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After they had sate an indifferent while with her； they returned
home to their lodging； where Titus being alone in his chamber； began
to bethink himselfe on her； whose perfections had so powerfully
pleased him： and the more he entred into this consideration； the
fiercer he felt his desires enflamed； which being unable to quench； by
any reasonable perswasions； after hee had vented foorth infinite
sighes； thus he questioned with himselfe。
Most unhappie Titus as thou art； whether doost thou transport thine
understanding； love； and hope？ Dooest thou not know as well by the
honourable favours； which thou hast received of Chremes and his house；
as also the intire amity betweene thee and Gisippus （unto whom faire
Sophronia is the afflanced friend） that thou shouldst holde her in the
like reverent respect； as if shee were thy true borne Sister？ Darest
thou presume to fancie her？ Whether shall beguiling Love allure
thee； and vaine immaging hopes carrie thee？ Open the eyes of thy
better understanding； and acknowledge thy selfe to bee a most
miserable man。 Give way to reason； bridle thine intemperate appetites；
reforme all irregulare desires； and guide thy fancy to a place of
better direction。 Resist thy wanton and lascivious will in the
beginning； and be master of thy selfe； while thou hast opportunity；
for that which thou aimest at； is neyther reasonable nor honest。 And
if thou wert assured to prevaile upon this pursuite； yet thou
oughtst to avoide it； if thou hast any regard of true friendship；
and the duty therein justly required。 What wilt thou do then Titus？
Fly from this inordinate affection； if thou wilt be reputed to be a
man of sensible judgement。
After he had thus discoursed with himselfe； remembring Sophronia；
and converting his former allegations； into a quite contrarie sense；
in utter detestation of them； and guided by his idle appetite； thus he
began againe。 The lawes of love are of greater force； then any other
whatsoever； they not only breake the bands of friendship； but even
those also of more divine consequence。 How many times hath it bin
noted； the father to affect his own daughter； the brother his
sister； and the stepmother her son in law； matters far more monstrous；
then to see one friend love the wife of another； a case happening
continually？ Moreover； I am yong； and youth is wholly subjected to the
passions of Love： is it reasonable then； that those should be bard
from me； which are fitting and pleasing to Love？ Honest things； belong
to men of more years and maturity； then I am troubled withall； and I
can covet none； but onely those wherein Love is directer。 The beauty
of Sophronia is worthy of generall love； and if I that am a yongman do
love her； what man living can justly reprove me for it？ Shold not I
love her； because she is affianced to Gisippus？ That is no matter to
me； I ought to love her； because she is a woman； and women were
created for no other occasion； but to bee Loved。 Fortune had sinned in
this case； and not I； in directing my frends affection to her；
rather then any other； and if she ought to be loved； as her
perfections do challenge； Gisippus understanding that I affect her；
may be the better contented that it is I； rather then any other。
With these； and the like crosse entercourses； he often mockt
himselfe； falling into the contrary； and then to this againe； and from
the contrary； into another kind of alteration； wasting and consuming
himselfe； not only this day and the night following； but many more
afterward； til he lost both his feeding and sleepe； so that through
debility of body； he was constrained to keepe his bed。 Gisippus； who
had divers dayes noted his melancholly disposition； and now his
falling into extreamitie of sicknesse； was very sorry to behold it：
and with all meanes and inventions he could devise to use； hee both
questioned the cause of this straunge alteration； and essayed everie
way； how hee might best comfort him； never ceassing to demaunde a
reason； why he should become thus sad and sickely。 But Titus after
infinite importuning （which still he answered） with idle and frivolous
excuses； farre from the truth indeede； and （to the no meane affliction
of his friend） when he was able to use no more contradictions； at
length； in sighes and teares； thus he replyed。
Gisippus； were the Gods so wel pleased； I could more gladly yeild to
dye； then continue any longer in this wretched life； considering； that
Fortune hath brought mee to such an extremity； as proofe is now to
be made of my constancie and vertue； both which I finde conquered in
me； to my eternall confusion and shame。 But my best hope is； that I
shal shortly be requited； as I have in justice deserved； namely with
death； which will be a thousand times more welcome to me； then a
loathed life； with remembrance of my base dejection in courage；
which because I can no longer conceale from thee； not without blushing
shame； I am well contented for to let thee know it。
Then began hee to recount； the whole occasion of this straunge
conflict in him； what a maine battaile hee had with his private
thoughts； confessing that they got the victory； causing him to die
hourely for the love of Sophronia； and affirming withall； that in
due acknowledgement； how greatly hee had transgressed against the
lawes of friendship； he thought no other penance sufficient for him；
but onely death； which he willingly expected every houre； and with all
his heart would gladly bid welcome。
Gisippus hearing this discourse； and seeing how Titus bitterly wept；
in agonies of most moving afflictions： sat an indifferent while sad
and pensive； as being wounded with affection to Sophronia； but yet
in a well…governed and temperate manner without any long delaying； hee
concluded with himselfe； that the life of his friend ought to be
accounted much more deare； then any love hee could beare unto
Sophronia： And in this resolution； the teares of Titus forcing his
eyes to flow forth like two Fountaines； thus he replyed。
Titus； if thou hadst not neede of comfort； as plainly I see thou
hast； I would justly complaine of thee to my selfe； as of the man
who hath violated our friendship； in keeping thine extreamitie so long
time concealed from mee； which hath beene overtedious for thee to
endure。 And although it might seeme to thee a dishonest case； and
therefore kept from the knowledge of thy friend； yet I plainly tell
thee； that dishonest courses （in the league of amitie） deserve no more
concealment； then those of the honestest nature。 But leaving these
impertinent wandrings； let us come to them of much greater necessitie。
If thou doest earnestly love faire Sophronia； who is betroathed
and afflanced to me； it is no matter for me to marvaile at： but I
should rather be much abashed； if thou couldst not intyrely affect
her； knowing how beautifull she is； and the nobility of her minde；
being as able to sustaine passion； as the thing pleasing is fullest of
excellence。 And looke how reasonable thou fanciest Sophronia； as
unjustly thou complainest of thy fortune； in ordaining her to be my
wife； although thou doest not speake it expresly： as being of opinion；
that thou