Her father, who had never spoken to her since her imprisonment, came without delay.  He listened to all the pleas that she had to urge, and then, instead of rebuking her or killing her as he had often threatened, he took her in his arms and wept exceedingly.

“My daughter,” he said, “you are more in the right than I, for if there has been any wrongdoing in this matter, I have been its principal cause.  But now, since God has so ordered it, I would gladly atone for the past.”

He took her home and treated her as his eldest daughter.  A gentleman who bore the same name and arms as did her own family sought her in marriage; he was very sensible and virtuous, (15) and he thought so much of Rolandine, whom he often visited, that he gave praise to what others blamed in her, perceiving that virtue had been her only aim.  The marriage, being acceptable both to Rolandine and to her father, was concluded without delay.

It is true, however, that a brother she had, the sole heir of their house, would not grant her a portion, for he charged her with having disobeyed her father.  And after his father’s death he treated her so harshly that she and her husband (who was a younger son) had much ado to live. (16)

15 Peter de Rohan-Gie, Lord of Frontenay, third son of Peter de Rohan, Lord of Gie, Marshal of Prance and preceptor to Francis I. As previously stated, the marriage took place in 1517, and eight years later the husband was killed at Pavia.—­Ed.

16 Anne de Rohan (Rolandine) had two brothers, James and Claud.  Both died without issue.  Some particulars concerning them will be found in the notes to Tale XL.  The father’s death, according to Anselme, took place in 1516, that is, prior to Anne’s marriage.—­Ed.

However, God provided for them, for the brother that sought to keep everything died suddenly one day, leaving behind him both her wealth, which he was keeping back, and his own.

Thus did she inherit a large and rich estate, whereon she lived piously and virtuously and in her husband’s love.  And after she had brought up the two sons that God gave to them, (17) she yielded with gladness her soul to Him in whom she had at all times put her perfect trust.

17 Anne’s sons were Rene and Claud.  Miss Mary Robinson (The Fortunate Lovers, London, 1887) believes Rene to be “Saffredent,” and his wife Isabel d’Albret, sister of Queen Margaret’s husband Henry of Navarre, to be “Nomerfide.”—­Ed.

“Now, ladies, let the men who would make us out so fickle come forward and point to an instance of as good a husband as this lady was a good wife, and of one having like faith and steadfastness.  I am sure they would find it so difficult to do this, that I will release them from the task rather than put them to such exceeding toil.  But as for you, ladies, I would pray you, for the sake of maintaining your own fair fame, either to love not at all, or else to love as perfectly as she did.  And let none among you say that this lady offended against her honour, seeing that her constancy has served to heighten our own.”