The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-05-31
A WOMAN's sTRATAGEM.


Decameron, furnished the material for
Shakespeare's drama of "Alps Well that
Ends Wel1.n It is the ninth story Of the
third day. Translated for the Picayune
by Z. A. B., from an edition published
at Venice in 1918, by the celebrated
italian poet, Vitorelli:
In the kingdom. of France was q gen.
tleman named Isnardo, Count de Ron
sillon, who, onsaccount of i'll health, al
ways retained near him u physician
named Girand de Narbonne.
The count had an only son named Ber-
tram, of great beauty and pleasing man
ners. The physician had q daughter
named Jnliette,. a. few years younger
than Bertram, who, from the association
in childhood, formed an attachment for
him, which increased with years. Ber-
tram, on the death Of his father, sue
to Paris to offer his allegiance to the
king. The damsel remained soFroWful
at home. Her father dying soon after,
she resolved to follow Bertram to Paris
if any opportunity should offer but was
prevented by the watchfulneSs, of her
relatives, who desired to settle her i'm
marriage. As she was unable to forget
Bertram, she refused all their PROPOSE
tioMs without explaining her reasons.
Now, it happened that, whilesher love
for Bertram had grown stronger from
his fame at Paris, it was reported that
the King of France was afflicted with
swelling on the chest, supposed to be a
cancer, which caused him great deal
! of suffering, and although he had tried
| q great many physicians, none of them
had been able to afford him any relief,
but all their experiments had only made
4 TTT1IJ Eol 10
give up all hope and seek no further
aid. This report gave the young girl
great satisfaction. She thOughtit would
not only afford her a good occasion to
visit Paris, but, If the disease were what
| she thought it to be, might furnish her
| the means to obtain BeFtram for hus-
band.
therefore as she had learned many
| things from her father, she made pow
der Of certain herbs, and set off on horse
back for Paris. The first thing she did
was to find Bertram and obtain an in
PRODUCTION to the king, and begged him
to let her know the nature of his dis
| ease. - ~ , - =aa
The king, seeing her young and come
| ~, knew not how to refuse her, showed
her the cause of his suffering. AS soon
as she had seen it, feeling satisfied she
4
will permit me hope to be able, with
| the help Of God, to cure this within
Q week, without any pain or trouble to
y0u." -.-.
The king thoughtsh was jesting with
him, and said: "What the greatest ply
sicians in the world have not known
how to perform, how can a young girl
accomplish 2" ... ........
| He thanked her.. however, for her
good intentions, and said he had de-
teTmined to attempt no more medical
aid. .....-.....
To which the girl replied: "Sire, you
despise my skill because am young
and female, but be pleased to under
stand that come not to you as a doctor
with my own science, but with the as
sistance of God and the skill of DR.. Gil
rand, OF Narbonne, who was my father
ands.a celebrated physician" !" ,t,. -
The king then said that perhaps sht
| had been sent by God, and why should
Inot try what she can do. "And without
pain or annoyance, and in a short time
you can cure me 2" And having giveI
her permission to make the trial, he
said: eff you do not cure me, young
woman, what shall be done to you, fOl
having made me break my resOlu'
ton 2"
"Sire," replied the girl, shave me plac
ed under guard, and If don't cure yOU
| within a week you may have me burn
| ed; but if I cure You what reward shall
receiver - ... .ts:e,.
| To which the king answered: .FetYol
seem to be unmarried; If you succeed
we will marry you well and nobly."
To which she said: "Indeed, it please
me that you will marry me; but ! wan
husband such as | may chose, WithOu
selecting any OF your sons or OF tn
rOval family .-s ....,,..4
The king promised it should be so
I The girl commenced her treatment, ant
before the allotted term expired had eff
feeted q cure. The king, finding him
self restored, said: tens ea5
Young woman, you have well wol
your husbandI ....p. 49,. .r5.Z
/ To which she answered, "Then, sire
I have won BertTam de ROusillOn
whom I have always loved from my in
fancy.n ...-'..-....
It seemed great thing to the king t
] be obliged to- give him to her, but as h
had promised, and not liking to fail i
his word, he had him called, and said t
him: Count BertEafn, you are grea
and accomplished. We desire you t
return to the government of your prov
ince, and take with yon dansel WHOM
we have given you for a wife, y
/ Said Bertrann: "And who is the dam
sci, sire Y" as- a. s -s7.sz
ToWhich the King answered = "lI'ha
is she, who has with her medicine res
tored me tollealth.7 y .2,-..5..s
Bertram, who had seen and knew hel
although she appeared very beautifr
d to him, yet as she was not of as nobl
birth as himself, Indignantly said; @
al YYOu wish, then, sire, to give me
d doctress for wife! If it please God,
!. will never marry any such woman
TO whom the King said: "You, theI
. wish us to violate our faith, which WI
to recover our health, gave to the dan
:. sci who demanded you as a husband fC
her reward
ssSire,n said Bertram, "you can TAX
from me all 7 possess and give me .
your vassa1 to whom you please; but (
this / assure you, that / will never b
3 satisfied with this marriage y.
d Yes YOh will" said the King, 'fe
y the dannsel is beautiful and wise, an
loves you well, so that we hope you vi
lead with her O happier life than yo
would with lady of nobler BIRTH
Bertraln remained silent, and the kin
{ ordered grand preparations for the fel
n tivities of the marriage. The appOinte
e day having arrived, Bertrafn, afthoug
much against his will, espoused tt
damsel. who loved him more than he
: self. This being done, he, having n
: solved on his course of action, aske
4 leave Of the king that he might retur
8, tO. his province to consummate the ma
riage.
Fl He then mounted his horse, but il
= stead Of returning to his home he wei
to TnseanY. where the Florentines .Wal