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Margaret, Queen of Navarre, 1492-1549

"The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. V. (of V.)"

(3) But when the woman's folly became
known the farce came to an end. If all knew of their follies, they would
not be accounted holy nor their miracles true. And I would beg you,
ladies, to see henceforward to what saints you offer your candles. (4)
3 The crucifix in the church of St. John was mainly of
silver, and, according to Quincarnon, at the time of a
Huguenot outbreak at Lyons it was thrown to the ground by a
Calvinist minister named Ruffy, who, after reducing it to
fragments, carried all the precious metal away with him.--M.
4 The latter portion of this story and all the dialogue
that follows it are omitted by Boaistuau in his edition.
Gruget inserted the dialogue, but he did not dare to print
the passage respecting the talking crucifix.--L.
"'Tis notable," said Hircan, "that, whatever the matter in question may
be, women always do wrong."
"Is it wrong," asked Nomerfide, "to bring candles to a tomb?"
"Yes," said Hircan, "if the flame be turned against a man's forehead;
for nothing good should be called good if it be attended with evil. You
may be sure that the poor woman thought she had made a fine gift to God
with her little candle.


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