15 This is an allusion to the holy images, medals, and
     chaplets which people brought back with them from
     pilgrimages.—­B.  J.

All the company replied that it was not possible to give better advice, and that they awaited the morning in impatience, in order to begin.

Thus they spent that day joyously, reminding one another of what they had seen in their time.  As soon as the morning was come they went to the room of Madame Oisille, whom they found already at her prayers.  They listened to her reading for a full hour, then piously heard mass, and afterwards went to dinner at ten o’clock.(16)

16 At that period ten o’clock was the Court dinner-hour.  Fifty years earlier people used to dine at eight in the morning.  Louis XII., however, changed the hour of his meals to suit his wife, Mary of England, who had been accustomed to dine at noon.—­B.  J.

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.