[De duobus amantibus Euryalo et Lucretia]

"I know how much of a danger it is to admit a foreign love. Nor will I sufficiently expose myself to the risks. You men are of a looser spirit and press the madness more; when a woman begins to rage, she can only attain an end through death. Women do not love; rather, they are insane. And if it happens by love, there is nothing more miserable than a woman who loves. After the fire is received, we do not care for fame, nor for life. The only remedy is if the opportunity for the beloved is made. For what we lack more, we desire more, nor do we fear any risk while our lust is satisfied. For me, therefore, married and noble with riches, it is consulted to preclude the way for love, and for yours, which cannot be long. Lest I be called another Rhodopeian Phyllis or another Sappho. Therefore, I wish to beg you not to ask of me further love than yours, so that it may be gradually extinguished. For that is much easier for men than for women. Nor you, if you love me as you say, should ask of me that which would be in danger. For your gifts, I send back a golden cross adorned with pearls, which, though it is small, is not lacking in worth. Farewell."

Eurialus did not hesitate. Having received this, as he was inflamed with new longings, he took up the pen and dictated the letter under this form:

"Greetings, my soul, you who make me safe with your letters, which if you would not mix in any gall, but I hope this, once I am heard, you will distribute. Your letter came into my hands, sealed with your gem. I read this and kissed it often, but this persuades me of something other than what your spirit seemed to be. You ask me to cease to love because it is not advantageous for you to follow the flames of love. And you use examples of those deceived, but you write this so ornately and cultly that I ought to admire and love your talent more than forget it. Who is he who would cease to love when he finds a more prudent and wiser beloved? If you wished to diminish my love, you ought not to have shown your learning. For this is to extinguish a fire but to blow a great fire from a small spark. I, while I read, burned more. You see that to the clarity of your form and honesty is joined learning. But they are only words with which you ask that I cease to love. Ask the mountains to come into the plain and the springs to exert their own floods; as much can I not love you as Phoebus can leave his course. If the mountains of Athos can lack clouds, or the seas fish, or the woods wild beasts, then Eurialus will be able to forget you. It is not common for men to extinguish the flames of Lucretia. For what you ascribe to our sex, many assign to the truth. I do not wish to address this; however, now I must reply to the things you brought against me. Therefore, I do not wish to yield to the lover now, since..."