oldness."

"Well, if he was such as you say," said Simontault, "he ought to have
broken his oath; for, had the lady been angered by such a trifle, it
would have been easy to appease her."

"Nay," said Ennasuite, "perhaps she would not then have consented."

"And pray," said Saffredent, "would it not have been easy enough to
compel her, since she had herself given him the opportunity?"

"By Our Lady!" said Nomerfide, "how you run on! Is that the way to win
the favour of a lady who is accounted virtuous and discreet?"

"In my opinion," said Saffredent, "the highest honour that can be paid
to a woman from whom such things are desired is to take her by force,
for there is not the pettiest damsel among them but seeks to be long
entreated. Some indeed there are who must receive many gifts before they
are won, whilst there are others so stupid that hardly any device or
craft can enable one to win them, and with these one must needs be ever
thinking of some means or other. But when you have to do with a woman
who is too clever to be deceived, and too virtuous to be gained by words
or gifts, is there not good reason to employ any means whatever that may
be at your disposal to vanquish her? When you hear it said that a man
has taken a woman by force, you may be sure that the woman has left him
hopeless of any other means succeeding, and you should not think any
the worse of a man who has risked his life in order to give scope to his
love."

Geburon burst out laughing.

"In my day," said he, "I have seen besieged places stormed because it
was impossible to bring the garrison to a parley either by money or by
threats; 'tis said that a place which begins to treat is half taken."

"You may think," said Ennasuite, "that every love on earth is based upon
such follies as these, but there are those who have loved, and who have
long persevered in their love, with very different aims."

"If you know a story of that kind," said Hircan, "I will give place to
you for the telling of it."

"I do know one," said Ennasuite, "and I will very willingly relate it."

[Illustration: 216.jpg Tailpiece]

APPENDIX.

A. (Tale VIII., Page i.)

Tales of a similar character to this will be found in the following
works written prior to Margaret's time:--

Legrand d'Aussy's collection of _Fabliaux ou Contes du XIIeme et XIIIeme
siecles_ (vol. iii.).

Boccaccio's _Decameron_ (day viii., story iv.).

Enguerrand d'Oisy's _Le Meuni