"What is this I hear of thee, my poor child?"
"Forgive me, dearest lady, forgive me, Lady Damaris."
"It is not a question of personal offence, my Chione; thou hast injured thyself, not me. A year ago, thou didst put on Christ, and vow allegiance to the one true God. Wilt thou now forsake him, to follow thy own passion?"
"I have not forsaken Christ! I will never, never forsake him."
"No? then why dally with the tempter? why seek again what thou hast once abjured? When our holy bishop rescued thee from the service of the pagan altars, at thine own earnest entreaty, and brought thee here, to serve the Lord Jesus, didst thou not renounce paganism, its vices, its crimes, its sweets as well as its bitters?"
"I renounce them still."
"And yet thou goest to a pagan temple, to attract the notice of a young pagan noble, the enemy of our faith!"
"I went not for that purpose, madam, though it ended so. I went to see Lotis, as I told you; she was seeking instruction from me as of yore; you are aware she was my pupil in music."
"And you gave it her, by causing her to help you attract your former admirer; fie! Chione, your tale hangs not well together."