[De duobus amantibus Euryalo et Lucretia]

continues from previous page: of this for the sake of the kingdom of heaven we have subjected ourselves. The misery of men is wonderful. We do not want to endure short labors for the longest joys. For the sake of love, whose happiness can be compared to smoke, we expose ourselves to infinite anxieties. Behold me now, an example; I will now be the fable of all, nor do I know what outcome will appear. From here, if any of the gods drags me, nowhere will he entangle me again. O god, take me from here for my youth's sake. Do not measure my ignorances; preserve me so that I may perform penance for these faults. Lucretia did not love me but wanted to catch me like a stag in the nets. Behold, my day is coming; no one can help me except you, my God. I had often heard of the deceits of women, nor did I know how to decline them. But if I escape now, no woman's disguises will ever deceive me." But Lucretia was urged by no lesser troubles, who feared not only for her own safety but also for her lover's. But as the talent of women in sudden, frightening situations is quicker than that of men, she thought of a remedy. "Come, my man," she said, "the little chest is there upon the window, where I remember you put some documents. Let us see if the papers are locked in there." And suddenly, as if she wanted to open the little chest, she pushed that hidden thing downward. And as if it had fallen by chance, "Alas, my man," she said, "help, so that we do not suffer any damage." The chest fell from the window; "Go quickly, so that the jewelry or the writings do not perish. Go, go, both of you, why do you stand? I will watch from here, so that no one commits theft." See the boldness of the woman. Now, who can trust women? No one is so sharp-eyed that he cannot be deceived. He was not deceived who did not try to deceive, but we are happy by fortune more than by talent. This move having been made, Menelaus and Betus suddenly rushed into the street. The house, according to the Etruscan custom, was high, and there were many steps to descend; from here, space was given to Eurialus to change his place, who, upon the warning of Lucretia, retreated into new hiding places. They, having collected the jewelry and writings, because they did not find the documents they had been looking for, transferred their search to where Eurialus had hidden. Everywhere they were made masters of nothing. After Lucretia was greeted, they departed. She, having withdrawn the bolt from the doors, "Come out, my Eurialus, come out, my soul," she said. "Come, sum of my joys, come, fountain of my delights, honeycomb of honey, come, sweetness of my life; all my things are safe now, now a free field lies open to our loves. Now there is a place for embraces, safe from our adversaries. Fortune willed it, but the gods watch over our love, nor did they wish to abandon such faithful lovers. Come now into my arms; there is nothing that you should fear anymore, my lily and my rose. Why do you stand?