CHRISTINE DE PISAN 



of Louis, Duke of Orleans, the King's brother, 

 Christine being one of the number. Suddenly 

 there comes into their midst one personifying 

 the Goddess Venus, surrounded by maidens 



farlanded with roses and carrying golden bowls 

 lied with them. The bowls placed on the 

 table, the Goddess proceeds to announce the 

 rules of the Order, above all enjoining those 

 present to avoid envy, and in no way to perjure 

 themselves, since this would be a most heinous 

 and hateful sin. The badge chosen is a fresh 

 rose, but if any member of the Order should 

 happen to be in a country where such is not 

 attainable, or when the season is unpropitious, 

 then a rose fashioned in gold or silver, or one 

 embroidered in silk, will suffice. With pledges 

 of loyalty, 



A bonne amour je fais veu et promesse 

 Et a la fleur qui est rose clam6e, 

 A la vaillant de Loyaute deesse, 

 Par qui nous est ceste chose informee, 

 Qu'a tous jours mais la bonne renommee 

 Je garderay de dame en toute chose 

 Ne par moy ja femme n'yert diffamee : 

 Et pour ce prens je L'Ordre de la Rose, 1 



all the company deck themselves with roses. 

 The charter is given by the Goddess into the 

 safe-keeping of Christine, who describes it as 

 written on fine parchment in letters of azure, 

 and fastened with a silken cord of the same 

 colour. From this cord hangs a rare gem, on 

 one side of which their patroness, the Goddess 



1 "Le Dit de la Rose," 197-204, (Euvres poe'tiques de Christine 

 de Pisan, t. ii., pub. par Maurice Roy, 1891. 



135 



