Page:The Book of the Courtier.djvu/340

 THE THIRD BOOK OF THE COURTIER the wiles of the enemy/" But leaving all these things aside, did not that lofty deed— the discovery of Cataline's conspiracy, whereof Cicero so vaunts himself — spring chiefly from a vile woman?'"— who for this might be said to have been the cause of all the good that Cicero boasts of having wrought the Roman commonwealth. And had I time enough, I should further show you that women have often corrected many of men's errours; but I fear that this discourse of mine is already too long and wearisome: so, having performed according to my ability the task imposed upon me by these ladies, I think it well to give place to someone who will say things worthier to be listened to than any I can say." 32.— Then my lady Emilia said: " Do not deprive women of those true praises that are their due; and remember that if my lord Gaspar, and perhaps my lord Ottaviano as well, listen to you with weariness, we and all these other gentlemen listen to you with pleasure," The Magnifico still wished to stop, but all the ladies began begging him to speak: whereupon he said, laughing: " In order not to make my lord Gaspar more my enemy than he is, I will tell briefly of a few women who occur to my mind, omitting many that I might mention." Then he continued: '• W^hen Philip, son of Demetrius, was laying siege to the city of Chios, he issued an edict promising freedom and their masters' wives to all slaves who should escape from the city and come to him. So great was the women's wrath at this shameful edict that they rushed to the walls in arms, and fought so fiercely that in a short time they drove Philip off with disgrace and loss: which their husbands had not been able to do.''"" " When these same women came to Leuconia with their hus- bands, fathers and brothers (who were going into exile), they performed a deed no less glorious than this: the Erythraeans,''* who were there with their allies, waged war upon these Chiotes, who were unable to resist, and so bound themselves to quit the city in tunic and shift only. Hearing of this shameful bargain, the women bewailed and upbraided the men for abandoning their weapons and going forth almost naked among the enemy; and the men answering that they were already bound, the 200