_TALE LVIII._

_A gentleman, through putting too much trust in the
truthfulness of a lady whom he had offended by forsaking her
for others just when she was most in love with him, was, by
a false tryst, deceived by her, and bemocked by the whole
Court_.

At the Court of King Francis the First there was a lady (1) of excellent
wit, who, by her grace, virtue and pleasantness of speech, had won the
hearts of several lovers. With these she right well knew how to pass
the time, but without hurt to her honour, conversing with them in such
pleasant fashion that they knew not what to think, for those who were
the most confident were reduced to despair, whilst those that despaired
the most became hopeful. Nevertheless, while fooling most of them, she
could not help greatly loving one whom she called her cousin, a name
which furnished a pretext for closer fellowship.

1 M. de Lincy surmises that Margaret is referring to
herself both here and in the following tale, which concerns
the same lady. His only reason for the supposition, however,
is that the lady's views on certain love matters are akin to
those which the Queen herself professed.--Ed.

However, as there is nothing in this world of firm continuance, their
friendship often turned to anger and then was renewed in stronger sort
than ever, so that the whole Court could not but be aware of it.

One day the lady, both to let it be seen that she was wholly void