for the preparatiō of Venus: And when I was
enteringe into the bedde, beholde my Fotis (who had
brought her mistris to sléepe) came in & gaue me roses
and flowers, whiche she had in her apron, and some she
threwe about the bedde, and she kissed me swéetely, &
tied a garlande aboute my head, and bespred the cham∣ber
with the residewe. Whiche when she had done, she
toke vp a cuppe of wine, and delaide it with whote wa∣ter,
and proffred it me to drinke, & before I had drunke
vp all, she pulled it from my mouth, and then gaue it
me againe, and in this manner we emptied the potte
twise or thrise together. Thus when I had well reple∣nished
my selfe with wine, and was now readie vnto
Venerie not onely in minde but also in bodie, I remo∣ued
my clothes, and (showinge to Fotis my great im∣paciencie)
I said, O my swéete harte take pitie vpon me
and helpe me: for as you sée, I am now prepared vnto
the battaile whiche you your selfe did appointe, for af∣ter
that I felte the first arrow of cruell Cupide within
my brest, I bent my howe very stronge, and now feare
(because it is bended so harde) least the stringe should
breake, but that thou maist the better please me, vn∣dresse
thy heare and come and embrase me louingly,
wherewithall (she made no longe delaye) but set aside
all the meate and wine, and then she vnapparelled her
selfe, and vnatired her heare, presentinge her amiable
bodie vnto me, in manner of fayre Venus, when she
goeth vnder the waues of the sea. Now ({quod} she) is come
the howre of iustinge, now is come the time of warre,
wherefore showe thy selfe like vnto a man, for I will
not retire, I will not flie the fielde, sée then thou be va∣liant,
sée thou be couragious since, there is no time ap∣pointed
when our skirmishe shal cease: In saying these