CHOIR OF THE CATHEDRAL OF QUIMPER
This view is taken looking down from the northern clear-story. The profile of the archivolt of the nave arcade and the manner in which this and the system are adjusted to the abacus is clearly shown in this photograph. It will be seen that the profiles lack the decision and character of French work of the same period.
translate Hersart de la Villemarque’s French version:
“All my limbs tremble, tremble with sorrow, when I see the ills which strike the earth.
“When I think of the horrible event which took place near the city of Quimper a year ago.
“Little Catherine Moal was walking along singing a song, when three monks, in complete armor, joined her.
“Three monks on their great horses covered with armor from head to foot; three red monks in the middle of the road.
“ ‘Come with ns to our monastery, come with us, beautiful young girl; there you shall lack neither gold nor silver.’
“ ‘With jmur leaves, sirs, it is not I who shall go with you; I am afraid of the swords which hang at your sides.’ “ ‘Come with us, young girl. No ill shall befall you.’
“ ‘I shall not go, sirs. One hears terrible tales.’
“ ‘Let evil tongues wag. A thousand times cursed be all evil tongues.’
“ ‘Come with us, young girl, have no fear.’
“ ‘No, indeed, I shall not go with you, I should rather be burned.’
“ ‘Come with us to the monastery, you shall live in ease.’
“ ‘I shall not go to your monastery, I prefer to remain outside.’
“ ‘Seven young girls of our country have gone there, they say.’
“ ‘Seven young beautiful marriageable girls, and they have never come out.
‘If seven young girls have already gone, you shall be the eighth.’
And one of the monks threw her upon his horse and galloped away.
Toward his monastery, carrying the girl on his horse, her mouth gagged.
“At the end of seven or eight months, or something more, there was alarm in that monastery.
“At the end of seven or eight months, or something more. “ What shall we do now, my brothers, with this girl?’ “ ‘Let us put her in a hole in the ground. The best place would be under the cross. It would be still better to bury her under the high altar.’
“ ‘Let us bury her this evening under the high altar, where none of her family will ever go to seek her.’
“At the fall of day all the heaven was torn asunder; rain, wind, hail, the most terrible thunder.
“Now a poor knight, his clothes drenched by the rain, was traveling late, beaten by the storm.
He was traveling here and there seeking shelter, when he came to the church of the monastery.
“And he looked through the keyhole and saw a little light burning in the church.
“And the three monks on the left who were digging under the high altar, and at the side the young girl, her little naked feet bound.
“The poor young girl was weeping and begged for mercy.
INTERIOR OF THE CATHEDRAL OF QUIMPER
This view is taken looking down from the northern clear-story. The profile of the archivolt of the nave arcade and the manner in which this and the system are adjusted to the abacus is clearly shown in this photograph. It will be seen that the profiles lack the decision and character of French work of the same period.
translate Hersart de la Villemarque’s French version:
“All my limbs tremble, tremble with sorrow, when I see the ills which strike the earth.
“When I think of the horrible event which took place near the city of Quimper a year ago.
“Little Catherine Moal was walking along singing a song, when three monks, in complete armor, joined her.
“Three monks on their great horses covered with armor from head to foot; three red monks in the middle of the road.
“ ‘Come with ns to our monastery, come with us, beautiful young girl; there you shall lack neither gold nor silver.’
“ ‘With jmur leaves, sirs, it is not I who shall go with you; I am afraid of the swords which hang at your sides.’ “ ‘Come with us, young girl. No ill shall befall you.’
“ ‘I shall not go, sirs. One hears terrible tales.’
“ ‘Let evil tongues wag. A thousand times cursed be all evil tongues.’
“ ‘Come with us, young girl, have no fear.’
“ ‘No, indeed, I shall not go with you, I should rather be burned.’
“ ‘Come with us to the monastery, you shall live in ease.’
“ ‘I shall not go to your monastery, I prefer to remain outside.’
“ ‘Seven young girls of our country have gone there, they say.’
“ ‘Seven young beautiful marriageable girls, and they have never come out.
‘If seven young girls have already gone, you shall be the eighth.’
And one of the monks threw her upon his horse and galloped away.
Toward his monastery, carrying the girl on his horse, her mouth gagged.
“At the end of seven or eight months, or something more, there was alarm in that monastery.
“At the end of seven or eight months, or something more. “ What shall we do now, my brothers, with this girl?’ “ ‘Let us put her in a hole in the ground. The best place would be under the cross. It would be still better to bury her under the high altar.’
“ ‘Let us bury her this evening under the high altar, where none of her family will ever go to seek her.’
“At the fall of day all the heaven was torn asunder; rain, wind, hail, the most terrible thunder.
“Now a poor knight, his clothes drenched by the rain, was traveling late, beaten by the storm.
He was traveling here and there seeking shelter, when he came to the church of the monastery.
“And he looked through the keyhole and saw a little light burning in the church.
“And the three monks on the left who were digging under the high altar, and at the side the young girl, her little naked feet bound.
“The poor young girl was weeping and begged for mercy.
INTERIOR OF THE CATHEDRAL OF QUIMPER