The Tale

Unto Diana’s temple went she right, And hent the image in her handës two, From which imáge she wouldë never go; No wight her handës might off it arace, Till she was slain right in the selfë place. Now since that maidens haddë such despite To be defouled with man’s foul delight, Well ought a wife rather herself to slé, Than be defouled, as it thinketh me. What shall I say of Hasdrubalë’s wife, That at Carthage bereft herself of life? For, when she saw the Romans win the town, She took her children all, and skipt adown Into the fire, and rather chose to die, Than any Roman did her villainý. Hath not Lucretia slain herself, alas! At Romë, when that she oppressed was Of Tarquin? for her thought it was a shame To livë, when she haddë lost her name. The seven maidens of Milesie also Have slain themselves for very dread and woe, Rather than folk of Gaul them should oppress. More than a thousand stories, as I guess, Could I now tell as touching this mattére. When Abradate was slain, his wife so dear Herselfë slew, and let her blood to glide In Abradatë’s woundës, deep and wide, And said, ‘My body at the leastë way There shall no wight defoul, if that I may.’ Why should I more examples hereof sayn? Since that so many have themselvës slain, Well rather than they would defouled be, I will conclude that it is bet for me To slay myself, than be defouled thus. I will be true unto Arviragus, Or ellës slay myself in some mannére, As did Demotionë’s daughter dear, Because she wouldë not defouled be. O Sedasus, it is full great pitý To readë how thy daughters died, alas! That slew themselves for suchë manner cas. As great a pity was it, or well more, The Theban maiden, that for Nicanór Herselfë slew, right for such manner woe. Another Theban maiden did right so; For one of Macedon had her oppress’d, She with her death her maidenhead redress’d. What shall I say of Niceratus’ wife, That for such case bereft herself her life? How true was eke to Alcibiades His love, that for to dien rather chese, Than for to suffer his body unburied be? Lo, what a wife was Alcesté?” quoth she. “What saith Homér of good Penelope? All Greecë knoweth of her chastity. Pardie, of Laodamía is written thus, That when at Troy was slain Protesilaus, No