y to
fact. For my own part, nothing could more readily prompt me to sever
fellowship with my friends than such suspicion."

"Nevertheless," said Oisille, "woman is without rational excuse who
revenges herself for her husband's suspicion by her own shame. It is
as though a man should thrust his sword through his own body, because
unable to slay his foe, or should bite his own fingers because he cannot
scratch him. She would have done better had she spoken to the gentleman
no more, and so shown her husband how wrongly he had suspected her; for
time would have softened them both."

"Still 'twas done like a woman of spirit," said Ennasuite. "If many
women acted in the same way, their husbands would not be so outrageous
as they are."

"For all that," said Longarine, "patience gives a woman the victory in
the end, and chastity brings her praise, and more we should not desire."

"Nevertheless," said Ennasuite, "a woman may be unchaste and yet commit
no sin."

"How may that be?" said Oisille.

"When she mistakes another man for her husband."

"And who," said Parlamente, "is so foolish that she cannot clearly tell
the difference between her husband and another man, whatever disguise
the latter may wear?"

"There have been and still will be," said Ennasuite, "a few deceived in
this fashion, and therefore still innocent and free from sin."

"If you know of such a one," said Dagoucin, "I give you my vote that you
may tell us about her, for I think it very strange that innocence and
sin can go together."

"Listen, then," said Ennasuite. "If, ladies, the foregoing tales have
not sufficiently warned you of the danger of lodging in our houses those
who call us worldly and consider themselves as something holy and far
worthier than we, I will give you yet a further instance of it, that you
may see by the errors into which those fall who trust them too much
that not only are they human like others, but that there is something
devilish in their nature, passing the ordinary wickedness of men. This
you will learn from the following story."

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[Illustration: 213a.jpg The Grey Friars Caught and Punished]

[The Grey Friars Caught and Punished]

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_TALE XLVIII_.

_The older and wickeder of two Grey Friars, who were lodged
in an inn where the marriage of the host's daughter was
being celebrated, perceived the bride being led away,