430 Monthly Re vieio of Literature. 



'Nor was Marguerite de Valois without her share of admiration, though our 

 gallantry may be called into question if we confess that the meed of applause 

 was chiefly bestowed on Crichton. With the fair queen of Navarre, we have 

 observed, this dance was an especial favourite; and justly so, for it was the 

 one in which she most excelled. In its slow measure, the spectator had full 

 leisure to contemplate the gorgeous majesty and resplendent loveliness of her 

 person ; in its pauses, her surpassing dignity and queenly grace were brought 

 into play ; in its gayer passages, for even this grave dance had a pleasant ad- 

 mixture of spirit (the sunshine stolen from its. clime), her animation and fire 

 were shown ; while in its haughtier movements was manifested the fine dis- 

 dain she knew so well how to express. 



" By Apollo !" exclaimed Ronsard, as soon as the vivats which followed the 

 conclusion of the Pavanne had died away, "the whole scene we have just 

 witnessed reminds me of one of those old and golden legends wherein we read 

 how valour is assailed by sorcery, and how the good knight is for a time spell- 

 bound by the enthralling enchantress." 



" Certes, la bella Alcina was but a prototype of Marguerite," said Bran- 

 t6me. 



" And Orlando of Crichton," added La Torigni. 



" Or Rinaldo," continued La Fosseuse. " He is the very mirror of chi- 

 valry." 



" He must have more skill than Ulysses to break the snares of his Circe," 

 whispered Ronsard. 



" True," replied Brantome, in the same tone. " It was not without good 

 reason that Don Juan of Austria said to me when he first beheld her peerless 

 charms : ' Inasmuch as your queen's beauty is more divine than human, by 

 so much is she the more likely to drag men to perdition than to save them !' " 

 Turning then to the maids of honour the Abbe added aloud, "The mistake in 

 all matters of enchantment appears to be, that your knight-errant should ever 

 desire to burst such agreeable bondage. To me it would be like awakening 

 from a pleasant dream. Ah! were there some good fairy left who would 

 tempt me, you should see whether I would resist, or seek to be disenchanted!" 



"Well, of all agreeable divertisements commend me to the bransle," said 

 La Torigni, as that figure was struck up. 



" Apropos of temptation. I suppose," said Brantome ; " for you never look 

 so captivating as when engaged in it, Signora Torigni. For my part I envy 

 the chevalier Crichton his success in the dance more than his bonnes fortunes. 

 I never could accomplish a pas." 



" A faux pas I suppose you mean, Abbe," whispered Ronsard. 



" Indeed!" returned La Torigni. " Suppose you take a lesson now. What 

 say you to a turn in the bransle? That is the easiest figure of all. Our royal 

 mistress has disappeared with her all-accomplished Scot, so my attendance 

 will be dispensed with for the present. We shall be free from interruption. 

 Never mind your being a little lame, the bransle is the best specific in the 

 world for the rheumatism. Come along. Monsieur de Ronsard; your gout 

 J know will not permit you, or I would bid you give your hand to La Fos- 

 seuse ; but you can at least amuse her with a mot, or perhaps improvise a 

 sonnet for her entertainment, upon the pretty sight we have just witnessed ; 

 and the more you stuff it with loves and doves, kisses and blisses, gods, god- 

 desses, and heroes, till like a cup of hydromel it overflows with sweetness, the 

 better she will like it. Your hand, Seigneur I'Abbe " 



'And, despite his remonstrances, the laughing Florentine dragged the reluc- 

 tant Brantome to the bransle. 



' Slowly, meanwhile, glided along Crichton and the queen of Navarre. 

 Neither spoke, neither regarded the other, the bosoms of both were too full ; 

 Marguerite's of intense passion; Crichton's of what emotion it boots not to 

 conjecture. He felt the pressure of her arm upon his own, he felt the throb- 

 bing of her breast against his elbow, but he returned not the pressure, neither 



