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xii | (1) |
| FOREWORD |
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xiii | (6) |
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| INTRODUCTION The Book of the City of Ladies |
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xix | |
| Part One |
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3 | (96) |
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1. Here begins The Book of the City of Ladies, whose first chapter tells why and for what purpose this book was written. |
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3 | (3) |
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2. Here Christine describes how three ladies appeared to her and how the one who was in front spoke first and comforted her in her pain. |
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6 | (2) |
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3. Here Christine tells how the lady who had said this showed her who she was and what her character and function were and told her how she would construct a City with the help of these same three ladies. |
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8 | (3) |
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4. Here the lady explains to Christine the City which she has been commissioned to build and how she was charged to help Christine build the wall and enclosure, and then gives her name. |
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11 | (1) |
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5. Here Christine tells how the second lady told her name and what she served as and how she would aid her in building the City of Ladies. |
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12 | (1) |
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6. Here Christine tells how the third lady told her who she was and her function and how she would help build the high roofs of the towers and palaces and would bring to her the Queen, accompanied by noble ladies. |
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13 | (2) |
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7. Here Christine tells how she spoke to the three ladies. |
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15 | (1) |
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8. Here Christine tells how, under Reason's command and assistance, she began to excavate the earth and lay the foundation. |
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16 | (4) |
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9. Here Christine tells how she dug in the ground, by which should be understood the questions which she put to Reason, and how Reason replied to her. |
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20 | (5) |
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10. More arguments and answers on this same subject. |
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25 | (5) |
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11. Christine asks Reason why women are not in the seats of legal counsel; and Reason's response. |
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30 | (2) |
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12. Here she tells of Nicaula, empress of Ethiopia. |
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32 | (1) |
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13. Here Reason speaks of a queen of France, named Fredegund, and also of several queens and princesses of France. |
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33 | (3) |
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14. More exchanges between Christine and Reason. |
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36 | (2) |
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15. Here she speaks of the queen Semiramis. |
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38 | (2) |
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16. Concerning the Amazons. |
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40 | (2) |
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17. Concerning Thamiris, the queen of Amazonia. |
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42 | (1) |
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18. How the strong Hercules and Theseus, his companion, went from Greece with a large army and fleet to the Amazons, and how the two maidens, Menalippe and Hippolyta, beat them, horses and all, into a heap. |
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43 | (4) |
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19. Concerning the queen Penthesilea and how she came to the aid of Troy. |
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47 | (5) |
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20. Here she speaks of Zenobia, queen of the Palmyrenes. |
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52 | (3) |
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21. Concerning the noble queen Artemisia. |
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55 | (3) |
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22. She speaks to her of Lilia, mother of the brave knight Theodoric. |
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58 | (1) |
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23. She speaks again of the queen Fredegund. |
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59 | (1) |
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24. She speaks of the virgin Camilla. |
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60 | (1) |
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25. She speaks of the queen Berenice of Cappadocia. |
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61 | (1) |
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26. She speaks of the bravery of Cloelia. |
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62 | (1) |
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27. Christine asks Reason whether God has ever wished to ennoble the mind of woman with the loftiness of the sciences; and Reason's answer. |
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62 | (2) |
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28. She begins to discuss several ladies who were enlightened with great learning, and first speaks about the noble maiden Cornificia. |
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64 | (1) |
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29. Here she tells of Proba the Roman. |
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65 | (2) |
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30. Here she speaks of Sappho, that most subtle woman, poet, and philosopher. |
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67 | (1) |
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31. Here she discusses the maiden Manto. |
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68 | (1) |
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32. She speaks here of Medea and of another queen, named Circe. |
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69 | (1) |
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33. Christine asks Reason whether there was ever a woman who discovered hitherto unknown knowledge. |
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70 | (3) |
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34. Here she speaks of Minerva, who invented many sciences and the technique of making armor from iron and steel. |
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73 | (2) |
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35. She discusses Queen Ceres, who discovered the art of cultivating the earth and many other arts. |
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75 | (1) |
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36. Here she speaks of Isis, who discovered the art of constructing gardens and of planting. |
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76 | (1) |
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37. Concerning the great good accrued to the world through these women. |
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77 | (2) |
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79 | (2) |
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39. Here she speaks of the maiden Arachne, who invented the art of dyeing wool and of making tapestries of exquisitely worked cloth with fine threads and also discovered the art of cultivating flax and making linen. |
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81 | (2) |
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40. Here she discusses Pamphile, who invented the art of removing silk from worms and of dyeing and weaving cloth from silk. |
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83 | (1) |
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41. Here she speaks of Thamaris, who was the supreme mistress of the art of painting, and likewise of another woman, called Irene, and of the Roman, Marcia. |
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83 | (3) |
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42. She speaks of Sempronia the Roman. |
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86 | (1) |
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43. Christine asks Reason where prudence is found in the natural sensibility of women; and Reason's answer to her. |
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86 | (3) |
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44. The Epistle of Solomon, or the Book of Proverbs. |
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89 | (1) |
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45. Here she speaks of Gaia Cirilla. |
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90 | (1) |
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46. Here Reason speaks of the prudence and attentiveness of Queen Dido. |
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91 | (4) |
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47. Here she speaks of Ops, queen of Crete. |
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95 | (1) |
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48. Concerning Lavinia, daughter of King Latinus. |
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96 | (3) |
| Part Two |
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99 | (118) |
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1. The first chapter tells about the ten sibyls. |
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99 | (2) |
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2. She speaks of the sibyl Erythrea. |
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101 | (1) |
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3. Here she speaks of the sibyl Almathea. |
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102 | (2) |
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4. Concerning several women prophets. |
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104 | (2) |
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5. More concerning Nicostrata, Cassandra, and Queen Basine. |
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106 | (2) |
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6. Concerning Antonia, who became empress. |
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108 | (2) |
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7. Christine speaks to Rectitude. |
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110 | (3) |
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8. Here she begins to talk about daughters who loved their parents, and first, about Drypetina. |
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113 | (1) |
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9. Here she speaks of Hypsipyle. |
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113 | (1) |
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10. Concerning the virgin Claudine. |
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114 | (1) |
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11. Concerning a woman who breast-fed her mother in prison. |
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115 | (1) |
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12. Here Rectitude announces that she has finished building the houses of the City and that it is time that it be peopled. |
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116 | (1) |
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13. Christine asks Lady Rectitude whether what the books and men say is true, that married life is so hard to endure because of women and the wrong they cause. Rectitude answers and begins to speak of the great love shown by women for their husbands. |
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117 | (3) |
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14. Here she speaks of Queen Hypsicratea. |
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120 | (2) |
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15. Concerning the empress Triaria. |
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122 | (1) |
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16. More concerning Queen Artemisia. |
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123 | (2) |
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17. Here she speaks of Argia, daughter of King Adrastus. |
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125 | (1) |
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18. Concerning the noble lady Agrippina. |
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126 | (1) |
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19. Christine speaks, and then Rectitude answers her, giving examples, and speaks of the noble lady Julia, daughter of Julius Caesar and wife of Pompey. |
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127 | (2) |
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20. Concerning the noble lady Tertia Aemilia. |
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129 | (1) |
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21. Rectitude speaks of Xanthippe, wife of the philosopher Socrates. |
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130 | (1) |
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22. Concerning Pompeia Paulina, wife of Seneca. |
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131 | (1) |
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23. Concerning the noble Sulpitia. |
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132 | (1) |
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24. Here Rectitude tells of several ladies who together saved their husbands from death. |
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133 | (1) |
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25. Christine speaks to Lady Rectitude against those men who say that women do not know how to conceal anything. The response made by Lady Rectitude deals with Portia, daughter of Cato. |
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134 | (1) |
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26. She speaks on this same topic regarding the lady Curia. |
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135 | (1) |
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27. More on this same topic. |
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136 | (1) |
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28. Refutations of the claim that a man is despicable who believes his wife's advice or lends it credence. Christine asks some questions to which Rectitude replies. |
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137 | (2) |
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29. Rectitude gives examples of men who were favored with good fortune because they believed their wives. |
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139 | (3) |
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30. Christine speaks of the great benefit accrued and accruing every day to the world because of women. |
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142 | (1) |
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31. Concerning Judith, the noble lady and widow who saved her people. |
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143 | (2) |
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32. Here she speaks of Queen Esther, who saved her people. |
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145 | (2) |
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33. Concerning the Sabine ladies, who made peace among their friends. |
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147 | (3) |
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34. Concerning the noble lady Veturia, who pacified her son when he wished to destroy Rome. |
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150 | (1) |
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35. Here she speaks of Clotilda, queen of France, who converted her husband, King Clovis, to the Faith. |
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151 | (2) |
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36. Against those men who claim it is not good for women to be educated. |
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153 | (2) |
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37. Here Christine speaks to Rectitude, who argues against those men who say that there are few chaste women, and she tells of Susanna. |
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155 | (1) |
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38. Here she speaks of Sarah. |
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156 | (1) |
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39. Here she speaks of Rebecca. |
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157 | (1) |
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40. Here she speaks of Ruth. |
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157 | (1) |
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41. Concerning Penelope, wife of Ulysses. |
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158 | (1) |
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42. Here she argues against those men who maintain that there are very few beautiful chaste women and she tells of Mariannes. |
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158 | (1) |
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43. More on this same topic; she speaks of Antonia, wife of Drusus Tiberius. |
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159 | (1) |
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44. Refuting those men who claim women want to be raped, Rectitude gives several examples, and first of all, Lucretia. |
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160 | (2) |
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45. On this same subject she speaks of the queen of the Galatians. |
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162 | (1) |
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46. More on this subject; she speaks of the Sicambrians and of several virgins. |
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163 | (1) |
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47. Refutation of the inconstancy of women. Christine speaks, and then Rectitude answers her regarding the inconstancy and weakness of certain emperors. |
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164 | (2) |
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48. Here she speaks of Nero. |
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166 | (2) |
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49. Concerning the emperor Galba and others. |
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168 | (2) |
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50. She speaks of Griselda, the marquise of Saluces, a woman strong in virtue. |
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170 | (6) |
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51. Here she speaks of Florence of Rome. |
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176 | (2) |
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52. Concerning the wife of Bernabo the Genovan. |
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178 | (6) |
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53. After Rectitude lists the constant women, Christine asks her why all the valiant women who have lived have not objected to the books and men who speak badly about them; and Rectitude answers. |
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184 | (2) |
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54. Christine asks Rectitude whether what many men say is true, that so few women are faithful in their love lives; and Rectitude's answer. |
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186 | (2) |
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55. Concerning Dido, queen of Carthage, on the subject of constant love in women. |
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188 | (1) |
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56. Concerning Medea in love. |
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189 | (1) |
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190 | (2) |
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58. Here she speaks of Hero. |
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192 | (1) |
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59. Concerning Ghismonda, daughter of the prince of Salerno. |
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193 | (7) |
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60. Here she speaks of Lisabetta and other lovers. |
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200 | (2) |
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61. Here she speaks of Juno and of several celebrated ladies. |
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202 | (2) |
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62. Here Christine speaks, and Rectitude replies in answer to those men who claim women attract men through their coquettishness. |
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204 | (1) |
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63. Concerning Claudia Quinta, a Roman woman. |
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205 | (1) |
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64. Rectitude says that many women are loved for their virtues more than other women for their prettiness. |
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206 | (1) |
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65. Here she speaks of Queen Blànche, the mother of Saint Louis, and of other good and wise ladies loved for their virtue. |
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207 | (2) |
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66. Christine speaks, and Rectitude responds in her reply to those men who claim that women are naturally greedy. |
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209 | (1) |
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67. Here she speaks of the rich and generous lady named Busa. |
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210 | (2) |
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68. She speaks here of the princesses and ladies of France. |
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212 | (2) |
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69. Christine addresses herself to all princesses and to all women. |
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214 | (3) |
| Part Three |
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217 | (42) |
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1. The first chapter tells how Justice led the Queen of Heaven to live in the City of Ladies. |
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217 | (2) |
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2. Concerning the sisters of our Lady and Mary Magdalene. |
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219 | (1) |
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3. Concerning Saint Catherine of Alexandria. |
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219 | (3) |
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4. Concerning Saint Margaret. |
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222 | (1) |
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5. Here she speaks of Saint Lucy. |
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223 | (1) |
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6. Here she speaks of the blessed Martina, virgin. |
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224 | (3) |
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7. Here she speaks of another Saint Lucy, virgin, and of other martyred virgin saints. |
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227 | (2) |
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8. Here she speaks of Saint Justine and of other virgins. |
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229 | (2) |
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9. Here she speaks of the virgin Theodosina, of Saint Barbara, and of Saint Dorothy. |
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231 | (3) |
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10. Here she speaks of Saint Christine, virgin. |
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234 | (6) |
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11. Concerning several holy women who saw their children martyred before their very eyes. |
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240 | (1) |
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12. Here she speaks of Saint Marina, virgin. |
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241 | (2) |
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13. Here she speaks of the blessed Euphrosyna, virgin. |
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243 | (2) |
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14. Concerning the blessed lady Anastasia. |
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245 | (3) |
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15. Concerning the blessed Theodata. |
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248 | (1) |
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16. Concerning the noble and holy Natalia. |
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249 | (1) |
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17. Concerning Saint Afra, a foolish, immoral woman who was converted. |
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250 | (1) |
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18. Justice speaks of many noble women who waited on and lodged the Apostles and other saints. |
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251 | (3) |
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19. The end of the book: Christine addresses the ladies. |
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254 | (5) |
| NOTES ON THE TEXT |
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259 | (14) |
| INDEX OF PROPER NAMES |
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273 | |
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