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(Translator: Alfred Allinson)

TO HENRY GAUTHIER-VILLARS

Done Marie d’Avalos, l’une des belles princesses du païs, mariée avec le prince de Venouse, laquelle s’estant enamourachée du comte d’Andriane, l’un des beaux princes du païs aussy, et s’estans tous deux concertez à la jouissance et le mari l’ayant descouverte … les fit tous deux massacrer par gens appostez; si que le lendemain on trouva ces deux belles moictiez et créatures exposées et tendues sur le pavé devant la porte de la maison, toutes mortes et froides, à la veue de tous les passants, qui les larmoyoient et plaignoient de leur misérable estat.[1]

(Pierre de Bourdeilles, abbé et Seigneur de Brantôme. Recueil des dames, seconde partie.)

[Footnote 1: “Doña Maria d’Avalos, one of the fair Princesses of the land, and married to the Prince of Venosa, was enamoured of the Count d’Andriane, likewise one of the noble Princes of the country. So being both of them come together to enjoy their passion, and the husband having discovered it … had the twain of them slain by men appointed thereto. In such wise that next morning the fair and noble pair, unhappy beings, were seen lying stretched out and exposed to public view on the pavement in front of the house door, all dead and cold, in sight of all passers-by, who could not but weep and lament over their piteous lot.”]

It was a day of high rejoicing at Naples, when the Prince of Venosa, a rich and puissant Lord, was wed to Doña Maria, of the illustrious house of Avalos.

Drawn by horses bedizened with scales, feathers or furs, in such wise as to figure forth dragons, griffins, lions, lynxes, panthers and unicorns, were twelve cars which did bear through all the city an host of naked men and women, gilded all over, for to represent the Gods of Olympus, come down to Earth to do honour to the Venosian nuptials. On one of these cars was to be seen a young lad with wings treading underfoot three old hags of an hideous ugliness. A tablet was fixed up above the car to display the meaning thereof, to wit: LOVE VANQUISHETH THE FATAL SISTERS. Whereby ’twas to be understood that the new-wedded pair would enjoy many a long year of happiness by each other’s side.

But this presage of Love, more strong than the Fates, was false withal. Two years after her marriage, one day she was gone abroad a-fowling, Doña Maria d’Avalos saw the Duke d’Andria, which was a gallant, handsome and well-knit man, and did straight love the same. An honest girl and a well-born, heedful of her noble name and still in that callow youth when women have not gotten boldness yet to match their naughty desires, she sent no go-between to the nobleman for to make assignation in Church or at her own abode. She never told her love, but did bide the time when her good star should bring beside her him which had grown in the twinkling of an eye more dear to her than the day. She had not to tarry long. For the Duke d’Andria had noted her beauty, and went straightway to pay his court to the Prince of Venosa. Encountering Doña Maria in the Palace with no other by, he did beseech her in right gentle, and withal gallant and masterful wise, that very favour she was herself well disposed and well resolved to grant him. She did lead him to her chamber instantly, and did there refuse him naught of all he was fain to have of her.

But when he did proffer her his thanks for that she had graciously yielded to his desires, she made answer:

“My Lord, the desire was mine own more than it was yours. I, it was, was fain we should lie in the arms one of the other, as we be now laid, in this bed, to the which I will aye make you dearly welcome, as oft as it shall please you to come thither.”