n, the passage runs as
follows-"if their honour were not more easily stained than
their hearts."--L.

By thus glorying in their resistance to the vice of Nature's law--if,
indeed, anything natural be vicious--they become not only like inhuman
and cruel beasts, but even like the devils whose pride and subtility
they borrow." (8)

8 This reading is borrowed from MS. No. 1520. In our MS.
the passage runs--"like the devils whose semblance and
subtility they borrow."--L.

"Tis a pity," said Nomerfide, "that you should have an honourable wife,
for you not only think lightly of virtue, but are even fain to prove
that it is vice."

"I am very glad," said Hircan, "to have a wife of good repute, just
as I, myself, would be of good repute. But as for chastity of heart, I
believe that we are both children of Adam and Eve; wherefore, when we
examine ourselves, we have no need to cover our nakedness with leaves,
but should rather confess our frailty."

"I know," said Parlamente, "that we all have need of God's grace, being
all steeped in sin; but, for all that, our temptations are not similar
to yours, and if we sin through pride, no one is injured by it, nor
do our bodies and hands receive a stain. But your pleasure consists in
dishonouring women, and your honour in slaying men in war--two things
expressly contrary to the law of God." (9)

"I admit what you say," said Geburon, "but God has said, 'Whosoever
looketh with lust, hath already committed adultery in his heart,' and
further, 'Whosoever hateth his neighbour is a murderer.' (10) Do you
think that women offend less against these texts than we?"

9 This sentence, defective in our MS., is taken from No.
1520.--L.

10 1 St. John iii. 15.--M.

"God, who judges the heart," said Longarine, "must decide that. But it
is an important thing that men should not be able to accuse us, for the
goodness of God is so great, that He will not judge us unless there
be an accuser. And so well, moreover, does He know the frailty of our
hearts, that He will even love us for not having put our thoughts into
execution."

"I pray you," said Saffredent, "let us leave this dispute, for it
savours more of a sermon than of a tale. I give my vote to Ennasuite,
and beg that she will bear in mind to make us laugh."

"Indeed," said she, "I will not fail to do so; for I would have you know
that whilst coming hither, resolved upon relating a fine story to