La Puce de Mme Desroches

In the bustling salons of 16th‑century Poitiers, poetry was as common as conversation, and the walls of the Desroches household resonated with the verses of magistrates, scholars and budding poets alike. Madame Desroches and her daughter Catherine, celebrated for both their wit and their modest charm, preside over an intimate circle where every newcomer is expected to present a fresh sonnet, earning applause from a discerning audience that values both elegance and erudition.

A seemingly trivial moment—when a tiny flea settles on Catherine’s bodice—turns the gathering into a playful competition. The sharp‑tongued Étienne Pasquier seizes the incident, prompting a cascade of witty couplets in French, Latin, Spanish and even Greek. The resulting verses, collected by Pasquier himself, capture the lively spirit of an era when poets wore many hats and a single spark could ignite a chorus of lyrical rejoinders. Listeners will enjoy the sparkling repartee and the vivid portrait of a world where literary brilliance and everyday curiosity entwine.