THE THIRD BOOK OF THE COURTIER man's courtesy; and in this way she will win a name for discre- tion and be safer against deceit. " After this fashion methinks the Court Lady ought to conduct herself in love talk." 55.— Then messer Federico said: " My lord Magnifico, you discourse of this matter as if every- one who pays court to women must needs speak lies and seek to deceive them : if the which were true, I should say that your teachings were sound; but if this cavalier who is speaking loves truly and feels that passion which sometimes so sorely afflicts the human heart, do you not consider in what pain, in what calamity and mortal anguish you put him by insisting that the lady shall never believe anything he says on this subject? Ought his supplications, tears, and many other signs to go for naught? Have a care, my lord Magnifico, lest it be thought that besides the natural cruelty which many of these ladies have in them, you are teaching them still more." The Magnifico replied: " I spoke not of him who loves, but of him who entertains with amourous talk, wherein one of the most necessary condi- tions is that words shall never be lacking. But just as true lovers have glowing hearts, so they have cold tongues, with broken speech and sudden silence; wherefore perhaps it would not be a false assumption to say : ' "Who loves much, speaks little.' Yet as to this I believe no certain rule can be given, be- cause of the diversity of men's habits ; nor could I say anything more than that the Lady must be very cautious, and always bear in mind that men can declare their love with much less danger than women can." 56 — Then my lord Gaspar said, laughing: " Would you not, my lord Magnifico, have this admirable Lady of yours love in return even when she knows that she is loved truly? For if the Courtier were not loved in return, it is not conceivable that he should go on loving her; and thus she would lose many advantages, and especially that service and reverence with which lovers honour and almost adore the virtue of their beloved." •' As to that," replied the Magnifico, " I do not wish to give 223
