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heretically to say； my god！ If you don't believe it； ask your friends。
At this moment the lady let him understand by a gesture that the king
was there。
〃Can he hear？〃 said the queen。
〃Yes。〃
〃Can he see？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Who brought him？〃
〃Pezare。〃
〃Fetch the physician； and get Gauttier into his own room。〃 said the
queen。
In less time than it takes a beggar to say 〃God bless you； sir！〃 the
queen had swathed the lantern in linen and paint； so that you would
have thought it a hideous wound in a state of grievous inflammation。
When the king； enraged by what he overheard； burst open the door； he
found the queen lying on the bed exactly as he has seen her through
the hole； and the physician； examining the lantern swathed in
bandages； and saying； 〃How it is the little treasure； this morning？〃
in exactly the same voice as the king had heard。 A jocular and
cheerful expression； because physicians and surgeons use cheerful
words with ladies and treat this sweet flower with flowery phrases。
This sight made the king look as foolish as a fox caught in a trap。
The queen sprang up； reddening with shame； and asking what man dared
to intrude upon her privacy at such a moment； but perceiving the king；
she said to him as follows：
〃Ah！ my lord； you have discovered that which I have endeavoured to
conceal from you： that I am so badly treated by you that I am
afflicted with a burning ailment； of which my dignity would not allow
me to complain； but which needs secret dressing in order to assuage
the influence of the vital forces。 To save my honour and your own； I
am compelled to come to my good Lady Miraflor； who consoles me in my
troubles。〃
Then the physician commenced to treat Leufroid to an oration；
interlarded with Latin quotations and precious grains from
Hippocrates； Galen； the School of Salerno； and others； in which he
showed him how necessary to women was the proper cultivation of the
field of Venus； and that there was great danger of death to queens of
Spanish temperament； whose blood was excessively amorous。 He delivered
himself of his arguments with great solemnity of feature； voice； and
manner； in order to give the Sire de Montsoreau time to get to bed。
Then the queen took the same text to preach the king a sermon as long
as his arm； and requested the loan of that limb； that the king might
conduct her to her apartment instead of the poor invalid； who usually
did so in order to avoid calumny。 When they were in the gallery where
the Sire de Montsoreau resided； the queen said jokingly； 〃You should
play a good trick on this Frenchman； who I would wager is with some
lady； and not in his own room。 All the ladies of Court are in love
with him； and there will be mischief some day through him。 If you had
taken my advice he would not be in Sicily now。〃
Leufroid went suddenly into Gauttier's room； whom he found in a deep
sleep； and snoring like a monk in Church。 The queen returned with the
king； whom she took to her apartments； and whispered to one of the
guards to send to her the lord whose place Pezare occupied。 Then；
while she fondled the king； taking breakfast with him； she took the
lord directly he came； into an adjoining room。
〃Erect a gallows on the bastion；〃 said she； 〃then seize the knight
Pezare； and manage so that he is hanged instantly； without giving time
to write or say a single word on any subject whatsoever。 Such is our
good pleasure and supreme command。〃
Cataneo made no remark。 While Pezare was thinking to himself that his
friend Gauttier would soon be minus his head； the Duke Cataneo came to
seize and lead him on to bastion； from which he could see at the
queen's window the Sire de Montsoreau in company with the king； the
queen； and the courtiers； and came to the conclusion that he who
looked after the queen had a better chance in everything than he who
looked after the king。
〃My dear；〃 said the queen to her spouse； leading him to the window；
〃behold a traitor； who was endeavouring to deprive you of that which
you hold dearest in the world； and I will give you the proofs when you
have the leisure to study them。〃
Montsoreau； seeing the preparations for the final ceremony； threw
himself at the king's feet； to obtain the pardon of him who was his
mortal enemy； at which the king was much moved。
〃Sire de Monsoreau；〃 said the queen； turning towards him with an angry
look； 〃are you so bold as to oppose our will and pleasure？〃
〃You are a noble knight；〃 said the king； 〃but you do not know how
bitter this Venetian was against you。〃
Pezare was delicately strangled between the head and the shoulders；
for the queen revealed his treacheries to the king； proving to him； by
the declaration of a Lombard of the town； the enormous sums which
Pezare had in the bank of Genoa； the whole of which were given up to
Montsoreau。
This noble and lovely queen died； as related in the history of Sicily；
that is； in consequence of a heavy labour； during which she gave birth
to a son； who was a man as great in himself as he was unfortunate in
his undertakings。 The king believed the physician's statement； that
the said termination to this accouchement was caused by the too chaste
life the queen had led； and believing himself responsible for it； he
founded the Church of the Madonna； which is one of the finest in the
town of Palermo。 The Sire de Monsoreau； who was a witness of the
king's remorse； told him that when a king got his wife from Spain； he
ought to know that this queen would require more attention than any
other； because the Spanish ladies were so lively that they equalled
ten ordinary women； and that if he wished a wife for show only； he
should get her from the north of Germany； where the women are as cold
as ice。 The good knight came back to Touraine laden with wealth； and
lived there many years； but never mentioned his adventures in Sicily。
He returned there to aid the king's son in his principal attempt
against Naples； and left Italy when this sweet prince was wounded； as
is related in the Chronicle。
Besides the high moralities contained in the title of this tale； where
it is said that fortune； being female； is always on the side of the
ladies； and that men are quite right to serve them well； it shows us
that silence is the better part of wisdom。 Nevertheless； the monkish
author of this narrative seems to draw this other no less learned
moral therefrom； that interest which makes so many friendships； breaks
them also。 But from these three versions you can choose the one that
best accords with your judgment and your momentary requirement。
CONCERNING A POOR MAN WHO WAS CALLED LE VIEUX PAR…CHEMINS
The old chronicler who furnished the hemp to weave the present story；
is said to have lived at the time when the affair occurred in the City
of Rouen。
In the environs of this fair town； where at the time dwelt Duke
Richard； an old man used