And, to make the lady altogether forget his folly, the gentleman soon
took her to Court, in such style and so magnificently arrayed that she
had good reason to be content.

"This, ladies, was what made me say I did not find the trick she played
upon one of her lovers a strange one, knowing, as I did, the trick she
had played upon her husband."

"You have described to us a very cunning wife and a very stupid
husband," said Hircan. "Having advanced so far, he ought not to have
come to a standstill and stopped on so fair a road."

"And what should he have done?" said Longarine.

"What he had taken in hand to do," said Hircan, "for his wife was no
less wrathful with him for his intention to do evil than she would have
been had he carried the evil into execution. Perchance, indeed, she
would have respected him more if she had seen that he was a bolder
gallant."

"That is all very well," said Ennasuite, "but where will you find a man
to face two women at once? His wife would have defended her rights and
the girl her virginity."

"True," said Hircan, "but a strong bold man does not fear to assail two
that are weak, nor will he ever fail to vanquish them."

"I readily understand," said Ennasuite, "that if he had drawn his sword
he might have killed them both, but otherwise I cannot see that he had