“Jean underwent a long scene of persecution, but was at last restored to favor by the intercession of the ladies of the court. He then named as his mistress Matheline de Courcy, a child only ten years old. ‘Matheline is indeed a pretty girl,’ replied the dame des Belles Cousines; ‘but what profit, what honor, what comfort, what aid, what counsel for advancing you in chivalrous fame, can you derive from such a choice? You should elect a lady of noble blood, who has the ability to advise, and the power to assist you; and you should serve her so truly, and love her so loyally, as to compel her to acknowledge the honorable affection you entertain for her. Be assured there is no lady, however cruel and haughty she may be, but through long service will be induced to acknowledge and reward loyal affection with some portion of mercy. By such a course, you will gain the praise of worthy knighthood; till then, I would not give an apple for you or your achievements. He who loyally serves his lady, will not only be blessed at the height of man’s felicity in this life, but will never fall into those sins that prevent happiness hereafter. Pride will be entirely effaced from the heart of him, who endeavors by humility and courtesy to win the grace of a lady. The true faith of a lover will defend him from the sins of anger, envy, sloth, and gluttony; and his devotion to his mistress renders the thought impossible of his conduct ever being stained with the vice of profligacy.’” The service which a lady required of her true knight may be inferred from the following lines of the old English poet, Gower, who wrote in the days of Edward the Third: “What thing she bid me do, I do, And where she bid me go, I go. And when she likes to call, I come, I serve, I bow, I look, I lowte, My eye followeth her about. What so she will, so will I, When she would sit, I kneel by. And when she stands, then I will stand, And when she taketh her work in hand, Of wevying or of embroidrie, Then can I not but muse and prie, Upon her fingers long and small. And if she list to riden out, On pilgrimage, or other stead, I come, though I be not bid, And take her in my arms aloft, And set her in her saddle soft, And so forth lead her by the bridle, For that I would not be idle. And if she list to ride in chare, And that I may thereof beware, Anon I shape me to ride, Right even by the chare’s side, And as I may, I speak among, And other while I sing a song.”