The sorrowing fair-one clasp'd him to her breast
And mourn'd his fruitless suit so late addrest.

Sore wept the crafty Greek, and, with a sigh,
Can'st thou, inhuman, let thy lover die?

435

Give me, at least, ere we for ever part,

T'allay the flame that preys upon my heart;
One moment past in thy belov'd embrace,
Will make me death without complaining face.
Not less my wish (the amorous girl replies,
Consenting passion sparkling in her eyes)
But how, with spies surrounded, can we prove
Our mutual warmth, and give a loose to love?
Ah! (said the Greek) too well convinc'd I know,
Did half my ardor in thy bosom glow,
Thy wit would ev'n this night some means employ,
To snatch at least a momentary joy.

In vain (she answers) much-lov'd youth, you sue,
Since I each night repose between the two.
Weak is th' excuse (the plaintive Greek rejoin'd)
For if thou feel'st my woe, thy gentle mind
Will yield relief, and spite of all, remove
Whate'er may seem t' oppose the suit of love.

440

415

450

Awhile she paus'd; then, smiling bade him come, While all were slumbering, to the wish'd-for room; 455 Describ'd the way, and taught what course to take, How, undiscover'd, his return to make.'

Well pleas'd he heard, and when the drowsy god Had laid on every eye his potent rod,

He seeks her door, with long and silent strides ; 460 The door admits him: slowly in he glides:

Firm on his hindmost foot awhile he stays,

The other, rais'd, with cautious stealth essays

A forward step; and wide his hands are spread,

On either side to find th' expected bed.

465

He reach'd the feet, and made his artful way

Beneath the covering where Flammetta lay.

Soon as the Greek, the night's short blessing o'er, Returning seeks the way he came before,

And Phœbus' beams to light the east begin,

470

Flammetta rising lets the pages in.

Now with his friend the king prepares to jest:

Brother (he cry'd) it fits thee sure to rest:

Some leisure must recruit your weary spright,
Tir'd with the watching of so long a night.

Jocundo then replies in taunting vein :
Repose be
yours, since you the toil sustain.
You use my words--fair rest betide your grace,
As to the huntsman weary'd in the chace.

475

480

I, (said the king) I would in truth have try'd
The lover's suit, but found my suit deny'd.
Again Jocundo thus---Your slave am I,
'Tis yours to break, or with our terms comply.
But such dispute or taunts there needed none,
You might have chid my love, and claim'd your own.
Words follow'd words, replies succeed replies,

Till oft repeated jests, grown serious, rise

486

To harsh debate: they call the girl to clear

The doubtful truth: the girl, with conscious fear,

Steps trembling forth, commanded to reveal

490

What each alike seem'd earnest to conceal.
Declare (with stern regard the monarch cry'd)
And fear not evil shall thyself betide,

Which of us two, so long in love's delight

Usurp'd with thec the pleasures of the night?

495

Impatient both await the girl's reply,
And hope her words will fix on one the lye:
Flammetta, lowly prostrate on the ground,
Of life despairing since her fault was found,
Implor'd forgiveness, and with tears confess'd,

500

That, urg'd by love, which long had sway'd her breast, Some pity on a faithful swain to take,

Who years had sigh'd, and sigh'd but for her sake,

505

That night she gave the tender frailty way,
In hopes one error would alike betray
Each noble lover that beside her lay.

Thus she Jocundo and the king amaz'd,
Long, on each others face in silence gaz'd:

Ne'er had they heard, nor through the world believ'd Two like themselves by female guile deceiv'd.

Now sudden mirth the place of wonder took,

And either's side convulsive laughter shook

With peals so loud, that scarcely could they breathe,
But sunk exhausted on the couch beneath.

510

So much they laugh'd, their bosoms ach'd with pain, 515 Nor could their eyes the gushing tears restrain:

At length they said---What man shall hope to stay

His wife from wandering the forbidden way?
Since we, in one same bed, so closely join'd,
Between us both in vain this lass confin'd?
Were numerous as his hairs a husband's eyes,
A wife's deceit would every watch surprise.
A thousand women we before have try'd,
Yet found not one our amorous suit deny'd.
A second thousand like the first would fall:
But this last proof may well suffice for all.

520

525

Then cease we more to blame our mates, or find

Their thoughts less chaste than those of all their kind; And since they both are virtuous as the best,

Let us return and live with them at rest.

530

This point resolv'd, they bade the lover come, (Call'd by Flammetta) to receive his doom;

With many a witness present, for his bride
They gave the girl, with ample gifts beside;
Then both return'd contented to their wives,
And led in peace the remnant of their lives.
Here ceas'd mine host his story to relate,
While every guest with mute attention sate:
Nor yet the Pagan knight his silence broke,
At length, the tale concluded, thus he spoke.
What various frauds, of every artful name,
The wily heart of womankind can frame!

535

540

Ver. 537. Here ceas'd mine host---] This is copied by Spenser, in his account of the Squire of Dames, with no less severity on the fair sex, where the squire relates, that travelling through the world in search of a chaste woman, he finds only three to reject his suit, thus humourously characterized by the poet.

The first that then refused me (said he)
Certes, was but a common courtesane,
Yet flat refus'd to have a-do with me,
Because I could not give her many a jane:
(Thereat full heartily laugh'd Satyrane)
The second was an holy nun to chose,
Which would not let me be her chapellane,
Because she knew (she said) I would disclose
Iler counsel if she should her trust in me repose.
The third a damsel was of low degree,
Whom I in country cottage found by chance,
Full little weened I, that charity

Had lodging in so mean a maintenance:

Save her, I never any woman found

That chastity did for itself embrace, &c.

Fairy Queen, B. III. C..vii. St. 58.

Not all the power of human wit can tell,
The thousandth part in which the sex excel.

But one of graver years, and reverend mien, And better judgment at the board was seen, Who inly wroth to hear the beauteous race Thus roughly treated by a tongue so base,

545

And, conscious of their worth, in secret burn'd,
And to the vile defamer thus return'd.

550

What cruel slanders every day supplies

Detested tales, but thine the worst of lies!
Whoe'er thy author be, though on his tongue,

In other points, ev'n gospel truths were hung;
Not fair experience of the female kind,
But some offence late rankling in his mind
Urg'd him to speak; his hatred of a few,

555

On all the sex such blame unjustly threw.
But let his wrath subside, and soon your ear

Would more their praises than their censure hear.

560

For one to blame, his lips might number o'er
A hundred women fam'd for virtuous lore:
Then cease to rail at all--if one has swerv'd

From honour's laws, which thousands have preserv'd.
And since thy friend Valerio other taught,

565

Not judgment sway'd, but passion warp'd his thought.
Say, which of you, in nuptial union ty'd,
Has never from his consort stept aside;

Who, when occasion call'd, refus'd to taste
Forbidden pleasures, or his substance waste
On alien charms; while, save the abandon'd crew
Of hireling loves, no women men pursue?

Is there a husband will not leave his home
(Though fair his wife) for other joys to roam;

570