Aha, Sacchetti again!—"Dame,"—quoth the Duke,

"What meaneth this epistle, counsel me,

I pick from out thy placket and peruse,

Wherein my page averreth thou art white

And warm and wonderful 'twixt pap and pap?"

"Sir," laughed the Lady, "'t is a counterfeit!

Thy page did never stroke but Dian's breast,

The pretty hound I nurture for thy sake:

To lie were losel,—by my fay, no more!"

And no more say I too, and spare the Court.