Prev | Current Page 210 | Next

Margaret, Queen of Navarre, 1492-1549

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

"
"And what wrong did he do her," asked Saffre-dent, "by comforting
himself when he thought that she was dead? It is known that the
marriage-tie lasts only through life, and that when this is ended it is
loosed."
"Ay," said Oisille, "loosed from oath and bond, but a good heart is
never loosed from love. The husband you have told us of was indeed quick
to forget his grief, since he could not wait until his wife had breathed
her last."
"What I think strangest of all," said Nomerfide, "is that, when death
and the cross were before his eyes, he should not have lost all desire
to offend against God."
"A brave argument!" said Simontault. "You would therefore not be
surprised to see a man act wantonly provided he were a good distance
from the church and cemetery?"
"You may laugh at me as much as you please," said Nomerfide;
"nevertheless the contemplation of death must greatly chill a heart,
however young it may be."
"I should indeed be of the same opinion as yourself," said Dagoucin, "if
I had not heard a Princess say the opposite."
"In other words." said Parlamente, "she told some story about it. If it
be so, I will give you my place that you may relate it to us.


Pages:
198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222