...against her deity, Through regular and formal purity. To expiate which sin, kiss and shake hands; Such sacrifice as this Venus demands." Thereat she smiled,...and did deny him so As, put thereby, yet might he ho;^e for mo. Which makes him quickly reer.force his speech, And her in humble manner thus beseech:...

...formal purity. To expiate which sin, kiss and shake hands, Such sacrifice as this Venus demands." 310 Thereat she smiled, and did deny him so, As put thereby,...men may thee deserve, Yet for her sake whom you have vowed to serve, Abandon fruitless cold virginity, The gentle queen of love's sole enemy. Then shall...

...would hear him. After he had declaimed at length against virginity in general, and hers in particular, Thereat she smiled, and did deny him so, As put thereby, yet might he hope for mo. Her whole frame of mind recalls that of the already slipping Helen of Heroides xvn : These arguments...

...entered Hero's ears ; And yet at every word she turn'd aside, And always cut him off as he replied. 'Though neither gods nor men may thee deserve, Yet for her sake whom you have vowed to serve Abandon fruitless cold Virginity, The gentle queen of Love's sole enemy. Then shall...