- The author wants to tell us his reasons for participating in this writing experiment.
- He wants to pay it forward: he's been comforted by friends in times of distress and now it's his turn.
- What distress, you ask? He was burned by love and it nearly destroyed him.
- This is not garden-variety lust. We're talking "inflamed beyond measure with a most lofty and noble love."
- The problem with this love wasn't she-cruelty; he was just way too into her.
- But God has ordained that this love should cool and now he's left with only "delectable feelings."
- He's also left with good memories of those that helped him through it, so now he wants to help others in the same situation.
- But he has a target audience in mind.
- He wants to help the ladies, since they suffer so much more in love than men do.
- That's because women don't have the freedom men have. They have more social restraints and have to stay home and live quietly. It's not like they can drown their sorrows by hunting or drinking with their buddies.
- But he doesn't intend to help ALL women: just the ones in love. The others can just keep embroidering cushions and stuff.
- The narrator then sets out his plan: 7 ladies and 3 men will tell 100 stories over 10 days.
- He's going to include some songs, too, just for entertainment.
- The stories (and songs) won't just be pleasing. They're also meant to provide "useful advice."
- For instance, he'll offer ideas about what should be avoided and what should be done.
- This way, lovelorn ladies will finally have some way to ease their suffering.