Concerning the role of ladies at court
“You are greatly mistaken,” replied messer Cesare Gonzaga, “because just as no court, however great, can have adornment of splendor or gaiety in it without ladies, neither can any Courtier be graceful or pleasing or brave, or do any gallant deed of chivalry, unless he is moved by the society and by the love and charm of ladies; even discussion about the Couriter is always imperfect unless ladies take part in it and add their part of that grace by which they make Courtiership perfect and adorned.”
Signor Ottaviano laughed, and said: “There you have a little sample of the kind of bait that makes men fools.”
The Book of the Courtier, Baldesar Castiglione 150 (Norton Critical Edition)
