“Seeing you, madame, I deem credible5 and even hold it proven, what Cucurbitus Piger lays down in one of his scholia on Strabo, to wit, that the famous city and university of Paris was of old known by the name of Lutetia or Leucecia, or some such like word coming from Leukê, that is to say, ‘the white,’ forasmuch as the ladies of the same had bosoms7 white as snow,—yet not so clear and bright and white as is your own, madame.”
To which Violante would say in answer:
“‘T is enough for me if my bosom6 is not fit to fright folks, like some I wot of. And, if I show it, why, ‘tis to follow the fashion. I have not the hardihood to do otherwise than the rest of the world.”
Now Madame Violante had been wedded8, in the flower of her youth, to an Advocate of the Parlement, a man of a harsh temper and sorely set on the arraignment9 and punishing of unfortunate prisoners. For the rest, he was of sickly habit and a weakling, of such a sort he seemed more fit to give pain to folks outside his doors than pleasure to his wife within. The old fellow thought more of his blue bags than of his better half, though these were far otherwise shapen, being bulgy10 and fat and formless. But the lawyer spent his nights over them.
Madame Violante was too reasonable a woman to love a husband that was so unlovable. Master Jacques Tribouillard upheld she was a good wife, as steadfastly11 and surely confirmed and stablished in conjugal12 virtue13 as Lucretia the Roman. And for proof he alleged14 that he had altogether failed to turn her aside from the path of honour. The judicious15 observed a prudent16 silence on the point, holding that what is hid will only be made manifest at the last Judgment17 Day. They noted18 how the lady was over fond of gewgaws and laces and wore in company and at church gowns of velvet19 and silk and cloth of gold, purfled with miniver; but they were too fair-minded folk to decide whether, damning as she did Christian20 men who saw her so comely and so finely dressed to the torments21 of vain longing22, she was not damning her own soul too with one of them. In a word, they were well ready to stake Madame Violante’s virtue on the toss of a coin, cross or pile,—which is greatly to the honour of that fair lady.
The truth is her Confessor, Brother Jean Turelure, was for ever upbraiding23 her.
“Think you, madame,” he would ask her, “that the blessed St. Catherine won heaven by leading such a life as yours, baring her bosom and sending to Genoa for lace ruffles24?”
But he was a great preacher, very severe on human weaknesses, who could condone25 naught26 and thought he had done everything when he had inspired terror. He threatened her with hell fire for having washed her face with ass’s milk.
As a fact, no one could say if she had given her old husband a meet and proper head-dress, and Messire Philippe de Coetquis used to warn the honest dame in a merry vein27:
“See to it, I say! He is bald, he will catch his death of cold!”
Messire Philippe de Coetquis was a knight28 of gallant29 bearing, as handsome as the knave30 of hearts in the noble game of cards. He had first encountered Madame Violante one evening at a ball, and after dancing with her far into the night, had carried her home on his crupper, while the Advocate splashed his way through the mud and mire31 of the kennels32 by the dancing light of the torches his four tipsy lackeys33 bore. In the course of these merry doings, a-foot and on horseback, Messire Philippe de Coetquis had formed a shrewd notion that Madame Violante had a limber waist and a full, firm bosom of her own, and there and then had been smit by her charms.
He was a frank and guileless wight and made bold to tell her outright35 what he would have of her,—to wit, to hold her naked in his two arms.
To which she would make answer:
Or another time:
“Messire Philippe, come back again tomorrow,—”
And when he came next day she would ask innocently:
“Nay, where is the hurry?”
These never-ending postponements caused the Chevalier no little distress37 and chagrin38. He was ready to believe, with Master Tribouillard, that Madame Violante was indeed a Lucretia, so true is it that all men are alike in fatuous39 self-conceit! And we are bound to say she had not so much as suffered him to kiss her mouth,—only a pretty diversion after all and a bit of wanton playfulness.
Things were in this case when Brother Jean Turelure was called to Venice by the General of his Order, to preach to sundry40 Turks lately converted to the true Faith.
Before setting forth41, the good Brother went to take leave of his fair Penitent42, and upbraided43 her with more than usual sternness for living a dissolute life. He exhorted44 her urgently to repent45 and pressed her to wear a hair-shirt next her skin,—an incomparable remedy against naughty cravings and a sovran medicine for natures over prone46 to the sins of the flesh.
But he would not hearken, and threatened her with the pains of hell if she did not amend48 her ways. Then he told her he would gladly execute any commissions she might be pleased to entrust49 him with. He was in hopes she would beg him to bring her back some consecrated50 medal, a rosary, or, better still, a little of the soil of the Holy Sepulchre which the Turks carry from Jerusalem together with dried roses, and which the Italian monks51 sell.
But Madame Violante preferred a quite other request:
“Good Brother, dear Brother, as you are going to Venice, where such cunning workmen in this sort are to be found, I pray you bring me back a Venetian mirror, the clearest and truest can be gotten.”
Brother Jean Turelure promised to content her wish.
While her Confessor was abroad, Madame Violante led the same life as before. And when Messire Philippe pressed her: “Were it not well to take our pleasure together?” she would answer: “Nay! ‘t is too hot. Look at the weathercock if the wind will not change anon.” And the good folk who watched her ways were in despair of her ever giving a proper pair of horns to her crabbed52 old husband. “‘T is a sin and a shame!” they declared.
On his return from Italy Brother Jean Turelure presented himself before Madame Violante and told her he had brought what she desired.
“Look, madame,” he said, and drew from under his gown a death’s-head.
“Here, madame, is your mirror. This death’s-head was given me for that of the prettiest woman in all Venice. She was what you are, and you will be much like her anon.”
Madame Violante, mastering her surprise and horror, answered the good Father in a well-assured voice that she understood the lesson he would teach her and she would not fail to profit thereby53.
“I shall aye have present in my mind, good Brother, the mirror you have brought me from Venice, wherein I see my likeness54 not as I am at present, but as doubtless I soon shall be. I promise you to govern my behaviour by this salutary thought.”
“So, madame,” he murmured, “you see yourself the need of altering your ways. You promise me henceforth to govern your behaviour by the thought this fleshless skull56 hath brought home to you. Will you not make the same promise to God as you have to me?”
She asked if indeed she must, and he assured her it behoved her so to do.
“Well, I will give this promise then,” she declared.
“Madame, this is very well. There is no going back on your word now.”
“I shall not go back on it, never fear.”
Having won this binding57 promise, Brother Jean Turelure left the place, radiant with satisfaction. And as he went from the house, he cried out loud in the street:
“Here is a good work done! By Our Lord God’s good help, I have turned and set in the way toward the gate of Paradise a lady, who, albeit58 not sinning precisely59 in the way of fornication spoken of by the Prophet, yet was wont60 to employ for men’s temptation the clay whereof the Creator had kneaded her that she might serve and adore him withal. She will forsake61 these naughty habits to adopt a better life. I have throughly changed her. Praise be to God!”
Hardly had the good Brother gone down the stairs when Messire Philippe de Coetquis ran up them and scratched at Madame Violante’s door. She welcomed him with a beaming smile, and led him into a closet, furnished with carpets and cushions galore, wherein he had never been admitted before. From this he augured62 well. He offered her sweetmeats he had in a box.
“Here be sugar-plums to suck, madame; they are sweet and sugared, but not so sweet as your lips.”
To which the lady retorted he was a vain, silly fop to make boast of a fruit he had never tasted.
He answered her meetly, kissing her forthwith on the mouth.
She manifested scarce any annoyance63 and said only she was an honest woman and a true wife. He congratulated her and advised her not to lock up this jewel of hers in such close keeping that no man could enjoy it. “For, of a surety,” he swore, “you will be robbed of it, and that right soon.”
But he was master by this time to take whatsoever65 he wished of her. She kept protesting with little cries:
“I won’t have it. Fie! fie on you, messire! You must not do it. Oh! sweetheart... oh! my love... my life! You are killing66 me!”
Anon, when she had done sighing and dying, she said sweetly:
“Messire Philippe, never flatter yourself you have mastered me by force or guile34. You have had of me what you craved67, but ‘t was of mine own free will, and I only resisted so much as was needful that I might yield me as I liked best. Sweetheart, I am yours. If, for all your handsome face, which I loved from the first, and despite the tenderness of your wooing, I did not before grant you what you have just won with my consent, ‘t was because I had no true understanding of things. I had no thought of the flight of time and the shortness of life and love; plunged68 in a soft languor69 of indolence, I reaped no harvest of my youth and beauty. However, the good Brother Jean Turelure hath given me a profitable lesson. He hath taught me the preciousness of the hours. But now he showed me a death’s-head, saying: ‘Suchlike you will be soon.’ This taught me we must be quick to enjoy the pleasures of love and make the most of the little space of time reserved to us for that end.”
These words and the caresses70 wherewith Madame Violante seconded them persuaded Messire Philippe to turn the time to good account, to set to work afresh to his own honour and profit and the pleasure and glory of his mistress, and to multiply the sure proofs of prowess which it behoves every good and loyal servant to give on suchlike an occasion.
After which, she was ready to cry quits. Taking him by the hand, she guided him back to the door, kissed him daintily on the eyes, and asked:
“Sweetheart Philippe, is it not well done to follow the precepts71 of the good Brother Jean Turelure?”
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1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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6
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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7
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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8
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
arraignment
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| n.提问，传讯，责难 | |
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bulgy
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| a.膨胀的；凸出的 | |
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steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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12
conjugal
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| adj.婚姻的，婚姻性的 | |
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13
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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15
judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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19
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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20
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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21
torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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22
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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23
upbraiding
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| adj.& n.谴责（的）v.责备，申斥，谴责( upbraid的现在分词 ) | |
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24
ruffles
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| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
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25
condone
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| v.宽恕；原谅 | |
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26
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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27
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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28
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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29
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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30
knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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31
mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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32
kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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33
lackeys
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| n.听差( lackey的名词复数 )；男仆（通常穿制服）；卑躬屈膝的人；被待为奴仆的人 | |
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34
guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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35
outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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36
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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37
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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38
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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39
fatuous
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| adj.愚昧的；昏庸的 | |
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40
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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41
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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42
penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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43
upbraided
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| v.责备，申斥，谴责( upbraid的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
exhorted
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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46
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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47
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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48
amend
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| vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿 | |
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49
entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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50
consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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51
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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52
crabbed
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| adj.脾气坏的；易怒的；（指字迹）难辨认的；（字迹等）难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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54
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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55
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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56
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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57
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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58
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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59
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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60
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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61
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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62
augured
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| v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的过去式和过去分词 )；成为预兆；占卜 | |
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63
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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64
cuffing
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| v.掌打，拳打( cuff的现在分词 )；袖口状白血球聚集 | |
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65
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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66
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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67
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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68
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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69
languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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70
caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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71
precepts
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| n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
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