If vacillation dwell with the heart the soul will rue it. Shame and honour clash where the courage of a steadfast man is motley like the magpie. But such a man may yet make merry for heaven and hell have equal part in him. Infidelity's friend is black all over and takes on a murky hue, while the man of loyal temper holds to the white. This winged comparison is too swift for unripe wits. They lack the power to grasp it. For it will wrench past them like a startled hare! So it is with a dull mirror or a blind man's dream. These seaal faces in dim outline: but the dark image does not abide, it gives but a moment's joy. Who tweaks my palm where never a hair did grow? He would have learnt close grips indeed! Were I to cry "Oh!" in fear of that it would mark me as a fool. Shall I find loyalty where it must vanish, like fire in a well or dew in the sun? On the other hand I have yet to meet a man so wise that he would not gladly know what guidance this story requires, what edification it brings. The tale never loses heart, but flees and pursues, turns tail and wheels to the attack and doles out blame and praise. The man who follows all these vicissitudes and neither sits too long nor goes astray and otherwise knows where he stands has been well served by mother wit. Feigned friendship leads to the fire, it destroys a man's nobility like hail. Its loyalty is so short in the tail that if it meet in the wood with gad flies it will not quit a bite in three. These manifold distinctions do not all relate to men. I shall set these marks as a challenge to women. Let any who would learn from me beware to whom she takes her honour and good name, lest she regret the loss of both chastity and affection. With God as my witness I bid good women observe restraint. The lock guarding all good ways is modesty - I need not wish them any better fortune. The false will gain a name for falsity. How lasting is thin ice in August's torrid sun? Their credit will pass as soon away. The beauty of many has been praised far and wide; but if their hearts be counterfeit I rate them as I should a bead set in gold. But I do not reckon it a tawdry thing when the noble ruby with all its virtues is fashioned into base brass, for this I would liken to the spirit of true womanhood. When a woman acts to the best of her nature you will not find me surveying her complexion or probing what shields her heart: if she be well proofed within her breast her good name is safe from harm. Now if I were to judge of men and women as I know them a long story it would be. Hear, then what manner of tale this is, telling of things both pleasant and sad, with joy and trouble for company. Grant there were three of me, each with skill to match mine: there would still be need of unbridled inspiration to tell you, single-handed, what I have a mind to tell! I will renew a tale that tells of great fidelity of unborn womanhood and manly virtue so straight as never was bent in any test of hardness. Steel that he may, his courage never failed him, his conquering hand seized many a glorious prize when he came to battle. Dauntless man, though laggard in discretion! Thus, I salute the hero. Sweet balm to woman's eyes, yet woman's heart's disease I shun of all wrongdoing! As yet he is unborn to this story whom I have chosen for the part, the man of whom this tale is told and all the marvels in it! There is a custom still observed today whenever our western neighbours' laws prevail. It holds even on German soil in one odd corner - you don't need me to tell you that! Whoever it was that held those territories yonder ruled - nor was it shame to him - that the eldest brother (strange though true) should have his father's whole inheritance. That death should sever the rights of which their father's life assured them was the cadet's misfortune. Before, they held in common. Now, the eldest holds alone, was that not a wise man, who laid it down that age should have possessions? "Youth has its fill of good things, old of sighs and sorrows" - "There never was a fate so pitiful as age and poverty!" I will not falter with the truth: that kings, counts, dukes should suffer dispossession of their aires, all but the oldest son - what an outlandish ordinance!