One is at a loss to imagine what a young gentleman could do, in such a situation, except to obey, with the fewest words possible, the suggestion so gracefully intended. Queen's favours might be fatal gifts, but they were much more fatal to reject than to accept. Whatever might be the preferences of the knight, he had invited his own fate, and in consequence was fortunate to be allowed the option of dying and going to heaven, or dying without going to heaven. Mary was not always so gentle with young men who deserted or neglected her for an earthly rival;--the offence which irritated her most, and occasionally caused her to use language which hardly bears translation into modern English. Without meaning to assert that the Queen of Heaven was jealous as Queen Blanche herself, one must still admit that she was very severe on lovers who showed willingness to leave her service, and take service with any other lady. One of her admirers, educated for the priesthood but not yet in full orders, was obliged by reasons of family interest to quit his career in order to marry. An insult like this was more than Mary could endure, and she gave the young man a lesson he never forgot:-- Ireement li prent a dire La mere au roi de paradis: "Di moi, di moi, tu que jadis M'amoies tant de tout ton coeur. Pourquoi m'as tu jete puer? Di moi, di moi, ou est donc cele Qui plus de moi bone est et bele?... Pourquoi, pourquoi, las durfeus, Las engignez, las deceuz, Me lais pour une lasse fame, Qui suis du del Royne et Dame? Enne fais tu trop mauvais change Qui tu por une fame estrange Me laisses qui par amors t'amoie Et ja ou ciel t'apareilloie En mes chambres un riche lit Por couchier t'ame a grand delit? Trop par as faites grant merveilles S'autrement tost ne te conseilles Ou ciel serra tes lits deffais Et en la flamme d'enfer faiz!" With anger flashing in her eyes Answers the Queen of Paradise: "Tell me, tell me! you of old Loved me once with love untold; Why now throw me aside? Tell me, tell me! where a bride Kinder or fairer have you won?... Wherefore, wherefore, wretched one, Deceived, betrayed, misled, undone, Leave me for a creature mean, Me, who am of Heaven the Queen? Can you make a worse exchange, You that for a woman strange, Leave me who, with perfect love, Waiting you in heaven above, Had in my chamber richly dressed A bed of bliss your soul to rest? Terrible is your mistake! Unless you better council take, In heaven your bed shall be unmade, And in the flames of hell be spread."