5 Talleyrand, who passes for having been the last of the
“Rois des Ribauds” (see the Bibliophile Jacob’s historical
novel of that title), was, like his descendant the great
diplomatist, a man of subtle and caustic humour. Brantôme,
in his article on Anne of Brittany in Les Dames Illustres,
repeatedly refers to him, and relates that on an occasion
when the Queen wished to say a few words in Spanish to the
Emperor’s ambassador—there was a project of marrying her
daughter Claude to Charles V.—she applied to Grignols to
teach her a sentence or two of the Castilian language. He,
however, taught her some dirty expression, but was careful
to warn Louis XII., who laughed at it, telling his wife on
no account to use the Spanish words she had learnt. On
discovering the truth, Anne was so greatly vexed, that
Grignols was obliged to withdraw from Court for some time,
and only with difficulty obtained the Queen’s forgiveness.—
L. and Ed.
“It is wonderful, ladies, to think of the effects wrought by the mighty god of Love. He causes women to put aside all fear, and teaches them to give every sort of trouble to man in order to work their own ends. But if the purpose of the serving-woman calls for blame, the sound sense of the master is no less worthy of praise. He knew that when the spirit departs, it returns no more.” (6)
6 “A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”—Psalm lxxviii. 39.—M.
“In sooth,” said Geburon, “love showed little favour to the man and the maid, but I agree that the sound sense of the master was of great advantage to him.”
“Nevertheless,” said Ennasuite, “the maid through her cunning lived for a long time at her ease.”
“‘Tis but a sorry ease,” said Oisille, “that is founded upon sin and that ends in shame and chastisement.”
“That is true, madam,” said Ennasuite, “but many persons reap pain and sorrow by living righteously, and lacking wit enough to procure themselves in all their lives as much pleasure as these two.”
“It is nevertheless my opinion,” said Oisille, “that there can be no perfect pleasure unless the conscience be at rest.”
“Nay,” said Simontault, “the Italian maintains that the greater the sin the greater the pleasure.” (7)
7 This may be a reference to Boccaccio or Castiglione, but
the expression is of a proverbial character in many
languages.—Ed.