THE appointed hour had come, and Euryalus, full of joy despite the two perils he had encountered, scaled the wall and entered by the open window. He found Lucretia sitting by the hearth, with refreshments ready, awaiting him. And she rose, when she saw it was her lover, and kissed him full on the mouth. Embraces followed, kisses were exchanged, and they spread their sails for Cythara; and when Venus wearied of the journey, Ceres refreshed her, and Bacchus.

But alas, how short are pleasures, sorrows how long! Euryalus had barely enjoyed himself an hour, when here comes Sosias announcing Menelaus’ return, and puts an end to their happiness. Euryalus in a panic wonders how to escape, while Lucretia, having concealed the tables, goes to meet her husband, welcomes him on his return, and says:

‘Oh, my dear, how glad I am you have come back, for I was imagining you entangled in your country affairs. What did you find to do for so long down there? Take care, lest I smell something out. Why cannot you stay at home? Why seek ever to depress me by your absence? All the time you are away, I fear for you; sometimes I am afraid you have fallen in love with someone else, for husbands are often unfaithful to their wives. So if you wish to show me such a fear is absurd, don’t ever sleep away from home; I can never enjoy a night without you. But here is supper, then let us go to bed.’

They were at that moment in the hall where the household dined, and Lucretia was trying to detain her husband there, until Euryalus should have had time to get away, which he could not do without a little delay. But Menelaus had dined out, and was in a hurry to go to bed. So Lucretia remarked:

‘You cannot love me much, or you would have supped at home with me. Because you were not there I have not eaten anything all day, nor drunk anything either. But the farmers came from Rosalia, bringing some wine or other; they said it was the very best Trebbian wine. I could not touch it, I was so sad, but now that you are here, let us go down into the cellar, will you and taste it, to see if it is as good as they said.’

And she seized a lantern in one hand, her husband with the other, and went down into the depths; and for a long time, now here, now there, they broached casks and tasted wine, till she thought Euryalus would have got away. And so, at long last, she went to her unwelcome couch with her husband, while Euryalus made for home at dead of night.

Next day, whether because it improved the arch of the roof or because of some base suspicion, Menelaus walled up the window. But, as our fellow-citizens are quick at putting two and two together and full of suspicions, I think Menelaus distrusted the convenient nature of the place and, not relying on his wife’s fidelity, wished to remove all opportunities. For though he had discovered nothing, he was well aware of the fact that his wife was pestered and tempted every day by the prayers of many lovers, and he knew the variable nature of women, that they have as many desires as a tree has leaves. For the female sex is eager for novelty, and seldom loves a man whom she can freely possess. In this he followed the beaten track of husbands, who believe that misfortune can be warded off by careful guardians.

And thus they had lost all means of meeting, and could not even exchange letters; for Menelaus persuaded the magistrates to expel the inn-keeper who kept the tavern behind Lucretia’s house, whence Euryalus had been wont to talk with her and send letters on a rod. Only the exchange of glances remained, and only by their nods could the lovers console each other. And even that, the last bond of love, was not easily enjoyed. Each was filled with a great sorrow and tortured well-nigh to death, for they could not forget their love any more than they could pursue it.