"What will you teach us of the month of July ?"

"The sign of the month of July is called the Lion. It penetrates the heart by its strength; it is assigned to the Sun; its nature is that of fire; its qualities are cold and dry. He who is born under this sign will be a man of probity and honour, but obstinate and unchangeable in his reasons."

"What is the doctrine on the month of August ?"

"In this month reigns the sign of the Virgin; it is submitted to the influence of Mercury; its nature is terrestrial. Him who is born under this sign will be prodigal, but a great musician. At this period you must above all avoid sleeping or bathing about the middle of the day."

"And of the month of September ?"

"The Scales reign in this month; it is assigned to the planet Venus; its qualities are hot and wet. He who is born beneath this sign is born under become a great workman, and will make a great

a happy influence; he will number of friends."

When it was a question of the month of October, the damoiselle said that its sign was the Scorpion, and given to Mars; that those born under it were talkative and full of passions. In the month of November she named the Archer, observed that its influence was exercised on the legs, and stated that this sign was of the nature of fire. The children of those born at this period were, according to her, disobedient to their parents. The month of December did not embarrass her: she said the sign was Capricorn; that it had influence over the knees; that it belonged to the planet Saturn; she added, those who shall be born under this sign will be inclined to think badly of their neighbours; they will nevertheless possess politeness; frankness and melancholy will be their portion.

The sage then changed the nature of his questions.

"Tell me," he said, “what are the things most certain to conduct us to Paradise?"

"Faith, Hope, and Charity !"

When the wise man had heard these last words he addressed himself to the king and all his chevaliers, saying with a loud voice :-"Our well beloved king, I truly say unto you this gentle damoiselle who is before you knows more than I do, and I confess myself vanquished."

IV.

Of the dispute she had with the second sage.

After that the first sage confessed himself conquered, the second rose and said, "Damoiselle, understand one thing that I am not so simple as the sage thou hast just vanquished."

The damoiselle answered him respectfully, and bowing to him as was becoming to a man advanced in age, and learned: "I will answer you with my lord the king's permission, who is present, and with that of all his knighthood."

Then the sage asked her to which of the twelve signs named was each member composing the human body assigned, and in what sign of the month might bleeding be good. The damoiselle replied,-" Master, I will draw you a figure, in which you will see all the experiments that can be made upon the members of our body in respect to their corresponding signs; and moreover I will draw out a table for you by which you may see when blood-letting may be salutary, injurious, or indifferent. So soon as the sage saw the figure drawn and the table made out before him, he marvelled much; and he said that truly he had nothing more to ask of the damoiselle upon which she could not answer.

V.

Of the dispute that the damoiselle Theodora had with the third sage, who was named Abraham the Troubador, and master of music.

History records that when the third wise man saw that the two first were vanquished, he had much in his heart. He thought they were but little skilful to have allowed themselves to be conquered by a young girl; and thinking to have an easy task, rose proudly, and said to her," Damoiselle, prepare thyself to answer me; for I am not quite so foolish as the other sages with whom you have disputed."

"Learned master," she replied in a very modest tone, with the respect due to the king and his knights, “I am astonished at the little opinion you entertain of the wise men who have already questioned me, and I am surprised that you have thought fit to imagine I have triumphed by false arguments. Since, however, you consider yourself so clever, let us make an agree ment before my lord the king, and in presence of all the learned men who are here, that in case I remain vanquished I shall become your slave during the rest of your life; but if by chance I should triumph, you must give me ten thousand doubloons of good red gold."

This proposition greatly pleased the learned Jew, because he thought he could easily reduce his adversary to silence. The thing was therefore agreed upon in presence of the king and his knights. And the damoiselle required that a document should be drawn up, so that no one could be ignorant of its In consequence of this request, the king himself became security, and he engaged his royal word to make the loser pay according to the terms proposed.

nature.

VI.

Of the questions proposed to the damoiselle by the third sage, surnamed Abraham the Troubador.

The sage asked of the damoiselle Theodora what was the heaviest thing in the world?-She replied, debt; and the sage said it was well spoken. He then put the following questions:

What is the most penetrating thing in the world?-A man or woman's tongue.

What is it that is more rapid than the arrow's flight?-The damoiselle answered: It is thought.

What is more bitter than gall ?-An ungrateful child.

What is it harder than steel ?-The truth, she answered.

The sage continued: What is the pleasure of two hours only?—It is, she said, the profit an honest merchant gets upon his daily merchandize.

What is the pleasure of a month ?—It is that experienced by a man who returned from a long journey, in which he has experienced many delays, brings with him some advantage to his house, and finds his wife, his children, and all that is dear to him in good health.

Now tell me, added the sage,-What bird is it who goes on the mountains, and in which are found eight of the characters belonging to larger animals? -The damoiselle did not for a moment hesitate, but thus replied: The bird of which you speak is the grasshopper, it has two horns like the stag, its neck is similar to that of an ox, it has the chest of a horse, the muzzle of a cow, the wings of the eagle, the tail of the viper, the paw of the stork, its eyes resemble those of a ferocious beast which inhabits a place distant from these countries.

The sage immediately asked: What is woman?—It is a circle which contains much good, and a circle in which much evil is found. Alas! it is the image of man.

The wise man said he was satisfied, but he asked: What is sleep?-The image of death, was the answer.

Who was it that died without having ever been born?-Adam, our first father.

-

Very well, said the sage, but tell me what does man in his youth resemble? -A lighted torch, which is soon consumed by its own flame.

And what is old age ?-An evil desired-a garment of sorrow.

Oh! now tell me, what is the most difficult thing to be known ?—The heart of man, and his thoughts, into which God alone can descend.

Tell me also what is the lightest thing here below ?-Always the heart and

thoughts of man, for it requires but a second for him to transport himself wherever he wishes, were it even to the end of the world.

What is it that man constantly sees, and yet can never obtain ?—The sun, the moon, the stars.

Tell me what is night ?-The sweet rest of those who have laboured.

Who was the most terrible judge that ever pronounced sentence in this world ?--Pilate, who ordered our Saviour's death, well knowing no fault was to be found in him.

Who was the greatest wrestler ?-The Patriarch Jacob; who for a whole night wrestled with an angel.

Now without doubt you are able to tell me which is the man whose goodness is the most perfect ?-Him who governs his temper and wishes.

Tell me also, what is that thing which makes a man in debt, though he owe nothing?-It is a secret which is once revealed.

What is the evil all men most desire ?-Alas! master, it is old age. What are the two best things that man should endeavour to preserve?— Sincerity and modesty.

What is more cutting than a razor?-The tongue of an irritated woman. What is the malady without a hope ?-Folly or ignorance.

What is the greatest of evils?-Despair in the mercy of Heaven.

The sage again inquired: What are the instincts of man?

The damoiselle replied, Man possesses all the qualities and all the virtues of the birds and quadrupeds created by God! He is brave as the lion, thoughtful as the cock, skilful as the heron, joyful as the lark,`mild as the lamb, cunning as the fox, beautiful as the peacock, chaste as the bee, sober as the mole, loyal as the horse, but, alas! he is sometimes greedy as the wolf, avaricious as the dog, timid as the hare, and false as the serpent.

VII.

Wherein is recounted that the third sage,-him whom they called Abraham the Troubador, gave up as being vanquished, although he was master of all the sciences; and what happened to the damoiselle Theodora.

History recounts that the third sage, when he had weighed the justness of the damoiselle's answers, and the skilful way in which she had drawn conclusions to his questions, inwardly examined himself, and he found that not a single argument remained unresolved.

He therefore arose from his seat, and making a bow to the king, thus spoke in a loud voice: "I tell you, my lord, in all truth, this damoiselle knows more than I do. I here declare that she may in future argue with any one,

and yet remain victorious. Your highness, therefore, should render to her signal honour and high courtesy."

And when the sage had finished these reasons, the damoiselle Theodora went towards the king and made a humble reverence,-kissing his hands and feet, and supplicating her sovereign and master, spoke in this manner :-"High and mighty monarch, may it please your highness to command his sage man immediately, and without delay, to remit to me the ten thousand doubloons of good red gold?"

And having reflected on the demand made by the discreet damoiselle, -remembering also the contract for which he was security, the king commanded the sage to send for the amount of good red gold which he owed the damoiselle.

The wise man did so, and the money was immediately paid.

The king then told the damoiselle that he would grant her anything she might request.

She kissed his hands and feet, and the only favour she entreated was permission to return with her master; for, said she, "he has spent all he was worth in having me taught what I already only know imperfectly, and of all the vices ingratitude is the greatest.

And when the king heard this, he repented of the courtesy she had asked; for he had thought that the damoiselle would now belong to him. Nevertheless, he granted her prayer; for he could not retract his word. But before she quitted, he observed, that since she knew so many things, she possibly could elucidate some of his mental doubts. "The king then asked, "What are the virtues penitence inspires ?"

"To forgive the offences of all as we would be forgiven ourselves, is the way to find grace before the gates of Paradise !"

"What sacrament is the most necessary to our salvation?"

"All are good if we each of us keep the rule that God inspires!"

And when the king had considered what she had so wisely replied, he said to her, "In all truth, damoiselle, you deserve to be the mistress of my kingdom; and I only complain of one thing,-that of having granted you liberty to quit me.

The king then ordered that ten thousand doubloons of fine gold should be given the damoiselle, which he desired his treasurer instantly to get. He then caused Theodora to be dressed in brocade, and he dismissed her and her master with great courtesy towards the country they inhabited.

It was thus that the discreet damoiselle extricated her master from his embarrassment; for which, may she be praised for ever in the name of Heaven. Amen.