CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY UNDERGRADUATE LIBRARY Cornell University Library PQ2164.A4 1874 Droll stories / 3 1924 008 136 347 DATE DUE ^m^m W'''"'^ fnwff*' |M»M, |^j|_ ^^A^w^^j^Mi^^Uk lOOlf jl-\H I ^ 2004 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924008136347 DROLL STORIES fa ^ DROLL STORIES. CONTES DROLATIQUES Droll Stories B:y Honore de Balzac ILLUSTRATED BY GUSTAVE DORE THE BIBLIOPHILIST SOCIETY /v/ ,,""^^^ '""""A r- TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. "\ T THEN, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now * ' fomoiis Conies Drolatiques was published by Gosselin of Paris, Eulzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment. He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art — and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is. Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of The Hunum Comedy has painted an epoch. In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century. The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas. The background to these life-like figures is, as it were, "sketched upon the spot." After reading the Conies Dro/aiiques, one could almost find one's way about the towns and villages of Touraine, unassisted by map or guide. Not only is this book a work cf art from its historical information and topographical accuracy ; its claims to that distinction rest upon a broader foundation. Written in the nineteenth century viii TRANSLAIVK'S PREFACE. in imitation of the style of the sixteenth, it is a triumph of literary archaeology. It is a model of that which it professes to imitate ; the production of a writer who, to accomplish it, must have been at once historian, linguist, philosopher, archaeologist, and anatomist, and each in no ordinary degree. In France his work has long been regarded as a classic — as a faithful picture of the last days of the nioyeii Age, when kings and princesses, brave gentlemen and haughty ladies, laughed openly at stories and jokes which are considered disgraceful by their more fastidious descendants. In England the difficulties of the language employed, and the quaintness and peculiarity of its style, have placed it beyond the reach of all but those thoroughly acquainted widi the French of the sixteenth century. Taking mto consideration the vast amount of historical information enshrined in its pages, the archaeological value which it must always possess for the student, and the dramatic interest of its stories, the translator has thought that an English edition of Balzac's chef-d'oeuvre- would be acceptable to many. It has, of course, been im- possible to reproduce in all its vigour and freshness the language of the original. Many of the quips and cranks and puns have been lost in the process of Anglicizing. These unavoidable blemishes apart, the writer ventures to hope that he has treated this great masterpiece in a reverent spirit, touched it with no sacrilegious hand, but, on the contrary, given as close a translation as the dissimilarities of tlie two languages permit. With this idea, no attempt has been made to polish or round many of the awkwardly con- structed sentences which are characteristic of this volume. Rough, and occasionally obscure, they are far more in TRANSLATOR'S PkEJ'ACE. it keeping with the spirit of the original than the poHshed periods of modern romance. Taking into consideration the many difficulties which he has had to overcome, and which those best acquainted with the French edition will best appreciate, the translator claims the indulgence of the critical reader for any shortcomings he may discover. The best plea that can be offered for such indulgence is the fact that, although Les \Ccnt Conks Lh-olatiqucs were com- pleted and published in 1837, the present is the first English version ever brought before the public. LONDOxN, January, 1874. LIST OF ENGRAVINGS. No. Page 2. The Plaything of Man , . Frontispiece 3. The Victim of Love Title 4. The Copying Press Tabic 0/ Contenti THE FIRST TEN TALES. 5. A Symbol of ilymen (Frontispiece) 6. The Arms of Gaiety (Prologue) . 7. True and False Gaiety . . . . 8. Laughter the Conqueror of Ill-humour TlIK FAIR LMPEraA. The rcndi-zvous. 10. The Fair Iniperia i\. Madame Impcria enters her house xu LIST OJ^' ENGRA VlNGS> No. 12. 13- 14- 15- 10. 17- i8. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23- 24. 25- 26. The pretty little Tourainian Priest A young man's dream ... An ancient country dance Madame Imperia followed by her train The pretty little priest spying about The gamblers The meeting of the serenadcrs The little priest led astray Love at first sight Visit to Madame Imperia The fat Bishop of Coire Arrival of the Cardinal of Ragusa The Cardinal of Ragusa \ word in the ear Failure of Monsieur le Cardinal Pane 9 ia 10 II II 12 13 16 17 19 21 22 23 24 27 THE VENIAL SIN. Those CLirsctl pagc^ 28. Madame Bruyn the flower of innocence 29. Terrible goings-on of young Bruyn 30. The castle of the goodman Bruyn 31. Exploits of Bruyn in the Holy Land 32. Other e.xploits 33. Exploits continued 34. The assault .... 35. The conqueror intcnogating the conquered 36. Bruyn in Roche-Corbon 37. The Feudal regime 38. Idem ..... 39. Bruyn administering justice 40. Usurers of the period 41. Bruyn riding through his don tins 42. The performance of the gipsies 43. Dance of tlie period 44. Marriage of Bruyn 29 29 30 31 31 32 33 34 34 35 3.S 36 37 38 38 41 43 LIST OF ENGRA VINGS. xiii No. Page 45. Madame Bruyn goes hunting 49 46. The minstrels. The halt 51 47. The youth of days gone by . . . . . . . -53 48. Madame Bruyn goes to the Hermitage 55 49. Messire Bruyn's intendant . -58 50. Ruins of a warrior ......... 59 51. Arrival at the Hermitage 6c 52. Messire Bruyn's dancing days not yet over 62 53. The said good man ......... 6", 54. The dreadful sin . . . . , . . . . .64 55. Tlie punishment it deserves 65 56. A sign of luodesty ......... 67 57. The page 67 58. Tlie page's school .......... 69 59. The first apron 73 60. An attack of cuckoldom ........ 73 61. Pilgrimage of the handsome Rend . . . . 76 62. A nm for the cloisters 77 63. The good old abbot 77 64. Anger of old Bruyn ......... 78 65. Madame Bruyn becomes melancholy 81 66. The skirmish .......... 82 67. Prayer to the great Bruyn 83 68. The wounded knight 84 39. Return of Ren^ de Jallanges 84 THE KING'S .SWEETHEART. -2),.'. ■ The sedan chair. 71. The king's sweetheart . 72. A bad dream 73. A provost . . . 74. The blandishments of the king 75. The king at the jeweller's 76. A wedding night 77. Tlie king's purveyor 78. Men of the law 79. The Advocate mocked , » » t » ' » 86 87 87 89 90 91 93 94 95 XIV LIST OF ENGRA VLVGS. No 80. Love and suicide 81. The advocate Feron, a betrayed husband . 82. Tlie unhappy husband .... 83. Buying a conscience . . ' . ■ 84. Remarks that Indies make while undressing 8S- ? Page 96 97 99 lOI 103 104 TITK DEVIL'S HEIR. 'the decapitation. 87. Mau-cinge and Pasquerette 106 88. Chiquon sees double . 107 89. The canon . . ; . . 108 90. The canon picked up by his nephews 1 10 91, Mau-cinge at work III 92. Mau-cinge roving about 112 93- Pilk-grtie 112 94 The herdsman .... 113 95- I'oor Chiquon .... 114 96. Inconvenience of a spiral stairca'ie 117 Q7- The iuisband's rettirn T19 98. A n.asty kick .... T2I 99. The anger of Mau-cinge 123 100. M.au-cinge makes excuses . 124 lOI. Making it up 133 102. An argument by moonlight 126 103. A moment of intoxication . . ■ 127 104 The decapitation . . . • • . 128 105. The wheel of fortune > • • 130 l.lSr OF ENGRA VJNUS. XV THE MERRY JESTS OF KING LOUIS THE ELEVENTH. IiiUiscrelioii. No. 107. rjvely con\(TS,ition .... loS. Louis the i'.lcvenili .... 109. Nicole; 15cri\ipert\ivs .... no. 'I'rislan . . ... III. The execution I [2. The monk's petition .... 113. Tlic gunrdians of the Rue Quiiicangrogne 114. Tribtilations of a hanged gentleninii . 115. Tln'ee mis(^rs ..... ir6. I-'amiliarities on the part of the canon . 117. Confidences 118. Fntesiinal trihnlation?; 119. Hope .... 120. The evasion 121. I^isappointment 122. An e.vecuiion 123. The mall, or relief at last T24. Help for tlic injtircd . t:-3. Love at his tricks T31 L^' Li^ L^3 134 L^4 136 .36 136 130 140 '-)-! 14.? 143 141 140 147 130 THE HlfjH LONSTABLL'S WIFE. 126. f'oming out of chiu'ch . 127. 'llie ambnscadc . 128. '] he constal.ile of Armngnac 129. A master stroke . 130. The husband's sword . T31. Tlie death ol gallantry 132. Rage of the constable . 133. The constable interrogafe>^ his servants 134. On the watch . . . . ■ 152 LS3 L=;3 154 1 55 156 LS7 160 XVI LIST OF ENGRA VINGS. Nd. 135. The full dress mass 136. The Sicur de Bovs-Bourredon Page 164 16s The ambuscade. 138. Ecstasy of true love 139. Roys-Rourredon led to liis fate 140. His splendid speech 141. Deplorable death of Savoisy 142. The husband avenged . 143. riiilosophy of Boys-Bourredon 167 170 173 '75 177 178 THE MAID OF THILOUSE. The stumble. 145. Seigneurial rights 146. The girl well looked after 147. A seduction . 148. Assault of gallantry 149. The Lord of Valennes 150. Honour in danger 151. Tlie betrayed wife 152. The old stew ard . 179 180 181 i8r 183 18^ 18$ 186 LIST OF ENGRA VINGS. xvii THE P.ROTIIER-IN-ARMS. A ileclantion of love. No. Page 154. Declaration of love i8q 155. A tender tCte-a-tcte ........ 190 156. A mortal blow ......... 191 157. The cadet, of Maille 192 158. The jig 199 159. Love mastered ..,,.,,.. 201 160. Moments of delirium . 204 THE VTCAR OE AZAY-LE-RIDEAU. The road to the Vicarage. 162. Almsgiving 206 163. An unfortunate encounter .... 207 164. The canon enticed ..... 209 165. The nightmare . . . . ^ . 211 166. The death struggle 211 167. A pleasant ride ...... 214 168. The vicar of .'^zay ...... 214 169. Poignant despair . . ■ < . < # ?i6 J 1ST OF ENGRAVINGS. THE RErROAPH. 'J'he misery of being an himchback. No, 171, 172 173 174 175 A disaster . . , . 'File old dyer 'Iho huncliback Anotlier little priest The beautiful street of Tours Page 217 217 218 222 223 176. General liilarity (Epilogue) 228 thf: second ten tales. 177. Setting sun . 178. The god of laughter 179. Balzac at work 229 232 234 THI': THREE CLERKS OF ST. NICHOLAS. The ihrce clerks. 181. Ribaldry .... 182. The host of the Tliree Rarbels . 236 - 237 LIST OF ENGRA VINGS. x»x No. 183. An old lump of wickedness 184. A nervous man i'85. The story-tellers . Page 246 247 249 THE COXTI\E\CE OE KE\G FRANCIS THE FIRST. The prisoner. 187. Visit to the prisonci 188. Francis the First .... 189 Hiios de Lara-y- Lopez Rarra di Pinto 190. , Happy moments .... 191. Unequalled joy .... 252 252 254 256 257 THE MERRY TATTLE OF THE NUNS OF POISSY. The round 1 193 Sheltering from Love 194. Sister Ovide . 195. Jocularity 196. The grand banquet 260 264 271 273 HOW THE CHATEAU D'AZAV CAME TO BE BUILT. 197. Tlie consultation ......■■•■ 275 198. Reverie in church ....••■ 27O T99. The road to perdition . 277 200. Optical magnetism ...... ■ • 278 201, Still the road to perdition ....... 27S 302. A lesson given by the page ....... '^7^1 XX LIST OF ENGRA I INGS. No. 203. A poetical evening 204. The bold Jacques de Beaunc 205. Madame de Beaujeu ■ . 206. The moribund Page 279 280 280 281 The consultation. 208. .Help for the moribund . 209. Master surgeons and physicians 210. Idem .... 211. Declaration of love 212. Clemency 213. Anguish 214. Departure of the doctors 215. Seduction 216. The journey . 217. Sentinels on the watch . 218. The chimney comer » 819. The sweets of love 220. A souvenir of antiquity 221. The judge 222. Two birds with one stone . 281 . 282 • 283 .- 283 . 284 . 285 • 285 . 286 . 2S7 . 287 . 288 . 289 . 290 292 • 294 THE FALSE COURTESAN. 1 he impregnable fortress. 224. The parley .... 225. Pantagruelists pantagruelizing 296 297 LIST OF EXCRA VING3. XXI No. 226. 227. 228. 229. 230. The chaste and virtuous Lady d'Hocquetonville Pantagruelists pantagruelizing . . . . Endearments of love ...... A mortal blow The fight Page 298 306 308 309 31C THE DANGER OF BEING TOO INNOCENT. I'he school of love. 232. An humble request 233. This ho ! ho ! ho ! with a beard of flies' legs 234. Old death with open eyes .... 312 319 320 THE DEAR NIGHT OF LOVE. The jealous husband. 236. The ambuscade . 237. The conspiracy . 238. The procureur 239. The old duenna . 240. In flagrante delicto 241. Monseigneur Sardini 242. Another provost . 243. Saveds 323 323 324 324 330 332 333 334 THE SERMON OF THE MERRY VICAR OF MEUDON. 244. That good philosophy to which we must return 245. Gargantua's entry into Paris 246. The story tellers 336 337 337 XXll LIST OF EXCRAV/XGS. No. 247. Gargantua deluging the Parisians 248. Auditoi-s of the council of rats 249. President of the council of rats 250. The merry vicar of Meudon Page 339 344 347 348 The arms of Rabelais. 252. The harangue 253. Love by moonlight 254. Feasting .... 255. The master entered suddenly 256. An execution 257. Confidence . 258. Apotheosis . 259. The constable 260. The great comedian 261. The farce of Panurge 262. The river of thought 349 350 351 352 353 353 353 353 354 355 355 ■UK SL'CCUBUS. I'lic siiccubus, or feiiial: Uemon. 264. 'A-VayK-n . . . . 265. Twilight 266. The Rue Chaude at Tours 267. The demon 357 359 36a List ot^- ExakA vixgs. it No 268. 269. 270, 271. 272. 273- 274- 275- 276. 277. 278. 279. 280. 281. 282. 283. 284. ■^85. 286. 289. 290. 291. 292. 293- 294. 295- 296. 297. 298. 299. 300, 301. 302. 303- 3^4- 305- 306. 307 • 308. 3(X). ;io. Arachnc . . . . Hierome Cornillc, grand penitemiai jcliau 'roitebras, citizen of I'ours CiuillauiDC 'rournebouclie, nibrican of iht; chapter Vertigo of Idve A dreadful death Cogiieffstu .... A hand-to-hand liylii . Dcft-al . . . Salomon al l\astchild .... I'hc baron of Cioi.xmare who died of love Last days and deplorable end of Croixmare Mortal embrace of the female demon . Idem ....... The illublrious lady in deep motniiiny . The noctiunal vision of Jacquelle Jae(|uette, surnamed Vieu\-Oing, kitchen wench 'I'lu- Egyptian tionpe .... The human ladder .... 'The ]ierformanee of the Moorish maiden A glance at life below Melancholy Fall of Sister Claire Devout ascent of Mount Carmel )oseph, siirnanicil Lcsehalopicr Fasem.itions of the siiccubus An airv ihght t'himera .... A grave alTair Torture .... Single and singular comb, it . The light of love . A duel .... The dungeon An infernal gal^p Jehan de la Haxe, ViCcU-Gcneral of St. Maurice I'hc last confession Hierome led into temptation The defence The poor and buftcring Civil turmoil Human tempest , The last hope of escape destroyed Love-sick ..... I'agc 363 3b4 365 366 3^7 368 370 0/ 373 374 376 377 37S 379 380 381 382 382 383 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 393 394 395 397 403 404 405 409 415 416 417 4tS 42'j 430 431 433 435 459 XXIV LIST OF EXGRAVJNGS. DESPAIR IX LOVE. The violent man. No. 313. Yes or no 314. Angelo Cappara 315. An artist's despair . 316. Reverie . 317. Rage of the Florentine Page 440 441 442 443 447 318. The banner bearers 443 THE THIRD TEN TALES. 319. A summer's evening 320. Father and son — Rabelais and Balzac 453 PFJ