The Tales of the Heptameron, Vol. II | Page 4

whispered in the ear is always proclaimed from the housetop, the
truth, after a time, became known, and men called him cuckold without
imputing any shame to his wife.

"It seems to me, ladies, that if all those who have committed like
offences against their wives were to be punished in the same way,
Hircan and Saffredent would have great cause for fear."
"Why, Longarine," said Saffredent, "are none in the company married
save Hircan and I?"
"Yes, indeed there are others," she replied, "but none who would play a
similar trick."
"Whence did you learn," asked Saffredent, "that we ever solicited our
wives' maid-servants?"
"If the ladies who are in question," said Longarine, "were willing to
speak the truth, we should certainly hear of maid-servants dismissed
without notice."
"Truly," said Geburon, "you are a most worthy lady! You promised to
make the company laugh, and yet are angering these two poor
gentlemen."
"Tis all one," said Longarine: "so long as they do not draw their swords,
their anger will only serve to increase our laughter."
"A pretty business indeed!" said Hircan. "Why, if our wives chose to
believe this lady, she would embroil the seemliest household in the
company."
"I am well aware before whom I speak," said Longarine. "Your wives
are so sensible and bear you so much love, that if you were to give
them horns as big as those of a deer, they would nevertheless try to
persuade themselves and every one else that they were chaplets of
roses."
At this the company, and even those concerned, laughed so heartily that
their talk came to an end. However, Dagoucin, who had not yet uttered
a word, could not help saying--

"Men are very unreasonable when, having enough to content
themselves with at home, they go in search of something else. I have
often seen people who, not content with sufficiency, have aimed at
bettering themselves, and have fallen into a worse position than they
were in before. Such persons receive no pity, for fickleness is always
blamed."
"But what say you to those who have not found their other half?" asked
Simontault. "Do you call it fickleness to seek it wherever it may be
found?"
"Since it is impossible," said Dagoucin, "for a man to know the
whereabouts of that other half with whom there would be such perfect
union that one would not differ from the other, he should remain
steadfast wherever love has attached him. And whatsoever may happen,
he should change neither in heart nor in desire. If she whom you love
be the image of yourself, and there be but one will between you, it is
yourself you love, and not her."
"Dagoucin," said Hircan, "you are falling into error. You speak as
though we should love women without being loved in return."
"Hircan," replied Dagoucin, "I hold that if our love be based on the
beauty, grace, love, and favour of a woman, and our purpose be
pleasure, honour, or profit, such love cannot long endure; for when the
foundation on which it rests is gone, the love itself departs from us. But
I am firmly of opinion that he who loves with no other end or desire
than to love well, will sooner yield up his soul in death than suffer his
great love to leave his heart."
"In faith," said Simontault, "I do not believe that you have ever been in
love. If you had felt the flame like other men, you would not now be
picturing to us Plato's Republic, which may be described in writing but
not be put into practice."
"Nay, I have been in love," said Dagoucin, "and am so still, and shall
continue so as long as I live. But I am in such fear lest the
manifestation of this love should impair its perfection, that I shrink

from declaring it even to her from whom I would fain have the like
affection. I dare not even think of it lest my eyes should reveal it, for
the more I keep my flame secret and hidden, the more does my pleasure
increase at knowing that my love is perfect."
"For all that," said Geburon, "I believe that you would willingly have
love in return."
"I do not deny it," said Dagoucin, "but even were I beloved as much as
I love, my love would not be increased any more than it could be
lessened, were it not returned with equal warmth."
Upon this Parlamente, who suspected this fantasy of Dagoucin's, said--
"Take care, Dagoucin; I have known others besides you who preferred
to die rather than speak."
"Such persons, madam;" said Dagoucin, "I deem very happy."
"Doubtless," said Saffredent, "and worthy of a place among the
innocents of whom the Church sings:
'Non loquendo sed moriendo confessi