CHRISTINE DE PISAN 



of each a good heart, it is not necessary for them 

 to go to Mass every day ; then to the wife of 

 the labourer, bidding her to guard well her 

 master's flocks and to encourage her husband 

 to work ; and, finally, she has a word of sympathy 

 for the poor, holding out to them hope of 

 recompense in heaven for misery endured here, 

 and exhorting them to have patience meanwhile. 

 From this patriotic and practical advice to 

 women she turns to men, and in Le Livre de la 

 Paix sets forth the duties of princes and of those 

 in power to the people, importuning them to 

 exercise clemency, liberality, and justice. 



But it is too late. The sand in the hour- 

 glass is running low. Disaster follows disaster, 

 until the final blow is struck at Agincourt (1415), 

 where the flower of the French nation is cut 

 off, and princes of the blood are carried away 

 into exile. Christine, with bleeding heart, and 

 worn with trouble and disappointment, retires 

 to the convent of Poissy, " un tres doux paradis," 

 perchance to find peace and consolation within 

 its tranquil walls, and to implore Heaven's aid 

 for her sore -stricken country. For fourteen 

 years no sound from her reaches the outside 

 world. Then, inspired by the glorious advent 

 and deeds of Joan of Arc, with all her old passion 

 she pours forth a final hymn of praise and 

 thanksgiving to the woman who has at last 

 aroused France to patriotism, and so dies in 

 peace at the solemn moment of Charles the 

 Seventh's consecration at Rheims. 



145 L 



