Page:The Book of the Courtier.djvu/485

THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE COURTIER " Nay, until this evening," said messer Cesare Gonzaga. " How until this evening? " said my lady Duchess. Messer Cesare replied: " Because it is already day; " and he showed her the light that was beginning to come in through the cracks at the windows. Then everyone rose to his feet in great surprise, for the discus- sion did not seem to have lasted longer than usual; but by reason of having been begun much later, and by its pleasantness, it had so beguiled the company that they had not perceived the flight of hours; nor was there anyone who felt the heaviness of sleep upon his eyes, which nearly always happens when the accustomed hour of sleep is passed in watching. The win- dows having then been opened on that side of the palace which looks towards the lofty crest of Mount Catria,** they saw that a beautiful dawn of rosy hue was already born in the east, and that all the stars had vanished save Venus, sweet mistress of the sky, who holds the bonds of night and day; from which there seemed to breathe a gentle wind that filled the air with crisp coolness and began to waken sweet choruses of joyous birds in the murmuring forests of the hills hard by. So, having reverently taken leave of my lady Duchess, they all started towards their chambers without light of torches, that of day being enough for them; and as they were about to quit the room, my lord Prefect turned to my lady Duchess, and said: " My Lady, to finish the controversy between my lord Caspar and my lord Magnifico, we will come with our judge this evening earlier than we did yesterday." My lady Emilia replied: " On condition that if my lord Gaspar wishes to accuse women and put some fresh imputation upon them, as is his wont, he shall also give bond to sustain his charge, for I account him a shifty disputant." 309