When we are at home we have the
chase and hawking, which cause us to lay aside a thousand foolish
thoughts, and the ladies have their household cares, their work, and
sometimes the dance, in all which they find honourable exercise. So,
speaking on behalf of the men, I propose that you, who are the oldest,
read to us in the morning about the life that was led by Our Lord Jesus
Christ and the great and wonderful works that He did for us; and that
between dinner and vespers we choose some pastime that shall be pleasant
to the body and yet not hurtful to the soul. In this way we shall pass
the day cheerfully."
The Lady Oisille replied that she had been at pains to forget every
description of worldly vanity, and she therefore feared that she should
succeed but ill in the choice of such an entertainment. The matter must
be decided by the majority of opinions, and she begged Hircan to set
forth his own first.
"For my part," said he, "if I thought that the pastime I should choose
would be as agreeable to the company as to myself, my opinion would soon
be given.
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