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Madame Helena； you have so conjured me by mine endeered Ladie and
Mistresse； that I am no longer able to deny you； wherefore； tell me
where your garments are； and I will bring them to you； that you may
come downe from the Turret。 She beleeving his promise； tolde him where
she had hid them； and Reniero departing from the Tower； commanded
his servant； not to stirre thence： but to abide still so neere it；
as none might get entrance there till his returning。 Which charge
was no sooner given to his man； but hee went to the house of a neere
neighboring friend； where he dined well； and afterward laid him
downe to sleepe。
In the meane while； Madame Helena remaining still on the Tower；
began to comfort her selfe with a little vaine hope； yet sighing and
weeping incessantly； seating her selfe so well as shee could； where
any small shelter might yeelde the least shade； in expectation of
the Schollers returning： one while weeping； then againe hoping； but
most of all despairing； by his so long tarrying away with her
Garments； so that beeing over…wearied with anguish and long
watching； she fell into a little slumbering。 But the Sunne was so
extreamly hot； the houre of noone being already past； that it meerly
parched her delicate body； and burnt her bare head so violently： as
not onely it seared all the flesh it touched； but also cleft and
chinkt it strangely； beside blisters and other painfull scorchings
in the flesh which hindred her sleeping； to help her self （by all
possible means） waking。 And the Turret being covered with Lead； gave
the greater addition to her torment； for； as she removed from one
place to another； it yeelded no mitigation to the burning heate； but
parched and wrinkled the flesh extraordinarily； even as when a piece
of parchment is throwne into the fire； and recovered out againe； can
never be extended to his former forme。
Moreover； she was so grievously payned with the head…ake； as it
seemed to split in a thousand pieces； whereat there needed no great
the Lead of the Turret being so exceedingly hot； that it affoorded not
the least defence against it； or any repose to qualifie the torment：
but drove her still from one place to another； in hope of ease； but
none was there to be found。
Nor was there any winde at all stirring； whereby to asswage the
Sunnes violent scalding； or keepe away huge swarmes of Waspes；
Hornets； and terrible byting Flyes； which vexed her extreamely；
feeding on those parts of her body； that were rifte and chinkt； like
crannies in a mortered wall； and pained her like so many points of
pricking Needles； labouring still with her hands to beate them away；
but yet they fastned on one place or other； and afflicted her in
grievous manner； causing her to curse her owne life； hir amorous
friend； but （most of all） the Scholler； that promised to bring her
Garments； and as yet returned not。 Now began she to gaze upon every
side about her； to espy some labouring Husbandmen in the fields； to
whom she might call or cry out for helpe； not fearing to discover
her desperate condition： but Fortune therein also was adverse to
her； because the heats extreamity； had driven all the village out of
the fields； causing them to feede their Cattle about theyr owne
houses； or in remote and shadie Valleyes： so that shee could see no
other creatures to comfort her； but Swannes swimming in the River of
Arno； and wishing her selfe there a thousand times with them； for to
coole the extreamity of her thirst； which so much the more
encreased； onely by the sight thereof； and utterly disabled of
having any。
She saw beside in many places about her； goodly Woods； fayre coole
shades； and Country houses here and there dispersed； which added the
greater violence to hir affliction； that her desires （in all these）
could no way be accomplished。 What shall I say more concerning this
disastrous Lady？ The parching beames of the Sunne above her； the
scalding heat of the Lead beneath her； the Hornets and Flyes everie
way stinging her； had made such an alteration of her beautifull bodie：
that； as it checkt and controlled the precedent nights darkenesse；
it was now so metamorphosed with rednesse； yea； and blood issuing
forth in infinite places； as she seemed （almost） loathsome to looke
on； continuing still in this agonie of torment； quite voyde of all
hope； and rather expecting death； then any other comfort。
Reniero； when some three houres of the afternoone were overpast；
awaked from sleeping： and remembring Madame Helena； he went to see
in what estate she was； as also to send his servant unto dinner；
because he had fasted all that day。 She perceyving his arrivall； being
altogether weake； faint； and wonderously over…wearied； she crept on
her knees to a corner of the Turret； and calling to him； spake in this
manner。 Reniero； thy revenge exceedeth al manhoode and respect： For；
if thou wast almost frozen in my Court； thou hast roasted me all day
long on this Tower； yea； meerly broyled my poore naked bodie； beside
starving mee thorough want of Food and drinke。 Be now then so
mercifull （for manhoods sake） as to come uppe hither； and inflict that
on me； which mine owne hands are not strong enough to do； I meane
the ending of my loathed and wearisome life； for I desire it beyond
all comfort else； and I shall honour thee in the performance of it。 If
thou deny me this gracious favour； at least send me uppe a glasse of
Water； onely to moisten my mouth； which my teares （being all meerly
dried up） are not able to doe； so extreame is the violence of the
Sunnes burning heate。
Well perceived the Scholler； by the weaknesse of her voyce； and
scorching of her body by the Suns parching beames； that shee was
brought now to great extremity： which sight； as also her humble
intercession； began to touch him with some compassion； nevertheles；
thus he replied。 Wicked woman； my hands shal be no means of thy death；
but make use of thine owne； if thou be so desirous to have it： and
as much water shalt thou get of me to asswage thy thirst； as thou
gavest me fire to comfort my freezing； when thou wast in the luxurious
heat of thy immodest desires； and I wel…neere frozen to death with
extremity of cold。 Pray that the Evening may raine downe Rosewater
on thee； because that in the River of Arno is not good enough for
thee： for as little pitty doe I take on thee now； as thou didst extend
compassion to me then。
Miserable Woman that I am； answered Helena； Why did the heavens
bestow beautie on mee； which others have admired and honoured； and yet
（by thee） is utterly despised？ More cruell art thou then any savage
Beast； thus to vexe and torment mee in such mercilesse manner。 What
greater extreamity couldst thou inflict on me； if I had bin the
destruction of all thy Kindred； and lefte no one man living of thy
race？ I am verily perswaded； that more cruelty cannot be used
against a Traitor； who was the subversion of an whole Cittie； then
this tyranny of thine； roasting me thus in the beames of the Sun；
and suffering my body to be devoured with Flies； without so small a
mercie； as to give mee a little coole water； which murtherers are
permitted to have； being condemned by just