1 This notice follows the dedicatory preface in the edition
of 1558.
Gentle Reader, I can tell thee verily and with good right assert (even
prove by witnesses worthy of belief) when this work was presented to me
that I might fulfil the office of a sponge and cleanse it of a multitude
of manifest errors that were found in a copy written by hand, I was only
requested to take out or copy eighteen or twenty of the more notable
tales, reserving myself to complete the rest at a more convenient season
and at greater leisure.
However, as men are fond of novelties, I was solicited with very
pressing requests to pursue my point, to which I consented, rather by
reason of the importunity than of my own will, and my enterprise was
conducted in such fashion, that so as not to show myself in any wise
disobedient, I added some more tales, to which again others have since
been adjoined.
In regard to myself, I can assure thee that it would have been less
difficult for me to build the whole edifice anew than to mutilate it in
several places, change, innovate, add and suppress in others, but I
was almost perforce compelled to give it a new form, which I have done,
partly for the requirements and the adornment of the stories, partly to
conform to the times and the infelicity of our century, when most human
things are so exulcerated that there is no work, however well digested,
polished, and filed, but it is badly interpreted and slandered by the
malice of fastidious persons. Take, therefore, in good part our hasty
labour, and be not too close a censor of another’s work until thou hast
examined thine own.
_To the most Illustrious and Virtuous Princess_, Madame Jane de Foix,
Queen of Navarre,
Claud Gruget, her very humble servant, presents salutation and wishes of
felicity. (1)
I would not have interfered, Madam, to present you with this book of
the Tales of the late Queen, your mother, if the first edition had not
omitted or concealed her name, and almost entirely changed its form, to
such a point that many did not recognise it; on which account, to
render it worthy of its author, I, as soon as it was divulged, gathered
together from all sides the copies I could collect of it written by
hand, verifying them by my copy, and acting in such wise that I arranged
the book in the real order in which she had drawn it up. Then, with the
permission of the King and your consent, it was sent to the press to be
published such as it should be.
Concerning it, I am reminded of what Count Balthazar says of Boccaccio
in the Preface to his _Courtier_(2) that what he had done by way of
pastime, namely, his _Decameron_, had brought him more honour than all
his other works in Latin or Tuscan, which he esteemed the most serious.
1 This preface was inserted in the edition issued in 1559
by Claud Gruget, who gave the title of “_Heptameron_” to
Queen Margaret’s tales.
2 The _Libro del Cortegiano_, by Count Baldassare
Castiglione, was the nobleman’s _vade-mecum_ of the period.
First published at Venice in 1528, it was translated into
French in 1537 by J. Colin, secretary to Francis I.--Ed.
Thus, the Queen, that true ornament of our century, from whom you do
not derogate in the love and knowledge of good letters, while
amusing herself with the acts of human life, has left such beauteous
instructions that there is no one who does not find matter of erudition
in them; and, indeed, according to all good judgment, she has surpassed
Boccaccio in the beautiful Discourses which she composes upon each
of her tales. For which she deserves praise, not only over the most
excellent ladies, but also among the most learned men; for of the three
styles of oration described by Cicero, she has chosen the simple one,
similar to that of Terence in Latin, which to every one seems very easy
to imitate, though it is anything but that to him who tries it.
It is true that such a present will not be new to you, and that you will
only recognise in it the maternal inheritance. However, I feel assured
that you will receive it favourably, at seeing it, in this second
impression, restored to its original state, for according to what I have
heard the first displeased you. Not that he who put his hand to it was
not a learned man, or did not take trouble; indeed it is easy to
believe that he was not minded to disguise it thus, without some reason;
nevertheless his work has proved unpleasing.
I present it to you then, Madam, not that I pretend to any share in
it, but only as having unmasked it to restore it to you in its natural
state. It is for Your Royal Greatness to favour it since it proceeds
from your illustrious House, whereof it bears the mark upon the front,
which will serve it as a safe-conduct throughout the world and render it
welcome among good company.
As for myself, recognising the honour that you will do me in receiving
from my hand the work thus restored to its right state, I shall ever
feel obliged to render you most humble duty.