Thus, owing to her father’s neglect and her mistress’s disdain, the poor
maiden continued unmarried for a long while; and this at last made her
sad at heart, not so much because she longed to be married as because
she was ashamed at not being so, wherefore she forsook the vanities and
pomps of the Court and gave herself up wholly to the worship of God. Her
sole delight consisted in prayer or needlework, and thus in retirement
she passed her youthful years, living in the most virtuous and holy
manner imaginable.
Now, when she was approaching her thirtieth year, there was at Court a
gentleman who was a Bastard of a high and noble house; (4) he was one of
the pleasantest comrades and most worshipful men of his day, but he was
wholly without fortune, and possessed of such scant comeliness that no
lady would have chosen him for her lover.
4 One cannot absolutely identify this personage; but judging
by what is said of him in the story--that he came of a great
house, that he was very brave but poor, neither rich enough
to marry Rolandine nor handsome enough to be made a lover
of, and that a lady, who was a near relative of his, came to
the Court after his intrigue had been going on for a couple
of years--he would certainly appear to be John, Bastard of
Angoulôme, a natural son of Count John the Good, and
consequently half-brother to Charles of Angoulôme ( who
married Louise of Savoy) and uncle to Francis I. and Queen
Margaret. In Père Anselme’s _Histoire Généalogique de la
Maison de France_, vol. i. p. 210 B. there is a record of
the letters of legitimisation granted to the Bastard of
Angoulême at his father’s request in June 1458, and M. Paul
Lacroix points out that if Rolandine’s secret marriage to
him took place in or about 1508, he would then have been
about fifty years old, hardly the age for a lover. The
Bastard is, however, alluded to in the tale as a man of
mature years, and as at the outset of the intrigue (1505) he
would have been but forty-seven, we incline with M. de Lincy
to the belief that he is the hero of it.--Eu.
Thus this poor gentleman had continued unmated, and as one unfortunate
often seeks out another, he addressed himself to Rolandine, whose
fortune, temper and condition were like his own. And while they were
engaged in mutually lamenting their woes, they became very fond of each
other, and finding that they were companions in misfortune, sought out
one another everywhere, so that they might exchange consolation, in this
wise setting on foot a deep and lasting attachment.
Those who had known Rolandine so very retiring that she would speak
to none, were now greatly shocked on seeing her unceasingly with the
well-born Bastard, and told her governess that she ought not to suffer
their long talks together. The governess, therefore, remonstrated with
Rolandine, and told her that every one was shocked at her conversing so
freely with a man who was neither rich enough to marry her nor handsome
enough to be her lover.
To this Rolandine, who had always been rebuked rather for austereness
than for worldliness, replied--
“Alas, mother, you know that I cannot have a husband of my own
condition, and that I have always shunned such as are handsome and
young, fearing to fall into the same difficulties as others. And since
this gentleman is discreet and virtuous, as you yourself know, and tells
me nothing that is not honourable and right, what harm can I have done
to you and to those that have spoken of the matter, by seeking from him
some consolation in my grief?”
The poor old woman, who loved her mistress more than she loved herself,
replied--
“I can see, my lady, that you speak the truth, and know that you are not
treated by your father and mistress as you deserve to be. Nevertheless,
since people are speaking about your honour in this way, you ought to
converse with him no longer, even were he your own brother.”
“Mother,” said Rolandine, “if such be your counsel I will observe it;
but ‘tis a strange thing to be wholly without consolation in the world.”
The Bastard came to talk with her according to his wont, but she told
him everything that her governess had said to her, and, shedding tears,
besought him to have no converse with her for a while, until the rumour
should be past and gone; and to this he consented at her request.
Being thus cut off from all consolation, they both began, however, to
feel such torment during their separation as neither had ever known
before. For her part she did not cease praying to God, journeying and
fasting; for love, heretofore unknown to her, caused her such exceeding
disquiet as not to leave her an hour’s repose. The well-born Bastard was
no better off; but, as he had already resolved in his heart to love
her and try to wed her, and had thought not only of his love but of
the honour that it would bring him if he succeeded in his design, he
reflected that he must devise a means of making his love known to her
and, above all, of winning the governess to his side. This last he did
by protesting to her the wretchedness of her poor mistress, who was
being robbed of all consolation. At this the old woman, with many tears,
thanked him for the honourable affection that he bore her mistress, and
they took counsel together how he might speak with her. They planned
that Rolandine should often feign to suffer from headache, to which
noise is exceedingly distressful; so that, when her companions went into
the Queen’s apartment, she and the Bastard might remain alone, and in
this way hold converse together.
The Bastard was overjoyed at this, and, guiding himself wholly by the
governess’s advice, had speech with his sweetheart whensoever he would.
However, this contentment lasted no great while, for the Queen, who had
but little love for Rolandine, inquired what she did so constantly
in her room. Some one replied that it was on account of sickness, but
another, who possessed too good a memory for the absent, declared that
the pleasure she took in speaking with the Bastard must needs cause her
headache to pass away.
The Queen, who deemed the venial sins of others to be mortal ones in
Rolandine, sent for her and forbade her ever to speak to the Bastard
except it were in the royal chamber or hall. The maiden gave no sign,
but replied--
“Had I known, madam, that he or any one beside were displeasing to you,
I should never have spoken to him.”
Nevertheless she secretly cast about to find some other plan of which
the Queen should know nothing, and in this she was successful. On
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays she was wont to fast, and would then
stay with her governess in her own room, where, while the others were
at supper, she was free to speak with the man whom she was beginning to
love so dearly.
The more they were compelled to shorten their discourse, the more
lovingly did they talk; for they stole the time even as a robber steals
something that is of great worth. But, in spite of all their secrecy, a
serving-man saw the Bastard go into the room one fast day, and reported
the matter in a quarter where it was not concealed from the Queen. The
latter was so wroth that the Bastard durst enter the ladies’ room no
more. Yet, that he might not lose the delight of converse with his love,
he often made a pretence of going on a journey, and returned in the
evening to the church or chapel of the castle (5) dressed as a Grey
Friar or a Jacobin, or disguised so well in some other way that none
could know him; and thither, attended by her governess, Rolandine would
go to have speech with him.
5 This would be either the château of Amboise or that of
Blois, we are inclined to think the latter, as Louis XII.
more frequently resided there.--Ed.