Read The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. III. (of V.) Page 4
PROLOGUE.
Though it was yet early when the company entered the hall on the morrow,they found Madame Oisille there before them. She had been meditating formore than half-an-hour upon the lesson that she was going to read; andif she had contented them on the first and second days, she assuredlydid no less on the third; indeed, but that one of the monks came insearch of them they would not have heard high mass, for so intent werethey upon listening to her that they did not even hear the bell.
When they had piously heard mass, and had dined with temperance tothe end that the meats might in no sort hinder the memory of each fromacquitting itself as well as might be when their several turns came,they withdrew to their apartments, there to consult their note-booksuntil the wonted hour for repairing to the meadow was come. When it hadarrived they were not slow to make the pleasant excursion, and those whowere prepared to tell of some merry circumstance already showed mirthfulfaces that gave promise of much laughter. When they were seated, theyasked Saffredent to whom he would give his vote for the beginning of theThird Day.
"I think," said he, "that since my offence yesterday was as you say verygreat, and I have knowledge of no story that might atone for it, I oughtto give my vote to Parlamente, who, with her sound understanding, willbe able to praise the ladies sufficiently to make you forget such truthas you heard from me."
"I will not undertake," said Parlamente, "to atone for your offences,but I will promise not to imitate them. Wherefore, holding to the truththat we have promised and vowed to utter, I propose to show you thatthere are ladies who in their loves have aimed at nought but virtue. Andsince she of whom I am going to speak to you came of an honourable line,I will just change the names in my story but nothing more; and I prayyou, ladies, believe that love has no power to change a chaste andvirtuous heart, as you will see by the tale I will now begin to tell."