"Madam," said Saffredent, "there are some of the kind that I describe,
whom you reckon among the most honourable in the land."

"You may be sure," said Hircan, "that a crafty woman will be able to
live where all others die of hunger."

"And," said Longarine, "when their craftiness is discerned, 'tis death."

"Nay, 'tis life," said Simontault, "for they deem it no small glory
to be reputed more crafty than their fellows. And the reputation of
'crafty,' gained thus at their own expense, brings lovers more readily
under subjection to them than does their beauty, for one of the greatest
delights shared by those who are in love is to conduct the affair
slyly."

"You speak," said Ennasuite, "of wanton love, for the honourable has no
need of concealment."

"Ah!" said Dagoucin, "I pray you put that thought out of your head.
The more precious the drug, the less should it be exposed to the air,
because of the perverseness of those who trust only to outward signs.
These are not different in the case of honourable and faithful affection
than in any other case, so they must none the less be hidden when the
love is virtuous than when it is the opposite, if one would avoid the
evil opinion of those who cannot believe that a man may love a lady in
all honour, and who, being themselves slaves to pleasure, think every
one else the same. If we were all of good faith, look and speech would
be without concealment, at least toward those who would rather die than
take them in an evil sense."