[.................] 
 
  Venus[so], che d'assalire era presta, 
Sì comanda a ciascun ched e' s'arenda 
O che la mercé ciascheduno atenda, 
Ch'ella la guarda lor tratutta presta. 
  E sì lor à giurato, per sua testa, 
Ched e' non fia nessun che si difenda, 
Ch'ella de la persona no·gli afenda: 
E così ciaschedun sì amonesta. 
  Vergogna sì respuose: «I' non vi dotto. 
Se nel castel non fosse se non io, 
Non crederei che fosse per voi rotto. 
  Quando vi piace intrare a·lavorio, 
Già per minaccie no·mi 'ntrate sotto, 
Né vo' né que' che d'amor si fa dio». 
 
 

[*] 
 
      Venus, who was ready to attack,  
orders everyone either to surrender  
or to wait for their reward,  
which she has good and ready for them.  
      And so she swore to them on her own head  
that no one will be able to defend himself  
from the bodily wounds that she'll inflict;  
and thus, she gives each and every one fair warning. 
      Modesty answered: "I'm not afraid of you. 
Even if I were the only one in the castle,  
I would not believe that it could be destroyed by you. 
      Whenever you want, you can begin your efforts;  
You'll not take the castle with threats alone,  
not you nor that one who calls himself the God of Love."