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Tofano perceiving that his Wife came not to bed； and imagining to
have heard his doore both open and shut： arose out of his bed； and
calling his Wife Cheta divers times； without any answere returned： hee
went downe the staires； and finding the doore but closed too； made
it fast and sure on the inside； and then got him up to the window；
to watch the returning home of his wife； from whence shee came； and
then to make her conditions apparantly knowne。 So long there he
stayed； till at the last she returned indeede； and finding the doore
so surely shut； shee was exceeding sorrowful； essaying how she might
get it open by strength： which when Tofano had long suffered her in
vaine to approove； thus hee spake to her。 Cheta； all thy labour is
meerely lost； because heere is no entrance allowed for thee； therefore
return to the place from whence thou camest； that all thy friends
may Judge of thy behaviour； and know what a night…walker thou art
become。
The woman hearing this unpleasing language； began to use all
humble entreaties； desiring him （for charities sake） to open the doore
and admit her entrance； because she had not bin in any such place；
as his jelous suspition might suggest to him： but onely to visit a
weak and sickly neighbour； the nights being long； she not （as yet）
capeable of sleepe； nor willing to sit alone in the house。 But all her
perswasions served to no purpose； he was so setled in his owne
opinion； that all the Town should now see her nightly gading； which
before was not so much as suspected。 Cheta seeing； that faire meanes
would not prevalle； shee entred into roughe speeches and
threatnings； saying： If thou wilt not open the doore and let me come
in； I will so shame thee； as never base man was。 As how I pray thee？
answered Tofano； what canst thou do to me？
The woman； whom love had inspired with sprightly counsell；
ingeniously enstructing her what to do in this distresse； stearnly
thus replyed。 Before I will suffer any such shame as thou intendest
towards mee； I will drowne my selfe heere in this Well before our
doore； where being found dead； and thy villanous jealousie so
apparantly knowne； beside thy more then beastly drunkennesse： all
the neighbours will constantly beleeve； that thou didst first strangle
me in the house； and afterwardes threw me into this Well。 So either
thou must flie upon the supposed offence； or lose all thy goodes by
banishment； or （which is much more fitting for thee） have thy head
smitten off； as a wilfull murtherer of thy wife； for all will Judge it
to be no otherwise。 All which wordes； mooved not Tofano a jot from his
obstinat determination： but he still persisting therin； thus she
spake。 I neither can nor will longer endure this base Villanie of
thine： to the mercy of heaven I commit my soul； and stand there my
wheele； a witnesse against so hard…hearted a murtherer。
No sooner had she thus spoke； but the night being so extreamly dark；
as they could not discerne one another； Cheta went to the Well；
where finding a verie great stone； which lay loose upon the brim of
the Well； even as if it had beene layde there on purpose； shee cried
out aloud； saying。 Forgive me faire heavens； and so threw the stone
downe into the Well。 The night being very still and silent； the fal of
the great stone made such a dreadfull noise in the Well； that he
hearing it at the Windowe； thought verily she had drowned her selfe
indeede。 Whereupon； running downe hastily； and taking a Bucket
fastened to a strong Cord： he left the doore wide open； intending
speedily to helpe her。 But she standing close at the doores
entrance； before he could get to the Wels side； she was within the
house； softly made the doore fast on the inside； and then went up to
the Window； where Tofano before had stood talking to her。
While he was thus dragging with his Bucket in the Well； crying and
calling Cheta； take hold good Cheta； and save thy life： she stood
laughing in the Window； saying。 Water should bee put into Wine
before a man drinkes it； and not when he hath drunke too much already。
Tofano hearing his Wife thus to flout him out of his Window； went back
to the doore； and finding it made fast against him： he willed hir to
grant him entrance。 But she； forgetting all gentle Language； which
formerly she had used to him： in meere mockery and derision （yet
intermixed with some sighes and teares； which women are saide to
have at command） out aloud （because the Neighbours should heare her）
thus she replyed。
Beastly drunken Knave as thou art； this night thou shalt not come
within these doores； I am no longer able to endure thy base behaviour；
it is more then high time； that thy course of life should bee
publiquely known； and at what drunken houres thou returnest home to
thy house。 Tofano； being a man of very impatient Nature； was as bitter
unto her in words on the other which the Neighbours about them （both
men and Women） hearing； looked forth of their Windowes； and demaunding
a reason for this their disquietnesse； Cheta （seeming as if she
wept） sayde。
Alas my good Neighbours； you see at what unfitting houres； this
bad man comes home to his house； after hee hath lyen in a Taverne
all day drunke； sleeping and snorting like a Swine。 You are my
honest witnesses； how long I have suffered this beastlinesse in him；
yet neyther your good counsell； nor my too often loving
adrionitions； can worke that good which wee have expected。
Wherefore； to try if shame can procure any amendment； I have shut
him out of doores； until his drunken fit be over…past； and so he shall
stand to coole his feet。
Tofano （but in very uncivill maner） told her being abroad that
night； and how she had used him： But the Neighbours seeing her to be
within the house； and beleeving her； rather then him； in regard of his
too well knowne ill qualities； very sharpely reproved him； gave him
grosse speeches； pittying that any honest Woman should be so
continually abused。 Now my good Neighbours （quoth she） you see what
manner of man he is。 What would you thinke of me； if I should walk the
streets thus in the night time； or be so late out of mine owne
house； as this dayly Drunkard is？ I was affraid least you would have
given credit to his dissembling speeches； when he told you； that I was
at the Welles side； and threw something into the Well： but that I know
your better opinion of me； and how sildome I am to be seene out of
doores； although he would induce your sharper judgement of me； and lay
that shame upon me； wherein he hath sinned himselfe。
The Neighbours； both men and Women； were all very severely
incensed against Tofano； condemning him for his great fault that night
committed； and avouching his wife to be vertuous and honest。 Within
a little while； the noise passing from Neighbour to Neighbour； at
the length it came to the eares of her Kindred； who forthwith resorted
thither； and hearing how sharpely the Neighbours reprehended Tofano：
they tooke him； soundly bastanadoed him； and hardly left any bone of
him unbruised。 Afterward； they went into the house； tooke all such
things thence as belonged to hir； taking hir also with them to their
dwelling； and threatning Tofano