Transcriber’s Note In the following transcription, italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Small capitals in the original text have been transcribed as ALL CAPITALS. Superscripts in the text are denoted by a prefixing caret symbol (^). A letter (as in 8^o), or letters in curly braces (as in I^{er}), that follow the caret symbol are to be read as superscripts. See end of this document for details of corrections and other changes. —————————————— Start of Book —————————————— Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies ———— VOLUME I [Illustration: BRANTÔME] Lives Of Fair and Gallant Ladies By The Seigneur De Brantôme TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL ———— VOLUME I ———— The Alexandrian Society, Inc. London and New York 1922 COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY THE ALEXANDRIAN SOCIETY, INC. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA _This work is strictly limited to twelve hundred and fifty numbered sets, which are for sale only to subscribers. The type has been distributed on publication and no more will be printed._ _Copy No._ .... [Illustration: Decorative scrollwork above chapter start] FOREWORD This very fine and accurate translation of _The Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies_ was made by Mr. A. R. Allinson and because of its merit must be considered one of the great English translations, equalling in every quality those of the 16th and 17th centuries. The text of Brantôme’s great work is given practically complete in these volumes and the only modifications are based upon good taste and not on any fearful prudery. A few of Brantôme’s examples that illustrate his points belong more in a treatise on abnormal pathology than in a book of literary or historical interest and value, so nothing of any value is lost by omitting them. The rare charm, shrewd wisdom, amusing anecdote, literary merit and historical and social information will be appreciated by intelligent readers. The cover design used on this book was made by C. O. Czeschka. [Illustration: BRANTÔME’S HANDWRITING. (From a fac-simile page of the manuscript _Recueil des Dames_. Biblio. Nat: Mss. Nouv. fses. No. 20-474, folio 163.)] [Illustration: Decorative scrollwork above chapter start]