Page:Plutarch - Moralia, translator Holland, 1911.djvu/279

Rh not trust her so much as with a word: the Roman senator her husband minding to try and reprove her folly: Thou hast overcome me, sweetheart (quoth he), and through thine importunity thou shalt hear of a strange and terrible occurrent that troubleth us all. So it is, that we are advertised by our priests that there hath been a lark of late seen flying in the air, with a golden cop or crest on her head in manner of an helmet, and withal bearing a javelin: hereupon we do confer and consult with our soothsayers and diviners, desirous to be certified out of their learning, whether this prodigious token portend good or hurt to the commonweal; but keep it to thyself (as thou lovest me), and tell it nobody. When he had thus said, he went forth toward the common hall and market-place: his wife incontinently had no sooner spied one of her waiting-maidens coming into the room, but she drew her apart, begun to beat and knock her own breast, to rend and tear the hair off her head, and therewith: Ah, woe's me (quoth she) for my poor husband, my sweet native country; alas and welladay, what shall we do, and what will become of us all? as if she taught her maid and were desirous that she should say thus unto her again: Why, what is the matter, mistress? Now when the maiden thereupon asked her, What news? she set tale an end and told all, marry, she forgat not the common and ordinary burden or clause, that all blabs of their tongue use to come in with: But in any case (quoth she) say nothing, but keep it to thyself. Scarce was she gone out of her mistress's sight, but seeing one of her fellows whom she found most at leisure and going little or nothing, to her she imparted all. That wench again made no more ado, but to her lover she goes, who haply then was come to visit her, and telleth him as much. By this means the tale was bruited abroad, and passed roundly from one to another; insomuch as the rumour thereof was run into the market-place, and there went current before the first author and deviser thereof himself was gotten thither. For there meets with him one of his familiars and friends: How now (quoth he), are you come but now directly from your house to the market-place? No (quoth he again), I am but newly come: Why then belike (saith the other) you have heard no news? News (quoth he), what news should I hear? and what tidings can you tell me off? Why, man (answered he again), there hath been of late a lark seen flying with a golden cop or crest on her head, and carrying beside a javelin; and the consuls with other magistrates are ready to call a senate house for to sit upon this