Page:The Book of the Courtier.djvu/210

 Duchess to postpone the rest of our talk until to-morrow, instead of trying to escape fatigue by subterfuge."

Messer Federico began to make answer, but my lady Emilia quickly interrupted him and said:

"It is not in order for the discussion to spend itself in your praises; it is enough that you are all well known. But as I remember. Sir Count, that you accused me last evening of not distributing the labour equally, it were well to let messer Federico rest awhile, and to give messer Bernardo Bibbiena the task of speaking about pleasantries, because we not only know him to be very amusing in continuous talk, but we remember that he has several times promised us to try to write upon this subject, and hence we may believe that he has already thought much about it, and therefore ought to satisfy us fully. Afterwards, when we have finished discussing pleasantries, messer Federico shall go on with what he has left to say about the Courtier."

Thereupon messer Federico said:

"My Lady, I do not know what I have left to say; but like the wayfarer at noon, weary with the fatigue of his long journey, I will refresh myself with messer Bernardo's talk and the sound of his words, as if under some delightful and shady tree, with the soft murmur of a plashing spring. Then perhaps, being revived a little, I shall be able to say something more."

Messer Bernardo replied, laughing:

"If I show you my head, you shall see what shade is to be expected from the leafage of my tree.188 As for listening to the murmur of that plashing spring, perhaps you may; for I was once turned into a spring, not by any of the ancient gods but by our friend Fra Mariano,60 and I have never stood in need of water from then till now."

Then everyone began to laugh, for this pleasantry referred to by messer Bernardo happened at Rome in the presence of Cardinal Galeotto of San Pietro ad Vincula,189 and was well known to all.

45.— The laughter having ceased, my lady Emilia said:

"Now stop making us laugh by your use of pleasantries, and teach us how we are to use them, and from what they are