Read The Heptameron of Margaret, Queen of Navarre Page 1




  CONTENTS

  ## Volume 1.

  ## Volume 2.

  ## Volume 3.

  ## Volume 4.

  ## Volume 5.

  VOLUMES, CHAPTERS AND STORIES

  THE QUEEN OF NAVARRE, Volume 1.

  PREFACE.

  Explanation of the Initials appended to the Notes.

  MARGARET OF ANGOULEME, QUEEN OF NAVARRE.

  I.

  II.

  III.

  IV.

  ON THE HEPTAMERON

  DEDICATIONS AND PREFACE,

  Peter Boaistuau, surnamed Launay, To the Reader

  THE HEPTAMERON

  PROLOGUE.

  FIRST DAY.

  TALE I.

  TALE II.

  TALE III.

  TALE IV.

  TALE V.

  TALE VI.

  TALE VII.

  APPENDIX.

  A. (Prologue, Page 31.)

  B. (Tale I., Page 50.)

  C. (Tale IV., Page 85.)

  List of Illustrations

  Frontispiece

  Titlepage

  013a.jpg

  039a.jpg Du Mesnil Learns his Mistress's Infidelity from Her Maid

  039.jpg Page Image

  056.jpg Tailpiece

  057a.jpg the Muleteer's Servant Attacking his Mistress

  057.jpg Page Image

  064.jpg Tailpiece

  065a.jpg the Stags Head

  065.jpg Page Image

  078.jpg Tailpiece

  079a.jpg Hurrying to Her Mistress's Assistance

  079.jpg Page Image

  094.jpg Tailpiece

  095a.jpg the Boatwoman of Coulon Outwitting The Friars

  095.jpg Page Image

  102.jpg Tailpiece

  103a.jpg the Wife's Ruse to Secure The Escape of Her Lover

  103.jpg Page Image

  108.jpg Tailpiece

  109.jpg the Merchant Transferring his Caresses from The Daughter to the Mother

  110.jpg Page Image

  113.jpg Tailpiece

  TALE CONTENTSFIRST DAY.

  Tale I. The pitiful history of a Proctor of Alencon, named St. Aignan,and of his wife, who caused her husband to assassinate her lover, theson of the Lieutenant-General

  Tale II. The fate of the wife of a muleteer of Amboise, who suffered herselfto be killed by her servant rather than sacrifice her chastity

  Tale III. The revenge taken by the Queen of Naples, wife to King Alfonso, forher husband's infidelity with a gentleman's wife

  Tale IV. The ill success of a Flemish gentleman who was unable to obtain,either by persuasion or force, the love of a great Princess

  Tale V. How a boatwoman of Coulon, near Nyort, contrived to escape from thevicious designs of two Grey Friars

  Tale VI. How the wife of an old valet of the Duke of Alencon's succeededin saving her lover from her husband, who was blind of one eye

  Tale VII. The craft of a Parisian merchant, who saved the reputation of thedaughter by offering violence to the mother

  THE QUEEN OF NAVARRE, Volume 2.

  FIRST DAY, Continued.

  TALE VIII.

  TALE IX.

  TALE X.

  SECOND DAY.

  PROLOGUE.

  TALE XI. (A).

  TALE XI. (B).

  TALE XII.

  TALE XIII.

  TALE XIV.

  TALE XV.

  TALE XVI.

  TALE XVII.

  TALE XVIII.

  APPENDIX.

  A. (Tale VIII., Page i.)

  B (Tale XL (B.), Page 95.)

  C. (Tale XII., Page 101.)

  D. (Tale XVI., Page 183.)

  E. (Tale XVII., Page 195.)

  List of Illustrations

  Frontispiece

  Titlepage

  001a.jpg Bornet's Concern on Discovering That his Wife Is Without Her Ring

  001.jpg Page Image

  012.jpg Tailpiece

  013a.jpg the Dying Gentleman Receiving The Embraces Of His Sweetheart

  013.jpg Page Image

  024.jpg Tailpiece

  025a.jpg the Countess Asking an Explanation from Amadour

  025.jpg Page Image

  083.jpg Tailpiece

  089.jpg Page Image

  093.jpg Tailpiece

  095a.jpg the Grey Friar Telling his Tales

  095.jpg Page Image

  100.jpg Tailpiece

  101a.jpg the Gentleman Killing The Duke

  101.jpg Page Image

  117.jpg Tailpiece

  119a.jpg the Sea-captain Talking to The Lady

  119.jpg Page Image

  140.jpg Tailpiece

  141a.jpg Bonnivet and the Lady of Milan

  141.jpg Page Image

  155.jpg Tailpiece

  157a.jpg the Lady Taking Oath As to Her Conduct

  157.jpg Page Image

  182.jpg Tailpiece

  183a.jpg the Gentleman Discovering The Trick

  183.jpg Page Image

  193.jpg Tailpiece

  195a.jpg the King Showing his Sword

  195.jpg Page Image

  203.jpg Tailpiece

  205a.jpg the Student Escaping The Temptation

  205.jpg Page Image

  216.jpg Tailpiece

  DETAILED CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.

  FIRST DAY--Continued. Tale VIII. The misadventure of Bornet, who, planning with a friend of his that both should lie with a serving-woman, discovers too late that they have had to do with his own wife.

  Tale IX. The evil fortune of a gentleman of Dauphine, who dies of despair because he cannot marry a damsel nobler and richer than himself.

  Tale X. The Spanish story of Florida, who, after withstanding the love of a gentleman named Amadour for many years, eventually becomes a nun.

  SECOND DAY. Prologue

  Tale XI. (A). Mishap of the Lady de Roncex in the Grey Friars' Convent at Thouars.

  Tale XI. (B). Facetious discourse of a Friar of Touraine.

  Tale XII. Story of Alexander de' Medici, Duke of Florence, whom his cousin, Lorenzino de' Medici, slew in order to save his sister's honour.

  Tale XIII. Praiseworthy artifice of a lady to whom a sea Captain sent a letter and diamond ring, and who, by forwarding them to the Captain's wife as though they had been intended for her, united husband and wife once more in all affection.

  Tale XIV. The Lord of Bonnivet, after furthering the love entertained by an Italian gentleman for a lady of Milan, finds means to take the other's place and so supplant him with the lady who had formerly rejected himself.

  Tale XV. The troubles and evil fortune of a virtuous lady who, after being long neglected by her husband, becomes the object of his jealousy.

  Tale XVI. Story of a Milanese Countess, who, after long rejecting the love of a French gentleman, rewards him at last for his faithfulness, but not until she has put his courage to the proof.

  Tale XVII. The noble manner in which King Francis the First shows Count William of Furstemberg that he knows of the plans laid by him against his life, and so compels him to do justice upon himself and to leave France.

  Tale XVIII. A young gentleman scholar at last wins a lady's love, after enduring successfully two trials that she had made of him.

  Appendix to Vol. II

  THE QUEEN OF NAVARRE, Volume 3.

  SECOND DAY.

  TALE XIX.

  TALE XX.

  THIRD DAY.

  PROLOGUE.

  TALE XXI.

  TALE XXII.

  TALE XXIII.
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  TALE XXIV.

  TALE XXV.

  TALE XXVI.

  TALE XXVII.

  TALE XXVIII.

  TALE XXIX.

  TALE XXX.

  APPENDIX.

  A. (Tale XX., Page 21.)

  B. (Tale XXV., Page 131.)

  C. (Tale XXVI., Page 143.)

  D. (Tale XXX., Page 191).

  List of Illustrations

  Frontispiece

  Titlepage

  001a.jpg the Parting Between Pauline and The Gentlemen

  001.jpg Page Image

  020.jpg Tailpiece

  021a.jpg the Lord de Riant Finding The Widow With Her Groom

  021.jpg Page Image

  029.jpg Tailpiece

  035a.jpg Rolandine Conversing With Her Husband

  035.jpg Page Image

  071.jpg Tailpiece

  073a.jpg Sister Marie and the Prior

  073.jpg Page Image

  095.jpg Tailpiece

  097a.jpg the Grey Friar Deceiving The Gentleman of Perigord

  097.jpg Page Image

  112.jpg Tailpiece

  113a.jpg Elisor Showing the Queen Her Own Image

  113.jpg Page Image

  130.jpg Tailpiece

  131a.jpg the Advocate's Wife Attending on The Prince

  131.jpg Page Image

  142.jpg Tailpiece

  143a.jpg the Lord of Avannes Paying his Court in Disguise

  143.jpg Page Image

  170.jpg Tailpiece

  171a.jpg the Secretary Imploring The Lady Not to Tell of his Wickedness

  171.jpg Page Image

  175.jpg Tailpiece

  177a.jpg the Secretary Opening The Pasty

  177.jpg Page Image

  183.jpg Tailpiece

  185a.jpg the Husbandman Surprised by The Fall of The Winnowing Fan

  185.jpg Page Image

  190.jpg Tailpiece

  191a.jpg the Young Gentleman Embracing his Mother

  191.jpg Page Image

  204.jpg Tailpiece

  DETAILED CONTENTS OF VOLUME III.

  SECOND DAY--Continued. Tale XIX. The honourable love of a gentleman, who, when his sweetheart is forbidden to speak with him, in despair becomes a monk of the Observance, while the lady, following in his footsteps, becomes a nun of St. Clara

  Tale XX. How the Lord of Riant is cured of his love fora beautiful widow through surprising her in the arms of a groom

  THIRD DAY. Prologue Tale XXI. The affecting history of Rolandine, who, debarred from marriage by her father's greed, betrothes herself to a gentleman to whom, despite his faithlessness, she keeps her plighted word, and does not marry until after his death

  Tale XXII. How Sister Marie Heroet virtuously escapes the attempts of the Prior of St. Martin in-the-Fields

  Tale XXIII. The undeserved confidence which a gentleman of Perigord places in the monks of the Order of St. Francis, causes the death of himself, his wife and their little child

  Tale XXIV. Concerning the unavailing love borne to the Queen of Castile by a gentleman named Elisor, who in the end becomes a hermit

  Tale XXV. How a young Prince found means to conceal his intrigue with the wife of a lawyer of Paris

  Tale XXVI. How the counsels of a discreet lady happily withdrew the young Lord of Avannes from the perils of his foolish love for a lady of Pampeluna

  Tale XXVII. How the wife of a man who was valet to a Princess rid herself of the solicitations of one who was among the same Princess's servants, and at the same time her husband's guest

  Tale XXVIII. How a Gascon merchant, named Bernard du Ha, while sojourning at Paris, deceived a Secretary to the Queen of Navarre who had thought to obtain a pasty from him

  Tale XXIX. How the Priest of Carrelles, in Maine, when surprised with the wife of an old husbandman, gets out of the difficulty by pretending to return him a winnowing fan Tale XXX. How a gentleman marries his own daughter and sister unawares

  THE QUEEN OF NAVARRE, Volume 4.

  FOURTH DAY.

  PROLOGUE.

  TALE XXXI.

  TALE XXXII.

  TALE XXXIII.

  TALE XXXIV.

  TALE XXXV.

  TALE XXXVI.

  TALE XXXVII.

  TALE XXXVIII.

  TALE XXXIX.

  TALE XL.

  FIFTH DAY.

  PROLOGUE.

  TALE XLI.

  TALE XLII.

  TALE XLIII.

  TALE XLIV.(A).

  TALE XLIV. (B).

  TALE XLV.

  TALE XLVI. (A).

  TALE XLVI.(B).

  TALE XLVII.

  TALE XLVIII.

  TALE XLIX.

  TALE L.

  APPENDIX.

  A. (Tale XXXVI., Page 63.)

  List of Illustrations

  Frontispiece

  Titlepage

  007a.jpg the Wicked Friar Captured

  007.jpg Page Image

  0016.jpg Tailpiece

  017a.jpg Bernage Observing the German Lady's Strange Penance

  017.jpg Page Image

  028.jpg Tailpiece

  029a.jpg the Execution of The Wicked Priest and his Sister

  029.jpg Page Image

  037.jpg Tailpiece

  039a.jpg the Grey Friar Imploring The Butcher to Spare his Life

  039.jpg Page Image

  047.jpg Tailpiece

  049a.jpg the Lady Embracing The Supposed Friar

  049.jpg Page Image

  062.jpg Tailpiece

  063a.jpg the Clerk Entreating Forgiveness of The President

  063.jpg Page Image

  072.jpg Tailpiece

  073a.jpg the Lady of Loue Bringing Her Husband The Basin Of Water

  073.jpg Page Image

  081.jpg Tailpiece

  083a.jpg the Lady of Tours Questioning Her Husband's Mistress

  083.jpg Page Image

  088.jpg Tailpiece

  089a.jpg the Lord of Grignaulx Catching The Pretended Ghost

  089.jpg Page Image

  094.jpg Tailpiece

  095a.jpg the Count of Jossebelin Murdering his Sister's Husband

  095.jpg Page Image

  109.jpg Tailpiece

  115a.jpg the Beating of The Wicked Grey Friar

  115.jpg Page Image

  122.jpg Tailpiece

  123a.jpg the Girl Refusing The Gift of The Young Prince

  123.jpg Page Image

  142.jpg Tailpiece

  143a.jpg Jambicque Repudiating Her Lover

  143.jpg Page Image

  155.jpg Tailpiece

  157.jpg Page Image

  162.jpg Tailpiece

  163a.jpg the Lovers Returning from Their Meeting in The Garden

  163.jpg Page Image

  176.jpg Tailpiece

  177a.jpg the Man of Tours and his Serving-maid in The Snow

  177.jpg Page Image

  186.jpg Tailpiece

  187.jpg Page Image

  193.jpg Tailpiece

  195a.jpg the Young Man Beating his Wife

  195.jpg Page Image

  201.jpg Tailpiece

  203a.jpg the Gentleman Reproaching his Friend for His Jealousy

  203.jpg Page Image

  211.jpg Tailpiece

  213a.jpg the Grey Friars Caught and Punished

  213.jpg Page Image

  218.jpg Tailpiece

  219a.jpg the Countess Facing Her Lovers

  219.jpg Page Image

  232.jpg Tailpiece

  233a.jpg the Lady Killing Herself on The Death of Her Lover

  233.jpg Page Image

  240.jpg Tailpiece

  DETAILED CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV.

  FOURTH DAY. Prologue

  Tale XXXI. Punishment of the wickedness of a Friar who sought to lie with a gentleman's wife.

  Tale XXXII. How an ambassador of Charles VIII.,
moved by the repentance of a German lady, whom her husband compelled to drink out of her lover's skull, reconciled husband and wife together.

  Tale XXXIII. The hypocrisy of a priest who, under the cloak of sanctity, had lain with his own sister, is discovered and punished by the wisdom of the Count of Angouleme.

  Tale XXXIV. The terror of two Friars who believed that a butcher intended to murder them, whereas the poor man was only speaking of his Pigs.

  Tale XXXV. How a husband's prudence saves his wife from the risks she incurred while thinking to yield to merely a spiritual love.

  Tale XXXVI. The story of the President of Grenoble, who saves the honour of his house by poisoning his wife with a salad.

  Tale XXXVII. How the Lady of Loue regained her husband's affection.

  Tale XXXVIII. The kindness of a townswoman of Tours to a poor farm-woman who is mistress to her husband, makes the latter so ashamed of his faithlessness that he returns to his wife.