from her what he desires, provided he seek it with wisdom and passion.
But ignorance and foolish fear cause men to lose many a good chance; and
then they impute their loss to their mistress's virtue, which they have
never verified with so much as the tip of the finger. A fortress was
never well assailed but it was taken."

"Nay," said Parlamente, "I am amazed that you two should dare to talk in
this way. Those whom you have loved owe you but little thanks, or else
your courting has been carried on in such evil places that you deem all
women to be alike."

"For myself, madam," said Saffredent, "I have been so unfortunate that
I am unable to boast; but I impute my bad luck less to the virtue of
the ladies than to my own fault, in not conducting my enterprises with
sufficient prudence and sagacity. In support of my opinion I will cite
no other authority than the old woman in the _Romance of the Rose_, who
says--

'Of all, fair sirs, it truly may be said,
Woman for man and man for woman's made.' (3)

3 From John de Mehun's continuation of the poem.--M. 2

Accordingly I shall always believe that if love once enters a
woman's heart, her lover will have fair fortune, provided he be not a
simpleton."

"Well," said Parlamente, "if I were to name to you a very loving woman
who was greatly sought after, beset and importuned, and who, like a
virtuous lady, proved victorious over her heart, flesh, love and lover,