The Heptameron (Machen)/Novel 4

There was in the land of Flanders a lady of a most illustrious house, who had been twice married and was now a widow without any children. In the time of her widowhood she lived retired with her brother, who was a great lord, and married to a daughter of the King, and this brother loved his sister exceedingly. Now this prince was a man somewhat enslaved to pleasure, having great delight in hunting, games, and women, as his youth led him, but having to wife one of a peevish disposition, to whom none of her husband's ​contentments were pleasing, he would always have his sister with him, for she was of a most joyous nature, and a good and honourable woman withal. And there was in the house of this prince a gentleman whose beauty and grace did far surpass that of his fellows; and he beholding the sister of his master that she was joyous and always ready for a laugh, thought that he would assay how the offer of an honourable love would be taken by her. But her reply was by no means favourable to him; yet though it was such as became a princess and a woman of honour, she, seeing him to be a handsome man and of good address, easily pardoned to him his great boldness in speaking to her after such a fashion. And moreover she assured him that she bore him no displeasure for what he had said, but charged him from henceforth to let her have no more of it. This he promised, that he might not lose the delight he had in her company, but as time went on his love grew even more and more, so that he forgot the promise he had given. Not that he made a second trial of what words could do, for he had found out the manner of her replies; but he thought that since she was a widow, young, lusty, and of a pleasant humour, she might perchance, if he came upon her in a fitting place, take compassion on him and her own flesh.

To which end, he said to his master that hard by his house there was most excellent hunting, and that if in Maytime he would be pleased to come and chase the stags, he could promise him as good contentment as he could desire. The prince, as much for the love he bore him as for his delight in hunting, granted his request, and going to his house found it most bravely ordered, and as good as that of the greatest lord in the land. And the gentleman lodged his lord and lady on one side, and opposite to them he appointed a room for her whom he loved better than himself. And so bravely was this room decked out with tapestry above and matting below, that no one could discover a trap-door contrived in the wall by the bed, which led to where his mother was lodged. And she, being an old dame with an obstinate rheum, and troubled with a cough, had made an exchange of chambers with her son, so as not to annoy the princess. And before curfew-time in the evening this good lady would carry sweetmeats to the princess for her supper, in which service she was assisted by her son, since ​being well-beloved of the prince, it was not refused to him to be present at her levee and couchee, at which times he got fresh fuel for the fire that was in him. And so late one night did he tarry there that she was well nigh asleep before he left her for his own room. And having put on him the finest and best scented shirt he had, and a night-cap of surpassing device, he was well persuaded, on looking himself over, that there was not a lady in the world hard enough to refuse a man of such a grace and beauty. Wherefore, promising to himself a good issue of his adventure, he lay down on his bed, hoping not to make thereon a long stay, but to change it for one more pleasant and honourable. And as soon as he had dismissed his servants he got up and shut the door behind them, and afterwards listened for a long while if he should hear any noise in the room of the princess. So when he was satisfied that all was quiet, he was fain to begin his pleasant travail, and little by little let down the trap-door, which, so well was it carpeted over, did not make so much as the least noise. And so he got into the room by the bed of the princess, who was now asleep. And straightway, heeding not the duty he owed her or the house from which she came, without with your leave, or by your leave, he got into bed with her, who felt herself in his arms, before she knew he was in the room. But she, being strong, got from between his hands, and having required of him who he was, fell to beating, biting, and scratching with such hearty good will that, for fear of her calling out, he would have stopped her mouth with the blanket; but in this he was foiled, since the princess, seeing that he spared none of his resources to rob her of her honour, spared none of hers to defend it. So she called at the top of her voice to her maid of honour, an ancient and prudent dame, who slept with her, and she, clad only in her nightgear, ran to the help of her mistress.

And when the gentleman saw he was discovered, so great a fear had he of being recognised, that as fast as might be he departed by his trap-door; and in like degree, as he had been desirous and well assured of a good reception when he was going, so now did he despair as he went back in such evil case. He found his mirror and candle upon the table, and beholding his countenance, that it was all bloody from the bites and scratches she had dealt him, he began to say: "Beauty! thou ​hast received a wage according to thy deserving; for by thine idle promise I attempted an impossible thing, and which, moreover, in place of increasing my happiness, hath made my sorrow greater than it was before; since I am well assured that if she knew that I, against my solemn undertaking, had done this foolish thing, I should be cut off from that close and honourable commerce I aforetime had with her. And this I shall have well deserved, for to make my beauty and grace avail me anything, I should not have hidden them in the darkness; I should not have attempted to carry that chaste body by assault; but striven to gain her favour, till by patience and long service my love had gained the victory; for without love all the power and might of men are as nothing."

So, in such wise that I cannot tell, passed the night in tears, and regrets, and griefs; and in the morning, so torn was his face, that he made pretence of great sickness, saying that he could not bear the light, even until the company was departed.

The lady who had come off conqueror knew that there was none other in the prince's court who durst set about such an enterprise save her host, who had already had the boldness to make a declaration of love to her. So she, with her maid of honour, made search around her chamber to find how he could have made an entry. And not being able to find any place or trace thereof, she said to her companion in great wrath: "Be assured that it was none other than the lord of the house, and in such sort will I handle him on the morrow with my brother, that his head shall bear witness to my chastity." The maid of honour, seeing her so angered, said to her: "My lady, I am well pleased at the price you set on your honour, since the more to exalt it you would make sacrifice of the life of one who, for his love of you, has put it to this risk. But in this way one ofttimes lessens what one would fain increase. Wherefore, my lady, I do entreat you to tell me the whole truth of this matter." And when the princess had made a full account of the business, the maid of honour said to her: "Do you verily assure me that he had nothing from you but only scratches and fisticuffs?" "I do assure you," said the lady, "and if he find not a rare mediciner, I am much mistaken if to-morrow his face do not bear evident witness to what I say." "Well, my ​lady," said the maid of honour, "if it be as you say, it seems to me that you have rather occasion to thank God than to imagine vengeance; for you may conceive that since this gentleman had a heart daring enough to attempt such a deed, you can award to him no punishment, nay, not death itself, that will not be easier to bear than his dolour at having failed therein. If you are fain to be revenged on him, leave him to his love and to his shame, and from them he will suffer more shrewdly than at your hands; and if you have regard for your honour, beware lest you fell into the same pit as he, for in place of gaining the greatest delight he could desire, he is in the most shameful case that may hap to a gentleman. So you, good mistress, thinking to exalt your honour, may haply bring it to the dust; for if you make advertisement of this affair, you will cause to be blazed abroad what no one would ever know, since the gentleman, trust me, will throw but little light on the matter. And when my lord, your brother, shall do justice on him at your asking, and the poor gentleman goes forth to die, it will be noised abroad that he had his pleasure of you, and men will say that it is not to be believed a man could make such an attempt, if he had not before had of you some good matter of contentment. You are young and fair, living gaily amongst all, and there is no soul at court who has not seen your commerce with this man you have in suspicion, so all will determine that if he finished the work you began it. So your honour, which hitherto hath been mightily extolled, will become common matter of dispute wherever this story is related."

The princess, considering the fair conclusions of the maid of honour, perceived that she had spoken the truth, and that with just cause would she be blamed, since both openly and privily she had always given a good reception to the gentleman, and so would have her woman tell her what was best to be done. And she answered her: "Good mistress, since it is your pleasure, seeing the love from whence they come, to give ear to my counsels, I think that you should be glad at heart, for that the bravest and most gallant gentleman I have ever seen hath not been able to turn you from the path of true virtuousness. And for this you should humble yourself before God, confessing that it is not your own strength or virtue, for women ​leading, beyond compare, straiter lives than you, have been brought to the dust by men less worthy of love than he. And henceforth, do you avoid proposals of love and the like, for many that at the first got off scot-free, the second time have fallen into the pit. Be mindful that Love is blind, and a causer of blindness, for it makes believe the path is sure, when in truth it is most slippery. And it is my mind that you should give him no sign as to what has taken place, and if he say anything on the matter, feign to understand him not, and so be quit of two perils; the one of vainglory for your victory, the other of recalling to mind things that are pleasant to the flesh, ay, so pleasant are they that the chastest have much ado to quench all sparks of that fire they are most fain to avoid. And moreover, I counsel you, that he think not he hath done you any sort of pleasure, that you do, by small degrees, put a close to your intimacy with him, so he may perceive your misliking to what he hath done, and yet understand that so great is your goodness that you are content with the victory God hath given you, and desire no farther vengeance. And may God grant you to abide in your virtuousness of heart, and seeing that all good things are from Him, may you love and serve Him in better sort than afore." And the princess, determined to abide by these conclusions, gave herself to a sleep as joyful as her lover's wakefulness was sad.

And on the morrow, the prince being about to depart, asked for his host, but they told him he was so sick as not to endure the daylight, or to speak with any one, whereat the prince was astonished and would have seen him, but being advised that he slept, he went forth from the house without so much as good-bye, and took with him his wife and sister. But she, hearing the put-offs of the gentleman, and that he would see neither the prince nor the company, was assured that he was the man who had so troubled her, and would not show the marks she had stamped upon his face. And though his master ofttimes sent for him, he would by no means return to court till he was healed of his wounds; save those indeed that love and shame had made upon his heart. And when he did return, and found himself before his victorious foe, he blushed; nay, he who was most bold-faced of all the company, was in such case that, often in her presence, he was struck dumb. At this, ​being quite persuaded that her suspicion was truth, she by little and little severed herself from him, yet not by such slow degrees that he was not aware of it, but could say nothing lest he should fare worse, and patiently bore this punishment which he so well deserved.

"Consider, ladies, this relation; and let those who would gain what is not for them be warned by it. And hereby let ladies be of good heart, beholding the virtue of the young princess, and the wise counsels of her maid of honour. If like hap fall to any, let them seek herein the remedy." "It appears to me," said Hircan, "that the gentleman of whom you speak was of so poor a heart, that he is not worthy to be had in memory, since having such an opportunity, neither the young woman nor the old one should have foiled him in his desire. And it is very evident his heart was not altogether filled by love, since there dwelt in it beside the fear of death and shame." Nomerfide replied to this: "But what would you have the poor gallant do, with two women against him?" "He had done well to have slain the old dame," said Hircan; "and when the maid found herself alone, she would have been half won." "To have slain her!" said Nomerfide, "you would then turn a lover into a murderer. Since you are of this advice, one should indeed fear to fall into your hands." "If I had brought it to such a point," said Hircan, "I should hold myself dishonoured if I did not bring it to an end." "Whereupon said Geburon: "Truly is this a strange thing and marvellous in your eyes that a princess, nourished in all honour, should make strong resistance to a single man? All the more then shall you be astonished to hear of a poor woman who escaped from the hands of two." "Geburon," said Ennasiutte, "I give my vote to you for the fifth novel, for I am assured you have that to tell of this woman that will not weary us." "Since the lot is fallen upon me," said Geburon, "I will tell you a story which I know to be true, for in the place it occurred I myself have made inquisition concerning it. And by it you shall conclude that not only in princesses may virtue be discovered, and that they of great reputation in love-craft are sometimes found wanting therein."