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soundest teeth； and send it mee as her loves true token。 When I
finde all these three effectually performed； I am wholly hers； and not
before。
These three strict impositions； seemed to Lesca； and her Ladie
likewise； almost beyond the compasse of all possibility。 Nevertheles
Love； being a powerfull Oratour in perswading； as also adventurous
even on the most difficult dangers； gave her courage to undertake them
all： sending Lesca backe againe to him； with full assurance； of
these more then Herculean labours。 Moreover； her selfe did intend to
adde a fourth taske； in regard of his strong opinion concerning the
great Wisedome of his Lord and Maister。 After she had effected all the
other three； she would not permit him to kisse her； but before his
Lords face： which yet should be accomplished in such sort； as
Nicostratus himselfe should not beleeve it； although apparantly he saw
it。 Well； （quoth Pyrrhus） when all these wonders are performed； assure
my Ladie。 that I am truelie hers。
Within a short while after； Nicostratus made a solemne Feastival
（accorling as yearely he used to doe） in honour of his birth day；
inviting many Lords and Ladies thereto。 On which rejoycing day； so
soone as dinner was ended； and the Tables withdrawne： Lydia came
into the great Hall； where the Feast was solemnly kept； very rich
and costly apparrelled； and there； in presence of Pyrrhus； and the
whole assemblie； going to the Perch whereon the Faulcone sate； wherein
her Husband tooke no little delight； and having untyed her； as if shee
meant to beare her on her Fist： tooke her by the jesses； and beating
her against the wal； killed her。 Nicostratus beholding this； called
out aloud unto her； saying。 Alas Madame！ What have you done？ She
making him no answere； but turning to the Lords and Ladies； which
had dined there； spake in this manner。
Ill should I take revenge on a King； that had offended me； if I
had not so much heart； as to wreake my spleene on a paltry Hawke。
Understand then； worthy Lords and Ladies； that this Faulcone hath long
time robbed me of those delights； which men （in meere equitie） ought
to have with their wives： because continually； so as breake of day
hath appeared； my Husband； starting out of bed； makes him selfe
readie； presently to Horsse； and with this Faulcon on his Fist；
rides abroad to his recreation in the Fields。 And I； in such
forsaken sort as you see； am left all alone in my bed； discontented
and despised： often vowing to my selfe； to bee thus revenged as now
I am； being with…held from it by no other occasion； but onely want
of a fit and apt time； to do it in the presence of such persons； as
might bee just judges of my wrongs； and as I conceive you all to be。
The Lords and Ladies hearing these words； and beleeving this deed of
hers to be done no otherwise； but out of her entire affection to
Nicostratus； according as her speeches sounded： compassionately
turning towards him （who was exceedingly displeased） and all
smiling； said。 Now in good sadnesse Sir； Madame Lydia hath done well
in acting her just revenge upon the Hawke； that bereft her of her
Husbands kinde companie； then which nothing is more precious to a
loving wife； and a hell it is to live without it。 And Lydia； being
sodainly with。 into her chamber； with much other friendly and familiar
talke； they converted the anger of Nicostratus into mirth and smiling。
Pyrrhus； who had diligently observed the whole cariage of this
businesse； saide to himselfe。 My Ladie hath begun well； and proceeding
on with no worse successe； will （no doubt） bring her love to an
happy conclusion。 As for the Lady her selfe； she having thus kild
the Hawke； it was no long while after； but being in the Chamber with
her husband； and they conversing familiarly together； she began to
jest with him； and hee in the like manner with her； tickling and
toying each the other； till at the length she played with his beard；
and now she found occasion aptly serving； to effect the second taske
imposed by Pyrrhus。 So； taking fast hold on a small tuft of his beard；
she gave a sodaine snatch； and plucked it away quite from his chin。
Whereat Nicostratus beeing angerly moved； she （to appease his
distaste） pleasantly thus spake。 How now my Lord？ Why do you looke
so frowningly？ What？ Are you angry for a few loose haires of your
beard？ How then should I take it； when you plucke mee by the haire
of my head； and yet I am not a jot discontented； because I know you do
it but in jesting manner？ These friendly speeches cut off all
further contention； and she kepte charily the tuft of er Husbands
beard； which （the verie selfe…same day） shee sent to Pyrrhus her
hearts chosen friend。
But now concerning the third matter to be adventured； it drove her
to a much more serious consideration； then those two which shee had
already so well and exactly performed。 Notwithstanding； like a Ladie
of unconquerable spirit； and （in whom） Love enlarged his power more
and more： she sodainly conceited； what course was best to bee kept
in this case； forming her attempt in this manner。 Upon Nicostratus
wayted two young Gentlemen； as Pages of his Chamber； whose Fathers had
given them to his service； to learne the manners of honourable
Courtship； and those qualities necessarily required in Gentlemen。
One of them； when Nicostratus sate downe to dinner or supper； stood in
Office of his Carver； delivering him all the meats whereon he fed。 The
other （as Taster） attended on his Cup； and he dranke no other
drinke； but what hee brought him； and they both were highly pleasing
unto him。
On a day； Lydia called these two youths aside； and； among some other
speeches； which served but as an induction to her intended policy； she
perswaded them； that their mouths yeelded an unsavoury and
ilpleasing smell； whereof their Lord seemed to take dislike。 Wherefore
she advised them； that at such times as they attended on him in
their severall places： they should （so much as possibly they could）
withdraw their heads aside from him； because their breath might not be
noyous unto him。 But withall； to have an especiall care； of not
disclosing to any one； what she had told them； because （out of meere
love） she had acquainted them therewith： which very coistantly they
beleeved； and followed the same direction as she had advised； being
loath to displease； where service bound them to obey。 Choosing a
time fitting for her purpose； when Nicostratus was in private
conference with her； thus she began。 Sir； you observe not the
behaviour of your two Pages； when they wait on you at the Table？ Yes
but I do wife （quoth he） how squemishly they turn their heads aside
from me； and it hath often bin in my minde； to understand a reason why
they do so。
Seating her selfe by him； as if shee had some weighty matter to tell
him； she proceeded in this manner。 Alas my Lord； you shall not need to
question them； because I can sufficiently resolve you therein： which
（neverthelesse） I have long concealed； because I would not be
offensive to you。 But in regard； it is now manifestly apparant； that
others have tasted； what （I immagined） none but my selfe did； I will
no longer hide it from you。 Assur