_OEuvres de
Brantome_, vol. ix. p. 157.--L.

"In this tale, ladies, I have tried, without sparing our own sex, to
show husbands that wives of spirit yield rather to vengeful wrath than
to the sweetness of love. The lady of whom I have told you withstood
the latter for a great while, but in the end succumbed to despair.
Nevertheless, no woman of virtue should yield as she did, for, happen
what may, no excuse can be found for doing wrong. The greater the
temptations, the more virtuous should one show oneself, by resisting and
overcoming evil with good, instead of returning evil for evil; and this
all the more because the evil we think to do to another often recoils
upon ourselves. Happy are those women who display the heavenly virtues
of chastity, gentleness, meekness, and long-suffering."

"It seems to me, Longarine," said Hircan, "that the lady of whom you
have spoken was impelled by resentment rather than by love; for had she
loved the gentleman as greatly as she appeared to do, she would not
have forsaken him for another. She may therefore be called resentful,
vindictive, obstinate, and fickle."

"It is all very well for you to talk in that way," said Ennasuite, "but
you do not know the heartbreak of loving without return."

"It is true," said Hircan, "that I have had but little experience in
that way. If I am shown the slightest disfavour, I forthwith forego lady
and love together."

"That," said Parlamente, "is well enough for you who love only your own
pleasure; but a virtuous wife cannot thus forsake her husband."

"Yet," returned Simontault, "the lady in the story forgot for a while
that she was a woman. No man could have taken a more signal revenge."

"It does not follow," said Oisille, "because one woman lacks discretion
that all the rest are the same."

"Nevertheless," said Saffredent, "you are all women, as any one would
find who looked carefully, despite all the fine clothes you may wear."

"If we were to listen to you," said Nomerlide, "we should spend the day
in disputes. For my part, I am so impatient to hear another tale, that I
beg Longarine to give some one her vote."

Longarine looked at Geburon and said:--

"If you know anything about a virtuous woman, I pray you set it forth."

"Since I am to do what I can," said Geburon, "I will tell you a tale of
something that happened in the city of Milan."

[Illustration: 182.jpg Tailpiece]

[Illustration: 183a.jpg The Gentleman discoverin