spurs to his
+      horse, and rode so hard that he at last reached the friar, who on
+      perceiving his pursuers had fled as fast as he could. However, the poor
+      fellow was caught, being less well mounted than they were. He was quite
+      ignorant of what it all meant, and cried them mercy, taking off his hood
+      in order that he might entreat them with bareheaded humility. Thereupon
+      they realised that he was not the man whom they sought, and that their
+      mistress had been mocking them. And this she did with even better effect
+      upon their return to her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are fitting fellows,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;to receive ladies in your charge.
+      You suffer them to talk to any stranger, and then, believing whatever they
+      may say, you go and insult the ministers of God.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After all these jests they arrived at the place that her husband had
+      commanded, and here her two sisters-in-law, with the husband of one of
+      them, kept her in great subjection.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the meanwhile her husband had heard how his ring had been pledged for
+      fifteen hundred crowns, whereat he was exceedingly wrathful, and in order
+      to save his wife&rsquo;s honour and to get back the ring, he bade his sisters
+      tell her to redeem it, he himself paying the fifteen hundred crowns.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She cared nought for the ring since her lover had the money, but she wrote
+      to him saying that she was compelled by her husband to redeem it, and in
+      order that he might not suppose she was doing this through any lessening
+      of her affection, she sent him a diamond which her mistress had given,
+      her, and which she liked better than any ring she had.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thereupon the gentleman forwarded her the merchant&rsquo;s bond right willingly;
+      deeming himself fortunate in having fifteen hundred crowns and a diamond,
+      (3) and at being still assured of his lady&rsquo;s favour. However, as long as
+      the husband lived, he had no means of communing with her save by writing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When the husband died, expecting to find her still what she had promised
+      him to be, he came in all haste to ask her in marriage; but he found that
+      his long absence had gained him a rival who was loved better than himself.
+      His sorrow at this was so great that he henceforth shunned the
+      companionship of ladies and sought out scenes of danger, and so at last
+      died in as high repute as any young man could have. (4)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  The gentleman deemed it only natural that the woman he
+     honoured with his love should present him with money. In the
+     seventeenth century similar opinions were held, if one may
+     judge by some passages in Dancourt&rsquo;s comedies, and by the
+     presents which the Duchess of Cleveland made to Henry
+     Jerrayn and John Churchill, afterwards Duke of Marlborough,
+     as chronicled in the <i>Memoirs of the Count de Gramont</i>.&mdash;M.
+
+     4  Brantôme tells a somewhat similar tale to this in his
+     <i>Vies des Dames Galantes</i> (Dis. I.): &ldquo;I knew,&rdquo; he writes,
+     &ldquo;two ladies of the Court, sisters-in-law to one another, one
+     of whom was married to a courtier, high in favour and very
+     skilful, but who did not make as much account of his wife as
+     by reason of her birth he should have done, for he spoke to
+     her in public as he might have spoken to a savage, and
+     treated her most harshly. She patiently endured this for
+     some time, until indeed her husband lost some of his credit,
+     when, watching for and taking the opportunity, she quickly
+     repaid him for all the disdain that he had shown her. And
+     her sister-in-law imitated her and did likewise; for having
+     been married when of a young and tender age, her husband
+     made no more account of her than if she had been a little
+     girl.... But she, advancing in years, feeling her heart beat
+     and becoming conscious of her beauty, paid him back in the
+     same coin, and made him a present of a fine pair of horns,
+     by way of interest for the past&rdquo;&mdash;Lalanne&rsquo;s <i>OEuvres de
+     Brantôme</i>, vol. ix. p. 157.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In this tale, ladies, I have tried, without sparing our own sex, to show
+      husbands that wives of spirit yield rather to vengeful wrath than to the
+      sweetness of love. The lady of whom I have told you withstood the latter
+      for a great while, but in the end succumbed to despair. Nevertheless, no
+      woman of virtue should yield as she did, for, happen what may, no excuse
+      can be found for doing wrong. The greater the temptations, the more
+      virtuous should one show oneself, by resisting and overcoming evil with
+      good, instead of returning evil for evil; and this all the more because
+      the evil we think to do to another often recoils upon ourselves. Happy are
+      those women who display the heavenly virtues of chastity, gentleness,
+      meekness, and long-suffering.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It seems to me, Longarine,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;that the lady of whom you have
+      spoken was impelled by resentment rather than by love; for had she loved
+      the gentleman as greatly as she appeared to do, she would not have
+      forsaken him for another. She may therefore be called resentful,
+      vindictive, obstinate, and fickle.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is all very well for you to talk in that way,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;but
+      you do not know the heartbreak of loving without return.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is true,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;that I have had but little experience in that
+      way. If I am shown the slightest disfavour, I forthwith forego lady and
+      love together.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;is well enough for you who love only your own
+      pleasure; but a virtuous wife cannot thus forsake her husband.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yet,&rdquo; returned Simontault, &ldquo;the lady in the story forgot for a while that
+      she was a woman. No man could have taken a more signal revenge.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It does not follow,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;because one woman lacks discretion
+      that all the rest are the same.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nevertheless,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;you are all women, as any one would find
+      who looked carefully, despite all the fine clothes you may wear.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If we were to listen to you,&rdquo; said Nomerlide, &ldquo;we should spend the day in
+      disputes. For my part, I am so impatient to hear another tale, that I beg
+      Longarine to give some one her vote.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Longarine looked at Geburon and said:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you know anything about a virtuous woman, I pray you set it forth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since I am to do what I can,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;I will tell you a tale of
+      something that happened in the city of Milan.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0028" id="linkimage-0028">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/182.jpg" width="100%" alt="182.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0029" id="linkimage-0029">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/183a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="183a.jpg the Gentleman Discovering The Trick " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Gentleman discovering the Trick]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0030" id="linkimage-0030">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/183.jpg" width="100%" alt="183.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XVI</i>.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>A lady of Milan, widow of an Italian Count, had resolved never again to
+      marry or to love. But for three years she was so earnestly wooed by a
+      French gentleman, that after repeated proof of the steadfastness of his
+      love, she granted him what he had so greatly desired, and they vowed to
+      each other everlasting affection</i>. (l)
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the days of the Grand Master of Chaumont, (2) there lived a lady who
+      was reckoned one of the most honourable women that there were at that time
+      in the city of Milan. She had married an Italian Count, and being left a
+      widow, lived in the house of her brothers-in-law, refusing to hear speak
+      of another marriage. And so discreetly and piously did she demean herself
+      that there was none in the Duchy, whether French or Italian, but held her
+      in high esteem.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  According to M. de Lincy, who points out that Bonnivet
+     must be the hero of the adventure here related, the
+     incidents referred to would have occurred at Milan between
+     1501 and 1503; but in M. Lacroix&rsquo;s opinion they would be
+     posterior to 1506.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     2  See <i>ante</i>, note 1 to Tale XIV.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      One day when her brothers and sisters-in-law offered an entertainment to
+      the Grand Master of Chaumont, this widow lady was obliged to be present,
+      though she made it her rule not to attend such gatherings when held in
+      other places. And when the Frenchmen saw her, they were all admiration for
+      her beauty and grace, especially one among them whose name I shall not
+      mention; for it will suffice for you to know that there was no Frenchman
+      in Italy more worthy of love than he, for he was endowed with all the
+      beauties and graces that a gentleman could have. And though he saw that
+      the lady wore black crape, and remained with several old women in a corner
+      apart from the young ones, yet, having never known what it was to fear
+      either man or woman, he set himself to converse with her, taking off his
+      mask, and leaving the dance in order to remain in her company.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Throughout the whole of the evening he did not cease talking to her and to
+      the old women, and found more pleasure in doing so than if he had been
+      with the most youthful and bravely attired ladies of the Court. So much,
+      indeed, was this the case, that when the hour came to withdraw he seemed
+      to have not yet had time even to sit down. And although he only spoke to
+      the lady on such common matters as were suited to such company, she knew
+      very well that he desired to win her favour, and this she resolved to
+      guard against by all means in her power, so that he was never afterwards
+      able to see her at any banquet or assembly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He inquired about the manner of her life, and found that she often went to
+      churches and convents; whereupon he kept such good watch that she could
+      never visit them so secretly but he was there before her. And he would
+      remain in the church as long as he had the happiness to see her, and all
+      the time that she was present would gaze at her so affectionately that she
+      could not remain in ignorance of the love he bore her. In order to avoid
+      him, she resolved to feign illness for a time, and to hear mass in her own
+      house; and at this the gentleman was most sorely grieved, for he had no
+      other means of seeing her than at church.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thinking that she had cured him of his habit, she at last returned to the
+      churches as before, but love quickly brought tidings of this to the French
+      gentleman, who then renewed his habits of devotion. He feared, however,
+      that she might again throw some hindrance in his way, and that he might
+      not have time to tell her what he would; and so one morning, when she
+      thought herself well concealed in a chapel, he placed himself at the end
+      of the altar at which she was hearing mass; and seeing that she was but
+      scantily attended, he turned towards her just as the priest was elevating
+      the host, and in a soft and loving voice said to her&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;May I be sent to perdition, madam, by Him whom the priest has now in his
+      hands, if you are not causing my death. Though you take from me all means
+      of speaking with you, you cannot be ignorant of my desire; my wearied eyes
+      and my deathly face must make the truth apparent to you.&rdquo; (3)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  The Queen of Navarre is known to have had a considerable
+     knowledge of the Italian language, and it is therefore quite
+     possible that she was acquainted with the story of
+     Poliphilus and Polia, which, although no French translation
+     of it appeared until 1554, had been issued at Venice as
+     early as 1499. In any case, however, there is a curious
+     similarity between the speech of the French gentleman given
+     above and the discourse which Poliphilus addresses to Polia
+     when he finds her saying her prayers in the temple. A
+     considerable portion of the Italian story is in keeping with
+     the character of the <i>Heptameron</i> tales.&mdash;M.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The lady pretended not to understand him, and replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;God&rsquo;s name should not thus be taken in vain; but the poets say that the
+      gods laugh at the oaths and lies of lovers, and so women who regard their
+      honour should not show themselves credulous or compassionate.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With these words she rose up and returned home.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman&rsquo;s anger at these words may well be imagined by such as have
+      experienced the like fortune. But having no lack of spirit, he held it
+      better to have received this unfavourable reply than to have failed in
+      declaring his love, to which he held fast during three years, losing
+      neither time nor opportunity in wooing her by letters and in other ways.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      For three years, however, she vouchsafed him no reply, but shunned him as
+      the wolf shuns the hound that is to take him; and this she did through
+      fear for her honour and fair fame, and not because she hated him. He
+      perceived this so clearly that he pursued her more eagerly than ever; and
+      at last, after many refusals, troubles, tortures and despairs, the lady
+      took pity upon him for the greatness and steadfastness of his love, and so
+      granted him what he had so greatly desired and so long awaited.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When they had agreed concerning the means to be employed, the French
+      gentleman failed not to repair to her house, although in doing so he
+      placed his life in great danger, seeing that she and her relations lived
+      all together.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      However, being as skilful as he was handsome, he contrived the matter so
+      prudently that he was able to enter the lady&rsquo;s room at the hour which she
+      had appointed, and found her there all alone, lying in a beautiful bed;
+      but as he was hasting to put off his clothes in order to join her, he
+      heard a great whispering at the door, and a noise of swords scraping
+      against the wall.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then the widow said to him, with the face of one nigh to death&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now is your life and my honour in as great danger as well can be, for I
+      hear my brothers outside seeking you to slay you. I pray you, therefore,
+      hide yourself under this bed, and when they fail to find you I shall have
+      reason to be angry with them for alarming me without just cause.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman, who had never yet known fear, replied&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what, pray, are your brothers that they should frighten a man of
+      mettle? If the whole breed of them were there together, I am sure they
+      would not tarry for the fourth thrust of my sword. Do you, therefore, rest
+      quietly in bed, and leave the guarding of this door to me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then he wrapped his cloak about his arm, took his drawn sword in his hand,
+      and opened the door so that he might have a closer view of the swords that
+      he had heard. When the door was opened, he saw two serving-women, who,
+      holding a sword in each hand, had raised this alarm.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; they said to him, &ldquo;forgive us. We were commanded by our mistress to
+      act in this manner, but you shall be hindered by us no more.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Seeing that they were women, the gentleman could do no more than bid them
+      go to the devil, and shut the door in their faces. Then he got into bed to
+      the lady with all imaginable speed, his passion for her being in no wise
+      diminished by fear; and forgetting to inquire the reason of this skirmish,
+      he thought only of satisfying his desire.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But when daybreak was drawing nigh, he begged his mistress to tell him why
+      she had treated him so ill, both in making him wait so long, and in having
+      played this last trick upon him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My intention,&rdquo; she answered, laughing, &ldquo;had been never to love again, and
+      I had observed it from the time I became a widow; but, after you had
+      spoken to me at the entertainment, your worth led me to change my resolve,
+      and to love you as much as you loved me. It is true that honour, which had
+      ever guided me, would not suffer me to be led by love to do aught to the
+      disparagement of my reputation. But as the poor hind when wounded unto
+      death thinks by change of place to change the pain it carries with it, so
+      did I go from church to church thinking to flee from him whom I carried in
+      my heart, and the proof of whose perfect devotion has reconciled honour
+      and love. However, that I might be the more certain that I was giving my
+      heart and love to a true man, I desired to make this last proof by means
+      of my serving-women. And I vow to you that had I found you so timorous as
+      to hide beneath my bed, either for fear of your life or for any other
+      reason, I was resolved to rise and go into another room and never see you
+      more. But since I have found that you are possessed of more beauty, and
+      grace, and virtue, and valour than rumour had given you, and that fear has
+      no power over your heart, nor can cool one whit the love you bear me, I am
+      resolved to cleave to you for the remainder of my days. I feel sure that I
+      could not place life and honour in better hands than those of one whom I
+      deem unmatched in every virtue.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And, just as though the human will could be unchangeable, they vowed and
+      promised what was not in their power, namely, perpetual affection. For
+      this is a thing that can neither spring up nor abide in the heart of man,
+      as only those ladies know who have had experience of how long such
+      feelings last. (4)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     4  In Boaistuau&rsquo;s edition of the <i>Heptameron</i> the final part
+     of the above sentence is given as follows: &ldquo;And those women
+     that have had experience of it know this, and also how long
+     such fancies last.&rdquo; An extract from Brantôme in connection
+     with the story will be found in the Appendix to this volume,
+     D.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So, ladies, if you are wise, you will beware of us even as the stag, had
+      he understanding, would beware of the hunter; for our glory, happiness,
+      and delight is to see you captured in order to rob you of that which is
+      more precious to you than life.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, Geburon,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;since when have you turned preacher? I can
+      remember a time when you did not talk after that fashion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is quite true,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;that I have just spoken contrary to
+      what I have always said my life long; but since my teeth are no longer
+      able to chew venison, I warn the hapless deer to beware of the hunters, in
+      order that I may atone in my old age for all the mischief which I sought
+      to do in my youth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We thank you, Geburon,&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;for warning us to our profit,
+      but for all that we do not feel very greatly beholden to you. You never
+      spoke in that way to one you truly loved, and this is a proof that you
+      have little love for us, and, moreover, would not have us loved.
+      Nevertheless, we hold ourselves as discreet and as virtuous as the ladies
+      whom you so long pursued in your youth. But old folk are commonly vain
+      enough to think that they have been wiser in their time than those who
+      come after them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, Nomerfide,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;will you believe that I have told you
+      the truth when the faithlessness of one of your lovers has made you
+      acquainted with the evil nature of men?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It seems to me,&rdquo; said Oisille to Geburon, &ldquo;that the gentleman whom you
+      praise so highly for his boldness ought rather to be praised for the
+      ardour of his love. So strong is this passion, that it impels the most
+      cowardly to embark on enterprises about which the bravest would think
+      twice.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If, madam,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;he&rsquo;had not deemed the Italians to be better
+      at talking than acting, me-thinks he had reason to be afraid.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;if he had not had in his heart the fire that
+      consumes fear.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since you do not deem the boldness of this gentleman altogether worthy of
+      praise,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;you doubtless know of some one else more deserving
+      of commendation.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;the gentleman in the story deserves praise, but I do
+      know of one who is more worthy of being admired.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you, madam,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;if that be so, take my place and tell
+      us the tale.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If,&rdquo; began Oisille, &ldquo;a man who showed such boldness against the Milanese
+      to save his own life and his mistress&rsquo;s honour is to be esteemed so very
+      brave, what shall be said of one who, without any need for it, and from
+      pure and simple valour, performed the deed of which I will now tell you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0031" id="linkimage-0031">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/193.jpg" width="100%" alt="193.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0032" id="linkimage-0032">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/195a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="195a.jpg the King Showing his Sword " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The King showing his Sword]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0033" id="linkimage-0033">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/195.jpg" width="100%" alt="195.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XVII</i>.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <i>King Francis, being urged to banish Count William, who was said to have
+      received money to bring about his death, did not suffer it to appear that
+      he had any inkling of the scheme, but played the Count so shrewd a trick
+      that he himself took leave of the King and went into banishment</i>. (1)
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To the town of Dijon, in the Duchy of Burgundy, there came a German Count
+      to take service with King Francis. He was named William, (2) and was of
+      the House of Saxony, which is so closely allied with that of Savoy that
+      formerly they were but one. This Count, who was held for as handsome and
+      valiant a gentleman as Germany ever knew, was right well received by the
+      King, who not only took him into his service, but kept him close to
+      himself as a groom of the chamber.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  The incidents of this story are historical. Francis I. is
+     known to have sojourned at Dijon in June and July 1521.&mdash;L.
+
+     2  This is William, eldest son of Wolfgang von Furstemberg,
+     chamberlain to Maximilian I., and privy counsellor to Philip
+     of Austria.&mdash;B. J. Various particulars concerning him are
+     given in the Appendix to this volume, E.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Now the Lord de la Trémoille, (3) Governor of Burgundy, an old knight and
+      a loyal servant to the King, was ever jealous and anxious for his master&rsquo;s
+      safety, and was wont to have spies at all points to learn what the King&rsquo;s
+      enemies were doing; and so prudently did he contrive matters, that but few
+      things were hidden from him. Among his informations there came to him one
+      day a letter from a friend telling him that Count William had received a
+      sum of money, with promise of more, for putting the King to death in any
+      such manner as he might find possible. (4)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  This is Louis II., Sire de la Trémoille, Viscount of
+     Thouars and Prince of Talmont, born in 1460. The son of
+     Louis I. de la Trémoille and of Margaret d&rsquo;Amboise, he
+     became one of the most remarkable men of his time. Favoured
+     by Anne de Beaujeu, who arranged his marriage with Gabrielle
+     de Bourbon, he commanded the royal troops at the battle of
+     St. Aubin du Cormier, in Brittany (1488), at which the
+     rebellious Duke of Orleans (afterwards Louis XII.) and the
+     Prince of Orange, with a large number of the nobles, their
+     partisans, were made prisoners. They were all invited to La
+     Trémoille&rsquo;s table after the engagement, and, according to
+     Godefroi&rsquo;s Latin history of Louis XII., at the close of the
+     repast two Franciscan monks entered the hall, whereupon La
+     Trémoille rose and said: &ldquo;Princes, I refer your judgments to
+     the King, but as for you, Knights, who have broken your
+     faith and falsified your knightly oath, you shall pay for
+     your crime with your heads. If you have any remorse on your
+     consciences, here are monks who will shrive you.&rdquo; The hall
+     resounded with lamentations, but the unhappy nobles were
+     promptly dragged into the courtyard, and there put to death;
+     both Orleans and Orange being too terror-stricken to
+     intercede for them. When the former came to the throne, he
+     forgave La Trémoille for his conduct in this affair, and
+     showed him great favour, appointing him Governor of Burgundy
+     in 1501. La Trémoille also became Admiral of Guienne and
+     Brittany, and figured conspicuously in the various Italian
+     campaigns of the period. He was killed at Pavia in 1525.
+     Jean Bouchet, a contemporary, wrote a curious life of this
+     remarkable man, entitled <i>Panegyric du Chevalier sans
+     reproche</i>. It will be found in Michaud and Poujoulat&rsquo;s
+     <i>Collection de Mitnoires</i>,&mdash;L. and Ed.
+
+     4  It has been suggested that the instigator of this plot
+     was Charles V.&lsquo;s famous minister, Cardinal Granvelle.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The Lord de la Trémoille failed not to give speedy notice of the affair to
+      the King, and further made it known to the King&rsquo;s mother, Louise of Savoy,
+      who, forgetting that she and this German were akin, begged the King to
+      banish him forthwith. But the King bade her speak no more of it, saying
+      that it was impossible so upright and honourable a gentleman would
+      undertake so vile a deed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Some time afterwards a second warning arrived in confirmation of the
+      first, and the Governor, burning with love for his master, sought
+      permission either to banish the Count or else take him in hand in some
+      other fashion; but the King charged him expressly to keep the affair
+      secret, being persuaded that he might discover the truth by some other
+      means.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day when going a-hunting, the King, as his sole weapon, buckled on the
+      finest sword it were possible to see, and took Count William along with
+      him, desiring that he would follow him close. After hunting the stag for
+      some time, seeing that all his people save the Count were far off, he
+      turned out of all the roads and tracks, till he found himself alone with
+      the Count in the deepest part of the forest, (5) when, drawing his sword,
+      he said:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Think you that this sword be handsome and trusty?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     5  This may be either the forest of Argilly or that of
+     Mondragon, both in the vicinity of Dijon.&mdash;ED.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The Count took it by the point, and answered that he had never seen one
+      that he liked better.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are right,&rdquo; said the King; &ldquo;and I think that, if a gentleman had
+      resolved to slay me, he would think twice before he attacked me if he knew
+      the strength of my arm, the stoutness-of my heart, and the excellence of
+      this sword. Yet, for all that, I should count him but a craven scoundrel
+      if, when we were face to face and alone, he durst not execute what he had
+      dared to undertake.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sire,&rdquo; replied Count William, with astonished countenance, &ldquo;the
+      wickedness of the undertaking would be very great, but the folly of
+      seeking to execute it would be no less.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The King laughed, sheathed his sword again, and hearing the hunt hard by,
+      spurred after it with all speed. When he reached his train he spoke to
+      none of what had passed, but he felt convinced that, although Count
+      William was as brave and ready a gentleman as might be, he was not the man
+      to carry out so high an enterprise.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      However, Count William, fearing that he had been discovered or was at
+      least suspected, repaired the next morning to Robertet, Secretary for the
+      King&rsquo;s Finances, (6) and told him that he had considered the privileges
+      and pay offered him to continue in the King&rsquo;s service, and that they would
+      not suffice to support him for half the year. Unless therefore it pleased
+      the King to give him double, he would be forced to depart; and he
+      accordingly begged the said Robertet to acquaint him as soon as might be
+      with the will of the King. To this the Secretary replied that he could not
+      better advance the business than by going to the King straightway; and he
+      undertook the mission right willingly, for he had seen the warnings that
+      the Governor had received.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     6  This is Florimond Robertet, the first of that family of
+     statesmen who served the French crown from Charles VIII. to
+     Henri III. It was Charles VIII. who appointed Florimond
+     Treasurer of France and Secretary of Finances, offices in
+     which he displayed great skill and honesty. Louis XII., who
+     confirmed him in his functions, habitually consulted him on
+     important political affairs. He acquired considerable
+     wealth, and was often called &ldquo;the great baron,&rdquo; after the
+     barony of Alluye, which he possessed in Le Perche. One of
+     the curiosities of Blois is the Hôtel d&rsquo;Alluye, a house of
+     semi-Moorish style, erected by Robertet at the close of the
+     fifteenth century. Another of his residences was the château
+     of Bury, near Blois, where he set up Michael Angelo&rsquo;s famous
+     bronze statue of David, presented to him by the city of
+     Florence, and the fate of which has furnished material for
+     so much speculation. Under Francis I. Robertet enjoyed the
+     same credit as during the two previous reigns. Fleuranges
+     declares that no one else was so intimate with the King, and
+     commends him as being the most experienced and competent
+     statesman of the times. According to the <i>Journal d&rsquo;un
+     Bourgeois de Paris</i>, Robertet died &ldquo;at the Palais (de
+     Justice) in Paris, of which he was concierge,&rdquo; on November
+     29, 1527. Francis repeatedly visited him during his illness,
+     and, on his death, ordered that his remains should lie in
+     state, and be interred with great pomp and ceremony. Clement
+     Marot&rsquo;s works contain a poem, four hundred lines in length,
+     celebrating Robertet&rsquo;s virtues and talents.&mdash;L., B. J., and
+     Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      As soon, therefore, as the King was awake he failed not to lay the matter
+      before him in the presence of the Lord de la Trémoille and the Admiral de
+      Bonnivet, who were ignorant of the trick that the King had played the
+      Count the day before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then the King laughed, and said to them&mdash;&ldquo;You desired to banish Count
+      William, and you see he is banishing himself. Wherefore, tell him that if
+      he be not content with the establishment which he accepted on entering my
+      service, and which many men of good families have deemed themselves
+      fortunate to have, he must e&rsquo;en seek a better fortune elsewhere. For my
+      part, I will in no wise hinder him, but shall be well pleased if he can
+      find some condition wherein to live according to his deserts.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Robertet was as prompt to bear this answer to the Count as he had been to
+      prefer his request to the King. The Count replied that with the King&rsquo;s
+      permission he was resolved to depart, and, like one whom fear urges to
+      flight, he did not tarry even four and twenty hours; but, just as the King
+      was sitting down to table, came to take leave of him, feigning much sorrow
+      that his need should force him from the Royal presence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He also went to take leave of the King&rsquo;s mother, who parted from him no
+      less joyfully than she had formerly received him as a kinsman and friend.
+      And thus he returned to his own country; and the King, seeing his mother
+      and courtiers in amazement at his sudden departure, told them of the
+      fright he had given him, saying that, even if the Count were innocent of
+      that which was laid against him, his fear had been sufficiently great to
+      constrain him to leave a master whose temper he had not yet come to know.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For my part, ladies, I can see no reason why the King should have been
+      moved to risk himself thus against so famous a captain, except that,
+      forsaking the company and places where Kings find no inferiors ready to
+      give them battle, he desired to place himself on an equal footing with one
+      whom he suspected to be his enemy; and this that he might have the
+      satisfaction of testing the stoutness and valour of his own heart.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Without a doubt,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;he was in the right; for all the
+      praise of man cannot so well satisfy a noble heart as its own particular
+      knowledge and experience of the virtues that God has placed in it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The ancients,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;long ago showed us that to reach the Temple
+      of Fame it was necessary to pass through the Temple of Virtue, and I, who
+      am acquainted with the two persons in your tale, know right well that the
+      King is indeed one of the most valiant men in his kingdom.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By my word,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;at the time when Count William came to France,
+      I should have feared his [the King&rsquo;s] sword more than those of the four
+      most accomplished Italian gentlemen at Court.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We well know,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;that he is too famous for our praises to
+      equal his merit, and that the day would be spent before we each could say
+      all the good we think of him. And so, madam, I pray you, give your vote to
+      one who will tell us some further good of men, if such there be.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then said Oisille to Hircan&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It seems to me that, as you are so wont to speak ill of women, you will
+      find it easy to tell us some good story in praise of a man. I therefore
+      give you my vote.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That can I easily do,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;for but a little while since I was
+      told a story in praise of a gentleman whose love, constancy and patience
+      are so meritorious that I must not suffer them to be forgotten.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0034" id="linkimage-0034">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/203.jpg" width="100%" alt="203.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0035" id="linkimage-0035">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/205a.jpg" width="100%"
+       alt="205a.jpg the Student Escaping The Temptation " />
+    </div>
+    <h4>
+      [The Student escaping the Temptation]
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0036" id="linkimage-0036">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/205.jpg" width="100%" alt="205.jpg Page Image " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>TALE XVIII</i>.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     <i>A young student of noble birth, being smitten with love for
+     a very beautiful lady, subdued both love and himself in
+     order to achieve his end, and this in spite of many such
+     temptations as might have sufficed to make him break his
+     promise. And so all his woes were turned to joy by a reward
+     suitable to his constant, patient, loyal and perfect love</i>.
+     (1)
+
+     1  This story seems to be based on fact, being corroborated
+     in its main lines by Brantôme, but there is nothing in the
+     narrative to admit of the personages referred to being
+     identified.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In one of the goodly towns of the kingdom of France there dwelt a nobleman
+      of good birth, who attended the schools that he might learn how virtue and
+      honour are to be acquired among virtuous men. But although he was so
+      accomplished that at the age of seventeen or eighteen years he was, as it
+      were, both precept and example to others, Love failed not to add his
+      lesson to the rest; and, that he might be the better hearkened to and
+      received, concealed himself in the face and the eyes of the fairest lady
+      in the whole country round, who had come to the city in order to advance a
+      suit-at-law. But before Love sought to vanquish the gentleman by means of
+      this lady&rsquo;s beauty, he had first won her heart by letting her see the
+      perfections of this young lord; for in good looks, grace, sense and
+      excellence of speech he was surpassed by none.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      You, who know what speedy way is made by the fire of love when once it
+      fastens on the heart and fancy, will readily imagine that between two
+      subjects so perfect as these it knew little pause until it had them at its
+      will, and had so filled them with its clear light, that thought, wish and
+      speech were all aflame with it. Youth, begetting fear in the young lord,
+      led him to urge his suit with all the gentleness imaginable; but she,
+      being conquered by love, had no need of force to win her. Nevertheless,
+      shame, which tarries with ladies as long as it can, for some time
+      restrained her from declaring her mind. But at last the heart&rsquo;s fortress,
+      which is honour&rsquo;s abode, was shattered in such sort that the poor lady
+      consented to that which she had never been minded to refuse.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In order, however, to make trial of her lover&rsquo;s patience, constancy and
+      love, she only granted him what he sought on a very hard condition,
+      assuring him that if he fulfilled it she would love him perfectly for
+      ever; whereas, if he failed in it, he would certainly never win her as
+      long as he lived. And the condition was this:&mdash;she would be willing
+      to talk with him, both being in bed together, clad in their linen only,
+      but he was to ask nothing more from her than words and kisses.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He, thinking there was no joy to be compared to that which she promised
+      him, agreed to the proposal, and that evening the promise was kept; in
+      such wise that, despite all the caresses she bestowed on him and the
+      temptations that beset him, he would not break his oath. And albeit his
+      torment seemed to him no less than that of Purgatory, yet was his love so
+      great and his hope so strong, sure as he felt of the ceaseless continuance
+      of the love he had thus painfully won, that he preserved his patience and
+      rose from beside her without having done anything contrary to her
+      expressed wish. (2)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2  Brantôme&rsquo;s <i>Dames Galantes</i> contains an anecdote which is
+     very similar in character to this tale: &ldquo;I have heard
+     speak,&rdquo; he writes, &ldquo;of a very beautiful and honourable lady,
+     who gave her lover an assignation to sleep with her, on the
+     condition that he should not touch her... and he actually
+     obeyed her, remaining in a state of ecstasy, temptation and
+     continence the whole night long; whereat she was so well
+     pleased with him that some time afterwards she consented to
+     become his mistress, giving as her reason that she had
+     wished to prove his love by his obedience to her
+     injunctions; and on this account she afterwards loved him
+     the more, for she felt sure that he was capable of even a
+     greater feat than this, though it were a very great one.&rdquo;&mdash;
+     Lalanne&rsquo;s <i>OEuvres de Brantôme</i>, vol. ix. pp. 6, 7.&mdash;L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      The lady was, I think, more astonished than pleased by such virtue; and
+      giving no heed to the honour, patience and faithfulness her lover had
+      shown in the keeping of his oath, she forthwith suspected that his love
+      was not so great as she had thought, or else that he had found her less
+      pleasing than he had expected.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She therefore resolved, before keeping her promise, to make a further
+      trial of the love he bore her; and to this end she begged him to talk to a
+      girl in her service, who was younger than herself and very beautiful,
+      bidding him make love speeches to her, so that those who saw him come so
+      often to the house might think that it was for the sake of this damsel and
+      not of herself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The young lord, feeling sure that his own love was returned in equal
+      measure, was wholly obedient to her commands, and for love of her
+      compelled himself to make love to the girl; and she, finding him so
+      handsome and well-spoken, believed his lies more than other truth, and
+      loved him as much as though she herself were greatly loved by him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The mistress finding that matters were thus well advanced, albeit the
+      young lord did not cease to claim her promise, granted him permission to
+      come and see her at one hour after midnight, saying that after having so
+      fully tested the love and obedience he had shown towards her, it was but
+      just that he should be rewarded for his long patience. Of the lover&rsquo;s joy
+      on hearing this you need have no doubt, and he failed not to arrive at the
+      appointed time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But the lady, still wishing to try the strength of his love, had said to
+      her beautiful damsel&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am well aware of the love a certain nobleman bears to you, and I think
+      you are no less in love with him; and I feel so much pity for you both,
+      that I have resolved to afford you time and place that you may converse
+      together at your ease.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The damsel was so enchanted that she could not conceal her longings, but
+      answered that she would not fail to be present.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In obedience, therefore, to her mistress&rsquo;s counsel and command, she
+      undressed herself and lay down on a handsome bed, in a room the door of
+      which the lady left half-open, whilst within she set a light so that the
+      maiden&rsquo;s beauty might be clearly seen. Then she herself pretended to go
+      away, but hid herself near to the bed so carefully that she could not be
+      seen.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Her poor lover, thinking to find her according to her promise, failed not
+      to enter the room as softly as he could, at the appointed hour; and after
+      he had shut the door and put off his garments and fur shoes, he got into
+      the bed, where he looked to find what he desired. But no sooner did he put
+      out his arms to embrace her whom he believed to be his mistress, than the
+      poor girl, believing him entirely her own, had her arms round his neck,
+      speaking to him the while in such loving words and with so beautiful a
+      countenance, that there is not a hermit so holy but he would have
+      forgotten his beads for love of her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But when the gentleman recognised her with both eye and ear, and found he
+      was not with her for whose sake he had so greatly suffered, the love that
+      had made him get so quickly into the bed, made him rise from it still more
+      quickly. And in anger equally with mistress and damsel, he said&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Neither your folly nor the malice of her who put you there can make me
+      other than I am. But do you try to be an honest woman, for you shall never
+      lose that good name through me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So saying he rushed out of the room in the greatest wrath imaginable, and
+      it was long before he returned to see his mistress. However love, which is
+      never without hope, assured him that the greater and more manifest his
+      constancy was proved to be by all these trials, the longer and more
+      delightful would be his bliss.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady, who had seen and heard all that passed, was so delighted and
+      amazed at beholding the depth and constancy of his love, that she was
+      impatient to see him again in order to ask his forgiveness for the sorrow
+      that she had caused him to endure. And as soon as she could meet with him,
+      she failed not to address him in such excellent and pleasant words, that
+      he not only forgot all his troubles but even deemed them very fortunate,
+      seeing that their issue was to the glory of his constancy and the perfect
+      assurance of his love, the fruit of which he enjoyed from that time forth
+      as fully as he could desire, without either hindrance or vexation. (3)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     3  In reference to this story, Montaigne says in his Essay
+     on Cruelty: &ldquo;Such as have sensuality to encounter, willingly
+     make use of this argument, that when it is at the height it
+     subjects us to that degree that a man&rsquo;s reason can have no
+     access... wherein they conceive that the pleasure doth so
+     transport us that our reason cannot perform its office
+     whilst we are so benumbed and extacied in delight.... But I
+     know that a man may triumph over the utmost effort of this
+     pleasure: I have experienced it in myself, and have not
+     found Venus so imperious a goddess as many&mdash;and some more
+     reformed than I&mdash;declare. I do not consider it as a miracle,
+     as the Queen of Navarre does in one of the Tales of her
+     <i>Heptameron</i> (which is a marvellous pretty book of the
+     kind), nor for a thing of extreme difficulty to pass over
+     whole nights, where a man has all the convenience and
+     liberty he can desire, with a long-coveted mistress, and yet
+     be just to his faith first given to satisfy himself with
+     kisses and innocent embraces only, without pressing any
+     further.&rdquo;&mdash;Cotton&rsquo;s &ldquo;Montaigne&rsquo;s Essays&rdquo;, London, 1743, vol
+     ii. pp. 109-10.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I pray you, ladies, find me if you can a woman who has ever shown herself
+      as constant, patient and true as was this man. They who have experienced
+      the like temptations deem those in the pictures of Saint Antony very small
+      in comparison; for one who can remain chaste and patient in spite of
+      beauty, love, opportunity and leisure, will have virtue enough to vanquish
+      every devil.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Tis a pity,&rdquo; said Oisille, &ldquo;that he did not address his love to a woman
+      possessing as much virtue as he possessed himself. Their amour would then
+      have been the most perfect and honourable that was ever heard of.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But prithee tell me,&rdquo; said Geburon, &ldquo;which of the two trials do you deem
+      the harder?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think the last,&rdquo; said Parlamente, &ldquo;for resentment is the strongest of
+      all temptations.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Longarine said she thought that the first was the most arduous to sustain,
+      since to keep his promise it was needful he should subdue both love and
+      himself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is all very well for you to talk,&rdquo; said Simontault, &ldquo;it is for us who
+      know the truth of the matter to say what we think of it. For my own part,
+      I think he was stupid the first time and witless the second; for I make no
+      doubt that, while he was keeping his promise, to his mistress, she was put
+      to as much trouble as himself, if not more. She had him take the oath only
+      in order to make herself out a more virtuous woman than she really was;
+      she must have well known that strong love will not be bound by commandment
+      or oath, or aught else on earth, and she simply sought to give a show of
+      virtue to her vice, as though she could be won only through heroic
+      virtues. And the second time he was witless to leave a woman who loved
+      him, and who was worth more than his pledged mistress, especially when his
+      displeasure at the trick played upon him had been a sound excuse.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Here Dagoucin put in that he was of the contrary opinion, and held that
+      the gentleman had on the first occasion shown himself constant, patient
+      and true, and on the second occasion loyal and perfect in his love.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And how can we tell,&rdquo; asked Saffredent, &ldquo;that he was not one of those
+      that a certain chapter calls <i>de frigidis et malificiatis?</i>&rdquo; (4)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     4  This is an allusion to the penalties pronounced by
+     several ecclesiastical Councils, and specified in the
+     Capitularies, against those who endeavoured to suspend the
+     procreative faculties of their enemies by resorting to
+     magic. On this matter Baluze&rsquo;s collection of Capitularies
+     (vol. i.) may be consulted. The &ldquo;chapter&rdquo; referred to by
+     Margaret is evidently chapter xv. (book vi.) of the
+     Decretals of Pope Boniface VIII., which bears the title of
+     <i>De frigidis et maleficiatis</i>, and which is alluded to by
+     Rabelais in <i>Pantagruel</i>. The belief in the practices in
+     question dates back to ancient times, and was shared by
+     Plato and Pliny, the latter of whom says that to guard
+     against any spell of the kind some wolf fat should be rubbed
+     upon the threshold and door jambs of one&rsquo;s bed-chamber. In
+     the sixteenth century sorcery of this description was so
+     generally believed in, in some parts of France, that
+     Cardinal du Perron inserted special prayers against it in
+     the ritual. Some particulars on the subject will be found in
+     the <i>Admirables Secrets du Petit Albert</i>, and also in a
+     <i>Traité d&rsquo;Enchantement</i>, published at La Rochelle in 1591,
+     which gives details concerning certain practices alleged to
+     take place on the solemnisation of marriage among those of
+     the Reformed Church.&mdash;D. and L.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To complete his eulogy, Hircan ought to have told us how he comported
+      himself when he obtained what he wanted, and then we should have been able
+      to judge whether it was virtue or impotence that made him observe so much
+      discretion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may be sure,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;that had he told me this I should have
+      concealed it as little as I did the rest. Nevertheless, from seeing his
+      person and knowing his temper, I shall ever hold that his conduct was due
+      to the power of love rather than to any impotence or coldness.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, if he was such as you say,&rdquo; said Simontault, &ldquo;he ought to have
+      broken his oath; for, had the lady been angered by such a trifle, it would
+      have been easy to appease her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;perhaps she would not then have consented.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And pray,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;would it not have been easy enough to compel
+      her, since she had herself given him the opportunity?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By Our Lady!&rdquo; said Nomerfide, &ldquo;how you run on! Is that the way to win the
+      favour of a lady who is accounted virtuous and discreet?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In my opinion,&rdquo; said Saffredent, &ldquo;the highest honour that can be paid to
+      a woman from whom such things are desired is to take her by force, for
+      there is not the pettiest damsel among them but seeks to be long
+      entreated. Some indeed there are who must receive many gifts before they
+      are won, whilst there are others so stupid that hardly any device or craft
+      can enable one to win them, and with these one must needs be ever thinking
+      of some means or other. But when you have to do with a woman who is too
+      clever to be deceived, and too virtuous to be gained by words or gifts, is
+      there not good reason to employ any means whatever that may be at your
+      disposal to vanquish her? When you hear it said that a man has taken a
+      woman by force, you may be sure that the woman has left him hopeless of
+      any other means succeeding, and you should not think any the worse of a
+      man who has risked his life in order to give scope to his love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Geburon burst out laughing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In my day,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;I have seen besieged places stormed because it was
+      impossible to bring the garrison to a parley either by money or by
+      threats; &lsquo;tis said that a place which begins to treat is half taken.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You may think,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;that every love on earth is based upon
+      such follies as these, but there are those who have loved, and who have
+      long persevered in their love, with very different aims.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you know a story of that kind,&rdquo; said Hircan, &ldquo;I will give place to you
+      for the telling of it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do know one,&rdquo; said Ennasuite, &ldquo;and I will very willingly relate it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="linkimage-0037" id="linkimage-0037">
+      <!-- IMG --></a>
+    </p>
+    <div class="fig" style="width:80%;">
+      <img src="images/216.jpg" width="100%" alt="216.jpg Tailpiece " />
+    </div>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_APPE" id="link2H_APPE">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      APPENDIX.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      A. (Tale VIII., Page i.)
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Tales of a similar character to this will be found in the following works
+      written prior to Margaret&rsquo;s time:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Legrand d&rsquo;Aussy&rsquo;s collection of <i>Fabliaux ou Contes du XIIème et XIIIème
+      siècles</i> (vol. iii.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Boccaccio&rsquo;s <i>Decameron</i> (day viii., story iv.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Enguerrand d&rsquo;Oisy&rsquo;s <i>Le Meunier d&rsquo;Aleu</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Poggio&rsquo;s <i>Facetio ( Vir sibi cornua promovens)</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Sacchetti&rsquo;s <i>Novelle</i> (vol. ii., No. ccvi.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Morlini&rsquo;s <i>Novelle</i> (No. lxxix.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <i>Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles</i> (story ix.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Malespini&rsquo;s <i>Ducento Novelle</i> (part ii., No. xcvi.).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Of the foregoing, says M. de Montaiglon, Margaret could only have been
+      acquainted with the <i>Decameron</i>, the <i>Cent Nouvelles</i>, and
+      Poggio&rsquo;s <i>Facetio</i>, which had been translated into French by Tardix
+      (see Nos. cv. and ex. of that translation).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A similar story in Latin verse is also contained in a fourteenth century
+      MS. at Monte Cassino. See <i>I codici e le arti a Monte Cassino</i>, by D.
+      Andrea Caravita (vol. ii. p. 289).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Since Margaret&rsquo;s time stories of the same character have appeared in the
+      following works:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Melander&rsquo;s <i>Jocondia</i> (p. 298).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Phil. Béroalde&rsquo;s <i>Contes Latins</i> (see <i>Poggii Imitationes</i>,
+      Noel&rsquo;s éd., vol. ii. p. 245).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Guicciardini&rsquo;s <i>Hore di Recreazione</i> (p. 103).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      J. Bouchet&rsquo;s <i>Serées</i> (No. 8; Roybet&rsquo;s éd., vol. ii. p. 115).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Gabrielle Chapuys&rsquo; <i>Facétieuses Journées</i> (p. 213).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      La Fontaine&rsquo;s <i>Contes</i> (book v., No. viii.:<i> Les Quiproquo</i>). <i>Le
+      Passe-Temps Agréable</i> (p. 27).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Moreover, a song written on the same subject will be found, says M. de
+      Lincy, on folio 44 of the <i>Premier Recueil de toutes les chansons
+      nouvelles</i> (Troyes, Nicholas du Ruau, 1590). It is there called &ldquo;The
+      facetious and recreative story of a certain labourer of a village near
+      Paris, who, thinking that he was enjoying his servant, lay with his wife.&rdquo;
+       This song was reprinted in various other collections of the sixteenth and
+      seventeenth centuries.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      B (Tale XL (B.), Page 95.)
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      An anecdote in keeping with this story will be found in Brantôme&rsquo;s
+      miscellaneous works (Petitot&rsquo;s éd., vol. viii. pp. 382-4). The author of
+      <i>Les Dames Galantes</i>, after alluding to his aunt Louise de Bourdeille&mdash;who
+      was brought up at Court by Anne of Brittany&mdash;proceeds to say:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A certain Grey Friar, who habitually preached before the Queen, fell so
+      deeply in love with Mademoiselle de Bourdeille that he completely lost his
+      wits, and sometimes in his sermons, whilst speaking of the beauty of the
+      holy virgins of past times, he would so forget himself as to say some
+      words respecting the beauty of my said aunt, not to mention the soft
+      glances which he cast at her. And sometimes, whilst in the Queen&rsquo;s room,
+      he would take great pleasure in discoursing to her, not with words of love
+      however, for he would have incurred a whipping, but with other covert
+      words which tended towards love. My aunt in no wise approved of his
+      discourses, and made some mention of them to her own and her companions&rsquo;
+      governess. The Queen heard of the matter and could not believe it, on
+      account of this man&rsquo;s cloth and holiness. For this reason she kept silent
+      until a certain Good Friday, when, in accordance with custom, this friar
+      preached before her on the Holy Passion. The ladies and the maids,
+      including my aunt, being seated as was their wont before the reverend
+      father, in full view of him, he, as though giving out the text and introit
+      of his sermon, began to say: &lsquo;It is for you, lovely humanity, it is for
+      you that I suffer this day. Thus on a certain occasion spake our Lord
+      Jesus Christ.&rsquo; Then proceeding with his sermon the friar chronicled all
+      the sufferings and afflictions which Jesus endured for mankind at His
+      death upon the Cross, and these he compared to the sufferings that he
+      himself endured on account of my aunt; but in such covert, such disguised
+      words that even the most enlightened might have failed to understand their
+      meaning. Queen Anne, however, who was very expert both in mind and
+      judgment, laid hold of this, and took counsel as to the real meaning of
+      the sermon, both with certain lords and ladies and certain learned men who
+      were there present. They all pronounced the sermon to be most scandalous,
+      and the Grey Friar most deserving of punishment; for which reason he was
+      secretly chastised and whipped, and then driven away, without any scandal
+      being made. Such was the Queen&rsquo;s reply to the amours of this Grey Friar;
+      and thus was my aunt well avenged on him for the way in which he had so
+      often importuned her. In those times it was not allowable, under divers
+      penalties, either to contradict or to refuse to speak to such people, who,
+      so it was thought, conversed only of God and the salvation of the soul.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In Mérimée&rsquo;s Chronique de Charles IX., there will be found a facetious
+      sermon by another Grey Friar; this, however, is less in keeping with the
+      <i>Heptameron</i>, than with the character of the discourses delivered by
+      the preachers of the League.&mdash;M.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      C. (Tale XII., Page 101.)
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      The following account of the assassination of Alexander de&rsquo; Medici is
+      taken from Sismondi&rsquo;s <i>Histoire des Républiques Italiennes du Moyen Age</i>,
+      Paris, 1826, vol. xvi. p. 95 et seq.:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But few months had elapsed since Alexander&rsquo;s marriage, and he had
+      employed them in his wonted debauchery, carrying depravity and dishonour
+      alternately into the convents and noblest abodes of Florence, when, on
+      January 6, 1537, he was assassinated by the man whom, of all men, he the
+      least mistrusted. This was his cousin, Lorenzino de&rsquo; Medici.... Lorenzino
+      had already helped Alexander to seduce several women of noble birth; and
+      to facilitate his assignations had often lent him his house, which
+      adjoined the ducal residence in the Via Larga. He engaged to bring the
+      Duke the wife of Leonardo Ginori&mdash;sister to his own mother, but much
+      younger than she was. Alexander had long been struck with this lady&rsquo;s
+      beauty, but so far she had virtuously repulsed him. After supper, however,
+      on the day of the feast of the Epiphany, when the Carnival begins,
+      Lorenzino informed the Duke that if he would repair to his house,
+      unaccompanied and observing the greatest secrecy, he would find Catherine
+      Ginori there. Alexander accepted the assignation, dismissed all his
+      guards, rid himself of all those who wished to keep a watch upon him, and
+      entered Lorenzino&rsquo;s house without being perceived. He was tired and wished
+      to rest awhile, but before throwing himself on the bed he unbuckled his
+      sword, and Lorenzino, on taking it from him to hang it at the head of the
+      bedstead, wound the belt around the hilt in such a fashion that the weapon
+      could not be easily drawn from its scabbard. After telling the Duke to
+      rest whilst he went to fetch his aunt, he went away, locking the door of
+      the room behind him; but returned shortly afterwards with a spadassin,
+      nicknamed Scoronconcolo, whom he had previously engaged, for the purpose,
+      he said, of ridding him of a great personage of the Court whose name he
+      had prudently not given. In fact Lorenzino had carried his design to the
+      very point of execution without taking a single person into his
+      confidence. On returning into the room, followed by Scoronconcolo, he
+      called to the Duke: &lsquo;Are you asleep, my lord?&rsquo; and at the same moment
+      transpierced him with a short sword which he was carrying. Alexander,
+      although mortally wounded, tried to resist his murderer, whereupon
+      Lorenzino, to prevent him from crying out, thrust two of his fingers into
+      his mouth, at the same time exclaiming: &lsquo;Be not afraid, my lord.&rsquo;
+      Alexander, it appears, bit his assailant&rsquo;s fingers with all the strength
+      of his jaws, and holding him in a tight embrace, rolled with him about the
+      bed, so that Scoronconcolo was unable to strike the one without striking
+      the other. He endeavoured to get at the Duke from between Lorenzino&rsquo;s
+      legs, but only succeeded in piercing the mattress, till at last he
+      remembered that he had a knife about him, and drove it into the Duke&rsquo;s
+      throat, turning it round and round until he eventually killed him. (1)
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     1  Bened. Varchi, lib. xv.; Bern. Segni, 1. vii.; Filippo de
+     Nerli, 1. xii.; Gio. Batt. Adriani, 1. i.; Scipione
+     Ammirato, 1. xxxi.; Pauli Jovii. Hist. 1. xxxviii.; Istorie
+     di Marco Guazzo, fol. 159.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lorenzino failed to reap the fruits of the crime, which he had planned
+      with so much skill and such profound secrecy. By the life he had led, he
+      had aroused the distrust of all honest folks, he had no friends to whom he
+      could apply for advice or help, he had no party behind him, he had never
+      been known to display that zeal for liberty which he subsequently
+      affected. Although he was the first of the Medici in the order of
+      succession, no one thought of him. For his own part, he only thought of
+      ensuring his safety. He locked the door of the room, taking the key away
+      with him, and having obtained an order for the city gates to be opened,
+      and for post-horses to be provided for him, under pretence that he had
+      just learned that his brother was ill, in the country, he started for
+      Bologna, whence he proceeded to Venice, accompanied by Scoronconcolo.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      D. (Tale XVI., Page 183.)
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      With reference to this story Brantôme writes as follows in the Sixth
+      Discourse of his <i>Vies des Dames Galantes</i>:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In the hundred stories of Queen Margaret of Navarre we have a very fine
+      tale of that lady of Milan who, having one night given an assignation to
+      the late M. de Bonnivet, afterwards Admiral of France, posted her maids
+      with drawn swords on the stairs so that they might make a noise there;
+      which they did right well, in obedience to the orders of their mistress,
+      who for her part feigned great affright, saying that her brothers-in-law
+      must have remarked something amiss, that she herself was lost, and that
+      he, Bonnivet, ought to hide under the bed or behind the hangings. But M.
+      de Bonnivet, without evincing any fear, wrapped his cape round his arm,
+      and taking his sword replied: &lsquo;Well, where are these brave brothers who
+      want to frighten me, or do me harm? When they see me they will not even
+      dare to look at the point of my sword.&rsquo; Then opening the door he rushed
+      out, and just as he was about to charge down the staircase he espied the
+      women making all this noise; and they, taking fright at sight of him,
+      began to cry out and confess everything. M. de Bonnivet, seeing that it
+      was nothing more serious, left them, bidding them betake themselves to the
+      devil; and then, returning into the room, he closed the door after him and
+      went to find his lady, who began to laugh and embrace him, and confess to
+      him that it was a trick devised by herself, assuring him that if he had
+      behaved as a poltroon, and had not thus displayed the valour which he was
+      said to possess, he should never have had her favours.... She was one of
+      the most beautiful women of Milan, and he had had a deal of trouble to win
+      her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I knew a brave gentleman who, one day at Rome, was alone with a pretty
+      Roman lady&mdash;her husband being away&mdash;and she gave him a similar
+      alarm, causing one of her women to come in hastily to warn her that her
+      husband had returned from the country. The lady, feigning astonishment,
+      begged the gentleman to hide himself in a closet, as otherwise she would
+      be lost. &lsquo;No, no,&rsquo; said the gentleman; &lsquo;I would not do that for all the
+      wealth in the world; if he comes I will kill him.&rsquo; And as he seized upon
+      his sword the lady began to laugh and confess that she had contrived this
+      to try him so as to see how he would act, and if he would defend her well
+      should her husband seek to do her any harm.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I also knew a very beautiful lady who suddenly left a lover she had,
+      because she did not find him brave, and took another who did not resemble
+      him, but who was extremely feared and redoubted on account of his sword,
+      he being one of the best swordsmen that could then be found.&rdquo;&mdash;Lalanne&rsquo;s
+      <i>OEuvres de Brantôme</i>, vol. ix. pp. 388-90.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      E. (Tale XVII., Page 195.)
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Brantome, in the Thirtieth Discourse of his <i>Capitaines Étrangers</i>,
+      writes of Furstemberg as follows:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Count William von Furstemberg was accounted a good and valiant captain,
+      and would have been more highly esteemed had he not been deficient in
+      faith, over greedy and too much addicted to pillage, as he showed once in
+      France, when he passed along with his troops; for after his passage there
+      was nothing left. He served King Francis for the space of six or seven
+      years [not more than six.&mdash;Ed.] with some five companies always
+      numbering from six to seven thousand men; however, after this long term of
+      services, or rather ravages and pillage, he was suspected of having
+      designs against the King&rsquo;s person, as I have elsewhere related, and those
+      who would learn more of the matter will find the story in the hundred
+      tales of Queen Margaret of Navarre, wherein the valour, generosity and
+      magnanimity of that great King are clearly shown. The other, in great
+      fear, left his service and entered that of the Emperor (Charles V.). If he
+      had not been related to Madame la Régente (Louise of Savoy), through the
+      House of Saxony, whence sprang that of Savoy, he would possibly have met
+      with the fate he merited, had the King been minded to it; but on this
+      occasion the King wished to show his magnanimity rather than have him put
+      to death by the officers of justice. Again the King pardoned him when, on
+      the arrival of the Emperor at St. Dizier in Champagne, he was taken,
+      sounding the river Marne, (2) which he had on other occasions well
+      reconnoitred, in coming to or on leaving France with his troops. He was on
+      this occasion merely sent to the Bastille, and got quit for a ransom of
+      30,000 crowns. Some great captains said and opined that he ought not to
+      have been thus treated as a prisoner of war but as a real vile spy, for he
+      had professedly acted as such; and they said, moreover, that he got off
+      too cheaply at such a ransom, which did not represent the smallest of the
+      larcenies that he had perpetrated in France.&rdquo;&mdash;Lalanne&rsquo;s <i>OEuvres
+      de Brantôme</i>, vol. i. pp. 349-50.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Prior to this affair Furstemberg apparently showed some regret for his
+      earlier schemes against Francis I., for Queen Margaret, writing to her
+      brother in 1536, remarked:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Count William has asked me to write and tell you that there is a great
+      difference between the shameful purgatory of Italy and the glorious
+      paradise of this camp, (3) and he spoke to me of his past misdeeds, which
+      I would rather he should speak of to you,&rdquo; &amp;c.&mdash;Génin&rsquo;s <i>Lettres
+      de Marguerite</i>, p. 321.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     2  This occurred in September 1544. From an unpublished MS.
+     in the public library at Rheims it appears that Furstemberg
+     was wearing a disguise when captured. The Emperor had sent
+     him forward expressly to sound the river. Another
+     unpublished MS. at the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (<i>anc.
+     fol.</i> 8561. f. 22), gives some particulars of his operations
+     about this time.&mdash;Ed.
+
+     3  That of Avignon. See vol. i. p. liv.&mdash;Ed.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      In a poetic epistle sent by Margaret to Francis I. in January 1543, to
+      celebrate the New Year, there is an allusion to a &ldquo;Conte Guillaume,&rdquo; whom
+      Messrs. de Lincy and Montaiglon conjecture to be Furstemberg, though other
+      commentators think that the Queen refers to William Poyet, the dishonest
+      chancellor, who was sent to the Bastille in 1542 for peculation. We share,
+      however, the opinion of Messrs. de Lincy and Montaiglon, as in various
+      contemporary MSS. which we have referred to, we have frequently found
+      Furstemberg alluded to as &ldquo;Conte&rdquo; and &ldquo;Comte Guillaume,&rdquo; without any
+      mention of his surname. The passage in Margaret&rsquo;s epistle alluded to above
+      may be thus rendered in prose:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;God, fighting for the King in every spot, curses his enemies and brings
+      them to shame and ruin, so that none hold them of account; as witness
+      &lsquo;Compte [&ldquo;Conte&rdquo; in the MS.] Guillaume,&rsquo; who, in serving the King and the
+      kingdom, became rich, feared and highly esteemed. Now, however, a
+      fugitive, poor and contemned, he may well meditate as to whence came his
+      honours, who it was that maintained him wealthy, happy and feared; and
+      thus it is that all the King&rsquo;s enemies are cursed by God in Paradise.&rdquo;&mdash;<i>Les
+      Marguerites de la Marguerite</i>, 1873, vol. ii. p. 203.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Apropos of Furstemberg the following entry occurs in M. de Laborde&rsquo;s <i>Comptes
+      des Bâtiments du Roi</i> (vol. ii. p. 229):&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Paid to Francis de Cadenet, doctor to Count William of Furstemberg, as a
+      gift and favour for his services, 30 crowns, value 67 livres 10 sols.&rdquo;&mdash;L.,
+      M. and Ed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      END OF VOL. II. <br />
+    </p>
+     <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto" cellpadding="4" border="3">
+      <tbody>
+        <tr>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17701/17701-h/17701-h.htm">Volume
+            I.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17703/17703-h/17703-h.htm">Volume
+            III.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17704/17704-h/17704-h.htm">Volume
+            IV.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+          <td>
+            &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a
+            href="http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/0/17705/17705-h/17705-h.htm">Volume
+            V.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+          </td>
+        </tr>
+      </tbody>
+    </table>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+
+
+
+
+
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