love’s thraldom, so also are they not free from its necessities, and must therefore perforce be permitted to employ falsehood, hypocrisy and deceit, which, according to the teaching of Master Jehan de Mehun, (5) are the means to be employed for vanquishing our enemies.  And, since such conduct is praiseworthy on the part of a Prince in such a case as this (though in any other it were deserving of blame), I will relate to you the devices to which a young Prince resorted, and by which he contrived to deceive those who are wont to deceive the whole world.”

     5 John dc Melun, who continued the Roman de la Rose begun
     by Lorris.—­D.

[Illustration:  130.jpg Tailpiece]

[Illustration:  131a.jpg The Advocate’s Wife attending on the Prince]

[The Advocate’s Wife attending on the Prince]

[Illustration:  131.jpg Page Image]

TALE XXV.

     A young Prince, whilst pretending to visit his lawyer and
     talk with him of his affairs, conversed so freely with the
     lawyer’s wife, that he obtained from her what he desired.

In the city of Paris there dwelt an advocate who was more highly thought of than any other of his condition, (1) and who, being sought after by every one on account of his excellent parts, had become the richest of all those who wore the gown.

1 In five of the oldest MSS. of the Heptameron, and in the original editions of 1558, 1559, and 1560, the words are “than nine others of his condition.”  The explanation of this is, that the advocate’s name, as ascertained by Baron Jerome Pichon, was Disome, which, written Dix-hommes, would literally mean “ten men.”  Baron Pichon has largely elucidated this story, and the essential points of his notice, contributed to the Melanges de la Societe des Bibliophiles Francais, will be found summarized in the Appendix to this volume, B.—­Ed.

Now, although he had had no children by his first wife, he was in hopes of having some by a second; for, although his body was no longer hearty, his heart and hopes were as much alive as ever.  Accordingly, he made choice of one of the fairest maidens in the city; she was between eighteen and nineteen years of age, very handsome both in features and complexion, and still more handsome in figure.  He loved her and treated her as well as could be; but he had no children by her any more than by his first wife, and this at last made her unhappy.  And as youth cannot endure grief, she sought diversion away from home, and betook herself to dances and feasts; yet she did this in so seemly a fashion that her husband could not take it ill, for she was always in the company of women in whom he had trust.

One day, when she was at a wedding, there was also present a Prince of very high degree, who, when telling me the story, forbade me to discover his name.  I may, however, tell you that he was the handsomest and most graceful Prince that has ever been or, in my opinion, ever will be in this realm. (2)