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he might choose from his domains。 The fair Imperia replied that she
was extremely obliged to the Emperor； but that had she to suffer
contumely upon contumely in France； she still intended there to finish
her days。
II
HOW THIS MARRIAGE ENDED
Not knowing if it she would be received or not； the lady of l'Ile Adam
would not go to court； but lived in the country； where her husband
made a fine establishment； purchasing the manor of Beaumont…le…
Vicomte； which gave rise to the equivoque upon his name； made by our
well…beloved Rabelais； in his most magnificent book。 He acquired also
the domain of Nointel； the forest of Carenelle； St。 Martin； and other
places in the neighbourhood of the l'Ile Adam； where his brother
Villiers resided。 These said acquisitions made him the most powerful
lord in the l'Ile de France and county of Paris。 He built a wonderful
castle near Beaumont； which was afterwards ruined by the English； and
adorned it with the furniture； foreign tapestries； chests； pictures；
statues； and curiosities； of his wife； who was a great connoisseur；
which made this place equal to the most magnificent castles known。
The happy pair led a life so envied by all； that nothing was talked
about in Paris and at Court but this marriage； the good fortune of the
Sire de Beaumont； and； above all； of the perfect； loyal； gracious； and
religious life of his wife； who from habit many still called Madame
Imperia； who was no longer proud and sharp as steel； but had the
virtues and qualities of a respectable woman； and was an example in
many things to a queen。 She was much beloved by the Church on account
of her great religion； for she had never once forgotten God； having；
as she once said； spent much of her time with churchmen； abbots；
bishops； and cardinals； who had sprinkled her well with holy water；
and under the curtains worked her eternal salvation。
The praises sung in honour of this lady had such an effect； that the
king came to Beauvoisis to gaze upon this wonder； and did the sire the
honour to sleep at Beaumont； remained there three days； and had a
royal hunt there with the queen and the whole Court。 You may be sure
that he was surprised； as were also the queen； the ladies； and the
Court； at the manners of this superb creature； who was proclaimed a
lady of courtesy and beauty。 The king first； then the queen； and
afterwards every individual member of the company； complemented l'Ile
Adam on having chosen such a wife。 The modesty of the chatelaine did
more than pride would have accomplished； for she was invited to court；
and everywhere； so imperious was her great heart； so tyrannic her
violent love for her husband。 You may be sure that her charms； hidden
under the garments of virtue； were none the less exquisite。 The king
gave the vacant post of lieutenant of the Ile de France and provost of
Paris to his ancient ambassador； giving him the title of Viscount of
Beaumont； which established him as governor of the whole province； and
put him on an excellent footing at court。 But this was the cause of a
great wound in Madame's heart； because a wretch； jealous of this
unclouded happiness； asked her； playfully； if Beaumont had ever spoken
to her of his first love； Mademoiselle de Montmorency； who at that
time was twenty…two years of age； as she was sixteen at the time the
marriage took place in Romethe which young lady loved l'Ile Adam so
much that she remained a maiden； would listen to no proposals of
marriage； and was dying of a broken heart； unable to banish her
perfidious lover from her remembrance and was desirous of entering the
convent of Chelles。 Madame Imperia； during the six years of her
marriage； had never heard this name； and was sure from this fact that
she was indeed beloved。 You can imagine that this time had been passed
as a single day； that both believed that they had only been married
the evening before； and that each night was as a wedding night； and
that if business took the knight out of doors； he was quite
melancholy； being unwilling ever to have her out of his sight； and she
was the same with him。
The king； who was very partial to the viscount； also made a remark to
him which stung him to the quick； when he said； 〃You have no
children？〃
To which Beaumont replied； with the face of a man whose raw place you
have touched with your finger； 〃Monsiegneur； my brother has； thus our
line is safe。〃
Now it happened that his brother's two children died suddenlyone
from a fall from his horse at a tournament and the other from illness。
Monsieur l'Ile Adam the elder was so stricken with grief at these two
deaths that he expired soon after； so much did he love his two sons。
By this means the manor of Beaumont； the property at Carenelle； St。
Martin； Nointel； and the surrounding domains； were reunited to the
manor of l'Ile Adam； and the neighbouring forests； and the cadet
became the head of the house。 At this time Madame was forty…five； and
was still fit to bear children； but alas！ she conceived not。 As soon
as she saw the lineage of l'Ile Adam destroyed； she was anxious to
obtain offspring。
Now； as during the seven years which had elapsed she had never once
had the slightest hint of pregnancy； she believed； according to the
statement of a clever physician whom she sent for from Paris； that
this barrenness proceeded from the fact； that both she and her
husband； always more lovers than spouses； allowed pleasure to
interfere with business； and by this means engendering was prevented。
Then she endeavoured to restrain her impetuosity； and to take things
coolly； because the physician had explained to her that in a state of
nature animals never failed to breed； because the females employed
none of those artifices； tricks； and hanky…pankies with which women
accommodate the olives of Poissy； and for this reason they thoroughly
deserved the title of beasts。 She promised him no longer to play with
such a serious affair； and to forget all the ingenious devices in
which she had been so fertile。 But； alas！ although she kept as quiet
as that German woman who lay so still that her husband embraced her to
death； and then went； poor baron； to obtain absolution from the pope；
who delivered his celebrated brief； in which he requested the ladies
of Franconia to be a little more lively； and prevent a repetition of
such a crime。 Madame de l'Ile Adam did not conceive； and fell into a
state of great melancholy。
Then she began to notice how thoughtful had become her husband； l'Ile
Adam； whom she watched when he thought she was not looking； and who
wept that he had no fruit of his great love。 Soon this pair mingled
their tears； for everything was common to the two in this fine
household； and as they never left the other； the thought of the one
was necessarily the thought of the other。 When Madame beheld a poor
person's child she nearly died of grief； and it took her a whole day
to recover。 Seeing this great sorrow； l'I