ice of their own, but of the perversity of those
who use them wrongfully. Corrupt mind never understood word healthily,
and even as seemly words profit not depraved minds, so those which are
not altogether seemly avail not to contaminate the well-disposed, any
more than mire can sully the rays of the sun or earthly foulness the
beauties of the sky. What books, what words, what letters are holier,
worthier, more venerable than those of the Divine Scriptures? Yet many
there be, who, interpreting them perversely, have brought themselves
and others to perdition. Everything in itself is good unto somewhat
and ill used, may be in many things harmful; and so say I of my
stories. If any be minded to draw therefrom ill counsel or ill
practice, they will nowise forbid it him, if perchance they have it in
them or be strained and twisted into having it; and who so will have
profit and utility thereof, they will not deny it him, nor will they
be ever styled or accounted other than useful and seemly, if they be
read at those times and to those persons for which and for whom they
have been recounted. Whoso hath to say paternosters or to make tarts
and puddings for her spiritual director, let her leave them be; they
will not run after any to make her read them; albeit your she-saints
themselves now and again say and even do fine things.

[Footnote 484: _i.e._ of overmuch licence.]

[Footnote 485: Two noted wine-bidders of the time.]

[Footnote 486: Lit. living folk (_viventi_).]

There be some ladies also who will say that there are some stories
here, which had been better away. Granted; but I could not nor should
write aught save those actually related, wherefore those who told them
should have told them goodly and I would have written them goodly.
But, if folk will e'en pretend that I am both the inventor and writer
thereof (which I am not), I say that I should not take shame to myself
that they were not all alike goodly, for that there is no craftsman
living (barring God) who doth everything alike well and completely;
witness Charlemagne, who was the first maker of the Paladins, but knew
not to make so many thereof that he might avail to form an army of
them alone. In the multitude of things, needs must divers qualities
thereof be found. No field was ever so well tilled but therein or
nettles or thistles or somewhat of briers or other weeds might be
found mingled with the better herbs. Besides, having to speak to
simple lasses,