Since, then, you think that he is not hiding the truth
from you, put him, I beg you, on oath as regards his love. If he loves
another, I am content that you should believe him, and if not, you will
know that what I say is true."
The Duke thought his wife's reasonings very good, and, taking the
gentleman into the country with him, said--
"My wife continues still of the same mind, and has set before me an
argument that causes me grave suspicion against you. It is deemed
strange that you who are so gallant and young have never been known to
love, and this makes me think that you have such affection for her as
she says, and that the hope it gives you renders you content to think
of no other woman. As a friend, therefore, I pray you, and as a master I
command you to tell me whether you are in love with any lady on earth."
Although the gentleman would have fain concealed his passion yet as
he loved his life, he was obliged, on seeing his master's jealousy, to
swear to him that he did indeed love one whose beauty was so great, that
the beauty of the Duchess or of any lady of the Court would be simply
ugliness beside it. But he entreated that he might never be compelled to
name her, since the agreement between himself and his sweetheart was of
such a nature that it could not be broken excepting by whichever of them
should be the first to make it known.
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