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leave her； and was so amorous that one would have imagined she wished
to kill him； since l'Ile Adam felt as though he had a fresh bride in
his arms every night。 The next morning the good woman requested him to
keep the remembrance of these joys in his heart。
Then； to know what her lover's real thoughts on the subject were she
said to him； 〃Poor l'Ile Adam； we were very silly to marrya lad like
you； with your twenty…three years； and an old woman close to 40。〃
He answered her； that his happiness was such that he was the envy of
every one； that at her age her equal did not exist among the younger
women； and that if ever she grew old he would love her wrinkles；
believing that even in the tomb she would be lovely； and her skeleton
lovable。
To these answers； which brought the tears into her eyes； she one
morning answered maliciously； that Mademoiselle de Montmorency was
very lovely and very faithful。 This speech forced l'Ile Adam to tell
her that she pained him by telling him of the only wrong he had ever
committed in his lifethe breaking of the troth pledged to his first
sweetheart； all love for whom he had since effaced from his heart。
This candid speech made her seize him and clasp him to her heart；
affected at the loyalty of his discourse on a subject from which many
would have shrunk。
〃My dear love；〃 said she； 〃for a long time past I have been suffering
from a retraction of the heart； which has always since my youth been
dangerous to my life； and in this opinion the Arabian physician
coincides。 If I die； I wish you to make the most binding oath a knight
can make； to wed Mademoiselle Montmorency。 I am so certain of dying；
that I leave my property to you only on condition that this marriage
takes place。〃
Hearing this； l'Ile Adam turned pale； and felt faint at the mere
thought of an eternal separation from his good wife。
〃Yes； dear treasure of love；〃 continued she。 〃I am punished by God
there where my sins were committed； for the great joys that I feel
dilate my heart； and have； according to the Arabian doctor； weakened
the vessels which in a moment of excitement will burst； but I have
always implored God to take my life at the age in which I now am；
because I would not see my charms marred by the ravages of time。〃
This great and noble woman saw then how well she was beloved。 This is
how she obtained the greatest sacrifice of love that ever was made
upon this earth。 She alone knew what a charm existed in the embraces；
fondlings； and raptures of the conjugal bed； which were such that poor
l'Ile Adam would rather have died than allow himself to be deprived of
the amorous delicacies she knew so well how to prepare。 At this
confession made by her that； in the excitement of love her heart would
burst； the chevalier cast himself at her knees； and declared that to
preserve her life he would never ask her for love； but would live
contented to see her only at his side； happy at being able to touch
but the hem of her garment。
She replied； bursting into tears； 〃that she would rather die than lose
one iota of his love； that she would die as she had lived； since
luckily she could make a man embrace her when such was her desire
without having to put her request into words。〃
Here it must be stated that the cardinal of Ragusa had given her as a
present an article； which this holy joker called /in articulo mortis/。
It was a tiny glass bottle； no bigger than a bean； made at Venice； and
containing a poison so subtle that by breaking it between the teeth
death came instantly and painlessly。 He had received it from Signora
Tophana； the celebrated maker of poisons of the town of Rome。
Now this tiny bottle was under the bezel of a ring； preserved from all
objects that could break it by certain plates of gold。 Poor Imperia
put it into her mouth several times without being able to make up her
mind to bite it； so much pleasure did she take in the moment that she
believed to be her last。 Then she would pass before her in mental
review all her methods of enjoyment before breaking the glass； and
determined that when she felt the most perfect of all joys she would
bite the bottle。
The poor creature departed this life on the night on the first day of
October。 Then was there heard a great clamour in the forests and in
the clouds； as if the loves had cried aloud； 〃The great Noc is dead！〃
in imitation of the pagan gods who； at the coming of the Saviour of
men； fled into the skies； saying； 〃the great Pan is slain！〃 A cry
which was heard by some persons navigating the Eubean Sea； and
preserved by a Father of the Church。
Madame Imperia died without being spoiled in shape； so much had God
made her the irreproachable model of a woman。 She had； it was said； a
magnificent tint upon her flesh； caused by the proximity of the
flaming wings of Pleasure； who cried and groaned over her corpse。 Her
husband mourned for her most bitterly； never suspecting that she had
died to deliver him from a childless wife； for the doctor who embalmed
her said not a word concerning the cause of her death。 This great
sacrifice was discovered six years after marriage of l'Ile Adam with
Mademoiselle de Montmorency； because she told him all about the visit
of Madame Imperia。 The poor gentleman immediately fell into a state of
great melancholy and finished by dying； being unable to banish the
remembrance of those joys of love which it was beyond the power of a
novice to restore to him； thereby did he prove the truth of that which
was said at that time； that this woman would never die in a heart
where she had once reigned。
This teaches us that virtue is well understood by those who have
practised vice； for among the most modest women few would thus have
sacrificed life； in whatever high state of religion you look for them。
EPILOGUE
Oh！ mad little one； thou whose business it is to make the house merry；
again hast thou been wallowing； in spite of a thousand prohibitions；
in that slough of melancholy； whence thou hast already fished out
Bertha； and come back with thy tresses dishevelled； like a girl who
has been ill…treated by a regiment of soldiers！ Where are thy golden
aiglets and bells； thy filigree flowers of fantastic design？ Where
hast thou left thy crimson head…dress； ornamented with precious
gewgaws that cost a minot of pearls？
Why spoil with pernicious tears thy black eyes； so pleasant when
therein sparkles the wit of a tale； that popes pardon thee thy sayings
for the sake of thy merry laughter； feel their souls caught between
the ivory of thy teeth； have their hearts drawn by the rose point of
thy sweet tongue； and would barter the holy slipper for a hundred of
the smiles that hover round thy vermillion lips？ Laughing lassie； if
thou wouldst remain always fresh and young； weep no more； think of
riding the brideless fleas； of bridling with the golden clouds thy
chameleon chimeras； of metamorphosing the realiti