Clément Marot

Penthesilea, Amazon Queen, to Marguerite, Queen of Navarra

Not familiar with the legend of the Amazon empire, click here

Setting

Marot was prominently present on the public scene in the Evangelical wonder years of 1533–34, supplying ammunition to the agitators (broadsheets against Noël Bédier (Beda) printed clandestinely in Lyon by Fr. Juste), and materially helping Marguerite to get the Evangelical message through by concentrating on the essentials of faith (Psalm translation (ps. 6) and common prayers in the vernacular, printed officially in Paris in the last part of 1533, Instruction et Foy).

To the list of supportive poems from this period I am inclined to add the Epistle to M. Bouchart, which refers to his imprisonment in 1526, but might well be a 1533/4 creation (date of its first publication!). Probably around the same time Marot sent an Epistle to Marguerite in which the Amazon Queen Penthesilea pledges to support her against the attack from the ‘Sorbonne’: Epistre presentée à la Royne de Navarre par Madame Ysabeau et deux autres damoyselles habillées en Amazones en une mommerie (Defaux II, pp. 75–6, notes: pp. 846–51). As can be deduced from the title this epistle is actually the script for a small theatrical performance of three ladies, among whom Madame Ysabeau is the leading (speaking) actress. The three are ambassadors of the Amazon Queen (now residing in the Champs Elysees for which she thanks Christ). The three 'armed nymphs' carry surprisingly christian names: Faith(fulness), Charity and Hope. They are sent to help Marguerite in defending herself against the "infernal attacks" from the Sorbonne... "Ces troys cy, croy moy, sont assez fortes / Pour des enfers rompre les doubles portes." [these three are strong enough to break the double gates of hell].

Occasion

This poem was never published. It was discovered by Guiffrey in the 19th Century (BnF Fonds fr. 4967 and Library of Soissons, Ms. nr. 189B). Guiffrey suggested that it was written for the wedding of Isabeau de Navarre (16 August 1534) and caused the first argument between Sagon and Marot. In this, he is followed by C.A. Mayer and (partly) by G. Defaux. Pierre Villey criticises this superabundance of precision and suggested a more flexible dating: between October 1533 and August 1534. (Villey, Chronologie des oeuvres, pp. 93–4). I agree with Villey. The content speaks against the occasion of a wedding, not to mention the bride performing the leading role on her own wedding. And: Sagon - who was present at that wedding - would certainly have referred to it in his description of his meeting with Marot and the subsequent fight: A golden opportunity to nail Marot for it is an overt attack on the Sorbonne. Much safer in my opinion to imagine Marot writing this little comforting piece - sometime - during Marguerite’s conflict with the Sorbonne concerning the publication of her Miroir.

Epistre presentée à la Royne de Navarre par Madame Ysabeau et deux autres damoyselles habillées en Amazones en une mommerie

"Epistle presented to the Queen of Navarra by Mad. Ysabeau and two other young ladies dressed like Amazones, a masquerade.

Penthazillée, Royne des Amazones, à Marguerite, Royne de Navarre