Page:The Book of the Courtier.djvu/398

THE THIRD BOOK OF THE COURTIER My lord Ottaviano laughed, and said : "The praise and censure that have been bestowed on women beyond their due have so filled the ears and mind of the com- pany as to leave no room for anything else to lodge; besides this, in my opinion the hour is very late," "Then," said my lady Duchess, "we shall have more time by waiting till to-morrow; and meanwhile this praise and censure, which you say have been on both sides bestowed excessively on women, will leave these gentlemen's minds, and thus they will better appreciate that truth which you will tell them." So saying, my lady Duchess rose to her feet, and courteously dismissing the company, retired to her more private room, and everyone went to rest. 242