fe, though not more than her honour.

"Put that notion out of your head," said Saffredent, "and learn the
origin of the term 'honour' as used among women; for perhaps those
that speak so much of it are ignorant of how the name was devised. Know
then that in the earliest times, when there was but little wickedness
among men, love was so frank and strong that it was never concealed, and
he who loved the most perfectly received most praise. But when greed and
sinfulness fastened upon heart and honour, they drove out God and love,
and in their place set up selfishness, hypocrisy and deceit. Then, when
some ladies found that they fostered in their hearts the virtue of true
love but that the word 'hypocrisy' was hateful among men, they adopted
instead the word 'honour.' At last, too, even those who could feel no
honourable love said that 'honour' forbade them, and cruelly made this a
law for all, so that now even those who love perfectly use concealment,
holding virtue for a vice. But such as have an excellent understanding
and a sound judgment never fall into any such error. They know the
difference between darkness and light, and are aware that true honour
consists in manifesting the purity of their hearts, (which should
live upon love alone), and not in priding themselves on the vice of
dissimulation."

"Yet," said Dagoucin, "it is said that the most secret love is the most
worthy of praise."

"Ay, secret," said Simontault, "from the eyes of those who might
misjudge it, but open and manifest at least to the two persons whom it
concerns."

"So I take it," said Dagoucin, "but it would be better to have one of
the two ignorant of it rather than have it known to a third. I believe
that the love of the woman in the story was all the deeper for not being
declared."

"Be that as it may," said Longarine, "virtue should be esteemed, and
the highest virtue is to subdue one's own heart. Considering the
opportunities that the maiden had of forgetting conscience and honour,
and the virtue she displayed in all these opportunities and temptations
by subduing her heart, will, and even him whom she loved better than
herself, I say that she might well be called a strong woman. And, since
you measure virtue by the mortification of self, I say that the lord
deserved higher praise than she, if we remember the greatness of his
love, his opportunities, and his power. Yet he would not offend against
that rule of true love which renders prin