droll stories-3-第14部分
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been to see her at the castle of Montbazon； was； in consequence of the
prettiness and innocent virtue of the said Bertha de Rohan； seized
with so great a desire to possess her； that he determined to make her
his wife； believing that never could a girl of such lofty descent fail
in her duty。 This marriage was soon celebrated； because the Sire de
Rohan had seven daughters； and hardly knew how to provide for them
all； at a time when people were just recovering from the late wars；
and patching up their unsettled affairs。 Now the good man Bastarnay
happily found Bertha really a maiden； which fact bore witness to her
proper bringing up and perfect maternal correction。 So immediately the
night arrived when it should be lawful for him to embrace her； he got
her with a child so roughly that he had proof of the result two months
after marriage； which rendered the Sire Imbert joyful to a degree。 In
order that we may here finish with this portion of the story； let us
at once state that from this legitimate grain was born the Sire de
Bastarnay； who was Duke by the grace of Louis the Eleventh； his
chamberlain； and more than that； his ambassador in the countries of
Europe； and well…beloved of this most redoubtable lord； to whom he
was never faithless。 His loyalty was an heritage from his father； who
from his early youth was much attached to the Dauphin； whose fortunes
he followed； even in the rebellions； since he was a man to put Christ
on the cross again if it had been required by him to do so； which is
the flower of friendship rarely to be found encompassing princes and
great people。 At first； the fair lady of Bastarnay comported herself
so loyally that her society caused those thick vapours and black
clouds to vanish； which obscured the mind of this great man； the
brightness of the feminine glory。 Now； according to the custom of
unbelievers； he passed from suspicion to confidence so thoroughly；
that he yielded up the government of his house to the said Bertha；
made her mistress of his deeds and actions； queen of his honour；
guardian of his grey hairs； and would have slaughtered without a
contest any one who had said an evil word concerning this mirror of
virtue； on whom no breath had fallen save the breath issued from his
conjugal and marital lips； cold and withered as they were。 To speak
truly on all points； it should be explained； that to this virtuous
behaviour considerably aided the little boy； who during six years
occupied day and night the attention of his pretty mother； who first
nourished him with her milk； and made of him a lover's lieutenant；
yielding to him her sweet breasts； which he gnawed at； hungry； as
often as he would； and was； like a lover； always there。 This good
mother knew no other pleasures than those of his rosy lips； had no
other caresses that those of his tiny little hands； which ran about
her like the feet of playful mice； read no other book than that in his
clear baby eyes； in which the blue sky was reflected； and listened to
no other music than his cries； which sounded in her ears as angels'
whispers。 You may be sure that she was always fondling him； had a
desire to kiss him at dawn of day； kissed him in the evening； would
rise in the night to eat him up with kisses； made herself a child as
he was a child； educated him in the perfect religion of maternity；
finally； behaved as the best and happiest mother that ever lived；
without disparagement to our Lady the Virgin； who could have had
little trouble in bringing up our Saviour； since he was God。
This employment and the little taste which Bertha had for the blisses
of matrimony much delighted the old man； since he would have been
unable to return the affection of a too amorous wife； and desired to
practice economy； to have the wherewithal for a second child。
After six years had passed away； the mother was compelled to give her
son into the hands of the grooms and other persons to whom Messire de
Bastarnay committed the task to mould him properly； in order that his
heir should have an heritage of the virtues； qualities and courage of
the house； as well as the domains and the name。 Then did Bertha shed
many tears； her happiness being gone。 For the great heart of this
mother it was nothing to have this well…beloved son after others； and
during only certain short fleeting hours。 Therefore she became sad and
melancholy。 Noticing her grief； the good man wished to bestow upon her
another child and could not； and the poor lady was displeased thereat；
because she declared that the making of a child wearied her much and
cost her dear。 And this is true； or no doctrine is true； and you must
burn the Gospels as a pack of stories if you have not faith in this
innocent remark。
This； nevertheless； to certain ladies （I did not mention men； since
they have a smattering of the science）； will still seem an untruth。
The writer has taken care here to give the mute reasons for this
strange antipathy； I mean the distastes of Bertha； because I love the
ladies above all things； knowing that for want of the pleasure of
love； my face would grow old and my heart torment me。 Did you ever
meet a scribe so complacent and so fond of the ladies as I am？ No； of
course not。 Therefore； do I love them devotedly； but not so often as I
could wish； since I have oftener in my hands my goose…quill than I
have the barbs with which one tickles their lips to make them laugh
and be merry in all innocence。 I understand them； and in this way。
The good man Bastarnay was not a smart young fellow of an amorous
nature； and acquainted with the pranks of the thing。 He did not
trouble himself much about the fashion in which he killed a soldier so
long as he killed him； that he would have killed him in all ways
without saying a word in battle； is； of course； understood。 The
perfect heedlessness in the matter of death was in accordance with the
nonchalance in the matter of life； the birth and manner of begetting a
child； and the ceremonies thereto appertaining。 The good sire was
ignorant of the many litigious； dilatory； interlocutory and
proprietary exploits and the little humourings of the little fagots
placed in the oven to heat it； of the sweet perfumed branches gathered
little by little in the forests of love； fondlings； coddlings；
huggings； nursing； the bites at the cherry； the cat…licking； and other
little tricks and traffic of love which ruffians know； which lovers
preserve； and which the ladies love better than their salvation；
because there is more of the cat than the woman in them。 This shines
forth in perfect evidence in their feminine ways。 If you think it
worth while watching them； examine them attentively while they eat：
not one of them （I am speaking of women； noble and well…educated） puts
her knife in the eatables and thrusts it into her mouth； as do
brutally the males； no； they turn over their food； pick the pieces
that please them as they would gray peas in a dovecote； they suck the
sauces by mouthfuls； play with their knife and spoon as if they are
only ate in consequence of a judge's order； so much do they dislike to
go straight to the point； and make free use of variations； finesse；
and little tricks in everything； which is the especial attribute of
these creatures； and the reason that the sons of Adam delight in them；
since they do everything differently to themselves； and they do well。
You think so too。 Good！ I love you。
Now then； Imbert de Bastarnay； an old soldier； ignorant of the tricks
of love； entered into the sweet garden of Venus as he would into a
place taken by assault； without giving any heed to the cries of the
poor inhabitants in tears； and placed a child as he would an arrow in
the dark。 Although the gentle Bertha was not used to such treatment
（poor child； she was but fifteen）； she believed in her virgin faith；
that the happiness of becoming a mother demanded this terrible；
dreadful bruising and nasty business； so during his painful task she
would pray to God to assist her； and recite /Aves/ to our Lady；
esteeming her lucky； in only having the Holy Ghost to endure。 By this
means； never having experienced anything but pain in marriage； she
never troubled her husband to go through the ceremony again。 Now
seeing that the old fellow was scarcely equal to itas has been
before statedshe lived in perfect solitude； like a nun。 She hated
the society of men； and never suspected that the Author of the world
had put so much joy in that from which she had only received infinite
misery。 But she loved all the more her little one； who had cost her so
much before he was born。 Do not be astonished； therefore； that she
held aloof from that gallant tourney in which it is the mare who
governs her cavalier； guides him； fatigues him； and abuses him； if he
stumbles。 This is the true history of certain unhappy unions；
according to the statement of the old men and women； and the certain
reason of the follies co
