, inasmuch that, although her husband was nearly fifty years old
and she was only three and twenty, she dressed so plainly that she had
more the appearance of a widow than of a married woman. Moreover, she
was never known to go to weddings or feasts unless accompanied by her
husband, whose worth and virtue she prized so highly that she set them
before all the comeliness of other men. And her husband, finding her so
discreet, trusted her and gave all the affairs of his household into her
hands.

2 Pampeluna or Pamplona, the capital of Navarre, wrested
from King John in 1512 by the troops of Ferdinand the
Catholic.--Ed.

One day this rich man was invited with his wife to a wedding among their
kinsfolk; and among those who were present to do honour to the bridal
was the young Lord of Avannes, who was exceedingly fond of dancing, as
was natural in one who surpassed therein all others of his time. When
dinner was over and the dances were begun, the rich man begged the Lord
of Avannes to do his part, whereupon the said lord asked him with whom
he would have him dance.

"My lord," replied the gentleman, "I can present to you no lady fairer
and more completely at my disposal than my wife, and I therefore beg you
to honour me so far as to lead her out."

This the young Prince did; and he was still so young that he took far
greater pleasure in frisking and dancing than in observing the beauty
of the ladies. But his partner, on the contrary, gave more heed to his
grace and beauty than to the dance, though in her prudence she took good
care not to let this appear.

The supper hour being come, the Lord of Avannes bade the company
farewell, and departed to the castle, (3) whither the rich man
accompanied him on his mule. And as they were going, the rich man said
to him--

"My lord, you have this day done so much honour to my kinsfolk and to
me, that I should indeed be ungrateful if I did not place myself with
all that belongs to me at your service. I know, sir, that lords like
yourself, who have stern and miserly fathers, are often in greater need
of money than we, who, with small establishments and careful husbandry,
seek only to save up wealth. Now, albeit God has given me a wife after
my own heart, it has not pleased Him to give me all my Paradise in this
world, for He has withheld from me the joy that fathers derive from
having children. I know, my lord, that it is not for me to adopt you as
a son, but if