Le tableau des riches inventions qui sont representees dans le songe de Poliphile

whom they reserve the happy fruit that legitimate loves produce with true contentment. They never offend unless someone’s own indiscretion is the cause. Modest women cannot hear or see what is against the goodness of their just opinion. I go wandering thus to flatter myself in my misfortune, which happened by lack of consideration. I thought I already held this flower. There was nothing more to do but stretch out my hand to touch its fragrant leaves. Then Nephés, happy in her enterprises, wanting to make me buy at a high price through the length of time what I otherwise would have had too cheaply, pushed me back by my error. I was as far as I had ever been from what I saw almost obtained. It is common that when one sees oneself at the moment of the desired good, one has no other thought. One does not recognize where the advantage of such great good comes from. To make me think of it, she let loose the Lion of Love. This is not a furious Lion. It is engendered from the same time and by the same parents as the Manticore a mythical beast with a lion's body, human face, and scorpion's tail of the fairy mountain. Who would not be terrified by the sudden encounter of something never seen before, which resembles what can give a true fear? The Lion comes roaring. I turn to see what it was. I noticed it and was surprised. There was no love or present consolation, nor acquired assurance, nor natural valor that prevented me from trembling and having horror. I was even more surprised seeing Nephés throw herself out of the path where we were, as if she had been terrified. She took the right side. I advanced to the left and retreated toward the hall, thinking she had entered there. It was her shadow that had deceived me. Even though I had been surprised by innocent fear, I was not so distracted that I did not know it was appropriate to oppose the violence the Lion would have done to the beautiful lady. Therefore I hurried, seeing the beast approach. I thought it was by chance that it came from the nearby forests. Having nothing with which to defend myself, I continued my retreat. Wanting to move forward to pull Nephés by her robe to pull her into the hall where I would close the door, I found myself grasping only a vain shadow. Having returned to myself in this hall, I cast my eye everywhere and listened to be directed. This hall was on a pivot that carried it easily. The turn of the pavilion was made. I found the door I had wanted to close against the Lion was opposite the place where it had been before. I opened it and saw my companions searching for me. They reproached me, saying that I alone had wanted to see the beautiful paintings of the hall, but also that they had seen the Fountain of Youth. They were mistaken. It was only the stream of the Nymphs who arrive, which flows from the bottom of the stairs of the pavilion where Olocliree lives. We learned this from the paintings in this hall and from the small

mirror which is toward the East. Through it one sees the fountain from which come infinite figures. These are the evil spirits who infect humans, specifically contagious and incurable diseases that corrupt the happiness of life. These phantoms flee this holy liquor. Those who go to put the edge of their lips to it and receive a little are preserved from all infirmity and delivered from those that torment them. We will see this more clearly, with all the other magnificence whose adventures are postponed to the next anniversary instituted by the beautiful Olocliree. This is so the adventures may be tested. She invites all her perfect lovers to be there, to see to which one she will deign to give the hand of fidelity, accepting him as the uniquely happy one among the pursuers.