. This work, which indeed
seems to have suggested several passages in the
_Heptameron_, was at that time as widely read in France as
in Italy and Spain.--B. J. and D.

"Do you not see," said Longarine, "that uncultivated ground which bears
plants and trees in abundance, however useless they may be, is valued by
men, because it is hoped that it will produce good fruit if this be sown
in it? In like manner, if the heart of man has no feeling of love for
visible things, it will never arrive at the love of God by the sowing of
His Word, for the soul of such a heart is barren, cold and worthless."

"That," said Saffredent, "is the reason why most of the doctors are
not spiritual. They never love anything but good wine and dirty,
ill-favoured serving-women, without making trial of the love of
honourable ladies."

"If I could speak Latin well," said Simontault, "I would quote you St.
John's words: 'He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can
he love God whom he hath not seen?' (7) From visible things we are led
on to love those that are invisible."

"If," said Ennasuite, "there be a man as perfect as you say, _quis est
ille et laudabimus eum?_" (8)

7 I St. John, iv. 20.

8 We have been unable to find this anywhere in the
Scriptures.--Ed.

"There are men," said Dagoucin, "whose love is so strong and true that
they would rather die than harbour a wish contrary to the honour and
conscience of their mistress, and who at the same time are unwilling
that she or others should know what is in their hearts."

"Such men," said Saffredent, "must be of the nature of the chameleon,
which lives on air. (9) There is not a man in the world but would fain
declare his love and know that it is returned; and further, I believe
that love's fever is never so great, but it quickly passes off when one
knows the contrary. For myself, I have seen manifest miracles of this
kind."

9 A popular fallacy. The chameleon undoubtedly feeds upon
small insects.--D.

"I pray you then," said Ennasuite, "take my place and tell us about some
one that was recalled from death to life by having discovered in his
mistress the very opposite of his desire."

"I am," said Saffredent, "so much afraid of displeasing the ladies,
whose faithful servant I have always been and shall always be, that
without an express command from themselves I should never have dared to
speak of their imperfections. However, in