Heptameron

The group learns the bridge will be completed in two to three days. Deciding to make the most of their remaining time together, Oisille is asked “to administer her spiritual nourishment” (535), and she leads a lesson on the canonical epistles of Saint John. Following high mass and lunch, the group prepares their stories for the day. With the monks already present, Saffredent declares it would only be fair if one of the ladies should begin two days of storytelling, since he has already started two days. Parlamente agrees to start the day and declares the day should feature stories “which are the most foolish and the most true” (536).

Story 71 is a humorous tale told by Parlamente, featuring a saddler in Amboise named Brimbaudier. A servant of Bacchus, or a drinker, he is a happily married man with a good wife and children. His wife becomes deathly ill, and he begins to fall apart emotionally. He turns to a young chambermaid for comfort and tries to convert their relationship into a sexual liaison. When he throws the unwilling chambermaid on his wife’s deathbed to have his way with her, the wife, who has not spoken for two days, suddenly awakens and chastises her husband, with her anger burning up her sickness and provoking a full recovery.