Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies. Vol 2.Brantôme, Pierre de Bourdeille
History
Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies. Vol 2.
Brantôme, Pierre de Bourdeille
Erotic literature
She it was which did first begin those burnings of strongholds in our
land of France, destroying thus some of the finest houses and castles,
and in especial that of Folembray,[105*] a beautiful and agreeable
residence our Kings had built them for the delight and pleasure of the
chase. At this the King did feel so sore despite and displeasure as
that no long while after she did get of him as good as she gave, for
he took his revenge on her noble house of Bains, the which was held
for one of the marvels of the world, shaming so to speak all other
beautiful buildings of the earth, and I have heard those say that had
seen it in its perfection, comparable even to the seven wonders of the
world, so renowned in Antiquity. ’Twas there she did entertain the
Emperor Charles and all his Court, the time when his son, King Philip,
came from Spain to Flanders for to visit his father, such excellence
and perfection of magnificence being then displayed that naught else
was spoke of at the time save only _las fiestas de Bains_, as the
Spaniards said. Moreover I do remember on the journey to Bayonne, when
some very splendid shows were given, tilting at the ring, combats,
masquerades and games, ’twas all naught to be compared with these
famous _fiestas de Bains_,—as sundry old Spanish noblemen which had
witnessed them did declare, and as I have seen myself in a Work writ
in Spanish on purpose to celebrate them. And it may be certainly said
there hath never aught been done or seen finer, equalling even the
splendours of Roman days, and copying their old-time sports, always
excepting the fights of Gladiators and wild beasts. But with this only
exception, the feasts of Bains were finer, more agreeable, as well as
more varied and general.
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