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A good example of Boccaccio’s epic vein is afforded by the prayer of Emilia to Diana in theTeseide, uttered when Palamon and Arcite are about to fight for her sake. For this, as for several other versions, the writer is indebted to Miss Ellen Clerke:

She thus in broken vows 'mid sighs began: “Chaste Goddess, who dost purify the glades, And of a maiden train dost lead the van, And him chastises who thy law evades, As lost Actæon learned in briefest span, Who, young and hapless, smit 'mid sylvan shades, Not by scourge whip, but by thy wrath celestial, Fled as a stag in transformation bestial.

“Hear, then, my voice, if worthy of thy care, While I implore by thy divinity, In triple form, accept my lowly prayer, And if it be an easy task to thee To perfect it—I prithee strive, if e’er Soft pity filled thy heart so cold and free For maiden client who in prayer addrest thee, And who for grace or favour did request thee.

“For I, a maiden of thy maiden train, Am fitter far, with quiver and with bow, To roam the forest, than 'neath love’s soft reign To do a husband’s will; and if thou go In memory back, thou must in mind retain How harder face than granite did we show ’Gainst headlong Venus’ law, based not on reason, But headlong passion, to its promptings treason.