ments, over which was the room of
the gentleman, her husband. And the husband being that evening at his
window, saw the Prince going into his wife's room beneath. The Prince
saw him also, but went in for all that, and in bidding farewell to her
whose love was but beginning, pleaded as his sole reason the King's
command.

After many tears and lamentations and regrets, which lasted until an
hour after midnight, the lady finally said--

"I praise God, my lord, that it pleases Him you should lose your love
for me, since it is so slight and weak that you are able to take it up
and lay it down at the command of man. For my own part, I have never
asked mistress or husband or even myself for permission to love you;
Love, aided by your good looks and courtesy, gained such dominion over
me that I could recognise no God or King save him. But since your heart
is not so full of true love that fear may not find room in it, you can
be no perfect lover, and I will love none that is imperfect so perfectly
as I had resolved to love you. Farewell, then, my lord, seeing that you
are too timorous to deserve a love as frank as mine."

The Prince went away in tears, and looking back he again noticed the
husband, who was still at the window, and had thus seen him go in and
come out again. Accordingly he told him on the morrow why he had gone
to see his wife, and of the command that the King had laid upon him,
whereat the gentleman was well pleased, and gave thanks to the King.

However, finding that his wife was becoming more beautiful every day,
whilst he himself was growing old and less handsome than before, he
began to change his tactics, and to play the part which he had for a
long time imposed upon his wife, bestowing some attention upon her and
seeking her more frequently than had been his wont. But the more she was
sought by him the more was he shunned by her; for she desired to pay him
back some part of the grief that he had caused her by his indifference.

Moreover, being unwilling to forego so soon the pleasure that love was
beginning to afford her, she addressed herself to a young gentleman, who
was so very handsome, well-spoken, and graceful that he was loved by
all the ladies of the Court. And by complaining to him of the manner in
which she had been treated, she lured him to take pity upon her, so
that he left nothing untried in his attempts to comfort her. She, on
her part, to console herself for the loss of the Prince who h