e deceivers being themselves deceived, all four would share in
the pleasures that two of them had thought to keep to themselves.

7 This expression has allusion to the mysteries or religious
plays so frequently performed in the fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries. The Mystery of Vengeance, which depicted the
misfortunes which fell upon those who had taken part in the
crucifixion of Jesus Christ, such as Pontius Pilate, &c, and
ended by the capture and destruction of Jerusalem, properly
came after the Mysteries of the Passion and the
Resurrection.--L.

When the agreement had been made, the Queen returned to her apartment
and the gentleman to his house, both being so well pleased that they had
forgotten all their former troubles. The jealousy they had previously
felt at the King's visits to the lady was now changed to desire, so that
the gentleman went oftener than usual to his house in the country, which
was only half a league distant. As soon as the King was advised of his
departure, he never failed to go and see the lady; and the gentleman,
when night was come, betook himself to the castle to the Queen, where
he did duty as the King's lieutenant, and so secretly that none ever
discovered it.

This manner of life lasted for a long time; but as the King was a person
of public condition, he could not conceal his love sufficiently well to
prevent it from coming at length to the knowledge of every one; and
all honourable people felt great pity for the gentleman, though divers
malicious youths were wont to deride him by making horns at him behind
his back. But he knew of their derision, and it gave him great pleasure,
so that he came to think as highly of his horns as of the King's crown.

One day, however, the King and the gentleman's wife, noticing a stag's
head that was set up in the gentleman's house, could not refrain in his
presence from laughing and saying that the head was suited to the house.
Soon afterwards the gentleman, who was no less spirited than the King,
caused the following words to be written over the stag's head:--

"Io porto le corna, ciascun lo vede, Ma tal le porta che no lo
crede." (8)

8 "All men may see the horns I've got, But one wears horns
and knows it not."

When the King came again to the house, he observed these lines newly
written, and inquired their meaning of the gentleman, who said--

"If the King's secret be hidde