learned Latin, Greek, philosophy, and especially theology. "At fifteen
years of age," says a contemporary, "the spirit of God began to manifest
itself in her eyes, in her face, in her walk, in her speech, and.
generally in all her actions." "She had a heart," says Brantome,
"mighty devoted to God, and she loved mightily to compose spiritual
songs. . . . She also devoted herself to letters in her young days,
and continued them as long as she lived, loving and conversing with, in
the time of her greatness, the most learned folks of her brother's
kingdom, who honored her so that they called her their Maecenas."
Learning, however, was far from absorbing the whole of this young soul.
"She," says a contemporary, "had an agreeable voice of touching tone,
which roused the tender inclinations that there are in the heart."
Tenderness, a passionate tenderness, very early assumed the chief place
in Marguerite's soul, and the first object of it was her brother Francis.
When mother, son, and sister were spoken of, they were called a Trinity,
and to this Marguerite herself bore witness when she said, with charming
modesty,--

"Such boon is mine, to feel the amity
That God hath putten in our trinity,
Wherein to make a third, I, all unfitted
To be that number's shadow, am admitted."

Marguerite it was for whom this close communion of three persons had the
most dolorous consequences: we shall fall in with her more than once in
the course of this history; but, whether or no, she was assuredly the
best of this princely trio, and Francis I. was the most spoiled by it.
There is nothing more demoralizing than to be an idol.

The first acts of his government were sensible and of good omen. He
confirmed or renewed the treaties or truces which Louis XII., at the
close of his reign, had concluded with the Venetians, the Swiss, the
pope, the King of England, the Archduke Charles, and the Emperor
Maximilian, in order to restore peace to his kingdom. At home Francis I.
maintained at his council the principal and most tried servants of his
predecessor, amongst others the finance-minister, Florimond Robertet; and
he raised to four the number of the marshals of France, in order to
confer that dignity on Bayard's valiant friend, James of Chabannes, Lord
of La Palice, who even under Louis XII. had been entitled by the
Spaniards "the great marshal of France." At the same time he exa