THE SECOND BOOK OF THE COURTIER
4.— But I think these old men have now sufficient answer. So we will end this homily, perhaps already too diffuse but not wholly irrelevant to our subject; and as it is enough for us to have shown that the courts of our time were worthy of no less praise than those which old men praise so highly,— we will pursue the discussion about the Courtier, from which we may easily understand what rank the court of Urbino held among other courts, and of what quality were the Prince and Lady to whom such noble spirits did service, and how fortunate they might hold themselves who lived in such companionship.
5.— Now the following day having arrived, there were many and diverse discussions among the cavaliers and ladies of the court concerning the debate of the evening before; which in great part arose because my lord Prefect, eager to know what had been said, questioned nearly everyone about it, and (as is always wont to be the case) he received different answers; for some praised one thing and some another, and among many too there was disagreement as to the Count's real opinion, since everyone's memory did not quite fully retain the things that were said.
Thus the matter was discussed nearly all day; and as soon as night set in, my lord Prefect desired that food be served and took all the gentlemen away to supper. When they had done eating, he repaired to the room of my lady Duchess, who, on seeing such a numerous company and earlier than the custom was, said:
"Methinks, messer Federico, it is a heavy burden that is placed upon your shoulders, and great the expectation you must satisfy."
Then without waiting for messer Federico to reply, the Unico Aretino said:
"And what, forsooth, is this great burden? "Who is so foolish that when he knows how to do a thing, does not do it in proper season?"
So, discoursing of this, everyone sat down in the usual place and order, with eager expectation for the debate appointed.
6.— Then messer Federico turned to the Unico, and said: "So, my lord Unico, you do not think that a laborious part and a great burden are imposed on me this evening, having to show in what way, manner and time the Courtier ought to em-
