"I pray you," said Ennasuite, "tell me whether the Magdalen has not now
more honour among men than her sister who continued a virgin?" (5)

5 Martha, sister of Lazarus and Mary Magdalen.--M.

"I acknowledge," said Longarine, "that we praise her for the great love
she bore to Jesus Christ and for her deep repentance; yet the name of
sinner clings to her."

"I do not care what name men may give me," said Ennasuite, "if only God
forgive me, and my husband do the same. There is nothing for which I
should be willing to die."

"If the lady loved her husband as she ought," said Dagoucin, "I am
amazed that she did not die of sorrow on looking at the bones of the man
whom her guilt had slain."

"Why, Dagoucin," returned Simontault, "have you still to learn that
women know neither love nor even grief?"

"Yes, I have still to learn it," said Dagoucin, "for I have never made
trial of their love, through fear of finding it less than I desired."

"Then you live on faith and hope," said Nomerfide, "as the plover does
on air. (6) You are easily fed."

6 This popular error was still so prevalent in France in
the last century, that Buffon, in his Natural History, took
the trouble to refute it at length.--B. J.