|
What sholde I mo ensamples heer of sayn? |
| Sith that so manye han hemselven slayn, |
| Wel rather than they wolde defouled be, |
| I wol conclude that it is bet for me |
| 715 | To sleen myself, than been defouled thus. |
| I wol be trewe unto Arveragus, |
| Or rather sleen myself in som manere, |
| As dide Demociones doghter deere, |
| By cause that she wolde nat defouled be. |
| 720 | O Cedasus, it is ful greet pitee |
| To reden how thy doghtren deyde, allas, |
| That slowe hemself, for swich manere cas! |
| As greet a pitee was it, or wel moore, |
| The Theban mayden, that for Nichanore |
| 725 | Hirselven slow right for swich manere wo. |
| Another Theban mayden dide right so; |
| For oon of Macidonye hadde hire oppressed, |
| She with hire deeth hir maydenhede redressed. |
| What shal I seye of Nicerates wyf, |
| 730 | That for swich cas birafte hirself hir lyf? |
| How trewe eek was to Alcebiades |
| His love that rather for to dyen chees |
| Than for to suffre his body unburyed be. |
| Lo, which a wyf was Alceste," quod she, |
| 735 | "What seith Omer of goode Penalopee? |
| Al Grece knoweth of hire chastitee. |
| Pardee of Lacedomya is writen thus, |
| That whan at Troie was slayn Protheselaus, |
| Ne lenger wolde she lyve after his day. |
| 740 | The same of noble Porcia telle I may, |
| Withoute Brutus koude she nat lyve, |
| To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yeve. |
| The parfit wyfhod of Arthemesie |
| Honured is thurgh al the Barbarie. |
| 745 | O Teuta, queene! thy wyfly chastitee |
| To alle wyves may a mirrour bee! |
| The same thyng I seye of Bilyea, |
| Of Rodogone, and eek Valeria." |
|
| Why should I of more instances, be fain? |
| Since that so many have their bodies slain |
| Rather than that they should dishonoured be? |
| I will conclude it better is for me |
| 715 | To slay myself than be dishonoured thus. |
| I will be true unto Arviragus, |
| Or else I'll slay myself in some manner, |
| As did Demotion's virgin daughter dear |
| Because she would not violated be. |
| 720 | O Cedasus, it rouses great pity |
| To read of how your daughters died, alas! |
| That slew themselves in such another case. |
| As great a pity was it, aye and more, |
| That a fair Theban maid, for Nicanor, |
| 725 | Did slay herself in such a kind of woe. |
| Another Theban maiden did also; |
| For one of Macedonia her had pressed, |
| And she, by death, her maidenhead redressed. |
| What shall I say of Nicerates' wife, |
| 730 | Who, for like cause, took away her own life? |
| How true, too, was to Alcibiades |
| His love, who chose to drain death to the lees |
| And would not let his corpse unburied be! |
| Lo, what a wife was Alcestis," said she. |
| 735 | "What says Homer of good Penelope? |
| The whole of Hellas knew her chastity. |
| Indeed, of Laodamia they wrote thus, |
| That when at Troy was slain Protesilaus, |
| No longer would she live after his day. |
| 740 | "The same of noble Portia may I say; |
| Without her Brutus could she no wise live, |
| To whom in youth her whole heart she did give. |
| "The perfect wifehood of Artemisia |
| Was honoured throughout all old Caria. |
| 745 | O Teuta, queen! Your wifely chastity, |
| To all wives may a very mirror be. |
| The same thing may I say of Bilia, |
| Of Rhodogune and of Valeria." |
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