Part 1

Transcriber’s Note

In the following transcription, italic text is denoted by underscores. Small capitals in the original text have been transcribed as ALL CAPITALS.

Superscripts in the text are denoted by a prefixing caret symbol (^). A letter (as in 8^o), or letters in curly braces (as in I^{er}), that follow the caret symbol are to be read as superscripts.

See end of this document for details of corrections and other changes.

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Lives of

Fair and Gallant Ladies

————

VOLUME I

Lives

Fair and Gallant Ladies

The Seigneur De Brantôme

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL

———— VOLUME I ————

The Alexandrian Society, Inc.

London and New York

1922

COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY THE ALEXANDRIAN SOCIETY, INC.

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

This work is strictly limited to twelve hundred and fifty numbered sets, which are for sale only to subscribers. The type has been distributed on publication and no more will be printed.

Copy No. ....

FOREWORD

This very fine and accurate translation of The Lives of Fair and Gallant Ladies was made by Mr. A. R. Allinson and because of its merit must be considered one of the great English translations, equalling in every quality those of the 16th and 17th centuries. The text of Brantôme’s great work is given practically complete in these volumes and the only modifications are based upon good taste and not on any fearful prudery. A few of Brantôme’s examples that illustrate his points belong more in a treatise on abnormal pathology than in a book of literary or historical interest and value, so nothing of any value is lost by omitting them. The rare charm, shrewd wisdom, amusing anecdote, literary merit and historical and social information will be appreciated by intelligent readers.

The cover design used on this book was made by C. O. Czeschka.

(From a fac-simile page of the manuscript Recueil des Dames. Biblio. Nat: Mss. Nouv. fses. No. 20-474, folio 163.)]

DEDICATION TO MONSEIGNEUR LE DUC D’ALENÇON OF BRABANT AND COUNT OF FLANDERS

SON AND BROTHER OF OUR FRENCH KINGS[1*]

MY GRACIOUS LORD,