drew nigh, and viewed her garments beset with gold and pretious stone,
in such sort that she seemed to be some noble matron. And there was
an old man which followed her, who as soon as he espied me, said to
himself, Verily this is Lucius, and then he came and embraced me, by and
by he went unto his mistresse and whispered in her eare, and came to
mee againe saying, How is it Lucius that you will not salute your deere
Cousin and singular friend? To whom I answered, Sir I dare not be so
bold as to take acquaintance of an unknown woman. Howbeit as halfe
ashamed I drew towards her, and shee turned her selfe and sayd, Behold
how he resembleth the very same grace as his mother Salvia doth, behold
his countenance and stature, agreeing thereto in each poynt, behold his
comely state, his fine slendernesse, his Vermilion colour, his haire
yellow by nature, his gray and quicke eye, like to the Eagle, and his
trim and comely gate, which do sufficiently prove him to be the naturall
childe of Salvia. And moreover she sayd, O Lucius, I have nourished thee
with myne owne proper hand: and why not? For I am not onely of kindred
to thy mother by blood, but also by nourice, for wee both descended of
the line of Plutarch, lay in one belly, sucked the same paps, and
were brought up together in one house. And further there is no other
difference betweene us two, but that she is married more honourably than
I: I am the same Byrrhena whom you have often heard named among your
friends at home: wherfore I pray you to take so much pains as to come
with me to my house, and use it as your owne. At whose words I was
partly abashed and sayd, God forbid Cosin that I should forsake myne
Host Milo without any reasonable cause; but verily I will, as often as I
have occasion to passe by thy house, come and see how you doe. And while
we were talking thus together, little by little wee came to her house,
and behold the gates of the same were very beautifully set with pillars
quadrangle wise, on the top wherof were placed carved statues and
images, but principally the Goddesse of Victory was so lively and with
such excellencie portrayed and set forth, that you would have verily
have thought that she had flyed, and hovered with her wings hither
and thither. On the contrary part, the image of the Goddesse Diana was
wrought in white marble, which was a marvellous sight to see, for shee
seemed as though the winde did blow up her garments, and that she did
encounte