She with no winding turns the truth concealed, } But put the woman off, and stood revealed: } With faults confessed commissioned her to go, If pity yet had place, and reconcile her foe. The welcome message made, was soon received; 'Twas what he wished, and hoped, but scarce believed; Fate seemed a fair occasion to present, } He knew the sex, and feared she might repent, } Should he delay the moment of consent. } There yet remained to gain her friends, (a care The modesty of maidens well might spare;) But she with such a zeal the cause embraced, (As women, where they will, are all in haste,) That father, mother, and the kin beside, Were overborne by fury of the tide: With full consent of all she changed her state; Resistless in her love, as in her hate. By her example warned, the rest beware; More easy, less imperious, were the fair; And that one hunting, which the devil designed For one fair female, lost him half the kind. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 218: Derrick, _spoke_. The reading of the folio, besides furnishing an accurate rhyme, is in itself far more picturesque. The spectre is described in the very attitude of assault.] ORIGINAL, FROM THE DECAMERON. THE FIFTH DAY. NOVEL VIII. _Anastasio being in love with a young lady, spent a good part of his fortune without being able to gain her affections. At the request of his relations he retires to Chiassi, where he sees a lady pursued and slain by a gentleman, and then given to the dogs to be devoured. He invites his friends, along with his mistress, to come and dine with him, when they see the same thing, and she, fearing the like punishment, takes him for her husband._ When Lauretta had made an end, Philomena began, by the queen's command, thus: Most gracious lady, as pity is a commendable quality in us, in like manner do we find cruelty most severely punished by divine justice; which, that I may make plain to you all, and afford means to drive it from your hearts, I mean to relate a novel as full of compassion as it is agreeable.