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Duke； who would have counted out five hundred crowns； would have found
this girl rebellious； which proves she was niggardly with her
property。 It is true that the king caused her to be sent for to his
retreat of Rue Quinquangrogne； on the mall of Chardonneret； found her
extremely pretty； exceedingly affectionate； enjoyed her society； and
forbade the sergeants to interfere with her in any way whatever。
Seeing she was so beautiful； Nicole Beaupertuys； the king's mistress；
gave her a hundred gold crowns to go to Orleans； in order to see if
the colour of the Loire was the same there as at Portillon。 She went
there； and the more willingly because she did not care very much for
the king。 When the good man came who confessed the king in his last
hours； and was afterwards canonised； La Portillone went to him to
polish up her conscience； did penance； and founded a bed in the leper…
house of St。 Lazare…aux…Tours。 Many ladies whom you know have been
assaulted by more than two lords； and have founded no other beds than
those in their own houses。 It is as well to relate this fact； in order
to cleanse the reputation of this honest girl； who herself once washed
dirty things； and who afterwards became famous for her clever tricks
and her wit。 She gave a proof of her merit in marrying Taschereau； who
she cuckolded right merrily； as has been related in the story of The
Reproach。 This proves to us most satisfactorily that with strength and
patience justice itself can be violated。
IN WHICH IT IS DEMONSTRATED THAT FORTUNE IS ALWAYS FEMININE
During the time when knights courteously offered to each other both
help and assistance in seeking their fortune； it happened that in
Sicilywhich； as you are probably aware； is an island situated in the
corner of the Mediterranean Sea； and formerly celebratedone 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 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； 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。
〃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 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。〃
〃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。〃
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 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 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 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 this
prince had the loftiest aspirationssuch as to