Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Record Number: 45917
  • Author(s)/Creator(s):
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  • Title: Llanthony Story #46: Gerard la Pucele responds chastely to Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine's appreciation of his beauty
  • Source: The Llanthony Stories: A Translation of the Narrationes aliquot fabulosae.  Edited by David R. Winter.  Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 2021.  Pages 94 - 94.
  • Description: In this exemplum, Eleanor of Aquitaine as the queen of France, compliments the canonist, Master Gerard, and speculates "O, what lovely hands for touching the legs of a beautiful woman." Gerard crafts a courtly response while retaining his bodily integrity: "O my Lady, with what hands would I then eat my pottage?" This underlines his reputation for chastity, with his cognomen la Pucele meaning "the Virgin" or "the Maiden."
    This exemplum is one in a series of three concerning Master Gerard. See David R. Winter, "Three Short Exempla Concerning the Purity of Gerard la Pucelle." Opuscula 4, 1 (2020): 1-8. Available open access: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/opuscula/article/view/36319/53791
  • Article Type: Editon of text ; Translation
  • Subject (See Also): Chastity Clergy Eleanor of Aquitaine, Wife of Louis VII of France and Henry II of England Male Sexuality Male Virginity
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  • Geographic Area: British isles ; France
  • Century: 12- 13
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  • Related Resources: The edition of the Latin text on pp. 112-112 is a transcription from Oxford, Corpus Christi College, MS 32, fols. 92r-99v. This is the only surviving manuscript of The Llanthony Stories.
  • Author's Affiliation: Brandon University
  • Conference Info: - , -
  • Year of Publication: 2021.
  • Language: English ; Latin
  • ISSN/ISBN: 9780888443090 (pbk); 9781771104074 (online)