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_TALE XLIII_.
_Jambicque, preferring the praise of the world to a good
conscience, strove to appear before men other than site
really was; but her friend and lover discovered her
hypocrisy by means of a little chalk-mark, and made known to
everybody the wickedness that she was at such pains to
hide_.
There dwelt in a very handsome castle a high and mighty Princess, who
had in her train a very haughty lady called Jambicque. (1) The latter
had so deceived her mistress that the Princess did nothing save by her
advice, deeming her the discreetest and most virtuous lady of her day.
1 There are no means of positively identifying this woman.
Brantome, who refers at length to the above tale in his
_Vies des Dames Galantes_ (Lalanne's edition, pp. 236-8),
implies that he knew her name but would not tell it. He
says, however, that "she was a widow and lady of honour to a
very great Princess, and knew better how to play the prude
than any other lady at Court."--M.
This Jambicque used greatly to inveigh against wanton passion, and
whenever she perceived any gentleman in love with one of her companions,
she would chide them with much harshness, and, by making ill report
of them to her mistress, often cause them to be rebuked; hence she was
feared far more than she was loved by all the household.
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