按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
because God； noticing the devil's work； determined to see what would
come of it。〃
The servant declared that they were quite correct in the statements；
for that woman was a bad animal； and that she herself knew some who
were better under the ground than on it。 The pilgrims； noticing then
how pretty the girl was； were afraid of breaking their vows； and went
straight to bed。 The girl went and told her mistress she was
harbouring infidels； and told her what they had said about women。
〃Ah！〃 said the landlady； 〃what matters it to me the thoughts my
customers have in their brains； so long as their purses are well
filled。〃
And when the servant had told of the jewels； she exclaimed
〃Ah； these are questions which concern all women。 Let us go and reason
with them。 I'll take the nobles； you can have the citizen。〃
The landlady； who was the most shameless inhabitant of the duchy of
Milan； went into the chamber where the Sire de La Vaugrenand and the
German baron were sleeping； and congratulated them upon their vows；
saying that the women would not lose much by them； but to accomplish
these said vows it was necessary they should endeavour to withstand
the strongest temptations。 Then she offered to lie down beside them；
so anxious were she to see if she would be left unmolested； a thing
which had never happened to her yet in the company of a man。
On the morrow； at breakfast； the servant had the ring on her finger；
her mistress had the gold chain and the pearl earrings。 The three
pilgrims stayed in the town about a month； spending there all the
money they had in their purses； and agreed that if they had spoken so
severely of women it was because they had not known those of Milan。
On his return to Germany the Baron made this observation： that he was
only guilty of one sin； that of being in his castle。 The Citizen of
Paris came back full of stories for his wife； and found her full of
Hope。 The Burgundian saw Madame de La Vaugrenand so troubled that he
nearly died of the consolations he administered to her； in spite of
his former opinions。 This teaches us to hold our tongues in
hostelries。
INNOCENCE
By the double crest of my fowl； and by the rose lining of my
sweetheart's slipper！ By all the horns of well…beloved cuckolds； and
by the virtue of their blessed wives！ the finest work of man is
neither poetry； nor painted pictures； nor music； nor castles； nor
statues； be they carved never so well； nor rowing； nor sailing
galleys； but children。
Understand me； children up to the age of ten years； for after that
they become men or women； and cutting their wisdom teeth； are not
worth what they cost； the worst are the best。 Watch them playing；
prettily and innocently； with slippers； above all； cancellated ones；
with the household utensils； leaving that which displeases them；
crying after that which pleases them； munching the sweets and
confectionery in the house； nibbling at the stores； and always
laughing as soon as their teeth are cut； and you will agree with me
that they are in every way lovable； besides which they are flower and
fruitthe fruit of love； the flower of life。 Before their minds have
been unsettled by the disturbances of life； there is nothing in this
world more blessed or more pleasant than their sayings； which are
naive beyond description。 This is as true as the double chewing
machine of a cow。 Do not expect a man to be innocent after the manner
of children； because there is an； I know not what； ingredient of
reason in the naivety of a man； while the naivety of children is
candid； immaculate； and has all the finesse of the mother； which is
plainly proved in this tale。
Queen Catherine was at that time Dauphine； and to make herself welcome
to the king； her father…in…law； who at that time was very ill indeed；
presented him； from time to time； with Italian pictures； knowing that
he liked them much； being a friend of the Sieur Raphael d'Urbin and of
the Sieurs Primatice and Leonardo da Vinci； to whom he sent large sums
of money。 She obtained from her familywho had the pick of these
works； because at that time the Duke of the Medicis governed Tuscany
a precious picture； painted by a Venetian named Titian （artist to the
Emperor Charles； and in very high flavour）； in which there were
portraits of Adam and Eve at the moment when God left them to wander
about the terrestrial Paradise； and were painted their full height； in
the costume of the period； in which it is difficult to make a mistake；
because they were attired in their ignorance； and caparisoned with the
divine grace which enveloped thema difficult thing to execute on
account of the colour； but one in which the said Sieur Titian
excelled。 The picture was put into the room of the poor king； who was
then ill with the disease of which he eventually died。 It had a great
success at the Court of France； where everyone wished to see it； but
no one was able to until after the king's death； since at his desire
it was allowed to remain in his room as long as he lived。
One day Madame Catherine took with her to the king's room her son
Francis and little Margot； who began to talk at random； as children
will。 Now here； now there； these children had heard this picture of
Adam and Eve spoken about； and had tormented their mother to take them
there。 Since the two little ones at times amused the old king； Madame
the Dauphine consented to their request。
〃You wished to see Adam and Eve； who were our first parents； there
they are；〃 said she。
Then she left them in great astonishment before Titian's picture； and
seated herself by the bedside of the king； who delighted to watch the
children。
〃Which of the two is Adam？〃 said Francis； nudging his sister Margot's
elbow。
〃You silly！〃 replied she； 〃to know that； they would have to be
dressed！〃
This reply； which delighted the poor king and the mother； was
mentioned in a letter written in Florence by Queen Catherine。
No writer having brought it to light； it will remain； like a sweet
flower； in a corner of these Tales； although it is no way droll； and
there is no other moral to be drawn from it except that to hear these
pretty speeches of infancy one must beget the children。
THE FAIR IMPERIA MARRIED
I
HOW MADAME IMPERIA WAS CAUGHT BY THE VERY NET SHE WAS
ACCUSTOMED TO SPREAD FOR HER LOVE…BIRDS
The lovely lady Imperia； who gloriously opens these tales； because she
was the glory of her time； was compelled to come into the town of
Rome； after the holding of the council； for the cardinal of Ragusa
loved her more than his cardinal's hat； and wished to have her near
him。 This rascal was so magnificent； that he presented her with the
beautiful palace that he had in the Papal capital。 About this time she
had the misfortune to find herself in an interesting condition by this
cardinal。 As everyone knows； this pregnancy finished with a fine
little daughter；