The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-27
CHAPTER VII.
THE COURT OF LOVE.

DOarS, wlde-Spreadlng antlerS ana Otner
trophies of the chase, had long since been
| replaced under the Kings directions by an
| apartment more to the satisfaction or
monarch who was a jealous and lavish
patron OF the brilliant Italian school OF
painting, sculpture and architecture. Those
barbarous decorations, celebrating the hunt,
had been relegated to subterraneap regions.
the walls dismantled and the room turned
over to corps of artists of such renown
as Da Vinci Francois Clouet. Jean Cousin
and the half-mad Benvenuto Cellini.
Where formerly wild boars had snarled
| with wicked display of yellow tusks from
| the blackened plaster, now Cleopatra, In
the full bloom of her mature charms. re-
clined with her stalwart Roman hero In
| tender dalliance. Where once the proud and
stately head of the majestic stag had hung
| over the door and panel, now classic nymphs
| bathed in a pellucid pool. and the only horns
were those which adorned the head of him
who, according to the story, dared gaze
through the foliage, and was rewarded for
his too curious interest by-that then COM
mon form of Observation-Disclosures
Overhead, vast transformation from the
great ribbed beams of oak and barren in
white clouds and roguish Cupids swan
through the azure depths, TO the edification
of nondescript prodigies, who constituted
the massive molding, or frame, to the dec
orative scene. The ancient fireplace, broad
and deep. had given way to an ornate man.
tel of marble; the capacious tankard and
rotund pewter pot of olden times, suggestive
of mighty butts of honest beer, had been
supplanted by goblets of silver and gold,
covered with scroll work, arabesques or
chiseled figures.
In this spacious hall, begilt, bemirrored.
assembled, on the evening of the dukes ar
rival, Francis, his court and the guest of
the occasion. From the wide-spreading
chandeliers, with their pendent, pear-shaped
crystals, a thousand candles threw a flood
of light upon the scene, as mid trumpet
blast and softer strains Of harmony King
Francis and good Queen Eleanor led the
way to the royal table; and thereat. shortly
after, at signal from the monarch, the
company seated themselves.
At the head of the board was the king:
on his right his lawful consort, pale, COM
posed, sanity; on his left the Countess
dEtampes. rosy, animated, free. Next to
the favorite sat the "fairest among the
learned and most learned among the fair, !"
Marguerite, beloved sister Of Francis, and
| her second husband, Henry dAlbert, King
of Navarro; opposite, Henry the dauphin
and his spouse, Catharine de Medici; not
far removed, Diane de Poitiers, whose dark
eyes Henry ever openely sought, while
Catharine complacently talked affairs of
state with the chancellor.
Tn ha midst Of this illustrio1s copoDapy
and further surrounded by plentiful
sprinkling Of rudy cardinals, fat bishops,
constables governors, marshals and ladies.
more or less distinguished through birth or
beauty, the Duke of Friedwald and the
Princess Louise were a center of attraction
for the wits whose somewhat free jests the
license of the times permitted. At the foot
of the royal table places had been provided
for Marot, Caillette. Triboulet. Jacqueline
and the dukes fool.
The heads and figures of the ladies of the
court were for the most part fearfuly and
wonderfully bedecked In some instances
the horned-shaped headdress had been fol-
lowed by yet loftier steeples, ''battlements
to combat God with gold. silver and pearls;
where in the lances were great forked pins,
and the arrows the little pins" With more
simplicity the Princess Louise wore her
hair cased in a network of gold and jewels,
and the austere French moralist who as
sailed the higher bristling ramparts of van
ity would, perhaps, have borne in silence
this more modest bastion of the flesh and
the devil.
But the face beneath was a greater dam
ger to those who hold that beauty is a
menace to salvation; on her cheek hung
the rosy banner Of youth; in her eyes shone
the bright arrows of conquest. And the
duke discarding his backwardness, as a SOL
der his cloak before battle, watched the
hue that mantled her face, proffered his
open breast to the shining lances of her
gaze and capitulated Internationally before
the smile of victory on her blood-red lips
With his great shoulders, his massive neck
and broad, virile face, he seemed Cyclops
among pygmies in that gathering of slen-
der courtiers and she but flower by his
side.
II thought. Sire, your duke was timorous,
bashful as boy?" murmured the Countess
d Etampes to the king.
He was-on the road!" answered the
king thoughtfully.
"Then he has marvelously recovered his
assurance"
"In love- madam, as in battle the zest
grows with the fray" said Francis with
meaning.
"And the duke is reputed brave soldier.
He looks very strong, as if-almost-he
might succeed with any woman he were
minded to carry off,
ITO carry off, laughed the monarch
'"Tis he, madam, who will be bound in
tethers! At heart he's shame-faced as a
callow younker."
She willfully shook her head. mo wom-
an could keep him in leading strings. your
Majesty. There is something domineering
savage, crushing. in his hand. Look at it,
on the table there. Is is not mighty as an
iron gauntlet? What other man at the
board has such a brutal hand? The strength
in it makes me shudder. Will she not bend
to ii; kiss it?'
With amused superiority Francis regarded
his fair neighbor on the left. Women,
madam, are but hasty judges of men," he
reason which governs their verdict. If the
duke should seem overconfdent, tbs to hide
a certain modesty. and not to appear out of
confidence in so large company"
And yet, Sire, at their first meeting he
did not comport himself like one easily put
cold hand you welcome me- princess he
said, noticing her insensibility of manner.
Then rising he gazed upon her long and
deep, as soldier might survey a battle
field. And yet said he. still holding her
fingers, IN warrant me warm blood could
course through this little hand At that
the color rose in her cheek; behold, the
statue was touched with life and she looked
at him as drawn against her will If my
hand be cold, my lord. she answered cour-
teously 1T bellies the character of your well
come Whereupon he laughed like one who
has had victory"
''Beshrew me-" said the king, modifying
his last observation, IF women are not all
eyes and ears! / neither heard nor saw all
that. A little constraint-a natural blush
TO punctuate their talk-the meeting seemed
conventional enough. IT'S through your own
Quicker circulated the goblets of silver
gold and crystal; faster babbled the pretty