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married. The poore wench was bound to the stake, and had not onely an old impotent man, but one that was fo jealous, as none might enter into his houfe without fufpicion, nor fhe doo any thing without blame the leaft glance, the fmalleft countenance, any fmile, was a manifeft inftance to him, that thee thought of others better than himfelfe; thvs he himfelfe liued in a hell, and tormented his wife in as ill perplexitie. At laft it chaunced, that a young gentleman of the citie comming by her house, and seeing her looke out at her window, noting her rare and excellent proportion, fell in loue with her, and that fo extreamelye, as his paffion had no means till her fauour might mittigate his heartficke content. The young man that was ignorant in amorous matters, and had neuer beene vfed to courte anye gentlewoman, thought to reueale his paffions to fome one freend, that might give him counfaile for the winning of her loue; and thinking experience was the surest maifter, on a daye seeing the olde doctor walking in the churche, (that was Margarets husband,) little knowing who he was, he thought this the fittest man to whom he might discouer his paffions, for that hee was olde and knewe much, and was a phifition that with his drugges might help him forward in his purposes: fo that seeing the old man walke folitary, he icinde vnto him, and after a curteous falute, tolde him he was to impart a matter of great import vnto him; wherein if hee would not onely be fecrete, but endeauour to pleasure him, his pains fhould be euery way to the full confidered. You muft imagine, gentleman, quoth Mutio, for fo was the doctors name, that men of our profeffion are no blabs, but hold their fecrets in their hearts' bottome; and therefore reueale what you please, it shall not onely be concealed, but cured; if either my art or counfaile may do it. Upon this Lionello, (fo was the young gentleman called,) told and discourst vnto him from point to point how he was falne in loue with a gentlewoman that was married to one of his profeffion; discouered her dwelling and the house; and for that he was vnacquainted with the woman, and a man little experienced in loue matters, he required his favour to further him with his aduife. Mutio at this motion was ftung to the hart, knowing it was his wife hee was fallen in loue withal: yet to conceale the matter, and to experience his wiue's chastity, and that if fhe plaide falfe, he might be reuengde on them both, he diffembled the matter, and answered, that he knewe the woman very well, and commended her highly; but faide, fhe had a churle to her husband, and therefore he thought thee would bee the more tractable: trie her man, quoth hee; fainte hart neuer woonne fair lady; and if thee will not bee brought to the bent of your bowe, I will provide fuch a potion as fhall difpatch all to your owne content; and to giue you further inftructions for opportunitie, knowe that her husband is foorth euery afternoone from three till fixe.

Thus farre I have aduifed you, because I pitty your paffions as my felfe being once a louer: but now I charge thee, reueale it to none whomfoeuer, left it doo disparage my credit, to meddle in amorous matters. The young gentleman not onely promifed all carefull fecrecy, but gaue him harty thanks for his good counfell, promifing to meete him there the next day, and tell him what newes. Then hee left the old man, who was almost mad for feare his wife should any way play falfe. He faw by experience, braue men came to befiege the castle, and feeing it was in a woman's cuftodie, and had fo weake a gouernor as himfelfe, he doubted it would in time be deliuered up: which feare made him almost franticke, yet he driude of the time in great torment, till he might heare from his riual. Lionello, he haftes him home, and futes him in his brauerye, and goes down towards the houfe of Mutio, where he fees her at her windowe, whom he courted with a paffionate looke, with fuch an humble falute, as fhee might perceiue how the gentleman was affectionate. Margaretta looking earneftly upon him, and noting the perfection of his proportion, accounted him in her eye the flower of all Pifa; thinkte herfelfe fortunate if the might haue him for her freend, to fupply thofe defaultes that the found in Mutio. Sundry times that afternoone he paft by her window, and he caft not vp more louing lookes, then he receiued gra'tious fauours: which did fo incourage him, that the next daye betweene three and fixe hee went to her houfe, and knocking at the doore, defired to fpeake with the miftris of the house, who hearing by her maid's description what he was, commaunded him to come in, where fhe interteined him with all curtefie.

"The youth that neuer before had giuen the attempt to couet a ladye, began his exordium with a blushe; and yet went forward fo well, that hee difcourft vnto her howe he loued her, and that if it might please her fo to accept of his feruice, as of a freende euer vowde in all duetye to bee at her commaunde, the care of her honour fhould bee deerer to him then his life, and hee would bee ready to prife her discontent with his bloud at all times.

"The gentlewoman was a little coye, but before they part they concluded that the next day at foure of the clock hee should come thither and eate a pound of cherries, which was refolued on with a fuccado des labres; and fo with a loath to depart they took their leaues. Lionello, as ioyfull a man as might be, hyed him to the church to meete his olde doctor, where hee found him in his olde walke. What newes, fyr, quoth Mutio? How have you sped? Even as I can wifhe, quoth Lionello; for I haue been with my miftreffe, and haue found her fo tractable, that I hope to make the old peafant her husband look broad-headded by a pair of browantlers. How deepe this ftrooke into Mutio's hart, let them imagine that can conjecture what ieloufie is; infomuch that the olde doctor afkte, when should be the time: marry, quoth Lionello, to

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morrow at foure of the clocke in the afternoone; and then maister doctor, quoth hee, will I dub the olde fquire knight of the forked order.

"Thus they paft on in chat, till it grew late; and then Lyonello went home to his lodging, and Mutio to his houfe, couering all his forrowes with a merrye countenance, with full resolution to revenge them both the next day with extremetie. He paft the night as patiently as he could, and the next day after dinner awaye hee went, watching when it should bee four of the clocke. At the houre juftly came Lyonello, and was intertained with all curtefie: but scarfe had they kift, ere the maide cried out to her mistresse that her maister was at the doore; for he hafted, knowing that a horne was but a litle while in grafting. Margaret at this alarum was amazed, and yet for a fhifte chopt Lyonello into a great driefatte full of feathers, and fat her downe close to her woorke: by that came Mutio in blowing; and as though he came to looke fomewhat in hafte, called for the keyes of his chambers, and looked in euery place, searching fo narrowlye in euerye corner of the houfe, that he left not the very priuie vnfearcht. Seeing he could not finde him, hee faide nothing, but fayning himself not well at ease, stayde at home, fo that poore Lionello was faine to staye in the drifatte till the old churle was in bed with his wife: and then the maide let him out at a backe doore, who went home with a flea in his eare to his lodging.

"Well, the next daye he went again to meete his doctor, whome hee found in his woonted walke. What news, quoth Mutio? How haue you sped?* A poxe of the old flaue, quoth Lionello, I was no fooner in, and had giuen my miftreffe one kiffe, but the iealous affe was at the door; the maid spied him, and, cryed, her maifter: fo that the poore gentlewoman for verye fhifte, was faine to put me in a driefatte of feathers that stoode in an olde chamber, and there I was faine to tarrie while he was in bed and asleepe, and then the maide let me out, and I departed.

"But it is no matter; 'twas but a chaunce; and I hope to crye quittance with him ere it be long. As how, quoth Mutio? Marry thus, quoth Lionello: fhe fent me woord by her maide this daye, that upon Thursday next the old churle fuppeth with a patient of his a mile out of Pifa, and then I feare not but to quitte him for all. It is well, quoth Mutio; fortune bee your freende. I thank you, quoth Lionello; and fo after a little more prattle they departed.

To be fhorte, Thursday came; and about fixe of the clocke foorth goes Mutio, no further than a freendes houfe of his, from whence hee might defcrye who went into his house. Straight he fawe Lionello enter in; and after goes hee, infomuche that hee was

• See The Merry Wives of Windsor, p. 437.

fcarfelye fitten downe, before the mayde cryed out againe, my maifter comes. The good wife that before had provided for afterclaps, had found out a priuie place between two feelings of a plauncher, and there the thruft Lionello; and her husband came fweting. What news, quoth fhee, drives you home againe fo foone, hufband? Marrye, fweet wife, (quoth he) a fearfull dreame that I had this night, which came to my remembrance; and that was this: Methought there was a villeine that came fecretly into my house with a naked poinard in his hand, and hid himselfe; but I could not finde the place: with that mine nose bled, and I came backe; and by the grace of God I will feek euery corner in the house for the quiet of my minde. Marry I pray you doo, husband, quoth fhe. With that he lockt in all the doors, and began to fearch euery chamber, euery hole, euery cheft, euery tub, the very well; he ftabd every featherbed through, and made hauocke, like a mad man, which made him thinke all was in vaine, and hee began to blame his eies that thought they faw that which they did not. Upon this he refte halfe lunaticke, and all night he was very wakefull; that towards the morning he fell into a dead sleepe, and then was Lionello conueighed away.

"In the morning when Mutio wakened, hee thought how by no meanes hee should bee able to take Lyonello tardy: yet he laid in his head a moft dangerous plot, and that was this. Wife, quoth he, I must the next Monday ride to Vycenfa to vifit an olde patient of mine; till my returne, which will be fome ten dayes, I will have thee ftay at our little graunge houfe in the countrey. Marry very well content, husband, quoth fhe: with that he kist her, and was verye pleasant, as though he had fufpected nothing, and away hee flinges to the church, where he meetes Lionello. What fir, quoth he, what newes? Is your mistreffe yours in poffeffion? No, a plague of the old flaue, quoth he: I think he is either a witch, or els woorkes by magick: for I can no fooner enter in the doors, but he is at my backe, and fo he was againe yefternight; for I was not warm in my feat before the maide cried, my maifter comes; and then was the poore foule faine to conueigh me between two feelings of a chamber in a fit place for the purpose: wher I laught hartely to myself, to see how he fought euery corner, ranfackt euery tub, and ftabd euery featherbed, but in vaine; I was fafe euough till the morning, and then when he was faft afleepe, I lept out. Fortune frowns on you, quoth Mutio: Ay, but I hope, quoth Lionello, this is the last time, and now fhee will begin to fmile; for on Monday next he rides to Vicenfa, and his wife lyes at a grange house a little of the towne, and there in his abfence I will reuenge all forepaffed misfortunes. God fend it be fo, quoth Mutio; and took his leaue. These two louers longed for Monday, and at laft it came. Early in the morning Mutio horft himselfe, and his

wife, his maide, and a man, and no more, and away he rides to his grange houfe; where after he had brok his faft he took his leaue, and away towards Vicenfa. He rode not far ere by a falfe way he returned into a thicket, and there with a company of cuntry peasants lay in an ambuscade to take the young gentleman. In the afternoon comes Lionello gallopping; and affoon as he came within fight of the house, he fent back his horse by his boy, & went eafily afoot, and there at the very entry was entertained by Margaret, who led him up ye ftaires, and conuaid him into her bedchamber, faying he was welcome into fo mean a cottage: but quoth fhe, now I hope fortune fhal not envy the purity of our loues. Alas, alas, miftris (cried the maid,) heer is my maifter, and 100 men with him, with bils and ftaues. We are betraid, quoth Lionel, and I am but a dead man. Feare not, quoth fhe, but follow me; and ftraight fhe carried him downe into a lowe parlor, where ftoode an old rotten cheft full of writinges. She put him into that, and couered him with old papers and euidences, and went to the gate to meet her husband. Why fignior Mutio, what means this hurly burly, quoth fhe? Vile and fhameleffe ftrumpet as thou art, thou fhalt know by and by, quoth he. Where is thy loue? All we haue watcht him, & feen him enter in : now quoth he, fhal neither thy tub of feathers nor thy feeling ferue, for perish he shall with fire, or els fall into my hands. Doo thy worft, iealous foole, quoth the; I ask thee no fauour. With that in a rage he befet the house round, and then fet fire on it. Oh! in what a perplexitie was poore Lionello, that was shut in a cheft, and the fire about his eares? And how was Margaret paffionat, that knew her louer in such danger? Yet fhe made light of the matter, and as one in a rage called her maid to her and faid: Come on, wench; feeing thy maister mad with iealoufie hath set the house and al my liuing on fire, I will be reuenged vpon him; help me heer to lift this old cheft where all his writings and deeds are; let that burne firft; and affoon as I fee that on fire, I will walk towards my freends: for the old foole wil be beggard, and I will refuse him. Mutio that knew al his obligations and ftatutes lay there, puld her back, and bad two of his men carry the cheft into the feeld, and fee it were fafe; himself standing by and feeing his house burnd downe, fticke and ftone. Then quieted in his minde he went home with his wife, and began to flatter her, thinking affuredly yt he had burnd her paramour; caufing his cheft to be carried in a cart to his houfe at Pifa. Margaret impatient went to her mothers, and complained to her and to her brethren of the iealoufie of her husband; who maintained her it be true, and defired but a daies respite to proue it. Wel, hee was bidden to supper the next night at her mothers, the thinking to make her daughter and him freends againe. In the meane time he to his woonted walk in the church, & there præter expectationem he found Lionello walking.

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