DIANA OF POICTIERS, AND PRIMATICCIO THE PAINTER. By W. J. Thoms, Esq. "VRAY Dieu, madame, are you hurt? By the beauty of woman, I hope not,' said a reasonably well-featured and handsoine man, some what advanced in years, as he raised from the ground a lady who had been accidently dismounted by the sudden curvetting of the milkwhite palfrey on which she rode. The exertions of the lady, and the assistance of the speaker, whose morning reveries, it being yet scarcely two hours after day-break, had been interrupted by the event, soon replaced her in her saddle. "Grace a Dieu, no," said the lady, hastily adjusting her veil. "Grace a Dieu, no; and many thanks to you, Sir, for your imely courtesy, which, did I know whom I address, I would find a fitter opportunity of expressing." "Madame," said the stranger, "my name is Primaticcio, an indifferently well known artist, attracted to this neighbourhood, by a desire of beholding the magnificence of the Chateau d'Anet, of which fame speaks so loudly, and I have taken up my residence in the village of Dreux, till chance shall throw me in the way of some one with power and inclination to gratify my curiosity. But, Madame, would you confer an obligation upon me, by informing me whom I have the honour and happiness to meet thus betimes?" "Tis a small boon for so great a courtesy," replied the lady, "and shall be as you wish, but not at present. Suffice it to say, I am called La Grande Sénéchale, and am in high favour with the Duchess of Valentinois; where shall I send to you, should an opportunity present itself of shewing you the beauties of the chateau?". "My present residence," replied Primaticcio, "is the Poictiers Arms, where I shall most anxiously await your commands." "Adieu, then, Signior Primaticcio, my servants will be here anon, and there will be little good in making them acquainted with this affair. Adieu!" Thus speaking, she laid her finger upon her lip in token of silence, and gracefully bowing her head in return for the doffed bonnet of the artist, the fair equestrian pursued her course. This event, which occupied less time in action than in the recital, plunged the artist into profound thought for the remainder of his walk; and his mind was busily engaged in meditating upon the change of his condition since the day, when as the favourite painter of Francis the First, his praises were sounded by all, and his society courted by the whole throng of nobles who formed the brilliant court which boasted for its head the " King of Gentlemen," as that monarch was fondly called by his dependants; and in considering whether he had done justice to himself in instantly withdrawing from the court on the death of his beloved patron, and thereby not affording to his successor a similar opportunity of befriending him, should he have been so disposed. Occupied by these reflections, and heedless of the direction in which he was wandering, he unconsciously bent his steps towards the little auberge, where he had slept the previous night. The appearance of breakfast speedily banished thought, and after having finished his repast, the artist determined not to leave the auberge, lest in his absence a communication should arrive from his fair friend at the chateau, requiring his immediate presence there. Seeking, therefore, amusement in the exercise his pencil and in the beautiful scenery which surrounded his present picturesque abode, he contrived to wile away the day so pleasantly and so rapidly, that he was surprised when the grey tints of evening, darkening into night, warned him to retire to his welcome, though humble bed. At the first dawn Primaticcio arose, and though he himself scarcely knew the motives which influenced him, he walked towards the spot which had been the scene of the previous morning's adventure. On his arrival there he leaned his back against a tree, and mentally reviewed the whole of that extraordinary occurrence; he, however, had not long been thus engaged, before he was aroused by the approach of La Grande Sénéchale attended by two servants, wearing the colours assumed by the Lady Dianablack and white. Primaticcio recovered from his surprise in time to salute her as she passed, while the lady, waving her riding rod in return for the salutation with which he greeted her, contrived at the same time, unobserved by her attendants, to let a neatly folded billet fall at the feet of the astonished artist, and it was with great difficulty he could restrain his anxiety to become acquainted with the contents of her epistle, until the lady and her attendants were out of sight. The moment he could do so with safety, he snatched the billet from the ground, and read as follows: "La Grande Sénéchale, mindful of her promise to Signor Primaticcio, has made arrangements which will enable him to view the Chateau d'Anet this day. As owing to the presence of the King, who objects to its inspection by strangers, it is a task of some difficulty, she was not enabled as she wished to accomplish it yesterday. If Signor Primaticcio will, at noon, be in waiting near the five oaks on the left hand of the great gate of the Park, le joli Henri will join him there, and conduct him through the apartments. The mention of La Grande Sénéchale will enable the Signor to pass the Porter's Lodge, and silence all inquiries which may be addressed to him." "A very agreeable and lady-like communication, and courtesy is yet something more than a name in la belle France," ejacu.ated the artist, as he placed the letter in his bosom, and prepared to retrace his steps to the Poictiers Arms. The interval between breakfast and mid-day appeared an age to Primaticcio, who was at the spot at the appointed time. "The lady has shewn exquisite taste in her choice of a waiting-place,' he thought; "but surely that is the great clock of the chateau striking twelve, and le joli Henri". "Is here, signor Primaticcio," said a voice behind; and on turning rourd, the artist discovered a young man, clad in the habit of a page, the colours of his dress being the same as those of the attendant who followed the lady in the morning. Allons, Monsieur, we have no time to lose," said the page, and hastily crossing a small open space between the clump of oaks and a little wood which apparently led to the house, shewed no disposition for further conversation till they turned off through a small gate, of which he had the key, into what appeared to be the private garden of the chateau. Meanwhile Primaticcio, who at first sight thought he recognised in the face of his conductor features which had long been familiar to him, shrugged his shoulders when the likeness which his companion bore to the late king, suggested the possibility of his being the offspring of one of those amours in which Francis so notoriously indulged. They had now arrived at the chateau, and the page having warned the artist that they must make as little noise as possible, and be careful lest the King should meet them in any of the apartments, led the way by a private staircase to the armoury, and from thence through the splendid suits of rooms which the royal lover had built and furnished for his beautiful and accomplished mistress. Primaticcio, who was delighted with the taste and judgment shewn in all the 66 arrangements, expressed himself in terms of the warmest admiration; but his praises were little heeded by the page, who greatly annoyed him by the disrespectful terms in which he spoke of the monarch and the fair partner of his abode. At last Primaticcio could bear it no longer; "Young man," said he, you have spoken repeatedly of him who is both your master and my sovereign, in language which it becomes not you to utter nor me to hear; and of a lady whom, before you reached my knee,"-here the page bit his lip-" I knew for the possessor of many of the most amiable qualities which adorn the sex. Prithee, no more; such conduct is both uncharitable and ungrateful." cr From this time both were silent; till they arrived at the private door of the library. "The king is here," said the page, gently turning the lock, and motioning the artist, that he might enter and view the apartment from behind the arras. Scarcely had he done so, attracted by the voice of some one reading aloud, when the page suddenly closed and locked the door. The artist knew not what to do, for should he be discovered by the king his ruin would be inevitable. But the danger of his situation prompted him to peep through the arras, and reconnoitre who might be in the apartment. He did so, and beheld the celebrated Diana of Poictiers negligently reclining on a sofa, and playing with a fan of peacock feathers, while the poet Ronsard recited to her his last production. In a few moments an opposite door opened, and the king, magnificently attired, entered the room; on his arrival the poet discontinued his reading, and at a signal from his majesty prepared to leave the Library by the door near which Primaticcio was concealed. As he lifted the arras, the king's voice inquiring who had dared to intrude so unceremoniously into his presence, proclaimed to the affrighted painter that his endeavours at concealment had been fruitless. Cursing the treachery of the page, and dreading lest the resentment of the monarch should fall on the lady who had been the innocent means of placing him in his present predicament, he almost sunk with fear. He was, however, soon relieved from his embarrassment by hearing the voice of la grande Sénéchale exclaim, "Come forward, Signor Primaticcio, you have nothing to fear but the resentment of the page whom you so properly took to task.” Here was an eclairissement-his unknown friend proving to be the beautiful Diana of Poictiers, and le joli Henry no less a person than the king himself. This event proved a fortunate one for Primaticcio at the command of the king he painted the portrait of the peerless Diana, which so pleased the monarch that the artist became as great a favourite of his as he had been of his father; and often, when he was in a sportive mood, would Henry relate to his courtiers the adventure of Diana of Poictiers and Primaticcio the Painter. The Bijou. Science and Art. COBBETT'S NEW MANUFACTURE OF PAPER. A friend of ours has favoured us with specimens of paper made from the husk and stalk of the Indian corn raised in this country by Mr. Cobbett, on his farm at Barn-Elm. Without entering into a discussion upon Mr. Cobbett's merits as a politician, we may be allowed to say, that his profound knowledge in all matters relating to agriculture and general husbandry, which knowledge he has never withheld from the world, will always render his name famous in this country. The two specimens now before us; one white or nearly so, the other of a delicate olive brown; were, we are informed, made in the space of five days! without time for the trying of experiments for the bleaching of it. It is not, like the paper made from straw, of a brittle quality, but on the contrary, possesses a surprising tenacity, and the darker sort (made from the the stalk and root of the plant,) will, we have do doubt, if made in any quantity, entirely supersede the use of the common brown paper, while that manufactured from the husk which surrounds the ear of the corn will be converted into the best writing or printing paper. The title-page to Mr. Cobbett's Treatise on the cultivation of the Indian Corn has been printed on the last mentioned paper, and though of a yellowish tinge, is certainly much better than some printing paper now in use. Of the work itself it will be quite unnecessary for us to speak, after the encomiums bestowed upon it by the public press. The thanks of all those engaged in agricultural affairs, especially the peasantry of England, are due to Mr Cobbett for the introduction of this very valuable plant. GERMAN METHOD OF EXPEDITING A branch proportioned to the size of the object required, is sawn off the tree, the flowers of which are to be produced, and is plunged into a spring, if one can be found; where it is left for an hour or two, to give time for such ice as may adhere to the bulb to melt, and to soften the buds; it is then carried into a chamber, heated by a stove, and placed in a wooden vessel, containing water; quick lime is to be added to the water, and left for twelve hours. The branch is then to be removed into another vessel, containing fresh water, with a small quantity of vitriol to prevent its becoming putrid. In a few hours, the flowers will begin to appear, and, afterwards the leaves; if more quick lime be used, the branch will vegetate more slowly, and the leaves will precede the flowers. Anecdotiana. THE BARD OF THE AVON. Shakspeare was god-father to one of Ben Jonson's children; and, after the christening, being in a deep study, Jonson came to cheer him up, and asked why he was so melancholy. "No, faith, Ben!" says he, "not I; but I have been considering a great while what should be the fittest gift for me to bestow on my godchild, and I have resolved at last." prithee, what is it?" says Ben. "I'faith, Ben, I'll e'en give him a dozen of latten spoons, and thou shalt translate them!" JEUX DE MOTS, "And Diary and Chronology, DATE. DAYS. DIARY ᎠᎪᎢᎬ . CORRESPONDING CHRONOLOGY. Dec. 7. SUN. 2 Sun. in Advent. Dec. 7 St. Fara was the virgin abbess of the monastery of Faremontier. She died A.D. 655. Her relics were enshrined, and numbers of miracles are recorded as having been wrought through her interces. sion.. 1431.-Henry VI. on this day was crowned king at ช 8 This solemn festival is held by the church to commemorate the miraculous conception of the Virgin Mary. It was instituted by Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, because William the Conqueror's fleet being in a storm, afterwards returned in safety. 1154.-Anniv. of the arrival of Hen. II. in England, after the death of Stephen, to receive the crown and government. He landed at Hurst Castle in Hampshire. Henry was the eldest son and heir of the Empress Maud, by Geoffrey, earl of Anjou, and the only surviving legitimate issue of Henry I. He was also the first of the Plantagenet line. 9 This virgin saint, who is said to have been of noble birth, was placed when very young in the monastery of Winchester, King Edgar, who made many unsuccessful attempts to obtain her for his bride, was so struck with her fidelity to the cause of religion, that he made her abbess of Barking, which house he enriched with vast possession. She died A.D. 990.. 10 St Miltiades succeeded Eusebius in the papacy in the early part of the 4th century. He was mar tyred by order of Maximine, in the fifth year of his pontificate, A.D. 314. 1813. On this day, the French forces evacuated the Dutch sea-port Williamstadt, esteemed one of the bulwarks of the Dutch on the side of Brabant. 11This saint, who was pope, succeeded Liberius in the papacy. When chosen bishop of Rome, and ordained in the vasilic of St. Lawrence's, which title he bore previous to that of pope; he was sixty years old. He filled the papal seat upwards of eighteen years, dying on this day, A.D 384. 1718.-Killed on this day, after a reign of twentyone years, Charles XII. of Sweden, at the siege There is no of the fortress of Frederickstein. longer any doubt in Sweden that this monarch was assassinated, as an officer named Cronsted, who died at a very advanced age, declared that he himself committed the act at the instigation of the brother-in-law of Charles. 21 These saints suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Decius, A.D. 250. 1724.-Born on this day, the brave admiral, Lord Hood, at Thorncombe in Devonshire. The brilliant successes that attended the career of this distinguished naval character, procured him the title of a Viscount, as a reward for his great services. 13 This saint was son to Kenulph, of royal blood, descended from Wibba, father of King Penda. He was murdered very young. His legend informs us that the place of his murder was discovered by a ray of light over the corpse, and by these words in Saxon found somewhere inscribed : Ruprecht Steinbergen, will drain the measure, and leave not a drop for your comrades greedy dog!" "Donner and blitzen!" roared the other, enraged, "thou hast spilt the liqour over my buff coat, thou graceless hind." "Had I my will, I would drown thee in a butt of it. Verily thou would'st drain the great tun of Heidelberg," retorted the first speaker; but what says the proverb He who was born for the gallows tree 66 "Strache mich helle," cried the other, grasping the handle of his dagger, "I'll strike thee over the pate with this good steel-I'll teach thee to jibe an old soldier!"-and, unsheathing his weapon as he spoke, he attempted to put his threat into execution; when the serjeant of the troop interposed. "Hold, Ruprecht Steinbergen !" cried he, " what, Der teufel! would ye smite your comrade for an idle word? Put up your tool, or it may be worse for ye-I'll have no brawling here. Sit ye down, sirrah!" The soldier, muttering a curse, 52 |