“Certain it is that he who loves truly bends all his thoughts to serve and please the lady of his love, without being shown the way by others; but as these loving services are sometimes not clearly perceived, I think that besides loving and serving it is further necessary to make some other demonstration of his love so evident that the lady cannot hide her knowledge that she is loved; yet with such modesty withal that he may not seem to have small respect for her. And since you, my Lady, began to tell how the lover’s soul must be the obedient handmaid of his beloved, I pray you explain this secret also, which seems to me very important.”
Messer Cesare laughed, and said:
“If the lover is so modest that he is ashamed to tell her of his love, let him write it to her.”
My lady Emilia added:
“Nay, if he is as discreet as becomes him, he ought to be sure of not offending her before he declares himself to her.”
Then my lord Gaspar said:
“All women like to be sued in love, even though they mean to refuse that which they are sued for.”
The Magnifico Giuliano replied:
“You are very wrong; nor should I advise the Courtier ever to employ this method, unless he be certain of not being repulsed.”
65.—“Then what is he to do?” said my lord Gaspar.