Heptameron

Identified by most scholars as Marguerite de Navarre herself, Parlamente’s name could be broken down to “parle amante” or “to speak of love.” Parlamente is married to Hircan, and her longtime “serviteur” is identified as Simontaut. She displays a certain level of authority in the group and is widely seen as the most intelligent and knowledgeable storyteller.

Longarine is a recently widowed young woman, as her husband is killed during the Prologue. She has an unknown serviteur in the group who could possibly be Dagoucin or Saffredent. Her name suggests “langue orine” or “golden tongue” in French. 

A woman who joins the group with Nomerfide after fleeing a bear attack in the mountains. Her name could signify “Anne” and “suite,” perhaps identifying her as one of Marguerite de Navarre’s entourage named Anne de Vivonne.

The youngest woman in the group, she arrives with Ennasuite following a bear attack in the mountains. Her name could evoke “nom” (“name”) and “fides” (“faith”) in Latin, “fidel” or “loyal” in French, or perhaps “non perfide” (“not perfidious” in Latin). She is generally reliable for telling amusing or lighter stories. 

Identified as the fictional husband of Parlamente, and possibly the real, second husband of Marguerite de Navarre, Henri de Navarre. Hircan could suggest hircin or “goatlike,” often associated with sexuality and Satan. He is a warrior and speaks bluntly in support of male dominance and aggression, particularly over women. He argues in favor of a man’s right to sexual intercourse, both consensual and non-consensual, with whomever he chooses, yet he insists women must be domesticated and loyal. 

A young man who joined the group while traveling with Saffredent. Often advocates for self-repression and the more enlightened Platonic ideals, claiming he has never entered into a love affair with a woman (335). Dagoucin’s name in French could be read as a pun on de goûts saints, or “of saintly tastes.” He is the serviteur of either Parlamente or Longarine. 

A young man characterized by stories and arguments that are rooted in a cynical view of human nature, but with a sense of humor. His name is a possible pun on saffre (“lecherous”) and dent (“tooth”), or “sinful tastes,” and thus the inverse of his traveling partner Dagoucin’s “saintly tastes.” He is the serviteur of either Longarine or Parlamente. 

A man in the group believed to be a fixture in Marguerite’s circle of friends. His name could possibly be read as signifying a mix of liveliness and austerity: “Ge” sounds like “gay” or “lively,” while “buron” is closer to “bur” or “dark.” According to Hircan, he is the wisest man in the group (325).