|
Now sith that maydens hadden swich despit, |
| To been defouled with mannes foul delit, |
| Wel oghte a wyf rather hirselven slee, |
| 690 | Than be defouled, as it thynketh me. |
| What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf |
| That at Cartage birafte hirself hir lyf? |
| For whan she saugh that Romayns wan the toun, |
| She took hir children alle and skipte adoun |
| 695 | Into the fyr, and chees rather to dye |
| Than any Romayn dide hir vileynye. |
| Hath nat Lucresse yslayn hirself, allas! |
| At Rome whan that she oppressed was |
| Of Tarquyn, for hir thoughte it was a shame |
| 700 | To lyven whan she hadde lost hir name? |
| The sevene maydens of Milesie also |
| Han slayn hemself, for verray drede and wo |
| Rather than folk of Gawle hem sholde oppresse. |
| Mo than a thousand stories, as I gesse, |
| 705 | Koude I now telle as touchynge this mateere. |
| Whan Habradate was slayn, his wyf so deere |
| Hirselven slow, and leet hir blood to glyde |
| In Habradates woundes depe and wyde; |
| And seyde, 'My body at the leeste way |
| 710 | Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may.' |
|
| Now since these maidens showed such scorn outright |
| Of being defiled to make man's foul delight, |
| Well ought a wife rather herself to slay |
| 690 | Than be defiled, I think, and so I say. |
| What shall I say of Hasdrubal's fair wife, |
| Who in Carthage bereft herself of life? |
| For when she saw that Romans won the town, |
| She took her children all and leaped right down |
| 695 | Into the fire, choosing thus to die |
| Before a Roman did her villainy. |
| Did not Lucretia slay herself- alas!- |
| At Rome, when she so violated was |
| By Tarquin? For she thought it was a shame |
| 700 | Merely to live when she had lost her name. |
| The seven maidens of Miletus, too, |
| Did slay themselves, for very dread and woe, |
| Rather than men of Gaul should on them press. |
| More than a thousand stories, as I guess, |
| 705 | Could I repeat now of this matter here. |
| "With Abradates slain, his wife so dear |
| Herself slew, and she let her red blood glide |
| In Abradates' wounds so deep and wide, |
| And said: 'My body, at the least, I say, |
| 710 | No man shall now defile,' and passed away. |
|
