"And arm'd with pleasing love dare you ingage,
E're you consider in whose tents you are?"
"To make short; nor even in this cou'd the lady deny him any thing: Thus our victorious souldier succeeded in both; she receiv'd his imbraces; not only that night they struck up the bargain, but the next and third day: Having shut the door of the vault, that if any of her acquaintances or strangers had come out of curiosity to see her, they might have believ'd the most chaste of all women, had expir'd on the body of her husband. Our souldier was so taken with his beautiful mistress, and the privacy of injoying her, that the little money he was master of, he laid out for her entertainment, and, as soon as 'twas night, convey'd it into the vault.
"In the mean time the relations of one of the malefactors, finding the body unguarded, drew it from the cross and bury'd it. The souldier thus rob'd while he was in the vault, the next day, when he perceiv'd one of the bodies gone, dreading the punishment, he told the lady what had happened; and, added that with his sword he wou'd prevent the judges sentence; if so be she wou'd please to give him burial, and make that place at once the fatal monument of a lover and a husband.
"'The lady, not less merciful than chast; 'Nor wou'd Heaven allow,' said she, 'that I shou'd at once feel the loss of the only two in the world I hold most dear; I'd rather hang up the dead body of the one, than be the wicked instrument of the other's death.' Upon which she order'd her husband's body to be taken out of the coffin, and fixt to the cross, in the room of that which was wanting: Our souldier pursued the directions of the discreet lady, and the next day the people wonder'd for what reason that body was hung on the cross."
The seamen were pleas'd with the story. Tryphœna not a little asham'd, lovingly apply'd her cheek to Gito's, and hid her blushes: but Lycas wore an air of displeasure, and knitting his brows, said he, "if the governour had been a just man, he ought to have restor'd the husband's body to his monument, and hung the woman on the cross." I don't doubt it made him reflect on his own wife, and the whole scene of our lust when we rob'd his vessel. But the articles he agreed to, oblig'd him not to complain; and the mirth that ingag'd us gave him no opportunity to vent his rage.
Tryphœna entertain'd her self in Gito's arms, pressing oft his neck with eager kisses, and oft disposing his new ornament, to make it appear more agreeable to his face.
At this I was not a little out of humour, and impatient of our new league, cou'd neither eat nor drink any thing: but with side-looks wisht a thousand curses on them both; every kiss and every look she gave him, wounded me. Nor did I yet know whether I had more reason to repent the loss of my mistress, or my comrade; he having rob'd me of her; and she deluded him from my arms: Both were worse than death to me. And to compleat my misery, neither Tryphœna spoke to me as her acquaintance, and once grateful lover; nor did Gito think me worth drinking to; or what's the least he cou'd, common discourse with him: I believe he was tender of the new return of her favours, and afraid to give her another occasion to fall out with him: Grief forc'd a flood of tears from my eyes, and I stifl'd my complaints, till I was ready to expire.
When Lycas perceiv'd how well, tho' in this trouble my yellow ornament became me, he was inflam'd afresh; and viewing me with lovers eyes, addressed himself as such, when laying aside the haughty brow of a master, he put on the tender complacency of a friend: but his endeavours were fruitless. At last meeting with an intire repulse, his love turning to a fury, he endeavour'd to ravish the favours he could not win by intreaty; at what time Tryphœna unexpectedly came in, and observing his wantonness; in the greatest confusion he hid his head, and ran from her.
Upon which the more lustful Tryphœna askt, and made me tell her, what those wanton caresses meant; she was inspired with new heat at the relation; and mindful of our old amours, offer'd to revive our former commerce; but worn off my legs with those employments, I gave her invitations but an ill return; yet she with all the desires of a woman transported by her passion, threw her arms about me, and so closely lockt me in her imbraces, I was forc'd to cry out; one of her maids came in at the noise, and easily believing I wou'd force from her the favours I had deny'd her mistress, rusht between, and loos'd the bands: Tryphœna meeting with such a repulse, and even raging with desire, took it more grievous at my hands, and with threats at her going off, flew to Lycas; not only to raise his resentments against me, but to join with him in pursuit of revenge.
By the way observe, I had formerly been well receiv'd by this attendant of Tryphœna, when I maintain'd a commerce with her mistress, upon that score she resented my converse with Tryphœna, and deeply sighing, made me eager to know the occasion; when she, stepping back, thus began, "If you had any sparks of the gentleman in you, you'd value her no more than a common prostitute; if you were a man you wou'd not descend to such a jakes." These thoughts not a little disturb'd her; but I was asham'd of nothing more, than that Eumolpus, suspecting the occasion, shou'd in his next verses make our suppos'd quarrel the subject of his drollery; and lest my care to avoid it shou'd prove no means of discovering it.