CHRISTINE DE PISAN 



is painted with the same impressionist touch, 

 and it is with real regret that we take leave of 

 these happy folk as they alight in Paris city 

 from their stout nags. 



Another similar discourse, Le Debat de deux 

 amants^ has for setting a gala entertainment, 

 taking place, like the founding of the " Order of 

 the Rose," under the auspices of Louis, Duke of 

 Orleans, who ever extended a princely protection 

 to Christine. Louis had married Valentine 

 Visconti, daughter of Gian Galleazo Visconti, 

 founder of the Certosa, near Pavia, a princess 

 well versed in art and letters, and withal in 

 pomp and splendour. It is on a day in May, 

 the garden gay with gallants and fair ladies. 

 We hear the minstrels play, and watch some of 

 the company, decked with garlands, dancing 

 under the trees. In the palace there is music 

 and singing. Christine is seated in a tapestried 

 hall with one or two esquires who prefer to 

 discourse of love to joining in the jollity. After 

 a time the talk turns on fickle men, and Christine 

 brings forth from her vast storehouse of know- 

 ledge classical and mediaeval examples. As she 

 mentions Theseus, and recalls his baseness to 

 Ariadne, she points to the tapestry on the wall 

 before them, where the story is woven. This 

 little touch makes the scene very real to us, for 

 the record of the purchase of this tapestry, with 

 the price of twelve hundred francs paid for it, 

 may still be found amongst the royal inventories. 



There is such a volume and variety of works 



141 



