worse of it."

"I grant you that," said Longarine; "and so it is best not to love at
all."

"We appeal from that sentence," said Dagoucin, "for, did we believe the
ladies to be without love, we would fain be ourselves without life. I
speak of those who live but to win love: and, even if they secure it
not, yet the hope of it sustains them and prompts them to do a thousand
honourable deeds, until old age changes their fair sufferings to other
pains. But, did we think that ladies were without love, it were needful
we should turn traders instead of soldiers, and instead of winning fame,
think only of hea'ping up riches."

"You would say, then," said Hircan, "that, were there no women, we
should all be dastards, as though we had no courage save such as they
put into us. But I am of quite the opposite opinion, and hold that
nothing weakens a man's courage so much as to consort with women or love
them too much. For this reason the Jews would not suffer a man to go to
the war within a year after his marriage, lest love for his wife should
draw him back from the dangers that he ought to seek." (5)

5 See _Deuteronomy_ xx. 5, 6, 7; and the comments thereon
of Rabelais (book iii. ch. vi.).--M.

"I consider that law," said Saffredent, "to have been without reason,
for nothing will more readily make a man leave his home than marriage.
The war without is not harder of endurance than the war within; and I
think that, to make men desirous of going into foreign lands instead of
lingering by their hearths, it were only needful to marry them."

"It is true," said Ennasuite, "that marriage takes from them the care
of their houses; for they trust in their wives, and for their own part
think only of winning fame, feeling certain that their wives will give
due heed to the profit."

"However that may be," replied Saffredent, "I am glad that you are of my
opinion."

"But," said Parlamente, "you are not discussing what is chiefly to be
considered, and that is why the gentleman, who was the cause of all the
misfortune, did not as quickly die of grief as she who was innocent."

Nomerfide replied--

"'Twas because women love more truly than men."

"Nay," said Simontault, "'twas because the jealousy and spitefulness of
women make them die without knowing the reason, whereas men are led by
their prudence to inquire into the truth of the matter. When this has
been learnt through their sound sense, they display their courage, a