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Margaret, Queen of Navarre, 1492-1549

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

And
there did he spend his old age happily with God.
"Such, ladies, is the story which you begged me to relate, and which,
as I can see from your eyes, you have not heard without compassion. It
seems to me that you should take example by it, and beware of placing
your affections upon men; for, however honourable or virtuous these
affections may be, in the end they have always an aftertaste of evil.
You see how St. Paul would not that even married people should so
deeply love each other; (4) for the more our hearts are set upon earthly
things, the more remote are they from heavenly affection, and the harder
is the tie to be broken. I therefore pray you, ladies, ask God for His
Holy Spirit, who will so fire your hearts with the love of God, that
when death comes, you will not be pained at leaving that which you love
too well in this world."
4 I _Corinthians_ vii. 32-5.--M.
"If their love," said Geburon, "was as honourable as you describe, why
was it needful to keep it so secret?"
"Because," said Parlamente, "the wickedness of men is so great, that
they can never believe deep love to be allied with honour, but judge
men and women to be wicked according to their own passions.


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