Sappho having been confirmed in her rights, accused Phaon of coldness and ingratitude. “When,” said she, “I had given him my heart, I was no more mistress of myself; I wished by my works to immortalize my love and his name: hard as the rocks of Parnassus, inflexible as the fiercest dog of Thessaly, impenetrable as the isthmus of Corinth, he disdained my flame; my verse made no impression upon him; weary of my love, he sought but to escape from me; insensible to my anguish, when I threw myself from the precipice of Leucadia, he manifested no sorrow. O, rage! O, fury of love! avenge my wrongs.” Lucifer ordained that Sappho should present her case before the goddess of females. Artemisa rehearsed all she had done to eternise the memory of her spouse: she repeated a hundred times the name of her dear Mausoleus, and demanded that he should be again restored to her, since she had died for love of him. The matron of Ephesus, who stood near her, began to laugh loudly, at the idea of a woman’s demanding her lost husband from hell. Both of them being adjudged fools, for contrary reasons, were remanded to their dungeons. Lucretia, a Roman lady, succeeded them; she demanded justice against Tarquin, who, by her violation, had been the cause of her death. Jupiter, who wished to amuse himself, asked her if she had made any resistance. “Yes,” said she. “What hindered you from stabbing Tarquin as he approached you?” “He was the stronger party, and would have killed me.” “Was he alone?” “Yes.” “Was there ever seen a man, who could, unassisted, force a woman to the gratification of his lust? Why did you not rather suffer death, than permit him to consummate his enterprise?” “You are so importunate, that I must needs avow the truth: Collatinus, my husband, discovering my intrigues with the young prince, poinarded me, and then spread a false report, to advance the designs of Brutus and himself. This Jupiter,” murmured she, retiring, very angry, “is an impertinent—he will not believe that any woman could be capable of so heroic an action as that attributed to me, and that they are all coquettes.” “Let all the women,” said Lucifer, “betake themselves to the tribunal established for them.” He then gave orders for the approach of four princes, who craved audience: the first was Darius, who impleaded Alexander the Great: the second, Bajazet, who accused Tamerlane of robbery: the third, Constantine Paleologus, who reproached Mahomet with his cruelty and ambition; the fourth, Montezuma, king of Mexico, who complained against Fernandez Cortes, and the usurpation of the Spaniards. The three first replied, custom, and the laws of war: as to the last, he was listened to, more from curiosity than any intention to reinstate him in his possessions.