Page:Margaret of Angoulême, Queen of Navarre (Robinson 1886).djvu/76

Rh Je regarde de tous costés
 * Pour veoir s'il arrive personne ;

Pryant sans cesser, n'en doubtez,
 * Dieu, que santé a mon Roy donne.

Quant nul ne voy, l'oiel j'abandonne
 * À pleurer; puis sur le pappier

Ung peu de ma douleur j'ordonne :
 * Voilà mon douloureux mestier !

Ô qu'il sera le bienvenu,
 * Celluy qui, frappant à ma porte

Dira : Le Roy est revenu
 * En sa santé très bonne et forte !

Alors le seur, plus mal que morte,
 * Courra baiser le messaiger

Qui telles nouvelles apporte
 * Que son frère est hors de dangier !

But no messenger came to win Margaret's embraces by such welcome news. The King sank lower and lower. An abscess had formed on the crown of his head; the body, already wasted by fever, could scarcely support this additional cause of weakness. On Monday, the 18th of September, Francis was so ill that his attendants sent for the Emperor, who all this time had never visited his ailing captive. Charles was really shocked when he heard that his rival lay a-dying. He travelled all the next day from Segovia to Madrid. It was dark when he reached the Alcazar where Francis was confined. Charles dismounted, leaving his cortège outside, lest their presence should fatigue his prisoner. The Viceroy of Naples and Anne de Montmorency met him at the gate, lighting the way with torches. So they reached the unprincely room where the most magnificent prince in Europe lay dying on his prison-bed.

Seeing the Emperor enter, Francis tried to raise himself on his elbow; but Charles, who, after all, was