This borrowing and using of the epithet “golden” might equally well, and with as much probability, have taken place through the influence of Alciat, or by adoption from Whitney’s very beautiful translation and paraphrase of Joachim Bellay’s _Fable of Cupid and Death_. The two were lodging together at an inn,[169] and unintentionally exchanged quivers: death’s darts were made of bone, Cupid’s were “dartes of goulde.” The conception of the tale is admirable, and the narrative itself full of taste and beauty. Premising that the same device is employed by Whitney as by Alciat, we will first give almost a literal version from the 154th and 155th Emblems of the latter author (edition 1581),— “Wandering about was Death along with Cupid as companion, With himself Death was bearing quivers; little Love his weapons; Together at an inn they lodged; one night together one bed they shared; Love was blind, and on this occasion Death also was blind. Unforeseeing the evil, one took the darts of the other, Death the golden weapons,—those of bone the boy rashly seizes. Hence an old man who ought now to be near upon Acheron. Behold him loving,—and for his brow flower-fillets preparing. But I, since Love smote me with the dart that was changed, I am fainting, and their hand the fates upon me are laying. Spare, O boy; spare, O Death, holding the ensigns victorious,— Make me the lover, the old man make him sink beneath Acheron.” And carrying on the idea into the next Emblem (155),— “Why, O Death, with thy wiles darest thou deceive Love the boy, That thy weapons he should hurl, while he thinks them his own?” Whitney’s “sportive tale, concerning death and love,” possesses sufficient merit to be given in full (p. 132),— _De morte, & amore: Iocoſum._ _To_ EDWARD DYER, _Eſquier._ [Illustration: _Whitney, 1586._] “While furious Mors, from place, to place did flie, And here, and there, her fatall dartes did throwe: At lengthe shee mette, with Cupid passing by, Who likewise had, bene busie with his bowe: Within one Inne, they bothe togeather stay’d, And for one nighte, awaie theire shooting lay’d. The morrowe next, they bothe awaie doe haste, And eache by chaunce, the others quiuer takes: The frozen dartes, on Cupiddes backe weare plac’d. The fierie dartes, the leane virago shakes: Whereby ensued, suche alteration straunge, As all the worlde, did wonder at the chaunge. For gallant youthes, whome Cupid thoughte to wounde, Of loue, and life, did make an ende at once. And aged men, whome deathe woulde bringe to grounde: Beganne againe to loue, with sighes, and grones; Thus natures lawes, this chaunce infringed soe: That age did loue, and youthe to graue did goe.