"
"I have never seen a great fire from which there came no smoke," said
Longarine, "but I have often seen smoke where there was no fire. The
wicked are as suspicious when there is no mischief as when there is."
"Truly, Longarine," Hircan forthwith rejoined, "you have spoken so well
in support of the honour of ladies wrongfully suspected, that I give you
my vote to tell the eighth tale. I hope, however, that you will not make
us weep, as Madame Oisille did, by too much praise of virtuous women."
At this Longarine laughed heartily, and thus began:--"You want me to
make you laugh, as is my wont, but it shall not be at women's expense.
I will show you, however, how easy it is to deceive them when they are
inclined to be jealous and esteem themselves clever enough to deceive
their husbands."
[Illustration: 113.jpg Tailpiece]
APPENDIX.
A. (Prologue, Page 31.)
The dedication with which Anthony Le Macon prefaces his translation of
Boccaccio contains several curious passages. In it Margaret is styled
"the most high and most illustrious Princess Margaret of France, only
sister of the King, Queen of Navarre, Duchess of Alencon and of Berry;"
while the author describes himself as "Master Anthoine Le Macon,
Councillor of the King, Receiver General of his finances in Burgundy,
and very humble secretary to this Queen.
Pages:
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278