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
So great content had he of his victory, and so proud thereof was he
and exalted, that he was fain to hold a triumph over her. So with an
exceeding great pomp and magnificence did she walk before his triumphal
car, right gorgeously put on and adorned with much wealth of pearls and
precious stones, superb jewels and great chains of gold, wherewith she
was bound about the body and by the hands and feet, in sign of being
captive and slave of her conqueror. And so it was that by reason of
the heavy weight of her jewels and chains she was constrained to make
sundry pauses and to rest her again and again on this march of triumph.
A fine thing, of a surety, and an admirable, that all vanquished and
prisoner as she was, she could yet give the law to her triumphant
conqueror, and thus make him tarry and wait her pleasure till that she
had recovered breath! A great instance too of good feeling and honest
courtesy on the part of the Emperor, so to allow her breathing space
and rest, and to suffer her weakness, rather than unduly to constrain
or press her to hurry more than she well could. So that one doth scarce
know which to commend the more, the honourable courtesy of the Emperor,
or the Queen’s way of acting,—who it may well be, did play this part
of set purpose, not so much forced thereto by her actual weakness of
body and weariness, as for to make some show of pride and prove to all
how she would and could gather this little sprig of respect in the
evening of her fortunes no less than she had done in the morning-tide
of the same, and let them see how the Emperor did grant her this much
privilege, to wait on her slow steps and lingering progress.
Much was the Queen gazed at and admired by men and women alike, not
a few of which last had been but too glad to resemble so fair an
apparition. For truly she was one of the most lovely of women, by what
is said of the historians of these events. She was of a very fine, tall
and opulent figure, say they, her carriage right noble, and her grace
and dignity to match; furthermore her face very beautiful and exceeding
pleasing, her eyes dark and piercing. Beside her other beauties, these
writers do give her fine and very white teeth, a keen wit and a modest
bearing, a sincere and at need a kind and merciful heart. Her speech
was eloquent and spoke with a fine clear voice; moreover she was used
always to express her ideas and wishes herself to her soldiers, and
would many a time harangue the same publicly.
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