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In Which it is Demonstrated That Fortune is Always Feminine, and Perseverance in Love
Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) was a nineteenth-century French novelist and playwright. His Magnum Opus was a sequence of almost 100 novels and plays collectively entitled La Comédie Humaine, which presents a panorama of French life in the years after the fall of Napoléon Bonaparte in 1815. Due to his keen observation of detail and unfiltered representation of society, Balzac is regarded as one of the founders of realism in European literature. He is renowned for his multi-faceted characters; even his lesser characters are complex, morally ambiguous and fully human. Inanimate objects are imbued with character as well; the city of Paris, a backdrop for much of his writing, takes on many human qualities. His writing influenced many famous authors, including the novelists Marcel Proust, Émile Zola, Charles Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, Marie Corelli, Henry James and Jack Kerouac, as well as important philosophers such as Friedrich Engels. Many of Balzac's works have been made into films, and they continue to inspire other writers. His works also Jean-Louis (1822), Clotilde de Lusignan (1822) and Wann-Chlore (1826).
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1837
2 people want to read
About the author
Honoré de Balzac
9,590 books4,411 followersFrench writer Honoré de Balzac (born Honoré Balzac), a founder of the realist school of fiction, portrayed the panorama of society in a body of works, known collectively as
La comédie humaine
.
Honoré de Balzac authored 19th-century novels and plays. After the fall of Napoléon in 1815, his magnum opus, a sequence of almost a hundred novels and plays, entitled, presents life in the years.
Due to keen observation of fine detail and unfiltered representation, European literature regards Balzac. He features renowned multifaceted, even complex, morally ambiguous, full lesser characters. Character well imbues inanimate objects; the city of Paris, a backdrop, takes on many qualities. He influenced many famous authors, including the novelists Marcel Proust, Émile Zola, Charles John Huffam Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, Henry James, and Jack Kerouac as well as important philosophers, such as Friedrich Engels. Many works of Balzac, made into films, continue to inspire.
An enthusiastic reader and independent thinker as a child, Balzac adapted with trouble to the teaching style of his grammar. His willful nature caused trouble throughout his life and frustrated his ambitions to succeed in the world of business. Balzac finished, and people then apprenticed him as a legal clerk, but after wearying of banal routine, he turned his back on law. He attempted a publisher, printer, businessman, critic, and politician before and during his career. He failed in these efforts From his own experience, he reflects life difficulties and includes scenes.
Possibly due to his intense schedule and from health problems, Balzac suffered throughout his life. Financial and personal drama often strained his relationship with his family, and he lost more than one friend over critical reviews. In 1850, he married Ewelina Hańska, his longtime paramour; five months later, he passed away.
Honoré de Balzac authored 19th-century novels and plays. After the fall of Napoléon in 1815, his magnum opus, a sequence of almost a hundred novels and plays, entitled, presents life in the years.
Due to keen observation of fine detail and unfiltered representation, European literature regards Balzac. He features renowned multifaceted, even complex, morally ambiguous, full lesser characters. Character well imbues inanimate objects; the city of Paris, a backdrop, takes on many qualities. He influenced many famous authors, including the novelists Marcel Proust, Émile Zola, Charles John Huffam Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, Henry James, and Jack Kerouac as well as important philosophers, such as Friedrich Engels. Many works of Balzac, made into films, continue to inspire.
An enthusiastic reader and independent thinker as a child, Balzac adapted with trouble to the teaching style of his grammar. His willful nature caused trouble throughout his life and frustrated his ambitions to succeed in the world of business. Balzac finished, and people then apprenticed him as a legal clerk, but after wearying of banal routine, he turned his back on law. He attempted a publisher, printer, businessman, critic, and politician before and during his career. He failed in these efforts From his own experience, he reflects life difficulties and includes scenes.
Possibly due to his intense schedule and from health problems, Balzac suffered throughout his life. Financial and personal drama often strained his relationship with his family, and he lost more than one friend over critical reviews. In 1850, he married Ewelina Hańska, his longtime paramour; five months later, he passed away.
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December 7, 2022
Balzac's "Droll Story" "In Which is Demonstrated That Fortune is Always Feminine, and Perseverance in Love" is a story that ends with the female controlling the situation but on the way there a contract between two newly meet friends goes awry. This is one of the better "Droll Stories", it includes an interesting political bend. After having read Zola's "Abbe Mouret's Transgression" where Serge was so enamoured with the Virgin Mary and in this story a reference to the Virgin Mary had me thinking of this.
Story in short- A Frenchman meets up with a Venetian and make plans to control Prince Leufroid and his wife.
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DURING THE TIME when knights courteously offered to each other both help and assistance in seeking their fortune, it happened that in Sicily — which, as you are probably aware, is an island situated in the corner of the Mediterranean Sea, and formerly celebrated — one knight met in a wood another knight, who had the appearance of a Frenchman. Presumably, this Frenchman was by some chance stripped of everything, and was so wretchedly attired that but for his princely air he might have been taken for a blackguard. It was possible that his horse had died of hunger or fatigue, on disembarking from the foreign shore for which he came, on the faith of the good luck which happened to the French in
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Sicily, which was true in every respect. The Sicilian knight, whose name was Pezare, was a Venetian long absent from the Venetian Republic, and with no desire to return there, since he had obtained a footing in the Court of the King of Sicily. Being short of funds in Venice, because he was a younger son, he had no fancy for commerce, and was for that reason eventually abandoned by his family, a most illustrious one. He therefore remained at this Court,
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where he was much liked by the king. This gentleman was riding a splendid Spanish horse, and thinking to himself how lonely he was in this strange court, without trusty friends, and how in such cases fortune was harsh to helpless people and became a traitress, when he met the poor French knight, who appeared far worse off that he, who had good weapons, a fine horse, and a mansion where servants were then preparing a sumptuous supper.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
The Frenchman Gauttier de Monsoreau and Venetian Chevalier Pezare meet while in Sicily and look to control Prince Leufroid and his power and fortune. Pezare is to befriend the Prince and Monsoreau is to romance the Princess, who is beautiful but neglected by the husband for other women. Monsoreau wins the Princess' heart and though Pezare has gained with the Prince, he plays his cards wrong by trying to have his partner executed. Pezare tells the Prince that Monsoreau is in bed with the Princess but his plans are thwarted when it is overheard and Monsoreau is no where in sight. The Princess shows her husband that Pezare has used him for gain and he is executed instead of Monsoreau, who gains favor. It seems that the Princess gives birth and dies during the birth of her son, which is probably Monsoreau, but the Prince thinks it is his own. The Frenchman when he meet the Venetian was leery of all but it seems he let his guard down but luck of a female helped saved his life. Trusting all is foolish but the need to trust some is needed.
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“You must have come a long way to have so much dust on your feet,” said the Venetian. “My feet have not as much dust as the road was long,” answered the Frenchman. “If you have travelled so much,” continued the Venetian, “you must be a learned man.” “I have learned,” replied the Frenchman, “to give no heed to those who do not trouble about me. I have learnt that however high a man’s head was, his feet were always level with my own; more than
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that, I have learnt to have no confidence in the warm days of winter, in the sleep of my enemies, or the words of my friends.” “You are, then, richer than I am,” said the Venetian, astonished, “since you tell me things of which I never thought.” “Everyone must think for himself,” said the Frenchman; “and as you have interrogated me, I can request from you the kindness of pointing to me the road to Palermo or some inn, for the night is closing in.”
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“Are you then, acquainted with no French or Sicilian gentlemen at Palermo?” “No.” “Then you are not certain of being received?” “I am disposed to forgive those who reject me. The road, sir, if you please.” “I am lost like yourself,” said the Venetian. “Let us look for it in company.” “To do that we must go together; but you are on horseback, I am on foot.”
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The Venetian took the French knight on his saddle behind him, and said — “Do you know with whom you are?” “With a man, apparently.” “Do you think you are in safety?” “If you were a robber, you would have to take care of yourself,” said the Frenchman, putting the point of his dagger to the Venetian’s heart. “Well, now, my noble Frenchman, you appear to be a man of great learning and sound sense; know that I am a noble, established at
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the Court of Sicily, but alone, and I seek a friend. You seem to be in the same plight, and, judging from appearances, you do not seem friendly with your lot, and have apparently need of everybody.” “Should I be happier if everybody wanted me?” “You are a devil, who turns every one of my words against me. By St. Mark! my lord knight, can one trust you?” “More than yourself, who commenced our federal friendship by deceiving me, since you guide your
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horse like a man who knows his way, and you said you were lost.” “And did not you deceive me?” said the Venetian, “by making a sage of your years walk, and giving a noble knight the appearance of a vagabond? Here is my abode; my servants have prepared supper for us.” The Frenchman jumped off the horse, and entered the house with the Venetian cavalier, accepting his supper. They both seated themselves at the table. The Frenchman fought so well with his jaws, he
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twisted the morsels with so much agility, that he showed herself equally learned in suppers, and showed it again in dexterously draining the wine flasks without his eye becoming dimmed or his understanding affected. Then you may be sure that the Venetian thought to himself he had fallen in with a fine son of Adam, sprung from the right side and the wrong one. While they were drinking together, the Venetian endeavoured to find some joint through which to sound the secret depths of his friend’s cogitations. He, however, clearly perceived that he would cast aside his shirt sooner than his prudence, and judged it opportune to gain his esteem by opening his doublet to him. Therefore he told him in what state was Sicily, where reigned Prince Leufroid and his gentle wife; how gallant was the Court, what courtesy there flourished, that there abounded many lords of Spain, Italy, France, and other countries, lords in high feather and well feathered; many princesses, as rich as noble, and as noble as rich; that
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this prince had the loftiest aspirations — such as to conquer Morocco, Constantinople, Jerusalem, the lands of Soudan, and other African places.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206196
“Although I stand in need of no assistance,” said the Frenchman, “because I rely upon a point which will procure me all that I desire,
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I should like to acknowledge your courtesy, dear Chevalier Pezare. You will soon see that you will yet be the debtor of Gauttier de Monsoreau, a gentleman of the fair land of Touraine.” “Do you possess any relic with which your fortune is wound up?” said the Venetian. “A talisman given me by my dear mother,” said the Touranian, “with which castles and cities are built and demolished, a hammer to coin money, a remedy for every ill, a traveller’s staff always ready to be tried,
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and worth most when in a state of readiness, a master tool, which executes wondrous works in all sorts of forges, without making the slightest noise.” “Eh! by St. Mark you have, then, a mystery concealed in your hauberk?” “No,” said the French knight; “it is a perfectly natural thing. Here it is.” And rising suddenly from the table to prepare for bed, Gauttier showed to the Venetian the finest talisman to procure joy that he had ever seen.
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“This,” said the Frenchman, as they both got into bed together, according to the custom of the times, “overcomes every obstacle, by making itself master of female hearts; and as the ladies are the queens in this court, your friend Gauttier will soon reign there.” The Venetian remained in great astonishment at the sight of the secret charms of the said Gauttier, who had indeed been bounteously endowed by his mother, and perhaps also by his father; and would thus triumph over everything, since
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he joined to this corporeal perfection the wit of a young page, and the wisdom of an old devil. Then they swore an eternal friendship, regarding as nothing therein a woman’s heart, vowing to have one and the same idea, as if their heads had been in the same helmet; and they fell asleep on the same pillow enchanted with this fraternity. This was a common occurrence in those days. On the morrow the Venetian gave a fine horse to his friend Gauttier, also a purse full of money,
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fine silken hose, a velvet doublet, fringed with gold, and an embroidered mantle, which garments set off his figure so well, and showed up his beauties, that the Venetian was certain he would captivate all the ladies. The servants received orders to obey this Gauttier as they would himself, so that they fancied their master had been fishing, and had caught this Frenchman. Then the two friends made their entry into Palermo at the hour when the princes and princesses were taking the air. Pezare presented his French
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friend, speaking so highly of his merits, and obtaining such a gracious reception for him, that Leufroid kept him to supper. The knight kept a sharp eye on the Court, and noticed therein various curious little secret practices. If the king was a brave and handsome prince, the princess was a Spanish lady of high temperature, the most beautiful and most noble woman of his Court, but inclined to melancholy. Looking at her, the Touranian believed that she was sparingly embraced by the king, for the law of Touraine
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is that joy in the face comes from joy elsewhere. Pezare pointed out to his friend Gauttier several ladies to whom Leufroid was exceedingly gracious and who were exceedingly jealous and fought for him in a tournament of gallantries and wonderful female inventions. From all this Gauttier concluded that the prince went considerably astray with his court, although he had the prettiest wife in the world, and occupied himself with taxing the ladies of Sicily, in order that he might put his horse in their stables, vary his fodder, and learn the equestrian capabilities of many lands. Perceiving what a life Leufroid was leading, the Sire de Monsoreau, certain that no one in the Court had had the heart to enlighten the queen, determined at one blow to plant his halberd in the field of the fair Spaniard by a master stroke; and this is how. At supper-time, in order to show courtesy to the foreign knight, the king took care to place him near the queen, to whom the gallant Gauttier offered his arm, to take her into the room, and conducted her there
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hastily, to get ahead of those who were following, in order to whisper, first of all, a word concerning a subject which always pleases the ladies in whatever condition they may be. Imagine what this word was, and how it went straight through the stubble and weeds into the warm thicket of love. “I know, your majesty, what causes your paleness of face.” “What?” said she. “You are so loving that the king loves you night and day; thus you
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abuse your advantage, for he will die of love.” “What should I do to keep him alive?” said the queen. “Forbid him to repeat at your altar more than three prayers a day.” “You are joking, after the French fashion, Sir Knight, seeing that the king’s devotion to me does not extend beyond a short prayer a week.” “You are deceived,” said Gauttier, seating himself at the table. “I can prove to you that love should go through the whole mass, matins, and vespers, with an Ave now and
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then, for queens as for simple women, and go through the ceremony every day, like the monks in their monastery, with fervour; but for you these litanies should never finish.” The queen cast upon the knight a glance which was far from one of displeasure, smiled at him, and shook her head. “In this,” said she, “men are great liars.” “I have with me a great truth which I will show you when you wish it.” replied the knight. “I
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undertake to give you queen’s fare, and put you on the high road to joy; by this means you will make up for lost time, the more so as the king is ruined through other women, while I shall reserve my advantage for your service.” “And if the king learns of our arrangement, he will put your head on a level with your feet.” “Even if this misfortune befell me after the first night, I should believe I had lived a hundred years, from the joy therein received, for never have I seen, after visiting all Courts,
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a princess fit to hold a candle to your beauty. To be brief, if I die not by the sword, you will still be the cause of my death, for I am resolved to spend my life in your love, if life will depart in the place whence it comes.” Now this queen had never heard such words before, and preferred them to the most sweetly sung mass; her pleasure showed itself in her face, which became purple, for these words made her blood boil within her veins, so that the strings of her lute were moved thereat, and
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struck a sweet note that rang melodiously in her ears, for this lute fills with its music the brain and the body of the ladies, by a sweet artifice of their resonant nature. What a shame to be young, beautiful, Spanish, and queen, and yet neglected. She conceived an intense disdain for those of her Court who had kept their lips closed concerning this infidelity, through fear of the king, and determined to revenge herself with the aid of this handsome Frenchman, who cared so little for life that in his first words he had
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staked it in making a proposition to a queen, which was worthy of death, if she did her duty. Instead of this, however, she pressed his foot with her own, in a manner that admitted no misconception, and said aloud to him — “Sir Knight, let us change the subject, for it is very wrong of you to attack a poor queen in her weak spot. Tell us the customs of the ladies of the Court of France.” Thus did the knight receive the delicate hint that the business was arranged. Then he commenced to
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talk of merry and pleasant things, which during supper kept the court, the king, the queen, and all the courtiers in a good humour; so much so that when the siege was raised, Leufroid declared that he had never laughed so much in his life. Then they strolled about the gardens, which were the most beautiful in the world, and the queen made a pretext of the chevalier’s sayings to walk beneath a grove of blossoming orange trees, which yielded a delicious fragrance.
Story in short- A Frenchman meets up with a Venetian and make plans to control Prince Leufroid and his wife.
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206142
DURING THE TIME when knights courteously offered to each other both help and assistance in seeking their fortune, it happened that in Sicily — which, as you are probably aware, is an island situated in the corner of the Mediterranean Sea, and formerly celebrated — one knight met in a wood another knight, who had the appearance of a Frenchman. Presumably, this Frenchman was by some chance stripped of everything, and was so wretchedly attired that but for his princely air he might have been taken for a blackguard. It was possible that his horse had died of hunger or fatigue, on disembarking from the foreign shore for which he came, on the faith of the good luck which happened to the French in
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206148
Sicily, which was true in every respect. The Sicilian knight, whose name was Pezare, was a Venetian long absent from the Venetian Republic, and with no desire to return there, since he had obtained a footing in the Court of the King of Sicily. Being short of funds in Venice, because he was a younger son, he had no fancy for commerce, and was for that reason eventually abandoned by his family, a most illustrious one. He therefore remained at this Court,
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206151
where he was much liked by the king. This gentleman was riding a splendid Spanish horse, and thinking to himself how lonely he was in this strange court, without trusty friends, and how in such cases fortune was harsh to helpless people and became a traitress, when he met the poor French knight, who appeared far worse off that he, who had good weapons, a fine horse, and a mansion where servants were then preparing a sumptuous supper.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
The Frenchman Gauttier de Monsoreau and Venetian Chevalier Pezare meet while in Sicily and look to control Prince Leufroid and his power and fortune. Pezare is to befriend the Prince and Monsoreau is to romance the Princess, who is beautiful but neglected by the husband for other women. Monsoreau wins the Princess' heart and though Pezare has gained with the Prince, he plays his cards wrong by trying to have his partner executed. Pezare tells the Prince that Monsoreau is in bed with the Princess but his plans are thwarted when it is overheard and Monsoreau is no where in sight. The Princess shows her husband that Pezare has used him for gain and he is executed instead of Monsoreau, who gains favor. It seems that the Princess gives birth and dies during the birth of her son, which is probably Monsoreau, but the Prince thinks it is his own. The Frenchman when he meet the Venetian was leery of all but it seems he let his guard down but luck of a female helped saved his life. Trusting all is foolish but the need to trust some is needed.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206155
“You must have come a long way to have so much dust on your feet,” said the Venetian. “My feet have not as much dust as the road was long,” answered the Frenchman. “If you have travelled so much,” continued the Venetian, “you must be a learned man.” “I have learned,” replied the Frenchman, “to give no heed to those who do not trouble about me. I have learnt that however high a man’s head was, his feet were always level with my own; more than
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206159
that, I have learnt to have no confidence in the warm days of winter, in the sleep of my enemies, or the words of my friends.” “You are, then, richer than I am,” said the Venetian, astonished, “since you tell me things of which I never thought.” “Everyone must think for himself,” said the Frenchman; “and as you have interrogated me, I can request from you the kindness of pointing to me the road to Palermo or some inn, for the night is closing in.”
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“Are you then, acquainted with no French or Sicilian gentlemen at Palermo?” “No.” “Then you are not certain of being received?” “I am disposed to forgive those who reject me. The road, sir, if you please.” “I am lost like yourself,” said the Venetian. “Let us look for it in company.” “To do that we must go together; but you are on horseback, I am on foot.”
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The Venetian took the French knight on his saddle behind him, and said — “Do you know with whom you are?” “With a man, apparently.” “Do you think you are in safety?” “If you were a robber, you would have to take care of yourself,” said the Frenchman, putting the point of his dagger to the Venetian’s heart. “Well, now, my noble Frenchman, you appear to be a man of great learning and sound sense; know that I am a noble, established at
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the Court of Sicily, but alone, and I seek a friend. You seem to be in the same plight, and, judging from appearances, you do not seem friendly with your lot, and have apparently need of everybody.” “Should I be happier if everybody wanted me?” “You are a devil, who turns every one of my words against me. By St. Mark! my lord knight, can one trust you?” “More than yourself, who commenced our federal friendship by deceiving me, since you guide your
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206176
horse like a man who knows his way, and you said you were lost.” “And did not you deceive me?” said the Venetian, “by making a sage of your years walk, and giving a noble knight the appearance of a vagabond? Here is my abode; my servants have prepared supper for us.” The Frenchman jumped off the horse, and entered the house with the Venetian cavalier, accepting his supper. They both seated themselves at the table. The Frenchman fought so well with his jaws, he
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206180
twisted the morsels with so much agility, that he showed herself equally learned in suppers, and showed it again in dexterously draining the wine flasks without his eye becoming dimmed or his understanding affected. Then you may be sure that the Venetian thought to himself he had fallen in with a fine son of Adam, sprung from the right side and the wrong one. While they were drinking together, the Venetian endeavoured to find some joint through which to sound the secret depths of his friend’s cogitations. He, however, clearly perceived that he would cast aside his shirt sooner than his prudence, and judged it opportune to gain his esteem by opening his doublet to him. Therefore he told him in what state was Sicily, where reigned Prince Leufroid and his gentle wife; how gallant was the Court, what courtesy there flourished, that there abounded many lords of Spain, Italy, France, and other countries, lords in high feather and well feathered; many princesses, as rich as noble, and as noble as rich; that
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206186
this prince had the loftiest aspirations — such as to conquer Morocco, Constantinople, Jerusalem, the lands of Soudan, and other African places.
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206196
“Although I stand in need of no assistance,” said the Frenchman, “because I rely upon a point which will procure me all that I desire,
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206197
I should like to acknowledge your courtesy, dear Chevalier Pezare. You will soon see that you will yet be the debtor of Gauttier de Monsoreau, a gentleman of the fair land of Touraine.” “Do you possess any relic with which your fortune is wound up?” said the Venetian. “A talisman given me by my dear mother,” said the Touranian, “with which castles and cities are built and demolished, a hammer to coin money, a remedy for every ill, a traveller’s staff always ready to be tried,
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206201
and worth most when in a state of readiness, a master tool, which executes wondrous works in all sorts of forges, without making the slightest noise.” “Eh! by St. Mark you have, then, a mystery concealed in your hauberk?” “No,” said the French knight; “it is a perfectly natural thing. Here it is.” And rising suddenly from the table to prepare for bed, Gauttier showed to the Venetian the finest talisman to procure joy that he had ever seen.
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“This,” said the Frenchman, as they both got into bed together, according to the custom of the times, “overcomes every obstacle, by making itself master of female hearts; and as the ladies are the queens in this court, your friend Gauttier will soon reign there.” The Venetian remained in great astonishment at the sight of the secret charms of the said Gauttier, who had indeed been bounteously endowed by his mother, and perhaps also by his father; and would thus triumph over everything, since
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206209
he joined to this corporeal perfection the wit of a young page, and the wisdom of an old devil. Then they swore an eternal friendship, regarding as nothing therein a woman’s heart, vowing to have one and the same idea, as if their heads had been in the same helmet; and they fell asleep on the same pillow enchanted with this fraternity. This was a common occurrence in those days. On the morrow the Venetian gave a fine horse to his friend Gauttier, also a purse full of money,
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206212
fine silken hose, a velvet doublet, fringed with gold, and an embroidered mantle, which garments set off his figure so well, and showed up his beauties, that the Venetian was certain he would captivate all the ladies. The servants received orders to obey this Gauttier as they would himself, so that they fancied their master had been fishing, and had caught this Frenchman. Then the two friends made their entry into Palermo at the hour when the princes and princesses were taking the air. Pezare presented his French
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206216
friend, speaking so highly of his merits, and obtaining such a gracious reception for him, that Leufroid kept him to supper. The knight kept a sharp eye on the Court, and noticed therein various curious little secret practices. If the king was a brave and handsome prince, the princess was a Spanish lady of high temperature, the most beautiful and most noble woman of his Court, but inclined to melancholy. Looking at her, the Touranian believed that she was sparingly embraced by the king, for the law of Touraine
Highlight (Yellow) | Location 206219
is that joy in the face comes from joy elsewhere. Pezare pointed out to his friend Gauttier several ladies to whom Leufroid was exceedingly gracious and who were exceedingly jealous and fought for him in a tournament of gallantries and wonderful female inventions. From all this Gauttier concluded that the prince went considerably astray with his court, although he had the prettiest wife in the world, and occupied himself with taxing the ladies of Sicily, in order that he might put his horse in their stables, vary his fodder, and learn the equestrian capabilities of many lands. Perceiving what a life Leufroid was leading, the Sire de Monsoreau, certain that no one in the Court had had the heart to enlighten the queen, determined at one blow to plant his halberd in the field of the fair Spaniard by a master stroke; and this is how. At supper-time, in order to show courtesy to the foreign knight, the king took care to place him near the queen, to whom the gallant Gauttier offered his arm, to take her into the room, and conducted her there
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hastily, to get ahead of those who were following, in order to whisper, first of all, a word concerning a subject which always pleases the ladies in whatever condition they may be. Imagine what this word was, and how it went straight through the stubble and weeds into the warm thicket of love. “I know, your majesty, what causes your paleness of face.” “What?” said she. “You are so loving that the king loves you night and day; thus you
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abuse your advantage, for he will die of love.” “What should I do to keep him alive?” said the queen. “Forbid him to repeat at your altar more than three prayers a day.” “You are joking, after the French fashion, Sir Knight, seeing that the king’s devotion to me does not extend beyond a short prayer a week.” “You are deceived,” said Gauttier, seating himself at the table. “I can prove to you that love should go through the whole mass, matins, and vespers, with an Ave now and
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then, for queens as for simple women, and go through the ceremony every day, like the monks in their monastery, with fervour; but for you these litanies should never finish.” The queen cast upon the knight a glance which was far from one of displeasure, smiled at him, and shook her head. “In this,” said she, “men are great liars.” “I have with me a great truth which I will show you when you wish it.” replied the knight. “I
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undertake to give you queen’s fare, and put you on the high road to joy; by this means you will make up for lost time, the more so as the king is ruined through other women, while I shall reserve my advantage for your service.” “And if the king learns of our arrangement, he will put your head on a level with your feet.” “Even if this misfortune befell me after the first night, I should believe I had lived a hundred years, from the joy therein received, for never have I seen, after visiting all Courts,
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a princess fit to hold a candle to your beauty. To be brief, if I die not by the sword, you will still be the cause of my death, for I am resolved to spend my life in your love, if life will depart in the place whence it comes.” Now this queen had never heard such words before, and preferred them to the most sweetly sung mass; her pleasure showed itself in her face, which became purple, for these words made her blood boil within her veins, so that the strings of her lute were moved thereat, and
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struck a sweet note that rang melodiously in her ears, for this lute fills with its music the brain and the body of the ladies, by a sweet artifice of their resonant nature. What a shame to be young, beautiful, Spanish, and queen, and yet neglected. She conceived an intense disdain for those of her Court who had kept their lips closed concerning this infidelity, through fear of the king, and determined to revenge herself with the aid of this handsome Frenchman, who cared so little for life that in his first words he had
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staked it in making a proposition to a queen, which was worthy of death, if she did her duty. Instead of this, however, she pressed his foot with her own, in a manner that admitted no misconception, and said aloud to him — “Sir Knight, let us change the subject, for it is very wrong of you to attack a poor queen in her weak spot. Tell us the customs of the ladies of the Court of France.” Thus did the knight receive the delicate hint that the business was arranged. Then he commenced to
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talk of merry and pleasant things, which during supper kept the court, the king, the queen, and all the courtiers in a good humour; so much so that when the siege was raised, Leufroid declared that he had never laughed so much in his life. Then they strolled about the gardens, which were the most beautiful in the world, and the queen made a pretext of the chevalier’s sayings to walk beneath a grove of blossoming orange trees, which yielded a delicious fragrance.
February 5, 2019
My first Balzac is meh
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