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
When she was removed from the Castle of Blois to be conveyed to that of
Amboise for straiter confinement therein, just as she had passed the
gate, she did turn her round and lifted her head toward the figure of
King Louis XII., her grandfather, which is there carven in stone above
the door, on horseback and with a very noble mien and warlike bearing.
So she, tarrying there a little space and gazing thereon, said in a
loud voice before a great number of folk which had come together, with
a fine bold look which did never desert her: “An if he which is there
pourtrayed were alive, he would never suffer his granddaughter thus
to be carried away prisoner, and treated as she is this day.” Then
with these words, she did go on her way, without further remonstrance.
Understand this, that in her heart she was invoking and making appeal
to the manes of that her great-hearted ancestor, to avenge her of
the injustice of her imprisonment. Herein she acted precisely as did
certain of the conspirators for Cæsar’s death, which as they were
about to strike their blow, did turn them toward the statue of Pompey,
and did inwardly invoke and make appeal to the shade of his valiant
arm, so puissant of old, to conduct the emprise they were set on to a
successful issue. It may well be the invocation of this Princess may
have something aided and advanced the death of the King which had so
outraged her. A lady of high heart and spirit which doth thus brood
over vengeance to come is no little to be dreaded.
I do remember me how, when her late husband, the Duc de Guise, did get
the stroke whereof he died, she was at the time in his camp, having
come thither some days previously to visit the same. So soon as ever
he did come into his quarters wounded, she did advance to meet him as
far as the door of his lodging all tearful and despairing, and after
saluting him, did suddenly cry out: “Can it be that the wretch which
hath struck this blow and he that hath set him on (signifying her
suspicion of the Admiral de Coligny) should go unpunished? Oh God! an
if thou art just, as thou must needs be, avenge this deed; or else
...,” but stopping at this word, she did not end her sentence, for that
her noble husband did interrupt her, saying: “Nay! dear heart, defy not
God. An if ’tis He which hath sent me this for my sins, His will be
done, and we should glorify him therefor. But an if it come from other,
seeing vengeance is His alone, He will surely exact the penalty without
you.” Natheless, when he was dead, did she so fiercely follow up her
revenge, as that the murderer was torn to pieces of four horses,[43*]
while the supposed author of the crime was assassinated after the lapse
of some years, as I will tell in its proper place. This was due to the
instruction she did give her son, as myself have seen, and the counsel
and persuasion she did feed him withal from his tenderest years, till
at the last final and complete vengeance was accomplished.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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