Supper-time was spent joyously in discoursing of such matters as they
had not brought to an end in the meadow. And this lasted through the
evening, until Oisille begged them to retire so that their minds might
be the more alert on the morrow, after a long, sound sleep, one hour
of which before midnight was, said she, better than three after it.
Accordingly the company parted one from another, betaking themselves to
their respective rooms; and in this wise ended the Second Day.

[Illustration: 029.jpg Tailpiece]




THIRD DAY.

_On the Third Day are recounted Tales of the
Ladies who have only sought what was
honourable in Love, and of the
hypocrisy and wickedness
of the Monks_.




PROLOGUE.

Though it was yet early when the company entered the hall on the morrow,
they found Madame Oisille there before them. She had been meditating for
more than half-an-hour upon the lesson that she was going to read; and
if she had contented them on the first and second days, she assuredly