himself and five of his courtiers. They had been sewn up in a linen skin
which defined their whole bodies; and this skin had been covered with a
resinous pitch, so as to hold sticking upon it a covering of tow, which
made them appear hairy from head to foot. Thus disguised these savages
went dancing into the ball-room; one of those present took up a lighted
torch and went up to them; and in a moment several of them were in
flames. It was impossible to get off the fantastic dresses clinging to
their bodies. "Save the king!" shouted one of the poor masquers; but it
was not known which was the king. The Duchess de Berry, his aunt,
recognized him, caught hold of him, and wrapped him in her robe, saying,
"Do not move; you see your companions are burning." And thus he was
saved amidst the terror of all present. When he was conscious of his mad
state, he was horrified; he asked pardon for the injury he had done,
confessed and received the communion. Later, when he perceived his
malady returning, he would allude to it with tears in his eyes, ask to
have his hunting-knife taken away, and say to those about him, "If any of
you, by I know not what witchcraft, be guilty of my sufferings, I adjure
him, in the name of Jesus Christ, to torment me no more, and to put an
end to me forthwith without making me linger so." He conceived a horror
of Queen Isabel, and, without recognizing her, would say when he saw her,
"What woman is this? What does she want? Will she never cease her
importunities? Save me from her persecution!" At first great care was
taken of him. They sent for a skilful doctor from Laon, named William de
Harsely, who put him on a regimen from which, for some time, good effects
were experienced. But the doctor was uncomfortable at court; he
preferred going back to his little place at Laon, where he soon
afterwards died; and eleven years later, in 1405, nobody took any more
trouble about the king. He was fed like a dog, and allowed to fall
ravenously upon his food. For five whole months he had not a change of
clothes. At last some shame was felt for this neglect, and an attempt