After dinner each one withdrew to his chamber, and did what he had to
do. According to their plan, at noon they failed not to return to the
meadow, which was so fair and pleasant that it would need a Boccaccio
to describe it as it really was; suffice to say that a fairer was never
seen.

When the company were all seated on the green grass, which was so
fine and soft that they needed neither cushion nor carpet, Simontault
commenced by saying--

"Which of us shall begin before the others?"

"Since you were the first to speak," replied Hircan,"'tis reasonable
that you should rule us; for in sport we are all equal."

"Would to God," said Simontault, "I had no worse fortune in this world
than to be able to rule all the company present."

On hearing this Parlamente, who well knew what it meant, began to
cough. Hircan, therefore, did not perceive the colour that came into her
cheeks, but told Simontault to begin, which he did as presently follows.

[Illustration: 039a.jpg Du Mesnil learns his Mistress's Infidelity from her Maid]

[Du Mesnil learns his Mistress's Infidelity from her Maid]

[Illustration: 039.jpg Page Image]

FIRST DAY.

_On the First Day are recounted the ill-turns which
have been done by Women to Men and by
Men to Women._

_TALE I_.

_The wife of a Proctor, having been pressingly solicited by
the Bishop of Sees, took him for her profit, and, being as
little satisfied with him as with her husband, found a means
to have the son of the Lieutenant-General of Alencon for her
pleasure. Some time afterwards she caused the latter to be
miserably murdered by her husband, who, although he obtained
pardon for the murder, was afterwards sent to the galleys
with a sorcerer named Gallery; and all this was brought
about by the wickedness of his wife_.(1)

1 The incidents of this story are historical, and occurred
in Alencon and Paris between 1520 and 1525.--L.

Ladies, said Simontault, I have been so poorly rewarded for my long
service, that to avenge myself upon Love, and upon her who treats me so
cruelly, I shall be at pains to make a collection of all the ill turns
that women hath done to hapless men; and moreover I will relate nothing
but the simple truth.

In the town of Alencon, during the lifetime of Charles, the last
Duke,(2) there was a Proctor named St. Aignan, who had married a
gentlewoman of the neighbourhood. She was more