“Madame,” says he, “could you not spare a moment?”
Restive as some eager mare, stayed in her course towards the gallant stallion that is neighing for her in the field, the lady made answer:
“All here must needs obey the royal will of your Highness.”
“Then sit you down by my side,” said the Prince. And gazing at her lewdly, harshly, cunningly, he spake again:
“I would have you recite to me the Pater Noster in Flemish. They taught it me once, but I no longer remember it.”
The poor lady did as she was bid; and then the Prince commanded her to say it all over again, but more slowly. And so on, and so on, until she had recited it ten times over. After that he began to speak flatteringly to her, praising her beautiful hair, her fresh complexion, and her bright eyes. But he dared not to say a word concerning her lovely shoulders or her rounded throat, or of aught else beside.
When at last she was beginning to hope that she might be able to get away, and was already scanning anxiously the courtyard where her lord was awaiting her, the Prince demanded of her if she could rightly tell him what were the several virtues of woman? She answered nothing, fearing that she might say something to displease him. He then answered for her, setting the matter forth in this wise:
“The virtues of woman are these: chastity, regard for her own honour, and a modest manner of life.” And he counselled her, therefore, that she should dress decently and should always be careful to hide those things which were meet to be hidden. The lady nodded assent, saying that for His Hyperborean Highness she would certainly take care to cover herself with ten bear-skins rather than with a single length of muslin.
Having put him to shame by this answer, she made off gladly.
But in Philip’s heart the fire of youth was alight—not the fiery glow that dares the souls of the brave to lofty deeds, but a dark fire from hell itself, the fire of Satan. And it flamed in his grey eyes like the beam of a winter’s moon shining down upon a charnel-house. And it burned within him cruelly....