senger will be more communicative.

Between Peronne and Namur did the party turn aside to visit the
young Duchess of Burgundy, either at Hesdin or at Aire? Such is the
conjecture of a learned Belgian editor, and he carries his surmise
further in suggesting that in this brief sojourn was performed
Chastellain's mystery of "The Peace of Peronne."[21] Perhaps these
verses, if put in the mouths of Louis and Charles, may have pleased
the princely spectators of the dramatic poem. Mutual admiration was
the key-note of these flowery speeches while the other _dramatis
personae_ expressed unstinted admiration for the wonderful deed
accomplished by these two pure souls who have sworn peace when they
might have brought dire war on their innocent subjects.

"Never did David, nor Ogier, nor Roland, that proud knight,
nor the great Charlemagne, nor the proud Duke of Mayence, nor
Mongleive, the heir, from whom issued noble fruit, nor King
Arthur, nor Oliver, nor Rossillon, nor Charbonnier in their dozens
of victories approach or touch with hand or foot the work I treat
of."

* * * * *

[The king speaks.]

"Charles, be assured that Louis will be the re-establisher and
provider of all that touches your honour and peace between you
and him. That he will ever be appreciator of you and avenger, a
nourisher of joy and love in repairing all that my predecessor
did.

[The duke speaks.]

"And Charles, who loves his honour as much as his soul, wishes
nothing better than to serve you and this realm and to extol
your house. For I know that is the reason why I have glory and
reputation. Then if it please God and Our Lady, my body will keep
from blame."

One stanza, indeed, uttered by Louis strikes a note of doubt:
"Charles, so many debates may occur, so many incidents and accidents
in our various actions, that a rupture may be dreaded."

Vehemently did the duke repudiate the bare possibility of a new breach
between him and his liege. The whole is a paean at a love feast. If the
two together heard their counterfeits express such perfect fidelity,
how Louis XI. must have laughed to himself behind his mask of forced
courtesy! Charles, on the other hand, was quite capable of taking it
all seriously, wholly unconscious that he had not cut the lion's claws
for once and all.

[Footnote 1: _See_ Lavisse iv^{ii}.,356.]

[Footnote 2: T