[The Saddler’s Wife Cured by the sight of her Husband
Caressing the Serving-maid]
TALE LXXI.
A saddler’s wife, who was grievously sick, was made whole
and recovered the power of speech, which for the space of
two days site had lost, on seeing her husband holding his
serving-maid too familiarly on the bed whilst she herself
was drawing to her end.
In the town of Amboise there lived one Brimbaudier, (1) saddler to the Queen of Navarre, and a man whose colour of feature showed him to be by nature rather a servant of Bacchus than a priest of Diana. He had married a virtuous woman who controlled his household very discreetly, and with whom he was well content.
1 Boaistuau gives the name as Bruribandier, and Gruget
transforms it into Borribaudier. M, Pifteau, after examining
the MSS., is doubtful whether Brimbaudier is the correct
reading. Bromardier, which in old French meant a tippler
(Ducange, Briemardum), would have been an appropriate name
for the individual referred to.—Ed.