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gone； he went into the Chamber； where he found his wife； amending
the forme of her head attyre； which Spinelloccio had put into a
disordred fashion。 Wife （quoth be） what art thou doing？ Why？ Do you
not see Husband？ answered she。 Yes that I do wife； replied Zeppa；
and something else happened to my sight； which I could wish that I had
not seene。 Rougher Language growing betweene them； of his avouching；
and her as stout denying； with defending her cause over…weakely；
against the manifest proofes both of eye and eare： at last she fell on
her knees before him； weeping incessantly； and no excuses now
availing； she confest her long acquaintance with Spinelloccio； and
most humbly entreated him to forgive her。 Uppon the which penitent
confession and submission； Zeppa thus answered。
Wife； if inward contrition be answerable to thy outward seeming
sorrow； then I make no doubt； but faithfully thou dost acknowledge
thine owne evill dooing： for which； if thou expectest pardon of me；
determine then to fulfill effectually； such a busines as I must
enjoyne； and thou performe。 I command thee to tell Spinelloccio；
that to morrow morning； about nine of the clocke； we being both abroad
walking； he must finde some apt occasion to leave my company； and then
come hither to visit thee。 When he is here； sodainly will I returne
home； and upon thy hearing of my entraunce： to save his owne
credite； and thee from detection； thou shalt require him to enter this
Chest； untill such time as I am gone forth againe； which he doing； for
both your safeties； so soon as he is in the chest； take the key and
locke him up fast。 When thou hast effected this； then shall I acquaint
thee with the rest remaining； which also must be done by thee； without
dread of the least harme to him or thee； because there is no malicious
meaning in me； but such as （I am perswaded） thou canst not justly
mislike。 The wife； to make some satisfaction for her offence committed
promised that she would performe it； and so she did。
On the morrow morning； the houre of nine being come； when Zeppa
and Spinelloccio were walking abroad together； Spinelloccio remembring
his promise unto his Mistresse； and the clocke telling him the
appointed houre； hee saide to Zeppa。 I am to dine this day with an
especiall friend of mine； who I would be loath should tarry for my
comming； and therefore holde my departure excused。 How now？ answered
Zeppa； the time for dinner is yet farre enough off； wherefore then
should we part so soone？ Yea but Zeppa； replied Spinelloccio； wee have
weighty matters to confer on before dinner； which will require three
houres space at the least； and therefore it behoveth me to respect due
time。
Spinelloccio being departed from Zeppa （who followed faire and
softly after him）
being come to the house； and kindly welcommed by the wife： they were
no sooner gone up the staires； and entering in at the Chamber doore；
but the Woman heard her Husband cough； and also his comming up the
staires。 Alas deare Spinelloccio （quoth she） what shall we do？ My
Husband is comming uppe； and we shall be both taken tardie； step
into this Chest； lye downe there and stirre not； till I have sent
him forth againe； which shall be within a very short while。
Spinelloccio was not a little joyfull for her good advice； downe in
the Chest lay he； and she lockt him in： by which time Zeppa was entred
the Chamber。 Where are you Wife？ said he； （speaking so loud； as hee in
the Chest might heare him） What； is it time to go to dinner？ It will
be anon Sir； answered she； as yet it is overearly but seeing you are
come； the more hast shall be made； and every thing will be ready
quickly。
Zeppa； sitting downe upon the Chest； wherein Spinelloccio lay not
a little affrighted； speaking stil aloud； as formerly he did： Come
hither Wife （quoth he） how shall we do for some good companie to
dine with us？ Mine honest kinde neighbour Spinelloccio is not at home；
because he dineth forth to day with a deare friend of his； by which
meanes； his wife is left at home alone： give her a call out at our
Window； and desire her to come dine with us： for we two can make no
merry Musicke； except some more come to make up the consort。
His Wife being very timorous； yet diligent to doe whatsoever he
commanded； so prevailed with the Wife of Spinelloccio： that she came
to them quickely； and so much the rather； because her Husband dined
abroad。 Shee being come up into the Chamber； Zeppa gave her most kinde
entertainment； taking her gently by the hand； and winking on his Wife；
that she should betake her selfe to the kitchin； to see dinner
speedily prepared； while he sat conversing with his neighbour in the
Chamber。
His wife being gone； he shut the doore after her； which the new…come
Neighbour perceyving； she sayde。 Our blessed Lady defend me。 Zeppa；
What is your meaning in this？ Have you caused me to come hither to
this intent？ Is this the love you beare to Spinelloccio； and your
professed loyalty in friendshippe？ Zeppa； seating her downe on the
Chest； wherein her Husband was inclosed； entreating her patience； thus
began。 Kinde and loving Neighbor； before you adventure too farre in
anger； vouchsafe to heare what I shall tell you。
I have loved； and still doe love； Spinelloccio as my brother； but
yesterday （albeit he knoweth it not） I found； the honest trust I
reposed in him； deserved no other； or better recompence； but even to
be bold with my wife； in the selfesame manner as I am； and as hee
ought to do with none but you。 Now； in regard of the love which I
beare him； I intend to be no otherwise revenged on him； but in the
same kinde as the offence was committed。 He hath bin more then
familiar with my wife。 I must borrow the selfe…same courtesie of
you； which in equity you cannot deny mee； weighing the wrong you
have sustained by my wife。 Our injuries are alike； in your Husband
to me； and in my wife to you： let then their punishment and ours be
alike also； as they； so we； for in this case there can be no juster
revenge。
The Woman hearing this； and perceiving the manifolde confirmations
thereof； protested （on solemne oath） by Zeppa； hir beliefe grew
setled； and thus she answered。 My loving neighbor Zeppa； seeing this
kinde of revenge is （in meere justice） imposed on mee； and ordained as
a due scourge； as well to the breach of friendship and
neighbourhood； as abuse of his true and loyall wife： I am the more
willing to consent： alwaies provided； that it be no imbarrement of
love betweene your wife and mee； albeit I have good reason to alledge；
that she began the quarrell first： and what I do is but to right my
wrong； as any other woman of spirit would do： Afterwards； we may the
more pardon one another。 For breach more easi of peace （answered
Zeppa） between my wife and you； take my honest word for your
warrant。 Moreover； in requitall of this favour to mee； I will
bestowe a deare and precious jewell on you； excelling all the rest
which you have beside。
In delivering these words； he sweetly kissed and embraced her； as
she sat on the Chest wherein her husband lay： now； what they did
else beside； in recompence of the wrong received； I leave to your
im