learn to have recourse to Him who holds your honour in His hand."

"I am well pleased," said Parlamente, "to find you become a preacher to
the ladies, and I should be even more so if you would make these fine
sermons to all those with whom you speak."

"Whenever you are willing to listen to me," said Hircan, "I promise you
that I will say as much."

"In other words," said Simontault, "when you are not present, he will
speak in a different fashion."

"He will do as he pleases," said Parlamente, "but for my content I wish
to believe that he always speaks in this way. At all events, the example
he has brought forward will be profitable to those who believe that
spiritual love is not dangerous. In my opinion it is more so than any
other."

"Yet," said Oisille, "it seems to me that to love a worthy, virtuous and
God-fearing man is in nowise a matter for scorn, and that one cannot but
be the better for it."

"Madam," said Parlamente, "I pray you believe that no one can be more
simple or more easily deceived than a woman who has never loved. For in
itself love is a passion that seizes upon the heart before one is aware
of it, and so pleasing a passion is it that, if it can make use of
virtue as a cloak, it will scarcely be recognised before some mischief
has come of it."

"What mischief," asked Oisille, "can come of loving a worthy man?"