nfessed that it was wrong of him to
complain that she had lovers; since a fair and honourable woman is none
the less virtuous for being loved, provided that she do or say nothing
contrary to her honour; whereas a man deserves heavy punishment when he
is at pains to pursue a woman that loves him not, to the wronging of
his wife and his own conscience. He would therefore, said he, never more
prevent his wife from going to Court, nor take it ill that she should
have lovers, for he knew that she spoke with them more in jest than in
affection.

This talk was not displeasing to the lady, for it seemed to her that
she had gained an important point. Nevertheless she spoke quite to the
contrary, pretending that she had no delight in going to Court, since
she no longer possessed his love, without which all assemblies were
displeasing to her; and saying that a woman who was truly loved by her
husband, and who loved him in return, as she did, carried with her a
safe-conduct that permitted her to speak with one and all, and to be
derided by none.

The poor gentleman was at so much pains to assure her of the love he
bore her, that at last they left the place good friends. That they might
not again fall into such trouble, he begged her to turn away the girl
through whom he had undergone so much distress. This she did, but did it
by bestowing her well and honourably in marriage, and at her husband's
expense.

And, to make the lady altogether forget his folly, the gentleman soon
took her to Court, in such style and so magnificently arrayed that she
had good reason to be content.

"This, ladies, was what made me say I did not find the trick she played
upon one of her lovers a strange one, knowing, as I did, the trick she
had played upon her husband."

"You have described to us a very cunning wife and a very stupid
husband," said Hircan. "Having advanced so far, he ought not to have
come to a standstill and stopped on so fair a road."

"And what should he have done?" said Longarine.

"What he had taken in hand to do," said Hircan, "for his wife was no
less wrathful with him for his intention to do evil than she would have
been had he carried the evil into execution. Perchance, indeed, she
would have respected him more if she had seen that he was a bolder
gallant."

"That is all very well," said Ennasuite, "but where will you find a man
to face two women at once? His wife would have defended her rights and
the girl her virginity