This martyr of chastity was buried in the Church of St. Florentin, and, as was their duty, all the upright women of Amboise failed not to show her every possible honour, deeming themselves fortunate in belonging to a town where so virtuous a woman had been found.  And seeing the honour that was shown to the deceased, such women as were wanton and unchaste resolved to amend their lives.

“This, ladies, is a true story, which should incline us more strongly to preserve the fair virtue of chastity.  We who are of gentle blood should die of shame on feeling in our hearts that worldly lust to avoid which the poor wife of a muleteer shrank not from so cruel a death.  Some esteem themselves virtuous women who have never like this one resisted unto the shedding of blood.  It is fitting that we should humble ourselves, for God does not vouchsafe His grace to men because of their birth or riches, but according as it pleases His own good-will.  He pays no regard to persons, but chooses according to His purpose; and he whom He chooses He honours with all virtues.  And often He chooses the lowly to confound those whom the world exalts and honours; for, as He Himself hath told us, ’Let us not rejoice in our merits, but rather because our names are written in the Book of Life, from which nor death, nor hell, nor sin can blot them out.’” (6)

     6 These are not the exact words of Scripture, but a
     combination of several passages from the Book of
     Revelation.—­Ed.

There was not a lady in the company but had tears of compassion in her eyes for the pitiful and glorious death of the muleteer’s wife.  Each thought within herself that, should fortune serve her in the same way, she would strive to imitate this poor woman in her martyrdom.  Oisille, however, perceiving that time was being lost in praising the dead woman, said to Saffredent—­

“Unless you can tell us something that will make the company laugh, I think none of them will forgive me for the fault I have committed in making them weep; wherefore I give you my vote for your telling of the third story.”

Saffredent, who would gladly have recounted something agreeable to the company, and above all to one amongst the ladies, said that it was not for him to speak, seeing that there were others older and better instructed than himself, who should of right come first.  Nevertheless, since the lot had fallen upon himself, he would rather have done with it at once, for the more numerous the good speakers before him, the worse would his own tale appear.

[Illustration:  064.jpg Tailpiece]

[Illustration:  065a.jpg The Stags Head]

[The King Joking upon the Stag’s Head being A fitting Decoration]

[Illustration:  065.jpg Page Image]

TALE III.