A Jacobean Episode 	being 	An Unusual Entry 	from the Diaries 	of 	Mr. Pepys 	29th September 1681 	Did this morning call upon my good Neighbour to wait upon his  Niece, a young Woman of Much talent and Beauty, by reputation, being  lately come to London. 	Greatly surprised to discover her to possess but her left  Legge, the other - so I was informed - having been Amputated by a  Surgeon when she was but 19 years old. She seemed not  Discounte-nanced by her Misfortune, and showed a Gaiety and  Cheerfulness in her demeanour such as I have found wanting in Young  Women possessed of all their Partes. 	She walks - for such it must be called - upon two supports or  Crutches, fashioned from ebony-wood, and it did please me mighti-ly  to see her move so. Later I took Wine with her and being unattached  did venture some gentle dalliance with her, she seeming not to take  amiss my attentions. I confessed my delight at her solitary Legge  whereupon being in good humour she desired to know whether I was of  a mind to see what had been left of her other Limbe. I signified my  Assent at which she sat and lifted her skirts and displayed to me  that Parte, or Stumpe of her right Thighe which the Surgeon had  spared. I was much seized in Admiration and Pity to see the white  Flesh thus presented to me and she guided and raised up her Stumpe  for me to kiss which I did. It was the first time that ever I saw  and kissed the Stumpe of a one-legged woman. 	I had not thought to have seen so much when I entered the  House, but she was not displeased by my admiration, and confessed  that when in the Countrie she did often lie with men of Quality who  took much delight from her having but one of her Legges. She told me  that she had caused her likeness to be made by a painter in the  Classical style, she naked and resting on her ebony Crutches. 	Awhile passing her Uncle did return and seem'd pleased to find  his Niece, but being not given to pretty words spoke thus, "I had  thought that she must account her life a ruin and hide herself away,  but she will not have it so. 'Twould seem to me a piteous fate to  hop and stumble so, but i'faith I'll warrant she minds it not." 	"'Tis no shame, dear Uncle, and many a soldier is as  scant-limbed as I. And though I must needs hop, whether I mind or  no, I trust I'll never stumble!" She then did address me to suggest  we take a turn about the gardens, and I saw that when she moved upon  her Crutches it was with a Grace and Smoothness quite remarkable,  and did speak so. 	"Why thankyou, kind Sir." she replied, "'Tis plain you do  admire this hopping way of movement I must needs employ, and do dispute my Uncle's claim, that I do stumble." 	"But what great misadventure could cost so much?" quoth I. 	"In truth, Sir, I count it a paltry price to pay. My husband  was a cruel man, and had small affection for his wife, I being a  mere child in his opinion, for I was many years his junior. He took  no delight in hurt to me, but none in my small joys, eith-er; his  regard was always cold and distant. He kept no company, nor let me  keep any...I was to remain in his estates, and see to the household.  My position was as mistress in duty, but naught else. I could not  complain for I suffered no harm, but happiness was a memory, when  each day brought no variety or diversion." 	"Then came a day when my husband ordered the carriage, and said  I should accompany him to the Great Fair of the Countie. I knew  little of the matters discussed, and spent the day enjoying the  change of scene, and was sore tired when we turned for home. I slept  a little, and awoke to discover we were set upon by robbers. My  husband being charged to deliver up his purse and trinkets, refused  and made to use his pistol, whereupon they discharged their own. Two  struck him mortally wounded but the third found another target and  caused grave hurt to my knee. I knew nothing of it, but swooned, and  remained insensible for some hours, by which time we were discovered  and given aid by other travellers." 	"I was taken in charge by our Doctor, who had me borne home,  and there examined the wound, which he declared to be as bad as any  he had seen at any battle, with the only remedy being to take off my  legge." 	"I was in great pain, and scarce heard what he had said, so he  made ready, and set about the job. I knew no more for many days,  being wracked by fevers, but these abated, and then I learned of my  fate: to be a widow, and a cripple." 	"As I lay abed, I confess I was almost gay at the thought...my  marriage had been an empty thing with no joy, and though I mourned,  I was happy to be released from the sour darkness of it, and as I  have told you, I counted my other loss a paltry price to pay." "But now, as memory of former days grows dim, and I can scarce  remember when I did not lack my legge, the pleasures newly open'd by  this condition growe apace and now I must confesse, I would not have  it else. 'Tis passing strange, but true, that I think I do prefer to  have but one legge 'neath my skirts, and, I'll warrant, so do you!" 	And then I took my leave of her, but hope she does remayne a  whiles in London, for I will not soon forgette her unusuall  condition, and her Gaiety in speaking of it. 	* * *