LV "The fear of shameful punishment's pursuit Made him with many protestations swear To grant in every thing Gabrina's suit, If from the fortilage they safely fare. So plucks that impious dame, parforce, the fruit Of her desires, and thence retreat the pair. Thus home again the young Philander came, Leaving behind him a polluted name; LVI "And deeply graven in his bosom bore The image of his friend so rashly slain; By this to purchase, to his torment sore, A Progne, a Medea; impious gain! -- And but his knightly faith, and oaths he swore, Were to his fury as a curbing rein, From him when safe she would have met her fate; But lived subjected to his bitterest hate. LVII "Thenceforth he nevermore was seen to smile: All his discourse was sad, and still ensued Sobs from his breast; afflicted in the style Of vext Orestes, when he in his mood Had slain his mother and Aegysthus vile; By vengeful furies for the deed pursued. Till broken by the ceaseless grief he fed, He sickened and betook himself to bed. LVIII "Now in the harlot, when she had discerned This other set by her so little store, The former amorous flame was quickly turned Into despiteous rage and hatred sore; Nor with less wrath she towards my brother burned Than for Argaeus she had felt before; And she disposed herself, in treasons versed, To slay her second husband like the first. LIX "Of a deceitful leech she made assay, Well fitted for the work she had in hand, Who better knew what deadly poisons slay Than he the force of healing syrup scanned; And promised him his service to repay With a reward exceeding his demand, When he should, with some drink of deadly might, Of her detested husband rid her sight. LX "In presence of myself and more beside, The wicked elder, with his deadly dole, Approaching my unhappy brother, cried, `It was a sovereign drink to make him whole.' But here a new device Gabrina tried, And, ere the sickly man could taste the bowl, To rid her of accomplice in the deed, Or to defraud him of his promised meed; LXI "Seized on his hand, the instant he presented The poison to my brother. `Ill my fear, (Exclaimed the dame) by you would be resented, Excited for a spouse I hold so dear. I, that the beverage has not been fermented With evil drug and poisonous, will be clear; Nor deem it meet that you to him convey The proffered bowl, unless you take the say.' LXII "In what condition think you, sir, remained The wretched elder by his fears opprest? Thus by the woman's suddenness constrained, He had no time for thinking what were best. He, lest more doubt of him be entertained, Tastes of the chalice, at Gabrina's hest; And the sick man, emboldened so, drinks up All the remainder of the poisoned cup.