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according to the statement of the old men and women； and the certain
reason of the follies committed by certain women； who too late
perceive； I know not how； that they have been deceived； and attempt to
crowd into a day more time than it will hold； to have their proper
share of life。 That is philosophical； my friends。 Therefore study well
this page； in order that you may wisely look to the proper government
of your wives； your sweethearts； and all females generally； and
particularly those who by chance may be under your care； from which
God preserve you。
Thus a virgin in deed； although a mother； Bertha was in her one…and…
twentieth year a castle flower； the glory of her good man； and the
honour of the province。 The said Bastarnay took great pleasure in
beholding this child come； go； and frisk about like a willow…switch；
as lively as an eel； as innocent as her little one； and still most
sensible and of sound understanding； so much so that he never
undertook any project without consulting her about it； seeing that if
the minds of these angels have not been disturbed in their purity；
they give a sound answer to everything one asks of them。 At this time
Bertha lived near the town of Loches； in the castle of her lord； and
there resided； with no desire to do anything but look after her
household duties； after the old custom of the good housewives； from
which the ladies of France were led away when Queen Catherine and the
Italians came with their balls and merry…makings。 To these practices
Francis the First and his successors； whose easy ways did as much harm
to the State of France as the goings on of the Protestants lent their
aid。 This； however； has nothing to do with my story。
About this time the lord and lady of Bastarnay were invited by the
king to come to his town of Loches； where for the present he was with
his court； in which the beauty of the lady of Bastarnay had made a
great noise。 Bertha came to Loches； received many kind praises from
the king； was the centre of the homage of all the young nobles； who
feasted their eyes on this apple of love； and of the old ones； who
warmed themselves at this sun。 But you may be sure that all of them；
old and young； would have suffered death a thousand times over to have
at their service this instrument of joy； which dazzled their eyes and
muddled their brains。 Bertha was more talked about in Loches then
either God or the Gospels； which enraged a great many ladies who were
not so bountifully endowed with charms； and would have given all that
was left of their honour to have sent back to her castle this fair
gatherer of smiles。
A young lady having early perceived that one of her lovers was smitten
with Bertha； took such a hatred to her that from it arose all the
misfortunes of the lady of Bastarnay； but also from the same source
came her happiness； and her discovery of the gentle land of love； of
which she was ignorant。 This wicked lady had a relation who had
confessed to her； directly he saw Bertha； that to be her lover he
would be willing to die after a month's happiness with her。 Bear in
mind that this cousin was as handsome as a girl is beautiful； had no
hair on his chin； would have gained his enemy's forgiveness by asking
for it； so melodious was his young voice； and was scarcely twenty
years of age。
〃Dear cousin；〃 said she to him； 〃leave the room； and go to your house；
I will endeavour to give you this joy。 But do not let yourself be seen
by her； nor by that old baboon…face by an error of nature on a
Christian's body； and to whom belongs this beauteous fay。〃
The young gentleman out of the way； the lady came rubbing her
treacherous nose against Bertha's； and called her 〃My friend； my
treasure； my star of beauty〃； trying every way to be agreeable to her；
to make her vengeance more certain on the poor child who； all
unwittingly； had caused her lover's heart to be faithless； which； for
women ambitious in love； is the worst of infidelities。 After a little
conversation； the plotting lady suspected that poor Bertha was a
maiden in matters of love； when she saw her eyes full of limpid water；
no marks on the temples； no little black speck on the point of her
little nose； white as snow； where usually the marks of the amusement
are visible； no wrinkle on her brow； in short； no habit of pleasure
apparent on her faceclear as the face of an innocent maiden。 Then
this traitress put certain women's questions to her； and was perfectly
assured by the replies of Bertha； that if she had had the profit of
being a mother； the pleasures of love had been denied to her。 At this
she rejoiced greatly on her cousin's behalflike the good woman she
was。
Then she told her； that in the town of Loches there lived a young and
noble lady； of the family of a Rohan； who at that time had need of the
assistance of a lady of position to be reconciled with the Sire Louis
de Rohan； that if she had as much goodness as God had given her
beauty； she would take her with her to the castle； ascertain for
herself the sanctity of her life； and bring about a reconciliation
with the Sire de Rohan； who refused to receive her。 To this Bertha
consented without hesitation； because the misfortunes of this girl
were known to her； but not the poor young lady herself； whose name was
Sylvia； and whom she had believed to be in a foreign land。
It is here necessary to state why the king had given this invitation
to the Sire de Bastarnay。 He had a suspicion of the first flight of
his son the Dauphin into Burgundy； and wished to deprive him of so
good a counsellor as was the said Bastarnay。 But the veteran； faithful
to young Louis； had already； without saying a word； made up his mind。
Therefore he took Bertha back to his castle； but before they set out
she told him she had taken a companion and introduced her to him。 It
was the young lord； disguised as a girl； with the assistance of his
cousin； who was jealous of Bertha； and annoyed at her virtue。 Imbert
drew back a little when he learned that it was Sylvia de Rohan； but
was also much affected at the kindness of Bertha； whom he thanked for
her attempt to bring a little wandering lamb back to the fold。 He made
much of his wife； when his last night at home came； left men…at…arms
about his castle； and then set out with the Dauphin for Burgundy；
having a cruel enemy in his bosom without suspecting it。 The face of
the young lad was unknown to him； because he was a young page come to
see the king's court； and who had been brought up by the Cardinal
Dunois； in whose service he was a knight…bachelor。
The old lord； believing that he was a girl； thought him very modest
and timid； because the lad； doubting the language of his eyes； kept
them always cast down； and when Bertha kissed him on the mouth； he
trembled lest his petticoat might be indiscreet； and would walk away
to the window； so fearful was he of being recognised as a man by
Bastarnay； and killed before he had m