have had at your hands hitherto, and
the fashion in which you have loved and honoured me; and this has caused
me so much grief and discontent that but for the succour of the lady
with whom you placed me, I should have been in despair. But at last,
finding myself fully grown and deemed beautiful by all but you, I began
to feel the wrong you did me so keenly that the love I had for you
changed into hate, and the desire of obeying you into one for revenge.
In this despairing condition I was found by a Prince who, being more
anxious to obey the King than Love, forsook me just as I was beginning
to feel my pangs assuaged by an honourable affection. When the Prince
had left me, I lighted upon this present gentleman; and he had no need
to entreat me, for his good looks, nobleness, grace, and virtue are
well worthy of being sought after and courted by all women of sound
understanding. At my instance, not at his own, he has loved me in all
virtue, so that never has he sought from me aught that honour might
refuse. And although I have but little cause to love you, and so might
be absolved from being loyal and true to you, my love of God and of my
honour has hitherto sufficed to keep me from doing aught that would call
for confession or shame. I will not deny that I went into a closet as
often as I could to speak with him, under pretence of going thither to
say my prayers, for I have never trusted the conduct of this matter to
any one, whether man or woman. Further, I will not deny that when in so
secret a place and safe from all suspicion I have kissed him with more
goodwill than I kiss you. But as I look to God for mercy, no other
familiarity has passed between us; he has never urged me to it, nor has
my heart ever desired it; for I was so glad at seeing him that methought
the world contained no greater pleasure.

"And now, sir, will you, who are the sole cause of my misfortune, take
vengeance for conduct of which you have yourself long since set me an
example, with, indeed, this difference, that in your case you thought
nought of either honour or conscience; for you know and I know too
that the woman you love does not rest content with what God and reason
enjoin. And albeit the law of man deals great dishonour to wives who
love other men than their husbands, the law of God does not exempt from
punishment the husbands who love other women than their wives. And if my
offences are to be weighed against yours, you are more to blame