ce, and even
of their own lives. And greatly should Princes and those in authority
fear to offend such as are less than they; for there is no man but can
wreak injury when it pleases God to take vengeance on a sinner, nor any
man so great that he can do hurt to one who is in God's care."

This tale was commended by all in the company, (6) but it gave rise
to different opinions among them, for whilst some maintained that the
gentleman had done his duty in saving his own life and his sister's
honour, as well as in ridding his country of such a tyrant, others
denied this, and said it was rank ingratitude to slay one who had
bestowed on him such wealth and station. The ladies declared that the
gentleman was a good brother and a worthy citizen; the men, on the
contrary, that he was a treacherous and wicked servant.

6 In MS. No. 1520 (Bib. Nat.) this sentence begins: "The
tale was attentively listened to by all," &c.--L.

And pleasant was it to hear the reasons which were brought forward on
both sides; but the ladies, as is their wont, spoke as much from passion
as from judgment, saying that the Duke was so well worthy of death that
he who struck him down was a happy man indeed.

Then Dagoucin, seeing what a controversy he had set on foot, said to
them--

"In God's name, ladies, do not quarrel about a thing that is past and
gone. Take care rather that your own charms do not occasion more cruel
murders than the one which I have related."

"'La belle Dame sans Mercy,'" (7) replied Parlamente, "has taught us to
say that but few die of so pleasing an ailment."

7 _La belle Dame sans Merci_ (The Pitiless Beauty) is one
of Alain Chartier's best known poems. It is written in the
form of a dialogue between a lady and her lover: the former
having obstinately refused to take compassion on the
sufferings of her admirer, the latter is said to have died
of despair. The lines alluded to by Margaret are spoken by
the lady, and are to the following effect--"So graceful a
malady seldom puts men to death; yet the sooner to obtain
comfort, it is fitting one should say that it did. Some
complain and worry greatly who have not really felt the most
bitter affliction; and if indeed Love doth cause such great
torment, surely it were better there should be but one
sufferer rather than two." The poem, as here quoted, will be
found in Andre Duchesne's edition of