按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
kisses； they brake off conference； till their next meeting。
On the day following； which was towards the ending of the moneth
of May； Catharina began to complaine to her Mother that the season was
over…hot and tedious； to be still lodged in her Mothers Chamber；
because it was an hinderance to her sleeping； and wanting rest； it
would be an empairing of her health。 Why Daughter （quoth the Mother）
the weather （as yet） is not so hot； but （in my minde） you may very
well endure it。 Alas Mother； saide she； aged people； as you and my
Father are； do not feele the heates of youthfull blood； by reason of
your farre colder complexion； which is not to be measured by younger
yeeres。 I know that well Daughter； replyed the Mother； but is it in my
power； to make the weather warme or coole； as thou perhaps wouldst
have it？ Seasons are to be suffered； according to their severall
qualities； and though the last night might seeme hot； this next
ensuing may be cooler； and then thy rest will be the better。 No
Mother； quoth Catharina； that cannot be； for as Summer proceedeth
on； so the heate encreaseth； and no expectation can be of temperate
weather； untill it groweth to Winter againe。 Why Daughter； saide the
Mother； what wouldest thou have me to do？ Mother （quoth she） if it
might stand with my Fathers good liking and yours； I would be spared
from the Garden Gallery； which is a great deale more coole lodged。
There shall I heare the sweete Nightingale sing； as every night she
useth to do； and many other pretty Birdes beside； which I cannot do
lodging in your Chamber。
The Mother loving her Daughter dearely； as being somewhat
over…fond of her； and very willing to give her contentment； promised
to impart her minde to her Father； not doubting but to compasse what
shee requested。 When she had mooved the matter to Messer Lizio whose
age made him somewhat froward and teasty； angerly said to his wife。
Why how now woman？ Cannot our Daughter sleepe； except she heare the
Nightingale sing？ Let there be a bed made for her in the Oven； and
there let the Crickets make her melody。 When Catharina heard this
answere from her Father； and saw her desire to be disappointed； not
onely could she take any rest the night following； but also complained
more of the heate then before； not suffering her Mother to take any
rest； which made her go angerly to her Husband in the morning； saying。
Why Husband； have we but one onely Daughter； whom you pretend to
love right dearly； and yet can you be so carelesse of her； as to denie
her a request； which is no more then reason？ What matter is it to
you or me； to let her lodge in the Garden Gallery？ Is her young
blood to be compared with ours？ Can our weake and crazie bodies； feele
the frolicke temper of hers？ Alas； she is hardly （as yet） out of her
childish yeeres； and Children have many desires farre differing from
ours： the singing of Birdes is rare musicke to them； and chiefly the
Nightingale； whose sweete notes will provoke them to rest； when
neither Art or Physicke can do it。
Is it even so Wife？ answered Messer Lizio。 Must your will and mine
be governed by our Daughter？ Well be it so then； let her bed be made
in the Garden Gallerie； but I will have the keeping of the key； both
to locke her in at night； and set her at liberty every morning。 Woman；
woman； yong wenches are wily； many wanton crotchets are busie in their
braines； and to us that are aged； they sing like Lapwings； telling
us one thing； and intending another； talking of Nightingales； when
their mindes run on Cocke…Sparrowes。 Seeing Wife； she must needes have
her minde； let yet your care and mine extend so farre； to keepe her
chastity uncorrupted； and our credulity from being abused。 Catharina
having thus prevailed with her Mother； her bed made in the Garden
Gallerie； and secret intelligence given to Ricciardo； for preparing
his meanes of accesse to her window； old provident Lizio lockes the
doore to bed…ward； and gives her liberty to come forth in the morning；
for his owne lodging was neere to the same Gallery。
In the dead and silent time of night； when all （but Lovers） take
their rest； Ricciardo having provided a Ladder of Ropes； with grapling
hookes to take hold above and below； according as he had occasion to
use it。 By helpe thereof； first he mounted over the Garden wall； and
then climbde up to the Gallery window； before which （as is every where
in Italie） was a little round engirting Tarras； onely for a man to
stand upon； for making cleane the window； or otherwise repairing it。
Many nights （in this manner） enjoyed they their meetings；
entermixing their amorous conference with infinite kisses and kinde
embraces； as the window gave leave； he sitting in the Tarras； and
departing alwayes before breake of day； for feare of being
discovered by any。
But； as excesse of delight is the Nurse to negligence； and begetteth
such an overpresuming boldnesse； as afterward proveth to be sauced
with repentance： so came it to passe with our over…fond Lovers； in
being taken tardy through their owne folly。 After they had many
times met in this manner； the nights （according to the season） growing
shorter and shorter； which their stolne delight made them lesse
respective of； then was requisite in an adventure so dangerous： it
fortuned； that their amorous pleasure had so farre transported them；
and dulled their senses in such sort； by these their continuall
nightly watchings； that they both fell fast asleepe； he having his
hand closed in hers； and she one arme folded about his body； and
thus they slept till broade day light。 Old Messer Lizio； who
continually was the morning Cocke to the whole House； going foorth
into his Garden； saw how his Daughter and Ricciardo were seated at the
window。 In he went againe； and going to his wives Chamber； saide to
her。 Rise quickly wife； and you shall see； what made your Daughter
so desirous to lodge in the Garden Gallery。 I perceive that shee loved
to heare the Nightingale； for she hath caught one； and holds him
fast in her hand。 Is it possible； saide the Mother； that our
Daughter should catch a live Nightingale in the darke？ You shall see
that your selfe； answered Messer Lizio； if you will make hast； and
go with me。
She； putting on her garments in great haste； followed her Husband；
and being come to the Gallery doore； he opened it very softly； and
going to the window； shewed her how they both sate fast asleepe； and
in such manner as hath bene before declared： whereupon； shee
perceiving how Ricciardo and Catharina had both deceived her； would
have made an outcry； but that Messer Lizio spake thus to her。 Wife； as
you love me； speake not a word； neither make any noyse： for； seeing
shee hath loved Ricciardo without our knowledge； and they have had
their private meetings in this manner； yet free from any blamefu
imputation； he shall enjoy her； and she him。 Ricciardo is a Gentleman；
well derived； and of rich possessions； it can be no disparagement to
us； that Catharina match with him in mariage； which he neither
shall； or dare deny to do； in regard of our Lawes severity； for
climbing up to my window with his Ladder of Ropes； whereby his life is
forfeit