Milo without any reasonable cause; but verily I will, as often as I have occasion to pass by thy house, come and see how you do. And while we were talking thus together, little by little we came to her house, and behold the gates of the same were very beautifully set with pillars quadrangle wise, on the top whereof were placed carved statues and images, but principally the goddess of Victory was so lively and with such excellency portrayed and set forth, that you would have verily have thought that she had flied, and hovered with her wings hither and thither. On the contrary part, the image of the goddess Diana was wrought in white marble, which was a marvelous sight to see, for she seemed as though the wind did blow up her garments, and that she did encounter with them that came into the house. On each side of her were dogs made of stone, that seemed to menace with their fiery eyes, their pricked ears, their bended nostrils, their grinning teeth in such sort that you would have thought they had bayed and barked. And moreover (which was a greater marvel to behold) the excellent carver and deviser of this work had fashioned the dogs to stand up fiercely with their former feet, and their hinder feet on the ground ready to fight. Behind the back of the goddess was carved a stone in manner of a cavern, environed with moss, herbs, leaves, sprigs, green branches and boughs, growing in and about the same, insomuch that within the stone it glistered and shone marvelously, under the brim of the stone hanged apples and grapes carved finely, wherein art envying nature, showed her great cunning. For they were so lively set out, that you would have thought if summer had been come, they might have been pulled and eaten; and while I beheld the running water, which seemed to spring and leap under the feet of the goddess, I marked the grapes which hanged in the water, which were like in every point to the grapes of the vine, and seemed to move and stir by the violence of the stream. Moreover, amongst the branches of the stone appeared the image of Acteon: and how that Diana (which was carved within the same stone, standing in the water) because he did see her naked, did turn him into an hart, and so he was torn and slain of his own hounds. And while I was greatly delighted with the view of these things, Byrrhena spake to me and said, cousin all things here be at your commandment. And therewithal she willed secretly the residue to depart: who being gone she said, My most dear Cousin Lucius, I do swear by the goddess Diana, that I do greatly tender your safety, and am as careful for you as if you were mine own natural child, beware I say, beware of the evil arts and wicked allurements of that Pamphiles who is the wife of Milo, whom you call your host, for she is accounted the most chief and principal magician and enchantress living, who by breathing out certain words and charms over boughs, stones and other frivolous things, can throw down all the powers of the heavens into the deep bottom of hell, and reduce all the whole world again to the old chaos. For as soon as she espieth any comely young man, she is forthwith stricken with his love, and presently setteth her whole mind and affection on him. She soweth her seed of flattery, she invades his spirit and entangleth him with continual snares of unmeasurable love.
And then if any accord not to her filthy desire, or if they seem loathsome in her eye, by and by in the moment of an hour she turneth them into stones, sheep or some other beast, as herself pleaseth, and some she presently slayeth and murdereth, of whom I would you should earnestly beware. For she burneth continually, and you by reason of your tender age and comely beauty are capable of her fire and love.
Thus with great care Byrrhena gave me in charge, but I (that always coveted and desired, after that I had heard talk of such sorceries and witchcrafts, to be experienced in the same) little esteemed to beware of Pamphiles, but willingly determined to bestow my money in learning of that art, and now wholly to become a witch. And so I waxed joyful, and wringing myself out of her company, as out of links or chains, I bade her farewell, and departed toward the house of mine host Milo, by the way reasoning thus with myself: Oh Lucius now take heed, be vigilant, have a good care, for now thou hast time and place to satisfy thy desire, now shake off thy childishness and show thyself a man, but especially temper thyself from the love of thine hostess, and abstain from violation of the bed of Milo, but heartily attempt to win the maiden Fotis, for she is beautiful, wanton and pleasant in talk. And soon when thou goest to sleep, and when she bringeth you gently into thy chamber, and tenderly layeth thee down in thy bed, and lovingly covereth thee, and kisseth thee sweetly, and departeth unwillingly, and casteth her eyes oftentimes back, and stands still, then hast thou a good occasion ministered to thee to prove and try the mind of Fotis. Thus while I reasoned to myself I came to Milo’s door, persevering still in my purpose, but I found neither Milo nor his wife at home.
When I was within the house I found my dear and sweet love Fotis mincing of meat and making pottage for her master and mistress, the cupboard was all set with wines, and I thought I smelled the savor of some dainty meats: she had about her middle a white and clean
