The Heptameron - Day 5

Heptameron Day 5

What Stories Are Told on the Fifth Day of the Heptameron?

On the Fifth Day of the Heptameron the characters tell tales of the virtue of those maids and matrons who held their honour in more consideration than their pleasure, also of those who did the contrary, and of the simplicity of certain others.

Heptameron Day 5 Summary

A Modern Day Grey Friar

The Theme of the Fifth Day

The Stories Told on the Fifth Day of Heptameron

The FIRST Tale, of the Fifth Day-- Just punishment of a Grey Friar for the unusual penance that he would have laid upon a maiden.

The SECOND Tale, of the Fifth Day-- The virtuous resistance made by a young woman of Touraine causes a young Prince that is in love with her, to change his desire to respect, and to bestow her honourably in marriage

The THIRD Tale, of the Fifth Day-- How a little chalk-mark revealed the hypocrisy of a lady called Jambicque, who was wont to hide the pleasures she indulged in, beneath the semblance of austerity

The FOURTH Tale, of the Fifth Day-- Through telling the truth, a Grey Friar receives as alms from the Lord of Sedan two pigs instead of one.

The FIFTH Tale, of the Fifth Day-- Cleverness of an upholsterer of Touraine, who, to hide that he has given the Innocents to his serving-maid, contrives to give them afterwards to his wife.

The SIXTH Tale, of the Fifth Day-- Wicked acts of a Grey Friar of Angoulême called De Vale, who fails in his purpose with the wife of the Judge of the Exempts, but to whom a mother in blind confidence foolishly abandons her daughter.

The SEVENTH Tale, of the Fifth Day-- The undeserved jealousy of a gentleman of Le Perche towards another gentleman, his friend, leads the latter to deceive him.

The EIGHT Tale, of the Fifth Day--Wicked act of a Grey Friar of Perigord, who, while a husband was dancing at his wedding, went and took his place with the bride.

The NINTH Tale, of the Fifth Day-- Story of a foreign Countess, who, not content with having King Charles as her lover, added to him three lords, to wit, Astillon, Durassier and Valnebon.

The TENTH Tale, of the Fifth Day-- Melancholy fortune of Messire John Peter, a gentleman of Cremona, who dies just when he is winning the affection of the lady he loves.

The Fifth Day

When morning was come, the Lady Oisille made ready for them a spiritual breakfast of such excellent flavour that it sufficed to strengthen both body and mind. The whole company was very attentive to it; it seemed to them that they had never harkened to a sermon with such profit before. Then, when the last bell rang for mass, they went to meditate upon the pious discourse which they had heard.

After listening to mass, and walking for a little while, they went to table feeling assured that the present day would prove as agreeable as any of the past. Saffredent even said that he would gladly have the bridge building for another month, so great was the pleasure that he took in their entertainment; but the Abbot was pressing the work with all speed, for it was no pleasure to him to live in the company of so many honourable persons, among whom he could not bring his wonted female pilgrims.

Having rested for a time after dinner, they returned to their accustomed diversion. When all were seated in the meadow, they asked Parlamente to whom she gave her vote.

"I think," she replied, "that Saffredent might well begin this day, for his face does not look as though he wished us to weep."

"Then, ladies, you will needs be very hard-hearted," said Saffredent, "if you take no pity on the Grey Friar whose story I am going to relate to you. You may perhaps think, from the tales that some among us have already told of the monks, that misadventures have befallen hapless damsels simply because ease of execution induced the attempt to be fearlessly begun, but, so that you may know that it is the blindness of wanton lust which deprives the friars of all fear and prudence, I will tell you of what happened to one of them in Flanders."

The FIRST Tale, of the Fifth Day