Themselvesreproving, evenasthouhastheard,

Andadduntotheirburningbytheirshame.

Ourowntransgressionwashermaphrodite;

Butbecauseweobservednothumanlaw,

Followinglikeuntobeastsourappetite,

Inouropprobriumbyusisread,

Whenwepartcompany, thenameofher

Whobestializedherselfinbestialwood.

Nowknowestthououracts, andwhatourcrimewas;

Wouldstthouperchancebynameknowwhoweare,

Thereisnottimetotell, norcouldIdoit.

Thywishtoknowmeshallinsoothbegranted;

I'mGuidoGuinicelli, andnowpurgeme,

Havingrepentederethehourextreme."

ThesamethatinthesadnessofLycurgus

Twosonsbecame, theirmotherre-beholding,

SuchIbecame, butrisenottosuchheight,

ThemomentIheardnamehimselfthefather

Ofmeandofmybetters, whohadever

Practisedthesweetandgraciousrhymesoflove;

Andwithoutspeechandhearingthoughtfully

ForalongtimeIwent, beholdinghim,

NorforthefiredidIapproachhimnearer.

WhenIwasfedwithlooking, utterly

MyselfIofferedreadyforhisservice,

Withaffirmationthatcompelsbelief.

Andhetome: "Thouleavestfootprintssuch

Inme, fromwhatIhear, andsodistinct,

Lethecannoteffacethem, normakedim.

Butifthywordsjustnowthetruthhavesworn,

Tellmewhatisthecausewhythoudisplayest

Inwordandlookthatdearthouholdestme?"

AndItohim: "Thosedulcetlaysofyours

Which, longasshallendureourmodernfashion,

Shallmakeforeverdeartheirveryink!"

"Obrother," saidhe, "hewhomIpointout,"

Andherehepointedataspiritinfront,

"Wasofthemothertongueabettersmith.

Versesofloveandprosesofromance,

Hemasteredall; andlettheidiotstalk,