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."