The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. IV. (of V.) Read online

  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 FOURTH

  LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY OF ENGLISH BIBLIOPHILISTS

  MDCCCXCIV

  Frontispiece]

  [Margaret, Queen of Navarre, from a crayon drawing by Clouet, preservedat the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris]

  Titlepage]

  CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV.

  FOURTH DAY.

  Prologue

  Tale XXXI. Punishment of the wickedness of a Friar who sought to liewith a gentleman's wife.

  Tale XXXII. How an ambassador of Charles VIII., moved by the repentanceof a German lady, whom her husband compelled to drink out of her lover'sskull, reconciled husband and wife together.

  Tale XXXIII. The hypocrisy of a priest who, under the cloak of sanctity,had lain with his own sister, is discovered and punished by the wisdomof the Count of Angouleme.

  Tale XXXIV. The terror of two Friars who believed that a butcherintended to murder them, whereas the poor man was only speaking of hisPigs.

  Tale XXXV. How a husband's prudence saves his wife from the risks sheincurred while thinking to yield to merely a spiritual love.

  Tale XXXVI. The story of the President of Grenoble, who saves the honourof his house by poisoning his wife with a salad.

  Tale XXXVII. How the Lady of Loue regained her husband's affection.

  Tale XXXVIII. The kindness of a townswoman of Tours to a poorfarm-woman who is mistress to her husband, makes the latter so ashamedof his faithlessness that he returns to his wife.

  Tale XXXIX. How the Lord of Grignaulx rid one of his houses of apretended ghost.

  Tale XL. The unhappy history of the Count de Jossebelin's sister, whoshut herself up in a hermitage because her brother caused her husband tobe slain.

  FIFTH DAY.

  Prologue

  Tale XLI. Just punishment of a Grey Friar for the unwonted penance thathe would have laid upon a maiden.

  Tale XLII. The virtuous resistance made by a young woman of Tourainecauses a young Prince that is in love with her, to change his desire torespect, and to bestow her honourably in marriage.

  Tale XLIII. How a little chalk-mark revealed the hypocrisy of a ladycalled Jambicque, who was wont to hide the pleasures she indulged in,beneath the semblance of austerity.

  Tale XLIV. (A). Through telling the truth, a Grey Friar receives as almsfrom the Lord of Sedan two pigs instead of one.

  Tale XLIV. (B). Honourable conduct of a young citizen of Paris, who,after suddenly enjoying his sweetheart, at last happily marries.

  Tale XLV. Cleverness of an upholsterer of Touraine, who, to hide thathe has given the Innocents to his serving-maid, contrives to give themafterwards to his wife.

  Tale XLVI. (A). Wicked acts of a Grey Friar of Angouleme called De Vale,who fails in his purpose with the wife of the Judge of the Exempts, butto whom a mother in blind confidence foolishly abandons her daughter.

  Tale XLVI. (B). Sermons of the Grey Friar De Valles, at first againstand afterwards on behalf of husbands that beat their wives.

  Tale XLVII. The undeserved jealousy of a gentleman of Le Perche towardsanother gentleman, his friend, leads the latter to deceive him.

  Tale XLVIII. Wicked act of a Grey Friar of Perigord, who, while ahusband was dancing at his wedding, went and took his place with thebride.

  Tale XLIX. Story of a foreign Countess, who, not content with havingKing Charles as her lover, added to him three lords, to wit, Astillon,Durassier and Valnebon.

  Tale L. Melancholy fortune of Messire John Peter, a gentleman ofCremona, who dies just when he is winning the affection of the lady heloves.

  Appendix to Vol. IV.