The Treasure of the City of Ladies or The Book of Three Virtues

by Pisan, Christine de; Lawson, Sarah; Lawson, Sarah

• ISBN13: 9780140444537
• ISBN10: 014044453X
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1985-05-07
• Publisher: Penguin Classics

Summary

Christine de Pisan's writing is a valuable counterbalance to most of the rest of our evidence of medieval life which was written by men. She addresses all women, from those at the royal court to prostitutes, painting a vivid picture of their lives in fine detail-and often in a dryly amusing way. Her tone is moral, but also down to earth. A woman's position, as Christine herself knew, was hardly secure.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	13	(2)
Introduction	15	(16)
The Treasure of the City of Ladies Prologue	31	(4)
PART ONE	35	(74)
1. This is the beginning of the book that Dame Christine de Pisan made for all great queens, ladies and princesses. And first, how they ought to love and fear God.	35	(1)
2. How temptations can come to a high-born princess.	36	(1)
3. How the good princess who loves and fears Our Lord can resist temptations by means of divine inspiration.	37	(4)
4. The good and holy reason and knowledge that comes to the good princess through the love and fear of Our Lord.	41	(2)
5. Of the two holy lives, namely the active life and the contemplative life.	43	(2)
6. The life that the good princess decides to lead.	45	(2)
7. How the good princess will wish to cultivate all virtues.	47	(3)
8. How the good and wise princess will make every effort to restore peace between the prince and the barons if there is any discord.	50	(2)
9. Of the habits of pious charity that the good princess will cultivate.	52	(3)
10. Of the moral doctrine that Worldly Prudence will teach the wise princess.	55	(4)
11. The way of life of the wise princess, shown by the admonition of Prudence.	59	(3)
12. Of the seven principal teachings of Prudence that any princess who loves honour must remember. The first is how to conduct herself towards her husband, in general and in particular.	62	(3)
13. The second teaching of Prudence, which is how the wise princess conducts herself towards the relatives and friends of her husband.	65	(1)
14. The third teaching of Prudence, which is how the wise princess will carefully watch over the welfare and upbringing of her children.	66	(2)
15. The fourth teaching of Prudence, which is how the princess will maintain a discreet manner towards those who do not like her and are envious of her.	68	(3)
16. The fifth teaching of Prudence, which is how the wise princess will try her best to be in favour with, and have the good wishes of, all classes of her subjects.	71	(3)
17. The sixth teaching: how the wise princess will keep the women of her court in good order.	74	(2)
18. The seventh teaching describes how the wise princess will keep a careful eye on her revenues and finances and on the state of her court.	76	(1)
19. How the wise princess ought to extend largesse and liberality.	77	(2)
20. How good princesses who for some reason cannot put the foregoing advice into effect may be excused.	79	(2)
21. Of the behaviour of the wise princess who is widowed.	81	(2)
22. Of the same: advice to young widowed princesses.	83	(2)
23. Of the behaviour that ought to be instilled into a young newly married princess.	85	(4)
24. How the wise lady or maiden lady who has charge of a young princess ought to maintain the good reputation of her mistress and the love of her husband.	89	(6)
25. Of the young high-born lady who wants to plunge into a foolish love affair, and the instruction that Prudence gives to her chaperon.	95	(3)
26. An example of the sort of letter the wise lady may send to her mistress.	98	(11)
PART TWO	109	(36)
1. This begins the second part of this book, which is addressed to ladies and maidens, and first, to those who live in the court of a princess or a great lady. The first chapter describes how the three ladies, that is, Reason, Rectitude and Justice, recapitulate briefly what has been said before.	109	(1)
2. Four points are described: two good to adopt and the other two to avoid, and how ladies and maidens at court ought to love their mistress. This is the first point.	110	(5)
3. This explains the second point that is good for women of the court to observe, which is how they ought to avoid too many friendships with men.	115	(2)
4. The third point, which is the first of the two to be avoided: the envy that reigns in court and from what it comes.	117	(1)
5. More of this same teaching to women: how they will take care not to have the vice of envy among themselves.	118	(4)
6. The fourth point, which is the second of the two that are to be avoided. How women of the court ought to be careful to avoid committing slander. What gives rise to slander, its causes and occasions.	122	(1)
7. Of the same: how women of the court ought to be very careful not to speak evil of their mistress.	123	(3)
8. How it is unbecoming for women to defame each other or speak evil.	126	(2)
9. Of baronesses and how to know what is seemly and appropriate for them.	128	(2)
10. How ladies and young women who live on their manors ought to manage their households and estates.	130	(3)
11. This describes those who are extravagant in their gowns, head-dresses and clothing.	133	(2)
12. Here Christine speaks against the pride of some women.	135	(3)
13. The proper behaviour for ladies in religious orders.	138	(7)
PART THREE	145
1. How everything that has been said before can apply to one woman as much as to another. Of the system and control that a woman of rank ought to maintain in her household.	145	(4)
2. This describes how women of rank ought to be conservative in their clothing, and how they can protect themselves against those who try to deceive them.	149	(4)
3. Of the wives of merchants.	153	(3)
4. Of young and elderly widows.	156	(4)
5. Of the instruction for both girls and older women in the state of virginity.	160	(2)
6. How elderly ladies ought to conduct themselves towards young ones, and the qualities that they ought to have.	162	(2)
7. How young women ought to conduct themselves towards their elders.	164	(3)
8. Of the wives of artisans and how they ought to conduct themselves.	167	(1)
9. Of servant-women and chambermaids.	168	(3)
10. Of the instruction for prostitutes.	171	(3)
11. In praise of respectable and chaste women.	174	(2)
12. Of the wives of labourers.	176	(1)
13. Of the condition of poor people.	177