cup; and he asked her whence all these good things
had come. The poor woman told him, weeping, that they were from his
wife, who had taken such great pity on his sorry treatment that she had
furnished the house in this way, and had charged her to be careful of
his health.

When the gentleman saw the exceeding generosity of his wife in returning
so much good for all the evil turns that he had done her, he looked upon
his own wrongdoing as no less great than her kindness; and, after giving
some money to his tenant, he begged her to live in future as an honest
woman. Then he went back to his wife, acknowledged his wrongdoing, and
told her that, but for her great gentleness and generosity, he
could never have forsaken the life that he had been leading. And
thenceforward, forgetting the past, they lived in all peacefulness
together.

"You may be sure, ladies, that there are but few husbands whom a wife's
love and patience cannot win at last, unless they be harder even than
stone, which weak and yielding water will in time make hollow."

"That woman," said Parlamente, "had neither heart, gall nor liver."

"What would you have had her do?" said Longarine. "She practised what
God commands, and returned good for evil." (3)

3 "Recompense to no man evil for evil."--_Rom_. xii. 17.
"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing."--1
_Pet_. iii. 9.--Ed.

"I think," said Hircan, "she must have been in love with some Grey
Friar, who had laid upon her the penance of having her husband well
treated in the country, so that, meantime, she might be free to
entertain herself well in the town."

"Therein," said Oisille, "you clearly show the wickedness of your own
heart, judging ill of a good deed. I rather believe her to have been so
subdued by the love of God that she cared for naught save the salvation
of her husband's soul."

"It seems to me," said Simontault, "that he had more reason to return
to his wife when he was so cold at the farm than afterwards when he was
treated so well."

"From what I can see," said Saffredent, "you are not of the same opinion
as the rich man of Paris who, when he lay with his wife, could not put
off his gear without being chilled, but who never felt the worse when
he went without cap or shoes, in the depth of winter, to see his
servant-maid in the cellar. Yet his wife was very beautiful and the maid
very ugly."

"Have you not heard," said Geburon, "that God always aids lun