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ter; what he wanted in person he had in the purse; which the poate gentlewoman little regarded, wishing rather to tie her felf to one that might fit her content, though they liued meanely, then to him with all the wealth in Italye. But thee was yong and forcft to follow her fathers direction, who vpon large couenants was content his daughter fhould marry with the doctor, and whether the like him or no, the match was made vp, and in fhort time she was married. The poore wench was bound to the ftake, and had not onely an old impotent man, but one that was so jealous, as none might enter into his houfe without fufpicion, nor the doo any thing without blame: the leaft glance, the smallest countenance, any fmile, was a manifeft inftance to him, that thee thought of others better than himfelfe; thvs he himselfe 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 feeing her looke out at her window, noting her rare and excellent proportion, fell in loue with her, and that fo extreamelye, as his paffions had no means till her fauour might mittigate his heartficke difcontent. The young man that was ignorant in amorous matters, and had neuer beene vied 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 fureft maister, on a daye feeing 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 helpe him forward in his purposes: fo that feeing the old man walke folitary, he ioinde 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 indeuour to pleasure him, his pains fhould bee euery way to the full confidered. You must 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 pleafe, it fhall 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 difcourft vnto him from point to point how he was falne in loue with a gentlewoman that was maried to one of his profeffion; difeouered 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 fauour 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 the 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 saide, 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 be brought to the bent of your bowe, I will provide fuch a potion as fhall difpatch all to your owne content; and

to give you further inftructions for opportunitie, knowe that her husband is foorth euery afternoone from three till fixe. Thus farre I haue aduifed you, because I pitty your paffions as my felfe being once a louer : but now I charge thee, reueale it to none whomfoeuer, leaft it doo difThe young gentleparage my credit, to meddle in amorous matters. man 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 almoft mad for feare his wife any way fhould play falfe. He faw by experience, braue men came to befiege the caftle, and feeing it was in a womans 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 downe towards the house of Mutio, where he fees her at her windowe, whom he courted with a paffionate looke, with fuch an humble falute, as thee might perceiue how the gentleman was affectionate. Margaretta looking earnestlye upon him, and noting the perfection of his proportion, accounted him in her eye the flower of all Pifa; thinkte her felfe fortunate if he might haue him for her freend, to fupply thofe defaultes that the found in Mutio. Sundry times that afternoone he past by her window, and he caft not vp more louing lookes, then he received gratious fauours which did fo incourage him, that the next daye betweene three aud fixe hee went to her houfe, and knocking at the doore, defired to fpeake with the miftris of the house, who hearing by her maids defcription 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 hee loued her, and that if it might pleafe 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 should bee deerer to him then his life, and hee would bee ready to prife her difcontent 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 fhould 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 tooke 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 haue you fped? Even as I can withe, quoth Lionello; for I haue been with my mistreffe, and haue found her fo tractable, that I hope to make the olde peafant her husband looke broadheadded by a paire of brow-antlers. How deepe this ftrooke into Mutios hart, let them imagine that can conjecture what ieloufie is; infomuch that the olde doctor afkte, when fhould be the time: marry, quoth Lionello, to morrow at foure of the clocke in the afternoone;

and

and then malifer soñar, qarch net, will I eat the olde fquire knight of the forked srir.

Thus they put side, firew late; and then Lyonelio west home to als logging, and Mate to his boule, covering all his forpower with a merge countenance, with full reftiation to revenge them both the next day with extremstile. He put the night as patiently as he could, and the next day after dinner awaye hee went, watching when it fouad see four of the clocks. At the houre lutly came Lyszewo, and was intertained with all curtefe: but scarfe had they kit, ere the maide cried out to her mfree that her maiter was at the doore; for he hated, knowing that a horne was but a litle while in grafting. Margaret at this alarum was amazed, and yet for a fhifte chopt Lyonchio into a great driefatte full of feathers, and fat her downe clofe to her worke: by that came Mutio in blowing; and as though hee came to locke fomewhat in hafte, called for the keyes of his chambers, and looked in everye place, fearching fo narrowlye in everye corner of the house, that he left not the very priuie vnfearcht. Seeing he could not finde him, hee faide nothing, but fayning himselse not well at ease, ftayde at home, fo that poore Lionello was faine to ftaye in the drifatte till the olde 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 againe to meete his doctor, whome hee found in his woonted walke. What news, quoth Mutio? How haue you fped? A poxe of the olde flaue, quoth Lionello, I was no fooner in, and had given my miftrefie one kiffe, but the jealous afie was at the door; the maide spied him, and, cryed, her maifter: so that the poore gentlewoman for verye fhifte, was faine to put me in a driefatte of feathers that floode 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: she sent 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 houfe. Straight hee fawe Lionello enter in; and after goes hee, infomuche that hee was scarfelye 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, driues you home

• See The Merry Wives of Windfør, p. 268.

againe fo foone hufband? Marrye, fweete wife, (quoth he) a fearfull dreame that I had this night, which came to my remembrance; & that was this: Methought there was a villeine that came fecretly into my houfe 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 feeke eury corner in the house for the quiet of my minde. Marry I pray you doo, husband, quoth the. 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 euery fetherbed 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 fleepe, and then was Lionello conueighed away.

"In the morning when Mutio wakened, hee thought how by no meanes hee fhould be able to take Lyonello tardy: yet he laid in his head a most 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 haue thee ftay at our little graunge houfe in the countrey. Marry very well content, hufband, quoth the with that he kift her, and was verye pleasant, as though he had fufpected nothing, and away hee flinges to the church, where hee meetes Lionello. What fir, quoth he, what newes? Is your miftreffe 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 yesternight; for I was not warm in my feat before the maide cried, my maifter comes; and then was the poore foule faine to conuiegh me between two feelings of a chamber in a fit place for the purpose: wher I laught hartely to myself, to fee how he fought euery corner, ranfackt euery tub, and ftabd euery featherbed, but in vaine; I was fafe enough till the morning, and then when he was fast aflcepe, I lept out. Fortune frowns on you, quoth Mutio: Ay, but I hope, quoth Lionello, this is the last time, and now thee will begin to fmile; for on Monday next he rides to Vicenfa, and his wife lyes at a grange houfe 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 last it came. Early in the morning Mutio horit 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 ambufcade to take the young gentleman. In the afternoon comes Lionello gallopping; and alloon as he came within fight of the house, he fent back his horfe by his boy, & went eafily afoot, & there at the very entry was entertained by Margaret, who led him vp ye ftaires, and conuaid him into her bedchamber, faying he was welVOL. I.

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come

craper but quota for, now I ange fortune fil Pin bb is, cried the mac,)

te, with is and thus. We fest for me; and fragat he carries am cowse into a lowe par 104 I am but a cras maz. Feare not, sooth ber. wire con se at mus that, an court bis 1d papers and exlococes, and went to the men cart full of writings. She put him into gate to meet ser Lubina. Way ipler Mato, what means this hurty balaj, quota dhe ? Vie & fumate Arumpet as the art, thou halt know by and by, quorn be. kim, & lees him enter in : now quith he, thu neither thy tub of feaWhere is thy Love? All we have watcht thers nor toy feeling ferne, for perih he has with fre, or eis fall into Koo thy work, sealous fout, quoth the; I ask thee no With that in a rage he balet the boule round, and then let frece it. On in what a perp exile was poore Lionele, that was but is a chef, and the fire abouth's eares? And how was Margaret pailionat, that knew her lover in fuch danger? Yet the mase fight of the matter, and as onein a rage called her maid to her and fals: Come on, wench; feting thy ma her man with leicufe hath let the house and al my living on fire, I will be relenged upon him; help me beer to lift this old chet where ah's writings and deeds are; let that burne firit; and affoon as I fee that on fire, I will walk towards my freends: for the old foole wil be beggard, and I will refufe him. Mutio that knew al his obligations and statutes lay there, puid her back, and bad two of his men carry the cheft into the feeld, and fee it were fafe; himself standing by and fe ng his boule bund downe, fticke and ftone. Then quieted in his mince he went home with his wife, and began to flatter her, thinking alluredly yt he had burnd her paramour; caufing his cheft to be carries in a cart to his houfe at Pifa. Margaret impatient went to her mothers, and complained to her and to her brethren of the iealouse of her hulband; who maintained her it be true, and defired but a dales refpite to prove it. Wel, hee was bidden to fupper 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 preter expectationem he found Lionello walking. Wondring at this, he ftraight enquires, what news? What newes, maister doctor, quoth he, and he fell in a great laughing: in faith yesterday I fcapt a fcowring; for, fyrrah, I went to the grange house, where I was appointed to come, and I was no foner gotten vp the chamber, but the magicall villeine her hufband befet the houfe with bils & ftaues, and that he might be fure no feeling nor corner should throwde me, he fet the houfe on fire, and fo burnt it to the ground. Why, quoth Mutio, and how did you efcape? Alas, quoth he, wel fare a womans wit! She conueighed me into an old cheft ful of writings, which the knew her husband durit not burne; and fo was I faued and brought to Pifa, and yefternight by her maide let home to my lodging. This, quoth he, is the pleafanteit ieft that euer I heard; and vpon this I haue a fute to you, I am this

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