Trial of Gilles De Rais by George Bataille

Author:George Bataille [Bataille, George]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Non-Fiction, Cultural Anthropology, Psychology, True Crime, European History, France, Social History, v.5, Literary Studies, Medieval History, Amazon.com, Criminology, Retail, History
Amazon: B003VS0N3W
Publisher: Amok Books
Published: 2010-06-28T15:00:00+00:00

Here is the end of that plaint:Today the lasses of Pléeur sing with open hearts and go dancing to feasts and pilgrimages. The nightingale’s sweet accents echo in the wood; the orioles and bullfinches resound their gentlest songs; all of nature has once again put on its festive attire: Gilles de Laval is no more! Bluebeard is dead!

You can see how this version of the legend tries to reconcile the story of the seven wives with the true story of Gilles de Rais, who, not being a murderer of his wives any more than of girls, killed young boys. However, he also did kill girls; and it is Jean de Malestroit, Bishop of Nantes, who in fact has him condemned.

The great Larousse dictionary fails to give the source of the second legend known to him, which Bossard also reproduces, and which I shall cite now:Weary of fighting against the English, Milord Gilles de Laval retired to his castle in Rais, between Elven and Questembert. He spent all his time “at celebrations, banquets and merry-making.” One evening there passed by the castle, on his way to Morlaix, a knight, Count Odon de Tréméac, Lord of Krevent and other places; beside him was riding a beautiful young lady, Blanche de L’Herminière, his fiancée. Gilles de Rais invited them to rest awhile and emptied a glass of hippocras with them. But Gilles de Rais became so pressing, and above all so friendly, that evening came before anyone had thought of leaving. Suddenly, with a signal by the lord, archers seized Count Odon de Tréméac, whom they threw into a deep prison; then Gilles broached marriage to the young girl. Blanche shed abundant tears, while the chapel lighted up with a thousand candles, and the clock tolled joyously, and everyone prepared for the nuptials. Blanche was led to the foot of the altar; she was pale like a beautiful lily and trembling all over. Monsignor de Laval, superbly dressed, and whose beard was a most beautiful red, came and stood beside her: — “Come, Milord Chaplain, marry us.” — “I will not take Monsignor for my husband!” cried Blanche de L’Herminière. — “And I, I want us to be married.” — “Do nothing of the kind, Milord Priest,” responded the young girl sobbing. — “Obey, I order you.” Then, as Blanche was attempting to escape, Gilles de Rais grabbed her in his arms. — “I will give you,” he says, “the most beautiful finery.” — “Let go!” — “To you my castles, my woods, my fields, my meadows!” — “Let go!” — “To you my body and my soul! …” — “I accept! I accept! do you hear me, Gilles de Rais? I accept; and from now on you belong to me.” Just then Blanche changed into an azure-blue devil, taking her place beside the baron. — “Curses” cried the latter. — “Gilles de Laval,” says the demon with a sudden, sinister laugh, “God has abandoned you for your crimes; you belong to Hell now and from this day forward you shall wear its livery.

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