and now am made a praie to satisfie a young mans lust, that hath coueted nothyng but the spoyle of my chastitie and good name.

Here withall the teares so gushed doune her cheekes, that she was not able to open her mouth to vse any farther speeche.

The duke who stoode by all this while, and heard this whole discourse, was wonderfully moued with compassion towardes Iulina, knowyng that from her infancie she had euer so honourably vsed her self, that there was no man able to detect her of any misdemeanour, otherwise then beseemed a ladie of her estate, wherefore beyng fully resolued that Siluio his man had committed this villanie against her, in a greate furie drawyng his rapier, he saied vnto Siluio:

How canst thou (arrant theefe) shewe thy self so cruell and carelesse to suche as doe thee honour, hast thou so little regard of suche a noble ladie, as humbleth her self to such a villaine as thou art, who without any respecte either of her renowne or noble estate, canst be content to seeke the wracke and vtter ruine of her honour, but frame thy self to make such satisfaction as she requireth, although I knowe vnworthie wretche, that thou art not able to make her the least parte of amendes, or I sweare by god, that thou shalt not escape the death which I will minister to thee with myne owne handes, and therefore aduise thee well what thou doest.

Siluio hauyng heard this sharpe sentence, fell doune on his kness before the duke crauyng for mercie, desiryng that he might be suffered to speake with the Ladie Iulina aparte, promising to satisfie her accordyng to her owne contentation.

Well (q[uoth] the duke) I take thy worde, and there with all I aduise thee that thou performe thy promis, or otherwise I protest before God, I will make thee suche an example to the worlde, that all traitours shall tremble for feare, how they dooe seeke the dishonouryng of ladies.

But now Iulina had conceived so greate greefe against Siluio, that there was muche a dooe to perswade her to talke with hym, but remembryng her owne case, desirous to heare what excuse he could make, in the ende she agreed, and beyng brought into a place seuerally by them selues, Siluio beganne with a piteous voice to saie as followeth:

I knowe not madame, of whom I might make complaint, whether of you or of my self, or rather of fortune, whiche hath conducted and brought vs both into so greate aduersitie, I see that you receiue greate wrong, and I am condemned againste all right, you in perill to abide the brute of spightful tongues, and I in daunger to loose the thing that I moste desire; and although I could alledge many reasons to proue my saiynges true, yet I referre my self to the experience and bountie of your minde. And here with all loosing his garmentes doune to his stomacke, and shewed Iulina his bosom, surmountyng farre the whitenesse of snowe it self, saiyng: loe madame, behold here the partie whom you haue chalenged to bee the father of your childe, see I am a woman the daughter of a noble duke, who onely for the loue of him, whom you so lightly haue shaken of, haue forsaken my father, abandoned my countrie, and in maner as you see am become a seruing man, satisfiyng my self, but with the onely sight of my Apolonius, and now madame, if my passion were not vehement, & my tormentes without comparison, I would wish that fained greefes might be laughed to scorne, & my desembled paines to be rewarded with floutes. But my loue beyng pure, my trauaile continuall, & my greefes endlesse, I trust madame you will not onely excuse me of crime, but also pitie my destresse, the which I protest I would still haue kept secrete, if my fortune would so haue permitted.

Iulina did now thinke her self to be in a worse case then euer she was before, for now she knewe not whom to chalenge to be the father of her child, wherfore, when she had told the duke the very certantie of the discou[r]se, which Siluio had made vnto her, she departed unto her owne house, with suche greefe and sorrowe, that she purposed neuer to come out of her owne doores againe aliue, to be a wonder and mocking stocke to y^e worlde.