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saluting you； and demanding what you would have them to performe for
you。 Safely you may speake unto them； and orderly tel them what you
desire： but be very careful； that you name not one man insted of
another。 When you have uttered your mind； they wil depart from you；
and then you may descend againe； to the place where you did leave your
garments； which having putte on； then returne to your house。 And
undoubtedly； before the midst of the next night following； your friend
wil come in teares to you； and humbly crave your pardon on his
knees； beeing never able afterward to be false to you； or leave your
Love for any other whatsoever。
The Lady hearing these words； gave very setled beleefe to them；
imagining unfainedly； that shee had （more then halfe） recovered her
friend already； and held him embraced between her armes： in which
jocond perswasion； the chearful blood mounted up into hir cheekes； and
thus she replyed。
Never make you any doubt Sir； but that I can sufficiently performe
whatsoever you have said； and am provided of the onely place in the
world； where such a weighty businesse is to be effected。 For I have
a Farme or dairy house； neere adjoyning to the vale of Arno； and
closely bordering upon the same River。 It beeing now the moneth of
july； the most convenientest time of all the yeare to bathe in； I
can bee the easier induced thereunto。
Moreover； there is hard by the Rivers side a smal Tower or Turret
uninhabited； whereinto few people do sildome enter； but onely
Heardsmen or Flocke…keepers； who ascend uppe （by the helpe of a wodden
Ladder） to a Tarrasse on the top of the saide Tower； to looke all
about for their beasts； when they are wandred astray： it standing in a
solitary place； and out of the common way or resort。 There dare I
boldly adventure to mount up； and with the invincible courage of a
wronged Lady （not fearing to looke death himself in the face） do al
that you have prescribed； yea； and much more； to recover my deare lost
Lover againe； whom I value equal with my owne Life。
Reniero； who perfectly knew both the Dairy Farme； and the old smal
Turret； not a little joyful； to heare how forward shee was to shame
her selfe； answered in this manner。 Madame； I was never in those parts
of the Country； albeit they are so neere to our City； and therfore I
must needs be ignorant； not onely of your Farme； but the Turret
also。 But if they stand in such convenient manner as you have
described； all the world could not yeelde the like elsewhere； so apt
and sutable to your purpose： wherefore； with such expedition as
possibly can use； I will make the Image； and send it you； as also
the charme； verie fairely written。 But let me entreate you； that
when you have obtayned your hearts desire； and are able to Judge
truely of my love and service： not to be unmindfull of me； but （at
your best leysure） to performe what you have with such protestations
promised； which shee gave him her hand and faith to do； without any
impeach or hinderance： and so parting； she returned home to her house。
Our over…joyed Scholler； applauding his happy Starres； for
furthering him with faire a way to his revenge； immagining that it was
already halfe executed； made the Image in due forme； and wrote an
old Fable； insted of a Charme； both which he sent to the Lady； so
soone as he thought the time to be fitting： and this admonition
withall； that the Moone being entering into the full； without any
longer delay； she might venter on the businesse the next night
following； and remaine assured to repossesse her friend。 Afterward for
the better pleasing of himselfe； he went secretly attended； onely by
his servant； to the house of a trusty frend of his； who dwelt
somwhat neere to the Turret； there to expect the issue of this
Lady…like enterprize。 And Madam Helena accompanied with none but
Ancilla walked on to her dairy Farme； where the night ensuing；
pretending to take her rest sooner then formerly she used to doe；
she commanded Ancilla to bed； referring her selfe to her best liking。
After she had to her first sleepe （according to the Schollers
direction） departing softly out of her chamber； she went on towards
the ancient Tower； standing hard by the river of Arno； looking every
way heedfully about hir； least she should be spied by any person。
But perceiving hir selfe to be so secure as she could desire；
putting off all her garments； she hid them in a small brake of bushes：
afterward； holding the Image in hir hand； seven times she bathd hir
body in the river； and then returned with it to the Tower。 The
Scholler； who at the nights closing up of day； had hid himselfe
among the willowes and other trees； which grew very thick about the
Tower； saw both hir going and returning from the River； and as she
passed thus naked by him； he plainly perceyved； that the nights
obscurity could not cloud the delicate whitenes of hir body； but
made the Starres themselves to gaze amorously on her； even as if
they were proud to behold her bathing； and （like so many twinkling
Tapers） shewed hir in emulation of another Diana。 Now； what
conflicts this sight caused in the mind of our Scholler； one while；
quenching his hatefull spleen towards hir； al coveting to imbrace a
piece of such perfection： another while； thinking it a purchase fit
for one of Cupids soldiers； to seize and surprize hir uppon so faire
an advantage； none being to yeild her rescue： in the fiery triall of
such temptations； I am not able to Judge； or to say； what resistance
flesh and blood could make； being opposed with such a sweet enemy。
But he well considering what she was； the greatnes of his injury； as
also how； and for whom： he forgot all wanton allurements of Love；
scorning to entertaine a thought of compassion； continuing constant in
his resolution； to let her suffer； as he himselfe had done。 So； Helena
being mounted up on the Turret； and turning her face towards the
North； she repeated those idle frivolous words （composed in the nature
of a charme） which shee had received from the Scholler。 Afterward；
by soft and stealing steps； hee went into the old Tower； and tooke
away the Ladder； whereby she ascended to the Tarras； staying and
listening； how shee proceeded in her amorous exorcisme。
Seven times she rehearsed the charme to the Image； looking still
when the two Ladies would appeare in their likenesse； and so long
she held on her imprecations （feeling greater cold； then willinglie
she would have done） that breake of day began to shew it selfe； and
halfe despairing of the Ladies comming； according as the Scholler
bad promised； she said to her selfe： I much misdoubt； that Reniero
hath quitted me with such another peece of night…service； as it was my
lucke to bestow on him： but if he have done it in that respect； hee
was but ill advised in his revenge； because the night wants now
three parts of the length； as then it had： and the cold which he
suffered； was far superior in quality to mine； albeit it is more sharp
now in the morning； then all the time of night it hath bin。
And； because day…light should not discover her on the Tarrasse；
she went to make her descent downe againe： but finding the Ladder to
be taken away； and thinking how her publike shame was now
inevitable； her heart dismayed； and shee fell downe in a swoune on the
Tarras： yet recovering her senses afterward； her greefe and sorrow ex。
ceeded all capacity of utterance。 For； now she became fully perswaded；
that this proceeded from the Schollers malice； repenting for her
unkinde usage towards him； but much more condemning her selfe； for
reposing any trust in him； who stood bound （by good reason） to be
her enemy。
Continuing long in this extreame affliction； and surveighing all
likely meanes about her； whereby she might descend from the Tarras；
whereof she was wholly disappointed： she began to sighe and weepe
exceedingly； and in this heavy perplexity of spirit； thus shee
complained to her selfe。 Miserable and unfortunate Helena； what will
be saide by thy Bretheren； Kindred； Neighbours； and generallie
throughout all Florence； when they shall know； that thou wast founde
heere on this Turret； starke naked？ Thine honourable carriage；