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pretending not to know him； but expected what issue this talke would
sort to。 When time served； the Judge discoursed the occasion of his
comming thither； desiring him to demand what ransome he pleased； and
that he might have his wife home with him。 Whereto Pagamino answered。
My Lord Judge； you are welcome hither； and to answer you breefely
very true it is； that I have a yong Gentlewoman in my house； whom I
neither know to be your wife； or any other mans else whatsoever： for I
am ignorant both of you and her； albeit she hath remained a while here
with me。 If you be her husband； as you seeme to avouch； I will bring
her to you； for you appeare to be a worthy Gentleman； and
（questionlesse） she cannot chuse but know you perfectly。 If she do
confirme that which you have saide； and be willing to depart hence
with you： I shal rest well satisfied； and will have no other
recompence for her ransome （in regard of your grave and reverend
yeeres） but what your selfe shall please to give me。 But if it fall
out other then you have affirmed； you shal offer me great wrong； in
seeking to get her from me； because I am a young man； and can as
well maintaine so faire a wife as you； or any man else that I know。
Beleeve it certainly； replyed the judge； that she is my wife； and if
you please to bring me where she is； you shall soone perceive it：
for she will presently cast her armes about my necke； and I durst
adventure the utter losse of her； if she deny to do it in your
presence。 Come on then； saide Pagamino； and let us delay the time no
longer。
When they were entred into Pagaminos house； and sat downe in the
Hall； he caused her to be called； and she （being readily prepared
for the purpose）； came forth of her Chamber before them both； where
friendly they sate conversing together； never uttering any word unto
Signieur Ricciardo； or knowing him from any other stranger； that
Pagamino might bring into the house with him。 Which when my Lord the
Judge beheld； （who expected to finde a farre more gracious welcome） he
stoode as a man amazed； saying to himselfe。 Perhaps the
extraordinary greefe and melancholly suffered by me since the time
of her losse； hath so altred my wonted complexion； that shee is not
able to take knowledge of me。 Wherefore； going neerer to her； he
saide： Faire Love； deerely have I bought your going on fishing；
because never man felt the like afflictions as I have done since the
day when I lost you： but by this your uncivil silence； you seeme as if
you did not know me。 Why deerest love； seest thou not that I am thy
husband Ricciardo； who am come to pay what ransome this Gentleman
shall demaund； even in the house where now we are； so to convey thee
home againe； upon his kind promise of thy deliverance； after the
payment of thy ransome？
Bertolomea turning towards him； and seeming as if shee smiled to her
selfe； thus answered。 Sir； speake you to me？ Advise your selfe well；
least you mistake me for some other； for mine owne part； I never saw
you till now。 How now quoth Ricciardo？ Consider better what you say；
looke more circumspectly on me； and then you will remember； that I
am your loving husband； and my name is Ricciardo di Cinzica。 You
must pardon me Sir； replyed Bertolomea； I know it not so fitting for a
modest； woman to stand gazing in the faces of men： and let me looke
uppon you never so often； certaine I am； that （till this instant） I
have not seene you。 My Lord Judge conceived in his minde； that thus
she denied all knowledge of him； as standing in feare of Pagamino； and
would not confesse him in his presence。 Wherefore hee entreated of
Pagamino； to affoord him so much favour； that he might speake alone
with her in her Chamber。 Pagamino answered； that he was well contented
therewith； provided； that he should not kisse her against her will。
Then he requested Bartolomea； to goe with him alone into her
Chamber； there to heare what he could say； and to answere him as
shee found occasion。 When they were come into the Chamber； and none
there present but he and shee； Signior Ricciardo began in this manner。
Heart of my heart； life of my life； the sweetest hope that I have in
this world； wilt thou not know thine owne Ricciardo； who loveth thee
more then he doth himselfe？ Why art thou so strange？ Am I so
disfigured； that thou knowest me not？ Behold me with a more pleasing
eye； I pray thee。
Bartolomea smiled to her self and without suffering him to proceed
any further in speech； returned him this answere。 I would have you
to understand Sir； that my memory is not so oblivious； but I know
you to be Signior Ricciardo di Cinzica； and my husband by name or
title； but during the time that I was with you； it very ill appeared
that you had any knowledge of me。 For if you had bene so wise and
considerate； as （in your own judgement） the world reputed you to be；
you could not be voide of so much apprehension； but did apparantly
perceive； that I was yong； fresh； and cheerefully disposed； and so （by
consequent） meet to know matters requisite for such young women；
beside allowance of food and garments； though bashfulnesse and modesty
forbid to utter it。 But if studying the Lawes were more welcome to you
then a wife； you ought not to have maried； and you loose the worthy
reputation of a judge； when you fall from that venerable profession；
and make your selfe a common proclaimer of feasts and fasting dayes；
lenten seasons； vigils； and solemnities due to Saints； which prohibite
the houshold conversation of husbands and wives。
Here am I now with a worthy Gentleman； that entertaineth me with
very honourable respect； and here I live in this Chamber； not so
much as hearing of any feasts or fasting dayes； for； neither Fridaies；
Saturdaies； vigils of Saints； or any lingering Lent； enter at this
doore： but heere is honest and civill conversation； better agreeing
with a youthfull disposition； then those harsh documents wherewith you
tutord me。 Wherefore my purpose is to continue here with him； as being
a place sutable to my minde and youth； referring feasts； vigils； and
fasting daies； to a more mature and stayed time of age； when the
body is better able to endure them； and the mind may be prepared for
such ghostly meditations： depart therefore at your owne pleasure；
and make much of your Calender； without enjoying any company of
mine； for you heare my resolved determination。
The Judge hearing these words； was overcome with exceeding griefe；
and when she was silent； thus he began。 Alas deare Love； what an
answere is this？ Hast thou no regard of thine owne honor； thy Parents；
and friends？ Canst thou rather affect to abide here； for the pleasures
of this man； and so sin capitolly； then to live at Pisa in the state
of my wife？ Consider deare heart； when this man shall waxe weary of
thee； to thy shame and his owne disgrace； he will reject thee。 I
must and shall love thee for ever； and when I dye； I leave thee Lady
and commandresse of all that is mine。 Can an inordinate appetite；
cause thee to be carelesse of thine honour； and of him that loves thee
as his owne life？ Alas； my fairest hope； say no more so； but returne
home with me； and now that I am acquainted with thy inclination； I
will endeavour heereafter to give thee better contentment。 Wherefore
（deare heart） doe not denie me； but change thy minde； and goe with me；
for I never saw merry day since I lost thee。
Sir （quoth she） I desire no body to have care of mine honour；
beside my selfe； because it cannot be here abused。 And as for my
Parents； what respect had they of me； when they made me your wife？
If then they could be so carelesse of mee； what reason have I to
regard them now？ And whereas you taxe me； that I cannot live here
without capitall sin； farre is the thought thereof from me： for；
here I am regarded as the wife of Pagamino； but at Pisa； you reputed
me not worthy your society： because； by the point of the Moone； and
the quadratures of Geometrie； the Planets held conjunction betweene
you and me； whereas here I am subject to no such constellations。 You
say beside； that hereafter you will strive to give me better
contentment then you have done； surely； in mine opinion it is no way
possib