The Heptameron (Machen)/Novel 27

In the town of Amboise there lived a man who served a certain princess as her chamberlain, an honest fellow, and one who willingly entertained the folk who came to his house, and notably such as were servants of the same mistress. And no long while ago there lodged with him for ten days a fellow-​servant, a secretary, and so ugly a man was he that he was rather like to a king of cannibals than a Christian. And notwithstanding that his host treated him as a friend and a brother, and after as honourable a sort as was within his power, nevertheless this man behaved himself towards him as one who not only forgets all honour but who has never had it in his heart. For he pursued with a dishonourable and unlawful love the wife of his host, she having nothing in her inciting to lust but rather the opposite, natheless a good woman, and none better in the town where she lived. And she, knowing the evil intent of the man, chose rather by cozenage to manifest his vice than by a peremptory refusal to cover it up, and so feigned to receive his proposals in good part. Wherefore he, thinking the place was won, having no regard to her fifty years, nor her ugliness, nor the good repute she had for an honest woman and one that loved her husband, incessantly pestered her.

One day, when her husband was in the house, and they by themselves in a large room, she told him he had but to find a safe place and he might hold what parley with her he liked. Forthwith he replied that they would climb up to the garret, and she accordingly rose and prayed him go first and she would follow after. He, with as sweet a smile as a jackanapes when he makes feast for his acquaintance, stepped lightly up the ladder; and expecting his desire to be fulfilled, burning with no clear fire, as does the juniper, but rather with that of a black coal in the furnace, listened whether she came after him. But in place of footsteps he heard her voice saying to him: "Master secretary, master secretary, do but wait awhile, and I will learn of my husband whether it is his pleasure that I follow you." Conceive, ladies, how he showed weeping, who laughing was so mighty ugly; but he presently came down again with tears in his eyes, praying her by the love of God not to break up by her words the friendship between him and his fellow. She replied,: "I am assured so great love do you bear him that you would not say anything to me that he may not hear. Wherefore I go tell him." And let him entreat or threaten as he would, she did according to her word, and he fled the place covered with shame. And when he heard how he had been confounded, the husband was well content with the honest cozenage his wife had used, and so much did her virtue please ​him that he made no account of his fellow's vice, holding him enough punished by the shame he had thought to bring upon that house being turned upon his own head.

"Methinks honest men should learn by this tale to take care lest they have about them folk whose heart, conscience, and understanding are alike ignorant of God, honour, and true love.' "Though your tale be brief," said Oisille, "yet I have heard none more pleasant, and it is to the honour of a good woman." "Oddsfish," said Simontault, "'tis no great honour in a woman to refuse so beastly a fellow as you make this secretary; but if he had been comely and a brave man she would then have shown some virtue. And since I suspect I know his name, I could tell you a tale of him as pleasant as this, if it were my turn." "Let not that hinder you," said Ennasuitte, "for I give you my vote." So Simontault began: "They that are wont to live at Court or in fine towns deem themselves so knowing that they think all other men are as nothing compared with them; but the truth is that, in all sorts and conditions of men, there are always to be found crafty and deceitful folk. But because of their pride, who esteem themselves so shrewd, the jest is much the better when they are deceived, as I would fain show by this relation of a case that fell out no long while ago."