“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 discovering the Trick] [The Gentleman discovering the Trick] [Illustration: 183.jpg Page Image] _TALE XVI_. _A lady of Milan, widow of an Italian Count, had resolved never again to marry or to love. But for three years she was so earnestly wooed by a French gentleman, that after repeated proof of the steadfastness of his love, she granted him what he had so greatly desired, and they vowed to each other everlasting affection_. (l) In the days of the Grand Master of Chaumont, (2) there lived a lady who was reckoned one of the most honourable women that there were at that time in the city of Milan. She had married an Italian Count, and being left a widow, lived in the house of her brothers-in-law, refusing to hear speak of another marriage. And so discreetly and piously did she demean herself that there was none in the Duchy, whether French or Italian, but held her in high esteem. 1 According to M. de Lincy, who points out that Bonnivet must be the hero of the adventure here related, the incidents referred to would have occurred at Milan between 1501 and 1503; but in M. Lacroix’s opinion they would be posterior to 1506.--Ed. 2 See _ante_, note 1 to Tale XIV.