by many gentlemen and soldiers, both French and foreign, and especially
by sundry of that town, that never aught finer was seen, seeing they
were all great ladies and of the chiefest families of that place, and
each fairer than another, for ’tis well known that beauty is far from
lacking in that city, but is very general therein. But if it were a
fine sight to behold their handsome faces, ’twas no less so to see and
gaze upon their handsome limbs and fine legs, with their pretty hosen
and shoes well fitting and well put on, as the dames of those parts
know right well how to do. Then they did all wear their gowns very
short, in the guise of nymphs, that they might march the easier,—the
which was enough to tempt and warm up the most chilliest and mortified
of mankind. And what did most pleasure the onlookers was this, that
whereas they might any day see their faces, they could not so behold
these fine and handsome legs of theirs. He was no fool which did devise
this same mode and costume of nymphs, for it doth readily afford many
fine sights and agreeable spectacles. The skirts be cut very short, and
are divided up the side to boot, as we do yet see it represented in the
fine Roman antiques, which doth still more flatter the wantonness of
the eye.
But in our own day, with the fair ladies of Chios,[155*] matrons and
maids, what and how is it they be so attractive? Why! truly ’tis their
beauty and their charms of face and figure,—but also their superb
fashions of dress, and above all their very short gowns, which do make
full display of their dainty, well shod feet.
This doth remind me how one time at Court a lady of very tall and
imposing figure, looking at a magnificent and noble hunting piece in
tapestry, wherein Diana and all her band of virgin huntresses were very
naturally represented, and all by the fashion of their dress did show
their pretty feet and fine legs, did chance to have with her one of
her companions, which was of very low and small stature, and who was
likewise diverting herself along with the other in examining the said
tapestry. To her she did say thus: “Ha! ha! little one, if all we women
did dress after that fashion, you would be in a bad way and would lose
all advantage, for your great high-heeled shoes would betray you; and
you would never have such grace in your walk, nor such charm in showing
of your leg, as we that are tall and stately. You would have to keep
close and scarce show at all. Give thanks then to the days we live
in and the long gowns we wear, which be so favourable to you, and do
hide your legs so conveniently. For indeed with your great high-heeled
shoes a foot tall, these be more like a cudgel than a woman’s leg. If
a man had never a weapon to fight withal, he would but have to cut off
a leg and grasp it by the end where your foot is shod and encased in
your high shoes, and he would have a beautiful club for the fiercest
encounter.”
This lady was very right in what she said, for truly the prettiest leg
in the world, if it be so imprisoned in these great, heavy, high-heeled
shoes, doth lose its beauty altogether, seeing this great club foot
doth cause too great a deformity for anything; for if a pretty foot
well shod and dainty goeth not with the leg, all is of no avail. Now
these dames which do adopt these great, heavy, lumbering high-heeled
shoes think no doubt to embellish and better their figures and thereby
appear more beautiful and be the more loved; but on the other hand
they do worsen their fine leg and foot, which be surely in their
natural beauty worth as much as a fine tall figure that is but a sham.
Similarly in time of yore, a pretty foot did carry with it so much of
wanton fascination, that many prudish minded and chaste Roman ladies,
or at the least such as did feign to be so,—and even in our own day
some do the like in Italy in imitation of antique morals,—do as much
scruple about showing this part in public as their faces, hiding it
under their flowing gowns all ever they can, so that none may see it;
and in walking do go so prudishly, discreetly and carefully as that it
never passeth out from under their robe.
This is well enough for such as are trained in prudish bearing and
respectability, and are for never offering temptation; we must say this
much for them. Yet I ween, and if they had their free choice, they
would make display enough both of foot and leg, and of other things to
boot. Beside, they do consent to show the same to their husbands, for
all their hypocrisy and petty scruples about being dames of position
and respectability. However I but relate the fact as it is.
I do know of a certain gentleman, a very gallant and honourable man,
which only by having seen at Rheims at the Consecration of the late
King, the lovely leg, in a white silk stocking, of a great and very
fair lady, a widow and of tall stature, from underneath those scaffolds
they erect for ladies to see the ceremony from, did fall so deep in
love with her as that he grew well nigh desperate with passion. Thus
what her handsome face had failed to effect, this her fine development
of leg did bring about; though truly the said lady did deserve by the
beauty of all her person to drive an honourable gentleman to his death.
And I have known other men too of the like humour.
At any rate for final word will I say this, and I have known the same
to be held as an incontrovertible maxim by many gallant courtiers, my
comrades, that the display of a fine leg and pretty foot is a thing
most dangerously apt to fascinate wanton eyes to love; and I wonder
much that some of our many good writers, whether poets or others, have
never writ the praises thereof, as they have of other parts of fair
ladies’ bodies. For myself, I would have writ more on this subject, but
that I was afeared, if I did overmuch belaud these parts of the person,
I should be reproached as scarce enough heeding the rest. Beside I have
perforce to treat of other matters, and may not tarry too long over one.
Wherefore I do now make an end with this little word of advice: “For
God’s sake, Ladies, be not so careful to make you seem of taller
stature and other than you are; but rather look to the beauty of your
legs, the which be so fair and fine, at any rate with some of you. But
ye do mar the charm of them with those monstrous high-heeled boots and
huge horse-shoes ye do wear. Doubtless ye do need such; but by having
the same of such exaggerated size, ye do disgust folk far more than ye
imagine.”
* * * * *
I have said my say. Whosoever will, may bepraise the other beauties of
woman, as sundry of our poets have done; but I maintain, a fine leg, a
limb well shapen and a pretty foot, do exercise no small fascination
and power in the realm of Love.
[Illustration: Decorative scrollwork above chapter start]
FOURTH DISCOURSE
Concerning old dames as fond to practise love as
ever the young ones be.
1.
I have spoke afore of old dames which be fain to play the wanton; yet
do I further append this discourse here. So by way of commencement, I
will say how one day myself being at the Court of Spain and conversing
with a very honourable and fair lady, but withal something advanced in
age, I did hear her pronounce these words: _Que ningunas damas lindas,
o alo menos pocas, se hazen viejas de la cinta hasta abaxo_, “that
never a fair lady, or at the least very few such, are old from the
waist downwards.” On my asking her in what sense she did mean this,
whether ’twas the beauty of person from waist down that did never
diminish in any wise by reason of age, or the desire and appetite of
concupiscence that did not at all fail or grow chilled in these parts,
she did make answer she intended both the one and the other. “For
indeed,” she went on, “as to the prickings of the flesh, no cure is
there for these you must know, but death only; albeit old age would
seem to be an obstacle thereto. Yet doth every beautiful woman ever
fondly love her own self, and in so loving, ’tis not for her own, but
some other’s sake; and is in no wise like Narcissus, the which, so
foolish was the youth, himself lover and beloved, did think scorn of
all other affections.”
A beautiful woman hath naught of this humour about her. So have I heard
it related of a very fair lady, which after first loving herself and
taking much joy of her own beauty alone and by herself, and in her bed
stripping of herself quite naked, and so looking at her own person,
and admiring and contemplating the same, did curse her hard fate to be
vowed to one sole husband that was not worthy to enjoy so fair a body,
holding him to be in no wise her equal in merit. At the last was she
so fired by such contemplations and sights and longings as that she
did bid a long farewell to her virtue and her marriage vow, and did
practise new love with a new lover.
This is how a woman’s beauty doth kindle and inflame her, constraining
her to have resort to such, whether husbands or lovers, as may satisfy
her desire; while ’tis always the nature of one love to lead to
another. Wherefore being thus fair and sought after of some admirer,
and if she disdain not to answer to his passion, she is at once in the
snare. So Laïs, the famous courtesan, was used to declare, that so
soon as ever a woman doth open her mouth to make a gentle reply to her
friend, lo! her heart is flown, and the door opened straightway.
Moreover no fair and honourable woman doth ever refuse any good
praise that men render her; and once she is gratified and doth suffer
such commendation of her beauty, grace and gentle ways, the which we
courtiers be ever wont to make by way of first assault of love, though
it may be some while a-doing, yet in the long run we do always win the
place.
Further, it is a true thing that no beautiful woman, having once made
essay of the game of love, doth ever unlearn the same, and for ever
after is the sport right pleasant and delightsome to her. Just as when
a man hath grown accustomed to good living, ’tis exceeding disagreeable
to discontinue the same; and as this is better for the health, the more
a man is got on in years, (as the doctors declare), so the more a woman
advanceth in age, all the more is she greedy after the good cheer she
is accustomed to. This daintiness is nowise forgot or remitted because
of the weight of years, but more like by some long sickness, (so the
faculty tell us), or other accident; and albeit disinclination may be
experienced for some while, yet will the taste for such good things be
renewed anon.
’Tis said, again, how that all activities do decrease and diminish
by reason of age, which doth rob folk of the strength to properly
exercise the same,—except only that of Venus, the which is carried out
very luxuriously, without sore trouble or much exertion, in a soft,
comfortable bed, and altogether at ease. I do speak now of the woman,
and not of the man, to the share of which latter falleth all the labour
and task-work in this province. A man then, once deprived of this
pleasure, doth easily and early abstain from further indulgence,—albeit
sometimes it may be in spite of himself; whereas a woman, be she of
what age she will, doth take to her, like a furnace, and burn up, all
stuff that cometh her way. Nay! even though a dame should be so aged
as to look but ill, and find herself in no such good case as in her
younger years, yet she may by dint of money find means to get gallant
cavaliers at the current rate, and good ones too, as I have heard say.
All commodities that cost dear do sore vex the purse,—(this goes
counter to Heliogabalus’ opinion, who the dearer he did buy his viands,
the better he thought them),—except only the commodities of Love,
the which be the more agreeable in proportion as they cost more, by
reason of the great desire felt to get good value of the bargain and
thoroughly enjoy the article purchased. So the poor talent one hath, is
made to do triple service, or even hundredfold service, if that may any
way be.
This is what a certain Spanish courtesan meant by her word to two brave
gentlemen which did pick a quarrel together over her, and sallying
forth to her house, did take sword in hand and fall to a-fighting. But
she putting head out of window, did cry out to them: _Señores, mis
amores se ganan con oron y plata, non con hierro_,—“Nay! Sirs, my love
is won with gold and silver, not with iron.”
All love well purchased is well and good. Many a lady and many a
cavalier which have done such traffic could tell us so much. But to
allege here examples of ladies,—and there be many such,—which have
burned as hot in their old age as ever in youth, and have satisfied,
or to put it better, have kept up, their fires with second husbands
and new lovers, would be for me now a waste of labour, seeing I have
elsewhere given many such. Yet will I bring forward one or two here
also, for my subject doth require it and is suitable to such matters.
I have heard speak of a great lady, one that was as well talked about
as any of her day, which one day seeing a young gentleman with very
white hands, did ask him what he was used to do to have them so. To
this he made answer, by way of jape and jest, that so oft as ever he
could, he would be a-rubbing of them with the spirit of love. “Ah!
well,” she replied, “’tis my bad luck then; for more than sixty years
have I been washing myself therewith, and I’m just as bad as the day I
began. Yet do I bathe so every day.”
I have heard speak of a lady of pretty advanced age, who wishing to
marry again, did one day ask a physician’s advice, basing her reasons
for so doing on the fact that she was exceeding full of all sorts of
evil humours, which had assailed and ever afflicted her since she
was a widow. Yet had this never so happed in the lifetime of her
husband, seeing that by dint of the constant exercises they did perform
together, the said humours were consumed. The physician, who was a
merry fellow, and willing enough to please her herein, did counsel
her to marry again, and in this fashion to chase away the humours
from her, saying ’twas better far to be happy than sad. The lady did
put this advice in practise, and found it answer very well, indeed,
superannuated as she was. This was, I mean, with a new husband and
lover,—which did love her at least as much for the sake of her good
money as for any pleasure he gat of her. Though of a surety there be
many quite old dames, with whom as much enjoyment is to be had as with
younger women; nay! ’tis sometimes greater and better with such, by
reason of their understanding the art and science of love better, and
so the more stimulating their lovers’ taste therefor.
The courtesans of Rome and of Italy generally, when they are verging
toward ripe years, do maintain this maxim, that _una galina vecchia fa
miglior brodo che un’ altra_,—“an old hen doth make better broth than
any other.”
The Latin poet Horace doth make mention of an old woman, which did so
stir and toss about when she came to bed, and move her so violently
and restlessly, that she would set not alone the bed but the whole
house a-trembling. A gallant old dame in sooth! Now the Latins do name
suchlike agitation and wanton movement _subare a sue_.
We do read of the Emperor Caligula, that of all his women which he had,
he did love best Cæsonia, and this not so much by reason of her beauty,
nor because she was in the flower of age, for indeed she was by then
well on in years, but on account of her exceeding lustfulness and the
wantonness that was in her, as well as the good pains she did take in
the exercise thereof, and the experience her age, and long practise had
taught her, herein leaving all the other women in the lurch, albeit
handsomer and younger than herself. He was used to take her commonly
to the wars with him, clad and armed like a man, and riding in manlike
wise side by side with him, going so far even as often times to show
her to his comrades all naked, and make her exhibit to them her feats
of suppleness.
Thus are we bound to allow that age had in no wise diminished the
lady’s beauty, seeing how greatly the Emperor was attached to her.
Natheless, with all this fond love he did bear her, very oft whenas he
was a-kissing and touching her fair neck, he could not hinder himself,
so bloody-minded was he, from saying: “Ah! the beautiful neck it is;
yet ’tis in my power at will to have it cut.” Alas and alas! the poor
woman was slain along with her husband with a sword thrust through
the body by a Centurion, and her daughter broken and dashed to death
against a wall,—the which could never have been but for the ill deeds
of her father.[156]
We read further of Julia, step-mother of the Emperor Caracalla,[157]
how that one day being as it were by inadvertence half naked, she did
expose one-half of her body to his eyes; whereupon he said these words,
“Ha, ha! but I could relish it well enough, an if it were allowed me!”
She answered straightway, “So please you, know you not you are Emperor,
and therefore make laws instead of obeying them?” On hearing these
words and seeing her readiness, he did marry her and couple with her.
A reply of pretty much the same import was given to one of our last
three French Kings, whose name I will not mention. Being enamoured and
fallen deep in love with a very fair and honourable lady, after having
made the earlier advances and preliminaries of his suit to her, did
one day cause his pleasure to be conveyed to her more at length by an
honourable and very judicious and adroit gentleman I know by name and
repute. So he, conveying to her the Sovereign’s little missive, did
use all his eloquence to persuade her to consent. But she, no fool at
this game, did defend herself the best she could by many excellent
reasons the which she well knew how to allege, without forgetting the
chiefest, her honour,—that mighty, or rather mighty small, treasure. At
the last, the gentleman after much disputing and many protestations,
did ask her finally what she did desire he should tell the King. Then
she, after some moments of reflection, did suddenly, as if brought to
bay, pronounce these words following: “What are you to tell him?” she
cried, “why! what else but this? tell him I know well enough that no
refusal was ever advantageous to any, man or woman, which doth make
such to his King and Sovereign; and that very oft a Prince, exerting
the power he hath, will rather give the orders and taking a thing than
go on begging and praying for it.” Not ill content with this reply,
the gentleman doth straightway bear it to the King; who taking time by
the fore-lock, doth hie him to the lady in her chamber, and without
any over great effort or resistance doth have his will. The reply was
at once witty, and showed her good will to pleasure her King. Albeit
men say ’tis never well to have sport or dealings with the King, yet
must we except this particular game, wherefrom never was ill advantage
gotten, if only the woman do behave her prudently and faithfully.
To return to the afore named Julia, step-mother of the Emperor, she
must need have been a very harlot to love and take for husband one
which had on her own bosom slain some while before their own proper
son;[158] verily she was a base harlot and of base heart. Still ’twas a
grand thing to be Empress, and for such an honour all else is forgot.
This Julia was greatly loved of her husband, albeit she was well
advanced in years. Yet had she lost naught of her beauty; but was very
fair and very ready-witted, as those her words do witness, which did
make yet greater the bed of her greatness.
2.
Filippo Maria, Third Duke of Milan,[159] did wed as second wife
Beatrix, widow of the late deceased Facino Cane,[159] being then an old
woman. But she did bring him for marriage portion four hundred thousand
crowns, without reckoning other furnishings, rings and jewelry, which
did amount to a great sum, and quite wiped out all thought of her age.
Yet spite of all, she did fall under her husband’s suspicions of having
gone to play the wanton elsewhere, and for this suspicion was done to
death of him. You see how little did old age destroy her taste for the
games of love. We must e’en suppose the great practice she had had
thereof had but given her the desire for more and more.
Constance, Queen of Sicily,[159] who from her youth up and near all her
days, had been vestal and never budged forth of a cloister-cell, but
lived there in life-long chastity, getting her freedom to come out in
the world at last at the age of fifty, though in no wise fair and quite
decrepit, yet was fain to taste the joys of the flesh and marry. She
did grow pregnant of a child at the age of fifty-two, and did desire to
be brought to bed publicly in the open meadows about Palermo, having
had a tent or pavilion set up there on purpose, to the end folk might
have never a doubt but the fruit of her body was verily to hand. And
this was one of the greatest miracles ever seen since the days of Saint
Elizabeth. Natheless the _History of Naples_[159] doth affirm ’twas
reputed a supposititious child. At any rate he did grow up a great man
for all that; but indeed these, and the greater part of valiant men,
are just the folk that be often bastards, as a high-born friend of mine
did one day remark to me.
I knew once an Abbess of Tarascon, sister of Madame d’Usez, of the
noble house of Tallard,[160] which did leave off her religious habit
and quit her convent at over fifty years of age, and did wed the great
Chanay we have seen play so gamesome a part at Court.
* * * * *
Many other women of religion have done the like, whether in wedlock
or otherwise, for to taste the joys of the flesh, and this at a very
ripe age. If such as these do so, what are we to expect our everyday
dames to do, which have been broken in thereto from their tenderest
years? Is age like to hinder them from now and again tasting and eating
tit-bits, the customary enjoyment whereof they have so long been used
to? Else what would become of so many good strengthening soups and
cunningly compounded broths, so much ambergris and other warming and
comfortable drugs for to warm and comfort their stomach now grown old
and chilly? For ’tis not open to doubt but that such like decoctions,
while they do recreate and keep sound their weakly stomachs, do
likewise perform another function on the sly, in giving them more heat
of body, and rousing some degree of passionate warmth. This is sure
and certain,—without appealing to the opinion of physicians, to whom
however I do refer me as to the matter.
And another and yet greater advantage for them is this. Being now aged
and coming nigh on to their fifty years, they need feel no more fear of
getting with child, and so have full, plenary and most ample freedom
to enjoy and make up all arrears of those pleasures which mayhap some
of them have not dared take hitherto for dread of the consequences. So
it is that there be many which do give more rein to their amours when
got to the wrong side of fifty than when still on the right. Not a few
ladies both of the highest and less exalted rank have I heard tell of
as being of this complexion, so much so that I have known or heard of
several that have many a time and oft longed for their fifty years to
have come and gone, to hinder them of conceiving and suffer them to
do it the more freely without risk or scandal of any sort. Nay! why
_should_ they refrain them on the approach of old age? Indeed you might
well say that after death itself there be women which yet feel some
movement and pricking of the flesh. This bringeth me to another tale I
must needs tell.
I had in former days a younger brother called Captain Bourdeille,[161*]
one of the bravest and most valiant captains of his time. I am bound
to say thus much of him, albeit he was my brother, without going too
far in my panegyric of him. The same is proved by the fights he fought
both in battle and in the lists; for indeed he was of all gentlemen
of France the one that had most skill of arms, so that in Piedmont he
was known as one of the Rodomonts of those parts. He was slain at the
assault of Hedin, the last time that place was retaken.
He was intended by his father and mother for a life of letters; and
with this view was sent at the age of eighteen into Italy to study.
He did take up his abode at Ferrara, for the reason that Madame Renée
de France, Duchess of Ferrara, was much attached to my mother, and
did keep him in that city to pursue his studies, for there was an
University there. However, seeing he was fitted neither by birth nor
disposition for this sort of life, he did study scarce at all, but did
rather amuse himself with the delights of love and courtship. In fact
he did fall deep in love with a certain French lady, a widow, which
was in the service of the Duchess, known as Mlle. de La Roche (or de
La Mothe) and did have much pleasure with her, each loving the other
exceeding well, till at the last my brother, being recalled home again
by his father, who saw he was ill fitted for letters, was reluctantly
constrained to return.