were found within it, and the monks
were shut up in the building and burned with it, as an everlasting
memorial of this crime, by which we see that there is nothing more
dangerous than love when it is founded upon vice, just as there is
nothing more gentle or praiseworthy when it dwells in a virtuous heart.
(2)

2 Queen Margaret states (_ante_, p. 5) that this tale was
told by M. de St.-Vincent, ambassador of Charles V., and
seems to imply that the incident recorded in it was one of
recent occurrence. The same story may be found, however, in
most of the collections of early _fabliaux_. See _OEuvres de
Rutebeuf_, vol. i. p. 260 (_Frere Denise_), Legrand
d'Aussy's _Fabliaux_, vol. iv. p. 383, and the _Recueil
complet des Fabliaux_, Paris, 1878, vol. iii. p. 253. There
is also some similarity between this tale and No. LX. of the
_Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles_. Estienne quotes it in his
_Apologie pour Herodote_, L'Estoile in his _Journal du regne
de Henri III. (anno_ 1577), Malespini uses it in his
_Ducento Novelle_ (No. 75), and it suggested to Lafontaine
his _Cordeliers de Catalogne_.--L. and M.

"I am very sorry, ladies, that truth does not provide us with stories
as much to the credit of the Grey Friars as it does to the contrary. It
would be a great pleasure to me, by reason of the love that I bear their
Order, if I knew of one in which I could really praise them; but we have
vowed so solemnly to speak the truth that, after hearing it from such
as are well worthy of belief, I cannot but make it known to you.
Nevertheless, I promise you that, whenever the monks shall accomplish a
memorable and glorious deed, I will be at greater pains to exalt it than
I have been in relating the present truthful history."

"In good faith, Geburon," said Oisille, "that was a love which might
well have been called cruelty."

"I am astonished," said Simontault, "that he was patient enough not to
take her by force when he saw her in her shift, and in a place where he
might have mastered her."

"He was not an epicure, but a glutton," said Saffredent. "He wanted to
have his fill of her every day, and so was not minded to amuse himself
with a mere taste."

"That was not the reason," said Parlamente. "Understand that a lustful
man is always timorous, and the fear that he had of being surprised and
robbed of his prey led him, wolf-like, to carry off his lamb that he
mig