MEANWHILE Pacorus, a knight of Pannonia, and nobly born, who was in the Emperor’s train, began to love Lucretia, and, being handsome, he was quite sure she returned his love and that only her woman’s modesty stood in his way. While she, as is the custom of our ladies, looked on all men with a kindly eye. It is an art, or rather an artifice, whereby the real love is disguised. Pacorus was off his head, and nothing would console him but to know Lucretia’s mind.

Now the ladies of Siena are wont to pay frequent visits to the chapel of the Blessed Mary, called of Bethlehem, at the first milestone from the town. Hither Lucretia was walking one day with two girls and an old woman, and Pacorus followed her, carrying in his hand a violet with gilded petals, and in its stalk he had concealed a love-letter, written on the finest parchment.

Don’t be surprised for Cicero tells us he was shown the whole of the Iliad so finely written that it was kept in a nutshell.

Pacorus offers the violet to Lucretia and commends himself. She rejects his gift. The Pannonian insists with many prayers. Then says the old woman: ‘Come, Lady, take the flower that is offered to you. Why be fearful where there is no danger? It’s a little thing, and will give pleasure to this soldier.’

Lucretia was persuaded by the old woman and took the flower. When they had walked a little way, she gave it to one of the maids. Soon they met a couple of students who, without much ado, persuaded the young girl to give them the flower. Whereupon, they opened the stalk and found the love-poem.

Now young men of this class had been very popular with our ladies, but after the Emperor brought his court to Siena, they began to be laughed at, scorned, and disliked; for the clatter of arms pleased our women more than the elegance of learning. Hence arose much malice and great rivalry, and the gown did all it could to damage the sword. So when the trick of the violet was discovered, they went straight to Menelaus and bade him read the letter. He was grieved and went home, where he scolded his wife and filled all the house with his uproar. But she denied her guilt and told him what had happened, bringing the old woman as a witness. So he went to the Emperor and complained, and Pacorus was sent for, who confessed his fault and asked pardon, swearing he would pester Lucretia no more. For he knew well that Jove does not condemn, but rather approves a lover’s perjury; so he fostered his barren flame the more diligently, the more it was opposed.