XXIV "And lighter ill, if they as harlots went About the world, -- beggars or slaves to be, Than offer up themselves for punishment, Well merited by their iniquity. Such and like schemes the unhappy dames present, Each harder than the other. Finally, One Orontea amid these upstood, Who drew her origin from Minos' blood. XXV "Youngest and fairest of the crew betrayed She was, and wariest, and who least had erred, Who to Phalantus' arms had come a maid, And left for him her father: she in word, As well as in a kindling face, displayed How much with generous wrath her heart was stirred; Then, reprobating all advised before, Spake; and adopted saw her better lore. XXVI "She would not leave the land they were upon, Whose soil was fruitful, and whose air was sane, Throughout which many limpid rivers ran, Shaded with woods, and for the most part plain; With creek and port, where stranger bark could shun Foul wind or storm, which vexed the neighbouring main, That might from Afric or from Egypt bring Victual or other necessary thing. XXVII "For vengeance (she opined) they there should stay Upon man's sex, which had so sore offended. She willed each bark and crew which to that bay For shelter from the angry tempest wended, They should, without remorse, burn, sack, and slay, Nor mercy be to any one extended. Such was the lady's motion, such the course Adopted; and the statute put in force. XXVIII "The women, when they see the changing heaven Turbid with tempest, hurry to the strand, With savage Orontea, by whom given Was the fell law, the ruler of the land; And of all barks into their haven driven Make havoc dread with fire and murderous brand, Leaving no man alive, who may diffuse Upon this side or that the dismal news. XXIX " 'Twas thus with the male sex at enmity, Some years the lonely women lived forlorn: Then found that hurtful to themselves would be The scheme, save changed; for if from them were born None to perpetuate their empery, The idle law would soon be held in scorn, And fail together with the fruitful reign, Which they had hoped eternal should remain. XXX "So that some deal its rigour they allay, And in four years, of all who made repair Thither, by chance conducted to this bay, Chose out ten vigorous cavaliers and fair; That for endurance in the amorous play Against those hundred dames good champions were: A hundred they; and, of the chosen men, A husband was assigned to every ten. XXXI "Ere this, too feeble to abide the test, Many a one on scaffold lost his head. Now these ten warriors so approved the best, Were made partakers of their rule and bed; First swearing at the sovereign ladies' hest, That they, if others to that port are led, No mercy shall to any one afford, But one and all will put them to the sword.