that Vulcan had put there and that neither of them knew anything about. For even if he had made the nets finer than spider web, they would have seen them and Vulcan would have been deceived. For they would not have entered into the trap because every net would have appeared to them thicker and longer than a large beam, and Vulcan, the felon, burning with jealousy and anger, would never have proved their adultery. The gods would never have known anything about it, if they had had such a mirror, for they would have fled from there when they saw the nets stretched out there and run to lie elsewhere, where they might better hide their desire. Or they would have found some solution to avoid their misfortune without being shamed or troubled.  
 
Do I tell the truth, by the faith you owe me, in what you have heard?'  
'Yes, certainly,' the priest said. 'It is true, these mirrors were of the utmost necessity to them then, for they could have come together elsewhere had they known the danger. Or perhaps Mars, the god of battle,

would have taken revenge on jealous Vulcan by cutting the nets with his sword that cuts so well. Then he could have satisfied his woman at his ease in bed, without seeking any other place, or near the bed, even on the floor. And if by any chance - and it would have been a cruel, hard one - Dan Vulcan had come upon them there, even when Mars held her, then Venus, a very wise lady - for there is a great deal of fraud in women - if she could have had enough time to cover her loins when she heard the door open, certainly would have had excuses, through some pleasantry, and would have made up some other reason for Mars's presence in the house. And she would have sworn whatever he had liked until she had robbed him of his proofs, and she would have forced him to believe that the thing was never true. Even if he had seen it, she would have said that his sight had been dark and confused. Thus would she have used double talk in different convolutions to find excuses, for nothing swears or lies more boldly than a woman,

and Mars would have been acquitted completely.'  
'Certainly you speak well, sir priest, like a worthy, courteous, wise man. Women have too many devious and malicious ways in their hearts, and he who does not know that is a stupid fool. However, we do not excuse women for their ways. Certainly they swear and lie more boldly than any man, particularly when they feel themselves guilty of some misdeed, and they will be especially careful never to get caught in such a deed. Thus I can truthfully say that anyone who sees a woman's heart should never be proud of it. He would not do so safely, since some misfortune would happen to him.'  
 
Thus, it seemed to me, Nature and Genius agreed with each other. Still, since I want to see the truth, Solomon says that a man who found a good woman would be blessed.