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THE THIRD BOOK OF THE COURTIER The Magnifico replied, laughing: " In those days it was not amiss." " And therefore," said messer Bernardo, " since such a filthy trick as this was not offensive to the men of that time, we may believe that they did not have so gentle a manner of serving women in love as we have. But let us not forsake our first sub- ject, of teaching how to keep love secret." 73,— Then the Magnifico said : " In my opinion, in order to keep love secret it is needful to avoid the causes that make it public, which are many; but there is one chief cause, which is the wish to be too secret and not trust any person whatever. For every lover desires to make his passion known to his beloved, and being alone he is forced to make many more and stronger demonstrations than if he were aided by some loving and faithful friend; because the demonstra- tions that the lover himself makes arouse much greater suspicion than those he makes through intermediaries. And since the human mind is naturally curious to find things out, as soon as a stranger begins to suspect, he employs such diligence that he learns the truth, and having learned it, makes no scruple to pub- lish it — nay, sometimes delights to do so; which is not the case with a friend, who besides helping with comfort and advice, often repairs those mistakes which the blind lover commits, and always contrives secrecy and provides for many things for which he himself cannot provide. Moreover very great relief is felt in telling our passion and unburdening it to a trusty friend, and like- wise it greatly enhances our joys to be able to impart them." 74-— Then my lord Gaspar said: " Another cause discloses love more than this." " And what is it?" replied the Magnifico. My lord Gaspar continued: "The vain ambition joined with madness and cruelty of women ; who, as you yourself have said, try to have as great a number of lovers as they can, and if it were possible would have all of these burn and (once made ashes) after death return alive to die once more. And even although they be in love, still they delight in their lover's torment, because they think that pain and afflictions and continual calling for death give good proof that 238