Page:The Book of the Courtier.djvu/305

 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE COURTIER not attain that pitch. But if the contest were to be fair, we should first need to have someone as clever and eloquent as Count Ludovico and messer Federico are, to describe a Court Lady with all the perfections proper to woman, just as they have described the Courtier with the perfections proper to man. And then, if he who defended their cause were of only moderate cleverness and eloquence, I think that with truth for ally, he would clearly prove that women are as full of virtue as men are." " Nay," repHed my lady Emilia, " far more so; and in proof of this, you see that virtue (la virtu) is feminine, and vice (// visio) is masculine."*" 99 — Then my lord Gaspar laughed, and turning to messer Niccolo Frisio, said: '« What think you of this, Frisio?" Frisio replied: "I am sorry for my lord Magnifico, who has been beguiled by my lady Emilia's promises and soft words into the errour of say- ing that which I blush for on his behalf" My lady Emilia replied, still laughing: " You will be ashamed rather of yourself, when you see my lord Gaspar confuted, confessing his own and your errour, and imploring a pardon that we shall refuse to grant him." Then my lady Duchess said: " As the hour is very late, let the whole matter be postponed until to-morrow; especially since it seems to me wise to follow my lord Magnifico's counsel, which is: that before we enter Upon this controversy, a Court Lady be described with all her perfections, just as these gentlemen have described the perfect Courtier." Then my lady Emilia said: •* My Lady, God forbid that we chance to entrust this task to any fellow-conspirator of my lord Gaspar, who will describe us a Court Lady that can do naught but cook and spin." Frisio said: " But this is her proper calling." Then my lady Emilia said: " I am willing to trust my lord Magnifico, who will (with the i6g