Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies. Vol 1

of this document for details of corrections and other changes. Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies Lives Of Fair and Gallant Ladies By The Seigneur De Brantôme TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL The Alexandrian Society, Inc. London and New York 1922 Copyright, 1922, by THE ALEXANDRIAN SOCIETY, Inc. printed in the united states of america This work is strictly limited to twelve hundred and fifty numbered sets, which are for sale only to subscribers. The type has been distributed on publication and no more will be printed. Copy No. .... FOREWORD This very fine and accurate translation of The Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies was made by Mr. A. R. Allinson and because of its merit must be considered one of the great English translations, equalling in every quality those of the 16th and 17th centuries. The text of Brantôme’s great work is given practically complete in these volumes and the only modifications are based upon good taste and not on any fearful prudery. A few of Brantôme’s examples that illustrate his points belong more in a treatise on abnormal pathology than in a book of literary or historical interest and value, so nothing of any value is lost by omitting them. The rare charm, shrewd wisdom, amusing anecdote, literary merit and historical and social information will be appreciated by intelligent readers. The cover design used on this book was made by C. O. Czeschka. BRANTÔME’S HANDWRITING. (From a fac-simile page of the manuscript Recueil des Dames . Biblio. Nat: Mss. Nouv. fses. No. 20-474, folio 163.)] DEDICATION TO MONSEIGNEUR LE DUC D’ALENÇON OF BRABANT AND COUNT OF FLANDERS SON AND BROTHER OF OUR FRENCH KINGS [1*] My Gracious Lord, Seeing how you have full often done me the honour at Court to converse with me in great privity of sundry jests and merry tales, the which are so familiar and ready with you they may well be said to grow apace before men’s very eyes in your Lordship’s mouth, so great your wit is and so keen and subtile, and your speech the same, and right eloquent to boot,—for this cause have I set me to indite these discourses, such as they be, to the best of my poor ability, to the end that in this wise some of them may please you, making the time to pass lightly and reminding you of me in your conversations, wherewith erstwhile