side he thought of the gaine, and
the passing pleasure of the crownes of gold; in the end the desire of
the money did more prevaile then the feare of death, for the beauty
of the flowrishing crownes did so sticke in his mind, that where the
menaces of his master compelled him to tarry at home, the pestilent
avarice of gold egged him out a doores, wherefore putting all shame
aside, without further delay, he declared all the whole matter to his
Mistresse, who according to the nature of a woman, when she heard him
speake of so great a summe she bound chastity in a string, and gave
authority to Myrmex to rule her in that case. Myrmex seeing the intent
of his Mistresse, was very glad, and for great desire of the gold, he
ran hastily to Philesiterus, declaring that his Mistresse was consented
to his mind, wherefore he demanded the gold which he promised. Then
incontinently Philesiterus delivered him tenne Crownes, and when night
came, Myrmex brought him disguised into his mistresses Chamber. About
Midnight when he and she were naked together, making sacrifice unto the
Goddesse Venus, behold her husband (contrary to their expectation)
came and knocked at the doore, calling with a loud voice to his Servant
Myrmex: whose long tarrying increased the suspition of his Master,
in such sort that he threatned to beat Myrmex cruelly: but he being
troubled with feare, and driven to his latter shifts, excused the matter
saying: that he could not find the key: by reason it was so darke. In
the meane season Philesiterus hearing the noise at the doore, slipt on
his coat and privily ran out of the Chamber. When Myrmex had opened the
doore to his Master that threatned terribly, and had let him in, he
went into the Chamber to his wife: In the mean while Myrmex let out
Philesiterus, and barred the doores fast, and went againe to bed. The
next morning when Barbarus awaked, he perceived two unknown slippers
lying under his bed, which Philesiterus had forgotten when he went away.
Then he conceived a great suspition and jealousie in mind, howbeit he
would not discover it to his wife, neither to any other person, but
putting secretly the slippers into his bosome, commanded his other
Servants to bind Myrmex incontinently, and to bring him bound to the
Justice after him, thinking verily that by the meane of the slippers he
might boult out the matter. It fortuned that while Barbarus went towards
the Justice in a fury and rage, and Myrmex fast bound, fol