e ladies have their household cares, their work, and
sometimes the dance, in all which they find honourable exercise. So,
speaking on behalf of the men, I propose that you, who are the oldest,
read to us in the morning about the life that was led by Our Lord Jesus
Christ and the great and wonderful works that He did for us; and that
between dinner and vespers we choose some pastime that shall be pleasant
to the body and yet not hurtful to the soul. In this way we shall pass
the day cheerfully."

The Lady Oisille replied that she had been at pains to forget every
description of worldly vanity, and she therefore feared that she should
succeed but ill in the choice of such an entertainment. The matter must
be decided by the majority of opinions, and she begged Hircan to set
forth his own first.

"For my part," said he, "if I thought that the pastime I should choose
would be as agreeable to the company as to myself, my opinion would soon
be given. For the present, however, I withhold it, and will abide by
what the rest shall say."

His wife Parlamente, thinking he referred to her, began to blush, and,
half in anger and half laughing, replied--

"Perhaps, Hircan, she who you think would find it most dull might
readily find means of compensation had she a mind for it. But let us
leave aside a pastime in which only two can share, and speak of one that
shall be common to all."

"Since my wife has understood the meaning of my words so well," said
Hircan to all the ladies, "and a private pastime is not to her liking, I
think she will be better able than any one else to name one that all
may enjoy; and I herewith give in to her opinion, having no other of my
own."

To this all the company agreed.

Parlamente, perceiving that it had fallen to her to decide, spoke as
follows--

"Did I find myself as capable as the ancients who invented the arts, I
should devise some sport or pastime in fulfilment of the charge you
lay upon me. But knowing as I do my knowledge and capacity, which are
scarcely able to recall the worthy performances of others, I shall think
myself happy if I can follow closely such as have already satisfied your
request. Among the rest, I think there is not one of you who has not
read the Hundred Tales of Boccaccio, (11) lately translated from the
Italian into French. So highly were these thought of by King Francis,
first of that name, Monseigneur the Dauphin, (12) Madame the Dauphiness,
and Madame Margaret,