Tale XLII.  The Girl refusing the Gift of the Young Prince.

Tale XLIII.  Jambicque repudiating her Lover.

Tale XLIV. (B).  The Lovers returning from their Meeting in the Garden.

Tale Tale XLV.  The Man of Tours and his Serving-maid in the Snow.

Tale XLVI. (B).  The Young Man beating his Wife.

Tale xlvii.  The Gentleman reproaching his Friend for his Jealousy.

Tale XLVIII.  The Grey Friars Caught and Punished.

Tale XLIX.  The Countess facing her Lovers.

Tale L. The Lady killing herself on the Death of her Lover.

FOURTH DAY.

On the Fourth Day are chiefly told Tales of the virtuous patience and long suffering of Ladies to win over their husbands; and of the prudence that Men have used towards Women to save the honour of their families and lineage.

PROLOGUE.

The Lady Oisille, as was her excellent custom, rose up on the morrow very much earlier than the others, and meditating upon her book of Holy Scripture, awaited the company which, little by little, assembled together again.  And the more slothful of them excused themselves in the words of the Bible, saying, “I have a wife, and therefore could not come so quickly.” (1) In this wise it came to pass that Hircan and his wife Parlamente found the reading of the lesson already begun.  Oisille, however, knew right well how to pick out the passage in the Scriptures, which reproves those who neglect the hearing of the Word, and she not only read the text, but also addressed to them such excellent and pious exhortations that it was impossible to weary of listening to her.

     1 “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”—­St.
     Luke xiv. 20.—­M.

The reading ended, Parlamente said to her—­

“I felt sorry for my slothfulness when I came in, but since my error has led you to speak to me in such excellent fashion, my laziness has profited me double, for I have had rest of body by sleeping longer, and satisfaction of spirit by hearing your godly discourse.”  “Well,” said Oisille, “let us for penance go to mass and pray Our Lord to give us both will and power to fulfil His commandments; and then may He command us according to His own good pleasure.”

As she was saying these words, they reached the church, where they piously heard mass.  And afterwards they sat down to table, where Hircan failed not to laugh at the slothfulness of his wife.  After dinner they withdrew to rest and study their parts, (2) and when the hour was come, they all found themselves at the wonted spot.

     2 Meaning what they had to relate.  The French word is
     rolle from rotulus.—­M.

Then Oisille asked Hircan to whom he would give his vote to begin the day.