Page:ThePrincessofCleves.djvu/74

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THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES.
Part II.

judges of the field should direct; the third combat on foot, three pushes of pikes, and six hits with the sword. The champions to furnish lances, swords, and pikes, at the choice of the combatants. Whoever did not manage his horse in the career to be put out of the lists; four judges of the field to give orders. The combatants who should break most lances and perform best, to carry the prize, the value whereof to be at the discretion of the judges: all the combatants, as well French as strangers, to be obliged to touch one or more, at their choice, of the shields that should hang on the pillar at the end of the lists, where a herald at arms should be ready to receive them, and enrol them according to their quality, and the shields they had touched: the combatants to be obliged to cause their shields and arms to be brought by a gentleman, and hung up at the pillar three days before the tournament, otherwise not to be admitted without leave of the champions.

A spacious list was made near the Bastille, which begun from the Chateau des Tournelles and crossed the street of St. Anthony, and extended as far as the king's stables; on both sides were built scaffolds and amphitheatres, which formed a sort of galleries that made a very fine sight, and were capable of containing an infinite number of people. The princes and lords were wholly taken up in providing what was necessary for a splendid appearance, and in mingling in their cyphers and devices somewhat of galantry, that had relation to the ladies they were in love with.

A few days before the duke of Alva's arrival, the king made a match at tennis with the duke de Nemours, the chevalier de Guise, and the viscount de Chartres. The queens came to see them play, attended with the ladies of the court, and among others madam de Cleves. After the game was ended, as they went out of the tennis court, Chatelart came up to the queen-dauphin, and told her fortune had put into his hands a letter of gallantry, that dropped out of the duke de Nemours's