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I think our lady here had been well pleased If this, her valiant lord, had from the wars Return'd more leisurely.—Her quondam lover, The Marquis of Tortona, in the neighbourhood With his gay troops, bound for some petty fray By them, in lofty phrase, yclep'd war, Has made a halt, and—

Fie! thou canst not think That she could turn her heart from valiant Garcio To such a fool as he?

Yet such strange things have happen'd.—True, indeed, So vile a change could not at once be made. But let us now imagine some soft dame, Whose valiant lord is absent, in her castle "Good Madam," saith her waiting gentlewoman, "A knight is at your gate."—"He shall not enter: It is a fool; go, bid him wend his way."— "And will you be so rude?"—"Ay, true indeed; Then, for good courtesy, since it must be, Ev'n bid him enter;—'tis a harmless fool."—