[De duobus amantibus Euryalo et Lucretia]

continues from previous page: she had finished and Lucretia arrived, she was expected at the house, as if she had not been found. Meanwhile, she was with Eurialus. After two days, the time was set, but these days seemed to the lovers as long as years, so that hours were lengthened by sighs and shortened by evil sighs. If fortune does not smile upon the desires of the lover, she presents traps, so that when the day came, the Eglissa a servant or attendant shut the house against the visitor. Who soon brought a sad message to Eurialus. To whom it was no less troublesome than to Lucretia. Who, after she recognized the detected deceits, said: "If this path fails, I shall attempt another. Nor is it possible for anyone to resist my pleasures." Pandarus, a man related to her, already knew the secrets of Lucretia, for a burning spirit could not be hidden. Therefore, she signaled Eurialus. As he spoke to him so that he might be faithful and a way of meeting could be shown. But to Eurialus, it did not seem safe to trust him, whom he saw clinging to Menelaus, and he feared a deceit might lie beneath. Meanwhile, Eurialus was ordered to seek Rome and to negotiate with the supreme Pontiff concerning the coronation. Which matter was most troublesome both to himself and to his beloved. But it was necessary to bear the command of the leader. Therefore, a journey of two months was made. Lucretia stayed at home, shut the windows, put on sad clothes, and went out for nothing. Everyone wondered, and not knowing the cause, they seemed to be widows, and as if the sun had failed, they thought they were living in darkness. The servants, who often saw her lying in her bed and never seen to be happy, attributed it to sickness, and sought whatever remedies could be brought, but she never wished to visit or leave the chamber, unless after Eurialus returned and she learned that he was secretly meeting her. Then, as if awakened from sleep, she put aside her mournful garment clothes of mourning and her ornaments were put on her body, she opened the windows, and waited for him with tears. When Caesar saw her, he said, "Do not deny it anymore, Eurialus, the matter is detected. No one could see Lucretia while you were absent; now that you have returned, we see the dawn. For what limit is there to love? Love cannot be covered, nor can a cough be hidden." Eurialus said, "I do not know what this is about, Caesar, the neighing of horses and the clatter of the armor perhaps excited her." And having spoken thus, he looked at Lucretia secretly and cast his eyes into her eyes, and that was the first greeting after the return. A few days then intervening, Nisus, the faithful companion of Eurialus, while he favored the cause of his friend anxiously and watched the tavern, which, situated behind the house of Menelaus, had a view into the chamber of Lucretia. Therefore, he conciliates the innkeeper to himself