 |
| Tacuinum sanitatis Casanatense |
"Once I was in Venice. We saw a beautiful woman. One of us asked: 'What do you think of that lady?' One replied: 'I would like her if she did not laugh.' Another said: 'Because of that I like her more.' A third answered: 'I would like her best if she could laugh but hide her missing tooth.' I avoid mentioning her name so as not to insult this lady."
Francesco da Barberino,
Reggimento e costumi di
donna (ca. 1309)
Oh, that jolly Venetian gal! I bet she lost the tooth in an altercation with an Italian gentleman.
