"I have known the time," said Geburon, "when in our part of the country
there was not a house but had a room set apart for the good fathers; but
now they are known so well that they are dreaded more than bandits."

"It seems to me," said Parlamente, "that when a woman is in bed
she should never allow a priest to enter the room, unless it be to
administer to her the sacraments of the Church. For my own part, when I
send for them, I may indeed be deemed at the point of death."

"If every one were as strict as you are," said Ennasuite, "the poor
priests would be worse than excommunicated, in being wholly shut off
from the sight of women."

"Have no such fear on their account," said Saffredent; "they will never
want for women."

"Why," said Simontault, "'tis the very men that have united us to our
wives by the marriage tie that wickedly seek to loose it and bring about
the breaking of the oath which they have themselves laid upon us."

"It is a great pity," said Oisille, "that those who administer the
sacraments should thus trifle with them. They ought to be burned alive."

"You would do better to honour rather than blame them," said Saffredent,
"and to flatter rather than revile them, for they are men who have it in
their power to burn and dishonour others. Wherefore '_sinite eos_,' and
let us see to whom Oisille will give her vote."

"I give it," said she, "to Dagoucin, for he has become so thoughtful
that I think he must have made ready to tell us something good."

"Since I cannot and dare not reply as I would," said Dagoucin, "I will
at least tell of a man to whom similar cruelty at first brought hurt but
afterwards profit. Although Love accounts himself so strong and powerful
that he will go naked, and finds it irksome, nay intolerable, to
go cloaked, nevertheless, ladies, it often happens that those who,
following his counsel, are over-quick in declaring themselves, find
themselves the worse for it. Such was the experience of a Castilian
gentleman, whose story you shall now hear."

[Illustration: 112.jpg Tailpiece]

[Illustration: 113a.jpg Elisor showing the Queen her own Image]

[Elisor showing the Queen her own Image]

[Illustration: 113.jpg Page Image]

_TALE XXIV_.

_Elisor, having unwisely ventured to discover his love to
the Queen of Castile, was by her put to the test in so cruel
a fashion that he suffered sorely, yet did he reap advantage
therefrom_.

In the hous