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
Thereafter, we leave the world to suppose what was the issue of their
love, and if they did put the same in practise; and truly the result
could not long be doubtful. But any way, their pleasure was to be of
no great duration for the Queen, the better to delight her lover, did
so constantly rush forth to confront all hazards, that she was slain
at last in one of the fiercest and fellest encounters. Others however
say she did never see Hector at all, but that he was dead before
her arrival. So coming on the scene and learning his death, she did
thereupon fall into so great grief and such sadness to have lost the
goodly sight she had so fondly desired and had come from so far a land
to seek, that she did start forth to meet a voluntary death in the
bloodiest battles of the war; and so she died, having no further cause
to live, now she had failed of beholding the gallant being she had
chosen as best of all and had loved the most.[2]
The like was done by Thalestris, another Queen of the Amazons, who did
traverse a great country and cover I know not how many leagues for to
visit Alexander the Great, and asking it of him as a favour, or as but
a fair exchange of courtesy, did lie with him in order that she might
have issue by him of so noble and generous a blood, having heard him
so high rated of all men. This boon did Alexander very gladly grant
her; and verily he must needs have been sore spoiled and sick of women
if he had done otherwise, for the said Queen was as beautiful as she
was valiant. Quintus Curtius, Orosius and Justin do affirm moreover
that she did thus visit Alexander with three hundred ladies in her
suite, all bearing arms, and all so fair apparelled and of such a
beauteous grace as that naught could surpass the same. So attended, she
did make her reverence before the King, who did welcome her with the
highest marks of honour. And she did tarry thirteen days and thirteen
nights with him, submitting herself in all ways to his good will and
pleasure. At the same time she did frankly tell him how that if she had
a daughter by him, she would guard her as a most priceless treasure;
but an if she had a son, that she would send him back to the King,
by reason of the abhorrence she bear to the male sex, in the matter
of holding rule and exercising any command among them, in accordance
with the laws introduced in their companies after they had slain their
husbands.
Herein need we have no doubt whatever but that the rest of the ladies
and attendant dames did after a like manner, and had themselves covered
by the different captains and men of war of the said King Alexander.
For they were bound in this matter to follow their mistress’ example.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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