woman vtterly void of grace, barren of good workes, and
without any zeale or spark of vertue, as it should appeare. But
sith we read and know that none are more giuen or bent to
vnreasonable loue, than mighty Princes, what should it bee demed
straung and maruellous, if Demetrius amongs the rest do come in
place for the loue of that most famous woman, if Fame may
stretch to eyther sorts, both good and euill? But let vs come to
the second infamous gentlewoman, called Lais. She was of the
isle of Bithritos, which is in the confines of Graecia, and was
the daughter of the great Sacrificer of Apollo his temple at
Delphos, a man greatly experienced in the magike art, wherby he
prophecyed the perdition of his daughter. Now this amorous Lias
was in triumph in the time of the renowmed King Pyrrhus,
a Prince very ambitious to acquire honor, but not very happy to
keepe it, who being yonge of sixteene or seuenteene yeares, came
into Italy to make warres against the Romains: he was the first
(as some say) that aranged a camp in ordre, and made the
Phalanx, the mayne square and battell: for before hys time, when
they came to entre battell, they assailed confusedly and out of
array gaue the onset. This amorous Lias continued long time in
the campe of Kynge Pyrrhus, and went wyth hym into Italy, and
wyth him retourned from warre agayne, and yet hir nature was
sutch, as shee woulde neuer bee mainteined wyth one man alone.
The same Lias was so amorous in her conuersatyon, so excellent
fayre, and of so comely grace, that if shee would haue kept hir
selfe faythfull to one Lorde or gentleman, there was no prynce
in the world but if he would haue yelded himselfe and all that
he had at hir commaundement. Lias, from hir retourne out of
Italy into Greece, repayred to the citye of Corinth, to make hir
abode there, where she was pursued by many kings, lordes, and
prynces. Aulus Gellius saith (which I haue recited in my former
part of the Pallace of pleasure, the fiftenth Noeuill,) that the
good Philosopher, Demosthenes, went from Athens to Corinth, in
disguised apparell, to see Lais, and to haue hir company, But
before the dore was opened, she sent one to demaunde .XII. C.
Sestercios of siluer: whereunto Demosthenes answered: "I buy not
repentance so deere." And I beleue that Demosthenes spake those
wordes by folowyng the sentence of Diogenes, who sayeth, that
euery beast after such acte is heauy and sad. Som wryters
affirme of this Amorous La