, ladies, why I say that if the poor husband had been more
watchful over his wife, he would not thus have lost her. A thing that is
well guarded is difficult to lose, but heedlessness makes the thief."

"'Tis a strange thing," said Hircan, "how strong love is just where it
seems most unreasonable."

"I have heard," said Simontault, "that it were easier to break two
marriages than to sunder the love of a priest and his serving-maid."

"I believe it," said Ennasuite; "for those who bind others together in
marriage, are so well able to tie the knot that nought but death can
destroy it. Theologians, moreover, hold that spiritual language is of
more effect than any other, and in consequence spiritual love surpasses
any other kind."

"It is a thing that I cannot forgive in ladies," said Dagoucin, "when
they forsake an honourable husband or a lover for a priest, however
handsome and worthy the latter may be."

"I pray you, Dagoucin," said Hircan, "intermeddle not with our Holy
Mother Church. Be assured that 'tis a great delight for timorous and
secret-loving women to sin with those who can absolve them; for there
are some who are more ashamed to confess a thing than to do it."

"You speak," said Oisille, "of those who have no knowledge of God, and
who think not that secret matters are one day revealed in presence of
the Company of Heaven. But I think that it is not for confession's sake
that they go after confessors; for the Enemy has so blinded them that
they are more concerned to attach themselves where they think there is
most concealment and security, than anxious to obtain absolution for the
wickedness of which they do not repent."

"Repent, say you?" said Saffredent. "Nay, they deem themselves holier
than other women. I am sure that there are some who deem it honourable
in themselves that they are constant in such love."

"You speak in such a manner," said Oisille to Saffredent, "that I think
you know of some one of that kind. I pray you, therefore, begin the Day
tomorrow by telling us what you know. But now the last bell for vespers
is already ringing; for our friends the monks went off as soon as they
had heard the tenth tale, and left us to finish our discussions among
ourselves."

At these words they all rose and came to the church, where they found
the monks awaiting them. Then, after hearing vespers, they all supped
together, talking the while of many excellent stories. After supper they
went, according t