France from sea to sea . asure-loving Charles that it was worthy of only redeeming features we could find there werethe beautiful sixteenth century Hotel de Ville and thetiny little park back of it. The blood-stained castle of Amboise, with its loftywalls and ramparts defended by three massive tow-ers, stands magnificently high above river and effectiveness is greatly enhanced by the loftyground it stands on, and by the masonry of its outerwalls being carried all the way up from low sort of castle occupied this plateau from Gaul-ish times, and we come upon the t
France from sea to sea . asure-loving Charles that it was worthy of only redeeming features we could find there werethe beautiful sixteenth century Hotel de Ville and thetiny little park back of it. The blood-stained castle of Amboise, with its loftywalls and ramparts defended by three massive tow-ers, stands magnificently high above river and effectiveness is greatly enhanced by the loftyground it stands on, and by the masonry of its outerwalls being carried all the way up from low sort of castle occupied this plateau from Gaul-ish times, and we come upon the trail of Black Fulkof Anjou here, and the specter of cruel Louis XIalso. But of all its checkered story the great sceneis the last, a grim, melodramatic vengeance before theassembled court—the dour Due de Guise; Catherinede Medici, holding to the scene by her iron willher weak son, Francis II, and his trembling bride,Mary Stuart. When the hideous butchery was done,the chateau was decorated with Huguenot heads, the [214]. THE PLAYGROUND OF THE KINGS river ran red, and the forest was stumbling-full ofbodies. The frivolous court fled the loathsome sightsand smells—the day of Amboise was over; the kingsnever came back. Though the beautiful river fa9ade, built by CharlesVIII, after his useless and foolish campaign, showsItalian influence, it is usually Francis I who receivesthe credit for having habituated the Italian arts inFrance. Among the masters of the Renaissance whoput their genius in Gallic harness at his call wasLeonardo da Vinci, who died at Amboise. In theterraced garden there is a small bust of the was photographing it, when a Frenchman and hiswife, apparently of some position, came up with aguide. Evidently Madame did not understand thatworthys mouthings, and turned to her , who was this man, da Vinci? Henri wasfully equal to the occasion: Oh, just some fellowthat died here. The entrance to the chateau is by a long rampthat leads up past the old
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1913
