seems to imply that the incident recorded in it was one of
recent occurrence. The same story may be found, however, in
most of the collections of early _fabliaux_. See _OEuvres de
Rutebeuf_, vol. i. p. 260 (_Frère Denise_), Legrand
d'Aussy's _Fabliaux_, vol. iv. p. 383, and the _Recueil
complet des Fabliaux_, Paris, 1878, vol. iii. p. 253. There
is also some similarity between this tale and No. LX. of the
_Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles_. Estienne quotes it in his
_Apologie pour Hérodote_, L'Estoile in his _Journal du règne
de Henri III. (anno_ 1577), Malespini uses it in his
_Ducento Novelle_ (No. 75), and it suggested to Lafontaine
his _Cordeliers de Catalogne_.--L. and M.

"I am very sorry, ladies, that truth does not provide us with stories
as much to the credit of the Grey Friars as it does to the contrary. It
would be a great pleasure to me, by reason of the love that I bear their
Order, if I knew of one in which I could really praise them; but we have
vowed so solemnly to speak the truth that, after hearing it from such
as are well worthy of belief, I cannot but make it known to you.
Nevertheless, I promise you that, whenever the monks shall accomplish a
memorable and glorious deed, I will be at greater pains to exalt it than
I have been in relating the present truthful history."

"In good faith, Geburon," said Oisille, "that was a love which might
well have been called cruelty."

"I am astonished," said Simontault, "that he was patient enough not to
take her by force when he saw her in her shift, and in a place where he
might have mastered her."