The Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. II | Page 6

it became impossible to recognise him
by reason of his leanness and strangely altered features.
Some one brought the news of this to his sweetheart's mother, who was
a lady full of charity, and who had, moreover, such a liking for the
gentleman, that if all the kinsfolk had been of the same opinion as
herself and her daughter, his merits would have been preferred to the

possessions of the other. But the kinsfolk on the father's side would not
hear of it. However, the lady went with her daughter to see the unhappy
gentleman, and found him more dead than alive. Perceiving that the
end of his life was at hand, he had that morning confessed and received
the Holy Sacrament, thinking to die without seeing anybody more. But
although he was at death's door, when he saw her who for him was the
resurrection and the life come in, he felt so strengthened that he started
up in bed.
"What motive," said he to the lady, "has inclined you to come and see
one who already has a foot in the grave, and of whose death you are
yourself the cause?"
"How is it possible," said the lady, "that the death of one whom we like
so well can be brought about by our fault? Tell me, I pray, why you
speak in this manner?"
"Madam," he replied, "I concealed my love for your daughter as long as
I was able; and my kinsfolk, in speaking of a marriage between myself
and her, made known more than I desired, since I have thereby had the
misfortune to lose all hope; not, indeed, in regard to my own pleasure,
but because I know that she will never have such fair treatment and so
much love from any other as she would have had from me. Her loss of
the best and most loving friend she has in the world causes me more
affliction than the loss of my own life, which I desired to preserve for
her sake only. But since it cannot in any wise be of service to her, the
loss of it is to me great gain."
Hearing these words, the lady and her daughter sought to comfort him.
"Take courage, my friend," said the mother. "I pledge you my word
that, if God gives you back your health, my daughter shall have no
other husband but you. See, she is here present, and I charge her to
promise you the same."
The daughter, weeping, strove to assure him of what her mother
promised. He well knew, however, that even if his health were restored
he would still lose his sweetheart, and that these fair words were only

uttered in order somewhat to revive him. Accordingly, he told them
that had they spoken to him thus three months before, he would have
been the lustiest and happiest gentleman in France; but that their aid
came so late, it could bring him neither belief nor hope. Then, seeing
that they strove to make him believe them, he said--
"Well, since, on account of my feeble state, you promise me a blessing
which, even though you would yourselves have it so, can never be mine,
I will entreat of you a much smaller one, for which, however, I was
never yet bold enough to ask."
They immediately vowed that they would grant it, and bade him ask
boldly.
"I entreat you," he said, "to place in my arms her whom you promise
me for my wife, and to bid her embrace and kiss me."
The daughter, who was unaccustomed to such familiarity, sought to
make some difficulty, but her mother straightly commanded her, seeing
that the gentleman no longer had the feelings or vigour of a living man.
Being thus commanded, the girl went up to the poor sufferer's bedside,
saying--
"I pray you, sweetheart, be of good cheer."
Then, as well as he could, the dying man stretched forth his arms,
wherein flesh and blood alike were lacking, and with all the strength
remaining in his bones embraced her who was the cause of his death.
And kissing her with his pale cold lips, he held her thus as long as he
was able. Then he said to her--
"The love I have borne you has been so great and honourable, that,
excepting in marriage, I have never desired of you any other favour
than the one you are granting me now, for lack of which and with
which I shall cheerfully yield up my spirit to God. He is perfect love
and charity. He knows the greatness of my love and the purity of my
desire, and I beseech Him, while I hold my desire within my arms, to
receive my spirit into His own."

With these words he