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that he cannot daunt you； hee will gently come neere you； which when
he hath done； you may descend from off the Tombe； and； without
naming or thinking on God； or any of his Saintes； mount boldly on
his backe； for he will stand ready to receive you。 Being so seated；
crosse your armes over your brest； without presuming to touch or
handle the Beast； for he will carry you thence softly； and so bring
you along to the company。 But if in all this time of your travaile；
you call on heaven； any Saint； or bee possessed with the least thought
of feare： I must plainely tell you； that either hee will cast you
dangerously； or throw you into some noysom place。 And therefore； if
you know your selfe； not to be of a constant courage； and sprightly
bold； to undertake such an adventure as this： never presume any
further； because you may doe us a great deale of injurie； without
any gaine or benefite to your selfe； but rather such wrong； as we
would be very sorry should happen unto so deere a Friend。
Alas honest Buffalmaco； answered the Physitian； thou art not halfe
acquainted with me as yet： because I walke with gloves upon my
hands； and in a long Gowne； thou perhappes doest imagine mee a
faint…hearted fellow。 If thou didst know； what I have heeretofore done
at Bologna in the night time； when I and my Consorts went to visite
pretty wenches； thou wouldst wonder at my couragious attempts。 As I am
a Gentleman； one night； we met with a young Bona Roba； a paltry
greene…sicknesse baggage； scarsely above a Cubite in height； and
because she refused to go with us willingly； I gave her a kicke on the
bum； and spurnde her more then a Crosse…bowe shoote in distance from
me； and made her walke with us whether she would； or no。 Another
time I remember； when having no other company but my boy； I went
thorow the Churchyard of the Fryars Minors； after the sounding of
Ave Maria： a woman hadde beene buried there the very same day； and yet
I was not a jotte affraid。
Wherefore； never be distrustfull of mee； but resolvedly builde
upon my courage。 And in regard of my more honourable entertainment；
I will then weare my Scarlet Gowne and Hood； wherein I receyved my
graduation； and then do both of you observe； what a rejoycing will
be among the whole company； at the entertaining of such a man as I am；
enough to create me Captaine immediatly。 You shall perceive also how
the case will go； after I have beene there but a while； in regard that
the Countesse （having as yet never seene me） is so deepely enamored of
mee： she cannot choose but bestow the Bathe and Knighthood on me；
which shee shall have the more honour of； in regard I am well able
to maintaine it； therefore referre all the rest to mee； and never
misdoubt your injurie or mine。
Spoken like a Gallant； replyed Buffalmaco； and I feare not now；
but we shall winne credite by your company。 But be carefull I pray
you； that you make not a mockery of us； and come not at all； or
fayle to be there； when the Beast shall be sent for you； I speake it
the rather； because it is cold weather； and you Gentlemen Physitians
can hardly endure it。 You are carefull of mee （quoth the Doctor） and I
thanke you for it； but I applaud my faire Starres； I am none of your
nice or easie…frozen fellowes； because cold weather is very familiar
to me。 I dare assure you； when I arise in the night time for that
naturall office whereto all men are subject； I weare no warmer
defence； then my thin wastcoat over my shirt； and finde it
sufficient for the coldest weather at any time。 When Bruno and
Buffalmaco had taken their leave； the Physitian； so soone as night
drew neere； used many apt excuses to his wife； stealing forth his
Scarlet Gowne and Hood unseene of any； wherewith being clothed： at the
time appointed； he got upon one of the Marble Tombes； staying there
（quaking with cold） awaiting when the Beast should come。 Buffalmaco；
being a lusty tall man of person； had got an ugly masking suite；
such as are made use of in Tragedies and Playes； the out…side being of
black shagged haire； wherwith being cloathed； he seemed like a strange
deformed Beare； and a Divels vizard over his face； with two gastly
horrible hornes； and thus disguised； Bruno following him； they went to
behold the issue of the businesse； so farre as the new Market place；
closely adjoining to Santa Maria Novella。
Having espyed Master Doctor uppon the Tombe； Buffalmaco in his
mishapen habite； began to bound； leape； and carriere； snuffling and
blowing in mad and raging manner： which when the Physitian saw； his
haire stood on end； he quaked and trembled； as being more fearfull
then a Woman； wishing himselfe at home againe in his house； rather
then to behold a sight so dreadfull。 But because he was come forth；
and had such an earnest desire； to see the wonders related to him；
he made himselfe so coragious as possibly he could； and bare all out
in formall manner。 After that Buiffalmaco had （an indifferent while）
plaide his horsetrickes； ramping and stamping somewhat strangely：
seeming as become of much milder temper； he went neere to the Tomb
whereon the Physitian stood； and there appeared to stay contentedly。
Master Doctor； trembling and quaking still extreamely； was so
farre dismayed； as he knew not what was best to be done； either to
mount on the beasts backe； or not to mount at all。 In the end；
thinking no harme could happen to him； if he were once mounted； with
the second feare； hee expelled the former； and descending downe softly
from the Tombe； mounted on the beast； saying out alowde： God； Saint
Dominicke； and my good Angell helpe to defend mee。 Seating himselfe so
well as he could； but trembling still exceedingly； he crossed his
armes over his stomacke； according to the Lesson given him。
Then did Buffalmaco shape his course in milde manner； toward Santa
Maria della Scala； and groping to finde his way in the darke； went
on so farre as the Sisters of Ripole； commonly called the Virgin
Sanctuary。 Not farre off from thence； were divers trenches and
ditches； wherein such men as are imployed in necessary
nightservices； used to empty the Countesse di Cimillari； and afterward
imployed it for manuring Husbandmens grounds。 Buffalmaco； being come
neere one of them； he stayed to breath himselfe awhile； and then
catching fast hold on one of the Doctours feete； raysed him somewhat
higher on his back； for the easier discharging of his burthen； and
so pitched him （with his head forwardes） into the Laystall。
Then began he to make a dreadful kinde of noise； stamping and
trampling with his feete； passing backe againe to Santa Maria della
Scala； and to Prato d'Ognissanti； where hee met with Bruno； who was
constrained to forsake him； because he could not refraine from lowde
Laughter； then both together went backe once more； to see how the
Physitian would behave himselfe； being so sweetely embrued。
Master Doctor； seeing himselfe to bee in such an abhominable
stinking place； laboured with all his utmost endevour； to get
himself released thence： but the more he contended and strove for
getting forth； he plunged himselfe the further in； being most
pitifully myred from head to foot； sighing and sorrowing
extraordinarily； because much of the foule water entred in at his
mouth。 In the end； being forced to leave his hood behinde him；
scrambling both with his hands and feet； he got landing out of his
stinking Labyrinth； and having no other means； home he returned to his
own house； where knocking at the door he was at length admitted
entrance。 The doore being scarse made fast againe after his letting
in； Buffalmaco and Bruno were there arrived； listning how M。 Doctor
should bee welcomd home by his angry wife： who scolding and railing at
him with wonderfull impatience； gave him most hard and bitter
speeches； terming him the vilest man living。
Where have you bin Sir？ quoth she。 Are you becom a night…walker
after other Women？ And could no worse garments serve your turne； but
your Doctors gown of Scarlet？ Am I to suffer this behaviour？ Or am not
I sufficient to content you； but you must be longing after change？ I
would thou hadst bin stifled in that foule filth； where thy fouler
life did jus