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throughout all Florence； when they shall know； that thou wast founde
heere on this Turret； starke naked？ Thine honourable carriage； and
honesty of life； heeretofore free from a thought of suspition； shall
now be branded with detestation； and if thou wouldst cloud this
mishappe of thine； by such lies and excuses； as are not rare amongst
women： yet Reniero that wicked Scholler； who knoweth all thy privy
compacting； will stand as a thousand witnesses against thee； and shame
thee before the whole City； so both thine honor and loved friend are
lost for ever。
Having thus consulted with her selfe； many desperate motions
entred her minde； to throw her selfe headlong from off the Tarras；
till better thoughts wone possession of her soule。 And the Sunne being
risen； shee went to every corner of the Tarras； to espye any Lad
come abroad with his beasts； by whom she might send for her
waitingwoman。 About this instant； the Scholler who lay sleeping （all
this while） under a bush； suddenly awaking； saw her looke over the
wall； and she likewise espyed him； whereupon hee said unto her。 Good
morrow Madame Helena； What？ are the Ladies come yet or no？ Helena
bearing his scorning question； and grieving that hee should so
delude her： in teares and lamentations； she intreated him to come
neere the Tower； because she desired to speake with him。 Which
courtesie he did not deny her； and she lying groveling upon her
brest on the Tarras； to hide her body that no part thereof might be
seene； but her head； weeping； she spake thus to him。
Reniero； upon my credit； if I gave thee an ill nights rest； thou
hast well revenged that wrong on me； for； although wee are now in
the moneth of july； I have beene plagued with extremity of colde （in
regard of my nakednesse） even almost frozen to death： beside my
continuall teares and lamenting； that folly perswaded me to beleeve
thy protestations； wherein I account it well…neere miraculous； that
mine eyes should be capable of any sight。 And therefore I pray thee；
lot in respect of any love which thou canst pretend to beare me； but
for regard of thine owne selfe； being a Gentleman and a Scholler； that
this punishment which thou hast already inflicted upon me； may suffice
for or my former injuries towards thee； and to hold selfe revenged
fully； as also permit my garments to be brought me； that I may descend
from hence； without taking th it from me； which afterward （although
thou wouldst） thou canst never restore me； I meane mine honour。 And
consider with thy selfe； that albeit thou didst not injoy my company
that unhappy night； yet thou hast power to command me at any time
when soever； with making many diversities of amends； for one nights
offence only committed。 Content thy selfe then good Reniero； and as
thou art an honest gentleman； say thou art sufficiently revenged on
me； in making me dearely confesse mine owne errour。
Never exercise thy malice upon a poore weake woman； for the Eagle
disdaineth to pray on the yeelding Dove： and therefore in meere pitty；
and for manhoods sake； be my release from open shame and reproch。
The Scholler； whose envious spleene was swolne very great； in
remembring such a malicious cruelty exercised on him； beholding to
weepe and make such lamentations； found a fierce conflict in his
thoughts； betweene content and pitty。 It did not a little joy and
content him； that the revenge which he so earnestly desired to
compasse； was now by him so effectually inflicted。 And yet （in meere
humanity） pitty provoked him； to commisserate the Ladies distressed
condition： but clemency being over…weake to withstand his rigor；
thus he replied。 Madam Helena； if mine entreaties （which； to speake
truly； I never knew how to steepe in tears； nor wrap up my words in
sugar Candie； so cuningly as you women know how to do） could have
prevailed； that miserable night； when I was well…neere frozen to death
with cold； and meerly buried with snow in your Court； not having
anie place of rescue or shelter； your complaints would now the more
easily over…rule me。 But if your honor in estimation； bee now more
precious to you then heretofore； and it seemeth so offensive to
stand there naked： convert your perswasions and prayers to him； in
whose armes you were that night imbraced； both of your triumphing in
my misery； when poor I； trotted about your Court； with the teeth
quivering in my head； and beating mine armes about my body； finding no
compassion in him； or you。 Let him bring thee thy Garments； let him
come helpe thee down with the Ladder； and let him have the care of
thine honour； on whom thou hast bene so prodigall heretofore in
bestowing it； and now hast unwomanly throwne thy selfe in perill；
onely for the maintenance of thine immodest desires。
Why dost thou not call on him to come helpe thee？ To whom doeth it
more belong； then to him？ For thou art his and he thine。 Why then
shold any other but he help thee in this distresse？ Call him （foole as
thou art） and try； if the love he beareth thee； and thy best
understanding joyned with his； can deliver thee out of my sottish
detaining thee。 I have not forgot； that when you both made a pastime
of my misery； thou didst demand of him； which seemed greatest in his
opinion； either my sottish simplicity； or the love thou barest him。
I am not now so liberall or courteous； to desire that of thee； which
thou wouldst not grant； if I did request it： No； no； reserve those
night favours for thy amorous friend； if thou dost escape hence
alive to see him againe。 As for my selfe； I leave thee freely to his
use and service： because I have sufficiently payde for a womans
falshood； and wisemen take such warning； that they scorne to bee twice
deceived； and by one woman。 Proceed on stil in thy flattering
perswasions； terming me to be a Gentleman and a Scholler； thereby to
win such favor from me； that I should think thy villany toward me；
to be already sufficiently punished。 No； treacherous Helena； thy
blandishments cannot now hoodwink the eies of my understanding； as
when thou didst out…reach me with thy disloyall promises and
protestations。 And let me now tell thee plainely； that all the while I
continued in the Universitie of Paris； I never attained unto so
perfect an understanding of my selfe； as in that one miserable night
thou diddest enstruct mee。 But admit； that I were enclined unto a
mercifull and compassionate minde； yet thou art none of them； on whome
milde and gracious mercy should any way declare her effects。 For；
the end of pennance among savage beasts； such as thou art； and
likewise of due vengeance； ought to be death： whereas among men； it
should suffice according to thine owne saying。 Wherefore； in regard
that I am neither an Eagle； nor thou a Dove； but rather a most
venomous Serpent： I purpose with my utmost hatred； and as an ancient
enemy to all such as thou art； to make my revenge famous on thee。
I am not ignorant； that whatsoever I have already done unto thee；
cannot properly be termed revenge； but rather chastisement； because
revenge ought alwayes to exceede the offence； which （as yet） I am
farre enough from。 For； if I did intend to revenge my wrongs； and
remembred thy