[De duobus amantibus Euryalo et Lucretia]

Sosias asked, "Are you, Lucretia, aware of Eurialus's position?" Lucretia replied, "Do you touch me, Sosias? Why do you ask this?" Lucretia said, "I know he will not be unsuitable. Your kindness gives me this hope. Of those who stand by Caesar, no one is more pleasing to me than Eurialus. My spirit is moved toward him. I know not by what flames I am burned. I can neither forget him nor give myself peace, unless I make myself known to him. Go, I pray you, Sosias, meet Eurialus and tell him that I myself love him. I want nothing more from you, nor will you make this message in vain."

"What do I hear?" replied Sosias. "Am I to do or contemplate such a disgrace? Alas! Should I, an old man, begin to deceive my master, which I abhorred as a youth? Rather, you noble offspring of this city, extinguish these wicked flames from your chaste breast. Do not follow a dire hope. Extinguish the fire. He who opposes the first assaults of love easily repels it. He who feeds the sweet evil with caresses gives himself into the service of a harsh and insolent master. He cannot shake off the yoke when he wishes. If your husband were to find this out, alas, in what ways he would lacerate you! No love can remain hidden for long."

"Be silent," said Lucretia. "There is no place for reason. He fears nothing who does not fear to die. Whatever outcome chance provides, let it be."

"Where are you going, wretched one?" asked Sosias. "You are rendering your house infamous. You will be an adulteress, alone in your madness. There are a thousand eyes around you. They do not leave a hidden crime unpunished. If the household does not know, your servants will. Even if they are silent, the very beasts, the dogs, the doorposts, and the marble will accuse you. And though you hide everything from the one who sees all things referring to God, you cannot hide. Learn that the punishment is present in the conscience of the mind, and a soul full of guilt, fearing itself, is denied faith in great crimes. Cease, I beg you, the flames of impious love. Banish the deed from your chaste mind. Fear the horror of mixing new embraces with those of your husband."

Lucretia replied, "What you say is right, but madness forces me to follow worse things. The mind sees how much it is perishing and flees, yet madness conquers and reigns. Love, powerful, dominates the whole mind. I am compelled to follow what love commands. Alas, I have struggled too much in vain. If you pity me, endure the message."

Sosias sighed at these words. "By these hairs gray with old age, by a chest weary with sins, and by the faithful services I have provided your family, I beg you, suppliant: stop the madness and help yourself. Part of health is the desire to be healed."

Then Lucretia said, "Not all shame has left my character. I obey you, Sosias. Since the love that refuses to be hidden is what it is, there is only one escape from this evil: to anticipate the sin through death."