Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies. Vol 1Brantôme, Pierre de Bourdeille
History
Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies. Vol 1
Brantôme, Pierre de Bourdeille
Erotic literature
So must I be allowed yet another digression, and to say my say
as I please, now we be upon the subject of shows and suchlike
representations. Almost at the same moment as these noble festivities
were a-doing in the Low Countries, and above all at Bains, on occasion
of the reception of the King of Spain, was made the state entry of King
Henri, on his way back from visiting his province of Piedmont and his
garrisons there, into Lyons, which was of a surety one of the finest
and most triumphant ever known, as I have heard honourable ladies and
gentlemen of the Court declare, which were there at the time.
Well! if this show and representation of Diana and her hunt was found
admirable at these Royal festivities of the Queen of Hungary, another
was contrived at Lyons which was different again and still more
lifelike.[151*] For as the King was marching along, and just about to
reach a grand obelisk of Classic fashion, on the right hand of his way
he did actually find a meadow by the side of the high road surrounded
by a wall something more than six feet high, and the said meadow
within filled up with earth to the same height. This had been regularly
filled up with trees of moderate growth, planted in between with thick
undergrowth and many shrubs and smaller brushwood, as well as with a
good supply of fruit trees. In this miniature forest did disport them
many little stags all alive, and fawns and roebuck, though of course
tame ones. Presently his Majesty did hear sundry hunting-horns and
trumpets sound softly; and thereupon instantly did behold through
the aforesaid wood Diana a-hunting with her companions and forest
maids, holding in her hand a richly dight Turkish bow, and her quiver
hanging at her side, attired in the costume of a nymph, after the
fashion the remains of Antiquity do yet show us. Her body was clad in
a short doublet with six great round scallops of black cloth of gold,
strewn with silver stars, the sleeves and body of crimson satin with
borderings of gold, tucked up to mid thigh, displaying her fine limb
and pretty leg, and her sandals of the antique shape, set with pearls
embedded in embroideries. Her hair was interlaced with heavy strings of
rich pearls, with wealth of precious stones and jewels of price; while
above the brow a little silver crescent was set, blazing with tiny
little diamonds. For gold would not have been so well, nor so true a
representation of the natural crescent, which is clear and silvery.
Her companions were accoutred in divers sorts of costumes of lustring
striped with gold, both wide and narrow stripes, always in the antique
mode, as well as sundry other colours of an antique sort, varied
and intermingled as well for curiousness of effect as for gaiety of
appearance. Hosen and shoes were of satin; their heads decked out in
like wise in the character of nymphs, with many pearls and precious
stones.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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