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

  _TALE LXIII_.

  _A gentleman's refusal of an amour that was sought after by all his comrades, was imputed to him as great virtue, and his wife loved him and esteemed him in consequence far more than before_. (1)

  In the city of Paris there lived four girls, of whom two were sisters,and such was their beauty, youth and freshness, that they were run afterby all the gallants. A gentleman, however, who at that time held theoffice of Provost of Paris (2) from the King, seeing that his master wasyoung, of an age to desire such company, so cleverly contrived matterswith all four of the damsels that each, thinking herself intended forthe King, agreed to what the aforesaid Provost desired. This was thatthey should all of them be present at a feast to which he invited hismaster.

  1 This story, omitted by Boaistuau, was included in Gruget's edition of the _Heptameron_.--L.

  2 This is John de la Barre, already alluded to in Tale I. The _Journal d'un Bourgeois de Paris_ tells us that he was born in Paris of poor parents, and became a favourite of Francis I., who appointed him Bailiff of the capital, without requiring him to pay any of the dues attaching to the office. From the roll of the royal household for 1522, we also find that he was then a gentleman of the bed chamber with 1200 _livres_ salary, master of the wardrobe (a post worth 200 _livres_) and governor of the pages, for the board and clothing of whom he received 5000 _livres_ annually. In 1526 he became Provost as well as Bailiff of Paris, the two offices then being amalgamated. He was further created Count of Etampes, and acquired the lordship of Veretz, best remembered by its associations with the murder of Paul Louis Courier. La Barre fought at Pavia, was taken prisoner with the King, and remained his constant companion during his captivity. Several letters of his, dating from this period and of great historical interest, are still extant; some of them have been published by Champollion-Figeac (_Captivite de Francois Ier_) and Genin (_Lettres de Marguerite, &c_). Under date 1533 (o. s.) the "Bourgeois de Paris" writes in his _Journal_: "At the beginning of March there died in Paris, at the house of Monsieur Poncher, Monsieur le Prevost de Paris, named de La Barre.... The King was then in Paris, at his chateau of the Louvre, and there was great pomp at the obsequies; and he was borne to his lordship of Veretz, near Tours, that he might be buried there." Numerous particulars concerning La Barre will also be found in M. de Laborde's _Comptes des Batiments du Roi au XVIeme Siecle_.-- L. and Ed.

  He told the latter his plan, which was approved both by the Prince andby two other great personages of the Court, all three agreeing togetherto share in the spoil.

  While they were looking for a fourth comrade, there arrived a handsomeand honourable lord who was ten years younger than the others. Hewas invited to the banquet, but although he accepted with a cheerfulcountenance, in his heart he had no desire for it. For on the one parthe had a wife who was the mother of handsome children, and with whom helived in great happiness, and in such peacefulness that on no accountwould he have had her suspect evil of him. And on the other hand he wasthe lover of one of the handsomest ladies of her time in France, whomhe loved and esteemed so greatly that all other women seemed to him uglybeside her.

  In his early youth, before he was married, he had found it impossible togaze upon and associate with other women, however beautiful they mightbe; for he took more delight in gazing upon his sweetheart, and inperfectly loving her, than in having all that another might have givenhim.

  This lord, then, went to his wife and told her secretly of theenterprise that his master had in hand, saying that he would rather diethan do what he had promised. For (he told her) just as there was noliving man whom he would not venture to attack in anger, although hewould rather die than commit a causeless and wilful murder unless hishonour compelled him to it; even so, unless driven by extreme love, suchas may serve to blind virtuous men, he would rather die than break hismarriage vow to gratify another.

  On hearing these words of his, and finding that so much honour dweltin one so young, his wife loved and esteemed him more than she had everdone before, and inquired how he thought he might best excuse himself,since Princes often frown on those who do not praise what they like.

  "I have always heard," he replied, "that a wise man has a journey ora sickness in his sleeve for use in time of need. I have thereforeresolved that I will feign a grievous sickness four or five daysbeforehand, and in this matter your countenance may render me trueservice."

  "Tis a worthy and holy hypocrisy," said his wife, "and I will not failto serve you with the saddest face I can command; for he who can avoidoffending God and angering the Prince is fortunate indeed."

  As it was resolved, so was it done, and the King was very sorry to hearfrom the wife of her husband's sickness. This, however, lasted nolong time; for, on account of certain business which arose, the Kingdisregarded his pleasure to attend to his duty, and betook himself awayfrom Paris.

  However, one day, remembering their unfinished undertaking, he said tothe young lord:--

  "We were very foolish to leave so suddenly without seeing the four girlswho are declared to be the fairest in my kingdom."

  "I am very glad," replied the young lord, "that you failed in thematter, for I was in great fear that, by reason of my sickness, I shouldbe the only one to miss so pleasant an adventure."

  By reason of this answer the King never suspected the dissimulation ofthe young lord, who was thenceforward loved by his wife more dearly thanhe had ever been before.

  Hereupon Parlamente began to laugh, and could not hold from saying--

  "He would have loved his wife better if he had done this for love of heralone. But in any case he is worthy of great praise."

  "It seems to me," said Hircan, "that it is no great merit in a manto keep his chastity for love of his wife, inasmuch as there are manyreasons which in a manner compel him to do so. In the first place, Godcommands it; his marriage vow binds him to it, and, further, surfeitednature is not liable to temptation or desire as necessity is. But whenthe unfettered love that a man bears towards a mistress of whom he hasno delight, and no other happiness save that of seeing her and speakingwith her, and from whom he often receives harsh replies--when this loveis so loyal and steadfast that nothing can ever make it change, I saythat such chastity is not simply praiseworthy but miraculous."

  "'Tis no miracle in my opinion," said Oisille, "for when the heart isplighted, nothing is impossible to the body."

  "True," said Hircan; "to bodies which have become those of angels."

  "I do not speak only of those," said Oisille, "who by the grace of Godare wholly transformed into Himself, but of the grosser spirits thatwe see here below among men. And, if you give heed, you will find thatthose who have set their hearts and affections upon seeking after theperfection of the sciences, have forgotten not only the lust of theflesh, but even the most needful matters, such as food and drink; forso long as the soul is stirred within the body, so long does the fleshcontinue as though insensible. Thence comes it that those who lovehandsome, honourable and virtuous women have such happiness of spirit inseeing them and speaking with them, that the flesh is lulled in all itsdesires. Those who cannot feel this happiness are the carnally-minded,who, wrapped in their exceeding fatness, cannot tell whether they have asoul or not. But, when the body is in subjection to the spirit, it isas though heedless of the failings of the flesh, and the beliefs of suchpersons may render them insensible of the same. I knew a gentleman who,to show that he loved his mistress more dearly than did any other man,proved it to all his comrades by holding his bare fingers in theflame of a candle. And then, with his eyes fixed upon his mistress, heremained firm until he had burned himself to the bone, and yet said thathe had felt no hurt."

  "Methinks," said Geburon, "that the devil whose martyr he was ought tohave made a St. Lawrence of him; for there are few whose love-flame ishot enough to keep them from fearing that of the smallest
taper. Butif a lady had suffered me to endure so much hurt for her sake, I shouldeither have sought a rich reward or else have taken my love away fromher."

  "So," said Parlamente, "you would have your hour after the lady hadhad hers? That was what was done by a gentleman of the neighbourhoodof Valencia in Spain, whose story was told to me by a captain, a rightworthy man."

  "I pray you, madam," said Dagoucin, "take my place and tell it us, for Iam sure that it must be a good one."

  "This story, ladies," said Parlamente, "will teach you both to thinktwice when you are inclined to give a refusal and to lay aside thethought that the present will always continue; and so, knowing that itis subject to mutation, you will have a care for the time to come."

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  133a. The Lady Swooning in the Arms of the Gentleman ofValencia who had become a Monk]

  [The Lady Swooning in the Arms of the Gentleman of Valencia who hadbecome a Monk]

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