It is
true, ladies, that my story is not a very clean one, but you gave me
license to speak the truth, and I have done so in order to show you that
no one is sorry when a deceiver is deceived."
"It is commonly said," replied Hircan, "that words have no stink, yet
those for whom they are intended do not easily escape smelling them."
"It is true," said Oisille, "that such words do not stink, but there are
others which are spoken of as nasty, and which are of such evil odour
that they disgust the soul even more than the body is disgusted when it
smells such a sugar-loaf as you described in the tale."
"I pray you," said Hircan, "tell me what words you know of so foul as to
sicken both the heart and soul of a virtuous woman."
"It would indeed be seemly," replied Oisille, "that I should tell you
words which I counsel no woman to utter."
"By that," said Saffredent, "I quite understand what those terms are.
They are such as women desirous of being held discreet do not commonly
employ. But I would ask all the ladies present why, when they dare not
utter them, they are so ready to laugh at them when they are used in
their presence."
Then said Parlamente--
"We do not laugh because we hear such pretty expressions, though it
is indeed true that every one is disposed to laugh on seeing anybody
stumble or on hearing any one utter an unfitting word, as often happens.
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