"
"I ask you, madam," said Simontault, "to end the day by telling us her
story."
"That I cannot do," said Oisille, "and for two reasons. The first is
that it is exceedingly long; and the second, that it does not belong to
our own day. It is written indeed by an author worthy of belief; but we
are sworn to relate nothing that has been written."
"That is true," said Parlamente; "but I believe I know the story you
mean, and it is written in such old language that methinks no one
present except ourselves has ever heard of it. It will therefore be
looked upon as new."
Upon this the whole company begged her to tell it without fear for its
length, seeing that a full hour was yet left before vespers. So, at
their request, the Lady Oisille thus began:--
[Illustration: 174.jpg Tailpiece]
[Illustration: 175a. The Gentleman Killing Himself on the Death of his Mistress]
[The Gentleman Killing Himself on the Death of his Mistress]
[Illustration: 175.jpg Page Image]
_TALE LXX_.
_The Duchess of Burgundy, not content with the love that her
husband bore her, conceived so great an affection for a
young gentleman that, when looks and glances were not
sufficient to inform him of her passion, she declared it to
him in words which led to an evil ending_.
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