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desire； and meaning to make a scorne at the Magnifico； made answer；
that he was well contented to let him speak with her when he would；
and leaving him in the great Hall of the house； went to his wives
Chamber； and told her how easily he might enjoy the horse；
commanding her forthwith to come and heare what he could say to her；
only she should abstaine； and not returne him any answer。 The Lady
with a modest blush； much condemned this folly in him； that his
covetousnes should serve as a cloake to cover any unfitting speeches
which her chaste eares could never endure to heare。 Neverthelesse
being to obey her husbands will； she promised to do it； and followed
him down into the Hall； to heare what the Magnifico would say。
Againe he there confirmed the bargaine made with her husband； and
sitting downe by her in a corner of the Hall； farre enough off from
any ones hearing； taking her curteously by the hand； thus he spake。
Worthy Lady； it seemeth to me； that you are so truly wise； as no
doubt you have long since perceived； what unfeigned affection your
beauty （far excelling） hath compelled me to beare you。 Setting aside
those commendable qualities and singular vertues gloriously shining in
you； and powerfull enough to make a conquest of the stoutest
courage； I held it utterly needlesse； to let you understand by
words； how faithfull the love is I bear you； were it not much more
fervent and constant； then ever any other man can expresse to a woman。
In which condition it shall still continue； without the least
blemish or impayre； so long as I enjoy life or motion； yea； and I dare
assure you； that if in the future world； affection may containe the
same powerfull dominion； as it doth in this； I am the man borne to
love you perpetually。 Whereby you may rest confidently perswaded； that
you enjoy not any thing； how poore or precious soever it be； which you
can so solemnely account to be your owne； and in the truest title of
right； as you may my selfe； in all that I have； or for ever shall be
mine。
To confirme your opinion in this case by any argument of greater
power； let me tell you； that I should repute it as my fairest and most
gracious fortune； if you would command me some such service； as
consisteth in mine ability to performe； and in your courteous favour
to accept； yea； if it were thorow the whole world； right to traval
am I； and obedient。 In which regard faire Madam； if I be so much；
yours； as you heare I am； I may boldly adventure （and not without good
reason） to acquaint your chaste eares with my earnest desires； for
on you onely depends my happinesse； life； and absolute comfort； and as
your most humble servant； I beseech you （my deerest good； and sole
hope of my soule） that rigour may dwell no longer in your gentle
brest； but Lady…like pitty and compassion； whereby I shall say； that
as your divine beauty enflamed mine affections； even so it extended
such a merciful qualification； is exceeded all my hope； but not the
halfe part of your pitty。
Admit （myracle of Ladies） that I should die in this distresse： Alas；
my death would be but your dishonour； I cannot be termed mine owne
murtherer； when the Dart came from your eye that did it； and must
remaine a witnes of your rigor。 You cannot then chuse but call to
minde； and say within your own soule： Alas； what a sinne have I
committed； in being so unmercifull to my Magnifico。 Repentance then
serves to no purpose； but you must answer for such unkinde cruelty。
Wherefore； to prevent so blacke a scandall to your bright beauty；
beside the ceaselesse acclamations； which will dog your walkes in
the day time； and breake your quiet sleepes in the night season；
with fearefull sights and gastly apparitions； hovering and haunting
about your bed； let all these moove you to milde mercy； and spill
not life； when you may save it。
So the Magnifico ceasing； with teares streaming from his eyes； and
sighes breaking from his heart； hee sate still in expectation of the
Ladies answere； who made neither long or short of the matter；
neither Tilts nor Tourneying； nor many lost mornings and evenings； nor
infinite other such like Offices； which the Magnifico （for her sake）
from time to time had spent in vaine； without the least shew of
acceptation； or any hope at all to winne her love： mooved now in
this very houre； by these solemne is protestations； or rather most
prevailing asseverations； she began to finde that in her； which
（before） she never felt； namely Love。 And although （to keepe her
promise made to her husband） shee spake not a word： yet her heart
heaving； her soule throbbing； sighes intermixing； and complexion
altering； could not hide her intended answer to the Magnifico； if
promise had beene no hinderance to her will。 All this while the
Magnifico sate as mute as she； and seeing she would not give him any
answere at all； he could not choose but wonder thereat； yet at
length perceived； that it was thus cunningly contrived by her husband。
Notwithstanding； observing well her countenance； that it was in a
quite contrary temper； another kinde of fire sparkling in her eye；
other humours flowing； her pulses strongly beating； her stomacke
rising； and sighes swelling； all these were arguments of a change； and
motives to advance his hope。 Taking courage by this ticklish
perswasion； and instructing his mind with a new kinde of counsell；
he would needes answer himselfe on her behalfe； and as if she had
uttered the words； thus he spake。
Magnifico； and my friend； surely it is a long time since； when I
first noted thine affection toward me to be very great and most
perfect； but now I am much more certain thereof； by thine owne
honest and gentle speeches； which content me as they ought to do。
Neverthelesse； if heretofore I have seemed cruell and unkinde to thee；
I would not have thee thinke； that my heart was any way guilty of my
outward severity； but did evermore love thee； and held thee deerer
then any man living。 But yet it became me to do so； as well in feare
of others； as for the renowne of mine owne reputation。 But now is
the time at hand； to let thee knowe more clearly； whether I do
affect thee or no： as a just guerdon of thy constant love
which long thou hast； and still doest beare to me。 Wherefore；
comfort thy selfe； and dwell on this undoubted hope； because Signior
Francesco my husband； is to be absent hence for many dayes； beeing
chosen Podesta at Millaine； as thou canst not choose but heare； for it
is common through the Country。
I know （for my sake） thou hast given him thy goodly ambling Gelding；
and so soone as he is gone； I promise thee upon my word； and by the
faithfull love I beare thee； that I will have further conference
with thee； and let thee understand somewhat more of my minde。 And
because this is neither fitting time nor place； to discourse on
matters of such serious moment： observe heereafter； as a signall； when
thou seest my Crimson Skarfe hanging in the window of my Chamber；
which is upon the Garden side； that evening （so soone as it is
night） come to the Garden gate； with wary respect that no eye do
discover thee； and there thou shalt finde me walking； and ready to
acquaint thee with other matters； according as I shall finde occasion。
When the Magnifico in the person of the Lady； had spoken thus；
then he returned her this answer。 Most vertuous Lady； my spirits are
so transported with extraordinary joy； for this your gracious and
welcome answer； that my sences faile me； and all my faculties quite
forsake me； that I cannot give you such thankes as I would。 And if I
could speak equally to my desire； yet the season suites not therewith；
neither were it convenient that I should be so troublesome to you。 Let
me therefore humbly beseech you； that the desire I have to
accomplish your will （which wordes availe not to expresse） may remaine
in your kinde consideration。 And as you have commanded me； so will I
not faile to performe it accordingly； and in more thankfull manner；
then （as yet） I am able to let you know。 Now there resteth nothing
else to do； but under the protection of your gracious pardon； I to
give over speech； and you to attend your woorthy Husband。
Notwithstand