excellent order. And still more was he surprised when the woman gave him
to drink in a silver cup; and he asked her whence all these good things
had come. The poor woman told him, weeping, that they were from his
wife, who had taken such great pity on his sorry treatment that she had
furnished the house in this way, and had charged her to be careful of
his health.

When the gentleman saw the exceeding generosity of his wife in returning
so much good for all the evil turns that he had done her, he looked upon
his own wrongdoing as no less great than her kindness; and, after giving
some money to his tenant, he begged her to live in future as an honest
woman. Then he went back to his wife, acknowledged his wrongdoing, and
told her that, but for her great gentleness and generosity, he
could never have forsaken the life that he had been leading. And
thenceforward, forgetting the past, they lived in all peacefulness
together.

"You may be sure, ladies, that there are but few husbands whom a wife's
love and patience cannot win at last, unless they be harder even than
stone, which weak and yielding water will in time make hollow."

"That woman," said Parlamente, "had neither heart, gall nor liver."

"What would you have had her do?" said Longarine. "She practised what
God commands, and returned good for evil." (3)

3 "Recompense to no man evil for evil."--_Rom_. xii. 17.
"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing."--1
_Pet_. iii. 9.--Ed.