d so
well did she acquit herself of this, that it seemed as if the Holy
Spirit in all His love and sweetness spoke by her mouth. Glowing with
this heavenly flame, they went to hear high mass, and afterwards dined
together, again speaking of the past day, and doubting whether they
could make another as fair.

1 The allusion is to the bridge over the Gave spoken of in
the General Prologue (_ante_, vol. i. p. 25-6).--M.

In order to set about it, they retired to their own rooms until it was
time to repair to their Chamber of Accounts on the Board of Green Grass,
where they found the monks already arrived and in their places.

When all were seated, the question was put, who should begin; and
Saffredent said--

"You did me the honour to have me begin on two days. Methinks we should
act wrongly towards the ladies if one of them did not also begin on
two."

"It were then needful," said the Lady Oisille, "either that we should
continue here for a great while, or else that a gentleman and a lady of
the company should forego the beginning of a day."

"For my part," said Dagoucin, "had I been chosen, I would have given my
place to Saffredent."

"And I," said Nomerfide, "to Parlamente, for I have been so wont to
serve that I know not how to command."

To this all agreed, and Parlamente thus began--

"Ladies, the days that are past have been filled with so many tales of
wisdom, that I would beg you to fill this one with the greatest (yet
most real) follies that we can remember. So, to lead the way, I will
begin."

[Illustration: 219a. The Saddler's Wife Cured by the sight of her Husband
Caressing the Serving-maid]

[The Saddler's Wife Cured by the sight of her Husband Caressing the
Serving-maid]

[Illustration: 219.jpg Page Image]

_TALE LXXI_.

_A saddler's wife, who was grievously sick, was made whole
and recovered the power of speech, which for the space of
two days site had lost, on seeing her husband holding his
serving-maid too familiarly on the bed whilst she herself
was drawing to her end_.

In the town of Amboise there lived one Brimbaudier, (1) saddler to the
Queen of Navarre, and a man whose colour of feature showed him to be
by nature rather a servant of Bacchus than a priest of Diana. He had
married a virtuous woman who controlled his household very discreetly,
and with whom he was well content.

1 Boaistuau gives the name as Bruribandier, and Grug