eason can find no place."

"It is so," said Saffredent, "that I understood your words, and I thence
conclude that, whatever a man may do, he can commit only venial sin
if he be deeply in love. I am sure that, if Love hold him fast bound,
Reason can never gain a hearing, whether from his heart or from his
understanding. And if the truth be told, there is not one among us but
has had knowledge of such passion; and not merely do I think that sin
so committed is readily pardoned, but I even believe that God is not
angered by it, seeing that such love is a ladder whereby we may climb
to the perfect love of Himself. And none can attain to this save by the
ladder of earthly love, (3) for, as St. John says, 'He that loveth not
his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not
seen?'" (4)

3 All this passage is borrowed, almost word for word, from
Castiglione's _Libro del Cortegiano_. See _ante_, vol. i. p.
10.--B.J.

4 i John iv. 20.--M.

"There is not a passage in Scripture," said Oisille, "too good for you
to turn to your own purposes. But beware of doing like the spider, which
transforms sound meat into poison. Be advised that it is a perilous
matter to quote Scripture out of place and without cause."

"Do you call speaking the truth out of place and without cause?" said
Saffredent. "You hold, then, that when, in speaking to you unbelieving
women, we call God to our assistance, we take His name in vain; but if
there be any sin in this, you alone must bear the blame, for it is your
unbelief that compels us to seek out all the oaths that we can think of.
And in spite of it all, we cannot kindle the flame of charity in your
icy hearts."

"That," said Longarine, "proves that you all speak falsely. If truth
were in your words, it is strong enough to make you be believed. Yet
there is danger lest the daughters of Eve should hearken too readily to
the serpent."

"I see clearly," said Saffredent, "that women are not to be conquered
by men. So I shall be silent, and see to whom Ennasuite will give her
vote."

"I give it," she said, "to Dagoucin, for I think he would not willingly
speak against the ladies."

"Would to God," said Dagoucin, "that they were as well disposed towards
me as I am towards them. To show you that I have striven to honour the
virtuous among them by recalling their good deeds, I will now tell you
the story of such a one. I will not deny, ladies, that the patienc