_A Wydow called Mistresse Helena, wyth whom a Scholler was in
loue, (shee louing an other) made the same Scholler to stande
a whole Wynter's night in the Snow to wayte for hir, who
afterwardes by a sleyght and pollicie, caused hir in Iuly, to
stand vppon a Tower starke naked amongs Flies and Gnats, and
in the Sunne._
Diuert we now a little from these sundry haps, to solace our
selues wyth a merry deuice, and pleasaunt circumstaunce of a
Scholler's loue, and of the wily guily Subtilties of an amorous
Wydow of Florence. A Scholler returned from Paris to practise
hys knowledge at home in his owne Countrey, learneth a more
cunning Lecture of Mistresse Helena, than he did of the
subtillest Sorbone Doctor, or other Mathematicall from whence he
came. The Scholler as playnely hee had applied his booke, and
earnestly harkned his readings, so he simply meant to be a
faythfull Louer and deuout requirant to this Iolly dame, that
had vowed his Deuotion and promised Pilgrimage to an other
Saynct. The Scholler vpon the first view of the Wydowe's
wandring Lookes, forgetting Ouide's Lessons of Loue's guiles,
pursued his conceipt to the vttermost. The Scholler neuer
remembred how many valiaunt, wise and learned men, wanton Women
had seduced and deceyued. Hee had forgot how Catullus was
beguiled by Lesbia, Tibullus by Delia, Propertius by Cynthia,
Naso by Corinna, Demetrius by Lamia, Timotheus by Phryne, Philip
by a Greeke mayden, Alexander by Thays, Hanniball by Campania,
Cæsar by Cleopatra, Pompeius by Flora, Pericles by Aspaga,
Psammiticus the king of Ægypt by Rhodope, and diuers other very
famous by Women of that stampe. Hee had not ben wel trayned in
holy writ, or heard of Samson's Dalida, or of Salomon's
Concubins, but like a playne dealinge man, beleued what she
promised, followed what she bad him, waited whiles she mocked
him, attended till shee laughed him to scorne. And yet for all
these Iolly pastimes inuented by this Widdow, to deceyue the
poore Scholler, she scaped not free from his Logike rules,
not saife from his Philosophy. He was forced to turne ouer
Aristotle, to reuolue his Porphyrie, and to gather his Wits
about hym to requite this louing Peate, that had so charitably
delt with him. He willingly serched ouer Ptolome, perused
Albumazar, made haste to Haly, yea and for a shift besturred him
in Erra Pater, for matching two contrary Elements. For colde in
Christmasse holy dayes, and Frost at Twelftide, shewed no more
force on this poore learned Scholler, than the Sunne's heate in
the Feries of Iuly, Gnats, Flyes, and Waspes, at Noone dayes in
Sommer vpon the naked tender Corpse of this fayre Wyddow. The
Scholler stoode belowe in a Court, benoommed for colde, the
Wyddowe preached a lofte in the top of a Tower, and fayne would
haue had water to coole hir extreme heate. The Scholler in his
Shyrt bedecked wyth his demissaries. The Wyddow so Naked as hir
Graundmother Eue, wythout vesture to shroud hir. The Wyddow by
magike arte what so euer it cost, would fayne haue recouered hir
lost Louer. The Scholler well espying his aduantage when hee was
asked councell, so Incharmed hir with his Sillogismes, as he
made hir to mount a Tower, to cursse the time that euer she knew
him or hir Louer. So the Wydow not well beaten in causes of
Schoole, was whipt with the Rod, wherewith shee scourged other.
Alas good Woman, had she known that olde malice had not bene
forgotten, she woulde not haue trusted, and lesse committed hir
selfe to the Circle of his Enchauntments. If women wist what
dealings are wyth men of great reading, they would amongs one
hundred other, not deale wyth one of thee meanest of those that
be Bookish. One Girolamo Ruscelli, a learned Italyan making
prety notes for the better elucidation of the Italyan Decamerone
of Boccaccio, iudgeth Boccaccio himselfe to be this scholler,
whom by an other name he termeth to be Rinieri. But whatsoeuer
that Scholler was, he was truely to extreme in reueng, and
therein could vse no meane. For hee neuer left the poore feeble
soule, for all hir curteous Words and gentle Supplication,
vntill the Skin of hir flesh was Parched with the scalding Sunne
beames. And not contented with that, delt his Almose also to hir
Mayde, by sending hir to help hir Mistresse, where also she
brake hir Legge. Yet Phileno was more pityfull ouer the 3
nymphes and fayre Goddesses of Bologna, whose Hystory you may
reade in the 49 Nouell of my former Tome. He fared not so
roughly with those, as Rinieri did with thys, that sought but to
gayne what she had lost. Well, how so euer it was, and what
differency betweene eyther of theym, this Hystory ensuinge, more
aptly shall gieue to vnderstande. Not long sithens, there was in
Florence, a young Gentlewoman of worshipfull parentage, fayre
and comely of personage, of courage stout, and abounding in
goods of Fortune (called Helena,) who being a widow, determined
not to mary agayne, bicause she was in loue with a yong man that
was not voyde of Nature's good gifts, whom for hir owne Tooth,
aboue other shee had specially chosen. In whom (setting aside
all other care) many tymes (by meanes of one of hir maydes which
she trusted best) she had great pleasure and delight. It
chaunced about the same time that a yong Gentleman of that Citty
called Rinieri, hauinge a great time studied at Paris, returned
to Florence, not to sell his Science by retayle, as many doe,
but to knowe the reasons of things, and the causes thereof,
which is a speciall good exercise for a Gentleman. And being
there honoured and greatly esteemed of all men, aswell for his
curteous behauiour, as also for his knowledge, he liued like a
good Cittizen. But it is commonly seene, they which haue best
vnderstandinge and knowledge, are soonest tangled in Loue: euen
so it hapned with this Rinieri, who repayringe one day for his
passetime to a Feaste, this Madame Helena clothed al in blacke,
(after the manner of Widowes) was there also, and seemed in his
eyes so beautifull and well fauored, as any woman euer he saw,
and thought that hee might bee accoumpted happy, to whom God did
shewe so mutch fauoure, as to suffer him to be cleped betweene
hir Armes: and beholdinge her diuers tymes and knowing that the
greatest and dearest things cannot be gotten with out labour, he
determined to use all his endeuour and care in pleasing of hir,
that thereby he might obtayne hir loue, and so enioy hir. The
yong Gentlewoman not very bashfull, conceyuing greater opinion
of hir selfe, than was needefull, not castinge hir Eyes towards
the Ground, but rolling them artificially on euery side, and by
and by perceyuing mutch gazing to be vpon hir, espied Rinieri
earnestly beholding hir, and sayd, smiling to hir selfe:
"I thinke that I haue not this day lost my time in comming
hither, for if I bee not deceyued, I shall catch a Pigeon by the
Nose." And beginning certayne times stedfastly to looke vpon
him, she forced hir selfe so mutch as she could, to seeme very
ernestly to beholde him. And on the other part thinking, that
the more pleasaunt and amorous she shewed hirselfe to be,
the more hir beauty should be esteemed, chiefly of him whom
specially shee was disposed to loue. The wise Scholler giuing
ouer his Philosophy, bent all his endeuour here vnto, and
thinking to be hir seruaunt, learned where she dwelt, and began
to passe before hir house under pretence of some other occasion:
whereat the Gentlewoman reioysed for the causes beforesayde,
fayning an earnest desire to looke vpon him. Wherefore the
Scholler hauing found a certayne meane to be acquaynted wyth hir
Mayde discouered his loue: Praying her to deale so with hir
mistresse, as he might haue hir fauor. The maide promised him
very louingly incontinently reporting the same to hir mistresse,
who with the greatest Scoffes in the Worlde, gaue ear thereunto
and sayd: "Seest thou not from whence this Goodfellowe is come
to lose al his knowledge and doctrine that he hath brought vs
from Paris. Now let vs deuise therefore how he may bee handled
for going about to seeke that, which he is not like to obtaine.
Thou shalt say vnto him, when he speaketh to thee agayne, that I
loue him better than he loueth me, but it behooueth me to saue
mine honoure, and to keepe my good name and estimation amongs
other Women." Whych thinge, if he be so wise (as hee seemeth)
hee ought to Esteeme and Regarde. "Ah, poore Wench, she knoweth
not wel, what it is to mingle Huswiuery with learning, or to
intermeddle distaues with bookes.{"} Now the mayde when she had
founde the Scholler, tolde him as hir mistresse had commaunded:
whereof the Scholler was so glad, as he with greater endeuor
proceded in his enterprise, and began to write Letters to the
Gentlewoman, which were not refused, although he could receyue
no aunsweres that pleased him, but sutch as were done openly.
And in this sorte the Gentlewoman long time fed him with
delayes. In the ende she discouered all this new loue vnto hir
frend, who was attached with sutch an Aking Disease in his
heade, as the same was Fraught with the Reume of Iealousie:
wherefore she to shewe hir selfe to be suspected without cause
(very carefull for the Scholler) sent hir mayde to tell him,
that she had no conuenient time to doe the thinge that should
please him, sithens he was first assured of hir loue, but hoped
the next Christmasse holly dayes to be at his commaundement:
wherefore if he would vouchsafe to come the night following the
first holly day, into the Court of hir house, she would wayte
there for his comminge. The Scholler the best contented man in
the Worlde fayled not at the time appoyncted, to go to the
Gentlewoman's house: where being placed by the Mayde in a base
Court, and shut fast within the same, he attended for hir, who
Suppinge with hir friende that night, very pleasauntly recited
vnto him all that she had determined then to doe, saying: "Thou
mayst see now what loue I do beare vnto him, of whom thou hast
foolishly conceyued thys Iealousie. To which woordes hir Freende
gaue eare with great delectation, desiringe to see the effect of
that, whereof she gaue him to vnderstand by wordes." Now as it
chaunced the day before the Snowe fell downe so thicke from
aboue, as it couered the Earth, by which meanes the Scholler
within a very little space after his arriuall, began to be very
colde: howbeit hopinge to receyue recompence, he suffred it
paciently. The Gentlewoman a little whyle after, sayd vnto hir
Freende: "I pray thee let vs goe into my chuamber, where at a
little Window we may looke out, and see what he doth that maketh
thee so Iealous, and herken what aunswere he will make to my
Mayde, whom of purpose I wyll send forth to speake vnto him."
When she had so sayde, they went to the Window, where they
seeing the Scholler (they not seene of hym,) heard the Mayde
speake these wordes: "Rinieri, my Mystresse is the angriest
Woman in the World, for that as yet she cannot come vnto thee.
But the cause is, that one of hir Brethren is come to visite hir
this Euening, and hath made a long discourse of talke vnto hir,
and afterwardes bad himselfe to Supper, and as yet is not
departed, but I thinke hee will not tary longe, and then
immediately she will come. In the meane tyme she prayeth thee to
take a little payne." The Scholler beleeuing this to be true,
sayde vnto hir: "Require your Mistresse to take no care for mee
till hir leasure may serue: But yet entreat hir to make so mutch
hast as she can." The Mayde returned and went to Bed, and the
Dame of the house sayd then vnto hir frend: "Now sir, what say
you to this? Doe you thincke that if I loued him, as you
mystrust, that I would suffer him to tarry beneath in this
greate colde to coole himselfe?" And hauing sayd so, she went to
Bed with hir frende, who then was partly satisfied, and all the
night they continued in greate pleasure and solace, laughing,
and mocking the miserable Scholler that walked vp and downe the
Court to chafe himselfe, not knowing where to sit, or which way
to auoyde the colde, and curssed the long taryinge, of his
mistresse Brother, hoping at euery noyse he heard, that she had
come to open the dore to let him in, but his hope was in vayne.
Now she hauinge sported hir selfe almost till midnight, sayd
vnto hir frend: "How think you (sir) by our Scholler, whether
iudge you is greater, his Wysedome, or the loue that I beare
vnto him? The colde that I make him to suffer, will extinguish
the heate of suspition whych yee conceyued of my wordes the
other day." "Yee say true," (sayd hir frend,) "and I do assure
you, that like as you are my delight, my rest, my comfort, and
all my hope, euen so I am yours, and shalbe during life." For
the confirmation of which renewed amity, they spared no delights
which the louing Goddesse doeth vse to serue and imploy vpon her
seruaunts and suters. And after they had talked a certayne time,
she sayd vnto him: "For God's sake (sir) let vs rise a little,
to see if the glowing fire which this my new louer hath dayly
written vnto me, to burn in him, bee quenched or not." And
rysing out of their Beds, they went to a little Window and
looking downe into the Courte, they saw the Scholler dauncing
vpon the Snow, whereunto his shiuering teeth were so good
Instruments, as he seemed the trimmest Dauncer that euer trode a
Cinquepace after sutch Musicke, being forced thereunto through
the great colde which he suffered. And then she sayde vnto him:
"What say you to this my frende, do you not see how cunninge I
am to make men daunce without Taber, or Pipe?" "Yes in deede,"
(sayd hir Louer) "yee be an excellent Musitian." "Then" (quod
shee) "let vs go downe to the dore, and I will speake vnto him,
but in any Wise say you nothing, and we shal heare what reasons
and arguments he will frame to mooue me to compassion, and
perchaunce shall haue no little pastime to behold him."
Whereupon they went downe softly to the dore, and there without
opening the same, shee with a softe voyce out at a little whole,
called the Scholler vnto hir. Which hee hearinge, began to
prayse God and thancke hym a thousande times, beleeuing veryly
that he should then be let in, and approching the dore, said:
"I am heere mine (owne sweete heart) open the dore for God's
sake, for I am like to die for Cold." Whom in mocking wise she
answered: "Can you make me beleue (M. Scholler) that you are so
tender, or that the colde is so great as you affirme, for a
little Snow newly falne downe? There be at Paris farre greater
Snowes than these be, but to tell you the troth, you cannot come
in yet, for my Brother (the deuell take him) came yesternight to
supper, and is not yet departed, but by and by hee wyll be gon,
and then you shall obtayne the effect of your desire, assuring
you, that with mutch a doe I haue stolne away from hym, to come
hither for your comfort, praying you not to thincke it longe."
"Madame" sayd the Scholler, "I beseech you for God's sake to
open the dore, that I may stand in couert from the Snow, which
within this houre hath fallen in great aboundaunce, and doth yet
continue: and there I will attend your pleasure." "Alas sweet
Friend" (sayd she) "the dore maketh sutch a noyse when it is
opened, that it will easily be heard of my brother, but I will
pray him to depart, that I may quickely returne agayne to open
the same." "Goe your way then" (sayd the Scholler) "and I pray
you cause a great fire to be made, that I may warme mee when I
come in, for I can scarce feele my selfe for colde." "Why, it is
not possible" (quod the Woman) "if it be true that you wholly
burne in loue for me, as by your sundry Letters written, it
appeareth, but now I perceyue that you mocke me, and therefore
tary there still on God's name." Hir frende which heard all
this, and tooke pleasure in those wordes, went agayne to Bed
with hir, into whose eyes no slepe that night coulde enter for
the pleasure and sport they had with the poore Scholler. The
vnhappy wretched Scholler whose teeth chattered for colde,
faring like a Storke in colde nights, perceyuing himselfe to be
mocked, assayed to open the dore, or if he might goe out by some
other way: and seeing it impossible, stalking vp and downe like
a Lyon, curssed the nature of the time, the wickednesse of the
woman, the length of the Night, and the Folly and simplicity of
himselfe: and conceyuing great rage, and despight agaynst hir,
turned sodaynely the long and feruent loue that he bare hir,
into despight and cruell hatred, deuising many and diuers meanes
to bee reuenged, whych he then farre more desired, than hee did
in the beginninge to lye with his Widow. After that longe and
tedious night, day approched, and the dawning thereof began to
appeare: wherefore the mayde instructed by hir mistresse, went
downe into the court, and seemyng to haue pity uppon the
Scholler, sayd vnto hym: "The Diuell take hym that euer he came
hyther this nyghte, for hee hath bothe let vs of sleepe, and
hath made you to be frozen for colde, but take it paciently for
this tyme, some other Nyght must be appointed. For I know well
that neuer thyng coulde chaunce more displeasantly to my
Mistresse than this." But the Scholler full of dysdayne, lyke a
wyse man which knew well that threats and menacyng words, were
weapons without hands to the threatned, retayned in hys Stomacke
that whych intemporate wyll would haue broken forth, and wyth so
quiet Woordes as hee coulde, not shewynge hymselfe to bee angry,
sayd: "In deede I haue suffred the worste Nyghte that euer I
dyd, but I knowe the same was not throughe your mistresse fault,
bicause shee hauing pitye vppon me, and as you say, that which
cannot be to Night, may be done another time, commend me then
vnto hir, and farewell." And thus the poore Scholler stiffe for
colde, so well as hee coulde, retourned home to his house, where
for the extremitye of the tyme and lacke of sleepe beyng almost
deade, he threwe hymselfe vppon his bed, and when he awaked,
his Armes and Legges had no feeling. Wherefore he sent for
Physitions and tolde them of the colde he had taken, who
incontinently prouided for his health: and yet for al their best
and spedy remedies, they could scarce recouer his Iointes and
Sinewes, wherein they did what they could: and had it not bene
that he was yong, and the Sommer approching, it had ben to mutch
for him to haue endured. But after he was come to Healthe, and
grewe to be lusty, secrete Malyce still resting in his breaste,
hee thought vpon reuenge. And it chaunced in a lytle tyme after,
that Fortune prepared a new accident to the scholer to satisfy
his desire, bycause the young man which was beloued of the
Gentlewoman, not caring any longer for hir, fel in loue with an
other, and gaue ouer the solace and pleasure he was wont to doe
to mistresse Helena, for which despite she consumed herself in
wepings and lamentations. But hir maid hauing pity vpon hir
mistresse sorrowes, knowing no meanes to remoue the melancoly
which she conceiued for the losse of hir friend, and seing the
scholler daily passe by accordinge to his common Custome,
conceiued a foolishe beliefe that hir mistresse friend might be
brought to loue hir agayne, and wholly recouered, by some charme
or other sleight of Necromancy, to bee wrought and brought to
passe by the Scholler. Which deuise she tolde vnto hir
mistresse, and she vndiscretely (and without due consideration
that if the scholler had any knowledge in that science, he would
helpe himselfe) gaue credite to the words of hir mayde, and by
and by sayd vnto hir, that shee was able to bring it to passe,
if he would take it in hande, and therewithall promised
assuredly, that for recompense he should vse hir at his
pleasure. The mayde diligently tolde the Scholler hereof,
who very ioyfull for those newes, sayd vnto himselfe: "O God,
praysed be thy name, for now the time is come, that by thy helpe
I shall requite the iniuries done vnto me by this wicked Woman,
and be recompensed of the great loue that I bare vnto hir:" And
aunswered the mayd: "Go tell thy mistresse that for this matter
she neede to take no care, for if hir frend were in India, I can
presently force him to come hither, and aske hir forgiuenesse of
the fault he hath committed agaynst hir. And the maner, and way
how to vse hir selfe in this behalfe, I will gieue hir to
vnderstand when it shal please hir to appoinct me: and fayle not
to tell hir what I say, comforting hir in my behalfe." The mayde
caried the aunswere, and it was concluded, that they should
talke more hereof at the Church of S. Lucie, whither being come,
and reasoning together alone, not remembring that she had
brought the Scholler almost to the poynct of death, she reueyled
vnto him all the whole matter, and the thing which he desired,
praying him instantly to helpe hir, to whome the scholler sayd:
"True it is lady, that amongs other things which I learned at
Paris, the arte of Necromancie, (whereof I haue very great
skill,) is one: But bycause it is mutch displeasaunt to God,
I haue made an othe neuer to vse it, eyther for my selfe, or for
any other: howbeit the loue which I beare you, is of sutch
force, as I cannot deny you any request, yea and if I should be
damned amongs all the deuils in hell, I am ready to performe
your pleasure. But I tell you before, that it is a harder matter
to be done, than paraduenture you belieue, and specially where a
Woman shall prouoke a Man to loue, or a Man the Woman, bycause
it can not be done by the propre Person, whome it doth touche,
and therefore it is meete, whatsoeuer is done, in any wyse not
to be affrayde, for that the coniuration must bee made in the
Nyght, and in a solytarie place wythout Companye: which thing I
know not how you shal bee disposed to doe." To whom the Woman
more amorous than wise, aunswered: "Loue prycketh mee in sutch
wise, as there is nothyng but I dare attempt, to haue him
againe, that causelesse hath forsaken me. But tel me I beseech
you wherein it behoueth that I be so bold and hardy." The
Scholer (subtil inough) said: "I muste of necessity make an
image of brasse, in the name of him that you desire to haue,
which being sent vnto you you must, when the Mone is at hir ful,
bath your self stark naked in a running riuer at the first houre
of sleepe VII. times with the same image: and afterwards beyng
stil naked, you must go vp into some tree or house vnhabited,
and turning your selfe towardes the North side thereof wyth the
image in your hand you shal say VII. times certain words, that I
wil giue you in writing, which when you haue done, two damsels
shal come vnto you, the fairest that euer you saw, and they
shall salute you, humbly demaundyng what your pleasure is to
commaund them: to whome you shal willingly declare in good order
what you desire: and take hede aboue al things, that you name
not one for an other: and when they begonne, you may descend
downe to the place where you left your Apparel, and array your
selfe agayne, and afterwardes retourne home vnto your house, and
assure your self, that before the mid of the nexte Nyghte
folowing, your Fryend shall come vnto you weepyng, and crying
Mercye and forgyuenesse at youre Handes. And know yee, that from
that tyme forth, he wil neuer forsake you for any other." The
gentlewoman hearing those words, gaue great credyte thervnto:
and thought that already she helde hir fryend betweene hir
Armes, and very ioyfull sayd: "Doubt not sir, but I wyll
accomplysh al that you haue inioyned me: and I haue the meetest
place in the World to doe it: for vppon the valley of Arno, very
neare the Ryuer syde I haue a Manor house, secretly to woorke
any attempt that I list: and now it is the moneth of Iuly, in
which tyme bathing is most pleasaunt. And also I remembre that
not far from the Ryuer, there is a lyttle Toure vnhabited, into
which one can scarce get vp, but by a certain Ladder made of
chesnut tree, which is already there, whereuppon the shephierds
do sometime ascende to the turrasse of the same Toure, to looke
for their cattell when they be gone astray: and the place is
very solitarie out of the way. Into that Toure wyll I goe vp,
and trust to execute what you haue requyred me." The Scholler
which knew very well both the village whereof she spake, and
also the Toure, right glad for that he was assured of his
purpose, sayde: "Madame, I was neuer there, ne yet do knowe the
village, nor the Toure, but if it bee as you saye, it is not
possible to finde anye better place in the Worlde: wherefore
when the tyme is come, I wyll send you the Image, and the
prayer. But I heartily beseech you, when you haue obtained your
desire, and do perceyue that I haue well serued your turne, to
haue me in remembraunce, and to keepe your promyse." Which the
Gentlewoman assured hym to doe withoute fayle, and taking hir
leaue of him, she retired home to hir house. The Scholer ioyfull
for that his deuise should in deede come to passe, caused an
image to be made with certaine Characters, and wrote a tale of a
Tubbe in stede of the prayer. And when hee sawe tyme he sent
them to the Gentlewoman, aduertising hir that the Nyght
folowyng, she must doe the thing he had appoynted hir. Then to
procede in his enterprise, he and his man went secretly to one
of his fryends houses that dwelte harde by the towne. The Woman
on the other side, and hir Mayde repaired to hir place: where
when it was nyght, makyng as though she would go slepe, she sent
hir Mayde to Bed: afterwards about ten of the Clocke she
conueyed hirself very softly out of hir lodgyng, and repayred
neare to the Towne vpon the riuer of Arno, and lookyng aboute
hir, not seeing or perceiuing any man, she vnclothed hir selfe,
and hidde hir apparell vnder a bush of Thornes, and then bathed
hir selfe VII. tymes with the Image, and afterwardes starke
naked, holding the same in her hand, she went towardes the
Toure. The Scholler at the beginning of the Nyghte beying hydden
wyth hys seruaunt amongs the willowes and other trees neere the
Toure, saw all the aforesayde thinges, and hir also passing
naked by him, (the whitenesse of whose body surpassed as he
thought, the darknesse of the night, so farre as blacke
exceedeth white) who afterwardes behelde hir Stomack, and the
other partes of hir body, which seemed unto him to be very
delectable. And remembringe what would shortly come to passe, he
had some pitty vppon hir, on the other side, the temptation of
the Flesh sodaynely assayled hym, prouoking him to issue forth
of the secret corner, to Surprise hir, and to take his pleasure
vpon hir. But calling to hys rememberaunce what shee was, and
what great wrong hee had sustayned, his mallice began to kindle
agayne, and did remoue his pitty, and lust, continuing still
stedfast in his determination, suffring her to passe hir Iorney.
The Wydow being vppon the Toure, and turning hir face towards
the North, began to say the wordes which the Scholler had giuen
hir. Within a while after the Scholler entred in very softly,
and tooke away the ladder whereupon she got vp, and stoode still
to heare what she did say and doe. Who hauing VII. times recited
hir prayer, attended the comming of the two damsels: for whom
she wayted so long in vayne, and therewithall began to be
extreemely colde, and perceyued the dawning of the day appeare.
Wherefore taking great displeasure that it came not to passe as
the Scholler had tolde hir, she spake theese wordes to hir
selfe: "I doubt mutch least this Scholler will rewarde mee with
sutch another night, as wherein once I made him to wayte: but if
he haue done it for that respect, he is not well reuenged, for
the nights now want the third part of the length of those, then,
besides the colde that he indured, which was of greater
extremity." And that the day might not discouer hir, she woulde
haue gone downe from the Toure, but she found the Ladder to be
taken away. Then as thou the Worlde had molten vnder hir Feete,
hir heart began to fayle, and Fayntinge, fell downe vppon the
tarrasse of the toure, and when hir force reuiued agayne, she
began pitifully to weepe and complayne. And knowing well that
the Scholler had done that deede for reuenge, she grew to be
angry wyth hir selfe, for that shee hadde Offended another, and
to mutch trusted hym whom she ought (by good reason) to haue
accoumpted hir enimy. And after she had remayned a great while
in this plight, then looking if there were any way for hir to
goe downe, and perceyuinge none, she renued hir weeping, whose
minde great care and sorrow did pierce saying thus to hir selfe:
"O vnhappy wretch, what will thy brethren say, thy Parents, thy
Neyghbors, and generally all they of Florence, when they shall
vnderstande that thou hast bene found heere naked? Thy honesty
which hitherto hath bene neuer stayned, shall now bee blotted
with the stayne of shame, yea, and if thou were able to finde
(for reamedy hereof) any matter of excuse (sutch as might be
founde) the wicked Scholler (who knoweth all thy doings) will
not suffer thee to ly: ah miserable wretch, that in one houre's
space, thou hast lost both thy freende and thyne honour. What
shall become of thee? Who is able to couer thy shame?" When she
had thus complayned hirselfe, hir sorrowe was not so great as
shee was like to cast hirselfe headlong downe from the Toure:
but the Sunne being already risen, she approched neare one of
the corners of the Walle, espying if she coulde see any Boy
keeping of cattell, that she might send him for hir Mayde. And
it chaunced that the Scholler which lay and slept in couert,
awaked, one espying the other, the Scholler saluted hir thus:
"Good morow, Lady, be the Damsels yet come?" The Woman seeing,
and hearing him, began agayne bitterly to weepe, and prayed him
to come vp to the Toure, that she might speake with him. The
Scholler was thereunto very agreable, and she lying on hir belly
vpon the terrasse of the Touer, discouering nothing but hir head
ouer the side of the same, sayd vnto him weeping: "Rinieri,
truly, if euer I caused thee to endure an ill Night, thou art
now well reuenged on me; for although it be the moneth of Iuly,
I thought (because I was naked) that I should haue frosen to
death this night for cold, besides my great, and continuall
Teares for the offence which I haue done thee, and of my Folly
for beleeuing thee, that maruell it is mine eyes do remayne
within my head: And therefore I pray thee, not for the loue of
me, whom thou oughtest not to loue, but for thine owne sake
which art a gentleman, that the shame and payne which I haue
sustayned, may satisfy the offence and wrong I haue committed
agaynst thee: and cause mine apparell I beseech thee to be
brought vnto me, that I may goe downe from hence, and doe not
robbe mee of that, which afterwardes thou art not able to
restore, which is, myne honor: for if I haue deceyued thee of
one night, I can at all times when it shall please thee, render
vnto thee for that one, many. Let it suffice thee then with
this, and like an honest man content thy selfe by being a little
reuenged on me, by making me to know now what it is to hurt
another. Do not, I pray thee, practise thy power against a
woman: for the Egle hath no fame for conquering of the Doue.
Then for the loue of God, and for thine honor sake, haue pitty
and remorse vpon me." The Scholler with a cruel heart remembring
the iniury that he hath receyued, and seeing hir so to weepe and
pray, conceyued at one instant both pleasure and griefe in his
minde: pleasure of the reuenge which he aboue all things
desired, and griefe mooued his manhoode to haue compassion vpon
the myserable woman. Notwithstanding, pitty not able to ouercome
the fury of his reuenge, he aunswered: "Mistresse Helena, if my
praiers (which in dede I could not moysten with teares, ne yet
sweeten them with sugred woordes, as you doe yours nowe) might
haue obtained that night wherein I thought I should haue died
for colde in the Court full of snowe, to haue bene conueyed by
you into some couert place, an easie matter it had beene for mee
at this instant to heare your suite. But if now more than in
times past your honor do waxe warme, and that it greeueth you to
stand starke naked, make your prayers to him, betweene whose
Armes you ware not offended to be naked that night, wherein you
hearde me trot vp and downe your Courte, my Teeth chattering for
cold and marching vpon the Snow: And at his handes seeke
releefe, and pray him to bring your Clothes, and fetch a Ladder
that you may come downe: Force your selfe to set your honor's
care on him for whom both then, and now besides many other
times, you haue not feared to put the same in perill, Why doe
you not cal for him to come and help you? And to whom doth your
help better appertayne than vnto him? You are his owne, and what
things will he not prouyde in this distresse of yours? Or else
what person will hee seeke to succour, if not to helpe and
succour you? Call him (O foolish woman) and proue if the loue
which thou bearest him, and thy wit together with his, be able
to deliuer thee from my Folly, where (when both you were
togethers) you tooke your Pleasure. And now thou haste
Experience wheather my Folly or the Loue which thou diddest
beare vnto him, is greatest. And be not now so Lyberall, and
Curteous of that which I go not about to seeke: reserue thy good
Nights to thy beloued freende, if thou chaunce to escape from
hence aliue: for from my selfe I cleerely discharge you both.
And truly I haue had to mutch of one: and sufficient it is for
mee to bee mocked once. Moreouer by thy crafty talke vttered by
subtill speache, and by thyne vntimely prayse, thou thinkest to
force the getting of my good will, and thou callest me
Gentleman, valiaunt man, thinkinge thereby to withdrawe my
valyaunte minde from punishing of thy wretched body: but thy
flatteries shall not yet bleare mine vnderstanding eyes, as once
wyth thy vnfathyfull promises thou diddest beguile my
ouerweeninge wit. I now to well do know, and thereof thee well
assure, that all the time I was a Scholler in Paris, I neuer
learned so mutch as thou in one night diddest teach mee. But put
the Case that I were a valiaunt man, yet thou art none of them
vpon whom valiaunce ought to shewe his effects: and for the end
of sutch tormenting and passing cruell beasts, as thou art, only
death is fittest rewarde: for if a Woman made but halfe these
playnts, there is no man, but woulde asswage his reuenge. But
yet as I am no Eagle, and thou no Doue, but a most venomous
Serpent, I intend so well as I can to persecute thee mine
auncient enimy, wyth the greatest mallice I can deuise, which I
cannot so properly cal reuenge, as I may terme it Correction:
for that the reuenge of a matter ought to surmount the Offence,
and I will bestow no reuenge on thee: for if I were disposed to
apply my mynde therevnto, for respect of thy displeasure done to
me, thy Lyfe should not suffise, nor one hundred more like vnto
thine: which if I tooke away, I should but rid the Worlde of a
most vile, and wicked woman. And to say the truth, what other
art thou then a Deuill accept a little beauty in thy Face, which
within few yeares will vanishe and consume: for thou tookest no
care to kill, and destroy an honest man (as thou euen now
diddest terme me) whose Life, may in tyme to come bee more
profitable to the Worlde, than an hundred thousand sutch as
thyne, so long as the World indureth. I wil teach thee then by
the paine thou suffrest, what is it to mock sutch Men as bee of
skyll, and what maner of thyng it is to delude and Scorne poore
schollers, gyuing thee warning hereby, that thou never fall into
sutch folly, if thou escapest this. But if thou haue so great a
will to come downe as thou sayest thou hast, why doest thou not
throwe downe thy selfe headlonge, that by breaking of thy Necke
(if it please God) at one instante thou rid thy selfe of the
payne, wherein thou sayest thou art, and make mee the best
contented man of the Worlde. For this tyme I will say no more to
thee, but that I haue done inough to make thee clime so high.
Learne then now so wel how thou maist get down, as thou didst
know how to mock and deceyue me." While the Scholler had
preached vnto hir these words, the wretched woman wepte
continually, and the time stil did passe away, the Sunne
increasing more and more: but when the Scholler held his peace,
she replyed: "O cruell man, if that curssed nyght was grieuous
vnto thee, and my fault appeared great, cannot my youth and
Beauty, my Teares and humble Prayers bee able to mitigate thy
wrath and to moue thee to pitty: do at least that thou mayst be
moued and thy cruell minde appeased for that onely act, let me
once again be trusted of thee, and sith I haue manifested al my
desire, pardon me for this tyme, sith thou hast sufficiently
made me feele the penance of my sinne. For, if I had not reposed
my trust in thee, thou hadst not now reuenged thy self on me,
which with desire most spytefull thou doest full well declare.
Gyue ouer then thine anger, and pardon me henceforth: for I am
determined if thou wilt forgeue mee, and cause me to come downe
out of this place, to forsake for ever that vnfaithfull Louer,
and to receive thee for my only friend and Lord. Moreouer where
thou greatly blamest my beauty, esteeming it to be short, and of
smal accompt, sutch as it is, and the like of other women I
know, not be regarded for other cause but for pastime and
plesure of youthly Men, and therefore not to be contemned: and
thou thy self truly art not very old; and albeit that cruelly I
am intreated of thee, yet can I not beleue that thou wouldest
haue me so miserably to die, as to cast my selfe down headlong,
like one desperate, before thine eyes, whome (except thou were a
lier as thou seemest to be now) in time past I did wel please
and like. Haue pitye then upon me, for God's sake, for the Sunne
begins to grow exceding hot, and as the extreame and bitter cold
did hurt me the last Night euen so the heat beginneth to molest
me." Whereunto the Scholler which kept hir there for the nonce,
and for his pleasure, answered: "Mistresse you did not now
commit your faith to me for any loue you bare, but to get that
again which you had lost, wherfore that deserueth no good turne,
but greater pain: and fondlye thou thinkest this to be the onely
meanes, whereby I am able to take desired reuenge. For I haue a
thousand other wayes and a thousand Trappes haue I layed to
tangle thy feete, in makynge thee beleue that I dyd loue thee:
in sutch wyse as thou shouldest haue gone no where at any tyme,
is thys had not chanced but thou shouldest haue fallen into one
of them: and surely thou couldest haue falne into none of them,
but would haue bred thee more anoyaunce and shame than this
(which I chose not for thyne ease, but for my greater pleasure.)
And besides if all these meanes had fayled me, the pen should
not, wherewyth I would haue displayed thee in sutch Colours, as
when the simple brute thereof hadde come to thyne eares, thou
wouldest haue desired a thousand times a Day, that thou hadst
neuer bene born. For the forces of the pen be farre more
vehement, than they can esteeme that haue not proued them by
experience. I swear vnto thee by God, that I doe reioyse, and so
wil to the ende, for this reuenge I take of thee, and so haue I
done from the beginning: but if I had with pen painted thy
maners to the Worlde, thou shouldest not haue ben so mutch
ashamed of other, as of thy selfe, that rather than thou
wouldest haue loked mee in the Face agayne, thou wouldest haue
plucked thyne Eyes oute of thy head: and therefore reproue no
more the Sea, for beeing increased wyth a lyttle Brooke. For thy
loue, or for that thou wilt be mine own, I care not, as I haue
already told thee, and loue him again if thou canst, so mutch as
thou wilt, to whome for the hatred that I haue borne,
I presently bear so mutch good wyll agayne, and for the pleasure
that he hath don thee now. You be amorous and couet the loue of
young men, bicause you see theyr Colour somewhat fresh, their
beard more black, their bodies well shaped to daunce and runne
at Tylt and Ryng, but al these qualities haue they had, that be
growne to elder yeares, and they by good experience know what
other are yet to learn. Moreouer you deeme them the better
horssemen, bicause they can iourney more myles a day than those
that be of farther yeares. Truely I confesse, that with great
paynes they please sutch Venerial Gentlewomen as you be, who doe
not perceyue (like sauage Beastes) what heapes of euill doe
lurke vnder the forme of fayre apparance. Younge men be not
content with one Louer, but so many as they behold, they do
desire, and of so many they think themselues worthy: wherefore
their loue cannot be stable. And that this is true, thou mayest
now be thine owne wytnesse. And yong men thynkyng themselues
worthy to be honoured and cherished of theyr Ladies, haue none
other glory but to vaunt themselues of those whome they have
enioyed: whych fault maketh many to yeld themselues to those
that be discrete and wise, and to sutch as be no blabbes or
Teltales. And where thou sayest that thy loue is knowne to none,
but to thy mayde and me, thou art deceiued, if thou beleue the
same, for al the inhabitants of the streete wherein thy Louer
dwelleth, and the streete also wherein thy house doth stand,
talke of nothynge more than of your Loue. But many times in
sutch cases, the party whome sutch Brute doth touch, is the last
that knoweth it. Moreouer, young men do robbe thee, where they
of elder yeares do gyue thee. Thou then (which hast made sutch
choyse), remayne to him whome thou hast chosen, and me (whom
thou floutest) gyue leaue to apply to an other: for I haue found
a Woman to bee my fryend, which is of an other discretion than
thou art, and knoweth me better than thou dost. And that thou
mayst in an other world be more certaine of myne Eyes desire,
than thou hitherto art, throwe thy selfe downe so soone as thou
canst, that thy soule already (as I suppose) receiued betwene
the armes of the diuel hym selfe may se if mine eyes be troubled
or not, to view thee breake thy Necke. But bicause I think thou
wilt not do me that good turne, I say if the Sunne begin to
warme thee, remember the cold thou madest me suffer, which if
thou canst mingle with that heat, no doubt thou shalt feele the
same more temperate." The comfortlesse Woman seeing that the
Scholler's words tended but to cruell end, began to weepe and
said: "Now then sith nothing can moue thee to take pity for my
sake, at lest wise for the loue of hir, whom thou saiest to be
of better discretion than I, take some compassion: for hir sake
(I say) whom thou callest thy friend, pardon mee and bryng
hither my clothes that I may put them on, and cause me if it
please thee to come down from hence." Then the Scholler began to
laugh, and seing that it was a good while past III. of the
clocke, he answered: "Well go to, for that woman's sake I cannot
wel say nay, or refuse thy request, tel me where thy garments
be, and I wyll go seke them, and cause thee to come downe." She
beleuing hym, was some what comforted, and told hym the place
where she had bestowed them. And the Scholler going out of the
Toure, commaunded his seruaunt to tarry there, and to take heede
that none went in vntil he came againe. Then he departed to one
of hys friends houses, where he wel refreshed himselfe, and
afterwards when he thought time, he layd him downe to slepe. Al
that space mistresse Helena whych was styll vpon the Toure, and
recomforted with a lyttle foolish hope, sorrowful beyonde
measure, began to sit downe, seeking some shadowed place to
bestow hir selfe, and with bitter thoughts and heauy cheare in
good deuotion, wayted for his comming, now musing, now wepyng,
then hopyng, and sodaynely dispayring the Scholler's retourne
wyth hir Clothes: and chaunging from one thought to another,
like one that was weary of trauel, and had taken no rest al the
Nyght, she fel into a litle slumbre. But the Sun whych was
passing hote, being aboute noone, glaunced his burning beames
vpon hir tender body and bare head, with sutch force, as not
only it singed the flesh in sight, but also did chip and parch
the same with sutch rosting heat, as she which soundly slepte,
was constrayned to wake: and feling that raging warmth, desirous
somewhat to remoue hir self, she thought in turning that all hir
tosted flesh had opened and broken, like vnto a skyn of
parchement holden against the fire: besides with payne extreame,
hir head began to ake, with sutch vehemence, as it seemed to be
knocked in pieces: and no maruel, for the pament of the Toure
was so passing hotte, as neither vpon hir feete, or by other
remedy, shee could find place of rest. Wherefore without power
to abide in one place, she stil remoued to and fro wepying
bitterly. And moreouer, for that no Wynd did blow, the Toure was
haunted wyth sutch a swarme of Flies, and Gnats, as they
lighting vppon hir parched flesh, did so cruelly byte and stinge
hir, that euery of them seemed worsse than the prycke of a
Nedle, which made hir to bestirre hir hands, incessantly to
beate them off cursing still hir selfe, hir Lyfe, hir friend and
Scholler. And being thus and with sutch pain bitten and
afflicted with the vehement heat of the Sun, with the Flies and
gnats, hungry, and mutch more thyrsty, assailed with a thousand
grieuous thoughts, she arose vp, and began to loke about hir if
she could heare or see any person, purposing whatsoeuer came of
it to call for helpe. But hir ill fortune had taken way al this
hoped meanes of hir reliefe: for the Husbandmen and other
Laborers were al gone out of the fields to shrowd themselues
from the heate of the day, sparing their trauail abrode, to
thresh their corn and doe other things at home, by reason
whereof she neither saw nor hearde any thing, except
Butterflies, humble bees, crickets, and the riuer of Arno, which
making hir lust to drink of the water quenched hir thirst
nothing at al, but rather did augment the same. She sawe besides
in many places, woodes, shadows and houses, which lykewyse did
breede hir double grief, for desire she had vnto the same. But
what shal we speak any more of this vnhappy woman? The Sunne
aboue, and the hot Toure paiment below, wyth the bitings of the
flies and gnats, had on euery part so dressed hir tender corps,
that where before the whitenesse of hir body did passe the
darkenesse of the Night, the same was become red, al arayed and
spotted wyth gore bloud, that to the beholder and viewer of hir
state, she seemed the most yll sauored thyng of the Worlde: and
remayning in thys plyght without hope or councel, she loked
rather for death than other comfort. The Scholler after the
Clocke had rounded three in the afternoon, awaked, and
remembring his lady, went to the Toure to see what was become of
hir, and sent his man to dinner, that had eaten nothing all that
day. The Gentlewoman hearing the Scholler, repayred so feeble
and tormented as shee was, vnto the trap doore, and sitting
vppon the same, pityfully weeping began to say: "Rinieri, thou
art beyonde measure reuenged on me, for if I made thee freese
all night in mine open Court, thou haste tosted me to day vppon
this Toure, nay rather burnt with heate, consumed me: and
besides that, to dye and sterue for hunger, and thirst.
Wherefore I pray thee for God's sake to come vp, and sith my
heart is faynt to kill my selfe, I pray thee heartely speedily
to do it. For aboue all things I desire to dy, so great and
bitter is the torment which I endure. And if thou wilt not shewe
me that fauor, yet cause a glasse of Water to be brought vnto
me, that I may moysten my mouth, sith my teares bee not able to
coole the same, so great is the drouth and heate I haue within."
Wel knew the Scholler by hir voyce, hir weake estate, and sawe
besides the most part of hir body all tosted with the Sunne: by
the viewe whereof, and humble sute of hir, he conceiued a little
pitty. Notwythstanding he aunsweared hir in this wise: "Wicked
woman thou shalt not dye with my hands, but of thine owne, if
thou desire the same, and so mutch water shalt thou haue of me
for coolinge of thine heate, as dampned Diues had in hell at
Lazarus handes, when he lifted up his cry to Abraham, holdinge
that saued wighte within his blessed bosome, or as I had fire of
thee for easing of my colde. The greater is my griefe that the
vehemence of my colde must be cured with the heate of sutch a
stincking carion beast, and thy heate healed with the coldnesse
of most Soote and sauerous Water distilled from the orient Rose.
And where I was in daunger to loose my Limmes, and life, thou
wilt renew thy Beauty like the Serpent that casteth his Skin
once a yeare." "Oh myserable wretch" (sayd the woman) "God gieue
him sutch Beauty gotten in this sorte, that wisheth me sutch
euill. But (thou more cruell than any other beast) what heart
haste thou, thus like a Tyraunte to deale with me? What more
grieuous payne coulde I endure of thee, or of any other, than I
do, if I had killed, and done to death thy parents or whole race
of thy stocke and kin with most cruel torments? Truely I know
not what greater tyranny coulde be vsed agaynst a Trayter that
had sacced or put a whole Citty to the sword, than that thou
haste done to me, to make my flesh to bee the foode and rost
meate of the Sunne, and the baite for licorous flies, not
vouchsafing to reach hither a simple glasse of Water whych would
haue bene graunted to the condempned Theefe, and Manqueller,
when they be haled forth to hanging, yea wine most commonly, if
they aske the same. Now for that I see thee still remayne in
obstinate mind, and that my passion can nothinge mooue thee,
I wyll prepare paciently to receiue my death, that GOD may haue
mercy on my soule, whom I humbly beseech with his righteous eyes
to beholde that cruell act of thyne." And with those woords, she
approched with payne to the middle of the terrasse, despayring
to escape that burning heate, and not onely once, but a
thousande times, (besides hir other sorowes) she thought to
sowne for thirst, and bitterly wept without ceasing, complayning
hir mishap. But being almost night, the Scholler thought hee had
done inough, wherefore he tooke hir clothes, and wrapping the
same within his seruaunt's cloke, he went home to the
Gentlewoman's house where he founde before the gate, hir mayde
sitting al sad and heauy, of whom he asked where hir mistresse
was. "Syr," (sayd she) "I cannot tell, I thought this morning to
finde hir a Bed, where I left hir yester night, but I cannot
finde hir there, nor in any other place, ne yet can tell
wheather to goe seeke hir, which maketh my hearte to throb some
misfortune chaunced vnto hir. But (sir quod she) cannot you tell
where she is?" The Scholler aunswered: "I would thou haddest
bene with hir in the place where I left hir, that I might haue
bene reuenged on thee so well, as I am of hir. But beleue
assuredly, that thou shalt not escape my handes vntill I pay
thee thy desert, to the intent hereafter in mocking other, thou
mayst haue cause to remember me." When hee had sayde so, hee
willed his man to gieue the mayde hir Mistresse Clothes, and
then did bidde hir seeke hir out if shee would. The Seruaunte
did his Mayster's commaundment, and the Mayde hauinge receyued
them, knewe them by and by, and markinge well the scholler's
wordes, she doubted least hee had slayne hir Mistresse, and
mutch adoe she had to refrayne from crying out. And the Scholler
being gone, she tooke hir Mistresse Garments, and ran vnto the
Toure. That day by hap, one of the Gentlewoman's labouring Men
had two of his hogges runne a stray, and as he went to seeke
them (a little while after the Scholler's departure) he
approched neare the Toure looking round about if he might see
them. In the busie searche of whom hee heard the miserable
playnt that the vnhappy Woman made, wherefore so loude as he
coulde, be cried out: "Who weepeth there aboue?" The Woman knew
the voice of hir man, and calling him by his name, shee sayde
vnto him: "Goe home I pray thee to call my mayde and cause her
to come vp hither vnto me." The fellow knowing his mistresse
voice sayd vnto hir: "What Dame, who hath borne you vp so hygh?
Your mayde hath sought you al this day, and who would haue
thought to finde you there?" He then taking the staues of the
Ladder, did set it vp against the Toure as it ought to be, and
bounde the steppes that were wanting, with fastenings of Wyllowe
twigges, and sutch like pliant stuffe as he could finde. And at
that instant the mayde came thither, who so soone as she was
entred the Toure, not able to forbeare hir voyce, beating hir
hands, shee began to crye: "Alas sweete Mistresse where be you?"
She hearing the voyce of hir Mayde aunswered so well as shee
could: "Ah (sweete Wench) I am heere aboue, cry no more, but
bring me hither my clothes." When the mayde heard hir speake, by
and by for ioy, in haste she mounted vp the Ladder, which the
Labourer had made ready, and with his helpe gat vp to the
Terrasse of the Toure, and seeing hir Mystresse resembling not a
humayne body but rather a wodden Faggot halfe consumed with
fire, all weary and whithered, lying a long starke naked vppon
the Grounde, she began with hir Nayles to wreke the griefe vpon
hir Face, and wept ouer hir with sutch vehemency as if she had
beene deade. But hir Dame prayed hir for God's sake to holde hir
peace, and to help hir to make hir ready: and vnderstanding by
hir, that no man knewe where she was become, except they which
caried home hir clothes, and the Labourer that was present
there, shee was somewhat recomforted, and prayed them for God's
sake to say nothing of that chaunce to any person. The Laborer
after mutch talke, and request to his Mistresse, to be of good
cheere, when shee was rysen vp, caried hir downe vpon his Necke,
for that she was not able to goe so farre, as out of the Toure.
The poore Mayde which came behinde, in goinge downe the Ladder
without takinge heede, hir foote fayled, and fallinge downe to
the Grounde, shee brake hir Thigh, for griefe whereof she
roared, and cryed out lyke a Lyon. Wherefore the Labourer hauing
placed his Dame vpon a greene banke, went to see what hurt the
Mayde had taken, and perceyued that she had broken hir Thigh, he
caried hir likewise vnto that banke, and placed hir besides hir
mistresse, who seeing one mischiefe vppon another to chaunce,
and that she of whom she hoped for greater help, than of any
other, had broken hir Thigh, sorrowfull beyonde measure, renewed
hir cry so miserably, as not onely the Labourer was not able to
comforte hir, but he himself began to weepe for company. The
Sunne hauinge trauayled into hys Westerne course, and taking his
farewell by settling himselfe to rest, was at the poynct of
goinge downe. And the poore desolate woman vnwilling to be
benighted, went home to the Labourer's house, where taking two
of his Brothers, and his Wyfe, returned to fetch the Mayde, and
caried hir home in a Chayre. Then cheering vp hys Dame with a
little fresh water, and many fayre Wordes, he caried hir vpon
his Necke into a Chaumber, afterwardes his Wyfe made hir warm
Drinks and Meates, and putting of hir clothes, layd hir in hir
Bed, and tooke order that the mistresse and maide that night
were caried to Florence, where the Mistresse ful of lies,
deuised a Tale all out of order of that which chaunced to hir,
and hir Mayde, making hir Brethren, hir Sisters, and other hir
neighbours beleeue, that by flush of lightning, and euill
Sprites, hir face and body were Blistered, and the Mayde stroken
vnder the Arse bone with a Thunderbolt. Then Physitians were
sent for, who not without greate griefe, and payne to the Woman
(which many tymes left hir Skin sticking to the Sheets) cured
hir cruell Feuer, and other hir diseases, and lykewise the mayde
of hir Thigh: which caused the Gentlewoman to forget hir Louer,
and from that time forth wisely did beware and take heede whom
she did mocke, and where she did bestow hir loue. And the
Scholler knowing that the Mayde had broken hir Thigh, thought
himselfe sufficiently reuenged, ioyfully passing by them both
many times in silence. Beholde the reward of a foolish wanton
widow for hir Mockes and Flouts, thinking that no greate care or
more prouident heede ought to be taken in iesting with a
Scholler, than with any other common person, nor well remembring
how they doe know (not all, I say, but the greatest parte) where
the Diuell holdeth his Tayle: and therefore take heede good
Wyues, and Wydowes, how you giue your selues to mockes and
daliaunce, specially of Schollers. But nowe turne we to another
Wyddow that was no amorous Dame but a sober Matrone, a motherly
Gentlewoman, that by pitty, and Money Redeemed, and Raunsomed a
King's Sonne out of myserable Captiuity, that was vtterly
abandoned of all his Friendes. The manner and meanes how the
Nouell ensuing shall shewe.