ld never even be mentioned; and, as the saying goes, it is
better to do evil than to do nothing at all. Besides, the more varied
the flowers the handsomer will our posy be."

"If you will promise not to be angry with me," said Hircan, "I will tell
you the story of a great lady whose wantonness was so extreme that you
will forgive the poor friar for having taken what he needed, where
he was able to find it, seeing that she, who had enough to eat,
nevertheless sought for dainties in too monstrous a fashion."

"Since we have sworn to speak the truth," said Oisille, "we have also
sworn to hear it. You may therefore speak with freedom, for the evil
things that we tell of men and women are not uttered to shame those
that are spoken of in the story, but to take away all trust in created
beings, by revealing the trouble to which these are liable, and this to
the end that we may fix and rest our hope on Him alone who is perfect,
and without whom every man is only imperfection."

"Well then," said Hircan, "I will relate my story without fear."

[Illustration: 218.jpg Tailpiece]

[Illustration: 219a.jpg The Countess facing her Lovers]

[The Countess facing her Lovers]

[Illustration: 219.jpg Page Image]

_TALE XLIX_.

_Same French gentlemen, perceiving that the King their
master was exceedingly well treated by a foreign Countess
whom he loved, ventured to speak to her, and sought her with
such success, that one after another they had from her what
they desired, each, however, believing that he alone
possessed the happiness in which all the others shared. And
this being discovered by one of their number, they all
plotted together to be revenged on her; but, as she showed a
fair countenance and treated them no worse than before, they
brought away in their own bosoms the shame which they had
thought to bring upon her_. (1)

At the Court of King Charles--which Charles I shall not mention, for the
sake of the lady of whom I wish to speak, and whom I shall not call
by her own name--there was a Countess of excellent lineage, (2) but
a foreigner. And as novelties ever please, this lady, both for the
strangeness of her attire and for its exceeding richness, was observed
by all. Though she was not to be ranked among the most beautiful, she
possessed gracefulness, together with a noble assurance that could not
be surpassed; and, moreover, her manner of speech and her